hooray.

For some reason my goal throughout my entire pregnancy thus far, has been to make it to thirty weeks.  I just kept telling myself, "If I can make it to week thirty I can make it all the way."  I remember being so excited to be over eight weeks, so I could say I was two months along, at the time I felt quite accomplished being able to count in months rather than just weeks.  haha.  Now that I am in the "final stretch" I'm feeling even more accomplished.  


My roller coaster of emotions is still in full swing.  My strongest emotion is excitement, but its followed closely by anxiety!  I am so ready to not be pregnant out of sheer selfishness.  My body has never been so stretched and disproportioned.  I'm ready to sleep on my belly and have regain some much needed energy.   [:  All in all, I have enjoyed being pregnant a lot more than I expected to, but I never anticipated how life changing it is, even before giving birth.  I'm ready for our family to be whole, and to meet this little monster who is so active I can hardly stand it.  I watch my stomach in amazement as she stretches from under my ribcage all the way to my hip.  Even though she has kicked and squirmed for over two months now, it still makes me laugh to watch her contort my stomach and cause it to ripple.  As excited as I am to hold and kiss her, I know I'll miss these little reminders of her growth and development in my belly.  Nothing is more wonderful than feeling her grow bigger and stronger.  I just love my baby.  [:  

third trimester.

My little Avery has done a lot of growing the last few weeks.  And these are a few of her latest accomplishments:  She weighs a little over two pounds, her retinas are developing and she can detect light (which is why she kicks at Chris when he shines a flashlight on my belly.)  She is also having hiccups more, because she's practicing breathing.  She's forming her own sleeping patterns right now, which are the opposite of mine.  She kicks when I lay down for bed, and wakes me up every morning around four or five by stomping on my bladder.  haha.  I love my little Avery Jane so much, and I can't wait to meet her. 


My body has changed so much from gaining WAY more weight than I ever intended, to horrible headaches and leg cramps, heart palpitations, and swollen feet and fingers.  I can't wear my wedding ring or half the maternity clothes I got.  I never anticipated pregnancy to be so hard, but I am more than willing to go through anything for this little lady.  I've had so many friends have babies recently, and I'm so thankful for all of their support and advice, and for the support of the rest of my friends and family.  Its been hard being so far away from home, but its amazing to still feel so loved.