32 Weeks

I feel like time is flying. Work has been ridiculously crazy, and I am perpetually uncomfortable and have suffered everything from super sore hands (think rheumatoid arthritis) and feet (plantar facitis), acid reflux (horrible!), my first bout of "morning sickness" at 32 weeks, 2 days and a generally inability to breathe deeply because it feels like Xander has taken up residence in my diaphram. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not really complaining...it's just been a bit exhausting.

Exhaustion has not been helped at all since we've been working really hard to get everything done prior to Xander's arrival -- his room is almost complete -- we just need to do a "paint by numbers" mural of safari animals and trees next weekend. Don't worry, it's all going to be white on the blue background, so I imagine it's going to be very simple. When it's all said and done, pictures will be taken. :)

We also have been working on the guest room to get that ready generally and for my mom's arrival next month. She should be here by the 1st week in October, and we can't wait. Should be a lot of fun, and we absolutley know how helpful she's going to be keeping me sane after X is with us. We bought a new desk yesterday for the guest room/study and a new closet organizer. We also have had some electrical work done both in the guest room (so the printer can be in the closet and the wires for the flatscreen in the wall) and outside (so that we can hang christmas lights outside this year). Everything looks good.

We also are having a storage shed (6x10) put on the side of the house. That starts this coming week and should take a few days, but I will be thrilled to have all the lawn and gardening items out of my laundry/utility closet. Yay! We figured this would provide more room for stroller, etc in the utility closet. Mike's convinced we need a deep freezer in there too (I'm not convinced), so we'll see. He's trying to convince me a deep freezer is better for frozen breast milk. Um, okay. ;)

Mike starts grad school this week. Wish him luck! It's a 2-3 year program and in the end his masters will be in national security. Also going on with Mike -- he received an OIC billet (Officer in Charge) last week. Unfortunately, he turned it down because the unit is being deployed to the UAE in March. He could have opted out of going to the UAE (since he just got back from Afghanistan) and still taken the OIC position, but he didn't think it would be fair to the guys in his unit. Tough decision. I have to believe that it just wasn't in God's plan right now. We're so busy with work, Xander on the way and his grad school. Maybe next year? Yes, he has to wait til next year's cycle now to try and get another OIC position.

So...yep, lots going on around here, and as I mentioned earlier in the post, EXHAUSTING! But I have a 90 minute prenatal message scheduled for today, so no complaints. :) Xander has been busy too in my belly. So much flipping and turning. Here's what is supposedly going on in week 32:

"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 she's a baldy, don't worry. You can always buy a Baby Toupee or some adhesive barrettes.

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?"

*3D Pregnancy