3rd Trimester! Here we are. We've made it this far. Week 26. My god. Week 26!

(The cucumber pic is the only picture I could find that shows the relative size right now. Weird, I know.)

The little guy is still taking little breaths, even though it's amniotic fluid, it's still great practice for him. So he's a superhero to me now. I mean, did you ever try to breath liquid?

His little eyes are starting to open. HIS EYES ARE STARTING TO OPEN! He is in a growth spurt from here on out and his brain is developing at an intense rate - so nutrition is important right now. More grains and veggies! So much for the Ga Lei Bau and coconut bun (and caramel macchiato) I had for lunch. Hey, even mom has got to treat herself once in a while.

He might start jumping around more when he hears loud, unexpected noises because the nerve endings in his ears are still developing - so he responds to sound more consistently. And will from here on out. No pun intended (funnier when you say it outloud.) (or really not funny at all) (let me repost:) "....so he responds to sound more consistently. And will from here on out."

It's not even funny to me actually.

The placenta is equal in size to the little guy. Question - my placenta is in the front... if something happens that I have to have a c-section, will this be an issue?

And my belly button is now 1/2 and innie and 1/2 an outie. I'm having an identity crisis. My body is not my own. Weird things are happening. Werid spots showing up on my chest (that I thought was just sun damage - but it's getting worse and I'm covered up and not baking on the beach). No stretch marks though - still oiling up daily with the Escents aromatherapy stuff.

Rolling over at night is uncomfortable hilarious a production all on it's own. By the time I manage to get comfortable, I'm pretty much wide awake and have pissed off the cats and then Chicken starts to knaw on my foot and thinks it's Game On and "Oh yay, mummy's awake!" and Ling Ling just looks at me, turns her nose up and leaves the room.

At least I then have the bed to myself.

Until my husband rolls in around 3am, then it's a whole other production as I've got to get rid of my massive body pillow so he can have room too. ARGH.

***

The breastfeeding issue is no longer. Donald and I are on the same page and he's looking forward to all the other ways of bonding with the little guy. Circumsicion, on the other hand, is an ongoing issue - and I'm starting to rethink my decision based on what a few fathers have said, both circumsized and non-circumsized and who have circumsized their boys and some who haven't. It's been eye-opening, but it's not over yet! I still can't stand the thought of my child being cut. Of inducing trauma, knowingly. More research required...

And cloth diapers. Someone mentioned the other day that there is actually LESS diaper rash with disposables than with cloth because of the layering - that the pee is soaked into the diaper and away from baby's bum. Again, more research required. (It's not just about diaper rash, it's also about the environment but there you go.)

And another big one: vaccines. This is going to be difficult. Or perhaps not. I'm going to grab the Dr. Sears book and have a gander.

Also, your comments really help us to see through our fear of doing the wrong thing and our preconceptions, etc, so please continue to comment! Weigh in on the subjects - I love hearing from all of you. Makes me feel less alone in this journey. There's been a few lately that I have yet to respond to, but am going to in a few minutes, so feel free to browse through them for my replies.

Phew, this was a long one today.

S.

You know, I was so excited to get home tonight and get a post written, but here it is, 2 hours later and midnight and I just got through my email and Twitter messages and now I can hardly keep my eyes open.

And Ling Ling has come out from under the dresser and is cuddled up with me so how can I possibly ask her to lay somewhere else while I blog? She was a sick kitty for a day or so, so she (meaning, I) need some lovin'.

Quick note on the pregnancy front before my eyes close on their own: 23 weeks along, had check up the other day and the doctor laughed at my bellybutton (WHAT BELLYBUTTON?) when I told her I was kinda freakin' out about it (OR THE LACK THEREOF!). She told me not to fret, it just happens. My blood pressure is finally back up to 80/140. I totally forgot that it was low, because I'm not dizzy or lightheaded anymore. And what's not there, you don't notice.... AND, she asked if I have had any contractions yet.

I have no idea what happened after that because I totally left my body.

