This summer our family will be welcoming a new little band member to our bunch!

We are all over the moon excited for our newest little blessing to make his/her debut later this summer. It will be quite an adventure having three children under four but I am up for the challenge. My oldest son is currently three and a half and the youngest is 18 months.  And despite the never ending piles of laundry and fact that my house always looks like a bomb went off, a third baby is going to be the perfect addition to our family. It is extra fun this time around too because my older son actually understands that he will have a new little brother or sister soon. He has been “practicing” changing diapers and feeding bottles to his stuffed animals. It is incredibly cute. He is insistent that he is going to have a little sister so I am extra excited to find out soon whether he is right or not!

So far, this third pregnancy is shaping up much differently than the first two. Today, I wanted to share 10 things that are different about pregnancy #3.

1) Bring On The Maternity Clothes: As soon as you take the confirming pregnancy test, be ready to break out your maternity clothes. With baby #1, I didn’t start wearing maternity clothes until close to 18 weeks. It was a little earlier with baby #2, more like 12 weeks. But with this baby, my body “assumed the position” pretty much as soon as I peed on that little stick! I even started to think I was farther along than I was because of how big I was getting. But after a quick google search I confirmed this is pretty normal with the third pregnancy. Thank goodness.

And I found this Maternity Bra to be the most comfortable and loved this Nursing Bra with my past two pregnancies!

2) Nesting Early: Remember that overwhelming need to clean and organize everything in sight that usually hits towards the end of your pregnancy? The nesting instinct.  Well I am doing that already. It started pretty much the second I found out I was pregnant. It is probably just the realization and appreciation for how chaotic and unorganized it already is but I seriously can’t find enough drawers or closets to clean and organize right now (*Note: That does not mean anything is actually getting cleaned or organized but the desire is there).

3) Bring on the Java: Did you give up caffeine in your first pregnancy? I did! Cold turkey. With baby #2 I debated it a bit more but did drink some coffee during the course of the pregnancy after getting the green light from my doctor. It was necessary after long nights up with the newborn trying to keep up with the 22 month old. Well with this third pregnancy, I didn’t even think twice – of course I am going to drink my morning cup of coffee! I have two kids I am chasing all day everyday  — it really wasn’t even a second thought. And in the spirit of honestly, I have been slightly more lax about some of the other pregnancy rules as well, namely the lunch meat one.

4) No Time For Research: You don’t rely on the pregnancy books nearly as much as you did in your other pregnancies. During my first pregnancy I consulted with the “What To Expect When You’re Expecting” book daily. I kept it on my nightstand and would read it regularly with joy and excitement.  It was so fun to learn around the various milestones and changes that were taking place each week. This pregnancy I have only consulted it once. Who has time to read it? I pretty much know what is going on this time around anyways!

5) Where Can I Buy A Mini Van? You seriously consider purchasing a mini van. I have been a very happy SUV-driving mommy for three years now and I really don’t have an interest in changing this. Until we found out we are pregnant with baby #3. Now we are thinking it might be necessary in order to fit all three carseats in! I’ll keep you posted on what we decide!

And speaking of fitting three kids – this is my favorite triple stroller option!

6) Leaving the House With Two Kids Suddenly Seems So Easy: For the past 18 months leaving the house has been such a challenge.  The grocery store, the library, the mall, chasing two at the play centers — everything has been more difficult since the arrival of baby #2. However, once pregnant with baby #3, you suddenly think it is super easy to go out and about with your two children! It is amazing how much my attitude has changed on this issue.

7) Oh the Urge: Remember the end of your pregnancy when your expanding uterus presses on your bladder so much you have the constant urge to pee? Yeah, well that is how I started to feel beginning at week 10. I can only imagine what it is going to feel like by week 38!

8) What Week Am I Again? In my first pregnancies I could tell you precisely what week and day I was throughout most of the pregnancy. This time around I regularly have to stop and think about my answer when people ask me how far along I am. You just completely lose track of weeks and days this time around because you are so busy chasing the other two!

9) No Time To Be Tired: There is very little time to be sick or tired. Remember that first trimester exhaustion? I pretty much skipped right into the second trimester energy. Maybe I got super lucky but I blame some of it on the fact that I simply cannot be sick or tired. Moms don’t get sick or vacation days. It just isn’t the reality of my days right now. So yes I feel a little bit extra tired when I finally sit down for the first time all day at 9pm each day, but I can’t tell if it is from chasing two toddlers or if it is from the pregnancy!

10) Diaper Coupons, Anyone? I have already gone through the routine of having two children in diapers at the same time. For a time I was going through approximately 18-20 diapers a day! Hence my desire to potty train the older one as quickly as possible! It can be expensive if you aren’t prepared! I have learned to stock up on diapers when they go on sale so I never run out and am forced to pay full price for a pack of diapers. Once again I started as soon as I got the positive pregnancy confirmation because I have a solid three more years of diapers in my future.

Click here to read also: 10 Gift Ideas for Second (or Third) time Moms (That They Actually Want)

And here are some fun ways to share the news with your kids!

• Cratejoy Subscription Box
• I Am a Big Brother
• I Am a Big Sister
• Big Bro Shirt
• Big Sis Shirt
• The Big Sibling Book: Baby’s First Year According to ME
• Tickle & Main Big Sister Gift Set- I Hereby Crown You Big Sister Book, Doll, and Child Size Crown
• Tickle & Main – Big Brother Gift Set – 3 Piece Set Includes Big Brothers are Superheroes Book, Satin Cape, and Mask

Have you experienced three or more pregnancies? Are there any differences I am missing? Please share!