bébé numéro deux | 34 weeks
progress & countdown: 34 weeks down & 42 days to go.
baby size: a cantaloupe.
food & drink: same ol' same ol' around here. we have fallen into a bit of a 95/5 plan. the vast majority of the time, it is healthy and plant-based foods that feel nourishing yet light. you know, with a focus on nutrition that is good for a growing boy. and the other five percent...well...that is for dessert. this week, it was some tasty ice cream on a family date night and then an extra helping of carrot cake on mother's day. but the ice cream was local and grass fed soooo, health food. and we all know that dessert doesn't count on mother's day. baby boy reassured me. it was little gift to me. he promised that he would let all that yumminess go right to his booty and not mine. good boy.
bump stuff: growing and oh-so-solid. my ball of baby. at this point, he probably has about two more pounds to gain so there is still some work to do in that department.
highs: enjoying the crazy kickfests all day long, especially in the morning during devotion time. i like to think it is because he gets pretty excited about the Word of God and we have a teeny theologian on our hands... AAAAAND we had a couple days with THE BEST weather and it was beyond delightful. it was like a little california coastal town vacation right in our own backyard.
lows: absolutely nothing. all is well. and this week was productive and full and restful and active and celebratory and just right.
new developments: baby now weighs around 4 3/4 pounds and is almost 18 inches long (which would be a shocker, with our genes) fat layers are filling baby out making him rounder and baby's skin is also smoother than ever. the central nervous system is maturing and baby's lungs are continuing to mature as well. in case anyone is thinking about preterm labor (not that i would ever think or stress about such things...) you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. they may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have some short-term issues, but in the long run, they do as well as full-term babies. that does put a mama's mind at ease...but i would still prefer if he stays put for at least five more weeks...
meaningful moments & hormones & feelings: i have spent a lot of time thinking about motherhood this week and offering prayers of gratitude for all the incredible women in my life. and gosh, gratitude for our little lady who has given me some incredible OTJ training in the past two and a half years. i am honored to get to grow with her AND start fresh as mama to a new little life. such a sweet and weighty thing.
superficial stuff: by about 3pm, i am just a big bump with veins everywhere. a vascular delight for pretty much all to see. those guys are working overtime and i am grateful for them, but they are out of control. truly, it is hilarious to see how my body adjusts from morning to night. it cracks me up.
looking forward to: an appointment with the ND + arriving bedding complete with vintage european railways + some quiet nights at home with my man's freshly baked bread.