31 weeks and counting!

Last Saturday marked 31 weeks! I had my 30-week check-up with the doctor last Thursday. She said everything looks great. Brennan Michael--yes, we finally picked a name for this sweet yet active baby boy--is already facing down and is doing what he is supposed to do! I have been carrying him much higher than I carried Jacob, which as you know has caused me a lot of breathing trouble almost the entire pregnancy, but the last couple weeks he has started to move down (at least that is what people are telling me). So far, I have gained 19 lbs. I have pretty much gained the same amount as I did with Jacob. I just wish I could rest as much as I did when I was pregnant with Jacob...I have accepted the fact that I will probably not get a decent amount of rest for another two years...God help me!
I still have breathing difficulty. In fact, I feel lower chest compression and have trouble breathing almost all of the time lately. I am sure it will just get worse as Brennan grows, but the weather is starting to get cooler and the air is becoming drier which helps tremendously. Mendy, I definitely can empathize with you!! I do have the wonderful heartburn that I experienced with Jacob, but it isn't as severe. I still have no cravings, just the aversion to chicken that I cook. However, my sweet tooth appears to be getting harder to ignore as I get farther along. In fact, I have found ice cream helps relieve the heartburn (only giving in to it once or twice a week, though...quite proud of that)! I am not sure if that is from being pregnant or if it is my subconscious trying to calm my underlying fears and stress of becoming a mother again.
I am still walking 4 to 5 mornings a week, and Jacob is usually awake in time to come with me. Lately, Jason has been trying to get up and walk with us, too.
Jacob is getting really excited. He keeps asking me if the baby is coming out yet. He also pats my belly and kisses it every once in a while. We have enrolled him in a class here at the hospital to help prepare him for the hospital stay and bringing home the new baby. His girlfriend from school is going to be a big sister in 4 weeks and she is taking the class this Saturday as well. I think that will make it more fun for him and help him cope with the upcoming major adjustment for him.
I hope to be able to post some new pics this weekend. I have not taken any belly pics since the pregnancy portraits, but I will take some soon.