Yawn!!

I'm almost 26 weeks - next week I enter The Third Trimester. I capitalized that because it's such a huge step! It won't be long that my prenatals will jump from every 4 weeks to every 3, then every 2, then weekly...gack! I feel like I'm running out of time.

The first trimester was such a drag for me. I gagged and barfed constantly. Everything set me off - smells, food, car rides, hugs. I even gagged when taking too big a breath! I could hardly keep my eyes open from pregnancy exhaustion. Then, the second trimester came and I finally got some relief. Daily naps were a thing of the past. I could eat! I could sleep! Yay!

Now, I'm starting to get the late pregnancy aches and pains, I start nodding off after lunch, and the support pillows are overtaking our bed. Ah well. Such is life before baby.

On the bright side, this new baby is becoming more real to us. We've decided on names (secret!), we're making concrete plans for how to manage 4 kiddos, I am able to feel knees and bum and head in my belly, and my bump is much more active. I am getting mentally and emotionally ready to birth, and physically preparing as well.

We're so blessed to have such good support from our birth team with this pregnancy. Our prenatal care is second to none, and we're really seeing the difference in my overall health - which translates to healthier baby and birth. My stress level is so much lower than with the other three. Richard commented a couple weeks ago that I was "much happier" than with the others. I feel like God has really worked in our lives to lead us to these incredible women who nurture, teach, guide and watch over us.

Here's hoping that the next 14 weeks go smoothly!