Cayetano's Birth Story

It all began on Sunday, July 30th. We went out to dinner with friends to Sabatino's. Our friend said the spicy sausage there was famous for its ability to induce labor. Not that we needed an excuse - that sausage is delicious! So we all went out, had some sausage and had a good time. My sense is that the spice is irritating to many women's digestive systems, which is why it got the reputation. Fortunately for me (in the grand scheme of things) my stomach is pretty tough and doesn't get irritated by spicy food - ever. Oh well, it was still fun. Our friends also brought us a little goody bag of gifts, including a small bottle of castor oil. GROSS. I wasn't really sure if I was going to go that route for a few hours. But then I said, oh what the hell. Let's see if I can even get this down. I mixed about a tablespoon (maybe 2?) with some pineapple juice, plugged my nose and drank it. Gross. But at least I didn't barf (I definitely did when I tried this with Emi). A few hours later I started to have some painful contractions. We called Gery, who came over around 11, and headed to Hoag. I was determined to get there early enough to avoid the drama we experienced last time with Emi.

WELL...I was only 1 cm when we got there. Hmmmm. Okay. The triage nurse said to walk the halls for an hour and then she would check me. So we did. It was a LONG hour. The contractions were fairly painful but not overpowering. After an hour we went back. I was still 1 cm. UGH. The nurse said it was not real labor - just castor oil induced contractions. And at nearly 3 am, we were sent home. I was frustrated and angry. I was also in quite a bit of pain. The nurse said to take a Tylenol PM, drink a ton of water and try to sleep.

I did those things when we got home. But my contractions were pretty painful so sleep was not really happening for more than maybe 20 minutes stretches here and there. I was fairly miserable. Jay was trying to sleep downstairs to get ready for his work day. At around 6:30 or maybe 7:00 am, I started to feel even worse. Then I heard a popping noise, but no gush of fluid. The contractions were getting stronger but because I wasn't sure if my water had broken, I didn't want to rush back to Hoag just to be sent home again. I got in the shower and let the hot water soothe my aching back. When I got out it became obvious that my water had broken.

At this point, I yelled for Jay and texted Gery to come back to the house. I got some clothes (and an adult diaper) on and brushed my teeth. We quickly shuttled the kids next door to wait for Gery and we left for the hospital.

The drive felt interminable - I swear we hit every red light. And I was really wishing we lived back in our old neighborhood, which was right next to the hospital. The contractions were extremely painful at this point and were coming very quickly, with what felt like no breaks.

v When we got to Hoag, Jay grabbed a wheelchair and we went up. We checked in, letting the nurses know that my previous labor had been "precipitous". They quickly brought me to a room and checked me. I was 4cm. And a little bit surprised. On the bright side, I thought, "well, at least this time I can get an epidural." HAHAHAHAHA (spoiler alert).

They took me to a real delivery room and called the anesthesiologist. At this point the contractions were extraordinarily painful and were virtually back to back. Jay helped by watching the monitor to tell me when a contraction was on the downside.

Finally the anesthesiologist showed up. Hooray! I signed the form (um, is that even enforceable under the circumstances - talk about duress). Then he had me roll on my side. At that point he was going to wait for the contraction to end and give me the epidural. Or not. Because that was the contraction that started the pushing. And I knew it was not going to happen. But unlike with Emi, I was not scared this time. I was relieved - it was almost over! And I knew I could do it. Plus, my actual OB seemed to appear out of nowhere (this was just lucky timing). After one push, she got a face full of water sprayed on her (Gross!) but seemed unphased. The next contraction he was out.

They handed Cayetano to me and he promptly peed on me. And it was love at first sight.

Cayetano Arrived

Hi All! Cayetano Andres arrived Monday July 31st at 8:37 am. He was 7 lbs and 14oz and 20 inches of absolute perfection. I will post a full birth story later but for now, suffice it to say that he takes after his sister.

39 Weeks - FULL TERM!

At 39 weeks pregnant, Cayetano is as big as a winter melon. Baby measures about 20 inches long and weighs about 7.3 pounds. Baby's probably able to flex his or her limbs now. Baby's brain is still rapidly developing—he's getting smarter by the week! Baby's nails may extend past the fingertips now.

How far along? 39 weeks

Weight gain/loss: 38 pounds.

Sleep? Terrible. I've been up in the middle of the night for a few hours the last couple of nights thinking I was maybe going to go into labor, but no such luck. And even when I am able to sleep, I wake up at least every hour and a half to pee. Yesterday I was so tired I came home early from work and took a nap from 5-6pm - not exactly my norm for a Thursday evening.

Best moment this week?I've been having one with the kids this week- trying to focus on spending time with them before Cayetano starts being the center of attention. On Saturday I took Joaquin to the mall and we went shopping, had sushi and cookies and had a great time just one on one. Twice this week Joaquin has gone with Jay to the big pool after work to swim laps with him (this is such an awesome development!) so Emi and I have had some one on one time as well. One night we went to Trader Joes together and then picked up dinner, where Emi had her first ever cherry soda. She LOVED it. The next night we stayed home and I gave her a mani/pedi. I love my kiddos and I especially enjoy spending time with them one on one. No breaking up fights or dealing with them competing for attention. Just good quality time.

Movement:He's squished. I'm squished.

Food cravings:Stuff that isn't hot. It's unbearable being in the heat lately so eating hot food sounds quite unappealing lately.

What I miss?My chin. Holy smokes. I want my normal face back.

What I am looking forward to? Being done of course. But I'm just trying to take one day at a time so I will repeat my response from last week and say date night with Jay. It may be our last one for a while (oh dear, I hope so!).

Milestones: Well, I am actually full term today, which is wonderful. There is zero medical reason for baby to need to bake any longer, which is a relief. And based upon my very different experiences with Joaquin and Noemi, I am grateful to get to this point. I am hoping that Cayetano takes after his big sister and is a good eater and sleeper and generally makes life easy on us (well, in realistic baby terms anyway).

What I'm nervous about:Where my water might break. Haha. I am constantly planning for that happening. I am even driving around with a doggy pee pad on the seat of my car. I'd really hate to ruin my brand new (to me) car!

Appointment Update from Yesterday (TMI Alert)

Still 1 cm. Sigh. My OB stripped my membranes (you can google that if you want to, but there's a reason I'm not giving all the details here). I felt crampy and had a few other signs of possible labor last night but no such luck. I'm back at work today and hoping not to be here next week.

Single Digits!

I'm one day late on this post, but woohoo! Single digits until my due date. Today I have only 8 days to go. But let's be honest, I'm hoping for 1 or 2.

38 Weeks

At 38 weeks pregnant, Cayetano is as big as a winter melon. Baby is about 19.6 inches long and his head is about the same circumference as the abdomen. Average baby weight at 38 weeks is 6.8 pounds. Baby may have about an inch or so of hair already. Baby's also slowly shedding that white goo on the skin (called vernix caseosa).

How far along? 38 weeks

Weight gain/loss: 38 pounds. Back on track with that 1 pound per week pattern. Oh well.

Sleep? Eh. It's been worse this week. Between the heat and my discomfort and late pregnancy insomnia I am fairly tired.

Best moment this week?It's not really a moment. Since Monday, I have been virtually back/pelvic pain free. I swear, it's the closest thing to a miracle I've experienced. I really thought I was doomed for severe pain with every step until this baby came and then all of the sudden I have been able to move about freely (well, as freely as one can when a 38 pound basketball is attached to them). I need to bring that physical therapist a bottle of wine!

Movement:Yep, but nothing new here.

Food cravings:Anything I don't have to prepare. I am not at all in the mood for cooking or even preparing food these days.

