It's been so hard to function as a mama of a 16 month old, when you shouldn't be picking him up. He's almost 30 pounds, so he's way over what I should be lifting while pregnant, let alone pregnant with a back injury, but it's hard to avoid. There's the in and out of the car seat...I've tried to let him climb in himself, but it's too awkward with his seat still rear facing. We've moved diaper changes to the floor, which is a little better. He's eaten a couple of meals at the big table instead of his highchair and has done pretty well. Luckily he's perfected climbing up on chairs, so no lifting there. Unfortunately, he's started pushing chairs around to get into things that are out of his reach. The one that was the most fun for him, this week, was the water dispenser on the refrigerator...notice I say "for him". The hardest thing to do, though, is put him in...and keep him in time out. At first, I just tried scolding him, but honestly, it just is not effective. He began pushing the limits when he saw that I wasn't getting up to discipline him. I can't count the number of times he stood on the shoe bench and coffee table this week. He looks at me, smiles, waves and says "Hi!". He won't get down until I make him, either. The in and out of bed is difficult, too. Luckily, he has been pretty good this week, only getting out once or twice before he falls asleep, and Daddy has taken that over at night.
I honestly think that God lets things happen sometimes, though. The more I think about it, I'm not going to be able to do all of the lifting after I have Babytwo. Maybe it's His way of transitioning Max...making him more independent and showing me just how much he can do on his own, now.
Yesterday was my 35 week check up. I am 35 weeks 4 days along and I'm feeling every day of it! I've gained 3 more pounds in the past 2 weeks, which makes a grand total gain of 8 pounds since I got pregnant. Babytwo's heartbeat was 140-150 bpm, and I'm measuring 36 weeks which is just about right. Kim, my CNM, tested me for Group B Strep and checked my cervix. I am dilated 1-2cm and she could feel his head. She said, "You probably won't make it to your due date, but you probably already knew that." and asked if I had my bags packed for the hospital. I wasn't sure what to do with that information. I was 3cm dilated when I went into the hospital to have Max, but I'm not sure how long it took me to get there. I was shocked and excited when she told me that, but of course we want him to stay in for as long as possible!
It got me thinking about all of the last minute things that I need to do though. We need a take home outfit, to write my birth plan, meet with Alicia, my doula, write a list of things to bring to the hospital and pack them, etc. We also have some things to buy for him, too still. Hopefully we'll have enough time to do it all. I made an appointment to have my hair done a week before his due date, and now I'm thinking I may move that up a bit. I think I'll have her check me next week to see if I've progressed at all. If I haven't it'll ease my mind a little.
I've been wondering if he's bigger than Max was. Although I weigh about 5 pounds less right now than I did with Max, I've started getting stretch marks that showed up so late in my first pregnancy, that I actually thought I didn't get any. They are definitely there this time and he and I still have 4 1/2 weeks of growing to do! We will see!
I finally got Max to feel my belly when the baby was moving. Usually he just gets mad when I make him try to feel Babytwo moving, but this time we were listening to some music so he was more relaxed and kept his hand there a few seconds and felt it. He clapped! It was so sweet! I keep hoping he'll be excited to meet his little brother, but I don't know if that's too much to expect at his age. I think it will probably just depend on what kind of mood he's in the day he meets him.
35 weeks
Here is a video of Max blowing raspberries on my belly
