Third Trimester

29 weeks tomorrow - in my third trimester! I've been feeling good, and trying to make good on my commitment to maximize social time before the baby comes. Not doing as good on the leisure time since we've returned from Italy, even though people keep telling me to get sleep now, before the baby comes.

Baby coming is starting to feel imminent. Childbirth class is in November. Baby shower in early December (thanks lovely friends and family). And, I'm looking fabulously huge, just in time for Halloween.

I still haven't decided on a costume for tonight. I want to celebrate the belly. I have been thinking of being a basketball player - paint my belly like a basketball and wear a basketball jersey - but I may end up with something more free-form and simple since I'll be painting in a mirror and using theatre makeup which gets on everything.

Still having some pregnancy-related ups and downs - but minor now. My numbers were slightly elevated (141) for the 1 hour glucose test, a screen for gestational diabetes. Diabetes runs in my mother's family, so I knew this might be an issue. I am generally careful of sweets, but ice cream really soothed my stomach in the first trimester, and I've continued to allow myself a little bit more than usual last few months. So I had to take the 3 hour glucose test, which entails a 12 hour fast, fasting blood draw, then drinking 100 g of glucose. Then a blood draw every hour for three hours to see how quickly my body metabolizes the sugar. My number was again slightly elevated after the first hour, but went to normal in for the last two blood draws. This was very good, as it means I don't have to monitor my blood sugar daily, but I am now watching my carbs and sugar. Tough for this Asian girl to cut down on rice.

Today was a very good day, as I got the call from my brother that Co had their third child - Dillon. He was two days shy of his due date - Halloween - healthy and apparently with a full head of hair! Can't wait to meet him over Thanksgiving.

Baby Moon

We just spent 9 days in northern Italy - Lake Como and Venice - on our baby moon. So glad we went. We haven't been off on more than a long weekend since our honeymoon in December 2008. Thanks to all who encouraged us to (1) go on a baby moon, and (2) go during the 2nd trimester.

Our planes, trains and automobiles 24 hour adventure getting to Bellagio was long but manageable in my current state. 3 plane rides from SFO to Philadelphia to Frankfurt to Milan. Then train from Milan to Lake Como. Then bus to Bellagio! Would have been able to cut out one of the flight legs if we hadn't bought our tickets at the last minute, as usual. But we made it, and Lake Como was beautiful and romantic.

We did find that no one knew what a baby moon is. Another fanciful west coast concept...

I loved rediscovering leisure with Ben, short-lived as our holiday was. With that, I am realizing that we will lose any concept of leisure in a few months. I've finally come to the realization that a real live baby is coming in January! At times I have felt just a bit regretful that we've taken this path, revisiting the discussions Ben and I had about life changes, before we decided to have a child. But I am happy about this growing life within me, and looking forward to meeting him soon.

So now we go into appreciation time in earnest. 3.5 months of as much leisure and social time as we can? Oy ok.