28 Weeks

This little guy will be here before we know it! Every year, once Halloween hits, I feel like life speeds up rapidly and it has only happened more so after having 1 child, so next year will be even crazier! Halloween, then my birthday, my brother's birthday, Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Winter Break, Christmas, New Year's, WHEW!!

This pregnancy has been pretty uneventful, for which I am very thankful. I am feeling pretty good most days. Now that the third trimester is upon us, I definitely feel bigger from week to week! This little guys is extremely active and moves all the time, which I love and had really missed!! So, I enjoy the wiggles and kicks and watching my belly move and jump.

As he grows, I am getting more uncomfortable. I remember having hip pain during my first pregnancy, but it seems different this time. I was able to go walking every day with Kalaya, but walking for exercise is really challenging me, which is frustrating. I keep thinking that if I push myself, it will get better, as soreness used to get better over time with regular workouts or sports. But, it doesn't seem to be muscle related, more joint and bone. I have a midwife appt on Thursday, so we'll see what she suggests. I have been taking a pregnancy fitness class at the pool, which helps a LOT, but is only a few times per week for an hour. The rest of the time, I'm trying to do yoga, but worry that I'm not getting enough exercise. I have my glucose test on Thursday as well, and I'm actually concerned about the results, since I haven't exercised as much this pregnancy. Fingers crossed, we'll see.

Sleep is also getting more difficult, but still tolerable. I've had a few restless nights, but mostly am getting enough sleep. God bless our new mattress, I give it a lot of credit. Kinda spendy, but it has been WORTH IT. Lots of pillows are helping too.

I know I'm carrying him differently than Kalaya too. My shirts are starting to get too small that I wore all the way through my last pregnancy, which I at first thought was because I was huge this time, but pants still seem to fit just fine, about the same way they did at this point last time. I'm trying to avoid buying more maternity clothes, but it may be inevitable. Luckily, Goodwill tends to have a good, inexpensive selection.

Honestly, we're about as 'ready' as we can be for this little guy at this point. The nursery is put together (though, it turned out to be mainly for show with Kalaya, we'll see how this little guy is...) and we still have the gear we used with Kalaya. I replaced a couple of things, but from consignment stores, so at a very low price. I have 2 lovely friends who want to throw me a shower (in early January is the plan, I believe), so we have a small registry at Babies R Us. We mainly need the co-sleeper and some boy clothes, as well as that stuff you have to get with each baby; lotion, etc. Luckily, diapers and wipes are still around from the first, though we may buy a few disposable here and there. Last time I wanted to wait to try the cloth, but discovered that they were so easy, I think we'll be doing cloth diapers almost from the day we bring him home.

Kalaya is 'ready' too, I guess. How can you REALLY prepare a 2 1/2 year old for a sibling? Sure, we talk about it all the time, show her everything for baby brother, talk about babies, how they act, what they do, etc. She's been around lots of babies and it very interested. But, to explain that never again will she be the center of our universe, will forever have some competition and that baby brother will be completely dependent on Mommy and Daddy for a loooong time?? Right. We're totally on top of that. We know she'll be fine and that there will be some adjustment, obviously.

For the most part, I'm trying to just enjoy having only one each and every day. Not that I prefer only one, I just know it will never be exactly like this again and I want to cherish every moment, as I have her whole life. There are times (possible pregnancy hormone reaction) when I get choked up, can't believe how big Kalaya is already and how fast time has already gone. And I know it's only going to go faster once Jakiah is here. Then I have these meltdowns, because I feel like I can't give Kalaya what she needs as much as I used to be able to. I'm just getting so big and uncomfortable, it's hard to do things that involve getting down on the floor or lifting her up. It's gotten hard to go to the park, which I know I should do more. And I just get tired so easily and it makes me irritable and I feel bad that it comes out in my parenting. I know I'm doing my best, but I get upset and wish I could do more. Nelson has been wonderful; he comes home after working all day, runs around with her, gives horsie rides, throws her around and gets out a lot of the energy that I can't keep up with. I wish we had a 2nd car during the day, it would make it easier to get to places, so that I could give her more of a variety of activities. We'll get there, I know and I know that she is very loved, lucky and well taken care of. Anyway, enough ranting, only 12 more weeks (in theory) to go!!