32 Weeks!

32 WEEKS...we're gettin' there, folks. I always love these nice round numbers, 32 weeks= 8 months (or I guess 7 months, depending on how you're looking at it) and that sounds SO LONG TO ME. I always get to the point in pregnancy where I feel like I've been pregnant FOREVER, and that's how I'm feeling these days. I mean, I've been pregnant since the last day in MAY. That's like...three seasons ago. HA! But then I miss being pregnant so much after the baby is here, as crazy as that sounds! Not the physical agony of it so much (and I have that in abundance right now), but the sheer magic of it. So I am trying to remind myself to SAVOR THIS SPECIAL TIME while I still can. 7 weeks from tomorrow. I know that will be here before I know it.

This week was an eventful one, as usual! My kids have been driving me ABSOLUTELY UP A WALL so that has been a bit unpleasant, but we're soldiering on. Eileen has been having a lot of trouble listening, and Kiki has been waking up and wetting the bed for the last 4 nights in a row. For a mama who is already cranky and not sleeping well, this is an even bigger deal than it would otherwise be. Sigh. This is why God makes them so cute.

Leenie insisted on sleeping in my bed for naps the other day. I was annoyed, but the cuddles were so needed.

...and then her sister joined us. LOTS OF CUDDLES! Not much space! Haha!

Look at that little mug.

Enjoying some special time with my big girl!

We also celebrated my grandpa's 90th birthday this past weekend, which was great fun. Eileen helped my mom to bake the cake, leaving Tim and I with our little girl. We took advantage of this and took her out for her first mom+dad+Kiki date...EVER! It was so sweet and special, and I am so glad we got to do this before Baby Bud arrives. She loved the extra attention, but was also so excited to see her sister later in the day. Kids are awfully resilient, after all. I need to keep reminding myself of this to keep my mommy guilt at bay!

Partying with our little girl at a Mexican restaurant!

Singing to my sweet grandpa.

89 candles! Well, not quite.

Mom and Kiki reading quietly at the party.

Leenie and Claire cheesin' it up!

This week will be a great one, but a busy one. My amazing saint of a mother turns SIXTY (so hard to believe), and we are celebrating in style with a huge 100+ person party on Saturday night. 

Seriously, can you believe she's 60?!

Eileen and I are baking cookie dough brownies, which will be quite a feat! My brother is also coming in from LA, and it will be great to see him. That is followed by my younger brother arriving a few days later, and then, before you know it, my FIVE-YEAR WEDDING ANNIVERSARY and Christmas! So much to celebrate, so much to look forward to, so much to be thankful for.

Speaking of thankful, Baby Bud, you sounded great at our appointment on Tuesday. Your HB was 154 BPM, higher than usual...girl or boy, cmon now?! But blood pressure was good, belly measuring on track (I don't understand this at all, because I am HUGE!), and even though you are transverse in my tummy still (I knew it!), doc is not worried about this and you have plenty of time to turn. It just hurts! Ah well. I love you so much and I would do anything for you...including letting you sucker punch me in the ribs all night, which seems to be your M.O. these days.

All right, let's take a peek at this bump, shall we?

Taken right before Tim's big work party this week. A great first introduction to all of his coworkers, haha!

How far along? 32 weeks!

Clothing? I bought four new shirts (necessary) and I am hopeful (but also praying) that they can carry me through these last seven weeks. So, you will be seeing a lot of them on repeat. HA!

Stretch marks? Yes!

Sleep? Not good. Between my big girls and this baby in my belly, I am fully convinced that there is a conspiracy in motion.

Best moment of this week? Hearing that sweet sweet HB on Tuesday! Hanging on with my Kiki bird this weekend! The quiet moments I have stolen with my big girl! Much needed relaxation and TV time with Tim! Lots of sweet stuff amidst the crazy.

Worst moment of this week? Tuesday was one of those "rough days at the office." Not my finest day in parenting history... absolutely no patience, tantrums all over the place, etc. But I suppose we are bound to have a few of those, right?

Miss anything? A glass of champagne to toast my mom this weekend?! Ah well.

Movement? Not as much as before, but still quite a bit. I don't worry about you, which is such a luxury because I was ALWAYS worried about Eileen (Kiki, you were a frequent kicker too!). I could do without the feet in the ribs, though. Ya know!?

Symptoms? VERY dizzy and lightheaded these days. Braxton Hicks, mostly at night. Hard kicks. Starving, but also nauseous. Left hip is really bothering me and sometimes can't walk. Basically, a downward spiral! Ha.

Food cravings? Cereal, and sugar in general.

Gender? All of the sudden the boy feeling is coming back. Had a boy dream the other night. Who really knows.

Labor Signs? Nope.

Belly button in or out? Outie.

Wedding rings on or off? On...for now.

Mood? Honestly, worn out this week. But ready for so many celebrations!

Looking forward to? My mom's party this weekend! My 5th wedding anniversary! Christmas! My 34-week appointment! Eileen's birthday!!!!!! Baby Bud's birthday!!!!!! Like I said, so so so many things.

MERRY CHRISTMAS SEASON, EVERYONE!