Any day now... or so you would think.

Today marks the first day of my third trimester. Hooray! We're two-thirds of the way there, babies. (Though actually, more, since twins never go completely to full term.) This also means that this past week was my last week in the office until I return from maternity leave. Which is kind of a weird feeling. Because my doctor has said all throughout this pregnancy that I would need to plan to (in his words) "not leave the house" after the start of the third trimester, my work has allowed me to telecommute for until the babies come and I go on maternity leave. At first, I thought my doctor's advice seemed a tad extreme... but now I'm beginning to see the rationale behind it. If I had only one baby, I would be the size of someone 8 weeks farther along - which, at this point, means that I am now approaching the limit to which a pregnant body can continue to grow. Of course, you see very pregnant women about my size going about their daily business all the time... but the big difference is that at 36 weeks, one baby could be born with no problems. But since our babies are only 28 weeks, and weigh about 2 1/2 pounds each, we still have a ways to go! So while my "house arrest" orders initially seemed extreme, I am now seeing the importance of taking it easy, and minimizing stress and physical activity, just so we can keep our babies gestating as long as possible.

And actually, I feel like my doctor's advice has been validated by the fact that I seem to look very pregnant to most people nowadays. Granted, I've been getting used to being randomly stared at, smiled at, and asked "When are you due?" for a while now... but lately, it's been different. Now, what random strangers say to me are things like "You're sure ready to go!" or "Looks like any day now!" Two of my favorites occurred just this morning... at Trader Joe's, a woman pointed to my belly and said, "Wow! You're going to have a good Christmas!" and then later, a homeless guy on 14th Street commented, "That baby's going to kick its way out!" Right. To all of this, I just smile and nod - it's not worth getting into the whole explanation of "I'm due in March, but I have twins, that's why I'm really big, blah, blah, blah..." Nowadays, if people ask, I just say I'm due in January - and no, I don't know what I'm having - because no one seemed to believe it when I said I was due in March. I feel somewhat guilty lying, but it's just easier that way.

I guess all of this is to say that it's probably a good thing I will be in semi-hibernation status for the rest of my pregnancy. Good for the babies, and probably good for my sanity!

Carseat dilemma resolved!

As many of you may know, we have been contending with a brainteaser of how to fit two infant carseats into our Mazda3 hatchback. After much searching for the smallest carseat on the market, we found the Chicco KeyFit 30. But despite the small size, we found that while one would work fine, two would still be too much for our car. We even practiced driving around with empty carseats in the back, but realized that the passenger's knees would always be in the glovebox, and the driver's knees would be so locked in place that you could never make a quick stop if needed. So not only would space be an issue in our car, but so would safety. The whole situation has really been a bummer, because we love our car, and bought it less than two years ago thinking that it would make a great family car for us someday. But, that was back when we envisioned having kids one at a time, not two at a time!

So last weekend, we began scoping out bigger models. We didn't want to go too big, but big enough to fit our babies and all the stuff that goes with them - yet still reasonably fuel-efficient. For the price, the size, and the fuel efficiency, we decided that the Ford Escape Hybrid would be our next car. After several near-misses in the hot local hybrid market, today, we finally found a car to call our own! It's a 2006 model in excellent condition, with all of the features of our current car, plus a navigation system (yay!). And, best of all, the carseats fit!

This also means that our dear Mazda3 hatchback is on the market. We are sad to say goodbye to it, but since we drive so little, we don't really have the need for two cars... nor for the expense, with two babies coming. So, if you know anyone who is interested, please let us know!

My pregnant sense of entitlement.

There are few times in life in which you can be demanding without being considered rude. Pregnancy is one of those times. When I need a seat on the bus or the metro, usually the sight of me makes at least one seated passenger feel guilty enough to forfeit their seat. If not, no big deal... I have become very comfortable with (politely) asking able-bodied young men to kindly let me sit in their place. Not only does it mean I get a seat, but I also like to think that I am helping in their training to become more thoughtful members of our public transportation system... and hopefully, better boyfriends and husbands someday. Besides, seats are really for the people who need them - and I really need them. I decided a while ago that it is not worth standing on the metro and risking my chances of pre-term labor because it's too uncomfortable to say something.

But then, put me in a crowded line - and it doesn't take so much as an exasperated sigh from me for people around to take a step back and give me some breathing room. I used to think it was kind of funny, actually... until I realized that I may be freaking people out that I'm going into labor. At the movies, if Joe and I can't find two seats together in the section we want, I have no problem with asking others to shift seats so that I can sit next to my husband. Then, if the person next to me is excessively hogging the shared armrest, I (again, politely) ask them to make some room for me. I mean, is someone really going to say no to a pregnant woman? I am big and uncomfortable, after all, and being squeezed between seat hoggers certainly doesn't help matters.

I've come to realize that I'm performing another version of what pregnant women did in Honduras when I was in Peace Corps. There, it was absolutely dog-eat-dog anytime there was a line - at the bus, at the bank, or even buying oranges on the street - and pregnant women would unabashedly stick their bellies out to push their way right up to the front. I used to feel somewhat guilty for using pregnancy to get what I want, but I'm getting over it. After all, how many times do we all have to worry about being thoughtful and accommodating to strangers... and isn't it nice to be the one who's being accommodated for a change? It won't be forever after all... but for now, I sure am enjoying these few brief months of entitlement, before I go back to standing on the metro and feeling crowded and uncomfortable in public places. Besides, I will be working from home after December 19th until I go into labor... which means I only have a few more precious days of a seated commute, before my seat becomes vacant for someone else!