Short Rows

I'm getting down to the "short rows" of this pregnancy!  If you've never heard of that expression, here's an explanation I found online: "An old farming expression. Crops were once planted at an angle to the field. So when a farmer was getting close to finishing a plot of crops he would be getting down to the short rows."

I had a check-up today, and the baby's measuring right on track.  I'm not exactly sure where he's going to find the room in me to grow any more!  This week he's been poking his little bottom out, making one side of my belly protrude. Maggie used to do the same thing!   This pregnancy has been a little different than my last.  I've had more aches and pains- maybe he's lower than she was, or maybe it's just because he's my second.  On the plus side, I haven't had hardly any swelling, despite a week of 100+ degree days!  (I was swelling with Maggie by December, before she was born in March.)  I'm just going between air-conditioned places, though.  I continue to enjoy swimming at the indoor pool at the gym.  I think the pros out-weigh the cons: my endurance has really increased, and it's the one place that any pains I may have go away.  The con is that the nice maternity bathing suit I bought is about to fall apart because the pool is so strongly chlorinated!  It doesn't have to hold up too much longer, though.

We've spent the past few weekends putting the final touches on the nursery and Maggie's big girl room (pics to come soon!).  Thanks to hand-me-downs from my nephew, gifts from his grandmothers, and a few gender-neutral clothes Maggie had, he has two drawers full of newborn and 0-3 month clothes!  Little boy clothes can be cute, too!

When I started this post, I noticed Maggie's "ticker" at the top of the blog shows that she's 3 years, 3 months, and 3 weeks old today.  Ironically, according to the doctor's measurements, I'm 33 weeks, 3 days pregnant today.  That's a lot of 3's . . . and, boy, does Maggie act 3!  She's always been inquisitive, but in the last week or two, the number of questions she asks has gone to a whole new level.  I'm very happy to answer meaningful questions.  Most of her questions, though, do not fall into that category.  For example, the other day she went through her box of Barbie clothes piece by piece, asking if each one was for a boy or girl and why.  I thought the evening dresses and pink bathing suits would be pretty obvious!  She also recently watched the movie "E.T." (except for the scary parts), and she must have asked hundreds of questions during it.  Brendon and I would delegate who would answer her questions when!

A few words Maggie has used lately have caught me off guard and made me chuckle.  One day this week I sort of grunted a little under my breath about something, and Maggie said, "Mama, don't be frustrated."  She puts it all back into perspective!  Then yesterday I brushed her hair, but I didn't have her "styling" spray nearby.  She said, "My hair is so difficult!"  Spoken like a little lady!

So, although we're excited that our "short rows" are leading to the arrival of our son (still seems weird to say!), it also means that Maggie's time as an only child are also coming to an end (I can't think about this too much!).  I saw a cute kid's t-shirt on Pinterest this week that said: "Only Child, Expiring [date]".  Maggie's only child "expiration date" is coming in August!