{Barrett Alexander Powell - 8lbs 2oz - 22in}

Barrett was born on Saturday, October 26th at 9:18am, just one day before my birthday. My water broke 3:26am in bed. And luckily like last time I was able to get to the bathroom and the bed stayed clean! I had only been asleep about 3 hours. Love starting a new life already behind on your sleep.  Mom came here to sleep and get the kids up.

Got to the hospital at 4:15 and was checked in.  I was only a 3cm and at my last appointment I had been a 2.  I was able to get moved into a room, watch a lot of news and get my epidural at 6am.  The nurses kept asking me about my pain because my contractions were huge but my pain was only about a 2-3.  They told me I could do it without an epidural.  I gladly told them I had no interest at all in doing that.  Pain meds all the way!

My contractions were hard and but not super steady.  I would have the mountain range thing going on instead of peaks.  So I would have super long contractions and not up and down. I got pitocin around 7am to help with that because I was only 4cm.

Barrett's heart rate dropped at around 7:30 and they turned off the pitocin. The nurses did a wonderful job controlling that (as opposed to when it happened with Milam) and rolled me over and gave me oxygen.  The nurse said she wasn't worried and since she knew I labored fast it just meant Barrett was probably being moved into the birth canal pretty quickly and we just needed to find a better position for me.  It worked and he was fine.

At 8:20 I was 10 cm and positive 2 station and the nurse told me Barrett had hair. They called the doctor and she was about 20 minutes out so they decided I was ok to wait on her.  They had me do a practice push and immediately told me to stop and close my legs.  The nurse said if I coughed or laughed he would come out. She ended up taking longer because the parking lot was blocked and she couldn't get into the hospital.  He probably would have been born around 8:30-8:40 (making all my labors literally the exact same length) but because my nurse wanted to wait he was born after two pushes (one big push and one small push) at 9:18 am.  They had another doctor on standby but my doctor was the on call doctor for my practice that weekend so I really didn't mind waiting since I had already had an epidural.  We just talked and laughed (not too much) while we waited.

Barrett - 39 Weeks

Holy Cow! 39 weeks! Can you believe it?!

I sure can't.  We got a lot of sweet gifts this week.  Jonathan's school had a little shower for him which was above and beyond and not at all necessary for a third child but it was very much appreciated!

Oh goodness...I'm so done.  I mean look at this ridiculous belly. I never really felt over it with G but with Milam and did and I for sure have with this guy.  I'm sorry, I complain a lot but y'all as I type this he is trying to burrow up under my ribs and it is so hard to breathe.

Still no stretch marks, belly button is still in, he hasn't dropped, still 2cm and 80% so not any real changes from last week besides that I am all the more uncomfortable.  Swelling in my legs has gotten slightly better with the slightly cooler temps. I've basically stopped caring and am banking on peeing it all off ;)

39 weeks with each kid in order from left to right.

Barrett - 38 Weeks

I'm 38 weeks!
And look how tired I am.  I shot a wedding for 8 hours today!

At my appointment on Wednesday I was 80% and 2cm which is exactly where I was with Milam at 38 weeks.  We're not thinking I'll be making it to Halloween even though my due date isn't until November 2nd.  I'm still swelling which is super annoying and uncomfortable.  No stretch marks, belly button is in, and he hasn't "dropped" but is lower than he was at 37 weeks.  I'm shooting a wedding today so that's insane and then I have a newborn shoot on Sunday.  I just really need to get through this weekend and then he is welcome to get here.  I think mentally I am ready to meet him or maybe I'm just ready to not be pregnant anymore (this is for sure true!).  My neighbor asked me the other day if I was ready and I said, "I guess I'm as ready as I'll ever be" which I think is how it is with any pregnancy. You can only do so much to prepare although I could have done a few things better this time around.  I've put so many things off thinking I would get time but the time just never came and now we have two weeks or less.  Their brother/sister shirts just shipped yesterday, his hospital gown hasn't shipped, we've done zero meal prep, and I haven't finished the notes for my mom and Jonathan. But hey, it will all work out, right?

