Tonight I ordered two posters for the baby’s room:
and
I avoid (at all costs) anything remotely linked to Anne Geddes or Precious Moments.
I’ll take pictures soon of the finished product!
Here’s my pile (read: mountain) of clean diapers I washed earlier in the week.
Make way for baby! I’ve got most of these put away, along with a diaper pail that’s supposedly “odorless.” I’ve also arranged with my landlady a every-other-day washing schedule, so they won’t build up as much.
You read it right. A couple days ago I had to take off my wedding ring because my fingers are suddenly too fat. It feels a little odd, to say the least — but I suppose a few weeks of odd feelings are better than a ring that has to be cut off because it cuts off your circulation.
Leaving behind a pretty sad mama-to-be.
It’s been a good visit with the folks here. Over the last week and a half, they’ve done so much for Jerry and I. We’ve got a deep freezer and pantry stocked with food, a Costco membership (!!), a kitchen sink light, a de-Christmas-decoration-ified house, and not to mention — a nearly finished NURSERY! I’ll have to take some pictures of it later, because it looks amazing.
After such a good visit, it’s hard getting used to the quiet house again. I miss the fussing of my mom, making me sit down and rest when I’m running around. I miss my dad’s silly jokes or Mr. FixIt abilities. I miss both of their hugs.
While I know that I’ll be seeing them again soon (hopefully!), I also know things will be so different next time we see each other. My little one will be here by then, and I’ll be able to see them not only as my mom and dad, but as my child’s grandparents.
It’s hard to believe that my role as a mom could start any day now. According to one of my email newsletters, as of the end of this week, my baby is considered “To Term.” Earlier today I saw some outfits for babies that weigh 3-5 pounds, and realized that my baby most likely weighs more than that right now. Wild.
I’m not feeling that ready — then again, is it ever really possible to be fully “ready” for such a responsibility and gift like this?
We’ve had our Christmas turkey and we’ve opened our gifts — our little one has already gotten a running start in the gift department. S/he has books, a piggy bank, an ornament, and lots of anticipation for his/her arrival from the uncles and auntie (not to mention Diva and Papa)!
My mom gave us this ornament for our tree this year — it’s a “parents to be” ornament, and it’s perfect. If anything, I’ve been nesting like crazy, and now we’ve got an ornament to commemorate it!
It’s hard to believe this’ll be the last Christmas we’ll be spending as a family of two. I’m looking forward to our holidays to come!
Over the last few days I’ve been busy shopping, registering, and looking at all the baby supplies we’re going to need with the arrival of the little one. Needless to say, it’s overwhelming — emotionally and financially — in terms of what’s ahead of us.
Combine that with a lot of really negative (but well meaning?) comments of the responsibilities of what’s to come from various family members — and it leaves me wanting to keep this kid inside another couple months, if only so I can feel more “ready.” (then again, I would like to have a waist again, and could do without the waddle walk)
But today I got an email from a friend with words of experience that this anxious first-timer needed to hear:
If I don’t talk to you before Christmas, have a great holiday with your family — next year’s will feel very different in a great way. I have to tell you, around this time in the pregnancy, people kept telling us that “Our life as we know it would be over” and that we should “Enjoy things now while we can!”. All in all, very negative things from very negative people.The best comment I got from a co-worker was — “it just keeps getting better”. As you and your baby grow through each stage, it just keeps getting better; and it really does. My highlight so far is looking at N and asking her for a kiss. She runs up and gives me a big open mouthed one and a hug — and it is only going to get better!
I don’t want to go into this new chapter of our lives naively, thinking that nothing major will change. But I also don’t think it’s healthy dreading or anxiously worrying about things either.
People have survived newborns since we started out as a species — and I’m sure Jerry and I won’t be any different. This past week has reminded me of all the great friends and support network we have around us in Saskatoon — so even though my family is thousands of miles away, I’ve still got a few people I could call up for help when I need it most. And that’s what I need to remind myself when I drift off into freak-out mode.
Here’s how the loaned baby bed turned out — I’m quite happy with it! It’ll look nice right next to my bed.
Jerry decided to take some of our baby’s clothes out for a test drive tonight.
Nothing like a baby with a goatee!
Today was spent walking around baby shopping and such with my mom and favorite Saskatoon mom (and baby). We bought all sorts of little things that every new parent needs to have — diaper pins, diaper covers, diaper liners, receiving blankets, washclothes, and such.
We also bought a bassinette/Moses basket stand — our landlady let us borrow her family’s bassinette. It’s been in her family since the 50′s, and every baby that has slept in it has its name signed on the bottom. I was really quite touched she wanted us to be in on the family tradition. She also let us borrow her baby bathtub that she washed her little ones in, 30+ years ago.
Tomorrow I’m taking my mom to have lunch with my Brownies co-leader, and she’s got some baby stuff she’s gonna sell/give me — so things look to be shaping up.
I’m still a little overwhelmed at the prospect of having a real live baby in a month or so. There’s many little details that I’m sure I’m not attending to, and I just want to be as ready as possible. Then again, with all the negative horror stories I’ve heard from some bitter parents, maybe a little ignorance in the area is a good thing after all.
Meanwhile, I’m enjoying having my parents around. It’s nice to have a real live hug when you need one the most.
My mom reminded me of this picture today on her blog — along with some special memories I have of Christmases past.
It’s hard for me to believe that this is the last Christmas I’ll have in a quiet house, sans kid. D-day (delivery day) is inching ever closer, and before I know it, I’ll have a warm, cuddly, occasionally stinky, hungry and vocal post-Christmas present of my own to hold. It’s still a little surreal to think about, having a person be so dependent on me — with Jerry and I being solely responsible for him or her.
One thing that I’m looking the most forward to is the holiday memories we’ll make together as a family. My parents were always so good to us kids, in terms of giving us traditions to have on these special days. From construction paper Advent chains to making Christmas cookies to reading special holiday story books, my mind and heart are full of happy times growing up. I can’t wait to pass on some of these to my little one, too.
Speaking of which, grandma “Diva” and grandpa are coming in town tomorrow! This little one can’t wait to see her momma and dad! It’ll probably be the last time *I’m* the one who gets spoiled — I have a feeling that Shnodda-nas will soon be taking my place as the spoiled one.
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