What I miss?Mezcal. My ankles. Energy. Yoga. Running. Sore muscles from a good work out. Good coffee. Can I keep going?

What I am looking forward to? Well, it's Friday so I will focus on date night tonight!

Milestones: Each week is a big one now. Plus, now that I am not in huge pain I am hoping to get one more week in. So, I guess the milestone is moving away from the whole LET ME BE DONE NOW attitude I had a week ago. It's nice to be a little more relaxed about things. Don't get me wrong, I'd be fine if he came tonight.

What I'm nervous about:Transitioning at work. I still have a few items on my plate to deal with and setting another person up for my job is a little awkward. I am hoping the transition goes smoothly for everyone and that I am not the cause of too much stress.

One Belly Pic

This is the only one I've posted of this pregnancy. I'm not a huge fan of myself in pictures pregnant. This was 37w4 days.

Appointment Update

No big news here. I'm about 1 or 1.5 cm. My OB said could be tomorrow, could be a few more weeks. In the very short time she was checking Cayetano's heart rate, I had 2 contractions so she said it's very hard to say what could happen as I can go from 1 cm to ready in a very, very short time. I'll be satisfied if this kid is born in the hospital!

37 Weeks - WOOOOHOOOO!!!

At 37 weeks pregnant, Cayetano is as big as a head of romaine lettuce. Baby measures about 19.1 inches. Average baby weight at 37 weeks is 6.3 pounds, and baby is gaining about half an ounce each day. Baby's practicing some cool new skills: inhaling, exhaling, sucking, gripping, and blinking. In less cute news, baby's getting the first sticky poop (called meconium) ready for his first diaper (sounds like a job for Dad).

How far along? 37 weeks

Weight gain/loss: Still 35 pounds. That's two weeks in a row of not gaining weight. Double woohoo over here!

Sleep? It has been super hot lately so sleep is difficult. Plus it is still painful every time I have to get up to pee. Just a bit longer until I can at least sleep on my stomach. Although I don't think the heat issue will get better any time soon. Plus I am remembering the really lovely post-birth night sweating issue. Ick.

Best moment this week?This morning. Waking up 37 weeks pregnant. I wasn't super worried for the last few days about making it to today but it was still a big relief to be officially "term". 37 weeks is now considered "early term" and not "full term" so the general consensus is that it is still too early for baby's debut. That being said, getting to today means no NICU team in the delivery room ($$$$$), no car seat challenge (which means being separated from baby for 3 hours or so plus additional delay getting checked out of the hospital, and - thank god - only one glucose test (assuming good results) instead of tests every 4 hours (each of which requires a foot prick that is painful for baby). We were in the hospital for about 4 days with Joaquin and only 21 hours with Noemi. I am hoping we are in and out quickly again this time. I know lots of moms like the extra time with nurses but I feel the opposite. I don't like sleeping in a hospital bed and I really don't want to pay 20% of the huge bills that come with a longer stay.

Movement:He is still moving and gets the hiccups a lot. But I can tell he's running out of space in there.

Food cravings:Lots of fruit. I love this time of year. Otherwise, my appetite is fairly suppressed these days.

What I miss?My chin.

What I am looking forward to? Meeting Cayetano. I keep reminding myself that it's best to be patient. But at this point I am also so excited to hold this new guy and get started on the next phase.

Milestones: Obviously, getting to 37 weeks is a huge milestone. Otherwise, I think I've also done a really good job of preparing work for my absence as of this week, so that is another nice milestone.

What I'm nervous about:This cut on my foot. It still hurts after a week of antibiotics and I am tired of the nuisance of the pain and the medication. I need to go back to urgent care for them to take a look and it is just a pain in my buns taking all of this time at the doctor. I feel like I spend way too much time with medical professionals lately.

Appointment Update

I went to the OB yesterday for the first of my now weekly checkups. I'm 1/2 cm at this point. She said, "Could be 3-4 days, could be 3 more weeks." So, that's super helpful. Haha. She was not worried about me making it to Friday though, so that's great news.

36 Weeks

At 36 weeks pregnant, Cayetano is as big as a papaya (which I sort of thought was smaller than a pineapple, but whatever). Baby measures about 18.7 inches from crown to heel and weighs around 5.8 pounds. At 36 weeks pregnant, baby's liver and kidneys are in working order. Circulation and immune systems are basically good to go. Now, baby is getting closer and closer to being able to breathe on his own. Plus, his skin is getting smooth and soft, and his gums are rigid.

How far along? 36 weeks

Weight gain/loss: Still 35 pounds. So there's that! I would have thought I would be gaining weight rapidly these days with my inability to move.

Sleep? I have experienced mild bouts of pregnancy insomnia but nothing too horrible. In fact, most people would probably be thrilled to fall asleep as easily as I do now but I usually fall asleep in less than 2 minutes so I am a bit spoiled in this department.

Best moment this week?Although it was a long day, we had a lot of fun on the 4th. We pool hopped and had a bbq with friends. The kids had a blast and it was nice for me to get out of the house. Plus being in a pool feels nice these days. On top of it all, my back pain was decidedly lower that day than it had been in the weeks leading up to it and also in the days since - good timing.

Movement:He's kicking me a lot in painful places lately.

Food cravings:I haven't been as hungry as usual lately. Cherries are in season though!

What I miss?Mobility. I am pretty tired of the pain and particularly tired of not being able to get things done easily. It is quite difficult for me to be okay with not getting chores done.

What I am looking forward to? A week from today. When I can start doing jumping jacks (kidding).

Milestones: Every week is a big milestone at this point. Both because I managed to make it through the pain for another week and because Cayetano keeps getting bigger and stronger and better equipped to make his debut.

What I'm nervous about:Trying to keep my cool for the next couple of weeks. I am fairly tired and cranky lately and it is difficult to handle two little kiddos who know I can't catch them if they don't want them to.

Cayetano Andres

We met way too many Mateos lately. Our minds are now made up. Baby boy is now officially Cayetano Andres. If that's too much of a mouthful for you, you can call him Cay (rhymes with HI).

Blog Name Change

You know, I was looking at my blog title today and it irked me. The whole three men and a "little" lady thing just seems so, ugh, for lack of a better description. With all of the misogyny I have witnessed over the course of my lifetime (and particularly over the last 9 months of this Trump-era (double side note - can't this era end???)) I am just DONE with anything even appearing to belittle the strength and importance of women in this world. Noemi may be physically little still but she is big in every other way and is one of the strongest women I know already. I am so proud to be her mother - I can already see that she is unafraid to advocate for herself, understands when it is and is not appropriate to compromise, and has the utmost confidence in her own abilities.

Single Digits!

Well, until I am 37 weeks at least. Just 9 days to go to get to the safe zone! 30 days until my due date...

I am particularly excited to get to 37 weeks lately due to the chronic pain I've been in for the last 2 weeks and 3 days (see, there I am counting days again). I went to physical therapy on Friday and today and also bought the correct belt (https://www.amazon.com/Serola-Sacroiliac-Hip-Belt-Medium/dp/B000NIFVLW/ref=sr_1_2_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1499287805&sr=1-2&keywords=SI+belt) and that has been helping tremendously. But I am still less than perfectly comfortable so I am looking forward to being done soon.

Baby Names

Naming this baby has been more difficult than with our previous two kiddos. Those of you who have read this blog since I was pregnant with Joaquin may have noticed the contrast - we immediately began to call each of our first two kids by their names on this blog as soon as we found out their gender. This time, he is consistently just "baby boy." I guess it's hard to come up with a second name of the same gender considering that you already came up with one before.

