The Middle-Mester

27 weeks

The Second Trimester or the Middle-Mester has a positive reputation for being the best of the three. Being a middle child, I happen to like that this middle is viewed so fondly. Having just closed out my middle-mester, I'd have to say it's by far my favorite! During the first trimester I could literally give you daily updates of interesting pregnancy happenings, but this one has been much quieter. Here's the instant replay...

Week 13- Goodbye nausea and good riddens! Like magic the nausea was gone...and my happy appetite returned. Food is once again a pleasant treat (I'm sure this will catch up with me later...)

Week 14- I noticed that once I started feeling better I could stay up later than my 7pm bedtime:) It's amazing what you can do with just a few extra hours in a night!

Week 15- Our guest room, formally know as "Blue Lagoon" and a longtime favorite of our regular out of town guests has now become baby's room...crib included.

Week 16- Children's books are so much more exciting to read than adult books...so many fun pictures and everyone is always happy and rhyming. We started reading to baby and look forward to finding out what books are his/her favorite.

Week 17- Mike and I started taking walks once the weather improved and it has been good to get out and moving. I do miss simple things like being able to hop on a bike, go for a jog, or I'd even settle for being able to strap on my own sandals...thanks Mike!

Week 18- I felt the baby kick for the first time...the first time I was sure anyways! It happened to be on Mike's birthday and was a great gift. This is the BEST part of pregnancy, and something I think I'll actually miss.

Week 19- Baby name books...10,000 "names" to choose from. I now know why people end up with Jr's and stick with family names. It's not tradition or honor...it's simply easier that way! So Michael McMichael it is...

Week 20- The gender guessing continues, as baby decides that mom and dad don't need to know just yet...I've had lots of guesses these days, but the majority are now saying boy. Some because I have a storehouse of girl clothes and so it just won't be a girl, and others think I'm carrying lower which is a wives tales that indicates you are having a boy.Also this week: Mike felt the baby kick for the first time! He has even had a kick to the face, at which point he looked at me like I had done it!

Week 21- Celebrated my first mother's day :) Hopefully I remember it, because I also happened to lose my mind this week. Mike could give you countless stories of my driving aimlessly past our exits, forgetting words for things like the "disposal" (it's not the thing that eats food up in the sink?), calling people the wrong names (apparently this happens before you even have the child or a sibling for that child), or singing the wrong lyrics...oh, wait I did that before I was pregnant too:) Mindlessness during pregnancy is the real deal.

Week 22- My belly is increasingly itchy!

Week 23- I can now pee on command.

Week 24- Baby can hear noises outside the womb, and loves (and by love I mean kicks, punches, and moves around while) listening to music.

Week 25- First baby shower in Ohio. Baby loved it's gifts...I'm sure of it. I know baby also loved all the home cooking because mom gained some extra lb's for the month with this trip. It's around this time that I nearly stopped using my belly band with my pre-pregnancy pants, and decided dresses are best:)

Week 26- Kankles! I thought if I avoided salty foods I could avoid kankles...but late one night after a long, hot day on my feet I noticed my ankles had disappeared! Thankfully they came back to me...for now anyways. I think this might be the only downer of the middle-mester.

Week 27- Baby is getting bigger, and I can feel it not only kicking but also moving around. My belly feels hard in some places from time to time and I know it's the baby head or arm or some other body part...haven't quite figured out what is what, but it's amazing just the same. Lately, the baby is most active at night or first thing in the morning...it's a nice way to go to sleep and a great way to wake up.

Also this week: Mike celebrated his first Father's Day:)

I am thankful for a happy and healthy middle-mester. I am praying for more of the same in the weeks to come. Mike and I just feel so loved by family and friends and are really excited to share this JOY! On to the final round...