36 Weeks

I had to check my calendar, just to be sure. That’s how this pregnancy has been going. Well, really, that’s how this past year has been going…

I’m 4 weeks from this baby’s “due date”, and aside from hitting that stretched-to-the-max, my-back-hurts, I-can-hardly-sleep stage, I feel like I’ve barely had time to even think about being pregnant. I know it’s partly because we happen to already have 8 very active (and usually rather loud) children, and it’s partly because life is still filled with the stress of Ian having multiple appointments each week, but it still seems crazy to me to every-once-in-a-while stop and think “Oh, man, I’m pregnant! I’m going to have to give birth again one of these days…”

Because I have those moments.

I only ever pulled out & washed a handful of maternity clothes. I have a large bin in the attic. When you’ve done the pregnancy thing this many times, you tend to accumulate. (And if you’re me, you also tend to spill something on the belly of almost every shirt and end up with not nearly as many outfits as you thought you had…) I’ve accumulated a big bin, and I pulled a sweater, a skirt, and a couple barely stained shirts out to wash, and left the rest in the attic. I bought a pair of capris, a pair of jeans, a cute jean skirt, some basic black leggings, 3 or 4 shirts, and called it good. When you’re life seems to be stuck in survival-mode, only having a couple outfits to choose from works out well. Less to think about. (And the laundry stays caught up more often!) I’m seriously considering a dramatic closet purging when the time comes to fit into regular clothes again…

Four weeks (and then some? I always go past baby’s “due date”) left, and I’m just starting to look around and think about all of the things I should be doing to get the nesting show on the road-

• Wean back off the daily strong coffee
• Set up the Arm’s Reach Cosleeper
• Pack a hospital bag
• Check supply of nursing bras & pads
• Get some diapers
• Wash some baby boy clothes
• *STOCK THE FREEZER
• *STOCK THE PANTRY
• Start taking plenty of Evening Primrose Oil
• Sew a cute new nursing cover-up
• Knit a baby hat or two
• Practice some deep relaxing…

The clock is ticking. Every day. And the days are just flying by!

Did you notice how fast summer was?! Did you notice it was over?

I’m pretty sure the next 4 weeks will be flying by just as fast as the last 36 have, and I am really looking forward to meeting this new little boy! With my unmistakenly growing belly, the excitement has been building around here. I may not have time to think about it much, but out littles remind me often with their belly-patting, belly-kissing, and belly-talking, as they eagerly await meeting their newest little brother. They are too cute.

And now, I could use a nap!

*I had my first unlimited-double-coupon shopping experience this morning, and am pleased to announce that I saved $234.07 and made a good start to my pantry & freezer stocking! #goodtimes

Tagged as: pregnancy update