We started being totally sure of a first name - Mateo. But we struggled with a middle name. Then, we arrived on a middle name - Andres - but started to have second thoughts about the first after Jay brought up that there was someone in his family tree named Cayetano (pronounced KI (like Hi) - A (like "uh") - TA (like the sound in the word "tall) - NO (just like "no"). The nickname for Cayetano would be Cay (like the popular name for boys, Kai).

For months we have wavered between the two names. People consistently looked puzzled at the name Cayetano because most people have never heard it before and most people say they love the name Mateo. But for us, we really don't want our kids to have names that are super common. Ideally they will rarely be in a class with another kid with their name. This has certainly been the case so far with Joaquin and Noemi. But we also aren't too into the whole super-unique name trend (I'm looking at you Apple). They have to be real names - we don't just make them up.

And then there's the who initial thing. Mateo would be MAN and Cayetano would be CAN. I don't know about you, but I can just picture some obnoxious frat boy going on about how his initials are MAN and me wanted to roll my eyes right out of my head. Maybe it's the whole Trump thing but, ugh, I just find that who scenario a little barf-worthy. We could always do a different middle name (Javier is our next choice) if we do Mateo, but I really like Andres.

Anyhow, all this to say that we are still on the fence on the name but I am leaning toward Cayetano Andres for this baby (with appropriate accent on Andres that I can't type on this blog). It may end up being a very last minute decision after we meet the baby though!

Hospital Bag (Mostly) Packed

Although my OB isn't too worried about me going into labor imminently, she did say that I should get my hospital bag packed this week. Thanks to my previous post on this when I was pregnant with Emi (see November 2012 posts), I have a very handy list of stuff to pack already. With Noemi we were only in the hospital for a grand total of 21 hours (yes, from the moment I walked in to the L&D wing in labor to the moment we left as a family to go home). As a result, I barely used most of the items in my bag last time. But with Joaquin we were there for nearly 4 days so you never know what you will or won't actually need.

This time, because Noemi came so quickly and the trend is that each labor is faster than the last, I want to be as prepared as possible to get out of the house and to the hospital. My plan this time is to call an Uber immediately to take me, and only me, to Hoag as soon as I feel like I am in active labor. Depending on where we all are at the time, Jay will deal with getting the kids home/finding someone to watch them and grabbing the hospital bag and will meet me at the hospital. Hopefully he's actually there by the time the baby comes!

So, as of now, I have a bag that is packed and ready to go with nearly everything on my list accounted for. Some things just can't be packed early because I use them daily or only have one. So, trying to help myself and Jay out, I am taping a list to the wall of all of the last minute things he needs to pack (like a toothbrush, comb, my makeup, a bag of snacks, etc.).

I am still hoping that we make it to 37 weeks, which is 12 days away. Ideally, we would make it to 38 or 39 weeks but if I am being totally honest with myself, this back pain is so debilitating that I will be thrilled if I am done very soon after we hit the 37 week mark. I am still taking my procardia when I feel like I am getting more contractions than normal (i.e., more than 4/hour) and will keep doing that until I'm 37 weeks. After that, I will stop the medication all together and we will just see when baby decides to arrive.

35 Weeks! (aka 2 weeks to full term)

At 35 weeks pregnant, baby is as big as a pineapple (yeah, I'm trying not to think too much about that one). Baby measures about 18.2 inches from head to heel. From here on out, he won't get much longer, but will keep plumping up. He should now weigh about 5.3 pounds, and will put on a pound or more of baby fat before we meet him. Fun fact - at 35 weeks my uterus has grown to about 1,000 times it's normal size (OMG). Baby’s hearing is now fully developed, and he responds best to high-pitched noises. At this point, if we had an ultrasound we would see that his testes have probably fully descended (TMI alert!).

How far along? 35 weeks

Weight gain/loss: 35 lbs :-/

Sleep? Not so great. I wake up to pee constantly and because my back is in so much pain, it is pretty miserable getting up and walking each time.

Best moment this week?Hmmmmmm...Hard to see through the back discomfort these days. I guess I will go with coming home Tuesday to a very clean house after our new cleaning lady came. She's amazing and more type-A about cleaning than I thought possible. A little on the pricey side but given my inability to do much around the house, worth every penny. Thanks for agreeing to the super fancy cleaning jay ;-)

Movement:I really don't think either of my other kiddos moved this much. It's incredible and consistent and visible to others.

Food cravings:Miguel's Jr. Haha. I think mostly because it requires no cooking or cleaning by me, which is my top priority these days.

What I miss? EVERYTHING about not being pregnant. I am mentally and physically done.

What I am looking forward to? This 4 day weekend is well timed. I am hoping it involves me lounging quietly on a very frequent basis and doing very little else.

Milestones: 35 weeks is a big one. My OB is basically not worried about labor at this point from a health of the baby standpoint, so that is a relief. I, on the other hand, really want to get 2 more weeks in, despite how miserable I am. Making it to 37 weeks to avoid the preemie treatment at the hospital is worth it both because of the trauma to the baby (endless foot pricks and that darn car seat challenge) and because of the cost to me (we are out-of-pocket 20% of the cost on this birth so there's a huge incentive not to rack up big bills).

What I'm nervous about:Trying to stay sane with this back pain and feeling the need to still get my work done, keep a relatively tidy home and take care of the kids. It's a lot of being pulled in many directions when you are physically limited.

34 Weeks (AKA 3 weeks to full term)

At 34 weeks pregnant, baby is as big as a butternut squash. Baby should weigh in at about 4.7 pounds and measures about 17.7 inches, although based on our last ultrasound I think this baby is a bit bigger than that, at least in weight.

How far along? 34 weeks

Weight gain/loss: 33 lbs :-/

Sleep? This is getting worse due to back pain issues.

Best moment this week?We had a great Father's Day on Sunday at the pool and going out to dinner with my dad. It was also the last day my back felt okay, so it was definitely the highlight of my week.

Movement:I think he had the hiccups the other morning.

Food cravings:Eh. I'm not that hungry lately. Maybe fruit and ginger beer.

What I miss? Walking without pain. Starting Sunday night my back went from normal to very painful quite suddenly. After dragging myself to work Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, I decided to stay home yesterday and today to see if it helped. It has a bit but I think this pain is here for the rest of the pregnancy. Doctor Google is telling me this is "posterior pelvic pain", which is essentially caused by the hormone relaxin letting my ligaments stretch out too much and thus my pelvic bones are moving farther apart and providing less stabilization and support for all of the extra weight I'm carrying in my stomach, which then makes my muscles work over time, none of which feels great. Apparently this gets worse with each pregnancy (i.e., starts sooner) so I am thinking #3 is our last baby because this is pretty miserable and I can't imagine if it had started any sooner.

What I am looking forward to? Being about to do things for myself. I like to do things. Sitting still is not fun for me. There is also something to be cleaned, put away or worked on in our house and it bothers me immensely to sit around and see everything I could be getting done and being able to do very little about it.

Milestones: Each week is now a huge milestone for me. I cannot wait for this pregnancy to be over. At the same time, it is extremely important to stay pregnant for at least 3 more weeks, but preferably 4-5 for the health of the baby. So the count is on but I still have to try to be patient.

What I'm nervous about:Keeping myself from going crazy with my limited mobility. Some people might relish an excuse to lounge around but it is the very definition of torture for me to be forced to stay home all day.

