Time should get a freakin' speeding ticket!

Here we are, 23 weeks pregnant, or "in our sixth month", depending on how you look at it. We are in the tenth week of the second trimester, and have only four more to go before reaching the (what?!) THIRD TRIMESTER! Time is flying! This is not necessarily a bad thing, just a little disconcerting. One day I am relaxing, relishing in second trimester bliss, thinking forward to decorating the baby's room, buying a crib, registering for all the things we'll need, introducing the dogs to fakebaby, and not wanting to complete all these expectant parent tasks too soon, or else be left with nothing to look forward to in the last months and weeks of the pregnancy, and then suddenly it hits me, I am already in the last months (four-ish) and weeks (16, and 6 days, to be exact) of pregnancy!

The baby is very active now, often moving continuously for minutes at a time. I was treated to a wonderful little dance on Mother's Day morning as I tried to get in a bit more sleep before heading to work. Also, I experienced my first official contraction last week while driving home. It wasn't painful really, but felt like my uterus was suddenly a rock hard, perfectly round knot inside my belly. It lasted for only about 20 seconds, just long enough for me to realize what was happening. I've had similar feelings before, but never as obvious. Kinda cool, and kinda completely terrifying... I guess that's why the contractions start happening so early on in pregnancy, so both your body and your mind have plenty of time to warm up for the main event (when the contractions do actually hurt). I can't wait!

We haven't taken a belly shot in a few weeks, but will do soon. People are generally still shocked when I tell them I'm pregnant or when they find out how far along I am, but I think depending on what clothes I'm wearing, I might sometimes, just a tiny little bit, in some remote way, look pregnant (though not according to Sonepheth)! I have definitely started to realize my physical limitations. Biking is out! My knees banging against my belly as I pedal is not pleasant. Buying dog food is suddenly not a solo mission! Lifting the 40 pound bags from the bottom shelf into the cart, and then from the cart into the car just isn't happening. Don't worry, this past weekend I didn't even try. I just stared at the bags, helpless, then asked someone to do it for me. Ah, and the simple pleasures in life are just not as simple! Take, for instance, rolling over in bed. Who knew that could ever be such a daunting task?!

Seriously, feel free to laugh at me. I do all the time (especially in the middle of the night, as I'm clumsily attempting, amidst a mountain of pillows, to turn from one side to the other, inch by inch).