Today was our 38 week checkup for the baby. Everything still looks good. The doctor’s estimation of the weight of the baby today is 6 lbs. It appears that she is on the same track as Emily in size. Because I will not be able to see my doctor next week for my visit, we went ahead and discussed having an induction. While I want to wait for the baby to come on her own, it is wise to plan ahead. We have an induction scheduled for October 21st as a backup plan in case the baby doesn’t come ‘on-time’. We are trusting God to work out all the little details surrounding taking care of the baby and Emily. He does such a good job whether or not I am practicing my trust in Him to provide. It just seems that God was with us today to work out some simple details of our day and it is a good reminder of His sufficient provision.

We had a surprise today when we went to our appointment. Granddaddy came to the appointment with us to watch Emily in the waiting room. When we arrived we found our friend Ashley in the waiting room. She was having a test and had to wait for a while in the waiting room. She hung out with Granddaddy and Emily while they waited for Mommy’s appointment. We are so grateful for the people that God has put in Emily’s life that love her. Today was just another reminder of that! It will be such a joy to see God do the same for the new baby.

We were blessed with an ultrasound at 37 weeks with our newest baby. It was such a joy to get a ‘sneak preview’ and see her just a few weeks before her arrival. She wanted some things to remain a surprise and took a nap. She wouldn’t turn and show us her face so we will just have to wait a little longer to see her face. Other than our inability to see her face everything else on the ultrasound was great. She is practicing using her lungs, her heartbeat is good, the amount of fluid for her to swim in is good, her size was appropriate, and the blood flow from me to her was great. Our special surprise was that we were able to see her hair. That is something that I would never imagine that we would be able to see on an ultrasound. Her sister had a head full of hair when she came out, and it appears that this one will too. Her size measured at 6 lbs 7 oz (+/- 1 lb).

I’m on the weekly schedule of visits to the doctor to check on me and the baby’s situation. The visit before last, we found out that the baby had dropped and that I am dilated 1 cm. This past week, we found out that I have been a little hard on people around me. I did come home and apologize to Daddy for being moody. To verify the size of the baby the doctor has scheduled me for an ultrasound at my next visit. We are very excited to get to see her again before she arrives later this month!

(33 weeks) With this weeks checkup Mommy got the word that the baby has dropped and has her head in the birth canal and set for delivery. I asked if there was any chance that she would turn and the doctor said that she wouldn’t move out of that position now. I now know that all movement around my bellybutton is her feet kicking me. We are still 6 weeks yet to go in this pregnancy which seems like a long time to spend in this position. It is a good thing that being upside down is not a problem for babies. I can definitely feel a difference in this position and am having more trouble bending and picking up objects (including Emily). I should be watching what I am doing anyway and this is just a good reminder to do so. I know that in a week or so, I will be adjusted to the minor discomfort that this change has brought, but until then my evenings have become very unproductive with a tired back.

(29 weeks)  I have found that while I am pregnant I am pretty forgetful. I think of what I need to do and then walk to the other room and can not remember what I had gone in to do. As this pregnancy has progressed I have also found that I had forgotten quite a bit about being pregnant the first time. Some of the things I forgot are worth forgetting, but a few are really sweet remembrances. I just had one of those moments just this week. This baby is getting some size and is able to make stronger movements. She stretched out her arm and then moved it. I felt her drawing her hand across the inside of my tummy like she was following a shooting star in the sky. It is a feeling that can’t be described. I quickly reached to see if I could touch her hand while it was close to my skin. I did just before she moved it away. It was like I was able to hold her hand for the first time. I had forgotten this sweet thing from my first pregnancy. What delight! I will look forward her continuing to interact with me. I thought it would be best to write down my thoughts before I forget them again so that I will never forget it.

We had a scheduled ultrasound for the baby yesterday. Everything looked good for the baby and they told us that the baby weighs 7 oz. As of yesterday the baby was 18 weeks and 3 days, the baby measured at 17 weeks and 6 days. As the technician made all of her measurements it was just amazing to see all of the little parts of the baby. The most amazing part is the heart as it is pumping in and out. After all of the measurements were completed we were delighted to be told that the baby is a girl! We had our guesses, but it is so exciting to hear with finality what the baby is. Emily will be a great big sister for her little sister. Emily came to the ultrasound, but only made it long enough to hear that she was going have a sister and then wanted to play. She got to take a walk with Grammy and Granddaddy while we finished. The baby was very active during the ultrasound at it was so wonderful to see her move. Her favorite movements were to kick the placenta and put her hands over her face. She seemed to put both her hands and her arm into her mouth at different moments. At one point she waved at the ultrasound wand. It was so sweet. This should be the only ultrasound that we have for this baby unless they doctor orders another one. We will look forward to seeing her when she arrives in October.