In other news: On Monday, I think partially due to my back pain, I started having a lot of BH contractions. So my OB sent me to Hoag L&D where I hung out for about 4.5 hours being monitored, getting IV fluids and getting a dose of Procardia. So, pretty much the same drill as my previous pregnancies. It was not the most fun evening but I am glad I went in to make sure everything was okay. But this triggered me starting on procardia regularly and may force doctor-ordered modified bed rest soon (she hasn't gone there yet). Apparently the whole giving birth thing works for me but the late pregnancy stages are really just not for me.

Ultrasound Pictures

I've been slacking on uploading these so apologies for the delay. Here are a few ultrasound pictures from my last two scans.

At 28 weeks:

An ear shot:

And at 32 weeks, he's a little cramped but still cute:

33 Weeks

At 33 weeks pregnant, baby is as big as a head of celery. On average, babies at this stage weigh about 4.2 pounds and measures about 17.2 inches—and may grow up to a full inch this week. However, we went in on Monday for an ultrasound and found that he was about 4.5 pounds then so he's probably getting a bit closer to 5 lbs now. Baby's keeping his eyes open while awake. Baby's also starting to coordinate breathing with sucking and swallowing—an important skill for life “on the outside.” His bones are also hardening. And baby's going through (more) major brain development at the moment.

How far along? 33 weeks

Weight gain/loss: 32 lbs :-/

Sleep? I have had some early meetings this week so it hasn't been as good as I'd like. But still not terrible. No pregnancy insomnia yet - yay!

Best moment this week?My mom has been here this week to help with the kids. Emi has no school or camp this week so this is a lifesaver. It has been a pretty nice week having someone around full time to take Joaquin to and from school and all of his activities.

Movement:I am now starting to get some pretty strong kicks to the ribs on occasion - not my favorite.

Food cravings:Roasted broccoli rabe with salt, pepper, olive oil, red pepper flakes and parmesan. A

What I miss? Walking fast. I am moving really slowly these days and my gate isn't exactly lady-like. It will be nice to get back to normal in a couple of months.

What I am looking forward to? Maternity leave. I am suddenly starting to look forward to the change of pace. It's not exactly vacation but at least I get to wear comfy pants more often. haha.

Milestones: I think Monday was my last ultra sound, so we are in the home stretch. In two weeks I will feel pretty good about everything - 35 weeks is a good milestone to get past in terms of baby's development. Almost there.

What I'm nervous about:I've been a bit nervous about work lately. It was one thing to go out on leave at a law firm - other associates just sort of absorbed my work while I was out and there was never really any true concern about being busy enough when I got back. But this time we are hiring a temp for my job, which is just a strange thing, and with the recent merger I am feeling a bit vulnerable.

32 Weeks

At 32 weeks pregnant, baby is as big as a squash and measures about 16.7 inches and should weigh around 3.8 pounds (although based on our last ultrasound, I'd say he's well over 4 lbs by now). At this point he is busy gaining weight and developing his lungs. Just 8 weeks to go. How far along? 32 weeks

Weight gain/loss: 32 lbs :-/

Sleep? No changes here. And I am fairly sure I'll be missing even this kind of sleep when baby arrives so I am trying to appreciate it.

Best moment this week?Joaquin's swim meet Saturday was so much fun. He got first in 4 out of 5 of his heats and second in the other. He was so excited and having so much fun - he's definitely a kid who likes to win (hmmm...not sure where he got that gene from). It was nearly all day at the pool, which sounded awful in theory but ended up being a really pleasant day outside surrounded by happy kids.

Movement:Still going strong here. I think my stomach may have even been distracting people in a meeting this week because it was visibly moving around so much.

Food cravings:Sparking water and cherries.

What I miss? Free time. I can barely remember those pre-kid days where the big question was - what should we do today? Although I'd never go back, it would be nice to have that problem once in a while.

What I am looking forward to? Meeting this baby. It's starting to feel much closer all of the sudden. Maybe it's because I got my new (ginormous) car and have been ordering all of the baby stuff. Either way, I simultaneously feel like I still have forever to go and that we are getting really close. That probably makes no sense to anyone who hasn't been pregnant. Moms, you get me. OH - also, we get another ultrasound on Monday so I am really looking forward to that!

Milestones: Nothing major this week. I guess there's the "I bought a car seat and a stroller" milestone. But that seems like a stretch.

What I'm nervous about:We are still working out childcare for the summer so this is making me a bit nervous. I also need to find a good housekeeper and handy man. I am more nervous about who we hire now than I ever was before after our experience with our nanny, so I am trying to go off of recommendations of people I know and trust, but I am finding that good recommendations are not as easy to come by as I expected.

31 Weeks

!

At 31 weeks pregnant, baby is as big as a bunch of asparagus. Baby's about 16.2 inches long and weighs about 3.3 pounds. Baby's getting so big, he is definitely crowding my lungs. He is going through major brain and nerve development. His eyes are developing too—the irises can now react to light! (A little light does shine into my belly at times!) In fact, all five of baby’s senses are in working order. How far along? 31 weeks

Weight gain/loss: 31 lbs :-/

Sleep? I'm dreaming of sleeping on my stomach again.

Best moment this week?We had a beach cleanup day this week at work. It was nice to be out of the office and outdoors doing something good for the community and getting a chance to get to know some new people in the legal department.

Movement:Tons. I think he moves more than my other two. It is crazy sometimes to just see my stomach moving around from the outside.

Food cravings:Still on the roasted veggies. And kombucha.

What I miss? Energy. I am getting really tired very easily these days and it bothers me to feel like I can't push my body anytime when I want to. I really want to get things done at home but find myself unable to do it all.

What I am looking forward to? Joaquin has his first real swim meet tomorrow and he was chosen to swim all 5 races by the coaches. He is definitely Jay's son. It will be fun to see him and I am so proud of him.

Milestones: I'm calling only 2 months left. Technically 2 months and 2 days, but I've never made it to term before so I think it's a safe call.

What I'm nervous about:Well, we had to let go of our nanny on Tuesday. It's a long story. It is very stressful and we need to find a new nanny for at least the summer. We have the next two weeks taken care of thanks to my step mom and mom (thank goodness!) but childcare issues are very difficult. We have one interview scheduled for this weekend that looks promising. Fingers crossed.

30 Weeks

AAt 30 weeks pregnant, baby is the size of a zucchini. On average, babies at 30 weeks are 15.7-inches, 2.9-pounds, and grow about half a pound and half an inch each week. However, our ultrasound last week (I promise, I will get to posting pictures soon) showed baby as two weeks ahead of schedule - at 3 1/2 pounds. His skin is now getting smoother, but his brain is getting wrinklier—that’s to make way for all that essential brain tissue. He is now strong enough to grasp a finger!

How far along? 30 weeks (and 1 day)

Weight gain/loss: 30 lbs :-/

Sleep? No real change - lots of getting up to pee but otherwise I am still able to sleep relatively well, all things considered.

Best moment this week?Right about now. I am very happy that it's a holiday weekend and we don't have a lot of plans. I like those days when I am not feeling rushed and have plenty of time to tidy up the house, get laundry done and even have time to get a few baby or house related projects crossed off the list.

Movement:The kids finally felt him and they loved it. It was so cute how excited they were.

Food cravings:Well prepared veggies. I love when I can find something unusual that is also healthy.

What I miss? Yoga. It's been 10 weeks since I stopped yoga and this week I even had to stop doing the treadmill (I started having contractions while I was walking). I miss the exercise and the mental benefits of yoga A LOT. One of the reasons I was most hesitant about having a third child was going through such a long period without real exercise. I feel like I was finally in a place in my life where exercise was something I did for enjoyment rather than obligation and I hope I can get back there in a few months. But it is something that is really based on momentum and I know it will be hard to get back into it at first.

