35.5 weeks

Today, at four days past 35 weeks, my pregnancy has officially outlasted my pregnancy with the boys by four days. This is not surprising being that it is only one baby, yet it still marks a milestone in my own mind. Although I have 4.5 weeks left, I am relieved to be delivering in 2.5 weeks as I am not sure I could get any larger or more uncomfortable. My clothes don't fit and I do not even try to hide that fact, and the baby is officially trying to push its way out of me making me feel as if I have just gotten off of a very long horseback ride where we did a lot of galloping. Most days I feel as if there is no way I will make it to the 6th of January, and am convinced I never would have made it to the 20th. Yet, I know everybody says that and I probably will and would have if given the opportunity. Chase and Ryder are feeling the upcoming change in their own ways and have both been extra clingy, luckily at different times. Todd and I are trying to use the next two weeks to have a lot of family time, and one on one time with them. Although, with the holidays amongst us, we are over-run with plans and we intend to spend all free days available just the four of us, until it is no longer just the four of us.
This morning we took a family maternity portrait. The boys were somewhat cooperative in that they wanted to be as close to me as possible and that is exactly what the picture called for. The boys look good, it is me I am unimpressed with. My face is as large as my belly and at 9 months pregnant my belly is really large. I do not notice the extra chins in the mirror, but in pictures there is no hiding it. I guess it's true when they say the camera adds ten pounds. Of course this becomes even more problematic when you are already up many multiples of ten. Ah, what can I do? I am happily very pregnant and have had few complaints along the way. The end is always the toughest but only because the reward is so close. I can almost start to imagine the joy we will feel when we meet our baby and its that, more than the discomfort down low that makes me want to deliver. Boy or girl? Light hair or dark hair? Brown eyes or blue? What name will we choose in the end? This is all part of what I can't wait to find out in a few weeks. And, of course, just to meet our precious third born.



PS: Notice in these pictures we have more hair issues. In the color photo I have a fly away curl that apparently was not noticeable to the photographer when shooting, or me when choosing photos. In the black and white photo it looks as if Ryder stuck his hand in a socket before the shoot and his hair is sticking up. Really it is the graphic on Todd's shirt. Again, this went unnoticed until too late. Still, these were the best of the bunch. imagine that.

Kicks and Jabs

I am 48 hours shy of 27 weeks. As the third tri-mester peeks around the corner I am becoming increasingly aware of how quickly this pregnancy will end and what once was 4 will become 5!
Zygie is an active bugger, swimming around with kicks and jabs and saying hello. I do not want record of my weight gain but it seems that I am gaining by the truckload.
I shopped for a layette last week, and was overwhelmed by the girls clothes. I love the boys' clothes, but the frills and flowers of the girly stuff is just too cute. I am not a frilly, flowery girl myself yet when I see this stuff I think that's how I would dress my daughter. Of course before I actually had sons I thought I would dress them much preppier than I do.
My ribs on my right side have been hurting and breathing is tough, as is bending over, but these are minor symptoms to an overall great pregnancy.
I have moments of...anxiety? I am not sure of the right word. Either way, I get nervous about how I will spend quality time with Chase and Ryder in those early weeks with the baby? How will I get three kids dressed and out of the house? Will I ever even leave the house with three young kids? I am sure all parents have similar fears as they transition from 1 to 2, I just never knew life with one. I calm myself by remembering that I was nervous about twins, thought for sure it would be impossible to do anything. Although I do not get much accomplished outside of child rearing, I have managed, somehow, life with twins thus far.
I am beginning to feel a bit of a time crunch to get everything done before baby comes but I seem to do better under pressure.
All in all Zygie and I are doing well. I know when I have the thrill of meeting my third born I will simultaneously miss having him/her inside of me, sharing moments with kicks and jabs.