Preface: I am absolutely not writing this post in an effort for any commenters to come on here to compliment me or make me feel better. I’ve got a mirror. I know exactly what I look like these days. I just need to get this out of my system. Complaining about the physical aspects of the end of pregnancy is just part of what I need to do.
- My face. Is. Swollen. Seriously. When I smile, my cheeks consume my eyes and I have the biggest face on the planet. It is unrecognizable in photos. And no, you don’t get to see. But I feel like a Shar Pei.
- That beautiful second trimester skin is gone. My skin is now flat, dry, and starting to break out again.
- My belly has dropped significantly. One reason is because Hayes is transverse and is in there like a football. So this belly of mine is sitting really low and looks like I stuffed three basketballs under my shirt.
- The waddling that occurs because he has dropped so much is probably comical to some. I know my husband thinks it’s funny. When I’m in public I try to fake it and walk normally, but that’s just hard when gravity has its way.
- Even my biggest maternity shirts barely cover my belly and my secret fit panel on my super cute maternity pants.
- The elastic has started to unravel on the panels on my super cute maternity pants.
- The baby hairs and baby bangs have already started coming in. I know that means at some point, I’ll have thick, luscious locks. But right now, I have tiny little baby duck hairs sprouting from the top of my head and sticking straight up.
- And last but not least, the anxiety over the dreaded weight loss process has started getting to me. I avoid looking at the scale at my appointments, but I do know exactly how much I have gained and how much I’ll need to lose. I also know it’s only a matter of days at this point before I can start thinking about losing it. But, oh goodness, I hope I start losing it quickly! But I know that Hayes doesn’t weigh 20 pounds, so I can’t blame it on him!
Hayes is all set to come. His birthday is scheduled and we can’t wait to see his precious little face and kiss his cheeks. In the mean time, however, I’ll be avoiding cameras in an effort to prevent myself from crying at the physical reality of the end of the third trimester.
Oh my good gracious, I feel you on every.single.one of your bullets above. Well, this girl isn’t transverse (that I know of) but she is so low she sits on my thighs when I sit down. There’s just really nothing pretty about the end, is there? At least we’ll have sweet little babies to cuddle soon! Thinking of you, xoxo
Oh I can relate to this post. I’m also in my third trimester and all of the sudden my face is HUGE! Of course, everyone seems to want a picture now too…no thanks. I’m only 35 wks but as far as I can tell our baby is transverse, hoping she gets the memo soon to head down. Hang in there! Can’t wait to see photos of your new baby boy.
A big hug, snaps for honesty, and hope everything goes smoothly! We’ll all be thinking about you!
I’ve never been prego, but I can imagine how uncomfortable I’d be right at the end. I really feel for you. You’re a beautiful woman (inside and out), so I hope you don’t worry too much after lil H is born about that! I can’t wait to see pics. btw, thank you for being honest, us non-moms def appreciate it
Pretty much any time after 32 weeks was absolutely miserable and very puffy for me. I’m at 13 weeks this pregnancy and already my feet are swelling and spreading! That never happened with the other kids, not until the last week or 2!
And you know what? I tweeted this morning that I’m already devising a weight loss plan for after the birth. I am still hanging on to pounds from my 2nd child. Ok, let’s be real, I’m still hanging onto pounds from my first child as well! Now that I’m pregnant with the last, I’m anxious to kick the weight for GOOD!
I second James. Big snaps for honesty. The end of pregnancy is about as far away from glamorous as it gets!!
I feel for you. I was 11 days late with my wee boy. They won’t induce you until you are 12 days late here in Scotland. How nice of them right? I seriously wanted to shoot someone. I don’t know anyone who has gone that late, and I just wanted to complain my heart out during those last days. You go for it. I didn’t take any pics either. I looked like I felt. I didn’t want to remember that…I still don’t want to acknowledge what I look like now. My whole body shape has changed. Chin up!
All 3 of my kiddos were carried low and I remember vividly waddling through Target one day and not even getting half the items on my list because it was just too painful to walk any further. And if I did continue to walk around, I felt 100% certain that the pressure I was feeling would result in me wetting my pants in the middle of the store!
On the positive, you’re almost at delivery day!!
oh my goodness, i am SO with you on ALL of this. i am in my 36th week and it’s just…NOT PRETTY. i weighed myself this morning before my dr. appt and nearly passed out. and the shar pei comment made me laugh out loud!
