Thirty Two Weeks

I've started counting down the weeks until Baby Storms' arrival, as opposed to counting up.  I've pretty much finished with the nursery this past weekend and my mom and I made some excellent progress and did some great damage at Pottery Barn Kids.  We will still need to get some wall decorations and we're waiting on the bedding and the gliding/rocking chair, which was a very generous gift from Grandma and Grandpa Kopperud.  I'll need to move some of the furniture around when it finally comes in, but at a minimum, we have a place to put the baby, curtains to block out the sunlight for naps, and a table to change countless diapers...

I am pretty excited with how everything turned out and I'm even more anxious to get the bedding and rocking chair in as well.  My parents have been a great help in getting everything ready.  My mom has spent endless hours with me, looking for the right rugs, curtains, and chairs, and my dad has done his duty with hanging up everything and teaching Jeff about home maintenance.  My parents have also been largely responsible for the ever increasing wealth of clothes that keep appearing in Baby Jack's closet.  Seriously though, I don't know how anyone can avoid buying baby clothes.  I was a little upset when we found out we were having a boy, but that was mostly because I was dreaming of pink tutus and flowered headbands.  But anyone that says that boys' clothes aren't as cute has not seen what Jack will be wearing, come Thanksgiving Day 2011.   

We also keep getting presents from Jeff's family and this past week, we got a swing and car seat cover from Great-Aunt Fran and Great Aunt-Shirley, as well as cousins Debbie and Sharon.  Cousins Gianna, Daniella, and Maria also sent a JJ Cole body support for the swing and car seat.  Auntie Weiss also sent a great outfit, complete with a hat and bib all embroidered with "Brand New" on the front.  All I can say is that I hope that goes a long way in keeping Baby Storms warm and sleeping during the long winter months...

For the most part, I'm still feeling pretty well, considering the fact that I seem to grow bigger almost by the minute.  I do find that I need naps on a semi-regular basis and I've been taking care to indulge in higher calorie foods in an effort to put on some more weight.  As Duckie says, a Dairy Queen isn't such a bad thing and fortunately, there's one about a mile from our house! 

This week, the baby has made some incredible leaps and bounds.  Both literally and figuratively.  He continues to remain impossibly active and you can see his limbs (and what I'm assuming is his baby butt) moving across my stomach.  He's almost five pounds now and could still double his birth weight - although I sincerely hope that isn't the case.  He has actual periods of sleeping and waking now, keeping his eyes open when he's awake.  His immune system has also completely developed so he'll be able to fight mild infections once he's born - although he'll have to keep building up immunity, because if I've learned anything from my girlfriends, it's that babies get sick.  A lot. 

We've also decided (although I suppose we decided a while ago) to head to my parents for Thanksgiving this year.  Jeff wanted to have it at our new place, but considering that's my due date, it's probably best to go somewhere else.  I told my mom to give me something to make or bring that people won't miss if it's not there.  Like sweet potato casserole.  Otherwise, I have plans to simply lay about, have my husband rub my feet, and generally eat my fill, if I'm able!