Holy guacamole! This is the final stretch you guys. 21 days stand between me and the face-to-face meeting I'll be having with my little peanut. It feels surreal. Likely more surreal now that the days are passing by so quickly. Justin and I can't seem to wrap our heads around the fact that a third little will be in our home. Three babies! There has been a lot of reminiscing going on this last week in our home, that's for sure. We went from wondering if we'd ever be parents, to prepping for our third child together. Life is so incredibly wonderful that way. Anything can happen. That in mind, let's hit these updates - especially since I don't know if I'll be sharing anymore during this pregnancy (weird reading that last line, right?!). 

How far Along: 37 weeks

Nicknames for baby: Our little pickle, baby Liam, sweet boy, peanut

Size of baby: About the size of a bunch of swiss chard (over 6 pounds) 

Gender Prediction: It's a boy! Confirmed blood test at 12 weeks AND gender scan at 15 weeks. 

Symptoms: Pelvic pressure, hip pain, back pain... and I feel SO DANG TIRED. Oh, I almost forgot - charley horses are becoming far too frequent as well. In the last two weeks I've had three and they are PAINFUL!

Best moment this week: Justin and I had a little hoorah.. our first date night in over two years. Liam kicked almost the entire night! That time was so, so needed. It felt like a sliver of a baby moon.  

Movement: He's most active in the afternoon and night (and right after breakfast). I feel like his little toes are extending much higher near the breasts than the girls ever moved! Lots of kicking, rolling, and the normal jabbing. 

Food Cravings: None. Which is frustrating. I'll be staring off into space, thinking, "Hmm.. I could really go for something right now" ... and that something is never discovered. Worst feeling ever! 

Food Aversions: I am in the clear! 

What I Miss: I miss not having insomnia so frequently. I miss being able to sleep on my stomach/back/comfortably - i'd take any one of those three. I also miss not waking up and feeling like my entire body just fell down on top of my pelvic bones. Getting out of bed has required help from Justin - that is a definite first for me. 

Sleep: This current sleep cycle is killing me. So most nights I can't sleep due to insomnia and spend way too much time watching reruns of SVU. As a result I am so dang tired when I wake up and making it through the day without a nap is impossible. Repeat sleep cycle. 

Justin: Justin mapped out his work schedule so now we know how long he'll be home after baby is born. It's close to a full month and I know this man is so excited to soak in our life as a family of five. If you know my husband, you know that he is likely the least (outwardly) emotional person. He definitely reserves most of his vulnerable feelings for me and the kids. I'm totally fine with that because, well... not everyone should be able to reach us on deeper levels. Watching him prepare for our son has brought out a side of him that I didn't expect. I watch him turn to emotion a lot more when responding to certain situations. Not totally sure if its because we are become more seasoned in life, we are on our third kiddo, or simply because having a baby is emotional. Whatever the reason, it makes me wonder what type of emotion Justin will have meeting Liam for the first time. 

Ava: We just don't deserve this child. Seriously. Reflecting on my first born and talking with her about her baby brother coming has been so incredibly enlightening. After all, Ava is the reason we decided to try for more children in the first place. At a playdate earlier today, Ava was asked if she was excited for her baby brother to arrive and what she planned on doing to help with baby brother. Her response? "I'm excited for my baby brother and I'm going to help mommy clean and help dress him." Like seriously? She is perfection and I CANNOT stress to you how truly blessed we are to have this little girl. Ava continues to show the makings of an excellent role model - I couldn't be more proud of her. 

Olivia: We don't give this babe enough credit when it comes to understanding that our family dynamic will be changing here soon. Anytime she sees something blue, a baby purchase, or just smaller diapers - she shrieks and says, "For baby brother?!" and we nod our heads and she gets the biggest smile on her face. She still loves to have "bump" matches with her little brother and she'll put her head on my belly for a long while feeling him kick. 

What I am looking forward to this week: My OB appointment this week. I know my midwife will likely check my cervix again and I also have a ton of questions regarding delivery at the hospital we chose. More than that, I'm excited to be one week closer to meeting my son. 
 
Happy or moody most of the time: I feel happy, but I also feel incredibly anxious. I have been waiting months to meet my boy and I feel like all of these emotions and thoughts are hitting me full force all at one time. Sometimes the processing aspect gets the best of me, but I don't feel any less happy. I feel incredible - you know, physical pains aside.   

