Hello. It’s just pregnant ol’ me coming at ya- 38 weeks and 4 days into this adventure.
I figure now is the safest time to make an update. As in… I’m still pregnant and my brain still kind of works. Kind of.
I’m going to fashion this post like my 23 week update.
Feeling.
K will tell you that around 30-ish weeks I woke up and was suddenly pregnant. I was groaning and stiff and ouchie and super extra emotional.
These last few weeks I have felt so round and my sleep has been terrible. I blamed it on the dogs but Friday I stayed in a hotel and still slept like crap so it’s not their fault. K actually has recordings of me groaning in my sleep. Flattering.
I also caught a cold a week ago. I went to the doctor on Monday and got an antibiotic so hopefully that’s on its way out. My heartburn and indigestion are still in full force. Yay.
I make K put my shoes on whenever he’s available. I also use the bathroom roughly 4 times per hour. Woo.
Cravings/Aversions/Weight.
I’m still always in the mood for waffles. I also love cereal (sorry, Rebecca Jo) but the milk tends to give me heartburn. Also, cookies and cream ice cream is my one true love. Most of my aversions have gone away. I preferred room temp water before I was pregnant- now my water HAS to have ice in it.
The month we lost Lylee I lost weight & didn’t gain for nearly 4 weeks. My doctors weren’t worried since a) there was a reason (grief) and b) I still measured the right size. Since then everything has been normal. I’m up about 30 lbs from my pre-pregnancy weight.
Emotions/Mental Health.
The biggest moment here was grieving through Lylee’s loss. It was sudden and awful and traumatic for all of us. It made me completely forget about pregnancy. I wasn’t excited. I couldn’t fathom loving anyone beyond K and Enzo. I felt like an awful mother-to-be and I told K that I was struggling with identifying grief vs. depression. It was both, but fortunately I/we worked through everything.
I’ve been weepy over work stuff, too. There are some things that are up in the air. There are some exciting things on the horizon. K is juggling lots of stress… It’s just tough for me to want to step back and take maternity leave. I DO want to do that, but I like my career and it’s just been a balance issue.
Baby.
I wish she was a little less content in there, lol. We’re ready to meet her. (I didn’t think I’d feel this way but I do.) She moves around in the mornings while I’m at work and in the evenings when I’m lounging on the couch. K has felt her a few times, but she freezes up when I try to let other family members feel. Lol. Typical.
We’ve been asked a million times if she has a name. She does. We use it at home but we’re keeping it a secret until she arrives. Enzo said he told his close friends at doggie daycare but fortunately he can’t speak English.
Dad.
K is so dang ready for her to be here. Hahaha. I think I’ve mentioned this before, but his paternal instinct is much, much stronger than my maternal one. I’m not even sure he’s nervous. I know he’s excited about the forced-break from work. He finally packed his hospital bag on Tuesday and all the furniture is built so his pre-baby duties are done. (Except for putting my shoes on me…)
Other things to note.
My belly button is still in.
I’ve had so many people tell me I don’t look or act 38 weeks pregnant. I appreciate that and believe them, but I think it’s because I don’t like to show vulnerability/weakness so I put on a smile & participate in as much as I can. (I know that’s dumb.) When I’m at home? I look like this:
Hahahahahahaha.
Now that I’ve shared the unedited pregnant version of me, here are some maternity pictures!
Our photographer was Jackie Beachy and holy WOW, Batman. She is amazing. She’ll be doing Baby’s newborn pictures too 😍 I struggled with putting Bristol in these pictures. It felt like a betrayal to Lylee at first. I’m glad we did, though. Pictures capture where you’re at right now in life and we were a family of four with Miss Bristol by then.
And there’s the last baby update until she actually makes her arrival. (Did I freak anyone out by not posting on Tuesday? Lol. This was supposed to go live then. Oops.)
Send us your prayers, spells, wishes, & good vibes for labor and delivery. And fingers crossed it happens soon. I don’t want to waddle through Thanksgiving- lol.
Life as Louise 
Nope, your unedited at-home pregnant photo still looks utterly adorable. I mean, you kind of look like you just washed your air and have yet to do anything with it but you look way better than I look right now in my “working from home” getup with my hair still wrapped in a towel from my shower. Obviously you’re just naturally cute.
Jan puts tap water in the fridge and I can’t drink it – it’s too cold! I either have to get it straight from the tap or I will mix water from the tap with a tiny bit of the fridge water. I only get ice in my drinks in the middle of summer when it’s a million degrees outside. I still drank my water that way when I was pregnant, but maybe I would have switched to always wanting ice later?
