Well, here we are in the final month of pregnancy and I am FINALLY able to sit down and give a little update on our sweet Chloe Anne! As I was preparing to write this blog, I went back and read some of my previous pregnancy updates with Micah and Hannah. I used to update so often back then! Time is a funny thing. You never seem to realize how much of it you have, until you realize you don't have enough. I used to think I was busy back then. And I was, just in different ways. Now, blogging is not quite as much a priority as it used to be - but I still try and make time to do it, because of the value I find in remembering the details. 

As I was reading Micah's 37 week update and Hannah's 35 week update - this pregnancy is definitely aligning somewhere in-between the two. I am not as swollen or uncomfortable as I was with Micah, but definitely more swollen and uncomfortable than I was with Hannah! I think the time of year has a lot to do with it - Micah was born in the middle of the heat of summer and Hannah in the spring following a cooler winter. All of them are Florida babies, so there is just no avoiding the heat. But I have definitely been thankful for some cooler days lately. :)

This week was also special, because we took some maternity photos! I will share below some of my favorites. We were blessed to have the sweet and special Sarah Lacognata come take them for us again! She always does a great job. And as a photographer, I have a hard time releasing control to someone - but she is truly talented and our kids love her so much that we just pretend like we're all hanging out in the woods and it makes the process a lot easier. ;)  

Previous pregnancy updates: 20 weeks | 13 weeks

HOW FAR ALONG:

35 weeks, 5 days based on original due date of December 17th! However, Chloe has been measuring a week and half ahead (just like her big sis!) pretty consistently on ultrasounds, so I have a feeling that she may come earlier than her due date (just like her big sis!). Wishful thinking? Maybe so. Because you just never know with babies! :)

SIZE OF BABY: 

The last ultrasound I had at 30 weeks said she was measuring 3.5lbs. And based on the average weight gain of .5lb a week, that would put Chloe around 6lbs right now! She's looking to be on her way to catch up to her siblings at 8.1lbs (Micah) and 8.5lbs (Hannah). 

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN: 

+27lbs according to the doctor. But I'm still counting the extra 5-10lbs I put on as soon as I got that positive pregnancy test! And with Thanksgiving coming next week, I think I'm just going to stop counting all together. Ha! ;)

MATERNITY CLOTHES: 

Leggings and t-shirts are what I pretty much live in! I still wear maternity tops and dresses when I need to look a little more put-together, but the maternity jeans are getting really uncomfortable. My one pair of hole-y maternity jeans have a bigger hole than I think was intended. Hahaha.

GENDER: 

All four (or five?) ultrasounds have confirmed that she is indeed still a girl! We had to have a few extra ultrasounds because of a placenta-issue that has been corrected and also, checking on her heart development because of big brother's history. I love getting peeks at her cute face, but it still doesn't take away the anticipation of finally being able to hold her in my arms soon!

MOVEMENT: 

She moves ALL the time and let's me know she is quite low, low, LOW in my pelvis. 

SLEEP:  

Sleep is getting more and more uncomfortable these days. Rolling over is the equivalent of a middle of the night feeding at this point - getting up to pee, adjusting pillows, switching sides then repeating it all again in a couple hours. I think I'll actually enjoy the middle of the night feedings/snuggles a little more though. ;)
 

WHAT I MISS: 

I always appreciate pregnancy for the miracle it is, so I try not to dwell on what I miss too much! But since this is a question, I do want to answer honestly. As a mom of two already, I miss picking up my other babies and being fully-functional. I feel like this pregnancy has been the hardest on my body - and already having two that are so active, I just want to be able to keep up! I try to remind myself that moms have been doing this for years, and have had children even closer together, etc. etc. Our bodies are built for this! And my doctors have assured me that everything I'm feeling is completely normal for a third pregnancy. 
 

CRAVINGS: 

Most of this pregnancy I have craved spicy foods. Like, straight up, jalapeños. And my heartburn hasn't been that bad, surprisingly! But now that I am running out of room, I don't want to risk it too much. So I've cut back on the spicy foods and have really been trying to eat lighter in general. I am also wanting ICE water (but mostly the ice) all. day. long.
 

SYMPTOMS: 

I have already had some early labor signs and symptoms, which always gets me excited that things are progressing! But I have been trying to take it easier, because I definitely want to make it to full term next week! 
 

