welcome third trimester

Last week I was pretty sure I started feeling Braxton Hicks contractions. I never noticed these with Julianna so I was really unsure at first. It felt like my stomach was shaking all over from a muscle spasm and I told Jonathan to look at what the baby was doing. When I mentioned that it just felt like a really weird muscle spasm he jokingly commented that maybe it was a contraction. Once I read about it a little bit I realized that he was actually right.

I had a few on Sunday and then not again until Thursday night. Since then I've noticed them every once in a while and always irregularly. It's still kind of a cool pregnancy milestone and yet another thing that makes this pregnancy different than my first.

I am getting so excited about meeting our second (and last) little one. The fact that I am so much more miserable with this one than last time certainly helps too.

I made myself walk on the treadmill the other night. That's something I haven't done really at all throughout this entire pregnancy (exercise). Other than a few walks after dinner here and there I haven't done anything. And even though I'm not doing much walking on the treadmill at 3 miles per hour, I am hoping to slow my weight gain even a little bit.

When I had to take my wedding rings off the other night because my hands were so swollen I almost cried. I really didn't want to have to go without my wedding rings. Considering I had to soak my hands in icy water for fifteen minutes just to get them off, I think I did what I needed, but still... I miss my rings. Now I'm just a huge pregnant girl that looks single.

We haven't done a thing to change the nursery from when Julianna was a baby. It is still decorated in the same apple green color with barnyard bedding and it will stay that way until after Josh or Ellie grows out of it.

I have managed to begin sorting through baby clothes and getting ready to start washing the things that I know I will use again whether or not it is a boy or girl. I am also proud of myself because I have been slowly stocking up on diapers and wipes as I've seen them on sale for the last year or so. I know it sounds almost ridiculous but if you've had a baby that you used disposable diapers on recently then you know how unbelievably many of those things you go through and the money certainly does add up fast.

Hopefully, if I am more successful at breastfeeding (I only made it 3 months with Jules) and therefore avoid spending a fortune on formula, plus the diaper stock I have built up then this baby shouldn't be quite as expensive as Jules.

I have thirteen weeks to go until my due date. I get to take another peek at the baby in two weeks and then my appointments start every two weeks instead of every four. It's getting closer!