Thursday, May 24, 2012

Week 27: Two-thirds can make you crazy


I’ve always been a little scared of the third trimester. That’s when you see the pregnant women with sweat dripping down their forehead as they try to do the simplest tasks like put on their shoes. I also feel like the third trimester is when women start to tell you how it really is. If there ever was a pregnancy “glow” it’s most definitely gone by the time they hit the seven-month mark. Earlier this week I tried to complete a task that should have taken 3 minutes and ended up taking over 20. There wasn’t even the slightest glimmer of a glow on me that day. The family I nanny for just recently lowered sweet baby girl’s crib, which however necessary, also means I have the daunting task of trying to bend over far enough to be able to reach her. Yesterday I had to attempt to change her crib sheet. No matter what I did I just couldn’t reach far enough! I became the stereotype. Beads of sweat forming on my face, grunting as I tried to reach just far enough to grab the mattress. How my life has changed.

I’ll be saying goodbye to my nanny family at the end of July so I can be a stay at home mom. I’ve already cried multiple times when I think about saying goodbye to sweet baby girl. When I have a four-day weekend I honestly miss her. I’ll be out running errands and wish I could hear her cute, little babbles from her car seat. It’s really helped me to realize that I’m ready to be a mom, because the idea of having a little one around me all time doesn’t feel like an inconvenience. It feels natural.

Not only have I enjoyed creating a relationship with baby girl, but I’ve gained some pretty invaluable insight into the logistics of motherhood. For example, when she sneezes a mouthful of baby food carrots all over my face, it no longer fazes me. Another time I realized I had been walking around for over 30 minutes with spit up caked in my hair. These otherwise disgusting events are just another day at the office for me.

When gross things happen, it’s pretty amazing how much our maternal instincts take over and all we care about is making sure the baby is ok. One time she had an upset tummy and puked with what seemed like the force of a small volcano all over my only pair of jeans that fit. I didn’t care about how disgusting it was to be sitting in a stinky mess. All I remember is my heart aching as I looked at her tear streaked cheeks and saw her sad eyes looking back at me hoping I would have a solution for her discomfort.  

After 10 years of working with children and ultimately having to say goodbye to them at some point, I finally will have a relationship that is permanent. I’ll be cleaning up baby puke out of my hair that actually belongs to my baby. For some crazy reason I have chosen the boogers, diapers, and sneezes.  Bring it on baby. Bring. It. On.

Crazy third-trimester emotional breakdown of the week:
The other day I reached the epitome of emotional craziness. I literally had a mental breakdown when my eggs stuck to the pan and there was no longer even a remote possibility that they would be “over easy”. I completely lost it. I was pacing, screaming at the pan, and clenching my fists to my forehead. At first Seth thought I was just joking and being dramatic. Then I saw worry start to creep across his face as he realized I genuinely was that angry at my eggs. He hovered for a minute or two in that delicate balance of is it ok to laugh right now because she is being so ridiculous or do I need to try and figure out how to help her? He decided to go for the safer option and offered to make me a new batch of eggs.

Baby is getting big enough now (about 2 pounds) that when he/she kicks and moves I can actually feel limbs moving and twisting! It’s not just random bubbles anymore. We’ve also been able to push on my belly and feel the baby creating resistance! 

Come one ladies, it's time to share your own pregnancy related emotional meltdowns! Did ruined eggs set you off too?

Blessings,
Shantastic :) 

2 comments:

  1. Don't you love the hormones?!? I had my worst rampage when I was pregnant with my third child. To the point where I wouldn't have been surprised to find my husband looking up exorcists.

    I had already been on bedrest for quite some time and was in the third trimester as well. My husband was working long hours since I wasn't able to work and I was at home with a 4 year old and a 2 year old that I had absolutely no chance of keeping up with. I was looking forward to seeing my husband when he got off work but he didn't come home right away ONE night. Instead, he went out to the bar with some of his friends (which he hadn't spent any time with since I was put on bed rest).

    He had called to let me know and I told him to make it quick. I guess my idea of quick at that time was much different then his. Fifteen minutes later, I was blowing up his phone trying to figure out where he was. I didn't need him for anything but I wanted him home. He finally stopped answering my calls after telling me he would be home shortly. About an hour later, he came home but by that time, I was beyond rational.

    As he pulled up into the driveway, I was standing on the front porch holding my cell phone, yelling at him about why he didn't answer the phone. By the time he had gotten out of the car, I had broken my cell phone in half (one of the Razr flip phones) and threw it across the yard at him.

    He picked up the peices of my phone and walked me inside and made me sit on the couch before he would even talk to me. Then the poor man sat there and listened to me scream at him and call him every curse word in the book. He hardly said a word while I was going off on him other than to ask if I wanted anything to eat or drink.

    After I finally felt that my point was made (which seemed to take forever), he calmly said that he was sorry that he upset me and he took my arm and led me to bed.

    The next morning I felt terrible because I knew how irrational I was acting. When he came home from work that night, he had a new phone for me to replace the one that I had destroyed the previous night. I apologized because I knew I was being irrational that night but for whatever reason, couldn't reign it in.

    This wasn't the only period that I had where I was irrational, but it was likely the worst one. Brian was so patient with me through all of my issues. I think that made a huge difference for me because I was able to get it out of my system without causing too much damage ;).

    Be thankful that you have someone that can both see the humor in your hormonal tantrums as well as know when to reign in that humor until it is over.

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  2. hahahaha I chuckled a little when I pictured you breaking your cell phone in half! For some reason all my freak outs seem to be centered around food :) I've freaked out about my eggs, almost cried when I thought we were out of ranch dressing, interrupted people who were talking to Brendon so that we could leave and get me food, and eaten food out of my purse during church :) I'm glad your husband is so patient! Thankfully Brendon is patient too!

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