Ode to the third Odegaard

Ultrasound at 30 weeks: learning
to suck her thumb?

The other day, I realized I was in my third trimester. The final one. I'd been in it for weeks, but didn't even know--how could this be? Is this simply the way it is with child #3? I already feel bad for this little girl!

I'm trying to convince myself that there are good things about being the third child in our family. And here's what I think this baby should know:

-Your birth is being anticipated with more excitement than fear. I know how to take care of a newborn (and toddler, and preschooler), and I know how to take care of two. This is markedly different from my previous two babies (How will I take care of a baby?!? What if labor hurts?!? What if I don't sleep?!? and, Is it even possible to manage two children at once?!? What if they both cry?!? What if I don't sleep?!?). Mommy will probably be calmer and more rational with you than either of the previous babies: they have done the hard work of wearing me down.

It's a foot!

-What's more, there are two extra people to be excited for you. And they're REALLY excited. Elise has already helped me wrap a present for you (Shh! Don't tell, but it used to be a cat toy, but it's been one of her favorites at several ages! This was all her idea.). Kalina is planning ways to help out and entertain you.

-Think you'll be wearing only hand-me-downs? Think again! Not only are there a few sweet new outfits waiting for you already (thank you, Grandma!), but plenty of our other old standbys are just plain worn out and need replacing. You'll be getting some new clothes. And besides, whenever we go to Target we're already

-I love your sisters. But I will swiftly (and gently) elbow those two thugs out of the way if they so much as breathe wrong on you, and I'm not afraid to admit it.

-For what it's worth, Elise has less Mommy time, but more fun, than Kalina did. You'll have double the fun (plus plenty of Mommy time, because who doesn't want to hang out with a cute baby all the time?).

-From week 1, you'll really get to see the world beyond the four corners of our living room. Hope you like it!

-Mommy will be too tired to fight common first-year no-nos, such as: gnawing on shoes, sharing a cookie with me, playing in the sunshine and chasing the cat. You'll probably get away with a lot more than your sisters ever thought of.

-Our craft cupboard is well-stocked. We own every toy any child ages birth to 6 could possibly dream of. We have stuffed-animal birthday parties down pat. I don't have to Google the words to all the classic songs and nursery rhymes. In short, we're really well prepared for a little sister to join in our fun.

And we also might be able to guess a few things about this new little baby:

-Nope, she's not going to be a good sleeper. I am not kidding myself this time. She wakes up when I: shift positions, eat or lay on my back, and she's been known to stay awake for 30 minutes to an hour at a time, if not more (sometimes i lose track). I'm already pretty certain she sleeps light and only when absolutely necessary.

-On the plus side, she seems to already have a routine--and I can handle routines, even if they're not particularly in my favor. Baby Girl 3 currently sleeps longest between about 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. She then takes only short naps until about 9:00-ish, at which time she's more awake than not for several hours. She also squirms whenever we're hungry. In fact, the only time I can guarantee she'll be still is when poor Elise is trying to feel her kick.

-She will have lots of separation anxiety. This is because if she doesn't naturally display it, I will have no choice but to teach her. I know no other method of parenting than, "stick with me and you'll be alright." So, she will need to be by my side at all times--but she'll have her big sisters there, and we usually have a pretty good time.

-Baby Girl 3 just might be strong-willed. We have it coming from both sides in one form or fashion, and we're due--we don't have one yet. If this happens, Uncle Tom will be spending all of his vacation time running her around in the yard to wear her out, and Daddy will take over on weekends (all my genes are obedient ones, so I will not be held responsible).

-She might also be mellow. Her movements, while frequent, aren't something I would describe as crazy or even random. Calm and calculated, maybe (this could be worrisome in itself)? I've never felt like she was doing backflips, just stretching and repositioning.

-Or maybe she's just very seriously strong-willed. Uh-oh.

-She'll be another small baby--no doubt about it.

-She doesn't hiccup much, if at all. According to some wisdom, this might mean that she won't have tummy troubles once she's born. That will hopefully make for a happy baby?

-Baby Girl 3 will be cute! Her ultrasound photos are clear in that. She also may be a thumb-sucker, in accordance with her hand positioning in at least one photo.

-And she'll be much loved. No doubt about that.

Can't wait to meet her in person (but stay in there just a little longer, Baby!)!