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Lol- yep. I was definitely just out of the shower. Haha! Thank you, though. You’re so sweet!
I have never liked iced/cold water. Now it’s all I want. When my bff was pregnant she couldn’t stomach tap water. She always had a cup or bottle with filtered water with her.
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I’ll let the C – WORD pass this one time just because you’re ready to pop a human out 🙂
I’m still so insanely in love with your pictures!!!! They couldnt be more perfect!
I am so excited & cant wait to see pics of your little princess & to find out her name. I’m already in that “check Instagram all the time” phase to see if I’ve missed it 🙂 LOL
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Hahaha- thanks!
Nope, you haven’t missed it! She’s obviously very comfortable. Haha. I love our pictures- especially the dog ones! They were supposed to be maternity pictures but the ones with the pups are my absolute fav!
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You are an absolutely darling pregnant woman. I still love the picture of y’all’s eyes together – I just love it and the connection it shows between you and your fur baby. Hoping your little lady makes her entrance soon!
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You’re so sweet! I love that picture, too! Our photographer had the BEST ideas!
She’s still holding out! Lol.
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Gorgeous, gorgeous pics!! You look fantastic! And while I have never been pregnant, I know my friends tended to find the last month the roughest too (mostly discomfort but also ready for baby to be here!). LOL – Enzo been gossiping about the baby with the other doggies. I guess we’ll have to bribe him with a Scooby Snack!
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Thank you, friend! These last few weeks have definitely been the roughest. I’m grateful for that, though, because I know some people have it rough all 9 months. Hehe- good luck getting it out of Enzo! Although he’d probably give it up for some ear scratches. Ha!
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I love all your pictures, they’re beautiful!!! That last month is a rough one for sure, but you are almost there!!! I know you guys are excited to meet her 🙂
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Thank you! Our photographer was/is incredible. She had great ideas and produced such gorgeous photos. Now all we need is HER TO GET HERE. Haha!
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Your maternity pictures are amazing.
I think it’s awesome that K is more paternal to you than your own maternal feelings and you recognize and mention that and are okay with it! I love it.
Such a hard thing to be grieving in an otherwise happy time.
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Thank you!
He definitely is. I know he’s looking forward to hanging out with her and taking care of her. Some people in our lives can’t wrap their heads around that and make all sorts of sexist remarks. So dumb. I’m glad to have a partner that behaves like a partner and DAD.
Navigating those emotions in October was so difficult.
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GAH! What incredible photos!! You look beautiful, in both the hoodie and in your lovely yellow dress. It’s amazing how fast things go at this stage. She will be here before you know it!! Can’t wait to learn her name and hear about how you adjust to being a momma. I’m sure you have more maternal instinct than you give yourself credit for. It seems like everything is going really well!
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Thank you! I feel like the beginning dragged and then things progressed so fast… and now it’s dragging again. Hahaha. We’re so ready for her to just BE HERE. Lol
Thanks, again! ❤
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These maternity pictures are so stunning!
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Thank you!!
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Aw, you look great – in all the photos!! I hope she comes soon though – *fingers crossed* it’s before Thanksgiving. I’m thinking of you and I hope that everything goes well. 🙂
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.net
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Thank you! She definitely didn’t make it by Thanksgiving. Sigh. We wished. Lol. Oh well- I know she’ll be here soon, haha!
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You look amazing! I’m so in love with your maternity pics!!
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Thank you so much, Julie!
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I am so jealous your belly button is still in. Every single time I’ve been pregnant it’s like, positive test at 4 weeks? BELLY BUTTON SHOW YOURSELF. Why. I hate it. Jordan poked it once, and I burst into tears, and he’s never done that again. These pictures are amazing!
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Today is 40 weeks and it’s still in… lol. I don’t think it’s going to pop at all. I definitely have stretch marks, though. Ughhhhh.
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Gorgeous pics!!I love your pics. I love to read your post.
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Love it so far !! Here is what I’ve come up with for my intro
My name is Madi, I’m 23 years old and I’m a first time mum to Braxton as of the 2nd of September 2019. I am from Sydney, Australia. I’m so thrilled to be apart of this blog as I wish I came across is when I was pregnant, although I work in childcare I new absolutely NOTHING about pregnancy so I’m hoping this blog is able to help many mothers out there. Each and every pregnancy is different but if we help spread some knowledge it will hopefully not be so scary.
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Oops sorry I meant to say congrats. Check out our blog for moms and moms to be
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