Third Trimester.

Seriously? Are we seriously there?

For some reason, I feel like 30 weeks will feel like more of an accomplishment than 27, even though 27 marks the week I enter the third trimester. That is it....no more after this....Odin will be here.

"At 27 weeks, your baby's length will have tripled or quadrupled from the 14 week mark. If your baby is born this week, the chances of survival is now at least 80 percent."

Every day, I am feeling more and more prepared for Bug's arrival. I am feeling like everything is going to be very natural for Liam and I. There are still things we need to purchase, but are waiting until after my baby shower (which I am SO excited for.)

All my energy has been zapped out of me and almost everything is physically difficult. I have been gaining weight pretty regularly, but feel better about it now that I have become aware this in the second trimester, my blood volume level doubled.....I will blame, that ;) I had what I think to be my first Braxton Hicks contraction on Saturday night. It was very very painful. Very. My lower belly was pretty hard. It lasted maybe over a minute. Kind of freaked Liam and I out, but it only happened the one time. My mood is great and I am too excited for the negatives to get me down. Odin moves all of the time and has a fairly predictable schedule. His movements are so fun, though he is kind of shy around anyone but me and Liam.  Might not the type to enjoy the spotlight. He is different with me than when Liam is around too. He gives MORE movement when Liam is around, but larger movements when it is just me. I think he is dancing around, showing off for daddy, and just getting in a different position for me. He already likes Liam best.

I am too excited to meet Odin! I would like to fast forward the next 13 weeks.....or maybe sleep through them. Yes, that is what I will do.....

26 weeks.

Twenty Six weeks is the last week in the second trimester. Which means, by Tuesday, I will be 1/3 done with this thing called pregnancy!!! 3 months left until I get to see my love's face. I can't even believe it. The average baby at 26 weeks is 14 inches long at 1.7 lbs. Odin is definitely starting to play back and forth with you if you touch my belly. He has a routine, though some days he is more active than others. 


Athena is getting less and less interested in snuggling with anything near my torso. Sometimes she gets up on my belly and then kind of panic and goes to my legs or next to me. I am kind of disappointed, because I keep waiting for her to get a big kick to see how she would react. ;) My belly has grown about an inch around in the past week. It didn't grow much for quite some time...but all of a sudden it popped out. I don't know what my official fundal height is, but I might remember to ask Dr.Schram at my appointment on the 25th. 

New heights ;)

Status:

25 weeks, sleeping better, more energy, nesting desires, wildly uncomfortable, anxious, but loving life...

Today was a first. I have been feeling kicks near my belly button for the most part, but sometimes higher, sometimes lower. I was feeling some kicks about an inch away from my ribs, which is scary. Today, my ribs are SO SO SO sore. It is like he is lodged in there and stretching them out. OUCH! I also think I got some kicks in there, but am unable to get confirmation on that since they feel so different than belly kicks. 

Many people have now seen Odin kick at my belly, which is fun. 

My body is changing much more than it has in the past 25 weeks. My belly is changing, getting wider and just....different. It is hard as heck. I am gaining weight pretty...regularly. That is a nice way to put it ;) Things are hurting all over, all the time. My back is getting the worst of it. 

I am having crazy emotional highs and lows with ridiculous crying spurts. Which can be funny.....

I just keep telling myself, the worse it gets, the closer I am to snuggling him in my arms instead of my ribs ;) 

This photo is technically last week, but it is so precious I can't resist :)

WAY better video of Odin's morning wake up.

"Viability"

Twenty Four weeks is considered fetal viability. In many hospitals, this is the earliest that doctors will go to extreme measures to save a baby born prematurely. I thought this would feel like a bigger accomplishment than it is actually feeling. I spent much of this pregnancy in a place of peace. Despite our previous loss and all the scary points during this pregnancy, I have always felt confident about the fact that this baby would be perfectly fine and healthy. Lately, though, I am constantly worried. Maybe I will feel better at 26 weeks, where survival rate would be 80 percent? Or 27, where the rate is 90? Maybe I will never stop worrying. I will probably never stop worrying. 


I am connecting with Odin more and more every day. He is becoming a real person to me now. He has a strong personality, strong likes and dislikes. He is fairly temperamental or playful, I can't tell what the kicks mean sometimes. But if anything starts crowding his space (such as a full bladder, my arm resting on my belly, ect.), he kicks at it. Either saying "HEY, this is MY space, get out!" or "This is fun, wanna play?" I cannot believe how big he is. He is a foot long! Potentially longer, since he is measuring bigger. I stare at my belly, and even though I feel huge, I cannot believe that he fits in there. My uterus now is compared to the size of a soccer ball....yeah....


Pregnancy symptoms:
Rare morning sickness (twice in the past week.)
Feet and ankle swelling if I am on my feet all day.
Lower Abdominal Pressure when Odin is laying low that day. Ouch.
Linea Nigra- that line that is on pregnant bellies, mine is starting to show up. Weird. 
Back aches


Other than the occasional issue, I feel pretty good! I LOVE Odin more than I ever thought possible, I am sleeping okay, I am fairly energetic, ect. My body is very uncomfortable and I am in quite a bit of pain sometimes, but it isn't enough that I am feeling miserable. I can't really bend over anymore and my belly is in the way of a lot (like closing the fridge door.....)


Can't wait to meet you, Baby Loves. Thank you for kicking every time Mommy gets worried, thank you for being such a sweet and funny baby. Can't wait to kiss your little toes!

Excuse the pale, non makeup-ed face ;)