Dearest Little Reid,

Let's see?!? I'm now 38 weeks, 2 days along and you are still very happy hanging out in your little oven. You have been positioned head down for many weeks now and your back/butt are always on my left side (you totally prefer that side!). You are constantly moving your little legs around my belly button on my right side. My belly does waves throughout the day and i have no idea when you actually sleep. You usually get the hiccups once a day in the evening.

Last week at my 37 week u/s you weighed in at 5 lbs, 8 oz, which put you in the 13th percentile. The doctors are not worried and mommy is perfectly happy having a small man :) I was checked yesterday and you are not trying to come out any time soon- I was 50% effaced (thinning out) and not dialated at all. I have been feeling warn down the past few days and sick in the evenings.

Gwen and Cole are getting very excited to meet you. Gwen talks about you often and requests to hold and carry you. Your big brother and big sister picked out some special presents for you and proudly wrapped them a few weeks ago. Your room is mostly complete besides a few random decorations. So, little Reidster, we are waiting for you. Waiting for you to make an appearance (Cole and Gwen want to sing Happy birthday!) and can't wait to share our love and make many memories with you.

Love, Mommy

Catching up...

So apparently I have a lot of catching up to do, Little man (or Reid as we've been calling you!). Following are some of the events that have taken place over the past few months:

Gwen is EXTREMELY excited to meet you. She announces daily: "We're having a baby, mama!". She has been practicing changing her doll's diapers and asks questions about carrying you and holding you often. She has also taken to reading books about becoming a big sister.

Cole also enjoys kissing my belly and saying "hi baby" to you. One of his favorite songs is Pat A Cake. He usually sings "C for Cole", "G for Gwen", "D for Daddy", "M for Mommy". The other day he asked for a letter for "Baby Reid" and has been saying "R for baby Reid" ever since!

On 6/9/11, I went for the dreaded 1 hour glucose tolerance test. I felt fine the entire time but completely failed it. Luckily i failed it enough that i didn't have to take the 3 hour test that i took when i was pregnant with your brother and sister. I went to visit with the nutritionist and have been on a strict diet ever since. I haven't been gaining weight but the doctors are happy that you're gaining and aren't a huge baby.

For Fathers Day we made Daddy a picture frame with Gwen holding the letter "D", you holding an "A" and Cole holding a "D". He took it to work and gets to see your adorable u/s pic every day!

On 6/25/11, we visited with the Pajerowskis and the Khans. Eileen is pregnant with twin boys and Deb is pregnant with a little man as well. We took some funny belly pics (see pics) and talked about how the four of you men will be the best of friends!

On 7/12/11, we took a few pics (see above) of you and mommy in your new nursery. This was a special day because it was the day i officially was the most pregnnat that i had ever been since i had your brother and sister at 32 weeks, 6 days. We have been working hard to get it ready for your arrival. I couldn't find any bedding/curtains that I liked so i had some custom made on Etsy. We bought your crib and dresser from Ikea and are now working on some wall decor.

On 7/14/11 we went for an u/s at the OB's office. I was 33 weeks and you weighed in at 3 lbs, 13 oz. The doctor was very pleased with your growth and we got to see that you were head down. You even had one of your legs straight out to mommy's side. You definitely are an active little man. You like to stay right in the center of my belly and I see you rippling around all.day.long!

On 7/15/11, I noticed that you had the hiccups for the first time. Since then you have had them a few times.

On 7/20/11, we had a maternity pic session with Christine Stewart. Our usual photographer had to cancel, so Christine stepped in to do the shoot. 

Kick, Kick, Kick!

You are an active little man. You've been moving around a lot more recently. In the past few days, you have been kicking Cole and Gwen when they sit on my lap. Daddy and i were laughing yesterday because your brother and sister haven't quite figured out that mommy's lap is getting smaller. Whenever they sit there, they keep grabbing on and pushing their little bottoms back further only to realize that you are taking up the space where they used to sit!

22.5 Week Belly Pictures!

We Know :)

Well...we finally found out on 4/13/11 that you are a little BOY :) We could tell within seconds that you were a boy. You were a little trouble maker during the big ultrasound. You had your feet over your head the majority of the time and you insisted on sucking your thumb and having your hand in your face. Thankfully, the ultrasound tech was very patient with you :) She said that you were measuring about 19 weeks and weigh about 10 oz. Gwen kept saying "no. baby sister" but she has gotten adjusted to the idea and is very excited for her little brother to arrive. In fact, today she was reminding me that we are getting a new car for "our baby brother". Both Cole and Gwen are insisting that we name you "Shoopa" but they realize that mommy and daddy are not thrilled with the name. IN the car the other day, Gwen said: "Daddy no like name Shoopa. Gwen like Shoopa. Cole like Shoopa. Daddy no like Shoopa".

19.5 Week Bellly Pics

A few notes for Baby C...

In a little over a week we FINALLY get to find out if you are a boy or a girl. I have been dying to find out and daddy thinks it is so funny how obsessed i am!

About a week ago at 18 weeks your little flutters turned to larger kicks. I can feel you moving around as i write this and daddy felt you for the first time a week ago :) I also started taking some zofran and have been feeling much better. you certainly had mommy very sick there for the first 17 weeks!

Gwen is such a little mommy. For the past few weeks she has been concentrating on taking care of her little dolls. This morning i saw that she had covered her baby in a stroller with a small receiving blanket just like she saw some moms doing at the park yesterday. She constantly asks: "mommy, baby wear this?' and "baby play with this?". Also, she likes to say things like: "baby come soon but grow in mommy's belly". Today at lunch she was chatting with herself (cole may have been listening) and she said: "mommy's baby kicks in belly". When i read to her, Gwen often reaches over and pulls my shirt up a little so she can rub my "baby belly".

Baby C, please don't think that your big brother, Cole, does not love you. he too is excited about your arrival but he doesn't seem to have quite the understanding that Gwen does at this point