Week 13: Freedom

By Published On: May 30th, 2014

On October 30, 1990, George Michael released the song, “Freedom.” […]

outfitOn October 30, 1990, George Michael released the song, “Freedom.”

On May 19, 2014 I was released on parole—also known as the end of my first trimester.

Yay, for the second trimester!
Yay, for an appetite!
Yay, for finally rounding out and not looking like an awkward muffin topper!

Now that I’m nearing the end of my 13th week I am feeling more emotionally balanced and less exhausted. By less exhausted, I mean I don’t need a nap after exhaling. By more emotionally balance, I mean I’m not crying when the cat walks away from a hug.

Now that I only have 27 weeks to go (yes, only) I have already packed my hospital bag—one can never be too sure how fast 27 weeks will blow by. You never know when the fabric of time could tear and tomorrow could be 38.5 weeks.

In the past I’ve waited until a month before to pack by bags but let’s face it, this is baby No.3. Been there, done that. Here’s proof:

Hospital Bag Contents for Baby No.1

Three changes of clothes, comfy socks, underwear, slippers, robe, laptop, camera, cell phone charger, two sets of baby clothes, baby socks, baby hats, four baby blankets (two heavy, two light), toothbrush, toothpaste, face cleaner, deodorant, face lotion, body lotion, body wash, brush, hair tie, maxi-pads, makeup, book to read, cards to play during labor (ha!), nipple cream for breast feeding, pacifier, baby toys

Hospital Bag Contents for Baby No. 2:

Sweatpants, clean shirt, underwear, cell charger, baby blanket, take home outfit for the baby, toothbrush/toothpaste, deodorant

Hospital Bag Contents for Baby No.3:
Sweatpants, shirt, underwear, baby blanket

It would be silly to be as over prepared as I was with baby No.1. Oh, the ridiculous web we weave when we’re naive to the things of new babies. When we take time to choose a “go home” outfit and gently dress our two-day old baby—who hates what you’re going to put on them anyway—versus using that time to catch 15 more minutes of sweet, sweet sleep before being discharged.

Freedom.

We get a brief glimpse of in between delivering our babies and the first few nights home with them.

Until then, I’ll enjoy my new found appetite and start counting down the weeks until the third trimester begins.