What I am looking forward to? Enjoying this long weekend. Oh, and some of my clients at work are throwing me a baby shower on Tuesday, which is so amazing. I feel really flattered that they would go out of their way for me, especially for baby #3.

Milestones: 10 weeks left. Everyone keeps telling me it will "fly by." I'm not so sure about that, but I will still count it as a milestone.

What I'm nervous about:Braxton Hicks contractions. Ugh. The bane of my pregnancies. I hadn't had any until this week and then all of the sudden I got several on the treadmill and have noticed them sporadically otherwise. Never enough to get too worried or call my OB, but enough that I know I will probably be on Procardia again and may even be ordered to take some bed rest. Unlike my past pregnancies, I really do not want to be on bed rest this time. I like going to work and seeing my friends there and doing my work from home just sounds too stressful compared to being in the office. So I am hoping it doesn't come to that.

29 (and 28 and 27) Weeks!

Yup, I'm a slacker (plus I went on vacation) so I am 3 weeks behind!

At 29 weeks, baby is the size of an acorn squash and measures about 15.2 inches long. He weighs about 2.5 pounds, but still has a way to go—he will triple in weight before birth.

At 28 weeks, baby was the size of an eggplant. After putting on layers of fat, he measured about 14.8 inches from head to toe and weighed in around 2.2 pounds. Baby's starting to develop more fat, so his once-wrinkly skin is starting to get smoother. In pretty amazing news, baby's practicing breathing. His lungs are mature enough that if he were to be born now, he would probably survive.

At 27 weeks pregnant, baby was as big as a head of lettuce. The average 27-week fetus measures 14.4 inches and weighs 1.9 pounds. But baby's not just getting bigger—he is also getting smarter. Baby was practicing inhaling and exhaling with his rapidly developing lungs. And it's official: Baby's showing brain activity! From here on out, baby’s brain will keep getting more complex, turning that 27-week fetus into a real smarty pants. How far along? 29 weeks

Weight gain/loss: I will find out this afternoon.

Sleep? We've had some short nights since getting back from Hawaii just due to schedules. Otherwise, sleep is about as good as can be expected (with 5-7 potty breaks a night).

Best moment this week?Well, all of Hawaii pretty much counts. We went on a helicopter ride and saw the whole island (gorgeous and informative), had some delicious seafood, enjoyed tons of time at the pool watching the kids go down the waterslide, played at the beach and generally just had a lot of fun as a family.

Movement:He's moving a ton these days. I think the kids will be able to feel it soon if I can get them to just sit still for 5 minutes (ha!)

Food cravings:Kale salad with lemon. Yum. And roasted veggies with parmesan and red chili flakes. And sparking water. I'm so thirsty lately.

What I miss? Hawaii for sure. Can I go back??

What I am looking forward to? I just found out a bunch of people from work are throwing me a baby shower, which is so nice. It's not even people in my department - it's people I support with legal help who put it together. I am excited and feel really lucky and appreciated. It's about 2 weeks away.

Milestones: I'm well into third trimester at this point with 11 weeks to go.

What I'm nervous about:I've still got a lot of baby gear to gather. I'm sure I'll pull it all together in time but I guess my nerves are more related to the astronomical cost of everything. I probably should not have given so much stuff away a couple of years back. Oh well. I am going to stop by a kid consignment store tomorrow after an ultrasound appointment (yay!) and see if I can pick up a few things on the cheap. Wish me luck!

26 Weeks

At 26 weeks, baby is the size of a bunch of kale (boy, even the baby fruits and vegetables are keeping up with trends these days!). He measures about 14 inches and weighs about 1.7 pounds. He or she is developing senses, features, and even talents! Baby's taking breaths—of amniotic fluid, not air. Baby's getting his immune system ready for life on the outside by soaking up my antibodies. And baby's eyes are forming, and his eyes will soon start to open. Can you believe he has already grown eyelashes? Soon, he will start batting them.

How far along? 26 weeks (and 2 days)

Weight gain/loss: Haven't checked since last week. I'll go with 5 lbs ;-)

Sleep? I've slept really well since getting back from my trip. I LOVE my own bed.

Best moment this week?Coming home. Four days is a long time to be away from my family, especially when it's spent in a not so fun place. It was so nice to be back home and give everyone big hugs and kisses.

Movement:Still no luck getting the kids to feel him kicking. Patience is difficult for them (wonder where they get that?)

Food cravings:Yesterday I went to Taco Maria for lunch with my mom and it was amazing. So I am pretty much craving that food, because I could eat it all day.

What I miss? Normal clothes. My mom and I visited the boutiques in SoCo yesterday and there were such cute tanks and tees and dresses. But alas.

What I am looking forward to? Hawaii a week from Tuesday. I am not sure how it's going to work with work, but I definitely need a break and am very much looking forward to that trip.

Milestones: I am going to give myself the 6 month mark. I am a bit short but given that my kids tend to arrive early, I've probably got almost exactly 3 months left.

What I'm nervous about:Work lately It keeps getting more intense and I feel like I am constantly playing catch up with all of the meetings and days out of the office. Hopefully it gets back to normal soon but I am tired.

25 (and 24 Weeks)

It's becoming a trend folks. Last week we were on vacation and I am even late on the catch up post. Oh well!

At 24 weeks, baby is the size of a cantaloupe. He is 11.8 inches and now weighs about 1.3 pounds. His see-through skin is gradually becoming more opaque, and it’s taking on a fresh, pink glow, thanks to the small capillaries that have recently formed.

Baby at 25 weeks is as big as a head of cauliflower, measuring 13.6 inches in length and weighing nearly 1.5 pounds. Baby's enjoying his new sense of equilibrium; he is now learning which way is up and which is down. In the arena of 25 weeks fetal development, baby’s growing more fat and more hair too.

How far along? 25 weeks (and 3 days)

Weight gain/loss: 25 lbs. Ugh. Same as Joaquin at this point but 10 more than Emi. Must be a boy thing.

Sleep? Eh. It's a bad day to ask. My alarm went off at 4:45 am to catch a flight to NJ.

Best moment this week?We went to Ojai last weekend. And it was amazing. AMAZING. I love that place so much. The kids had a fantastic time playing at the pool, making new friends and collecting eggs at the easter egg hunt. Jay and I enjoyed playing with them and the delicious food, gorgeous views and unbelievable landscaping at the property. I still can't believe how great the trip was. I was nervous about sharing a room with the kids but it worked out great and it made me even more excited for our upcoming trip to Hawaii.

Movement:Lots. I really want the kids to get a chance to feel the baby kicking but they are less than patient so we haven't had lucky timing yet.

Food cravings:Well, I am stuck at the Embassy Suites in Piscataway, NJ at the moment so I would kill for anything approaching a decent salad or some sort of interesting roasted veggie. I do not recommend you visit.

What I miss? My family. I've only been away for less than a day and I wish I was home hanging with Joaquin, Emi and Jay. It is pretty lonely in an empty hotel room. And I can't even enjoy a glass of wine in a nice bathtub!

What I am looking forward to? Coming home! That will happen Thursday, which seems like a really long time. Sigh. I am so glad work travel is an abnormal thing for me.

Milestones: We passed V-Day. Check out my previous posts on this for the other two kiddos. But in short, as of week 24 baby is developed enough to have a chance of survival if I want into preterm labor. Of course, I hope that doesn't happen but it's nice to get past this milestone and have every day that passes be another day to develop and get ready for life on the outside.

What I'm nervous about: Right now, it's simple: access to healthy food. Jeez, I sound like my dad. I realize that I may be a bit of a prima dona, but budget travel like this just doesn't work for me. I cannot eat the kind of food they serve in these hotels. I think we have a nice dinner out tomorrow night, so hopefully I will find something wholesome.

