38 weeks

(**I took this picture before I left the house this morning around 5:30am....and it's definitely not my favorite....my face is looking a little a lot on the puffy side, among other things.....but I wanted to document this day nonetheless) 

I'm 38 weeks + 1 day pregnant today.  And in one week...we will have met our son.

I know I say this every week....but I really can't believe it.  I know I have had 2 kids before.  I have carried them for 9 months ...brought them home from the hospital and all.  But it's like you forget....and I'm excited and nervous and just can't believe it all in one.

Today was my last day of work until July.  I was so thankful to have a good assignment that didn't have me running around too much.  :)  The day kind of drug on though....I think knowing it was my 'last' day made it that way.  But I did spend quite a bit of time in thought today (I think I think too much, haha!)  Just a little reflecting on this pregnancy....how fast it's gone....and how blessed I am to have been healthy.  How I made it through my entire first trimester working the night shift (which I loathe, by the way, and pray that I never have to work the night shift again)...and how it was only through His strength that I was able to do that.  And just the fact that I've carried him to term is a blessing.  Praying now for a healthy remainder of this pregnancy, and smooth and safe delivery.  (I know far too much for my own good as a NNICU nurse!)

I had a check-up this past Friday.  Baby measuring 1 week big...and heart rate good.  I took both girls with me and they did so good.  I let them have 2 suckers!  (I'm not sure if that makes me a good or bad mom?)  There's one nurse there, Rose, that's just so sweet to them.  I normally always find someone to watch them for my appointments....but now that my appointments are just belly and heartbeat checks...then it's kind of just easier to take them with me.  Parker loves it and giggles every time she hear's his heart beat.  It's the cutest thing.

What I've been eating: Chips and dips sound good to me daily (although I am not able to eat this daily).  Fruit and yogurt smoothies.  And vanilla ice cream with crushed up m&ms and whipped cream.  I eat more than this....but this is what I would eat every day, all day, if I could.

How I've been sleeping: It depends on the day.  Some nights I'm up 4-5 times...getting comfortable, using the bathroom...not being able to breath....thinking.  And others...I get up once and go straight back to sleep and not even the ringing in my right ear keeps me awake.  Another variable that effects my sleep is if Grace gets out of her bed.  I feel like she's getting better.... and then the next night she'll do it again.  So who knows.

2 things the the girls have said recently that I don't want to forget:

Last week Parker said (while looking at my belly)..."Momma....I think baby brother is big enough to come out now."  I agreed!  :)

And almost every day Grace will ask me sometime in the morning, "Is it going to be night-night tonight?" 

Me: "You mean, are we going to have to go night-night tonight?"

Grace: "Yeh."

Me: "Yes baby....tonight after we eat dinner and get ready for bed and brush our teeth, it will be time for night-night."

Grace: "When we get up in the morning to do you have to go to work?"

And if I answer : "Yes."  She says, "NO!!  I don't want you to go to work."  And she comes up to me and hugs me or makes me hold her.  

Melts me.

And if my answer is "No." She says, "YAY!!!  I'm so happy you don't have to go to work tomorrow!  You're my favorite."

We are thinking Grace might have a little bit of a tough time adjusting to not being the baby anymore.  I mean- it will definitely be an adjustment for all.  Or maybe I'm the one having bittersweet emotions about her not being my baby anymore.  Oh, the hormones emotions!  :)  She'll always be my baby girl though.