BEST MOMENT THIS WEEK: 

Taking maternity photos with my family! I am so thankful that my sweet friend, Sarah, drove up and took these for us! It was an overcast and dreary day, so we ended up going out around 3pm to hopefully catch some of whatever daylight we could. I actually really love the "moody" feel we got because of it. Wearing black for maternity photos was not what I had originally planned, but I'm so thankful for how these turned out! 

photo by Justin Robinson

The other day I heard a whisper from the Lord right before I was about to begin my nightly ritual of nursing Hannah before bedtime. My usual routine was to grab my iPhone and scroll through Instagram, Twitter and Facebook (in that order) as she drifted off into her milk coma. But that night I heard a little voice (that I realize was the Lord, now) say, "Why don't you put your phone down tonight and just enjoy these moments. They will pass so soon." I heard the voice clearly and even thought about obeying it for a second, but then my selfishness got the best of me and I was back to my usual routine. 

And then a couple days later, my sweet 10 month old baby girl stopped nursing.  

I was blindsided one night when I went to feed her and she acted completely uninterested. My never-skips-a-meal, eats-for-20-minutes-on-both-sides, baby girl was uninterested. I tried for half an hour... nothing. She even started screaming in frustration/hunger. I didn't know what else to do and I had no formula on hand, so I tried pumping and giving her a bottle. It worked, thankfully. I tried again the next morning... and same story. Finally I took her to the doctor (because obviously, something HAD to be going on... I mean, she must be ill or something) and they said she was teething. Well yes, duh, she already has 9 teeth. I could have told you that. But that never stopped her from nursing before.

And when it finally hit me and I finally succumbed to the fact that this was just it, that she was done nursing and ready to move on... I cried. I mean, really cried. 

I didn't think I would be emotional about it. I mean, I wasn't with Micah. I nursed him 13 months and was relieved when he finally could go to sleep on his own without needing to nurse. 

But maybe this was different because I was already pregnant with Hannah by the time Micah stopped nursing. And I knew I would be back at it again soon. Or maybe, and probably more likely, it was because this time... it wasn't on my terms. This time I didn't get to plan the weaning process. I didn't get to prepare her for it. And I definitely didn't get to prepare myself. 

And I remembered that small voice that whispered to my heart just a few nights before, telling me that these moments were fleeting... and I wish I had obeyed. I really wish I would have cherished those last couple days like I did when she was first born and all I could do was stare at her sweet face 24/7.

People tell us all the time to enjoy those early stages right after they are born, because it goes by so fast. And it's true. They do. But we need to cherish the moments in-between too. Because for all the "firsts" that we experience, there are so many "lasts" that will quickly sneak up on us. I wasn't prepared for this last. But I promise to listen and be prepared for the next.  

Past updates: 1 month | 2 months | 4 months | 5 months | 6 months

// Hannah turned seven months (WHAT?!) last week. It has been a busy/crazy/fun month with our little girl! And if you can't tell from the pictures above, Hannah is definitely getting some payback for Micah's playful, yet aggressive behavior with her early on (get him, girl! haha). Here are the highlights...

Weight/Height

The bathroom scale at home says she hasn't gained much this month as far as weight goes - still a little over 16lbs. I know she has at least gotten longer, because she has grown out of some outfits. But I think I remember that weight gain slows down around now once they start becoming more active (which she DEFINITELY has been!)

Sleep

Sleep is going great! Still taking two naps a day (unless we're out and about and then she may skip her morning nap) and sleeping a straight twelve hours at night.

Sizes

Size 3 diapers and 9 month clothing!

Eating

Nursing about 4-5 times per day, eating two "meals" (puréed baby food) during lunch and dinner and snacking (puffs, Cheerios) in-between. She has also learned to feed herself this month with her fingers, so that is another blessing! A busy mama of two definitely appreciates the little milestones like hand-eye coordination! ;)

Milestones

This month Hannah learned to crawl (army-style), feed herself puffs and Cheerios, and mimic sounds and actions (I raise my hands in the air and she attempts it too!) She's close to learning to wave too - she holds out her hand, now we just have to get the fingers moving! :) She now has four teeth - two bottom and two top. She is a very efficient xylophone player (or banger) and let's just say, her lungs have developed. There is no quiet at our house when the kids are awake.

Likes

Screaming (for joy, frustration, fear, hunger, pretty much everything), crawling, food (especially the kind she can feed herself), music, being held and talked to all the day long.

Dislikes

Being tickled! She cries instead of laughing! Poor thing. And currently, Micah is going through a phase where he loves tickling her. Oops.

Things I Don’t Want to Forget

We took Hannah to Disney for the first time this month and she absolutely loved it! She did so well! I am so proud of how easygoing and flexible she is. She had a great time and enjoyed all the characters and the rides that we went on as family. I wasn't expecting it to be as easy as it was - but we had no meltdowns or anything. So that is definitely something I want to remember! :)