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Baby Jane is 6 days old. We went to church to watch the baby dedications, Ellie and Julianna were being dedicated. Jane did so well, I fed her in the back and then she slept the rest of the time. After church, Becka brought us tacos and some other fun treats, it was so thoughtful. Pete told her “Jane drinks milk and you do want to know where it comes out of.”

I was on the fence about going to church, I’m still healing from Jane’s birth and mornings and nights are especially achy and tough. When I told Pete I might not go, he asked if Jane was still coming. He felt my head and said I’m cool as a cucumber. Then he let me know he’d pick out a dress for me to wear.

He went to my closet and got down a dress that I do wear to church pretty often. He’s the sweetest boy with the best heart. He led the way into church, pushing Jane in the stroller, and calling the attention of our friends to look at her. It was the most heartwarming thing I’ve ever seen. He is so proud to be her big brother.

I got to the hospital today around noon… I had called my midwife and they said to come in to labor and delivery for monitoring and after running a test, confirmed that my amniotic fluid is leaking.

So… here we go! I’m waiting in the delivery room for a doctor to come in. Jesus give me strength not only to deliver this baby but also to stand up for myself and my baby when it comes to unnecessary and unnatural vaccines and antibiotics.

My gown is green this time, with Pete it was blue.

Fun fact from this morning- Ava and Pete both made me breakfast in bed. First, Pete came in with a bag of Chex mix, and later, Ava brought me peanut butter waffles.

About midnight, we were awaken by this crazy dog that was relentlessly barking. Because of the nice weather we’ve been having overnigh, we were sleeping with the window open and so it was very loud and obviously not one of our dogs. We brought in our dogs, and thought that would do the trick, but the barking only intensified. Finally about 12:45am, I moved to the couch. Would you believe, that dog went to the front yard and started barking there! He even was jumping up on the front window and looking in. It was like a scary movie. How did he know I was on the couch? Around 1am with no other options, Adrian took him for a little drive to relocate him, poor guy. As soon as he left, I started having weak contractions. I timed them from 1am to about 1:45 and they were roughly 5 minutes apart lasting a minute each, but because they were so weak I decided to just try to rest and went back to bed.

Let me back up. On Saturday, we were supposed to take Ava to the beach for a fun get together with her co op friends. We were all packed to go and loading up the car when- bloody show (I hate that term). So unfortunately, knowing labor was imminent, we stayed home. Since then, I’ve been nauseous and leaking what I think is amniotic fluid, but no contractions until early this morning (Monday). My due date is tomorrow, and my first due date given was Friday the 27th. I was hoping to have her on the 24th like Grammy’s bday but here we are. As soon as everyone wakes up, or if these contractions intensify any more, we’re heading to the hospital.

Jesus, thank you for baby Jane. My baby girl. Thank you for the past 9 months of a smooth pregnancy, feeling little kicks, big rolls and stretches, and not too many hiccups. My main symptom was heartburn and a much milder case of SPD, which I had really bad with both boys. I wore mostly maternity jeans that I got on Facebook marketplace in Arroyo Grande, or shorts, and black maternity tank tops, all from target. I was pregnant through the hot summer but it really wasn’t too bad. Jane’s room is done in vintage flowers and it’s all ready for her. We shuffled down rooms and the school room garage conversion was just completed yesterday. Ava and my mom threw me a baby shower open house on August 31st, which was packed with family and friends, and I just finished sending out thank you notes today. The guest equity girls also threw me a surprise shower. Katee Finks is the midwife who I’ve been seeing at Family Healthcare Network, but I’m not sure who will deliver Jane at the hospital. One thing is for sure, we will meet her in the next 24 hours or so. Jesus please protect us. Prepare the doctors, prepare our delivery room, prepare me and Adrian. We love you Lord, how do we say thank you for such a precious gift?! Amen.

We’re approaching 6am, I’m thinking we’ll leave for the hospital around 8 if these contractions continue.

My due date according to ultrasounds is 9/24. According to last cycle calculations is 9/27. It’s currently about 3:30am on 9/19 and it feels like baby is coming sooner than later. I thought it would be fun to journal some of the things I’ve been going through.

In relation to my last two pregnancies, this one was a cake walk. I’ve been healthy except for one minor cold right after celebration California summer camp, I actually think just it was Covid, and a way more mild case of SPD. Just knowing what it is this time has helped tremendously. The heartburn has been brutal. I’m eating tums like candy. It used to be only at night but now it seems like I have heartburn no matter what I eat and all throughout the day as well.