Barrett - 37 Weeks

I had my 37 week appointment a few days early and I was 1 cm and 70% (with Milam I was 1/2cm and 70% - so pretty much on the same track).  His heart rate was in the 140s I think.  He wiggles and squirms to get away from the wand the best he can.  Lord, please don't let him be a trouble maker.  I still have no stretch marks.  Good genes I guess.  Thanks, mom.  Belly button is still in although it looks out because you can see it's outline through my shirt. I'm still swelling despite the couple days of below 90 degree weather we've had.  

I'm really looking forward to losing this water weight, sleeping on my back, breathing normally, being able to bend over and have my general range of motion back.  Ahh.  The simple things.  I've gotten all his newborn things washed and put away and my hospital bag in mainly packed.  We are well on our way to being "ready" if one is ever really ready to add another person to their family.  See you soon Baby Bear!

Barrett - 36 Weeks

I had an appointment and final ultrasound yesterday.  Barrett is currently weighing in at 6 pounds and 12 ounces.  His heart rate was 146, his head was in the 98% for a baby at 39 weeks (!!), and the rest of him was about the 90% for 37 weeks.  My doctor thinks he'll be about Milam's same size (8.8) if we get to 40 weeks.  In his pictures he was opening and closing his eyes and mouth and sticking his tongue out.  So cute.  The ultrasound tech was cracking up laughing and saying he was doing "yoga" because he had one foot in my ribs and one foot near his face and was trying to grab it with his hands.   He has such a chubby little face and the same nose as his brother and sister. We're still considering induction but not 100% on anything.

If you've read any of my other posts about this pregnancy you know it wasn't planned and that I've pretty much been over the entire thing since the day I found out.  Seeing his little face though helps so much.  I'm actually getting excited about meeting him.  I'm not ready to take care of a newborn...at all but I do want to meet that chubby face.

Belly button is in, no stretch marks, still swelling, he moves a lot, no idea how much I weigh, I've developed pregnancy carpal tunnel (fun!), my back and tailbone hurt a lot, and sleep is hit or miss.

Barrett - 35 Weeks

This week I've gotten to the point where I don't know how I can possibly go on,  get any bigger, or feel anymore uncomfortable.  I was never to this point with Georgia and she was a day late and I did get mighty uncomfortable with Milam but I don't remember it being this "early". I'm sure it's compounded by taking care of two kids, one of which still needs my help a lot, the fact that I'm not getting any younger, and that my body isn't as strong after having done this two times already.  My lower abs hurt often and so does my belly button area (which I've never felt before).  I went and bought a belly support band for this guy today and it seems to be helping.  I already feel some relief in my back.  I plan on getting a postpartum one as well to help strengthen my core again.

I have an appointment next Thursday.  It will be an appointment with my doctor but I'll also be getting my final ultrasound to get a better estimate of his size and figure out if we want to induce or not.  He feels bigger to me than my other two just because I'm so uncomfortable that in my head he has to be bigger but it could also just be me being grumpy.

We got all of our baby items out of the attic and are missing a few things so I need to get busy on getting all of that taken care of.  And I think he'll need different holiday clothes than Milam because he'll be about 2 months behind in these first seasons.

My reflux is pretty bad throughout the day but it is manageable.  I'm looking forward to so many things about not being pregnant anymore but I'm so not ready for a newborn (which I say all the time).  I'm interested in seeing what he looks like since Georgia is blonde/blue eyes and Milam is red hair/blue eyes.  We don't have a lot of guesses but his ultrasounds look a lot like Milam! We shall see.

You can tell with Georgia I didn't swell.  My face and arms were a lot smaller even though I worked out and ate better with both boys.  Her due date of mid May was so much easier on my body!  The pictures are in order so G is on the far left and Milam is in the middle.

Barrett - 34 Weeks

Another mirror selfie because I have the WHOLE day to myself! (And my camera remote is broken, darn kids, and if I set the self timer I'm fairly certain I'll break an ankle running back and forth) It is hard for me to smile though because I'm concentrating so much.

