What to expect: 35 weeks pregnant

A girl can read all the "What to expect" books about pregnancy that Barnes & Noble can sell and still find herself freaking out over the smallest things in the adventure that is pregnancy. Maybe being a nurse is a mixed blessing when it comes to having kids... what you know can sometimes be worse than what you don't!

Who knew so many things happened to your body while you're growing another human? I've been very, very blessed with this pregnancy to not experience some of the most severe complications that friends and coworkers have been "blessed" with, but there's just something about finding varicose veins in strange places that will throw your day off kilter.

Insomnia is another new friend. I've never had a problem sleeping at night unless I read Ted Dekker too close to bedtime... now I'm lying awake trying not to think about Maggie being born without a face (where did THAT dream come from?!) and instead praying for people - Jon in Afghanistan, Christina taking her NCLEX, my parents traveling, my little friend Caroline and her mommy.

And at 35 weeks pregnant, I guess I shouldn't be surprised when each week the scales continue to squeak when I step up to survey how much Maggie has grown (or how much her Mama has grown) since the last visit. It does explain why getting comfortable in any position - sleeping, riding in a car, sitting on the couch - has become more and more of a challenge!

In the meantime, Mike has been infinitely kind and patient with his tired, emotional, hot, and big wife! He deserves so much more than he's getting right now. I know it sounds sappy, but it's the truth. He's amazing. I am more blessed than I ever thought I would be in marriage.

And through it all, a very busy, very loved little girl is bouncing around inside, kicking her Dad when he sings "Stranglehold" to my belly, and making me fall in love with her more and more every day. We can't wait to meet her!