23 (and 22) Weeks!

Another combo post this week. I've been super busy at work with our transition to J&J and generally just tired and busy in life, so apologies for the late update.

At 22 weeks, baby was as big as a coconut and is about 10.9 inches long (from the crown of the head to the heel of the foot) and 15.2 ounces. Now that baby's eyes and lips are more developed, he is looking even more like a newborn. Baby's sleeping in cycles—about 12 to 14 hours per day.

At 23 weeks pregnant, baby is as big as a grapefruit (are grapefruits bigger than coconuts??) and measures 11.4 inches from head to foot and weighs 1.1 pounds. Baby is forming little nipples (yeah, really!) at this stage. And his face is fully formed—he just needs a little extra fat to fill it out. Baby's entertaining himself by listening to my voice and heartbeat, and can even hear some loud sounds like cars honking and dogs barking.

How far along? 23 weeks

Weight gain/loss: No idea. 2 weeks ago it was 17. I actually don't feel like I've gained much weight recently so maybe just 18 (or maybe that's wishful thinking).

Sleep? Okay. This has gone downhill in the last few days. Nothing too disruptive but I am waking up uncomfortable more often. Luckily I am really great at falling back asleep quickly.

Best moment this week?We went to Joaquin's elementary school silent auction gala last weekend. It was a prom like event for parents with a Great Gatsby theme. We rented costumes and looked the part and had a fun time. It was much more fun this year than last year, partly because it was just a better event and partly because we are starting to get to know other parents. I am really happy with our school and so grateful to live where we live with other supportive (and generous) parents. I am looking forward to many more of those (and OMGosh, I am realizing there will be a LOT. Like 14 years in a row of being parents at this school - WHAT?!?!). Good thing we like it!

Movement:Tons and I even saw my stomach move one time. He's not kicking hard yet and I'm definitely not at the point of seeing my stomach move like in the movie Alien but I definitely know there's a baby in there. Jay gets to feel every now and then but it's hit or miss. It will be fun when he's kicking enough for the kids to feel him.

Food cravings:Cuties. I'm eating at least two a day. They are tasting really good right now and bonus points for being healthy! This is much preferable to the period of time when I was craving almond twists from Pain du Monde (which are delicious but not exactly nutritious).

What I miss? My clothes and shopping for normal clothes. This is the time of year when everything in the stores is my style. I love the vacation/summer style and it is hard to have to wear the same old (mostly second hand) maternity clothes. On the bright side, I guess it makes it easier to save some money. I did, however, just get two new bikinis for our vacations and am considering some other accessories (shoes, jewelry) that work whether pregnant or not.

What I am looking forward to? Joaquin's closet. The guys came and removed all of the old stuff in the closet today so this weekend Jay has to patch, sand and paint to get it ready for Monday. Then we have the installation of his custom closet. It is exciting because I've been waiting for this to get all of the old baby clothes out and start actually prepping for the little guy to arrive. I am fairly sure Jay is not going to know what hit him after this week, because I am going to go all Melissa on him getting the baby stuff in order (yes, I just said that, and yes, you probably have a good idea what that means ;-)

Milestones: At this point, every week I can check off feels like a milestone. I LOVE my kids but oh man do I NOT love being pregnant. 17 weeks to go!

What I'm nervous about: I have a lot going on in the next month or so. It's Spring Break next week and I am taking Monday off to hang with the kids and because of the closet install. I'll be at work on Tuesday and Wednesday and then we are off to Ojai on Thursday. And it's super busy at work, so it may be difficult to manage everything - people are not used to me being out of the office that much (HA! They'd better get used to it!). Then I have a normal week followed by a trip to NJ for work for 4 days and then two weeks later we are off to Hawaii. So it's going to be a lot of hectic work stuff mixed with these vacations, which is great but can be stressful. I am sure everything will be fine in the end, but it would sure be nice if coffee was allowed!

21 Weeks (and 20 Weeks) - MORE THAN HALF WAY THERE!!!

Okay - So it's been busy and I totally flaked on my 20 week post. This is a combo.

At 20 weeks, baby was as big as a banana and weighed about 10.2 ounces and measures about 6.5 inches from crown to rump. Baby now has working taste buds. He is gulping down several ounces of amniotic fluid each day—that's significantly more than before.

At 21 weeks pregnant, baby is as big as a head of endive and is about 10.5 inches from head to toe (yes, we now measure differently) and about 12.7 ounces. As baby's digestive system preps for the outside world, he or she's manufacturing meconium—the tarry black substance you'll find in the first dirty diaper (gross). How far along? 21 weeks

Weight gain/loss: 17

Sleep? Okay. My shoulders are sore from sleeping on my sides but otherwise no complaints here.

Best moment this week?Watching Joaquin's first baseball game was really fun. The kids are adorable and Joaquin seemed like he was having lots of fun.

Movement:YES. And even Jay has felt some kicks. It's pretty neat.

Food cravings:All kinds of fruit

What I miss? My yoga practice. I am still trying but it is a bit frustrating to be so limited and easily worn out. I love the way I feel after a really difficult class and it is hard to take it easy. This is very different from my previous pregnancies, as I did not really exercise at all during either (I know!). I really only discovered my enjoyment of exercise in the last 7 years or so and this has been the single hardest thing for me to give up over the last few months. I am truly dreading the "dark period" in late third trimester and after the baby is born when I am not allowed exercise at all. Until then, I will keep trying (but not too hard).

What I am looking forward to? Can I just keep saying vacation?! I am SOOO excited.

Milestones: I'm over half way done. This pregnancy business is long and boring so it's nice to be on the downhill.

What I'm nervous about: I really need to start actually preparing for the baby's arrival at home. We got rid of everything thinking we were done (and not wanting to store a bunch of stuff). So we need a crib, changing table, Rock n Play and all that other baby stuff again. Joaquin's closet is being done in two weeks so once that's done I will really need to get to work. I am hoping we have some generous friends who want to get rid of unnecessary baby stuff because the idea of spending all of that money again is just too much. Haha.

Anatomy Scan Pictures

I can't quite figure out how to rotate these properly so this will have to do. The 3-D version is not super clear because his mouth was obscured but you can make out eyes, a nose and even his arms over his head.

19 Weeks

Baby is as big as a mango and about 6.0 inches long and weighing in at about 8.5 ounces. He is developing a protective coating over his skin called vernix caseosa. He is also working on his five senses. Yep, nerve cells for sense of taste, hearing, sight, and smell are all developing in baby's brain.

How far along? 19 weeks (and 3 days)

Weight gain/loss: No idea. Maybe 14/15 lbs?

Sleep? Still doing okay on this front.

Best moment this week?We had a great weekend. The first soccer game of the season. A date night. A double date night. And Joaquin's first official race - which was super fun to watch.

Movement:Maybe? But not any clear kicks yet. Sigh. At my recent ultrasound I learned that I have an anterior placenta that is basically covering the entire front of my uterus so this is explains why I am not feeling anything yet. Maybe next week?

Food cravings:Tacos

What I miss? Warm days. It was much warmer this weekend and we even went to the pool. It reminded me how much I am looking forward to spring and summer and spending more time outdoors with the kids.

What I am looking forward to? Ojai in April and (gasp) Hawaii in May. Jay is pretty much the best and surprised the family with TWO trips!! I am thrilled.

Milestones: We got a thumbs up from the most recent blood panel and the anatomy scan. Huge relief for me. When I get a bit of time I will post pictures and a story from that scan, which was slightly stressful.

