32 Weeks

Ummm.... 8 more weeks until my due date. That seems pretty close when you put it like that! As a frame of reference, Doug was born 2 months premature, which is basically now, and he turned out alright. But Milo, you better stay in there a little longer big man - we aren't ready yet!

This is what Doug likes to call my "Grimace" outfit. Yes, I know that Grimace is purple, and this suit is clearly blue, but since he is color blind, he insists that he is right. (I know, it makes no sense!)

I also like to think that I am not quite as roly poly as our purple friend here is!

Exhibit A:Nope, not even close! I win this one Doug!

According to Babycenter: By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

To accommodate you and your baby's growing needs, your blood volume has increased 40 to 50 percent since you got pregnant. With your uterus pushing up near your diaphragm and crowding your stomach, the consequences may be shortness of breath and heartburn. To help relieve your discomfort, try sleeping propped up with pillows and eating smaller meals more often.

You may have lower-back pain as your pregnancy advances. If you do, let your caregiver know right away, particularly if you haven't had back pain before, since it can be a sign of preterm labor.

Assuming it's not preterm labor that's ailing you, you can probably blame your growing uterus and hormonal changes for your aching back. Your expanding uterus shifts your center of gravity and stretches out and weakens your abdominal muscles, changing your posture and putting a strain on your back. Hormonal changes in pregnancy loosen your joints and the ligaments that attach your pelvic bones to your spine. This can make you feel less stable and cause pain when you walk, stand, sit for long periods, roll over in bed, get out of a low chair or the tub, bend, or lift things.

Do you have any idea how hard it is to find a decent picture of a jicama on the internet? But seriously, what the heck is this thing anyways?