Contractions? At 23 weeks? WTF?

Why? Braxton Hicks already? And how will I know? Will it really hurt? Will I panic and think I'm dying?

Probably.

On another note, my sister-in-law is going to drop off a bunch of little boy clothes that her son has totally outgrown (after all, he's 3 now, not a newborn still in a onesie!), and some matenity clothes. And we both have great taste, so I know there will be some delightful gems included!

Bought the Amby Bed last weekend. Hope the little guy likes it!

'Night.
S.

Week 6, Day 3.

When do you stop counting the days, I wonder? After the first trimester? Whatevs....

So, weird dreams still, but they're always fun to recall and try to figure out what they are about. I'm a full believer in dreams leading you along your path, so I do pay attention. I also dream things that happen in the future, so that's kinda cool. Although I highly doubt I'll be living in Marge Simpson's blue jello hair in the Jetson's pad in outer space... but you never know.

Nanu Nanu.

Last night, very quickly, I dreamt that I made a purchase and the clerk gave me too much money back. 100.00 back actually. 100.00 too much. I hesitated for a moment wondering if I should say anything. I stopped to turn back to go to the store again but decided against it. I thought, "hey, if the universe wants to reward me with money, so be it!" and I walked away. But 1 block down the road I was consumed with guilt, because it's just not who I am. So I went to turn around and go back to return the money and I woke up.

Fast forward to 12 noon today. I'm at a store, buying razor blades when I'm over-charged. "The sticker says $10.99" I say to her. So she dashes over to the razor blade section and comes back and instead of taking $0.50 off the price, she takes off $10.00. I totally did not say anything, but then a few seconds later I couldn't do it. It's just not who I am. "Um, I think it should be much more than that actually, I think you discounted too much."

"Oh no", she says, "if we mess up, you get 10.00 off.

YAY!

Karma, gotta love it.

In this case, anyways.

So, the symptoms are changing a bit. I'm not nauseous over the past few days, so that's friggin' GREAT. So happy about that!

I got rather emotional out of the blue yesterday morning. Was totally bawling over something very very small. Felt good, but unnecessary. Here we go, I suppose.

And I have swollen ankles.

OK OK, no I don't. That doesn't happen till the end I don't think. What's happening, is that I had a coffee date earlier thismorning and wore heels for the first time in a while and that's what happened. Sore feet. Not because of the pregnancy, because I'm not used to wearing business clothes that often now that I work from home.

Such a drama queen.

Last night I'm walking downstairs and I say to the cats, "You know, I'd feel much better if I could poop." Only to realize that our tenant could here me through the vent. That's the only place where we can hear a bit of each other, and that's what he heard me say. FRACK. (Frack, in case you're not aware, is the Battlestar Galactica word for f***. I don't want to put the eff-word on here, even though I use it alot, because I'm thinking of putting ads up and I don't want them to be x-rated.) He doesn't know we're pregnant, only you know, so it's rather embarrassing.

Although for some reason I'm not embarrassed telling you that I can't poop.

All for now.
s.

Week 5, Day 6.

I'm not nauseous today! I feel great! I have energy! Good times.

But you know what? It also kind of makes me nervous. Last time I woke up "symptom-free" I was in the midst of a miscarriage but didn't know yet.

Still haven't heard from the OBGYN about an appointment. If I don't hear by Thursday I'll give my doctor a buzz and see what's happening. I'm not in a rush to see a doctor, I don't really need to yet, but I just want things under control, you know?

I was cramping a bit last night still, but nothing today. Slept like a baby last night, which is nice for a change. I know I'm only in the very very early stages of pregnancy, but I have been very uncomfortable trying to sleep. The boobs are one issue, they're so sore I can't really get comfortable (I've been a stomach-sleeper for my whole life) unless I'm on my back, but then Chicken and Ling Ling decide to walk all over me and crush my boobs and make bread on my stomach and, argh, it's difficult to sleep!

Gotta love the cats. And here they are:

Chicken

Ling Ling

All for now.

s.