32 almost 33 weeks!

Baby Aubrey is getting tight in there. I am beginning to feel lots of knees, feet, and a sweet little bottom up in my ribs! I have been pretty whiney this week. I have felt exhausted, angry, and physically beat down. I am having lots of preterm contractions this time around. More than I did with Benjamin, but about the same as I did with Avery and Abby. Of course with Avery and Abby, I had drugs stopping my contractions. This time it's up to me to try and get them to stop. That means lots of down time on the couch or in the bed. Lots of warm baths, magnesium supplement, and the occassional glass of wine. It feels like a lot more work than the Brethine I used to take, although I am grateful to not expose her to the drug and avoid the side effects. Those were yucky. I fully believe that there are some major hormones in play here. Of course there are hormones in pregnancy, but I think I am extra sensitive to some of them and thereby cause all these crazy contractions. So I have been fed up this week with the physical toll pregnancy is taking on my body.

BUT, I will get over it. It's just comes with the territory. I do get a nice break tomorrow and Saturday. I think it's just the thing I need to recharge my batteries before Avery's meet on Sunday.

We are getting nearer to Aubrey's birth. Her room is finally put together and I am going to start adding the finishing touches. Benjamin's room is put together but also needs a few more things done. I am anxious to get those things done. I want to relax and enjoy Christmas with my family. I want to be able to spend time focusing on Christ and I want my children to do the same. A friend gave me a great idea that we have been doing to keep us more focused. I've wrapped Christmas stories and each night the girls get to unwrap one and I read it to them. I have thrown in a few fun books, but tried to keep all the focus on REAL stories of Christmas. They have enjoyed getting to open presents and I love reading to them.

Benjamin is sleeping pretty well in his big boy bed. For the first time tonight he got out of it. Up until this point, he won't climb out. He just sits and cries until I get him. But Scot left him tonight before he was asleep. I went to take a turn to get him to sleep and Benjamin was trying to open his door. I hope this doesn't start something, because that was my one big concern when we put him in a big bed. I guess I will have to see how the rest of the night goes.

I have a feeling, Abby, is getting ready to make another learning jump. She has been doing awesome and recently we saw a big jump in her maturity and growth in her school work. Now she is frustrated, whiney, having difficulty following directions, and over all just frustrated. She got this way several months ago and I thought I was going to lose my mind. Then overnight things changed. I am praying that is where we are again.

In spite of all the craziness, the christmas tree is up and the christmas cards are mailed. So it's not all bad. : )