32 Weeks! The beginning of the End.

32, really? 8 months? 8 weeks left? 5 until full term? We're really to that point already?

I really can't even believe it. I remember when I was wedding planning for a ridiculous year and a half people would tell me all the time that "time would fly." It did not. That was the longest year and a half of my life. However, those same people have also told me that this 9 months would fly, and well, it has! Every time I sit down to write this weekly update blog I go a little further into shock at the amount of time that has gone by, and the amount of time we have left. We are now at the stage of the game where labor, delivery, the hospital, and signs of pre-term labor are all consuming. For me anyways. I never thought I'd make it this far. Honestly, in the beginning I really couldn't imagine anything past 20 weeks. That seemed like it would take forever, heaven forbid actually being in the 30s! But we are here, we are alive, we are not in labor yet, we are compulsively making a nest, and we are counting down the days.

I am completely at the point where I want to see her little face. This is not to be confused with the point of being sick of being pregnant, because that I am not. It has been the most fun thing in my life thus far. Maybe that's why time is flying, I'm literally enjoying every day that goes by that I have a Leah in my belly, and let me tell you... that has been a lot of days. But yes, I want to see her. I want to see if she has hair. I want to see if she has big ears. I want to see how heavy and long she is. I want to hold her. I want to watch Kyle hold her. I want to give her a kiss. And I want to bring her home.

But alas, she's still not quite ready. Ugh, how long does it take, kid?! I read through all of my favorite internet sites, and let me tell you... she is a fully formed baby. There is nothing new to report, all she's doing these days is getting fat. And laughing at me as I get fat. She is a whopping 4lbs now (give or take), and close to 19 inches long. I read something comparing her to the size of a small watermelon... woah. The one exciting thing I did read was that if she were born this week she would have a 98% chance of survival! That's a number I can live with. Not that I want her before week 37, but if she had to come... I wouldn't have as big of a panic attack. Good job, little girl, mama's proud of you for staying put.

The kicking and moving, however, oh my goodness. She really doesn't stop. I've heard they are supposed to sleep, but I think I got one that doesn't sleep. She is a mover and a shaker through and through. And throw her dad's voice in the mix and she might as well just kick her way out of my stomach. She's already his biggest fan. She gets me from every angle, all day and night. I even wake up to a foot in the ribs every once in a while. I think my insides are bruised. She will either be a soccer player or a gymnast, I have no doubt.

We had another doctors appointment. They come more and more these days, but I'm not complaining. Leah is the talk of the office, or at least with my nurse. She was training a student today, and before she checked on Leah's heartbeat she turned to the student and said, "this one moves a lot." Ha. And then when I lifted up my shirt for her to actually check her heartbeat, there was Leah, as lopsided as ever sticking her entire body up from my left side. To which the student nurse exclaimed, "I can see that baby!" And then, as if she hadn't caused enough ruckus, when actually trying to find her heartbeat Leah decided to play games. She did everything she could to get away from the doppler, meanwhile the nurse, the student nurse, and myself were all laughing at her because she is now big enough to see clearly as she swims from side to side. Eventually the nurse caught up with her, and bam... 148. I can't get enough of hearing her heartbeat, it's so strong every time! In other news, we gained the right amount of weight. 3 more pounds. Grand total, 21. At 32 weeks pregnant, I can live with that. We are right on target to meet my goal of 30!! Hopefully we can keep up this pace!

I learned something in our doctors appointment today. Not so much in the appointment, but in the waiting room. I learned that we are officially at the beginning of the end. It started with the girl who checked me in saying, "you're getting so close now!" I smiled, agreed, sat down and put some thought into that. I really am getting close. Eight weeks is not a long period of time, especially when something so incredibly life changing is at the end of those weeks. I am 8 months pregnant today. I always had in my head that I would be officially really pregnant at 8 months... and well, I guess I'm officially really pregnant now. But besides the months, here's how else I know:

• My nurse, while calling someone else yelled across the room, Hi Maria! We're practically best friends.
• I now wear clothes because they fit, not because they look good or match. Last night I wore an Italy soccer jersey... in public. And I didn't care because it covered my belly. And today I'm fairly certain I didn't match... but everything fit.
• Every grocery shopping trip starts with a trip to the bathroom. I've never gone to a bathroom in a grocery store before. But I won't make it through the store without going, so it's a necessity.
• Even though it's early still, I'm officially in the "I could go into labor" phase when planning things to do. And I plan accordingly.
• Leah's baby monitor is hooked up, tested, and ready to hear her cry.
• I have insomnia. Not once I fall asleep (because of my snoogle), but getting there is a different story. I just can't get myself settled down at night. I have a million things on my mind at all times. And they all revolve around one little girl.
• Her laundry has been started.
• I've started to waddle.

But besides all of those fun things, what are mom and dad up to? Nothing. Waiting. But actually, we have been doing a few things. One of which was a breastfeeding class. Let me just tell you, based on our performance in there, the teacher probably thought we were completely unfit parents. Ok, it wasn't that bad, but Kyle definitely laughed out loud and I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing at one point. We are so immature. In Kyle's defense, have you seen the movie Anchorman? It's a great movie, one of our favorites. And the instructor casually threw the word "lanolin" out there several times. That's a pretty famous word from the movie. He couldn't help himself but laugh. The tapping me on the leg to get me to laugh with him as my face turned bright red he probably could have helped, but the laughing on his own was expected. He did good though, he even asked a question! And I learned more than I ever wanted to. Hopefully it helps! We even got a tour of the brand new labor and delivery floor! It was super nice, and the rooms are huge! I'm ready to check in.
And in other news in our lives, this week we travel to Cincinnati for our one year anniversary! We wanted to go somewhere, but with Leah on the way it had to be drivable. Why not go watch the Cardinals beat the Reds? The hard part was finding something else to do there, but I've pulled up a couple of options. Here's to hoping! Our anniversary will get a blog of its own, no one worry.

That's all I've got for you this week.