32 Weeks

Okay, I'm back from vacation. Tomorrow I start work again, which means I'll be running around like crazy again for at least 4 weeks. I'm aiming to work for another 6 weeks, but we'll see what the midwife says. I'm sure not going to argue with her if she tells me it's time to hang up the towel (or more appropriately, put up my feet).



The last two weeks have been wonderful. We spent the first week of vacation gearing up for Christmas, celebrating Linda's birthday, and recovering from Christmas. This last week I did a whole lot of nothing (and it was WONDERFUL!) I slept late, ate a lot (as seen in this weeks photo), finished a knit project, and watched a lot of movies.
On a side note, one of the movies I watched was "The Grapes of Wrath." Oh man, it was intense. I vaguely remember the book from high school, although I don't think we read it in my English class...If I remember correctly, only the Honors English kids read it (why is that?!) But two of my good friends were in that class and they must have discussed it in my presence, because I have memories of it's storyline (maybe they even did one of their famous newscasts on it? Hil, Sarah, does that ring a bell?) ANYWAY...the entire time I was watching it, I thought of my mom's parents. Both of their families made the trek to California during the Dust Bowl Era, one from Missouri and one from Arizona via Oklahoma. My grandma was just about the same age as the little girl in the movie, 12 or so, and she had the same experiences the movie depicted. Her family's farm dried up, I believe the bank took it, and they packed their belongings and moved west. They lived in a tent for quite some time in Hughson, on a relatives' property, until both parents were able to find work in the fields and factories. I've always respected my family's American Story. They really did "pull themselves up by their bootstraps" and make something of themselves. My grandfather was a respected local merchant (True Value Hardware in Turlock) and my grandmother went to college while her kids were growing up and became valedictorian of her graduating class at CSUS. She was the first female CPA in all of Stanislaus County. They completed their lives living and farming a beautiful piece of property on the river in Hughson, a place I think of and miss often. How lucky are we that our elders put in the hard work to help us to where we are today. I know they made my life easier than it could have been.
Well that was a long side note.
Back to the original topic, week 32. I can't believe we only have 8 more weeks before Baby Walsh arrives (give or take a week, right?) I've been having Braxton-Hicks contractions all week, and they're only mildly uncomfortable. I still get a kick (no pun intended!) out of watching my belly move around when the baby moves. Space must really be limited, because the whole thing will shift from one side to the other and then I'm lopsided for a while! It's hysterical to see. I'm still waking up for a couple of hours in the middle of the night, but I'm getting use to it. I'm starting to enjoy the quite time alone with my moving baby. I have never felt anything remotely close to the hand/elbow/knee/foot that pushes back on my hand. How exciting that we only have 8 more weeks!