The 3-Month Countdown

Three months! Three months! Our babies will be here in three months! In infertility-measurement-time, three months is equivalent to the blink of an eye or a New York minute. The past five years all seem like a big blur when I think about three months from now!

I am not sure if I am "officially " in my third trimester yet, but something definitely changed within the last one or two weeks. My belly grew again to the point where it now sticks out beyond my breasts, I feel like I've started to "waddle" vs. walk, my back and shoulders hurt, I am not nauseous but sometimes when I eat I will suddenly puke without warning, and I am physically exhausted.  I have also noticed that my "mommy brain" has gotten worse - as I am having a conversation, I can't recall words to save my life! Also, I am not used to being a couch potato, but I sure have turned into one lately. I go back to the doctor tomorrow - but I am sure they are just going to tell me that I'm "normal."

Assuming everything looks good, tomorrow is going to be my last detailed ultrasound. They will continue to check me and perform ultrasounds monthly, but not perform the extensive measurements they've done each month up to this point. My nurse promised me that  on my two-week appointments where I come to see her, she'd be willing to do an u/s with the less sophisticated machine if I still wanted to check on the twinks. I feel them kicking much more now, so I am sure they are doing just fine.

Last week, the big Twins Club in town had one of their semi-annual sales and I went a little crazy! We bought a wagon, bouncy seats, a portable swing, a double snap-and-go stroller, crib toys, a play yard, pads for the play yard, crib toys and a bunch of other stuff. Then, yesterday, the baby consignment store near my house had an "all you can stuff into a bag for $10" sale - so I stocked up on onesies, bibs, hats and a few cute clothes. I figured that anything that isn't gender appropriate, I can always donate.

This past Thursday, I went to see my friends new son. He is absolutely PERFECT - milky skin, grey eyes, tiny hands that won't even fit around my pinky. He was born a month early - so he's a little small (5.5 lbs). He was born a month early - so he's on the small side, but he's doing just great. Holding him in my arms made it even more real that our babies will be born in three months!

I offered to bring dinner and asked my friend and her husband if there was anything they needed at Target. She said she always dreamed that if she were ever pregnant, she would want to read to her baby in utero. So I bought her a book of about 25 stories - from folktales, to fairy tales, to adaptations of classics like Tom Sawyer. They were so excited, but I thought I was the one who should be thanking them because what's more wonderful that being able to give them their first book for their son's library?!

On Friday night, we were invited to Shabbat dinner at a friend's house. It was so special and she must have spent hours in the kitchen. Even the challah was homemade. Both the couple who hosted and a third couple they invited had young children - so most of the evening was spent letting us know what we're in for. One of the little boys - who was about 5 - didn't wait long enough after eating to go jumping on the trampoline and ended up getting sick all over his clothes.After cleaning him up, the other visiting couple had to borrow some clothes and  the host couple was kind enough to start a load of laundry. As strange as this sounds, all I could think about was I am ready for these "crises"...bring it on!

Saturday, we went to Borders and started our own library. One of my favorite books as a child was a collection of stories by Richard Scarry. Although they didn't have the same exact book, they did have a similar one. The store was mostly picked-over, so the selection wasn't terrific.

Some of you pregnant women will appreciate this next story...

I was at work in our conference room, finished up a phone call and immediately rushed to the restroom to toss my cookies. Although there was a sign to indicate the janitor was cleaning the women's room, I explained I couldn't wait - so he was polite and rushed out just as I lost it. After I cleaned up and thanked him and he was getting ready to go back to his work, another pregnant women from the other side of the floor rushed out and told him she just couldn't wait either. Poor guy - I know we threw off his routine.

My dogs are getting along much better now. In a few days, Ellie will be celebrating her one-month homecoming.  They are still not best friends (not sue if they ever will be), but they definitely tolerate one another now. The past few weeks, I've been sleeping in our guest room because I get up several times to pee, my husband snores and we have a memory foam mattress on the guest bed that is gentler on my hips - so when I do sleep, I sleep much better. The dogs must know something is up because they now sleep with me and watch over me all night.

The nursery/dog training is going well. When I've gone into the nursery, they haven't been crossing the threshold.  Who knows what will happen when the twinks are in there and there's something much more interesting to watch and smell.

So, that's the news from this corner of the world. Hope you all had a WONDERFUL week!