A friend of mine recruited me to be her semi-awkward model while she experimented with her big new camera. No one feels camera-ready at 8 months pregnant, but I’ve been avoiding the front side of the camera for months now, so I’m actually glad I took the jump. I look forward to showing these to Baby Girl when she’s all grown up and expecting her own little one. (Just don’t be fooled into thinking I look this decent all the time. I saved the unflattering ones for my own viewing pleasure. 🙂
I’m feeling . . . Relieved to be on the home stretch! The first two trimesters crept by, and I experienced some discouraging emotional lows, but ever since Christmas I’ve been feeling like the end is in sight, and that is encouraging!
Boys are feeling . . . Excited to meet their new sister! They talk about her all the time. Chase tells one story over and over, “And if the baby eats a marble, we will TAKE IT AWAY from him!” He still has his pronouns confused, and I hope she never gets near a marble, but his animation while telling it is still cute.
Dad is feeling . . . Daunted at the idea of entering the baby phase again!
I’m sleeping . . .  Poorly. If it’s not heartburn, it’s a restless leg. If I’m not too hot, I’m making another trip to the bathroom. It’s always something! I was up from 12:30 to 3:30 last night, my mind racing. I guess my body is getting ready for nights with Baby!
I’m relishing . . . My biggest pregnancy perk—the fact that the hair on my legs STOPS growing! You should feel them. 🙂 It’s been a handful of weeks since I shaved, but they’re silky smooth. This happened with my other pregnancies too. Weird, huh?
I’m nervous about . . . Nursing. It didn’t come especially naturally to me either time, and I always struggled with supply despite my very best efforts. Third time’s the charm??
I’m preparing . . . Everything! If the world were to end, I’d like to request that it be right after I have a baby. I’m slowly getting everything in order—organized closets, a spiffy clean car, highlighted hair, a well-stocked freezer, a bursting pantry, etc. (And I’m trying hard not to do it at the cost of enjoying my cute family.)
About four weeks till we meet our little lady!
How exciting! I can’t wait to see pictures of your baby girl. You look darling as usual. I am feeling ready to be done this time around, but also very nervous about adding a third. I have noticed the hair thing, too, but only with this pregnancy. What an unexpected perk! Has this third pregnancy been rougher than your other two? Mine has seemed that way, at least physically – lots more aches and pains and trouble sleeping. But I’m not on bedrest, so I’m trying not to complain. 🙂 Good luck with the last few weeks!
Even if you’re not on bedrest (which is obviously a huge blessing), complain away! Especially to me! I do think my third pregnancy really surprised me. It’s been a lot more uncomfortable than my other two, and I’ve been so ready to have it over with since about six months! Oh well! A healthy baby is worth anything! Also, I remember your comment on your blog about fibbing a little with how far along you are, based on size, and I can totally relate! I don’t stick straight out, so not in that sense, but I do feel like people glance down and evaluate how big you are vs. how far along you are every time they ask. So awkward! Anyway, best wishes to a smooth finish, my dear!!
Erica, you look great!! You’re definitely in the home stretch! I’m just starting to enter my sleepless phase, at 32 weeks, and I’m really not enjoying the long nights. I just can’t seem to get comfortable!
I’ve also noticed that little pregnancy perk you describe about not having to do as much grooming, except my version is that I never have to pluck my eyebrows 🙂 Pretty nice! Anyway, enjoy these last few weeks with your boys. I’m sure they’ll fly by!
Hi Erica – your family looks so cute! Kudos to you for having a THIRD baby while already having a 3 and a 2 year old. Wow. Do you plan to have more? I wonder how your body is reacting to being pregnant pretty much constantly for the past 4 years? I would think it would need some time to “recuperate” in between – but that’s just me. Did you mean to have them so close together? Just wondering!
Hi Maria! Thanks for commenting! I’m going to update that on my sidebar right now, because the boys have actually grown and are now 4 1/2 and 3. They were 18 months apart, which was quite challenging for the first year (or really, maybe the first two!), but I LOVE it now. And the little girl will be three years younger, so I did feel like I had a nice little break in there, at least compared to the timing of when I got pregnant with my second! And yeah, we did essentially plan each; we’ve been blessed to get pregnant pretty quickly. I’d love to hear more about you if you get a second! Do you have kids? How old?
Whew, that makes me feel better. That is a perfect age difference between all three! I actually only have one “baby” – my son just turned 19 and is starting college. I love reading blogs about “young” families – it brings back so many good memories of raising my son.
It was my husband’s second marriage and he already had 2 boys – but it was my first – marriage and baby! I was kind of late, by most people’s standards – I had him when I was 30. I was fortunate to be able to take 3 months off when he was born but then had to go back to work. It was really hard to do, but I think it made us both appreciate and make the most of the time we spent together as a family.
I’m so proud of him – he has turned out to be a good hearted, kind young man – but the time seems to have gone by so quickly.
Make sure you are “in the moment” with your kids – even when you are sleep-deprived and haven’t showered in 2 days. You will blink, and they will be grown!
Thanks so much, Maria! I am one of those moms who appreciates the reminder to enjoy it before it is gone. It can be hard to believe when you’re in the thick of it, but then I think of my son starting kindergarten this fall, and I can glimpse what you more experienced moms mean when you say it’ll be gone in a blink. Thanks again!
Good luck! I’m so excited to see your little girl. The RLS was crazy crazy terrible my last trimester with Charlie. I feel your pain. Ask your doctor about taking some Tylenol PM? That really helped me my last few weeks.
You look adorable! What an exciting time for you and your family! I remember getting leg cramps in the last month or so. I would wake up in the middle of the night and run around the bedroom to make them go away. Not fun! Even though that part was rough, I still loved being pregnant. It is such a special time. Try to get as much sleep as you can now!
-Shelley
This is so exciting. I can relate to just about everything you’ve listed here, except for the leg hair thing – wow, I only wish! There are definitely some perks to pregnancy. There ought to be, don’t you think? You deserve a little payback for those lost hours of sleep. I will be living baby #3 vicariously through you, Erica!
Wow! That went by so fast! …Probably not for you, but it feels like you just told me you were expecting! 🙂 You are so close now. Good luck and I hope you have a good delivery and very healthy baby.
P.S. I’m 25 weeks now. Crazy how quickly it’s gone.
You look so good, I am a bit jealous I never stayed that skinny during my pregnancy! I know I am far away but if you need anything let me know.
I can’t believe you’re so close to being done! Though those last few weeks definitely feel like they drag on and on and on! You seriously look amazing. If you ever need anything I am happy to help….take the boys, bring a meal….whatever! I can’t wait to meet this little girl!
You look great!!! (I think my belly is sticking out a good foot farther than your’s!!!!!) It’s good to know there are older brothers to protect from marbles – too cute! I hope you get some good sleep before your sweet girl arrives!
Thanks, Tricia! I’m sure mine sticks out a few more inches now that it’s been a few weeks since these were taken! My babies have tended to wrap around (giving me a donut shape!) rather than grow straight out. I’m excited for you too!!!
Hi Erica! Catching up on some reading 😉 I wanted to share about my similar breastfeeding experience. I was so RELIEVED to read that you struggled with your milk supply! I spent endless nights with all three of mine trying to get them to nurse naturally – but there was not enough flow to ever keep them interested. I pumped and pumped and got the smallest amount and watched other Mom’s fill up their containers in mere minutes! It was so discouraging. What a tried to remember that even though my “plumbing” wasn’t perfect – I tried to give them what my body could. Best of luck with number three! These pictures are such a treasure – and you look great!