Good day

I have a section of a fallen maple tree that i want to turn into a side table or a seat. Either way, I will finish it the same way, first by staining it followed by multiple coats of polyurethane.

Seeing as the stump has only been drying for about 1 month, it is most likely still damp in its core. Do i have to wait months and months for the log to completely dry out before I finish it? Can I stain and seal it now? Will the wood still be able to dry after it's been sealed?

Thanks!

Note that this pic is dated. The log has now been stripped of its bark.