34 weeks.  Holy moly.  That's a lot of weeks.  We're not ready for you just yet Baby Bear so stay cooking at least 5 more weeks.  I'm still feeling huge even though my doctor continually tells me I am not and laughs at my comments.  She felt around quite a bit on my stomach last week and said my "bump" is all baby.  He's filling out his entire space.  She's guessing he'll be around the same size as Milam (eight and a half pounds even) but she also isn't an alarmist so if he was measuring bigger I doubt she would say anything.  At my 36 week appointment I'll get my final ultrasound and see what the ultrasound guy says.  He was spot on with Milam's birth weight so I'm anxious to see what he says (because I know he'll be super honest).

He's really high so breathing is really hard.  Even laying on my side its hard.  My tailbone hurts all the time.  I'm still walking my 2 miles 5 days a week when we aren't having tropical storms.

I still have swelling from the knees down and in my hands.  Belly button is in and I have no stretch marks.  I've been drinking crazy amounts of water so I think that's been helping with the swelling.  I bought a fake wedding ring this week.  My normal ring size is 4.75 and my fake 6 was too small.  My new size 7 is too big but at least I'm not risking having to get it cut off. 

We've discussed inducing with this guy.  I induced with Georgia one day past her due date and it was a great experience and an easy labor and delivery.  I did not induce with Milam (he was one day early) and he was born on the worst day possible which isn't a big deal now but not getting to take Georgia to her first day of kinder is still a little sad.  Milam's delivery was also an overall good experience, fast, and easy.  I'm much more uncomfortable (physically) this time around and really feel the need to have a set plan in place for my other two kids and my mom who would be watching the kids. Especially because she's the primary care taker of my 95 year old grandmother and my step dad who has Alzheimer's.  I discussed with my doctor that if I were to induce how I would want it to go and what days she had free and she said that is totally doable and with how easy my other two deliveries were that this one would be no different even if we did induce.  I obviously don't have to make that call right now and I feel weird picking his birthday but we induced with Georgia and it was fine.  We shall see...

Max we have 6 weeks to go!

Barrett - 33 Weeks

This is such a bad photo of me.  Bad angles.  Stripes. My arms.  Ick.  I hate it all.  But, here's to 33 weeks.

Not a lot new to report. It's getting harder to breathe and sleep.  Reflux was doing better but now it's pretty bad in the morning and at night. Just getting more and more uncomfortable.  While I'm eager to not be pregnant I'm not super excited about the lack of sleep this new person is going to bring.  I know we'll love him and he'll add to our family but I just really don't enjoy the first three months.  Yep, I said it. Georgia was a pretty tough newborn and Milam was fairly easy (for a newborn) but spoiler...both were hard.

Pregnant people I know are starting to have their babies.  Not making me super excited just really anxious.  We've made a lot of progress but I still feel like we have such a long way to go.  In reality we only lack a car seat and a crib sheet so we're not a long way from ready but it feels that way.  Oh, and I need to wash and sort newborn clothes.  Even that seems daunting though which is probably just because I'm not allowed to get into the attic.

Barrett - 32 Weeks

Another pregnancy selfie pre church and another post posted several days late! We've had a lot going on lately.  Mainly getting Milam's big boy room ready.

This week has been fun.  Someone asked how far along I was and when I told them they said, "oh you look much farther along that that" which, I can't even be upset because it's totally true.  I'm swollen all over and fingers crossed I can sweat it all off.  He better be big though...hopefully it isn't just me ;)

No stretch marks, belly button is in, no clue on weight gain and don't care to.

Barrett - 31 weeks

This week.  Goodness y'all.  I've officially hit that point in size where when I tell people how far I have left to go they're like, "Oh, wow!".  Yep, I know.  I'm big.  This entire pregnancy I've just felt big and in general not good about myself like I did with the other two.  I'm older for one and it's baby number three so I'm not expecting miracles but calves that aren't swollen would be nice.  Also non triple digit weather would be nice. I'm in such a hurry to not be pregnant anymore but at the same time in no rush to have a newborn living with me.  I'm one of those that has never really enjoyed the newborn phase. I'm fully aware of how much I wanted to be pregnant with Milam and how much my former self would loathe my current self for talking like this.  The irony is NOT lost on me, however, I just feel the way I do. In my heart I know children are a blessing but my head is just like, dear Lord, another one.  Sorry Barrett, I'm a third baby who was very much a surprise as well.  I never doubted my parents loved me or wanted me.  You'll survive ;)

