Tic Toc Tic Toc

Now that impatience and the feeling of waiting have fully set in, I figured I should kill some of this time by writing another blog post. I've got 4 weeks from today until my due date and although there really isn't much new to report on, I have certainly gotten further with my baby preparation and with growing this big boy in my belly. What used to feel like ripples in my stomach now feel like an assault on my organs. I can make out body parts now or at least areas of the body. My doctor tells me the baby is head down and he's been this way for some time because his head pushes on my bladder most of the time and his little legs or feet push out on my right upper side on a regular basis. It truly does feel like my body has been invaded by an alien except it's not an alien but our son - still a concept I'm not quite used to yet. And although I really haven't had much to complain about as far as aches and pains during the pregnancy, the last few weeks have definitely gotten to be more uncomfortable than the first 8 months. Probably the most noticeable body changes occur when I'm just walking (which I've been trying to do a lot of lately). I do have a bit of a waddle (well maybe more than a bit but I prefer to think it's just a bit) and my hips just randomly collapse on me as if they won't be able to support my weight. Putting on socks and shoes poses a real challenge so sandals have become my best friend. It's odd to feel so slow as I am generally a speed walker no matter where I'm going. And my bathroom trips have definitely increased to 2-3 times a night. And speaking of the night, forget about getting a good night sleep. I generally have 5 or so pillows propped up against me to sort of support and hold me in position but generally I am tossing and turning in between bathroom breaks which means a readjustment of those 5 or so pillows. And then there are the 3am feedings that I seem to be on. I wake up ravenously hungry and cannot possibly think about sleeping until I've eaten. I am beginning to understand what insomnia is and really would prefer to do without it. But, I suppose all of this has a purpose and I prefer to look at it like it is preparing me for what's ahead - sleepless nights, middle of the night feedings, and possibly some discomfort during that thing they call labor.

As far as preparations go, I've got most of the baby paraphenalia that one should have to start with which feels like a ridiculous amount of stuff. My parents have been kind enough to let me, Alan (when he arrives - which is another story), and baby move into their room since it is bigger than the guest room, but rather than overtake it prematurely with baby "stuff," we've collected all of it in my old bedroom which it's pretty much outgrown now. As you can see there is little space left for walking amongst the toys, cloths, bassinet, etc.



I washed loads and loads of baby clothes, towels, blankets, etc. and have them all neatly folded just waiting to be put in drawers. And the toys and stuffed animals are all waiting to get the little baby's hands on them.




We've got the carseat installed, I've done some reading up on how to care for a newborn baby (because certainly it doesn't hurt), and my mom and are preparing for labor by taking a weekly class. I definitely want to be prepared for labor (going to give natural labor a try I think) and my mom may be a fill in assistant if the baby decides to come before Alan gets here. We've got a wonderful doula picked out who will be a primary labor assistant and she's just a phone call away. So really there isn't much left to do except to have a baby and pray that he doesn't make an earlier than scheduled appearance before his papa can get here from Ghana. So to kill time I am determined to finish the baby quilt I'm making (my first attempt but I'm pretty proud!) which hopefully can be accomplished in 4 weeks.