34.5 weeks pregnant

This is around the time I believe pregnant women start to feel quite anxious. There is so much to do before the baby comes!

For instance, everyday, there is something we should be checking off the list:

» childbirth ed classes
» tour of maternity unit at the hospital
» plane tickets for mom and abuelita
» wash baby clothes
» attend baby showers
» make sure ipod has all the right songs for birth
» finish reading books
» prepare hospital bag
» write up birth plan
» have hospital paperwork ready
» choose a dr. for the baby
» get enough sleep!

I'm sure there's more that I can't think of right now... I feel like everyday I'm making some sort of decision. It can be overwhelming at times and then it's super exciting too!

I'm feeling all sorts of new things too, physically. Supposedly the baby grows very quickly during that last trimester, and he is for sure. Sleeping and just laying around has gotten difficult. I really have to think about which way to move whether I am in bed or watching television. My hips hurt from sleeping on my sides all the time! I don't think that's going to get any better. Now I'm really craving oranges. I have to have about 2 a day. They are so delicious to me. Luckily I haven't gotten swollen. I've been swimming a lot, which I love to do the most these days and apparently that helps with circulation. I feel lighter every time. I have emotional highs and lows, which I believe are normal. I hope they are...

I'm starting to have really weird dreams again. I had them in the 1st trimester, very vivid and impressionable. Before, my dreams consisted of being with my family, in foreign countries, and always feeling like I had to protect them. Strange. One I will never forget, we were on the coast of Mexico and we were told that the Somali Pirates were approaching the shore. I had to make sure my family was in a safe place. I laughed about that one when I woke up. Last night's dream was about my elementary school classmates. We were all in school, but we were all adults. Taking tests, going to gym class, hanging out. It was great, and also kind of funny. I think it's so interesting how our dreams have some sort of correlation to our current life. 1st trimester dreams = fear. 3rd trimester dreams = childhood. 2nd trimester dreams weren't memorable, at all. Couldn't tell you what I dreamed about and probably means I wasn't thinking very much.

Life is as exciting as it can get right now. A lot is happening in our little world, and I know, this is nothin'! I do try to stay focused on what's going on "outside." I watched the Olympics, I've been reading non-pregnancy books, I'm waiting to see what's going to happen with our nation's healthcare reform, I'm following the aftermaths of the recent, massive earthquakes in Haiti and Chile. So much to take in these days, but it all seems to feel just right.