By Emily Saunders

Here we are at my final #bumpdate post and Baby Hutch is HERE!!!  I’m going to keep writing in this series, because many of you have asked me to.  You want to know about those first 3 months and how I handle them so I’m here to SHARE!!!   Look out for the new series #4thtrimester coming soon!  Baby Hutch arrived on Thursday 2/18 at 39 Weeks 1 Day and we are so so blessed!  Thank you Lord for the gift of motherhood!

Weight Gain:  22  pounds

Food Cravings/Aversions:  None really- I have a little bit of nausea here and there, but nothing crazy.  I can’t wait to drink a glass of wine.  I also get full really easily which is strange for me because I have a big appetite.

Exercise:  Still plugging away.  Lots of stretching, 3 Weights Based Workouts per week and 1-2 days of HIIT cardio.  I’m not doing much sprinting because it hurts so I do sprints on a spin bike or the stair climber instead My workouts are FAR less intense but still leave me breathless and burning.  My burpees are pitiful, but I’m doing them

Update:  I did a leg workout and some “sprints” (about 3.0 mph slower than normal) the morning I went into labor.  It was a great workout and I felt super energized afterward.  Now I know why!!!

Exciting Things:  I am just really excited to hold my baby!!

Weird Things:  I’m having those weird shooting pains through my inner thighs that make you want to fall on the floor.  So weird and painful- yet normal.

Big Brother Notes:  He literally can’t wait.  We’ll see how he feels in a month!

As a second time Mom it’s just so different.  I feel so unprepared as I haven’t been able to obsess about all things baby focused due to my commitments to my family (that’s a good thing).  That said- I feel so much more prepared than I did going into #1.  Since we’re expecting another boy 3 years and 1 month after our first, I don’t need a whole lot of “stuff” (thank you Lord) so I haven’t had to shop for much except things like new nursing tanks and bras and bottle nipples (so exciting right!).

So here I am in the last month of pregnancy and I’m really excited.  A few weeks ago I started feeling really anxious about being unprepared, but the Lord has given me peace that YES everything will be crazy, but that He will be there every step of the way to help me through it.  He has a way of doing that doesn’t He?

This pregnancy has been so easy in some ways and so difficult in others.  I am so thankful for a strong body and plenty of energy!  I will have been pregnant for 12 of 14 months when Baby Hutch is born (you can find more about my pregnancy loss here).  That’s a long time friends.  My body is kind of over it.  I can’t imagine how I might feel if I hadn’t stayed active and continued with my “Momsanity lifestyle” throughout.

The first trimester was so very horrible- especially after having just completed one first trimester- but I had GREAT support throughout.  The second trimester was a breeze and then of course there was the ankle injury and the cast which was really challenging physically and still is because while my ankle has healed beautifully, my hip and back are out of whack from being “off” for a month, BUT it’s improving as long as I diligently stretch, massage, foam roll and see the chiropractor (it’s like a full time job!).   I was recently asked whether I would rather go through 6 weeks of morning sickness or 6 weeks in a cast during pregnancy.  I honestly answered B.  For anyone struggling through your first trimester- I’m so sorry.  I know it’s terrible!

I also wanted to share about a beautiful experience- a blessing from some great friends! Here in the South we have what are called “Sprinkles” for second babies. Think of it as a mini-shower full of things like diapers and wipes and burp cloths- the essentials needed for baby #2. I could go on and on about its loveliness! The best part? At the end of the event they invited Wiggy to join us and several friends laid hands on us. They prayed over us and for Baby Hutch for quite some time. It was incredibly moving in so many ways. I am so thankful to be covered in prayer by so many beautiful believers who share their faith boldly!

So… here we are in the home stretch! I’ll keep on moving, keep on eating well, keep on praying and rest as much as I can. I am also savoring these moments as a family of three!