9 Weeks To Go.

So we are in the home stretch here with only 9 weeks until my due date. I am 30 weeks 5 days pregnant. 

Its funny how nick names.....stick I guess. When I was pregnant with Zoe a lady from work called me Little Mama the last few months. Now 9 years later, different state, different job, different lady, I am again Little Mama.  Perhaps the first step into losing my identity to motherhood :) Not that I mind, but some days I would rather be Liz than Mom. Some days I would like to close the bathroom door without immediately catching Zoe's attention that I must be doing something without her. And when she finds the door locked, she shakes it. Some days it is hard to live within the knowledge that in just a few short years Zoe will be shutting me out in favor of teenage secrecy. She wants to share everything with me right now. She wants to be around me, still, all the time. She would still be sleeping in my bed every night if I let her :) She is my baby girl and I really hope that our relationship stays strong in her teen years.  I am actually really excited to be able to go through this whole thing again. All the little girl things that I did with Zoe I will get the chance to do again. 

So, at the end of this pregnancy, seems to odd to say that already, I am tired. I found my journal from the last 6-7 weeks of pregnancy with Zoe. I will have to read it and pick out all the symptoms of approaching labor, so that I can trick myself into thinking I have them right now....er....I mean, so that I can watch out for those signals :) I was surprised to read that I had a ton of braxton hicks contractions at the end with Zoe. I do not remember having any. So it would seem the amount I have now is not surprising. I think about 34-35 weeks with Zoe the first stages of labor started. There was lots of pressure, pain, contractions, restless energy all night, tired all day. Then I started to dilate and efface. I wonder how this pregnancy will go....if sitting at a desk all day will make any difference, since I was standing all day with Zoe. The baby was unusually active yesterday and is less active than normal today. So of course that freaks me out. She hasn't even had the hiccups today. Maybe she is just tired from all her activity yesterday. Maybe she just got herself into a position where I feel less. I'm much more nervous about everything this time around. How do I know that its all ok?  I guess now I am just worried the cord will be wrapped around her neck or have a knot or something like that, something you can't predict or stop really. Have to just leave it in God's hands and have faith. 

 Aside from being a worrywart mom, I am tired, just slightly swollen, lots of braxton hicks and lately cramping. Back pain is back, not quite as bad as in the first trimester yet. Indigestion after lunch and dinner most days. Itchy hands. I have yet to crave the smells I did with Zoe, but reading about craving sand makes me think it sounds like a great idea and I want to go roll in it and sniff it, feel it, mmmmmmmm. Did I mention I am tired? Maybe its more like exhausted. And have almost felt like morning sickness was making a come back. It really is that the first and last trimesters are icky. The second trimester is amazing :) 

The baby's room is all set. I think we have everything we need for her. Maybe some small things that would be helpful to have, but with Christmas around the corner I will wait to buy any more. I am so excited to meet my newest little baby. And to see what she looks like. What color her hair is. Will she have Josh's nose? Only 37 days until full term, then any day after that is a good day for baby :)