IV chronicles - {38 weeks}

Well, if Rosalia Belle doesn't make appearance by tomorrow at noon, this will officially be the longest I have ever been pregnant.

But... 

The end is in sight. My doctor did say that if I was still pregnant at 39 weeks, he would admit me and get this "show" on the road. I'm not sure how I feel about that, just because I really didn't want to be induced. But if it's a means to an end of many nights of false labor, I'm there!

I'm still walking around at 4 cm dilated, 60% effaced (as of my appointment earlier this week). Lots and lots of aches and pains and pressure. Not surprising. Still didn't stop me from going for a four and a half mile walk earlier this week.

How do I put this lightly? If le husband asks me one more time if I'm having contractions or if it's time or if I could just go into labor already, I'm going to very politely punch him in the face. (I love you, honey.)

I'm currently down to about 3 shirts and a couple pairs of stretch pants that still comfortably fit. I find myself fantasizing about fitting into regular clothes again. That and being able to carry Remy up the stairs without hyperventilating.

I can't wait to hold this sweet little lump of sugar in my arms. Soon y'all..SOON!

IV Chronicles - {37 weeks}

This post has been brought to you by one giant red bouncy ball, three jars of dill pickle spears, and an entire week of waking up at least five times a night.

Obviously blogging has sort of taken a back seat to life this week and probably will continue to do so until this little one is here. Heck, who am I kidding..blogging has taken a back seat to eating and napping. Both things I have been doing a tremendous amount of this week.

So I am officially full term and walking around at 4cm dilated. People tend to get a little bug-eyed when they hear that. As if me sneezing will cause the baby to suddenly drop to the floor. But alas, this is completely the norm for my pregnancies and really does not indicate when labor will start.

Even though I should probably be getting really impatient and irritated and ready to get this whole thing over with, I okay am surprisingly okay with being pregnant for a couple more weeks. Or at least until le husband and I get at least one or two date nights in. We haven't had one in six months or so? Yikes!

37 week belly..

See y'all next week? Maybe?

IV Chronicles - {36 weeks!}

36 weeks! How the heck did that happen? 

I celebrate 36 weeks the way most pregnant ladies probably celebrate reaching full term. Owen was born, healthy as can be, at 36 weeks. And I think it finally hit me this week that I will actually be holding another sweet newborn sometime in the next 3-4 weeks. 

I started weekly check ups on Wednesday and oh I finally packed the dang hospital bag!

Rosalia has firmly planted her head in my pelvis and is causing some major discomfort in my lower back. In the past 24 hours, even walking up and down the stairs has become almost impossible. And forget lifting Remy for more than a few seconds. It's a good thing I have reinforcements (Hi Mom!) flying in on Monday!

I'm still not getting my hopes up that she'll come any earlier than 39 weeks. But it seems everyone else is betting on an early arrival.

One more week and then I will serve an official eviction notice!

And for good measure, my 36 week belly and a pile laundry. Real life, y'all.

Hot. Hot. Hot.

Blah, blah, blah, pregnancy, wahhhh, blah, blah.

I think from here until this baby makes an appearance this blog is going to become one whiny, hormonal rant. At least I warned you?

....

It was the fourth of July and it was hot. 

We played with sparklers. Well, the kids and le husband played with sparklers and I sat comfortably in an adirondack chair and took pictures.

....

Once again, the kiddie pool has been the best $25 we've spent all summer.

....

Remy cut three molars in the past week.

THREE.

Pray for us.

....

Since the beginning of this pregnancy, I've been betting that I'm going to deliver at 39 weeks. Mostly because my previous children have been born at 36, 37, and 38 weeks gestation and I kind of have a nice pattern going.

But I think I may be wrong. The signs of impending labor are showing up. The same way they did before I had Owen (who was born at 36 weeks on the dot). 

But Rosie dear needs to stay put for at least another 12 days. Why 12 days? That's when my mom gets here to help us out for a few weeks. 

Stay put Rosie!

....

Only 5 more days to vote!

IV Chronicles&Happy Things {Quick Edition}

26 weeks.

So, it's pretty official.

I am so uncomfortable.

Pukey, out of breath, feeling as if I can fall asleep at the drop of a hat. Name it and I have it.

Don't get me wrong, I'm still relishing every second of this pregnancy. But I'm just huffing and puffing as I'm relishing.

....

Happy Things.

Star Wars Day. May the Fourth be with you.

Waking up to a certain little girl snuggling up in her dad's spot in our bed.

Little boys in overalls.

