30 weeks!

How far along? 30 weeks, 3 days

Total weight gain: 20 lbs total; 2 lbs in the past 2 weeks

Maternity clothes: Yep. And I just bought my first pair of maternity jeans, which I love. I'm all about the elastic waist band now. I'll hate to go back to a regular zipper and buttons.

Sleep: It's been rough since my L&D trip. My lower back aches all night now.

Best moment this week: Mom working on the nursery! I can't wait to get some pics posted.

Movement: Um, yes. And it's very clear that he's running out of space in there.

Gender: He's got a penis.

Labor signs: No way.

Belly button in or out: In, but very flat. It's very interesting looking.

What I miss: Being able to do our nighly walks with Maggie without getting completely winded.

What I am looking forward to: Our beach trip in a few weeks!

Milestones: I don't know why, but 30 weeks seems like a big milestone to me. It really feels like the home stretch!

Before viewing the picture below, let me tell you about a little conversation I had with an NP at CVS's Minute Clinic. Matt and I went there to get our flu shots, which turned out to be a failure of a trip (she felt uneasy about giving the shot to me while pregnant, which in turn made me feel uneasy about her so I ended up declining the shot). Anyway, she asked me 3 or 4 times what trimester I am in. I kept replying with the same answer: 3rd trimester. She seemed surprised each time I answered but didn't say much. Then, as we were leaving, she said, "You know, I would've guessed you were maybe in your second trimester but just hadn't popped yet."

Um...okay. Now go ahead and view the picture below. I haven't popped yet?! Then I suppose she thought I was smuggling a basketball into the clinic??

To Camden

Cam,

I keep thinking I need to write an updated letter to you. In fact, I thought about it several times this morning before getting sidetracked and moving on to a new task. However, I'm going to take the swift kicks to my ribs as a sign that you'd like to me to sit down and begin this letter. Point taken, son. Now calm down a bit. My ribs deserve a break.

Here we are, really and truly in the home stretch. I think back to where we were one year ago and it's astonishing. We were just finishing up all of our testing through Dr. P's office and getting ready to embark on our first round of fertility treatments. Of course, we'd soon come to find out that I'd require surgery. And very shortly after that surgery, I became pregnant with you.

But it wasn't easy, even after seeing that positive pregnancy test. We had a few scares in the beginning, and we weren't sure if you were here to stay with us. That was one of the most difficult times for Daddy and me.

Then came the ultrasounds that proved to us that you were, in fact, strong and here to stay. Every day I spent with my head hung over the toilet, I'd think about your little flickering heart beat on the ultrasound screen and I'd remind myself how worth it every minute of this journey has been. Your first movements- just a few flutters- came shortly thereafter. Then you graduated to full-fledged kicks, rolls, and punches. I still watch my stomach shifting in awe. And your dad loves to feel you move against his back when we're sleeping at night.

We're just about ready for you here, Camden. Pretty soon, we'll all get to meet you, even though in a lot of ways, I feel like I already know you well. I've said this before but it's worth repeating: your dad and I are new at this, and we're going to be learning as we go. Of course we'll make mistakes. We'll never be perfect parents (and you'll probably remind us of this fact when you're a teenager). But the one thing I can guarantee is that you will always be so very loved.

See you soon!
Mommy