+ I'm back +
I'm reverting to my normal calm self again. Yesterday was just my moment of panic, but today I'm back. Daddy looked at my bare belly this morning and asked if you were okay in there, since I look so small. As far as I know, you're fine, and I don't feel so small. I think it's just hard for people outside of my body to remember the belly that didn't used to be there. Which starts another argument entirely about what is thin and what isn't in our society... but I digress. Yesterday, I was chatting with a girlfriend here at work who had her baby in early July, and another girl I'm only acquainted with said, "Oh, wow! I didn't even know you were pregnant." Hmmmm, not very observant. Honestly, you could not miss it. I promise. But when I told her at last weigh-in I'd only gained three pounds? She jokingly called me a bad name and walked off. I'm not kidding. Oh, well!

I'm feeling very good lately, except for some reason I seem to be getting my first trimester sleepiness back again. I don't know if that's normal or not, so I guess I'll ask my Dr. on Tuesday. But last night I was exhausted at 8:00, finally relented and went to bed at 8:30, and woke up tired this morning at 6:00. Hrm. And I only got up once, at about 10:30, for the potty. Otherwise, I slept like a rock and really shouldn't be tired.

As a result, I felt like I needed some caffeine this morning, so I bought a Dr. Pepper. I feel like I'm getting high, since I don't drink true soda very often (usually just water or caffeine-free root beer). Interestingly, but not surprising, you are WIDE AWAKE and doing a boogaloo in there. I wonder why you insist, after weeks, on kicking in the same darned place? At least it's not my bladder, so I should be thankful. I keep hoping it's truly your feet kicking me there, because I think that means you're head-down like you should be. And the tickles in my pelvic area, I think those are your head moving around as you change positions. They're not sharp pokes, just bumps or bubbles.

Anyway, other readers are probably bored by now. I just wanted to update on how I'm feeling. Someday I think you and I will probably find this all very interesting! I'll have to find a pretty way to print this for your baby book. Well, back to work!

+ Timing +
The first item was bought off the registry... I knew she was going to buy it, but I am suddenly having a moment of panic. I'm having a baby. Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. I am reading about labor. Holy cow. We having to take care of you and raise you to be healthy and happy. Oh my gosh. I hope you don't hate us. :-)

+ Happy third trimester to us! +
Can you believe it? Here we are, we're in the home stretch. It really doesn't seem like it's been that long since I found out we're pregnant. In reality, it's been almost 23 weeks that I've known about you. That is, in fact, a pretty darned long time. But third trimester is it. There is no #4. At the end of the 3rd trimester, however long it turns out to be, we will have you in our arms. That is so incredible. One of my online sources had this to say about you:
Your baby now weighs a little more than 2 pounds (1000g), and crown-to-rump length is about 9.6 inches (24cm) by this week. Total length is 15.3 inches (34cm).
Wow. Two pounds. 15.3 inches. No wonder you're bumpin' and rollin' in there like a crazy child. This whole pregnancy is starting to be very surreal to me. Truly. I'm speechless. I must go pee now (again, thank you for punching my bladder) and ponder the wonderment of you.

+ 2 days +
Until our third trimester. That's still pretty darned amazing to me. My doctor told me to fill out my hospital paperwork during my 6th month, which is rapidly ending, and I don't think I'll make it in. But we start classes the first week of January if I remember right, so we'll probably just do it then. Another baby journal-keeper, Jooles, noted that she's in double-digits on her remaining pregnancy time. Curious, I figured I should look too... 173 days have passed and 93 days are left! Oh my goodness! More shocking, 65% of the pregnancy has passed and 35% is left. I guess this all makes sense. After all, third trimester means we're 2/3 of the way there. But the more statistics I see confirming this, the more I realize our family is thiiiiiiiiiis close to changing forever.

+ Daddy +
Daddy got to feel you kick on Saturday! Thanks for being so active in there. After all your games with him, we tricked you. I waited until you were in one of your full-on rolling and kicking routines (which happen several times a day and are actually kind of uncomfortable), then ushered him over. You did stop after he stuck his hand there, but not until he'd already felt one good, solid kick. Thank you! I don't think he thought it was as cool as he should have, but what can I expect?!

I'm getting bigger and bigger. But I have to admit, I am very lucky. In all, I have had a very easy pregnancy: no morning sickness, no major problems, no real sciatica or other pain, no real swelling (except two or three isolated instances), no bed rest, minor weight gain, etc. etc. I can't say it will stay that way, but if the worst things I have to complain about are a slight reduction in my energy level and dreadful heartburn most evenings... Well, then I'm pretty blessed. Thank you, body, for working with me these last 6.5 months. In three days, we are in the 3rd trimester, and beginning the countdown. Childbirth and Baby Care classes start in the new year, as well as orientation at the hospital and increased doctor's visits. Our meeting day is right around the corner. Wow.