Waiting

We're getting at least three calls a day now from people who want to know if we've had the baby yet.



"Not yet...we'll let you know."



She's only three days late - not a big deal, I keep trying to tell myself. Babies are born later than that all the time. Ken was three weeks late. I don't know how his mom managed it. I'm usually pretty good at being patient and philosophical about the whole thing; I've been pregnant for nine months - another day (or two, or three...) won't kill me. But even though today, or any day, could be "the day", there's still no indication that it will be. I'm tired, and it's getting hard to keep being patient.



As the days go by, I'm more and more exhausted - I don't know if it's just from the anxiety and frustration, or what. This is the first Sunday for three weeks that we're not snowed in, and I was really eager to get out and finally go to church again...until I woke up all stiff & sore in a dozen different places, and realized that I don't even have anything to wear to church - none of my "fat clothes" even fit me now. I've been living for the last three days in my ugly grey sweatpants. I was thinking last night of doing fried chicken and biscuits and gravy for dinner - good ol' Southern fare - but there's a sink full of dishes that need to be washed - they were there yesterday, and didn't get washed then either - and I just don't think I can deal with spending a whole afternoon in the kitchen, again.



(Believe it or not, Mom, I've actually been pretty good about keeping up with the dishes, and keeping the house reasonably clean. The clutter is still there, but I'm trying hard to control it, even fight it back. But not today...)



I read, in one of my books or magazines, that the ninth month of pregnancy is the hardest - until you get into the tenth. I can't even think about a "tenth month" - it's just a series of day-after-days, and each one is dominated by a gigantic Question Mark.



Those who know me know how little I'm about planning my life, or my days...still, it's hard to be constantly up in the air like this. I don't know if I'll go to bed tonight in my own bed or not, or if I'll get to sleep through the night. I'm hesitant to put the chicken for dinner out to thaw, because if we have to go to the hospital, it'll be ruined.



This must be how my sister felt while she was waiting for Jackson to arrive - he was also a couple weeks late.



I need a nap. I haven't even been up for two hours, and I'm already ready to go lie down again!



Two weeks!

Lilypie Expecting a baby Ticker



I forgot to mention a few weeks ago that Emily's due date has changed; it's not 1 Feb anymore (apparently I was misinformed) but 25 January. That's two weeks from today.



I love that when you start telling people when your baby is due, everyone who has a birthday anywhere close to that date starts campaigning for his or her own birthday. Nancy (Ken's mom, also known as Grammy) is convinced that she's going to be early, and has already issued her prediction that Emily will be here on the 20th. I hope not...



I wish I had a choice in the matter - and her dad, who likes to plan everything, wishes it even more! My mom wants as much advance notice as possible, so she'll have time to get here. But unless Emily's really late and the doctor gets ready to induce, I don't think it's going to be up to any of us.



I'm doing my best to prepare for the possibility that she could be early, but I hope she won't be. I really like the idea of a February baby, but... as I've told Mom, the discomfort of being eight and a half months pregnant is beginning to outweigh my anxiety about the delivery - so just for myself, I'm about ready for this to be over with!!



Checklist

People keep asking me if we have everything, if we're ready for the baby, what do we still need, etc.



Since most of the people who ask this already have kids, my standard answer is usually "I don't know - you tell me!" But for anyone who wants to help out, for my own memory's sake - and in the event that the baby shower that keeps getting talked about, ever becomes a reality - here's a list of what (I think) we still need.



  • A few more size N diapers; we have beaucoup of size 1-2


  • More onesies, preferably long-sleeved


  • A carrier/sling


  • A baby tub - a regular one, but Ken also wants the duckie.


  • The first aid kit with Infant Tylenol, diaper rash ointment, etc.
    First_aid_kit_1


  • Lined baskets that can go on the nursery shelves and be used for extra storage (shelves are 10.5" deep)


  • Small lamp(s) with low-watt bulbs, and also nightlights


  • Lullabye CDs


  • A good humidifier


  • Silicon pacifiers - the ones we have are latex, & I've been told that's bad...


There's probably a lot that I'm still forgetting, or will find out that I need when the time comes. Any parents who may be reading this, feel free to offer your own suggestions! And thank you to everyone who's already given us things for the baby; we could NOT do this without the help of our family & friends!