Hello Third Trimester

We start week 28 today, Kathryn!  This is the beginning of the third trimester.  You might be settling with your head down, but of course, I can't tell.  You are about 2.5 pounds and are 15-16 inches long!  You will start blinking this week--an important skill, just like the ones you already know--coughing, sucking, taking practice breaths and hiccuping.  When you sleep, you now have a REM phase, which means you could be dreaming.  Your lungs are nearing full maturity, but still have a little ways to go.  You are also developing billions of neurons in your brain and adding more body fat.  We love you very much. 

I am excited to be this far along, but keeping an eye on the calender and trying to keep ahead of feeling "rushed".  Your nursery is coming along nicely, and you have NO NEED for clothes until about Christmas--friends have been very generous (and sales have been very good).  

a "nightlight" of sorts--lit cherry blossom

crib, changing table, and toy/supply cube.  Those bamboo shoots (and cherry blossom stems) will go on the walls once we receive the decals we ordered.

window flower planter that I painted pink to hold books on the wall

chest for clothes, diapers, etc...book holders, rocking chair

  
The average woman gains 11 pounds this trimester.  If I gained that much, I would be around 25 pounds heavier.  That sounds like a pretty good number to me, but I will try to keep it between 20 and 25.  I'll be visiting the birth center again in less than two weeks--they are wanting to see me more often now that I am closing in on the last few months.  

I DID offer my resignation from work this week, effective after three weeks (now two).  Everyone but the principal has been very understanding, and I feel a huge relief from the decision.  I'll switch over to Jared's insurance, and will join a temp agency for as long as I'm able to work.  

Kathryn is moving and kicking throughout the day, with patterns in the morning and late afternoon and late night.  I do have some achiness and shortness of breath, scattered Braxton Hicks contractions, and my acid reflux is trying to come back.  But other than those small things, I think pregnancy really suits me.  I enjoy the way I look and I feel confident again in my body, and the fact that it was made to do this job.  Pregnancy just feels "natural" to me.

Two more weeks of work, a little less than two weeks until our next appointment, and 90 days until our due date--but Jared's guessing July 2nd and I would be amused if she held out for July 4th instead.  :)