Nesting...and I Might Have a Problem

With the flurry of contractions this week, I realized that I am NOWHERE NEAR ready for this guy to arrive! Ok, that might be an understatement, but compared to how ready I was with Dash (forget that with Fin I was ready about 3 months in :) I have a LOT of work to do. So I informed Brooks that the next two weekends were all about baby-preparedness - the culminating event being next weekend where we get all the baby stuff out of the garage so I can wash it and inspect it. I'm sure I don't need to tell you how excited that made him!

I spent the better part of today getting organized. Birth plan is done, printed and laminated. We'll be meeting with our Doula, Yvonne, on Friday. I reorganized the emergency diaper supply bag in the car to include the new teeny ones we bought this week (Fin couldn't get over how little they were!). And my hospital bag is close to packed. Of course I need to qualify that with the fact that I HATE hospitals and only plan on spending one night if that so there really wasn't much to pack! I have long since moved Dash's stuff out of the nursery and into the room he'll be sharing with Fin, so I just had to straighten Snoopy's closet up a bit and that was done. I feel more ready now.

I think it's official - nesting has set in.

And in that vein, I have to admit, I have a problem. When I started off intending to sew a few burp cloths for this baby, I had no idea I'd go this far. I first picked up a pack of 12 cloth diapers. Then I saw an organic pack of 6 another place and they felt softer, so I bought those too. I bought a mess of material and sewed a few. But each time I would think I had sewn the last one, my eyes would catch the pile of sad, naked, empty cloth diapers and I'd realize I had material, what was one more...

Then I wandered into JoAnne's one day and found a bunch of new and pretty fabrics. Well, now I had more fabric and still some sad empty cloth diapers. So I made a few more...and some for a friend...and then I saw someone with a burp cloth and a matching blanket. Wait a minute! Did someone say matching blanket?!?
I loved this material. And the minky backing, sooo soft! And you didn't think I would stop at one set...
This green minky was even softer (and it shed and was a BITCH to sew). Now I have three more empty diapers and a small batch of material. After these, i WILL NOT go buy more. I WILL NOT go buy more...

A Sweet Short

For my friends who don't have kids yet, let me share one of the most amazing things about them. Some days, when you're feeling crappy and things are going awry, they just seem to know that you need a little extra TLC. Yesterday was one of those days for me.

And then it was naptime.

With Fin safely in his bed, Dash and I laid down to take a nap in my room. He nuzzled into me, took my arm, wrapped it around himself and asked "Got me mommy, got me?" "Yes my baby boy, I've got you". "Mommy, I love you." And the rest of the day just faded into memory and we both fell asleep.

Updates and Decisions

So here's last week's belly shot. 31 weeks. I'm huge. I'm just going to own it. Someone asked when I was due and when I told them August they were shocked. I'm short. I have no midsection. In other baby news, I failed the one hour GD test (I know, we're ALL surprised, right?) and declined the 3 hour test. My endo is out of town this week so by the time I get in to see him I'll be 33 weeks. Considering that the last time he saw me with Dash I was 34 weeks, I'm really hoping that means I'll only have to endure one visit. He's a nice guy, but really any pregnant woman will tell you that there are ENOUGH required Dr. visits already!

So back to feeling huge, I'm uncomfortable as all get-out. This baby has an amazing ability to crush my lungs and make me feel like there's an elephant sitting on my chest. Just going upstairs is enough to exhaust me if he's in the right position. That's getting old. Forget about sleeping comfortably. I indulge in Tylenol PM (which my dr. assured me is safe!) once or twice a week just so I can get SOME sleep. I think each pregnancy I've forgotten how much it stinks to be this large and uncomfortable. And although I feel like I might be bigger at this stage than I was with Fin or Dash, Brooks assures me that I'm just right. Good husband ;)

Last week was "baby week" on Disc and TLC, and so Brooks and I were watching a few shows this weekend. We both became a little fascinated with the women who had epidurals and were all talky and smiley even through the pushing phase. I quickly had to remind both of us that for those women, the pushing phase also seemed to go on forever whereas my natural births have literally been one or two pushes. Actually, I didn't even really push for Dash, my body just kind of took over (not to be gross, but imagine how you feel when you have the stomach flu...not exactly like you have a choice on whether or not you throw up!). But I feel tired. To the bone tired. And there is a little part of me that wonders what it would be like to just get an epidural at the first sign of pain and be able to nap and smile and laugh... In the end I'm too chicken (I know, too chicken to have an epidural?!?). I want to feel ok afterwards and so I'll just grin and bear it. Probably.

Get Your Hiney Ready...

I'm large. I failed the GD test. I have low iron. And yesterday Fin told me that my belly was extra large...and "dirty"...WHAT!?! Knowing I had just showered, I had to see for myself. Do you know what he was talking about? My stretch marks. Thanks kid. I explained to him what they were, and with tears in his eyes he told me he didn't want me to have them. Yeah, me neither. I could complain for a few more paragraphs, but instead I'll post this. I read it on a message board and am now shamelessly stealing it...

Baby Eviction Notice

I am issuing 30 day notice for EVICTION. Tenant will have 30 days in which he can either gather his belongings and promptly vacate the premises, or wait until the final day. After which, he will be physically removed from the property.

He's being evicted due to breech of contract and destruction of property. Expansions only to the FRONT of the house, within reasonable limits, were discussed. Not only have these limits been exceeded, but additions to the back of the house were also made!

Remodeling and gutting of the home was never approved, nor was changing the initial layout and base structure. And due to property damage, there are now leaks in both the upper AND lower levels of the home. On top of which, the landlord has received numerous complaints about nightly disturbances.

After 30 days from this day that he doesn’t comply with the notice will result in immediate and forceful removal at my discretion.

Sincerely,
Your Landlord

Lessons Learned and Memories Made

We're back! I have to admit right away that the boys were fantastically well behaved on the outbound flights - even getting to meet the pilots on our connection. We all had an amazing time and thankfully this year there were few issues with a dislike of the sand. The kids did not take leaving well and asked if they could just live there - don't we all wish guys! Now let's start working on Chief for three weeks next year :)

Some beach lessons and memories...

• The Atlanta Airport sucks. Seriously. Charlotte is a much better connection. And the Wilmington Airport just may be the nicest ever.
• 2 kids, 1 stroller, 2 backpacks and a pregnant woman do NOT fit into a single bathroom stall. Or more accurately, they don't fit out the door of said bathroom.
• Red-eye flights are the best way to travel cross-country with smallish children.
  
• If you are stuck outside freezing in the arctic and you start to feel so warm you begin to shed your clothes, it means you have two minutes or less to live.
• Fin does not sleep well at the beach. At all.
• I am, in fact, too pregnant to travel.
• My dad will always grill the best steaks and rent the worst movies.
• Some people have NO beach etiquette.
• It doesn't matter how well you closed everything, something will still explode in your toiletry case. Generally, this will be either the thing capable of the largest mess or the thing you will most need at your destination.
  
• Black Henna tattoos look deceptively real and last far too long
• Uncles make the best babysitters.
• I will never take for granted CA's lack of biting insects. In fact, I will make an effort to sit outside on nice evenings whenever possible to take full advantage of that fact.
• When you take a vacation that involves sitting on the beach all day for 10 days, you really don't need more than 3 outfits.
• It's stupid to make any plans at the beach other than sitting on the beach. You just won't do them.

Next year can't come fast enough!