I can't believe how quickly time has once again passed. We are now just 1 month away from our due date. I am really beginning to feel ready to have our little bambino out of my tummy where I can see him and snuggle him. He is growing like crazy (causing mommy quite a lot of discomfort), and it is official--I have gotten my first stretch marks this last week. I was kinda hoping I might slip by and skip that part of pregnancy, but alas, it is not meant to be.

Despite my desire to get this little guy out, I am still really enjoying pregnancy. He is getting much more playful, and loves to listen to his daddy talk. If Anthony and I talk in the morning before he goes off to work, the bambino will kick and move the whole time! He is also more responsive to touch lately, and if I rub my tummy, he will move over to wherever I am rubbing. It is pretty funny to see him almost bubble out of my tummy getting over to where the rubbing is going on. He is still SUPER active, so I have not had much cause to worry about how he is doing. One of my most recent pregnancy milestones is not only am I getting up to go to the bathroom close to 4 times a night, but I am also very hungry in the night. I can snack right before bed even, but still, I at times can not make it even until 6:30 to wait and eat breakfast with Anthony. I guess the middle of the night feedings have begun; I just didn't think it would be me I was feeding! I am very thankful that I am not working outside the home any longer though, because it would be awfully hard to get any rest and try to do a good job at work.

I think my iron levels are doing much better. I have been on Replieva for about 3 1/2 weeks, and I have noticed a huge difference. I have been nesting quite a bit lately (cooking freezer meals, as well as actual food for my hubby!, cleaning, washing our baby's laundry, packing for the hospital, decorating, sorting, etc.) but have not run out of energy as quickly as before. That has been a huge blessing. It seemed like before just getting a load of laundry in the washing machine was a big chore that required extra rest afterward... like an hour long nap or so!

Starting tomorrow I go to weekly appointments with my midwives. Anthony and I are planning on being out of town all next week on a business trip of his, so I am hoping that they will tell me I am cleared to go. We are going in between Des Moines, and Ames, so it is not a terrible drive, but I am still not sure if the midwife will think it is ok if I go at this point. I do have my hospital bag almost completely packed, and will take that with me if we do both go. After we get home and through the weekend, I am pretty much content to go into labor at any point then. Anthony will be done with harvest by that point, and we don't really have anything big scheduled from then until Christmas, and I will be past 37 weeks (baby is considered fully developed). I guess I will have to wait until tomorrow to see what my plans for next week are. It is crazy to think we are so close to having this little one, while at the same time, I can hardly wait!

Well, I have rambled on for quite some time now. Hope you are all doing well!