God’s way of getting you ready, right? You stop focusing on “How am I gonna handle 2?” and you start focusing on “Enough already. I’m just ready to have this baby.” 😉 It’s all normal, as you know, since you’re a pro now. Hang in there!! Almost done!
Long-time reader, first time commenter here. I’ve never been pregnant, so i have nothing of real value to add. Just wanted to say, i think you’ve handled the uncomfortable moments of pregnancy with humor & grace-which is all we can ever really hope for, right? I freak out if i’ve gained 10 lbs, i can’t imagine how tough it is to carry around another person! Wishing you a happy, safe & beautiful delivery. God bless!
I am feeling the saaaaame way. And I’m so tired of people asking me if I’m about to pop! I’m only 36 weeks. Will I be able to take four more weeks of this?
I’m also really, incredibly, looking forward to getting to workout again and lose the weight I’ve put on.
I know you are ready to meet Hayes!!!
I can definitely relate to this, but I am CERTAIN you still look beautiful no matter what! At least these are all signs of a soon arrival! I can’t wait to see him 🙂
I’m really scared what I’ll look like in a few months. I’ll go from posting pics to not posting pics. People are lucky I don’t post the bumps on my back on the black hairs on my chin. Testosterone & estrogen = awesome haha
I had to laugh at the picture of the shar-pei. Like I’m still laughing a bit. You crack me up!
I know you’re so ready to be done and I remember the feelings all too well of being so close. It’s not fun but you are seriously SO close.. Just hang in there girlie…
Hahaha! The shar-pei comment was awesome. As a girl on the chunkier side… I’m worried about how I will be/feel/look when I am blessed with a baby! I’m assuming it won’t be so pretty. I will be envious of cute pregnant girls! I have done some work in losing some weight & running to attempt to get leaner but it just isn’t in my genes. And I am NOT eating steamed broccoli & grilled chicken for the rest of my life! ;o)
Good luck to you & your family! I’m assuming you won’t be posting his actual birthday for fear of mean comments/trolls so I will just patiently wait for you to tweet or do a post!
Oh the baby bangs… Horrible. Can completely relate as Carsyn was transverse also, however she was always high. The plus side was I didn’t waddle, the down side was my ribs ached constantly. You’re so close to the end lady!! 🙂
I hear ya with the joy of the third trimester! How exciting that you know his due date, not long now! I am exactly one month away from our bubs due date! 😮
You know what I love about you? I love how you keep it real. Motherhood, marriage and wifely duties may not always be glamorous…and you don’t mind sharing about the not so glam details. Gals like me really appreciate it (and now I know what to expect – for real – when I’m pregnant some day). Although I’m sure all these sacrifices are worth it times a billion and baby hayes will just be the cutest little thing ever (well other than hudson).
The Wednesday night before I had Andrew, I waddled my way up on stage at church to sing, and one of the other singers, who is a very sweet lady, said “Oh your face is so nice and full.” “Really? Nice and full.” I already have a very round face, and nice and full did not need to be added to that. Nevertheless, I smiled and said “Oh thanks”. I still vividly remember the joys and pains of being pregnant. And while I know your not looking for sympathy, I’m throwing some your way 🙂
My face did the same thing with Levi. Oh. My. Word. It was enormous!!! I’m sure you look beautiful, though. It’s always worse in your own eyes!
I feel the same way… I just have 9 more weeks of it. And it makes me unnaturally sad and upset when people tell me that I look cute. What makes it even worse? I hate being *that* girl who constantly feels bad about her looks.
Try not to worry about the weight loss right now! I know its hard but realistically, you’ll be recovering from a c sxn and getting acquainted with your new baby and being a mom of 2. It will come off! cut yourself some slack there. (i know you have something ? coming up that you want to be thin for BUT)I can totally relate to those last few wks of feeling kind of miserable. I am just starting to feel truly pregnant at 30 wks now. Good luck and congratulations on getting to this point! your baby will be here before you know it! yay!
You think a swollen face is bad. I broke out in a rash the last 6 weeks of my pregnancy ! It went from the nape of my neck to the back of my knees and it was soooo itchy. The sun made it even worse. So I more or less stayed inside taking ice cold showers every 4 hours. Thankfully it went as soon as the baby was born.
And, Erin that 20 pounds – is fluid. That will be gone when you have Hayes and you’ll be back in your jeans !
I saw you…up close and personal with facetime! You are beautiful, as always. We just have big faces normally!
