The Final Week

 Leggings: Nordstrom | Top: H&M | Flannel: Old Navy | Shoes: Target | Hat: Nike 

Saturday  morning, I was finishing up packing the few remaining items in the hospital bag while Liam was eating breakfast. 

Mooooom? When is my baby brother coming? A question we all want to know.

I don't know, bud. Hopefully soon. I'm so excited! Are you?

Yes! I want to hold him and give him toys. But not big toys, wittle baby toys. Cause he's a baby. I don't want to be a big boy, I want to be a baby. I don't waaaanna grow up!

I want you to stay little too, while trying not to shed a tear.

Last night he brought me Love You Forever to read to him before bed. I literally only got through the first two pages before I started crying. Hormones, amiright? Luckily, he wanted to read it to me and made up his own story as he flipped through the pages.

I have one week left until my induction date and I'm savoring it up. Liam has been extra cuddly and sweet and I know he's going to be the best big brother. Though I'm swollen and incredibly uncomfortable, I'm loving the family time we've had. I think we're all feeling excited and impatient and more grateful than ever.

Texas Bluebonnets and a Due Date

Spring in Texas is a glorious time. The weather is warm (this week has been in the high 80's), bluebonnets are blooming, and the humidity hasn't spiked yet. Don't blink or you might miss it! This spring I'm especially grateful as our little rainbow baby is due to come any day now. We are feeling the excitement and anticipation in our house as we wait.

I had my weekly doctor appointment on Monday and we got to see our bashful boy. It seems he wants to surprise us with his face as we have yet to have a successful profile view. He does have cheeks for days and the perfect pout. And perhaps that ol' wives tail about heartburn and babies having hair is true. Turns out, he has a head of it and even has a patch of longer strands. 

The biggest news was the he's no longer breech (yay!) and he's 8lbs 8oz. Let's take a minute here and reflect on this. I am 37 weeks carrying an 8.5lb babe. 

Alright then.

Needless to say, my doctor is not allowing me to go to 40 weeks; that's just asking for a 10 pound baby. So our due date was moved up a week (still doesn't feel soon enough). I am 1cm dilated which is progress for Stover women. Slow and steady is our game. We don't do labor naturally and getting to 1cm took doctors half a day with Liam so any progress is encouraging! I'm counting the days (4) til I'm done with work because holy F E E T. They definitely reflect that I'm carrying such a big boy.

Around this time last year we shared the news of our miscarriage and it's incredible to think that one year later we would be waiting for our baby to get here. He is a mighty God and I just can't help feeling joyful at His goodness. 

A Mini Bumpdate

Sweatshirt: Target | Jeans: Target | Slides: Target | Sunnies: Ray-Bans | Bag: Catherine Malandrino

A few things to note as I waddle my way into these last several weeks of pregnancy.

• These pictures have made me realize it's time to retire this sweatshirt (at least in public). I think it's done all the stretching it can do. But if you're not carrying a basketball with you everywhere you go, this is quite possibly the softest thing you will ever put on your body. Which is why I say "in public" because I just don't care if the bottom of my belly hangs out around the house.
• BH contractions have hit on the reg. At least one an hour and later in the day I'll have 4-5 an hour. Never enough to actually be of any use, just the riiiiight amount to make me utterly exhausted. Is that even possible? Speaking of contractions...
• Those jeans I so proudly could still fit into at 33 weeks? Well that is no more. Shoulda kept my mouth shut.
• I've never been one to contour my face every day as my makeup routine is pretty simple. But these days, I need all the extra help I can get because #fatface. I've never used so much bronzer in my life as I have this last month. This one from NARS is my favorite if you're curious.
• I finally got my life together and started buying what I needed for my hospital bag. Purchasing this bottom spray brought me right back to labor REAL quick. That post-partum life is a doozy.

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Non-Maternity Skinny Jeans

Jeans: Target | T-shirt: Asos | Sleeveless blazer: Target | Hat: Target | Slides: Target | Sunnies: Ray-Bans 

These days, 98.7% of my closet is unusable in my current state. I MISS MY CLOTHES! I miss high-rise jeans that button, oxford shirts, seeing my feet, and heels that just don't fit swollen phalanges right now. I'm tired of flowy tees and side panel pants that don't seem to stay up.

The other day I was desperate for a bit of normalcy, to feel like myself again. I was on a rampage digging through my closet to find a pair of jeans that still fit. Low and behold, I put these on and I heard angels singing. I don't know why, don't know how, but somehow these babies fit.

*All the praise hand emojis*

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