IV Chronicles - {24 weeks}

Well, well, well...another week has come and gone! I'm actually feeling pretty dang great..sleeping like a baby..eating more than my husband..can't complain about too much. I did momentarily freak out when I looked at a calendar and realized that if the rest of this pregnancy goes as quickly as the first half, baby will be here in what seems like no time!

24 week bumpage..

....

I actually had someone ask if I derived baby IV's name from the Twilight series. As in the sparkly, broody vampires. Take that in for a second. 

The answer the question is NO.

Rosalia is actually a family name, as it was John's maternal grandmother's name. Though she was from Austria and the pronunciation was a bit different. After deciding on Rosalia, we realized that it had the same amount of syllables as Olivia. So, in trying to keep their names sort of similar, we decided to go with a single syllable middle name, just like Olivia's middle name. After le husband shot down my favorites (Jane, Mae, June) the name Belle was thrown out there and it just seems to fit perfectly. 

And since it was also asked what all the kids' names are..

Owen Marshall

Olivia Shea

Remy Allen

Rosalia Belle

....

Sorry for the super sporadic posting this week. It's always something, eh? Last week it was a sick dog..this week we've had internet connection troubles. I've had a couple days where I had no internet in the evenings. Add that to the fact that we live in an area where AT&T has yet to introduce 3G and well..no blogging it is.

Hope y'all have a swell weekend!

<3

IV Chronicles - {23 weeks}

Earlier this evening, after le husband returned from his work trip, I caught him taking a second glance at my belly as I walked by him. 

He said something to the effect of..."you look really pregnant."

Apparently my belly grew an enormous amount in four days. 

Nothing really new to report. Just a blazing amount of heartburn and a couple meltdowns over my clothes no longer fitting.

....

I'm quickly learning the way to my daughter's heart is through anything pink and sparkly. She's currently having a love affair with a new pair of shoes.

....

TGIF.

IV Chronicles - 20 weeks..say what?!

We have reached the halfway point. Actually, if my prior pregnancies are any indication, I'm over halfway. (I've never made it past 38 weeks gestation.)

People are starting to notice that I'm pregnant. From acquaintances at the kids' schools to strangers in the grocery store, glancing at my belly and then visibly counting the number of children around my cart. 

I can't help but giggle when that happens. 

So what's new this week? Nada. 

Just more pregnant. Boring, I know. But it is what it is.

So here's my belly photo for the week..

Psssttt...we find out what we're having this coming Thursday! Which means this will be the longest, slowest week ever.

You can vote here..

What do you think Baby IV will be?
	Girl
	Boy
pollcode.com free polls

Embrace the Camera & IV Chronicles

Whoa guys! These past couple weeks have been flying by. I'm nineteen weeks tomorrow! NINETEEN! Where the heck did that come from?

Newest symptoms? 

Very easily getting out of breath. And feeling HUGE. Baby IV seems to be growing bigger and stronger by the day. Just this morning, I was able to feel movement from the outside. Such a cool way to kick off my Thursday. 

Things I've been craving this week: lemon water, avocados, smoothies, and of course Mexican food.

....

I'm glad that I never announced our chosen names because we ended up changing our baby girl's name. It sort of came out of left field the other day, but I'm so so so so so excited about the names we've picked now. 

Only 14 days until the big ultrasound!

Linking up with Em again this week and embracing the camera with my Remy and the bump. Can you excuse the sad state of my patio? Although it's starting to feel like spring, it's entirely too early for any planting. I can't wait to start sprucing up the exterior of the house! A few more weeks perhaps!

Ouch.

Let me take a moment and be a stereotypical whiny pregnant woman. 

I know that the all knowing "they" say that due to muscle memory, you will begin to show sooner with subsequent pregnancies.

But y'all.

Y'all...

I lost count of how many times this weekend that I accused le husband of impregnating me with the Jolly Green Giant.

I don't remember feeling this rotund until waaaaaaayyy later in my first three pregnancies. And I know it's not all in my head! I spent half of last night, dramatically sighing, trying to find a comfortable position, all while seriously considering just running to Wal-Mart at 3AM for fluffy pillows to help prop myself up.

And the round ligament pain? Oy. No joke. 

....

I'll be back later today with an actual post! Stay tuned!

Embrace the Camera

We're linking up with Em today for Embrace the Camera!

We're embracing the webcam again this week. 

Olivia is obviously still embracing the goofy face.

And check this out! A 15w6d baby bump, which is starting to look very much like a baby bump.