32 Weeks!

Your Body at 32 Weeks:

There is something surreal about watching a tiny foot move across your belly (and something uncomfortable about getting jabbed by a tiny elbow in the dead of night). Now that your baby is nice and big and mobile, you'll be getting kicked and prodded in all sorts of unexpected places. Oooof! Did you feel that one in the ribs?

If you're feeling sudden, jerking movements, then your baby probably has the hiccups. Or he could be practicing his routine for "So You Think You Can Dance". Changing positions, taking a walk, or drinking a cold glass of water or juice can sometimes get a very active baby to chill with the kidney shots for a while. You could also try telling the baby if he kicks you one more time you're going to come in there and give him a time-out. OK, that won't help ease the discomfort, but mentally it'll make you feel like you're still in control.

You can also take heart in the fact that in a few more weeks, your Karate Kid will be running out of room for the kind of athletic displays he's so fond of these days. In other words, he'll be too cramped in there to haul his foot back 6 or 7 inches to give you a swift kick in the ribs.

Your Baby:

Although your baby will still remain active, his days of trying out for Cirque du Soleil are nearly over. About this time your baby will settle into the head-down position in preparation for birth. Other fascinating facts:

Both you and baby are putting on some serious weight at this point. You'll probably gain about a pound a week for the next few weeks, with half of that poundage bulking up baby. He'll likely double his weight in the next eight weeks.

Ever wonder what your baby is doing in there these days? He's busy blinking, looking around, grabbing things, making faces, practicing his breathing, peeing and listening to everything around him—pretty much exactly what he'll be doing for the first three months of his life, sans the adoring audience and the flashing camera.

Your baby may (or may not) have a full head of hair now. If he's a baldy, don't worry. You can always buy a Baby Toupee.

By the end of this week, your baby will weigh about 4 pounds and measure over 17 inches long—about the length of a hot pair of above-the-knee boots. Christian Louboutin? Manolo Blahnik? We're thinking Isaac Mizrahi for Target—you've got a nursery to furnish!

Baby Belly at 32 Weeks:

None of my shirts fit anymore. They are all slightly shorter in the front than they are in the back. I'm not sure why. :]

He was moving all over when we were taking these pictures.

Mommy at 32 Weeks:

I still feel great! I am definitely more tired. I am having serious heartburn all the time now since he is so big and shoving my stomach all over. Dan would probably say that I am being slightly more moody these days. :[  I would say that I am in planning mode. I have things that need to be done and I feel like I don't have enough time to do them. After all I am "term", or 37 weeks, just 5 short weeks from now. Yes, 5 weeks. If that doesn't motivate you to get moving, I don't know what will. That motivation can sometimes be accompanied by anxiety, panic, stress, impatience, etc. etc. :/ I am having hot flashes all the time, and it still hurts to roll over in bed. It's amazing to think that he is only going to get bigger in there. He is moving ALL the time. Not just small little kicks anymore either. He is doing acrobatics in there. All day and all night. It is the most amazing thing ever.

I am going to see my OB every week. I have actual appointments with her every other week, the weeks inbetween I am going in for fetal non stress tests. Which basically means that they hook me up to some monitors to measure his heart rate as well as for any possible contractions. They are looking to make sure that his heart rate is accelerating with movement as it should be. I had my first one this past week and he passed with flying colors within 5 minutes, but they kept monitoring for another 5 just to get a longer strip. I don't know if he was mad about the tight straps around my belly, or the ice cold ultrasound gel they used; but as soon as they placed those monitors he was squirming all over.

Everyone keeps asking me how long I am going to work for. I would love to take some time off before I deliver him to rest and relax, but I'm not sure if that is the right decision financially. There is no planning for this, seeing as I have no clue as to when he is going to make his appearance. It is something that I am prayerfully seeking wisdom about. If you could also be praying about this I would appreciate it.

Other than that, things are cruising right along. We can't believe that there is a little baby in my belly. AND that he will be here so soon. It is surreal. We are SO excited. There are no words to describe it. We just can't wait.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOX