Goodbye Second Trimester

I both love and loathe the end of the second trimester of pregnancy. I love the idea that I'm getting closer to delivery and that the baby is healthy and growing. However, I loathe that I still have to wait another three months for the birth, and in the meantime, I have to deal with some very unpleasant latter pregnancy symptoms. Sleeping through the night without having to get up and go to the bathroom, eating chili without heartburn and cuddling my toddlers on my tummy are all becoming a thing of the past.

I also am keenly aware that when this phase of pregnancy is over, (i.e. the baby is born) my life will be once again irrevocably changed. Getting two kids out the door and strapped into their car seats during a Minnesota winter is difficult, but doing it with three seems impossible. When my husband is at home, at least we can each grab one child and be on our way. Not for long. Hugging, kissing, praying and singing with two children before bed at night can seem cumbersome, but adding a newborn to the mix leads me to the word burdensome. Please don't think I'm complaining! I love that we are having more children and I am thankful for them, but these types of questions lead me to a dilemma: How much should I promote my oldest child's independence in order to make life easier when the baby comes? At 3 years old, I already feel like he's growing up too fast, but I know that things will run more smoothly the more he can do for himself. I guess these types of decisions are part of every day life with a growing family. Please share your advice if you have experienced this situation before!