32 weeks

Wow, just 8 weeks to go and it's still hard to believe. With the stress of the holidays and work these days I know it's going to fly by. Being an impatient person these past 7 or so months has been difficult, but I couldn't imagine Emma coming any sooner. I know parents can never be truly prepared but I'm sure another month would do me just fine. :)

Things are getting harder to do. Getting in and out of the car is challenging nowadays and long bouts on my feet are pretty hard on my back. Oh, and of course... sleeping. I can't ever seem to get comfortable and when I do finally find that perfect spot it seems I just lay there waiting to fall back asleep. I do feel pretty good in the mornings though so that's when I try to get everything done. Come lunch time all I want to do is veg out.

We started our Christmas shopping last night, finally. We didn't come home with much but got a nice dinner out of it and some time away from the house. Even at 3:45 in the afternoon stores were crowded. Why didn't I start this weeks and weeks ago? Never fails, even when you're pregnant I guess.

I have a massage, pedicure, manicure and makeup day at Liz Arden this Friday and I am sooo excited. Dave gave me this gift certificate for my birthday two years ago and I am just now getting around to using it. I feel horrible about it and am not quite sure why I waited so long but now that it's scheduled I am really looking forward to it.

I am on a listserv with some girls all due the same week as me with their first children and this morning I checked the post to see that one of the girls had her baby yesterday at 31 weeks. It's a really scary story and I just hope she and her daughter recover quickly. She went in for a scheduled appointment with her doctor only to find out the baby's heart rate was dropping. They rushed her in for an emergency c-section after 3 drops in the heart rate. I can't imagine what would have happened had she not been there for that appointment when she was. We have an appointment on Thursday and I am going to talk to my doctor about signs. It's scary to think what could be happening without me knowing.

Here's the update for this week:
By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

Everyone keeps asking so I'll let the world know, I've only gained 17 lbs. I'm REALLY happy about it and pray that the next 8 weeks are as steady. If all goes well I'm looking to gain only 25-30 lbs. total. Thanks Emma!!! I think the weight has mostly been in my belly and hips so I'll be spending a lot of time walking when she's born!

I'll post pics as soon... I think I've popped quite a bit since last time.

love to all!