We're 32 weeks!

We're 32 weeks! Oh, I said that already.

Sorry, just a bit excited there. It's funny because throughout my pregnancy, I've always said stuff like, "Wow, it'll be really cool to be at XX weeks..." and then I'd get there and be like, "Wow, it'll be really cool to be at XX weeks..." and then I get there and realize, wow, it's almost over! Woot! Not that I hate being pregnant--I never want to be known as the 'miserable pregnant woman'. I don't wanna be remembered for how much I complained about the amount of weight I'm gaining, or the aches and pains (they're there in abundance... but it's "pain with a purpose!") and I never want to say, "SOMEONE JUST GET THIS CHILD OUT OF ME!!" I am anxious to meet this little blessing that God is giving us, but am trying to enjoy the time I have now to rest and prepare before our lives completely change forever!

In other (related) news, we finished our Bradley class today. It was kinda sad, but now we get to sleep in again on Sundays! Woot! :-) But it is kinda sad... It does signal the beginning of the end to our pregnancy, though! That's exciting! And our instructor was great, and very knowledgable, and we'll definitely let her know when we're in labor! If she wants to come for extra support, I certainly wouldn't tell her no! :-) Of course, we'll have lots of support of our own already, with Jeremy's parents probably being in town at that time (we're gonna cross our fingers that he's not late... EARLY! EARLY! EARLY!) and Katharine will probably be here (she's gonna be our pregnant camera woman!) and of course, Jeremy and when the time is right, a midwife and birth assistant, so it's gonna be a full house! But I'm looking forward to it! I know it sounds crazy, but I'm excited about labor. Yeah, I know I'll probably be singing a different tune when I'm actually in the moment, but I've got a great support person (my wonderful husband) and I'm confident in my God-given ability as a woman to give birth! After all, women have been doing it for thousands of years without the help of drugs. To think that we need them now to be successful is ridiculous! I'm not saying that women who get drugs are weak--I think they're just not properly prepared (Lamaze spends a good chunk of time telling you about all your pain killer choices, after all... they set women up for needing drugs before they ever make it to the delivery room! My Dr, before we switched to a midwife, asked me at our first appt, "So, are you going to get an epidural?" *shakes head*). And there are definitely times when a woman needs a break, and the only way she'll get it is with an epidural (like, really long labor, or longer labor that starts before bed, so Mom is tired, etc...) I just don't want to "give in" before I even have a chance to try.

That, and I hate the after effects of an epidural. I've had one before, and I was groggy for days afterwards, my teeth chattered, I shivered... yeah, it was bad. So I'm determined to let my child come into the world un-drugged! I wanna see if he has the "kicking/latching" reflex. Supposedly, non-medicated babies (babies born to non-medicated mothers) have this kicking reflex where, if place on Mom's abdomen immediately after birth, will, with no assistance, make his way up to Mom's breast, and latch on, within the hour! We saw videos of this in our class, and it was really neat! I wanna try it. And see, unlike hospital births, the midwives won't remove the baby to do their assessments and tests--ultimate bonding time for Mom and baby!

SOOO EXCITING! I can't wait! And afterwards, when I've had my baby without the aid of drugs, and at home in my own bed (don't worry, we've got special instructions on how to make it... we won't have to replace it afterwards!) I can tell the naysayers with confidence, "Yup, I did it, and I wouldn't do it any other way..." :-)

Okay, that's enough of that. We're comin' down to the wire! PS3 launches Friday, Thanksgiving is next week, and then 3 weeks later, we could be parents! If not, we'll have Jeremy's parents in town, Christmas, New Years, and then hopefully baby! woo hoo!

Anyways... that's all I've got for ya today. I'm planning on posting some preggers pics soon. Will try to get that up before my next post. Have a great week!