February 24th, 2025 

Before I post this post below… I wanted to share that we had our baby! She is healthy and doing great and so am I! Praise be to God! He is so good! I didn’t get a chance to post two more pregnancy diary posts that I had in my drafts, so here’s the first of two. Then an introduction to baby and her birth story! Thank you for following our journey 🥰

Tuesday February 11th, 2025

We hit the 37 week mark last week–full term! That means baby girl could safely arrive now… or at 42 weeks, which is like five weeks away. How crazy is that? I feel like the time between 37 weeks through delivery is a mental trip of being slightly on edge… is this the day? Should I do this cleaning thing now or put it off? Should I make those plans? When and where will the birth happen?

So many things can happen and change in the last few weeks and everything feels up in the air. Will my blood sugar and blood pressure stay in a good range? Will labor start on its own? When? Will I go past my due date for the third time!?

Basically, lots of questions and lots of wondering. Every time I start to take a trip down question lane, I remind myself that God already knows baby’s story. And if He planned it and He’s in control (which He is!)… then I don’t need to worry for one single second. Because His plan is always good. No matter what.

At 36 weeks and a few days, Jimmy and I headed to the hospital to have an ultrasound and appointment with maternal fetal medicine to check on baby’s growth and to go over options and such due to my gestational diabetes.

The ultrasound estimated baby to be 6 lbs 6oz, give or take, which put her in the 43% for growth! It’s one thing to hear she’s six pounds at 36 weeks and wonder how big she’ll be at 40 or 41 weeks… but then to know she’s in the 43% is a little more reassuring 😉

Regardless, it was amazing to see her and see her heart beating away! Logically I know we’ll meet her within a few weeks, which is a very short amount of time… but it all feels so far away at the same time.

The doctor at maternal fetal medicine said I’m doing great with my blood sugar and also gave me so much affirmation when she said “If it feels like you’re eating all the same things and it’s really hard, you’re almost done! Keep doing what you’re doing!” 

That was nice! She went over Mordecai’s birth (he had shoulder dystocia and was over 8lbs) and said the delivery method and timing was up to me. She said I can have a c-section or I can decide to labor. I can be induced at 39 weeks or wait for labor to start. They didn’t recommend me going past 40 weeks.

My thoughts are: I didn’t control any of my diet with Mordecai’s pregnancy and that could be why he was big. Shoulder dystocia can’t be predicted. Shoulder dystocia is treatable and my care providers know how to deal with this emergency. If I’m meant to be in the hospital, God will make it happen. I am completely surrendered to His plan for her birth. This pregnancy has been similar to Sadie’s with diabetes and baby being a girl… so maybe she’ll be closer to 7 lbs like Sader Tot was?!

The birth center said they are open to me coming in for an induction with them at 39 weeks, doing membrane sweeps, or doing nothing until around 40 weeks. I have an appointment this week with the midwives at the birth center (at almost 38 weeks along), so I’ll have more clarity then! I don’t have any personal preference on what to do now. I don’t have that feeling of being “over” being pregnant. I just want baby to be healthy.

Every time I go to prenatal checkups and my fundal height is measured, it’s usually one week behind. I honestly don’t *think* baby is huge yet. But what do I know? It comes back to God knowing. And me trusting Him, His plan, and His timing.

Okay, all this delivery and size and timing talk aside, I have other updates and thoughts!

• I am definitely nesting. I have cleaned the fridge, vacuumed the car, and organized many random spaces in our house. It feels great to do those odds and ends. I’m also trying to keep up with the house every day. Laundry, vacuuming, wiping down the counters, etc.
• I keep getting asked “How do you feel?” and I honestly feel good! I am so thankful for this baby and for our health.
• At my last two ultrasounds, she has been head down! Woo hoo!
• I haven’t fully packed a bag. If I have to birth in the hospital, I would pack different things than I would if we’re at the birth center.
• Jimmy picked out a sleeper for her to possibly wear after she’s born. MY HEART!! He picked a dark one “to match her hair” so I think he’s guessing she’ll have dark hair?! I think she will too. We packed a few other outfits for her, too!
• I can’t wait to, Lord Willing, meet her. Is she real?! Is this real? I can’t wait for the kids to meet her!
• I miss our hot tub. I’m looking forward to getting in when I’m all healed!
• Going to the chiropractor feels amazing. My hips have been tight lately, and getting adjusted works wonders.
• We still need to put the carseat in our car, grab a few postpartum healing items for me, and bring her bassinet up into our room. Most of that (aside from the carseat) can be done after she’s born, so I’m not overly worried about it.
• I’m looking forward to not dealing with gestational diabetes! I’m glad we caught it and I’ve been able to manage it, though. I’d do anything for this sweet girl!
• Daily, I get different body comments that range from “You’re due this month?! Your belly is so little!” to “You’re about to pop!” and “This is the biggest your belly has ever been!” I just mentally try to take it all with a grain of salt and trust my body to grow this baby, no matter what it looks like!

Here’s a look at the girls room! The crib is set up, her dresser/changing table is set up, too. We just need to hang a little shelf for her diapers and wipes (Side note from 2/24/25: we ended up changing the girls room around again the night before bay was born LOL. I think Jimmy was nesting!).

Okay, I know the walls are a little bare, but we’ll add in some decor at some point!

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Thursday February 13th, 2025

Hi from me at 37 weeks and five days! The photo below accurately sums up life right now… me being busy with the kids, homeschooling, and a donut and chocolate milk on the floor in the background!

I had my midwife appointment yesterday and everything went well! Baby’s heart rate was around 150, my fundal height was 36 cm, my blood pressure was good, my blood sugar is in check, and we went over the next couple of weeks. I’m allowed to have the baby at the birth center whenever she’s ready or if I want to go in and have my water broken around 39-40 weeks. The midwives kind of left it up to me as long as baby is doing well.

I’m not sure if I’m super keen on having my water broken. Both Sadie and Mordecai came on their own and their labors were great. I’d like that to be the case with this baby, too. We shall see! I’m definitely down for membrane sweeps, though. I don’t see any harm in those because they don’t work if the baby isn’t ready to come, you know?

Other things: the flu is really rampant in our area right now, which is nerve-racking. Baby is moving less… she’s kind of just shifting at this point. It’s easy to worry, but I think she’s simply running out of space. I know to call if I’m really not feeling any movement. I’ve also been doing really logical things like crafts when I have a spare moment 🤣

I’m still feeling good physically and emotionally! I brought the kids to get donuts this morning and we did school at Jimmy’s work. Sometimes I feel overstimulated with the pets and the kids… but that’s not just isolated to being nine months pregnant, haha. It’s a lot to be needed and touched all the time, you know?

I know before I had both Sadie and Mordecai I had a huge like emotional cry a day or two before they arrived so I’m watching out for that 😂 Oh the things poor Jimmy puts up with!

Anyways, that’s the update. I don’t expect to go into labor anytime soon based off of going past my due date with both Sadie and Decky. Because of that, we are still planning fun things in the coming days and weeks. I think we are going bowling tomorrow as a family for Valentine’s Day. I can’t wait!

My next midwife appointment is on Tuesday the 18th (I’ll be 38 weeks and 4 days!) so I’ll probably update more then!!

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That’s where we’re at now! We’re somewhere in the last weeks/month and just trusting and relying on God and giving Him so much thanks for this child! 🤍