Belly button is still hanging on as an innie just barely, no stretch marks, no idea on weight gain because I don't look at the scale at the doctor or own one at home, grumpy a lot (read above), emotional, always hot, sleeping good though, still walking 2 miles 5 days a week and working out 4-5 days a week...mainly just leg and arm toning. Doesn't seem to be working (insert cry/laugh emoji here!)

Barrett - 30 Weeks

Look at me posting my weekly bump date on time.

I am 30 weeks today and literally have nothing new to report. My belly button is still holding on to its innie status but barely. Calves and ankles and feet are swollen but I'm getting by. 10 weeks (or less...I'm assuming) to go!

Barrett - 29 Weeks

So, here we are.  Last week in the 20's.  I've made a master list of what needs to be done and we think it would be doable with two kid free weekends.  (We actually got a lot done this weekend) We can dream. I've started every two week appointments.  I'm getting more uncomfortable but nothing too too bad just yet.  Belly button is in, I don't look at the scale, the dress in this picture is a medium and was too big so I can't be doing that bad, right? RIGHT?! No stretch marks.  I've been sleeping pretty good.  Sometimes not even getting up to use the restroom! That's a win.

Scroll past this post for a weekend update!

Barrett - 28 Weeks - 3rd Trimester

Holy cow.  Third trimester.  Sorry baby Barrett we are so not ready for you yet.   While I am curious about what you'll look like, and praying you'll be my best baby yet, and how big you'll be, we have still done nothing to prepare for you.  Super sorry bud!

I passed my glucose test but am anemic which I'm not surprised about.  I was with both my other pregnancies and had to get on iron.  The iron is making me feel so much better though! I was so tired to the point of not functioning and now I'm doing so much better.

Nothing new or exciting to report really.  We're getting furniture together for Milam's big boy room.  Getting a back up crib and dresser for him today and he already has a bed so his room is mainly lacking paint and a functioning closet.

27 Weeks - Barrett

This is our last week in the 2nd trimester.  I just cannot believe it.  I had two appointments this week. The first was an ultrasound to look at the placement of my placenta.  At 20 weeks my placenta was 1.7 cm away from my cervix but needed to be 2cm by 37 weeks.  All the praise hands because at 26.5 weeks it was already up to 4cm so I'm totally in the clear.  Yay.  No need for a scheduled C-section.  His heart rate was 135 and all his measurements were from 80th-95th percentile.  He weighed in at 2.5 pounds.  He had gained a pound and a half in 6 weeks.  He covered his face the entire time.  He was curled up with his elbows on his knees and hands on his face.  I could already see his hands were very chubby and shaped just like Milam and Jonathan's.

My second appointment was my glucose test which I had forgotten about the day before and ate an entire chocolate bar.  Oops.  The appointment went well so hopefully I don't get a call back.  His heart rate was in the 140-150 range and I was measuring exactly on target despite feeling totally huge.  I refuse to even look at he scale this pregnancy.  The doctor would only get two or three heart beats measured before he would do a body roll away from her doppler.  He did it like 3 or 4 times and she said she thinks he's going to be a handful. Yippee.

I have no stretch marks, my lower legs are getting swollen, and my belly button is in but really shallow.  My appointment this week was my last once a month appointment and my next one is scheduled in two weeks which I am 0% ready for.  I did secure a crib for Milam this week (to put in his big boy room since I'm guessing he's not ready to transition) and a baby sleeper to try out in our room just in case.  Babies tend to not last too long in our room and get the boot really quickly.  I also think I have found carpet for half of the garage so I can move Georgia's gym equipment out of the now playroom and soon to be Milam's big boy room.  We're leaving the nursery 90% as is.