What I'm nervous about: Things are getting busier at work and I am trying to navigate a new company's processes, org structure and culture. It is fun and interesting but projects that would normally be easy are becoming difficult lately. Plus a few high ups in legal are coming to visit us this week and I will need to make a great impression.

18 Weeks

At 18 weeks pregnant, baby is as big as an artichoke. Baby's about 5.6 inches long and about 6.7 ounces now and keeps growing quickly. He is working his muscles and practicing all kinds of moves. He is also yawning, hiccupping, sucking, and swallowing. He is twisting, rolling, punching, and kicking too.

How far along? 18 weeks

Weight gain/loss: 12 lbs last week. Not sure this week.

Sleep? Eh. Good enough. Better than sleep with a newborn so no complaints.

Best moment this week?I officially work for Johnson & Johnson now, which is really exciting. I think it will be a great place to work and hopefully will have a long career here.

Movement:STILL NONE. AND NOT PATIENT.

Food cravings:Water. It has been super dry this week and the headaches are no joke.

What I miss? Consistent energy. I am usually fine most of the day but then have extremely difficult periods where I have zero energy in the late afternoon.

What I am looking forward to? A facial tomorrow. Pregnancy acne is the worst.

Milestones: 4 months down, 5 to go!

What I'm nervous about: Monday is the big anatomy scan. I am a bit nervous as this is the final diagnostic test for confirming everything is okay with the pregnancy. And I keep wondering why I am not feeling kicks yet. It will be nice to go in Monday and see that he's moving and healthy. It's been 6 weeks since my last ultrasound, which feels like forever.

17 Weeks

A baby at pregnancy week 17 is the size of a pomegranate and measures about 5.1 inches long and weighs about 5.9 ounces. Baby's rubbery cartilage is now turning to bone. And baby's growing some meat on those bones, putting on some fat. He is growing a stronger, thicker umbilical cord too.

How far along? 17 weeks

Weight gain/loss: 12 lbs

Sleep? Every night is hit or miss. Frequent pee breaks are part of life.

Best moment this week?This week Noemi was telling me how Joaquin and another boy at the gym were watching Beauty and the Beast. She said they kept covering their eyes and saying "gross" when Beauty and the Beast were hugging and kissing. I asked her what she thought. She said "I think it's lovely." So hilarious and adorable.

Movement:NOPE. And this is longer than it took for both previous pregnancies. Any day I guess? I am getting a little impatient on this one.

Food cravings:Croissants

What I miss? Stomach sleeping.

What I am looking forward to? Date night tonight and a double date night tomorrow!

Milestones: Finding out that Jay doesn't have Zika. Not sure that counts as a milestone but it certainly was a relief.

What I'm nervous about: I am on the brink of beginning my new role with Johnson & Johnson. I am very excited about the company and all of the new opportunities but I know it is going to get busier and it will be really important to make a good impression right away. Not ideal mid way through a pregnancy but it is what it is. I just keep thinking that it can't be worse than the work conditions I endured with my first two pregnancies.

16 Weeks

At 16 weeks pregnant, baby is the size of an avocado, measuring 4.6 inches long and weighing in at 3.5 ounces. Baby can listen to my voice, thanks to tiny bones forming in his ears. He is growing hair, lashes, and eyebrows. And his taste buds are forming.

How far along? 16 weeks

Weight gain/loss: No idea. Still haven't bothered with the battery in the scale.

Sleep? Still pretty good. I finally pulled the body pillow out of the garage and that has been glorious.

Best moment this week?Jay's back from his trip! It is so nice to have him back. The best was when we got to catch up and chat for about three hours on Monday evening after the kids went to bed. It's pretty nice to be married to someone that doesn't bore me after 3 hours!

Movement:Still nothing but I did end up ordering a new doppler after going back through the garage without luck. I found his heartbeat right away so I am feeling better.

Food cravings: I haven't really been super hungry these days but I am still eating normally. Just no cravings.

What I miss? Wine.

What I am looking forward to? I am going to my first meeting with the Newport Beach Democratic Women's Club tonight and I am so excited!

Milestones: Nothing major this week.

What I'm nervous about: Jay got a lot of bug bites on his Costa Rica trip. After a few days of serious research on how, exactly, to get a Zika test, he had his blood taken yesterday. We are hoping for results tomorrow but I wouldn't be surprised if we didn't get them until next week. I am really hoping we have nothing to worry about because if it is Zika that would be BAD.

15 Weeks

At 15 weeks pregnant, baby is as big as a navel orange. The average 15-week fetus weighs 2.5 ounces and measures 4 inches—and baby's proportions are becoming even more normal, since his legs now out-measure the arms. A 15 weeks pregnant ultrasound would reveal that baby's squirming a ton in there, now that he is able to move all limbs and joints! Baby might even be hiccupping.

How far along? 15 weeks (and 1 day, actually)

Weight gain/loss: No idea. Still haven't bothered with the battery in the scale.

Sleep? Pretty good this week! I think being solo with the kids pretty much makes sure that I am TIRED by the end of the day.

Best moment this week?Dinner with my sister in law, Kate, last night. With Jay out of town I had the opportunity to go on a girl date on Balboa Island at a new Italian restaurant. The food was great and it was a joy to have a night out with Kate without the kiddos. Even if her wine look amazing and I couldn't drink it :-(

Movement:Still nothing and now I am really wishing that I knew where my old doppler was. It is a long time between appointments and it would be nice to have some indication that everything is okay.

Food cravings: Hmmm. Nothing in particular. I actually haven't really been wanting to eat anything except that I do get hungry. But nothing gets me excited. And I don't have any chocolate truffles in the house so that's out.

What I miss? Jay! He's been gone 5 days now and I have 1 more to go. It's a long time without him and it will be great to have him back.

What I am looking forward to? Valentine's Day is Tuesday. We don't normally do much to celebrate this holiday but I still like any excuse to be cheesy romantic.

Milestones: Nothing major this week. I guess 15 weeks sounds like a nice number though.

What I'm nervous about: Trying to convince Jay to get Joaquin's closet done. I had someone out to look and sketch for us and got a competitive bid but it's still not a small amount of money. It's really important to me to get this done but most men just cannot appreciate spending money on this type of thing the way I can.

14 Weeks

Baby is the size of a peach at 14 weeks pregnant, measuring 3.4 inches and weighing in at 1.5 ounces. Baby has almost doubled in weight since last week, and keeps on growing at super speed at week 14. Baby's wiggling his toes in there and may even be thumb sucking. A 14-week fetus’ kidneys are making urine, and the liver and spleen are doing their jobs too. Baby at 14 weeks is growing lanugo, a thin, peach fuzz-like hair, all over to help keep the body warm.

How far along? 14 weeks (and 2 days, actually)

Weight gain/loss: Not sure. I am trying to limit my knowledge in this department.

Sleep? So far so good. Frequent potty breaks, but that's nothing new.

Best moment this week?Saturday morning yoga yesterday felt great. I really love the instructor on Saturdays and I haven't been on a Saturday for a while. It felt great to start the weekend that way. While I am definitely starting to modify some poses I can still do a lot. Yesterday I rocked a fabulous side plank on both sides and I can still pull off crow for a short period of time. So I'm pretty happy with that, even if I am no longer allowed to do the crunches.

Movement:Nothing. I think last week was just dinner. Haha. Maybe next week.

Food cravings: Fruit and salad and chips and dip. Maybe I'm just hungry.

What I miss? Energy. Taking the kids to do one simple errand feels like a monumental task these days.

What I am looking forward to? I am having someone come look at Joaquin's closet this week. He has an enormous walk in closet the size of a small bedroom and it needs customization now that he will be sharing the room with his brother. Hopefully we can get this done fast and relatively cost-effectively. Then I can begin pulling out the baby boy clothes I still have and getting them ready.

