Reflections on Being 32 Weeks Pregnant

I am in my 32nd week of being pregnant. With all of the changes in my body, I have to admit - I am looking forward to the end. I know it can always be worse, so I have a hard time complaining...but it is difficult all of the sudden carrying around so much more weight! Most of my larger clothes don't fit well anymore and I don't even recognize myself when I pass a mirror. I guess the positive way of looking at this is that our baby girl is growing A LOT!! I am also finding myself out of breath just going up stairs or walking a hill. Crazy. The mood swings are also weird. I am pretty stressed out right now with school, the move (hopefully starting today), and a chamber music festival I am trying to get my chops in shape for next week. I am not sure it if it the stress from that load or pregnancy hormones - but I am finding myself getting overwhelmed much quicker than before. Oh, and I all of the sudden am having to get up to use the restroom 4 times during the night. FOUR times!!!  Thankfully, though, I haven't experienced too much fatigue, heart burn, or backaches. I am very, very thankful for that!

With all of that said, there are some really cool things about this stage of pregnancy as well. One happened last night: Every night Justin usually talks to my belly. It is precious and I think that is my favorite part about being pregnant. Anyway, last night she was rolling a lot when Justin was talking to her. At one point, he put his ear against my belly and could actually hear her heartbeat! It was amazing!! Her little body was pressed up against his ear and it made it all that more real. Since my mom is a nurse and has a stethescope at home, he ran to get that and we heard it then too. This was the first time we have been able to hear her heartbeat outside of the doctor's office. We have tried a lot with the stethescope before, but have had no luck. Anyway, hearing her heartbeat, watching her roll around in my belly, and then watching Justin's reaction to it all was amazing. It makes the weight gain, labored breathing, and hormonal changes worth it. :)