Pregnancy week 39- Reality hits

.

I am just over 39 weeks pregnant. In the last weeks, I’ve been enjoying the pregnancy in a sort of carefree way. (Probably helped by my parents moving in with us for the next couple of weeks. A relief, despite the inevitable friction between a hormonal pregnant woman and a couple in their 60s used to their own routines.)

I have also been putting off some tasks of preparation. It’s been almost 10 weeks since we first saw the 3D images of Sticky Bean and put the picture on the mantle piece, even longer since I first felt him move. In the past weeks I’ve started really preparing for the birth, but somehow it was more about me- my labour, my aches and pains, my voice being heard about the birth that I’d like, etc.

However, today it hit me: it was the moment I took out one of the freshly laundered babygrows from the drier…that’s when it hit me- there will be a baby arriving soon…within the next 2 weeks, possibly in the next few days or even hours. It was only then that there was an emotional connection with the actual fact that I will become a mother to a newborn third (and probably last) time around!

Going back a couple of hours, I’ve been relaxing, putting my feet up, busy writing up my book review. I sent a text message to a friend who I know had been in latent labour for a week now (just very gentle tightenings that were gradually getting her body ready for the task). I casually mentioned about my puffy feet and relaxing. A while later I got a reply:

“Today at 8.20 am a new mother and father was born… we are totally in love with our daughter.”

…A tear sprang to my eyes.

After the school run I felt quite tired, so I went upstairs to rest. In front of me were bags of baby clothes from newborn to 18 month old sizes to go through. I eventually dragged myself out of bed and started on the task, while distracting myself with twitter.

It was difficult to remember what sizes to actually select. The sizes vary so much and we don’t know 100% exactly how big or small Sticky Bean will be. Anyway, it felt good to be finally getting on with this task!

There are so many memories already attached to some of the clothes. Lots have been passed down from Little Miss to Little Man, then worn by their 2 cousins and are now brought back by my parents for the fifth grandchild to wear too.

I found quite a few girl’s clothes too and remembered a friend who was due with a girl in the next couple of days. It would be a good idea to pass the girlie clothes onto her, right? I called her and got a very tired voice answering. I got worried for a second then asked- “Is all ok? You haven’t had the baby by chance have you?”- It turns out they had their little girl just before 12. I congratulated them and kept the conversation short, but it did spur me on to finish this task of clothes sorting today.

After a couple of hours of going through everything I popped all the clothes into the washing machine to give them a freshening wash and then threw my eco conscience away and put them in the drier. Finishing the task of sorting and laundering the tiny baby clothes was what made reality hit.

I’m still nowhere near ready for Sticky Bean to actually be here, but I have at least got all his clothes ready. Washable nappies just need putting into their strategic locations around the house.

So what else?
– cot mattress needs the mattress cover found & bedding pulled out of the wardrobe
– tummy tub rinsed and baby towels need to be put out ready
– changing tables assembled & put up (one on each floor)
– day bed assembled and put into playroom or living room (still need to decide on where)
– rocker swing cover needs washing
– find my breast pump (just in case it’s needed) and sterilise
– find and check baby monitor if it still works (it was giving some problems last time we tried it)

That’s my baby task list.

What am I forgetting?

.

.

Image credit: Bishoujo:: Amna Al Dhahri