I am 36 weeks pregnant today. That means I am nine months pregnant. But I still have four more weeks (one more month) left. So in case you hadn’t heard, pregnancy is TEN MONTHS, not nine.
It’s getting weird to be getting to close to the end. In some ways I feel like we are less prepared for this baby to come than we were with Mallory. Sure I have some clothes in the dresser and have a package of newborn diapers ready to go, but other than that – nothin’. I don’t have my bag packed, still no set plan on what will happen with Mallory & the dog when I go into labor. We have good options for both Mallory & Cooper but the who and where both depend on the time of day and the day of the week so I obviously can’t nail down a schedule and if you know me at all you know that it is driving me CRAZY to not have that figured out.
I’ve decided to start my maternity leave on Friday, March 13. This past week has worn me out and I am going to take advantage of my benefits and will NOT feel guilty about relaxing before this baby comes. I am expecting this one to be a week late like Mallory was so that means I will have three blissful quiet weeks at home, scrapbooking and napping my little heart out. I have been wrapping things up at work, notifying vendors that if they have outstanding invoices they need paid that they need to get them to me asap so I can investigate before I am gone for 2+ months. I have a project that should wrap up in the next two weeks, and another project that will wrap up while I’m on leave, and a third BIG project that will still be going when I return from leave. My boss has been out this past week so the next two weeks will be full of handing off little tasks to whomever so hopefully stuff will get done in my absence. If not – I’ll have a big pile when I return :-)
Physically I’m doing OK. The heartburn is horrible but manageable and my lower pack pain is also horrible but somewhat manageable.
Emotionally I’m not doing as OK. As I wrote to my friend the other day, I get teary looking at Mallory sometimes. I’m so afraid I’m making her be a “big girl” too soon, just because I’m having a baby. She is still a little baby who needs cuddles from her mom and I hope that in the flurry of newborn-ness that I have the patience and energy to let her still be a little girl. Because she is MY little girl. I love her more than anything in the entire world. Even though she can be grumpy and whiny sometimes, I can’t seem to get enough of her.
Rick has been so good dealing with these emotions; he reminds me of how much fun Mallory is going to have with her little brother or sister and how much fun it will be for us to see them grow up together.
Ugh. Crying sucks.
Awww you made me cry too. Two kids are even better than one and I am sure you and Rick will make sure that Mallory gets her special time too. I think the key is will be to set aside time for each of you to take Mallory off on her own so she doesn’t have to compete with the baby for attention. Also help direct visitors attention go Mallory so the don’t just ooh and ahh the baby and not make Mallory feel special too. I know Tracy had a hard time with that with Colt and the twins because twins garner so much attention where ever you go and the the older child is sometimes ignored. Just being aware like you are is half the battle and Mallory is so adorable she will get lots of attention anyway.
Can’t wait hear of baby Arlo’s arrival. Loved the video of Mallory talking to Arlo, so cute and sweet.
BTW, pregnancy is still only 9 calendar months. It is just that every three months an extra week is accumulated making it 39 weeks. I’m not sure where they come up with the 40th week though. I still think he/she would make a wonderful birthday gift for you!
Hugs, Terry