Hullo, Third Trimester!

I am at 28 weeks and officially in the third trimester. As Mr. Lodge would say, egad!

My only photo so far at 28 weeks--I can still fit into those jeans!

We finally know the baby's sex, but I won't be revealing it any time soon since my team has a bet going. (Haha.) At the latest checkup, he/she was still in breech position, so I'm a teeny bit worried. But I've got some weeks to go, and I've been trying a couple of ways to get him/her to turn: playing music down by my, er, nether regions, and putting something cold against the top of my stomach. (H was probably wondering why I was holding a bag of frozen veggies against me, but he just didn't ask.) He/She is also low average in terms of size, which surprised me considering how people have been remarking about how huge my belly is. Then again, I should be more surprised if tiny me produced a giant baby! Doc isn't worried, and she's pretty pleased with my weight gain. I've pretty much adhered to her one-pound-a-week rule (save for last month when I gained an extra pound after too much merrymaking...).

Overnight, it seems, I've turned into a preggers cliche: My stomach has suddenly begun to feel incredibly heavy and itchy, I can no longer lie on my back, I'm peeing all the frickin' time, I have to deal with acid reflux, and I sweat even with the A/C on full blast and the fan pointed straight at me! To deal with the itchiness, I guess I have to step up on my belly moisturization. Since the first trimester, I've been applying all sorts of products to keep my tummy skin supple, in the hopes of preventing stretch marks. I started with the Body Shop's Cocoa Butter Moisturizing Stick.

Available at The Body Shop

I purchased one during a Body Shop event, and the next time they sent me some products, they so sweetly included another stick! (Thanks, Body Shop!) I've since gone through both sticks.

As recommended by our art director, I also got me a bottle of the Body Shop's Olive Oil Dry Mist Oil. I've also been using it on my legs when I wear shorts because it gives my skin a nice sheen.

And just recently, my sister-in-law (also pregnant!) gave me Burt's Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter.
 

 Available at Beauty Bar

It's got cocoa, shea, and jojoba butters, but surprisingly has no scent. It's nice and thick, and I really feel like my skin has some extra moisture locked in when I apply it.

I've been slathering on a product every morning after showering and every night before going to bed, but it looks like I'll have to add a midday application. Reeeally hoping these will keep my tummy blemish-free. I'm also hoping the extra padding I had before the pregnancy would help keep stretch marks at bay--I read somewhere that thin people tend to get stretch marks since their skin doesn't have much give to begin with. If that's true, then hurray for belly flab!