The Ritger Roost: Why hello 3rd trimester, you really snuck up on me this time...

This week we hit 27 weeks and begin the journey into the beloved 3rd trimester. The 3rd trimester, for my 3rd child (does that make it a golden trimester?) should be exceptional as it begins right as the temperatures start rising into the unbearable range in Atlanta. Thankfully, the pool opened this weekend and between the splashgrounds, neighborhood pool, and the backyard kiddie pool I plan to beach at one for the duration. However, so far so good in terms of "how I'm feeling" I find that the more active I am the better I feel. No swelling yet, back pain has subsided (?), and I'm actually sleeping better as are my children who now sleep until after 8:00 everyday!! Babygirl flipped head down last week which has caused some intermittent discomfort as she was already riding super low thanks to the other 2 children that have stretched my belly muscles beyond the limit over the past 3 years-now it feels that she will fall out with any sudden movements, I'm sure we will adjust.

At my last appointment my doctor suggested a maternity belt to help support my super low riding belly--curious when I got home about what exactly this contraption was a quick google search revealed this http://www.amazon.com/Soft-Form-Maternity-Support-Small/dp/B000Q174G6/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1369750544&sr=8-5&keywords=maternity+belt

Let's be real people, there is no way that thing is comfortable in 95 degree heat strapped on beneath my already uncomfortable maternity pants. It just screams itchy and sweaty to me...we'll just hang low but breathe freely thank you very much doc. Of course I now get all the standard unwanted stranger comments about my pregnancy shape/size etc--most to the tune of "you're carrying low, it's def a boy!" Glucose test up next, which I actually find quite tasty-no lie I have a total sweet tooth and think the stuff tastes like the most wonderful gatorade ever! I get to start going to the doc every 2 weeks now for closer monitoring and more frequent ultrasounds due to some fluid and growth issues that happened with Lucy--I'm pumped for all the ultrasounds to see the sweet girl at the end as I've only ever had the one ultrasound with the other kids. Also, the trips to the doc are like a vacation for me since Johnny stays home with the kids.

I figured it was time for some belly comparison...and it seems that I always do a 27 week belly pic, and honestly I don't notice much of a difference despite the fact that my other two children were dramatically different sizes when they were born.

Baby #3 at 27 weeks

Lucy at 27 weeks

Hank at 27 weeks

So the biggest question I get is if I'm stressed about our home renovation...in short, not at all. We are no stranger to home chaos as we bring a new baby home. The following pictures were of Hank's nursery aka our first major home renovation in the weeks and days before his arrival.

This was Hank's room 3 weeks before his arrival

and this was his room 4 days before his arrival

This home renovation continued until Hank was about 6 months old...he slept through constant hammering and nail guns with no problem. He even hung out on his dad in the baby bjorn helping to paint the bathroom and grout the floors. The babies always stay in our room with me until 5 or 6 months anyway, so our nurseries basically go unused for the entire first half a year of each child's life. So this time, I'm just setting up a little nursery in our room with the pack n' play and dresser and she will live there just like the other two did until the renovation is done and she is ready to move into the nursery and Lucy will move upstairs to her big girl room vacating the crib for her sister. Likely, she will be ready to move out of our room about the same time the renovation will be finishing up so it will all work out, as it always does. I made a list the other day of things I need to get before she arrives-there are 5 things on the list and diapers are one of them. Wow, things are easier this time around!

Item #6 on the list of things to obtain is a larger vehicle. After significant research and contemplation I think we are 99% convinced that we cannot go the minivan route. We drove them, and hear all the glowing reviews from other families (most whom only have 2 children) about how they will change our life etc etc. However, it honestly comes down to excess. We are both believers in only having just what we need in life, and to us the mini van just seems like excess. We have decided on the Honda Pilot (3rd row suv). Even this car seems enormous to me, but in size it is significantly smaller in length and width and honestly is all we really need (and actually holds 8 passengers compared to the van's 7). We drive so little now that we both work in the neighborhood-I think I put about 10 miles on the car in a week and certainly only fill up with gas once a month or so. So while the van's offer a lot of bells and whistles to the tune of 47 cup holders, automatic sliding doors, and DVD systems-they are certainly more than our family needs in a car. So Johnny is on his quest for the slickest deal out there on a used Honda Pilot-I can assure you our car will make Mr. Money Mustache proud (if you aren't familiar check him out- http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/ This dude is Johnny's hero and if I had a nickel for every time my husband asked me if that was a "mustachian money decision"-well, I'd probably have to invest those nickels in my retirement or shop with them at Aldi with coupons, but your get the idea) Of note...we are also considering becoming a one car household, and selling both of our current cars to buy one family car. I love this idea, but Johnny is taking some convincing.

We like to enlist the brain of our 3 1/2 year old on all major life decisions, because we often find it helpful. Hank has been adamant that we don't want the van.