I've never put much stock in the "due date" as it's such a subjective term and concept. It is a best guess between when a baby is considered "full term" from 38-42 weeks and it all is dependent on your cycle and when conception actually happened, which is usually a guess. Really, the baby is going to come out whenever they damn-well please. But it's hard to avoid thinking about it and focusing all one's energy on D-day when it is THE question on every one's mind."When are you due?" usually falls between "How far along are you?", "Do you know what it is/have you picked out a name" and "Is this your first?" Sure people are well-meaning, but it is at once nerve-wracking and annoying. Since I'm in my 39th week, I'm getting a lot of surprised faces when I tell them I'm due in 5 days. I kind of can't believe it myself, though. Where did 9 months go?
Both Michael and I are busily preparing ourselves at work and at home to introduce baby sister into the world. A week or two ago, we were in full nesting mode and decided to re-organize our kitchen cabinets because it just had to be done. Tonight we cleaned the bathrooms because you never know how long it will be until THAT gets taken care of again. Food has been cached, directions on how to take care of Mason/Zola/cloth diapers have been written out, basement has been finished and furniture bought, but there are still the few things lingering.
We keep saying to each other - "I can't go into labor until such-and-such is done" or "Now I can go into labor since we got new brake pads on the car/dry-cleaning is done/website is updated/meeting has happened/air filters have been changed/movie has been watched/labor music mix has been created/items have been taken to Goodwill/etc." It's like a constant stream of tasks to check off and goals to meet before we are "ready." Luckily we made it through the Thanksgiving holiday with one set of family in town. Granted I could only eat three bites of dinner since baby isn't allowing for much stomach space these days, but it was nice to at least play host. Really I wanted to make it to December because I just didn't want a November baby. And I like even numbers, so I'm hoping for the 2nd or 6th. I'd take the 8th in a pinch, but don't really want it to drag on longer. With Mason I was 12 days overdue and really hope that isn't the case this time. I'd rather have the baby in the car on the way to the hospital than have another two weeks of this.
I have really enjoyed being pregnant, as I did last time, but I've definitely come to the happy place of not needing to do it again. I'm tired of not being able to run or have a svelte physique, tired of taking Zantac twice a day and having to supplement with Tums at night and midday. I'm tired of drinking Floridix to boost my iron and really, really want to drink a full glass (or two!) of wine in a sitting.
In the last few weeks with Mason, I wasn't working, which on the one hand was nice to get things done and have time to myself before sleep deprivation took over, but on the other hand about drove me crazy because every day all I had to think about was "Will it be today?" "Why isn't he coming out/what's wrong with him?/what's wrong with me?" This time I am at least still working and keeping myself occupied (though it's hard to plan meetings/emails/tasks if I don't really know whether or not I'll be able to keep those commitments. I always have to add a disclaimer of "If I don't show up, it's probably because I gave birth" or something.)
Mostly, we've been trying to really take advantage of our time together as a three-some. I know the dynamic will change in a wonderful way once we are four, but it will never be like just the three of us...reading books at night, going to The Health Adventure to play, watching Jeopardy!, eating dinner with all of our energy focused on our budding little boy. It will be all of that, just a bit more complicated. (I'm trying NOT to think about how I will get a toddler and an infant in a car seat from my car to a store and out again without losing my mind.)
We've been doing all the explanation and gearing up for the baby sister introduction, so as to smooth the waters. We took a "My Mom is having a Baby" class at the hospital and Mason was fixated on holding the baby doll, taking off its diaper, and putting it's thumb in its mouth for 15 minutes. He's proving to be quite the little caretaker and I think as long as we give him jobs to do (like get baby a diaper/burp cloth/toy), he will do great and be completely in love. We've tried to get him excited about Omi and Opa visiting and bringing him to the hospital once the baby arrives and have even bought a baby kangaroo to give him once he gets there (all along he has been saying that I'm having a baby sister and he is having a baby kangaroo - not sure why, but we'll go with it!)
The next few weeks will definitely be exciting...whenever the roller coaster ride begins. And now that I've updated my blog, I'm one step closer to being "ready" with that checked off my list.
