Pregnancy Update: 38 weeks

Well, in less than 96 hours, I will have given birth to our 5th child. The time has finally arrived, and we are thrilled. I reached the point a couple of weeks ago where I decided that I was really ready for this pregnancy to end. I think it was about the time my weight decided to jump a couple of pounds and my back started to bother me again. I’ve also been having contractions and some other signs of that my body is getting ready for this pregnancy to be over, too.

This Friday, it will be! And we’ll be able to hold our new daughter in our arms. I can’t wait.

In the meantime, we’ve been busy getting things ready for Christmas, grocery shopping to make sure our fridge/freezer are stocked, cleaning and rearranging for the baby, and spending time together as a family.

I think we are just about ready. I have to finish up finals for 2 of my classes and submit a final project for a third class, and then I’ll be completely finished with the Fall semester at school. I should have this done by Thursday night. The following morning will be baby-time.

And here’s what else I’ve been up to:

:: Remember how I commented on not having found many baby blankets? I was blessed just today with plenty of blankets from my mother-in-law and sister-in-law. Very thankful!

:: I’ve gained 31 pounds – just over my goal. I wanted to stay under 30 pounds, but I honestly having been helping myself the last few weeks. I haven’t been walking like I had previously been, and we’ve eaten out a few times, which NEVER helps.

:: I’ll have my last non-stress test on Tuesday.

:: The stroller and car seat arrived via UPS. The pattern on the car seat is pleasantly more feminine than it appeared online.

:: After going back and forth about where the baby will sleep, we finally decided to purchase a simple, easy-on-the-budget crib. We’ve always been co-sleepers with our babies, but since our two youngest boys still end up in our bed almost every night, we thought that this was the best way to go. The crib is going to go right next to our bed so that I can easily place the baby in the crib to sleep, and she’ll easily be within arms reach.

:: I think we’ve decided that the baby’s name will be…..Elisabeth Grace. It’ll be Elisabeth for sure because we’ve been calling her by name lately and we even purchased an ornament at the mall with all of our names on it – including Elisabeth’s. That means the her first name absolutely must remain, Elisabeth. 🙂

:: I finally purchased a pack of newborn diapers and one package of size 1 diapers. They’re so tiny and cute.

:: I can’t believe I’ll be nursing again by the end of the week, and I’m hoping that I won’t have the excruciating pain I did with my last two children. I decided to pack my nursing cover this time around (I don’t know why I never did this before), and some Lanolin cream. Maybe if I get started early with the lanolin cream, I won’t be in so much pain. I know some people say that breastfeeding isn’t supposed to hurt, but I’ve only met ONE person in my life who ever said that it didn’t hurt for them in the beginning.

:: I’m just really happy to be able to meet our new daughter this week!