Us at 30 weeks.

Now we're at 32 weeks. Baby Clarkson #2 feels like its going to be a 32 pound baby. I know he/she really won't be, it just feels like it. I remember when Eden was born and I was shocked by how little she was (as she never ever felt that little when I was pregnant with her). She was a healthy weight for a newborn arriving one week early- 7 lbs. 15 oz. I'm really curious how much this one is going to be. Me? I'm feeling pretty good. Tired, at times cranky (poor hubby), and I've seemed to have acquired a runny nose which makes it very difficult to sleep at nights (have to sleep on my side with my head facing the ceiling so I can breathe- not extremely comfy). Current food preferences include chocolate, oatmeal, and sambusas (pure deliciousness fried meat dumpling/egg roll like thing- I would eat 20 of them in one sitting if given the chance).
We had a prenatal visit (baby seems to be good!) and toured the hospital the other week. We were pleased with the facilities, very simple but very clean and were able to talk through some important questions with the head nurse (i.e. am I allowed to scream during delivery?- the woman here tend to be silent when delivering otherwise it shames their moms I've been told, however, my momma would be shamed if I didn't tell the whole world just how awful delivery is). Here the hospital doesn't provide most things that Western hospitals do provide (sheets, diapers, etc.) but that's not such a big deal, just a little bit of preparation. I won't be priviledged to the 24 hour room service I was given at the hospital when we gave birth to Eden, but they do serve some simple meals (one being oatmeal for breakfast- I love oatmeal- I ate it for breakfast as well when I gave birth to Eden). Papa Clarkson can be in the room with me when I deliver and they said I could labor and recover in the same room (I'll actually deliver the baby in a different room). After delivery most women go home after 6-24 hours (they can leave when they'd like). We'll see how long I decide to stay.
We had considered the possibility of having the baby in another country on this continent, but realized we really preferred not to. Our home is here, we've got lots of neighbor ladies around us who are eager to help when the baby comes, and life is familiar. It would be SO MUCH WORK to uproot our whole family and travel to a new place for a month and a half to deliver a baby. Baby and I can recover in our own home, Eden can still play with her neighbor friends and go about her daily activity of disorganizing our home, and Seth can still readily support us (his work being flexible and a short 7 minute drive from our house). Of course, the hardest part of delivering here is that our family is far away. Nothing can fill that void or sadness. If timing had been different perhaps we might have considered delivering in the US, but that simply was not the cards we'd been dealt and we know that our good Father has purposed much for having us deliver in this place. We also know that our loved ones will be lifting us up in special ways and thus with us still. And we're confident that He will lend them special grace, strength, and blessing during this time for them as well. He's good. Always good.
So, right now, we're busy preparing like most other expecting parents, getting the crib set us, reading stories to siblings about being big sisters (very important role:), figuring out childcare, narrowing down name choices (any ideas?), etc. etc. Well, that's about all I know. Lots of love!