Milestones: I already mentioned that I am not in the second trimester, which is a good milestone. I can't really think of much else right now.

What I'm nervous about: Jay is going on a trip to Costa Rica this Tuesday through Sunday. A bunch of his friends are turning 40 this year (including Jay) so this is the big birthday trip. I'm a little nervous about being solo with the kids all week. I foresee a lot of cereal and protein drinks in their future.

Second Trimester

Yay! I am officially done with first trimester and on two the second. Second trimester is known for its significantly lower risk of miscarriage and an increase in energy. I like the sound of that. 6 months to go.

13 Weeks

The difference between baby #1 and baby #3 might very well be shaping up to be my complete and total inability to get these posts done on time. But better late than never.

Baby is the size of a lemon at 13 weeks pregnant. At 13 weeks pregnant, he has vocal cords, teeth, and even fingerprints. He is about 2.9 inches long and weighs about .81 ounces, and proportion-wise, his head is now about 1/3 the size of the body instead of ½.

How far along? 13 weeks (and 4 days, actually)

Weight gain/loss: As of my appointment last week I was actually down a pound from my first appointment, which was probably best given that first appointment included some Christmas over eating!

Sleep? Going well at this point. We had a few rough nights but that was more due to Jay's cold than anything pregnancy related. Everyone is feeling healthy now though. AND, Noemi decided she no longer wants to wear pull ups at night. Last night we let her try and she actually did it. I am thrilled.

Best moment this week?We took the kids to see Matilda, the musical. It was fantastic and so fun to do something really special with the kids that we might not be able to do again for a while.

Movement: I thought I felt something. But maybe I was just digesting dinner.

Food cravings: Oranges. And I am having an anti-craving -- a full on revulsion of meat that requires a knife and fork. I can't explain that one.

What I miss? Really good exercise. It is hard to be intentionally easy on myself.

What I am looking forward to? Girls night out with my two favorite ladies this weekend. Can't have a drink but it will be a great night.

Milestones: Finding out the gender, of course! That was huge and very exciting.

What I'm nervous about: Our country. Watching the first 10 days of Trump's presidency has been stressful on multiple fronts. I hope we are better as a nation than his vision. As a lawyer, I am particular concerned with his apparent disregard for the rule of law.

12 Week Ultrasound Picture

Here's baby boy at 12 weeks and 3 days.

Big News!

12 Weeks

Well, I am technically 1 day short of 12 weeks but I skipped week 11 so I thought I'd get back to it today! Baby is the size of a plum at 12 weeks pregnant. The average fetus at 12 weeks is about 2.1 inches long and .49 ounces. Now that baby's got pretty much all his or her important organs, his or her main job is to keep on growing. Baby at 12 weeks is opening and closing his or her fingers and curling toes. And baby’s brain is developing fast!

How far along? 12 weeks

Weight gain/loss: I still haven't replaced the batteries in our home scale. Laziness or intentional blindness? You be the judge.

Sleep? Well, Noemi has been a champion and has been sleeping in her bed all night ALL WEEK. This is amazing and has made a huge difference, especially for Jay, who very kindly has been the one to go down to her bed at night when she wakes up. I think that Joaquin offering to sleep in her bed with her has been making a big difference. The two of them in the queen sized bed is just too cute and I love seeing Joaquin be such a caring big brother to his little sister when she is scared. As for me, sleep has been fine but I am starting to wake up with a sore back from the awkward positions already, so this may be a long few months.

Best moment this week? Jay and I had a great date at a newish restaurant on Balboa Island called Royal Hen. I still can't decide if my favorite dish was the pate with cherry compote, the zesty arugula and brussel sprouts caesar, my short ribs or the banana/chocolate heaven that was our dessert. Plus we ran into friends while there!

Movement: Just a few more weeks for this!

Food cravings: Pepperoncinis. Right from the jar. I'm serious.

What I miss? RED WINE. For a couple weeks it sounded gross but now it sounds like a little glass of heaven.

What I am looking forward to? Saturday. We are marching in the Women's March in Santa Ana. I am absolutely not looking forward to tomorrow's inauguration but I am glad that we will be part of the visible resistance to the many misogynistic and otherwise contemptable things our next President (ugh, do I have to say that?!) has said and done. Plus my shirt is awesome. It says "Keep Your Tiny Hands Off My Human Rights." Nothing like being a pregnant lady to really reflect on that one.

Milestones: Everyone at work knows now. That's always an interesting conversation but it is what it is. I could write a novel on all of the ways being a mom impacts a career but truly the biggest impact is during pregnancy and, obviously, maternity leave. While my employer is absolutely supportive, it is hard not to think about the fact that this may slow down my professional progress in a way that a man would never understand.

What I'm nervous about: Nothing. Truly. I am really enjoying not worrying about this pregnancy in the ways I did with Joaquin and Noemi. I was a ball of nerves my entire pregnancy with Joaquin; completely convinced that something could go wrong at any minute. I felt similarly nervous with Noemi, just to a slightly lesser extent. I think having a miscarriage before each of those pregnancies was incredibly difficult and created a lot of strain. This time I am not worried. Of course, there are no guarantees that nothing will go wrong, but after having two healthy babies the odds are in favor of relatively smooth sailing. In any event, worrying doesn't help anything and can in fact cause some complications. Maybe it's being older and wiser or maybe it's part of the natural letting go that happens when you have kids and realize that you can control everything, but whatever it is, it's definitely serving me well in this process.

10 Weeks

Baby is the size of a strawberry at 10 weeks pregnant, measuring about 1.2 inches long and weighing about 0.14 ounces. Baby has working arm joints, and cartilage and bones are forming. It's vital organs are fully developed and they're starting to function. Fingernails and hair are starting to appear too! And can you believe that baby’s busy practicing swallowing and kicking already?

How far along? 10 weeks

Weight gain/loss: My scale is out of batteries at home so I am not quite sure. I am actually thinking I may have lost a pound or so since last week just by virtue of getting back to my regular, healthier diet. The holiday food was a bit over the top!

Sleep? Pretty good this week! We are still working on getting Emi to sleep in her bed all night so that continues to challenge all of our sleep but overall I am feeling pretty well rested.

Best moment this week? We had a pretty mellow week this week. It is new year and that is always exciting. We worked with the kids on setting goals for the New Year and they came up with some great ones. I am really proud of their big hearts and willingness to challenge themselves.

Movement: Just a few more weeks for this!

Food cravings: Bread, which is of course the one thing I am trying not to eat. But with a tummy that is always just barely on the edge, the only thing that sounds good sometimes is toast with butter. I am being pretty good about avoiding it so far but it's tough!

What I miss? Energy and strength. Yoga is a whole lot harder these days!

What I am looking forward to? A date with Jay tonight. No idea where we are going but I always look forward to our dates as a chance to relax and talk without any kid interruptions and enjoy some great food (if not any wine!).

Milestones: Nothing major this week. I am looking forward to the NIPT test this coming week though when we will find out if baby is a boy or girl and, more importantly, whether there are risks of serious genetic issues. We are also waiting to tell the kids about the baby until after this test - mostly because we don't want one to be disappointed about it being a boy or girl (you can guess that the kids have preferences and they do no match!). I felt it was best to tell them about the baby and the gender at the same time so no one got their hopes up and felt disappointed later.

What I'm nervous about: The NIPT. I am excited and nervous about this test. The odds of something being wrong are probably low given our two healthy kiddos, but at age 35 the risk increases dramatically so it will be a major relief to get past the test.