37 weeks

This is crunch time. I woke up this morning and all I could think about were all the things we have left to do in preparation for our baby girl. Since we have been on vacation the past week, I've kind of just enjoyed being around family, celebrating the holidays, and capturing all the special moments Ava has been afforded with her family in New York. Now, I'm kind of freaking. The car seat back home isn't installed, baby clothes have not been washed and prepped, our hospital bags have not been prepared.. Granted, I know we have 3 weeks or so left until Olivia arrives, but with Ava bug... I had all of these things ready so much earlier. In less stressful more exciting news, Livy bean has definitely dropped. I can feel her lower in my pelvis (tons of pressure/pain here), and when she balls up in a corner of my uterus.. you can definitely tell what side her little bum is on. She's been kicking up a storm in this New York 28 degree weather, and I've truly enjoyed being able to spend almost two whole weeks with my in-laws during my pregnancy. Surprisingly, I haven't slowed down one bit. I've been active, I've been on the move, but I have a feeling that's going to change in the next week or so.

How far Along: 37 Weeks

Nicknames for baby: Livy Bean, Olivia

Size of baby: An estimated 6.5 pounds (the size of a watermelon) 

Gender: It's a girl! 

Symptoms: SO MUCH PELVIC PAIN, Breast tenderness, tons of Braxton hicks

Best moment this week: Having my in-laws include Olivia in our holidays. She received her blue bird ornament from Great Grandma Sandy, she received take-me-home outfits from Papa Clough and Grandma Chi-Chi, and such cute Vera Bradley clothes from Great Aunt Holly.

Movement: She has her days where she moves a ton more than others. I've noticed that the rolling is definitely consistent and correlates when I'm not running around. She balls up in a corner of my uterus and moves after daddy gives her kisses or rubs on my belly.

Food Cravings: Anything my in-laws cook. I have been SPOILED this past week.

Food Aversions: WE ARE FINALLY IN THE CLEAR HERE. 

What I Miss: Truthfully, I miss being able to get out of bed without pelvic pain. I've recently been experiencing such sensitivity when getting out of bed, walking too much, etc. Apparently it's my pelvic bones and ligaments spreading for labor. The relaxin hormone must be working exceptionally well because some days I am in some serious discomforts.

Sleep: I get extremely good sleep, once I am out, I am out! Except, I started drooling (yuck).

Justin: With the help of family, not every obligation to help has been solely on his shoulders. That has been a really, really good thing for us. Back home my family members easily live about 30 minutes to an hour away (depending on traffic) and I usually don't ask for help because I know Justin would be home to help a lot sooner than they would. During block leave we've literally always been surrounded with helping hands. My mother and father in-law have been preparing the best meals all throughout the day, my sister-in-law and her spouse have been such a huge help with entertaining Ava bug and helping me haul things up the stairs, and I really don't have to do much because people have constantly offered. This has given Justin a lot of free time to do some of the things he wants to do and just relax. He needed this.

Ava: Ava is golden. Aside from coming down with a 24 hour stomach bug, she has been consistently the same about almost everything. I've noticed since being in New York her toddler attitude has been a little more intense. Saying, "No!" has come about a lot more. She has SO many eyes focused on her and so many people trying to engage with her. Between flying and spending so much time at airports, from spending over four hours in vehicles for traveling to see family members, and finding her schedule on East Coast time... I'm still EXTREMELY proud of her. She's been helpful, loving her cousin, and consistently loving on mama's baby bump.

What I am looking forward to this week: As sad as I am about leaving New York, I am excited to be back home and settled. I can't wait to set up the remainders on our list of things to do for Olivia. I can't wait to just relax, sit back, and allow labor to come about on it's own time at home.

Happy or moody most of the time: I have been pretty happy, but I have also been ultra emotional. I've been completely overstimulated with the holidays and being around so much of my husband's family. I am so thankful for each and everyone of them. I've also had my mom in the back of my mind and the thoughts of not spending the holiday season with her. Knowing her illness has taken major declines this year is always in the back of my mind. Her birthday month is also my due date month, and I have made it such a huge priority in this pregnancy to try and focus on the good. 

♥- Leilani