Picture me circa 2013. I was a third-year dental student just starting the clinical part of my education. I had just finished two years of intensive didactic learning. Every facet of my life was organized by folder. I was an expert PDF annotator. I could study for hours upon hours in my little bubble at the local Panera.
So when I found out I was pregnant with my first child, I approached this new experience much in the same way. I studied. I researched article after article on mothering, pregnancy, newborn life, the whole shebang. I had Pinterest boards dedicated to pregnancy and motherhood. I downloaded apps that walked me through each day of pregnancy. I researched monthly developmental milestones to make sure that my daughter was on target.
I had lofty dreams about sleep training and getting my pre-baby body back. I would exclusively breastfeed and only feed her organic food that I made myself. But now that I am four and a half years into motherhood, I can tell you that all the research in the world did not prepare me adequately for what would be the greatest joy, adventure, and challenge of my life.
Here are a few things I wish I’d known before becoming a mom.
Read MoreHere she goes again.
Throat clear.
So at 38 weeks + 2 days…
Let’s back up. Where to start?
Oh yes, false labor. Or prodromal labor to the medical folks. I call it you suck labor. For days, nay, weeks. It was like that for my first kids, so I don’t know what made me think that I could avoid it this time, but alas, a girl can only dream. For a good fortnight, I had regular contractions, especially during the day while I was working. I’ll tell you, prepping crowns and trying to do exams on squirmy two-year-olds is no fun when you’re contracting.
If I was more of a glass-half-full kind of gal, maybe I’d glean some life lesson from the waiting and wondering and patience and yada yada. Offer it up, Samantha. But nope. Impatience during the last month of pregnancy is sort of my deal.
But I was determined not to go to the hospital unless I was FOR. SURE. IN. ACTIVE. LABOR. Because being sent home with not-so-active labor but still contracting for baby number three would be #embarassing. I was also delaying packing my hospital bag because, although I am not superstitious, apparently 36+ week pregnant Samantha was convinced that packing the hospital bag would delay labor. I know, pregnancy brain is an interesting phenomenon.
Read MoreOur precious little baby was born October 5, 2018. We are still in the newborn haze and I am still working on his birth story. Pop over to my Instagram for daily photos of the pumpkin.
Read MoreThe boy and I are 36 weeks TODAY and it feels like one million.
I think things are moving along because there is a lot of pressure down there and I am feeling like he’s coming around the mountain any day now.
My hilarious coworkers are taking bets on the birth date. They are playing for bragging rights apparently. (Although several have bet for AFTER the due date and I’m like, AREYOUCRAZY?)
I’m feeling bigger this time around. Just all around bigger. The belly, the baby, the everything. I was looking back at this time around for Emma and Henry and I definitely look biggerish. I don’t know, you be the judge.
Read MoreWOAH. How are we already here? It seems like just yesterday I was finding out this little one was growing inside me and now we are on the final countdown.
I'm not going to lie, this has been a tough pregnancy. Physically, I am utterly exhausted. Emotionally, I am all over the place. While I cannot wait to meet this precious boy, I am overwhelmed at the thought of three (!!!) little lives needing me to love and nurture them.
Currently, I am about 33 and a half weeks along and almost into the last month of this. And boy oh boy can I feel it. Mostly, this baby beats me up with ninja kicks but the exhaustion and heart burn are just oh so lovely. And by lovely, I mean terrible.
I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. We have most things ready for little man's arrival. And I've picked a name (still waiting on Paul's final OK). This month, although I am physically wiped, I want to focus on smothering Emma and Henry in attention and as much energy as I can muster.
Moms with three or more kids, GIVE ME ALL THE ADVICE. Please&thanks.
Now for what you came for, BUMPDATE PHOTOS.
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