Welcome Due Date!

So I might totally be jinxing things, but I am assuming that as I write this that I won't be delivering this baby within the next half hour which means we officially made it to my due date.     For many women, this isn't a welcome thing but several months ago I started to equally dread and look forward to this weekend.  Within the last several weeks, invitations for various events started rolling in.  From this past Wednesday on, we have had a major event occurring each and every single day.  I know I had the perfect excuse to miss any of these events but I didn't want to-for example, Baby was a flower girl in my cousins wedding and how adorable was she?

 There were also some key people I wanted to be around when the big day happened who was going to be out of town for a girlfriend's bachelorette.  I was already disappointed I had to miss (my water breaking might have been a buzz kill on the winery tours they were on) but to not have my BFF around while totally understandable, still a bummer.   On Friday, I woke up having a ton of contractions.  They felt different than I had been having for the last few weeks so I started to feel like it might be the real deal.  I already had an appointment for a sonogram late that afternoon, but when I called to inquire if I was going to see the doctor they asked why and I explained what was going on.  The message was relayed to my doctor and she asked me to come in immediately based on my last labor.
Boyfriend worked from home that day so he could attend my afternoon appointment and I told him they wanted me to come in right away.  There were moments of what I can only imagine is the closest to the "big rush" a couple makes before heading to the hospital-what do we need to bring with us? Where are the hospital bags?
Obviously when I saw the doctor, I was declared not in active labor but she was sure enough based on other symptoms that it was imminent enough to declare, "I do think that having this baby is going to interfere with your weekend plans."
While there were parts of me that were excited, I still really had this small cloud hanging over me-I really, really wanted to not give birth until Sunday afternoon at the earliest (as if I have a choice).  We were instructed to return at 2:00 for my sonogram and to call if anything changed in the meantime.
As for the reason for my sonogram-#2 hasn't really grown in measurement the past three weeks and movement has decreased an extortionate amount.  I know decreased movement is common, but for several days in order to feel the baby move, I would have to prompt it by drinking cold liquids.  It never failed but with the lack of measurable growth, she just wanted to double check.
Long story short-everything looked acceptable enough to continue on with natures course.  This is one of the reasons I absolutely adore my doctor.  There was confirmed lower levels of fluid (though still in an acceptable range) and the baby is measuring 5 days behind where it should be-but she didn't (as nor I after doing my own research) felt this was enough medical reason to discuss induction.  I feel like there are so many doctors out there that would suggest it simply so they knew that they wouldn't be interrupted at some point over the weekend to attend to a birth.
So we continued on.  I was told they would most likely see me at some point this weekend and to take it easy.  I didn't exactly take it "easy" but I have been listening to my body to rest as needed.  I left the wedding earlier than I, and Baby who was a dancing queen, wanted.  We limited the time spent at the other event obligations we attended.  I've taken two or three naps each day.
And now we were here, and I'm so unbelievably appreciative that we are.  I might have put it out in the universe a bit too much to not give birth early and in return will go far past my due date, but honestly I am ok with that.  Emotionally, I feel ready where as I just didn't this past weekend.  My house is clean (enough), my support system is on call.  
Baby is very confused why it is June and her sibling isn't here.  It is hard to explain why we don't know exactly what day she will get to have #2's birthday party, but at this point, whenever it is-it will be the perfect timing.

  

The Lasts

With #2's arrival feeling very imminent (I mean I suppose I could be pregnant forever, but it is unlikely it will last too much longer) I have started to regard to everything as the "last time" before the change in our life.    Last girls night out, last date night or last day of work.  Obviously I will do all of these things again, and probably not too far in the future I will just have a newborn attached to me.  The only thing that is truly a last, and will never happen again is being a family of three and Baby will never be an only child again.  

Last date night with Boyfriend before #2's arrival

While I'm overwhelmingly happy that Baby is going to have a sibling, I still worry how she is going to adjust.  Not only is she the center of attention between Boyfriend and I, she is my mother's greatest joy and having to share attention is going to be very difficult for her.  I know that every kid who has a sibling has to go through this, and that probably 99% of them get over it-I still hate knowing she is going to have negative feelings in her heart and mind.
Boyfriend and I have been consciously attempting to make sure our last days as a family of three be intentional and family filled with Baby.  This past week, Boyfriend took off a day from work so that we could go to a pool and let Baby have her first swim day.  To say that she had fun is an understatement.

After several hours, I couldn't handle the heat anymore and she was actually shivering fiercely (her little body is so small the cold water really impacts her) so we told her that we had to go.  She was not very pleased.  We also should have thought to take a family picture prior to telling her we were leaving.  

  Her annoyance was quickly resolved though when we promised a trip to Sweet Mix for ice cream.  The picture below will always amuse me because as I asked her to stand next to the saying, she told me no.  I said, "Pretty pleeeease?" and she just rolled her eyes (and that is a first!) and sighed, "FINE."  Yeah, she is totally sweet as honey.

 

Of course she passed out on our way home and we were able to take part in another series of lasts-naps just with the two of us.  I adore my girl and while it is bittersweet to acknowledge the lasts in this part of life, I know that the progression is going to be so much better.