Jane doesn’t really kick anymore, but makes big rolling movements and sticks her limbs out making sharp little bumps on the sides of my belly. I’m at the point where my stomach feels so stretched out, like it can’t possibly stretch and further. I know it’s going to feel like a deflated balloon in a couple days, and I’m actually looking forward to that to not have this stretching feeling.

I’ve been sleeping on the couch, mostly because the kids are camping out in the backyard, but also because I seem to sleep better out here for some reason. It’s lower to the ground and easier to get up, and the way it curves seems to fit my belly better. As I’m typing this I’m super nauseous all of a sudden. Maybe today it the day.

I’ve never done a babymoon, but one of my friends from church planned the best getaway for us, a two day stay in Cambria to rest and relax, and it has been the absolute best. It’s a few gals from our Bible study, “Pack”, and we’ve been kicking back, taking walks, sitting on the balcony, sipping coffee, eating charcuterie, and to top it all off, they scheduled a prenatal massage for me this afternoon. I have been so blessed that God sent these women into my life. Thank you, Lord. I do not deserve them, but I am so grateful.

Today was my baby shower. We had an open house style shower, and invited many many people from all my friend groups- relatives, church friends, highschool friends, co-workers. Everyone. About 50 people came, and I was truly showered with so much gifts and love. It was a wonderful day. My mom and Ava were amazing hosts. Everyone seemed to get along or find someone they knew to chat with for a while. It was just a really fun and really sweet day. Grammy made all the flower arrangements last night, and they were beautiful center pieces for today.

After everyone left, my dad came to help clean up and dad, mom, Ava, and I opened all the gifts. Ava recorded what everything was in her journal so we can write thank you notes later. Then we cleaned up and I joined Adrian and the boys at the Medinas’ for dinner. We stayed and chatted for a while and the kids played.

It’s been a long day, but I have a lot of energy just from all the action and fun that took place. I couldn’t have asked for a better day and a better shower. The days leading up to today have been hard and stressful, trying to get everything ready, clean, decluttering, while still living in the house with a bunch of tornados. We might have finished setting up minutes before the “start time”, or maybe minutes after, but it was perfect.

❤️

Today, Gemma, Patty, and Vanessa surprised me with a baby shower in the office. There was good food, drinks, specially made desserts, gifts, and the most thoughtful hand made decorations. I felt so loved and cared for. It was definitely a highlight of my pregnancy, and something I don’t want to forget.

A few more noteworthy things- Charlotte is back from England and she and Ava (and my mom) are back to planning my baby shower, which is this Saturday. Ava and Charlotte were also asked to help teach crochet at The Legacy House in Tulare. They went today and loved it. I had a meeting with my fellow homeschool moms to discuss natural history club and get our schedules for the school year. I loved it. Can’t wait to get out in nature again, this time with baby Jane.

I’m here at Family Healthcare Network in Tulare, where they have the very best phlebotomists ever, for the three plus hour blood test to check for gestational diabetes. I’m here because my last (shorter) glucose test results came back high- 157. 140 is the cut off. The hardest part is not being able to drink water through the duration of the test… I’m so so thirsty. But Jane is awake and bopping around in my belly so that’s keeping me entertained. I can’t wait to see she and Pete’s relationship develop, he already loves her so much, and I feel like she’ll have a similar personality because she’s already so active at 30 weeks.

Last night Pete brought me a bell pepper (Nimpy 2) to snuggle with when I went to bed. I told him I bought those at the store so we could eat them, and he was so upset about that. Adrian asked if he’d rather eat Nimpy or our pig, Ella. After lots of thought, he chose Ella!!! He’d rather butcher our pet pig than eat his orange bell pepper, Nimpy. What a kid.

Today we made moon dough, and it was a hit. 1/2 cup conditioner, 1 cup cornstarch. It’s definitely getting us in the mood for school.

Yesterday was Pete’s 6th birthday. He took zebra cakes to church for he and his friends, and then we had a sweet little party at the house with cousins to swim afterward. In the morning, he was the first to get up, and I said, “Pete, I can’t believe you’re six!” He said, “Don’t worry mom, I’ll still snuggle with you.”

10 weeks left until Jane is born. It’s gone by so fast, but at the same time, Cancun and the Farm Show seem so long ago, and I can’t believe I’ve been pregnant since then.