The Third, and Final, Trimester

My first thought when I woke up this morning was “Holy cow, we’re in the third trimester…”  Then, my next thought was how to successfully get out of bed – I’m experiencing many of the “turtle on back” moments lately.

This is quite the milestone for the Wright family.  Every week that goes by it gets more and more real that we are, in fact, having a baby.  Now, saying “third trimester” translates into “it’s right around the corner” which translates into “what’s left to be done” then stress mixed with happy.

The belly is reaching epic proportions with the button making a definite ridge on an otherwise smooth planetoid shape.  I give it another couple of weeks to pop completely out.  My skin is itchy more often than not which means lots of quality time with the body butter.  The aches have mostly settled into my hips, lower back and the sides of my belly and it’s a constant dull ache that’s aggravated whenever I do too much physical activity like go to the store AND try to clean something.  Heaven forbid I multi-task…

Oh you know that hormone that’s released that makes everything all loosey-goosey in preparation for the birth?  I don’t like it.  Because it also makes the esophagus also really loose which means acid, gas and whatever else comes up every time I burp which is often.  So. Much. Fun.  Having a permanent burning sensation in the back of your throat is so not sexy.

Stephen is really great about keeping my little flax pillow hot, fetching me Tylenol or tea, and giving me belly rubs with lotion whenever the muscle aches get particularly uncomfortable.  He’s currently reading a New Dad-to-be book.  Have any of you dads out there read it?  If so, what did you think?  Any advice for him?  I thumbed through it and it seems pretty good.

However, despite all the aches and the low stamina and the loose innards, feeling my little girl move around is one of the coolest things in the world.  It is the weirdest, surprising, alien, awesomely cool thing in the world and I wouldn’t trade it for anything – well I’ll trade it to hold her and see her in 12 weeks, how about that?

It is so relieving actually to feel her move everyday.  I’m sure any woman that’s had kids can relate but you always have this nagging thought in the back of your head of “what if my baby isn’t healthy?”  ”what if…”  ”what if…”

I think she knows when I’m having those thoughts because she’ll squirm and punch me as if to say, “Knock it off, mom, I’m fine!”  It’s so reassuring and refreshing and I love it so much.

In other news, painting is commencing on the nursery this week.  I went to Lowe’s and picked up all the paint, borrowed some supplies from Stephen’s parents and deposited it all in the now-empty room.  The room has been cleaned thoroughly and aired out.  Tomorrow, I tape and start priming.

Yes, I bought low VOC paint and primer and am planning on taking frequent breaks and keeping the room well ventilated.  There are two windows and we have two portable fans I can arrange to maximize fresh air flow.  I got it covered.  I am so excited to paint her nursery – it’s a huge step and a fun project and brings us ever so closer to her being here!

And I’m taking pictures of the nursery as we progress so I’ll have an awesome conversion photo album to put up after we get all her furniture in there.

The Spring Cleaning Project is going swimmingly.  I have over half the house completed with only the office, hall closet, guest bathroom and the nursery left to finish.  The office I’m intimidated by because it holds a LOT of random crap.  And a LOT of the random crap is Stephen’s random electronic crap and cables that I have no idea what they do or if they’re important.

Maybe I’ll have him clean the office…