You know that email that’s gotten forwarded around by Erma Bombeck, that talks about all the things she wished she would have done ever since she was diagnosed with cancer? There’s “I would have burned the rose-shaped candle” and stuff like that? Well the one that always got me about “Instead of wishing away all the aches and pains of pregnancy, I would have delighted in that one opportunity I had to assist God with a miracle.” I tried to think of that in my last days of pregnancy…it helped a BIT, but it was still miserable! Hang in there!
(p.s. At least you KNOW when it will end…try going NINE DAYS past your due date!)
Well, at least those Shar Peis are super cute 🙂 I didn’t get the baby hairs until about 6 months post partum, and they are horrible! And my hair doesn’t grow quickly, so it’s been fun trying to camoflauge them! At least these are mostly signs of THE END approaching quickly! I can’t wait to ‘meet’ sweet Hayes and see how Hudson is with him!
I love your honesty. My sister told me the other night that my face looks “fuller.” And I’m only at 19 weeks! But it’s all so worth it, isn’t it? Hang in there — Hayes will be in your arms soon!
You’re almost done! And you’ll have sweet baby Hayes! I liked the little pictures you included, the duck was super cute 😉
Huge LOL, I totally feel you…as a formerly prego with twins mommy here, I COMPLETELY hear you!! It will soon be over though and I bet you’ll miss at least some of this 🙂 You’ll be back to “normal” in no time…no worries!!!
I love this. And I TOTALLY get it! I was the same way–my face was puffy for so long, I would get nausous looking at pictures. But now I am sad I don’t have many photos with me and my newborn together. You are SO CLOSE!
I so remember that feeling. I had Caden in October so my biggest months of pregnancy were Aug-Sept which is the hottest time of the year! So not only was I feeling as big as a whale but it was hot hot hot. I’m so excited to “meet” baby Hayes!
I remember that 2nd pregnancy feeling as well! You feel so horrible and count down the days. Looking back now…I looked better during my 2nd pregnancy than I did during the 1st!! So see there…you probably look amazing and don’t even realize it:) (Yes, that is a wink) But, do take some photos for just you to have. I wouldn’t let anyone take photos of either pregnancy due to feeling so huge. It’s sad to look back and have just the photos from showers. But, I have SO felt your pain!!! You are not alone!! Baby Hayes will arrive soon enough and you will be back to your beautiful self! Just take your time getting back in shape…remember, this is your SECOND baby!!!
I know you weren’t fishing for this, but I just saw a picture of your belly in your Easter post — and it’s adorable! I’m betting you look way better than you feel 🙂 I hope these last few days fly by as comfortably as possible!
I love how open and honest you are in your posts. And I’m sending you lots of hugs. Hope this last bit of time is smooth for Hayes’ arrival!
Hi Erin,
This is the cutest post so far.. I’d loved to see your big face! Nothing like the joy of having a baby. Congratulations girl and let me tell that I have been stalking you for sometime now 😀 and already following you on google friend connect. I absolutely love your style of writing. I linked one of your posts (I took inspiration from) in my blog here http://pumplicious.blogspot.com/2011/04/before-turning-26.htm. and wnated to thank you!
Do visit and let me know if you like it 🙂
Thank you SO much for writing this post! Sometimes I think I’m crazy – but the pictures of the puppies, and the rest of your post – made me feel a lot better. At 33 weeks I feel like the “finish line” is so far away – please keep blogging because you’re keeping me sane! 🙂
I totally snickered when I read this…. NOT AT you but this time last year I was right where you are. I’m thinking back and just gave a sigh of relief. Props to you for being being honest!! I have a round face to begin with…. at the end of my pregnancies …. well, it was just MORE round! 🙂 But, that’s just life (and we’re all allowed some vanity) and the reward as you know is more than worth it! Can’t wait to “meet” your new addition.
I am 1 month past delivery and I just joined Weight Watchers, am walking 2-3- times per week, and plan to take a Zumba class at a local gym 1 time per week in order to lose 20 baby weight pounds. But I’ll be honest…I don’t think my stomach will EVER be the same unless I pay for it (tummy tuck). I’m not opposed to doing that, but I’ll have to start a little fund to do it 🙂
I know it is all worth it for my sweet babies, but vain or not, I like to look good and don’t want to hold onto this flabby tummy for long. It’s nice to know someone else feels the same as I do and is going through what I am too