Today marks the start of my 3rd trimester.  It’s hard to believe it.  On the one hand, it feels like time has flown by, but on the other hand… babygirl just isn’t arriving fast enough!! (But please stay in there, sweetie, until you are done cookin’.)

With 13 weeks left… let’s take a look at what I have left to do from the list I posted up when I hit the halfway point:

1 – Crochet a baby blanket (well, need to learn how to crochet well first… eeps)

Well, I still haven’t started this.  I bought the yarn and asked my mom for a lesson to refresh my memory.  Hopefully I’ll get it made before she turns one…

2 – Paint the nursery (more specifically, this is hubby’s job)

This was completed!!

3 – Train cats to stay out of the bassinet (although they haven’t climbed in… yet)

The cats are staying out of it with no problem… for now.  I’ve been trying to keep them off my glider though.  That hasn’t been as easy.  For some reason, they really love just hanging out in the nursery.

4 – Make plastic canvas Nursery Rhyme pictures (I have the patterns, just need more yarn!)

Haven’t started this…

5 – Find and sign up for classes: birthing and breastfeeding

I got us signed up for a few classes: childbirth, breastfeeding, and bring home new baby.  This weekend is the childbirth class.  I have the BFing class in a couple weeks and the new baby class is mid-September.

6 – Find a daycare for when I return to work

I’m still working on finding word of mouth recommendations before I start checking places out.

7 – Find a pediatrician

I received several recommendations, which is awesome.  One is nearby and is actually within the same clinic as mine and Brian’s primary care doctor.  Now I just need to talk with him and see if he’s accepting new patients.  I hope to have this and daycare sorted out by the end of September.

8 – Purchase whatever essentials we don’t get from dear sweet family and friends that are an absolute must for the first few weeks

Can’t do this part yet until after the babyshower! It’s scheduled for mid-September.  I also have a work shower coming up as well.

Well, at least there really isn’t anything to add to this list!

It’s normal to have worries and fears throughout pregnancy.  Especially as a first time mom, there’s a lot of unknowns out there.  I do know that some of the things I’m fearful of or worry about are out of my control, some are in my control, and most things will work out just fine.

But… I can’t help but think about them here and there.

Especially when I’m having an emotional roller coaster of a day.  Sometimes it comes out of seemingly no where!

I developed this list when responding to a thread in one of the birthclub groups I’m a part of on Babycenter.  It felt kinda good to put the list “in writing” so these fears aren’t just aimlessly bouncing around in my head.

I’m afraid I’ll struggle with breastfeeding.

I’m afraid of any risks and complications associated with me having gestational diabetes and how it could negatively affect babygirl.

I’m afraid I’ll be laid off around the time I start my leave which will mean I can’t use sick time to pay for most of it and also means Aflac short term disability won’t kick in (contract is up at that time so depends on all that stuff).

I’m afraid we won’t be able to afford daycare and that I will have to settle for one that makes me nervous.

I’m afraid I won’t want to go back to work but won’t be able to afford being a SAHM.

I’m afraid of SIDS.

I’m afraid I’ll back off too much in an effort to not appear OVER protective and someone will do something stupid that will hurt her – like drop her on her head or something.

I’m afraid that I’ll pick and choose the least effective combination of advice and methods.  There is SO much information out there on how to care for a baby; how to feed them; how to get them to sleep; how to respond to them…. and a lot of conflicting information.  But even conflicting information doesn’t really sound like one way is harmful or better than another.  It’s a lot to sort through.

I’m afraid… I am going to stop my list there.

Today marks 20 weeks, so we are halfway to the estimated arrival date.  Woohoo!

I can hardly believe there’s only 20 weeks left.  I mean, I’m barely showing, for one (in my opinion anyway… I don’t have that obviously round preggo belly).  And there’s so much to do yet!

To-Do-Yet List:

• Crochet a baby blanket (well, need to learn how to crochet well first… eeps)
• Paint the nursery (more specifically, this is hubby’s job)
• Train cats to stay out of the bassinet (although they haven’t climbed in… yet)
• Make plastic canvas Nursery Rhyme pictures (I have the patterns, just need more yarn!)
• Find and sign up for classes: birthing and breastfeeding
• Find a daycare for when I return to work
• Find a pediatrician
• Purchase whatever essentials we don’t get from dear sweet family and friends that are an absolute must for the first few weeks

Ok, so that doesn’t look too insane… but I know the rest of this pregnancy is probably going to start flying by and I’ll be in the delivery room before I know it!