19 Days To Go! (Warning...this kinda turned into what sounds like a journal entry...I think I even got up on my soap box for a little while...)

So, today I bought newborn size diapers...so tiny! I forgot how small babies are when they're newborn. Like 80 diapers don't even fill up 1 basket in the changing table. It's gonna be strange to have a baby that small again! I don't even remember what to do with a newborn!

Jaxon has always been on the larger size of the curve, so I'm interested to see how Henry will be. Last week, I had an ultrasound (at 36 weeks) and he was about 6 1/2 pounds...that's a good size considering the ultrasound tech said the baby could grow by a pound a week! That'd make a 10 1/2 pound baby! The doc said it could be more like 1/2 a pound a week so that made me feel a little better, which makes Jaxon's size (Jaxon was 8 pounds 5 ounces), but she said she didn't think Henry would be as big as Jaxon. She thought Henry would be high 7's to low 8's...so, we'll see...

Back to the diapers...that was the last thing I needed for Henry's hospital bag! He's all packed! It includes: a few blankets, onsies, socks, diapers, wipes, beannie...which, by the way, will he even need that? We are in Arizona! And it's summer! But they do say babies lose heat through their head...I don't know...Moms, what do you think? Did I forget anything?

I still need to get my bag ready and Jaxon's too (and stuff for Devin at the hospital too, huh?). My actual due date is August 27th, which is a Wednesday, but I don't anticipate actually having him that day. Jax was 7 days late, so I'm planning on being late again...might as well plan on being late. That way, it won't get my hopes up and if it's sooner, then great! I think too many moms expect the baby to come before the ESTIMATED due date (it's an estimation!) and then they get discouraged and impatient when the baby doesn't come the day they planned. And that leads to inductions and c-sections, which, some women are okay with, but I would never want for myself unless it was medically necessary. I believe the baby will come when it's ready...when Heavenly Father is ready to let him come to this earth. He's got a whole life ahead of him. Why would he want to come any sooner than he has to?

And...I'm planning on having a natural birth (no epidural)...I know, some people think it's crazy, but I wanna do it. Why? Well, partly because so many women believe they can't and I believe they can, and I can. I believe it takes EDUCATION and PREPARATION, but it can be done. I feel like it's my responsibility to educate myself to know what is going on with my body during such a huge, life-changing event so I can EXPERIENCE it and NOT BE SCARED of it. For such an experience, I'm surprised many mothers don't have the desire to learn about the process their body goes though. It really is amazing how Heavenly Father built female bodies able to accomplish such a grand thing--bringing his children into this world. I think every mother can chose what she feels is best for her and her baby. (So don't think I don't wanna be your friend if you're a fan of the epidural!) It's just for me, I don't want to go along with the doctors plan without being informed. The more I learn about it, the more I realize how awesome it is and I want to experience it. Plus, I know modern medicine and epidurals are a blessing, but it kinda makes me nervous to know there haven't been any long term studies (though there can be immediate problems) to prove there are no harmful effects and we never know what they'll discover... I tried it with Jaxon and made it through 8 hours of labor and 5 cm of dilation and gave in. I'm not gonna lie, it was nice once I had the epidural to not feel all the pressure, but this time I am better prepared and, plus, by posting it here that I'm gonna do it makes me have to be even more dedicated!