40.1 - Full Term & waiting :) (again)

maternity photos at 32 weeks (I should have done one week before, this was right when my face started to bloat!)

Oops! I meant to keep up with this more, but I've been busy with miss Marilyn, taking care of things the best I can at home, or sleeping. :)
weight: I am up 35 pounds, five more than my "goal" at the beginning, but if weight comes off anything like it did after Marilyn, then I won't have much to work to lose. Of course I've lost a ton of muscle and getting back in shape is hard, but that is to be expected no matter what the scale says postpartum.
Rings are on. Belly button is OUT, and has been for maybe a month now.
I really felt awful pretty much this whole pregnancy. Around 38 weeks I honestly started feeling a lot different - generally better, no more stomach issues and feeling just hung-over constantly. I get little spurts of motivation and tiny bits of energy, spurred on maybe mostly by the thought of going into labor any day now and having a newborn. I still have occasional days were I can barely stay awake to watch Marilyn, much less do anything around the house.
Baby has been low for the last month. She just gets lower and lower. I have never felt this girl in my lungs or ribs. So different than my pregnancy in 2015!
Sleep: For a while I was really fighting to sleep on my left side only to keep baby turned the right direction (read: optimal position for labor/delivery) but I wanted to sleep on my right side so bad! I'd often end up on my back, too, and snore SO loud steve would push me back over to my left side, ha! But this past week or so I've been able to get more comfortable on my left side and don't end up switching in my sleep as much- definitely not on my back anymore. The past 24 hours I've let myself sleep on my right side, though, because she is SO low she hasn't moved from the left side. She would switch back and forth many times a day/night. Her booty is always on the left now! :)
(I am wondering if this baby will be smaller than Marilyn, who was born 8lb 6oz, because this one has been able to move so much more than Marilyn did. But i'm not sure if 2nd+ pregnancy has my uterus stretch out even more than before no matter the size of baby so there's more room? Not sure, but I'm so curious to meet this little one!)
Stretch Marks? Not that I can see. My stomach feels SO tight and itchy I'd be shocked if I didn't end up with any, I know some can show up weeks after delivery, so who knows!
Cravings: SUGAR SUGAR SUGAR. It is SO bad! I did not buy halloween candy to pass out because I knew I would just end up eating it too much! Pretzels and toothbrushes went out to our neighbors, lol. They may skip our house next year ;)

Signs of Labor? Lost my mucus plug last Wednesday, 38w6d. This recent Wednesday, 39w6d, I started feeling a TON of pelvic pressure, also pain in my pubis and feeling like it was separating (not actually sure if that happens, but it's the best way I can describe it.) Also pain deep in my vagina, the best way I can describe it is it feels like my cervix is opening. Possibly increase in some braxton hicks, but they went away with rest so nothing to call anyone about. Since yesterday morning I've had little bits of bloody show on and off. Lots of pulling and round ligament pain, so moving is slowwww and I rarely pick up Marilyn. She can climb into her highchair or table chairs on her own, get into her carseat on her own (I still buckle her or may give her a little hand) and change her diapers on the ground instead of putting her on the diaper changing table. I have put possibly too much hope into these "signs" accompanied with the full moon coming tonight AND that the average length of pregnancy for second plus babies is 40.3.... I was convinced yesterday I'm going to have the baby this weekend and anxiously did a lot around the house to "get ready". Today I feel like I might as well sit back and relax because, honestly, who knows.

Feels: I worry how Marilyn will feel about my having a baby on me pretty much all the time. I occasionally get nervous about dealing with labor pain, but knowing I'll have a pool/tub to relax in and a great support team makes me feel more at peace about it. As with Marilyn, I'm already worrying about germs and other people wanting to hold her too much, but motherhood the past two years has helped me develop thicker skin and I think I may have an easier time just saying no this round. I'm very excited to have my mothers help. I put so much pressure on myself to bounce back and just get use to taking care of a baby on my own because I knew eventually I would need to- and I did NOT give myself enough rest and time to heal after birth. I regret it so much! So this time I've made sure to accept help, even if I feel bad about it, when offered. And absolutely NO hosting. I need to stop feeling like I need to have the house clean and in order before people can come by. I always feel like I should be able to provide this but the first couple months postpartum, especially now with a toddler as well to care for, is just unrealistic for me. And stresses me out, makes me resentful and exhausted, and I really don't want to bleed for as long as I did last time because I literally did not let myself rest enough! I'm doing ME this time. I should have had enough respect and love for myself to do that two years ago. I KNEW and I was told I would regret too many visitors, but I wouldn't regret more alone time as a family - and that is true. Read: There is a BIG difference in visitors and help. Anyway.
I'm excited about the birth and I've envisioned it a million times. So excited to get to have another newborn!!!