26 Weeks - Barrett

Not a lot going on this week.  We're at the beach (hence the camera phone pic above) so I'm a bit swollen from the heat and this big ol boy. I haven't slept good at all so I'm kind of tired and grumpy. Next week I have two appointments.  My first is an ultra sound to see if my placenta has moved and the second is my 26 week appointment and glucose test.  I've passed with my other two so I'm not super worried about it.  Then I think I go in twice a month.  I say this every week but my goodness we sure do need to get ready for another kid.  Ugh.  We've done nothing.

Barrett - 25 Weeks

Only 15 weeks to go.  I guess we better get our butts into gear!

We're in the weird movement phase where I can feel like a knee or elbow drag across the inside of my body.  Looks really strange.

At a party somewhere recently someone asked me what the baby's name was and I said, "Barrett".  Her response: You know, kids get made fun of at school a lot

Me: ----------

So that was fun.

Belly button is in.  No stretch marks. Feeling a little swollen.

Barrett - 22 Weeks

Sorry for this terrible picture.  This was after three days of car travel with two kids and we had just reached my dad's house.  I haven't slept well in two nights.  It's been a little stressful.

Also, things to note...did you notice we have officially and FINALLY changed this baby's name?!  He is now Barrett Alexander.  I tried to change all his hashtags on insta and the tags here on blogger but I haven't gone back into my posts to change his name in there.  Sorry, bud.  Some day.

Our little baby bear is doing great and moving like crazy. Not a whole lot to report.  I go to the doctor again in one week.

Barrett - 21 Weeks

Much more to update this week.  I had my 20 week ultrasound and Barrett is weighing it at one pound even.  Georgia was 10 oz and Milam was 11oz at this point.  The ultrasound tech is the same man who did Milam's and exactly guessed Milam's weight.  Guessed 8 pounds and 8 ounces on the dot. He said Bear is on track to be bigger than brother (if he makes it to 40 weeks like my other two did). His leg and head were in the 95th percentile.  Said he looked, "tall and smart, nothing average about him". Ha, so I guess that's good!  We were able to count all ten of his fingers and all ten of his toes and see both of his eyes.  He was already head down and the tech mentioned how big his head was.  Fantastic.  Barrett's profile and 3D ultrasound look strikingly similar to Milam's.  Even the way they were tilting their heads all the way back.  Took the ultrasound tech a good long while to get him to pull his head up.  Their profile shot does not look like big sister's.

One minor issue came up, which the doctor isn't worried about, and has a 99.99% of resolving on its own.  Worst case I would have a c-section.  I have marginal Previa. My placenta is a little too close to my cervix opening (it's not even touching or partially covering) but since your uterus grows up my doctor said it is nearly impossible for the placenta not to move up.  She'll check it again at 26 weeks so we should be seeing him again pretty soon.

He's had the hiccups several times this week which is kind of funny and I want to eat a lot of BBQ.  Nom.

Milam is on the left and Barrett is on the right

Comparing all of their profiles

(sorry bud, your name is wrong below!)

20 Weeks - Barrett

I've been feeling pretty good other than being occasionally tired.  My reflux is manageable and the nausea has been gone for awhile even though I'm off my meds.  My hardest symptom right now is that I'm really tired a lot.

Honestly, I am still coming to terms with things we'll be set back on with having another little one.  Another 2-3 years of a crib, diapers, and baby proofing.  We were also really looking forward to being on the cusp of easier travel and now we'll be starting all over again.  When you think you're done it's daunting. I'm not whining, these are just things going through my head.  I keep telling myself three years isn't a long time and that we'll make it but we were just SO CLOSE.  And even though I can feel him move and SEE him move it still doesn't feel real.  I'm so not prepared for this life change in any way, shape, or form.

19 Weeks - Barrett

19 weeks along now.  He's moving like crazy and as of today (Saturday) the top of my uterus is a smidge above my belly button which is INSANE to me! At my last appointment his heart rate was 146 I think.  We've done nothing to prepare for him.  I feel 0% ready for him to be here.  I'm totally overwhelmed every time I think of what needs to be done and how much our lives are going to change. And I hate the flat spot on my belly.  It was like that with Milam too.  Super fun.