That One Thing I Need Daily

Somewhere around April the heat started to get to me.  I could never cool down and just felt very frustrated anytime I tried to exert any sort of physical effort I would start to feel dizzy and light headed.     One day I randomly stopped at the TC Shaved Ice that is just down the street from my house in my quest to find some heat relief. I am profoundly grateful and equally appalled at my discovery that this was the solution to the Texas heat.  Since then, I have literally gotten shaved ice EVERY.SINGLE.DAY.  Is it embarrassing to admit that maybe there have been a few two a days?  What about that one day that I went three times?  

  TC Shaved Ice is pretty awesome-and less than half a mile from my house.  My preferred flavor choice is wedding cake with cream.  There are two problems with them though, one is that they take cash only and I finally had to admit I had a problem when I raided Baby's piggy bank (which is actually a Panda bear-she is half Asian after all) to pay for my daily addiction.  The second is that by the time I get to the bottom fourth, it is just syrup which isn't really refreshing or all that tasty.   One day I mentioned to Boyfriend we should try out Bahama Bucks.  I had never been there before, and checked out their website and saw they had a ton more flavors.  Immediately my TC habit morphed into a Bahama addiction, but man do they steal my bucks (see what I did there?).    

  I even bought my own shaved ice machine to try and curb my daily trips to Bucks.  It really hasn't helped all that much-not that I don't use it, I do daily and multiple times a day, but nothing compares to Bahama Bucks (my flavor of choice is Birthday Cake-it really isn't that sweet and doesn't taste "syrupy").     Sometimes though, I just get a huge cup of plain shaved ice-if I could afford to buy the machine they have I would (and by the end of this pregnancy, I will probably have spent enough at there to have done so!).  There is just something special about that fluffy, delicate snow.  

   This has been my only true pregnancy craving, ever.  Even with Baby I never had a food that I just had to have.  Sure, I had preferences but nothing that have me crawling around my house looking for change just so I could have it. If I'm really going to be open about the depths of my addiction-I even researched franchise costs.  I don't just want to visit them daily, I want to own my own location so I am paid to nom on the sweet, delicious dessert.  Sadly-the franchising fee is just a bit more than Boyfriend and I can swing right now.   A little over three weeks ago, I found out I am severely anemic.  So much so that my doctor had me go from my one iron supplement a day to three a day.  I also ate ice nonstop at work which I know is a symptom of anemia, so while I honestly am not sure that the two are related-I am going to use that excuse when Boyfriend goes over the budget and realizes that I have spent a month's worth of childcare costs on shaved ice in the last couple of months.

Seven Year Itch

Seven years ago today, Boyfriend and I officially got hitched.

  Though it was the day we were committed according to that special piece of paper, in our hearts we had been just loyal to each other on that day as we had two weeks in.  Honestly nothing in our hearts or minds changed just because we said our vows in front of nearly 200 people.     Well...I will admit after our first big fight, I did think to myself, "Oh my goodness-I really am stuck with him for the rest of my life!"  But just a few moments later, he made me laugh and I became grateful he is the person I am stuck with for the rest of my life.  

  According to Wikipedia, the Seven Year Itch is a psychological term that suggests that happiness in a relationship declines and divorce rates shows a trend occurring seven years in.  It might be because we married so young but I can honestly say we are so much happier now seven years in than we were back then (which wasn't exactly emo filled days then either).  

  I adore my husband and the family we created.  Seven years ago I honestly wouldn't have predicted that my life would look like it does now, just like I can't really imagine where we will be seven years from now.  Life has brought so many unexpected twists and turns but having Boyfriend as my partner has only provided expectation-that no matter where life brings us, we are in it together.  

39 Weeks

Sometimes I like to look at hashtags on Instagram to see what other women's belly bumps look like that are due the same time as I am.  Tonight, I searched 39 weeks (which technically isn't until tomorrow) and came across this:  

I burst out laughing and showed Boyfriend.  He didn't seem to understand exactly why this was so funny, but that cat's face says it all.  I feel you poor little swollen kitty.   I feel like I'm pretty pleasant most of the time, but I do remember this happening with the end of Baby's occupancy in my womb-it feels like nails on a chalkboard when people ask questions trying to find out if something will happen soon.   "Soooo...how are you feeling?"  "Any contractions?" "What does the doctor think?" "Feeling...anything?" "When do you think #2 will come?"   Look, I promise I will  update everyone, as soon as things start to progress.  I'm not shy on social media, and neither is Boyfriend.  You will know.  If I'm not bringing it up-it is safe to say nothing is happening.  And while I do hope this isn't the case-I am content to stay pregnant until 42 weeks barring any medical complications so realistically-we could have another THREE weeks to go.   I don't mean to be snotty about it, really.  And I understand all these questions come from a good and pure place-my family and friends just care about us and are so excited for #2 to make it's arrival.  I do get it, but no one understands what it feels like to be a ticking time bomb more than a woman whose due date is days away (or has passed) and the constant questions is only one big reminder that she doesn't have her baby in her arms yet.