So this was a month ago. Add about six inches straight out and about 20 pounds! 🙂
I am about four weeks away from having this baby and in complete panic mode! This is not very long, and I am slower and more tired than ever. I keep making these mental lists of things that need to get done before I go to the hospital, but I’m not making much headway.
1. Make arrangements for the kids. My parents are planning on coming, but should this baby not co-operate with our timing? I have no plan B. If you know me and live close, you may just get a call at three in the morning some day soon!
2. Buy an infant carseat. Our old one fell apart and we threw it out.
3. Buy a crib mattress. We have serious problems with investing in mattresses. We still have the one we bought for Faith ten years ago. It is ripped and…my three year old is still using it!
4. Clean the house. Yeah right! Sorry friends and family should you come over I think you’re going to see how we really live!
5. Freeze some meals to make those first couple of months easier. Well, I had big plans. I’ve gotten a few done, but I think my crew will be living on sandwiches for a few months!
6. Get half way through our homeschooling year so that I can take those weeks off between Thanksgiving and Christmas. This is not happening! I finally decided that I’m not teaching my kids what they need if I’m shouting and screaming like a crazy woman. We’ve slowed the pace and when I start feeling the blood boil, we quit for the day or take a break if it’s early. If we have school work to finish in August it won’t be the end of the world…or will it?
7. Figure out where I’m going to put this baby and how I’m going to combine the others. This goes around and around in my mind. The perfect solution just will not present itself. I may be drawing names out of a hat!
8. Locate my newborn boy clothes, burp rags, and blankets. Where or where are you? I’m tired of this game of hide and seek!
9. Write enough blog posts to get at least a week off! It’s my other job–ha ha! I keep planning this, but not doing it. Maybe some of you will send me some hilarious guest posts to share with my readers. Hint. Hint.
10. Buy some diapers! This hit me yesterday. I should have at least one package of diapers here and ready–for crying out loud!
Oh it would be so nice to have all this done, but I keep telling myself that if none of it gets done we will survive! Somehow it will all be okay, maybe not ideal, but okay. I’ve forgotten something haven’t I? I know I have. Pack a bag for the hospital! That must be it! Now, what am I supposed to put in it again?
I’m linked to Works for me Wednesday, Hip Homeschool Hop, The Mommy Club and Top 10 Tuesday!
I’ve been trying to get stuff done now as well and I’m not due until April. For me it’s a long process. I’m just glad I have the baby’s room done already! Hope you are able to get most of it done.
It’s a lot of preparation, but you’ll get the things that truly matter done. Other things will wait.
I’ll try to do a funny guest post for you if you’d like. When would you want it by? My ILs are coming soon for a visit and I won’t be on the computer much when they’re here!
Well I have been thinking about if there are any last minutes things I need to do as well, but I only have 1 day! Baby is coming tomorrow. And since I am in the hospital on bed rest, I am quite limited in what I can do. At least this is my first. I am sure it is much more complicated for you seeing as how many things you have going on.
I also wanted to pre-write some blog posts but it is not always easy if you don’t have the inspiration.
Anyway good luck. I will be reading even if I don’t comment!
Don’t sweat the small stuff! Diapers will probably come in handy, of course. I’ve always been thankful that one of the greatest things about homeschooling is its flexibility. You have 365 days from the beginning of your school year to finish up. You’ll get there!
PS – I’d love to do some guest posts for you. I just need to check on getting permission to share some stories from family members! I’ll try to get them put together and email you, if that’s ok?
freezing the meals is a great tip. We had an empty fridge when I had my fisrt baby.
As for the house cleaning, you could check on groupon and other deal sites. Sometimes they have great deals on house cleaning services. YOu can have your whole house cleaned for a fraction of the cost
Wow. Freezing meals sounds great. Maybe you could have someone do that for you! Today I am working on making my own homemade frozen breakfast sandwiches. It saves so much money and time but I can’t get motivated!
Oh, I have some of these on my list. I keep wondering when it too early to start the cooking and freezing. I probably won’t start til Jan.
I keep getting asked about the nursery, and I guess I just have to tell everyone, we don’t do a nursery really. 🙂 The baby will sleep in a bassinet in our room until they sleep more through the night, because the kids rooms are on the other side of the house from us. So I don’t even have to have the crib or anything like that up.
I hope you get your list done! You are such a cute prego person! 🙂
I was just there a few months ago, with the same worries. My advise is save the time worrying because no matter what thing will work themselves out. 🙂
I really remember this time. For some reason, I was obsessed with the nursery. I would spend hours in there, folding & unfolding. It’s that nesting effect, I guess.
your head must be spinning. I thought all this prep work was supposed to get easier the more kids you have? Maybe it’s part of your nesting? Hope you get to cross some things off your list
I know exactly what you mean. Trying to get everything ready can really put you under a lot of pressure. With my last one, my oldest was already 14, so she helped a lot by cooking and cleaning the house.
With the one before that-well, you can plan all you want, but sometimes even if you’re Superwoman (which I’m not) plenty doesn’t get done.
And don’t worry about where to put the baby – if things get desperate you can even put them in the living room (if you live in a ranch style house) if it comes to that.
As for guest posts, I’d be happy to write about how my youngest was born in a taxi. I spent months obsessing about what hospital I would go to, and in the end, I didn’t even make it there…
Wow, I do want to hear Rachel’s story! Think of the women in some countries who just stop their work in the field and have the baby. No, better don’t think about that. But no matter what you forget, and there will be something, it all works out okay. A towel could serve for a diaper until someone gets the idea and goes to the store for disposables. The kids could keep eating sandwiches after you are in the hospitals–also the grandparents, etc. None of it is worth worrying about!
As long as you’re doing math with the kids, everything else is easy to catch up on. Give yourself a break. Have a close friend throw you a frozen food party, where each person brings a frozen casserole or dish to put in your freezer so that when the time comes, you can just pull it out and toss it in the oven.
Take a deep breath…
If you want any of my articles, let me know. Hey, I have an index. LOL
Hang in there. You’re a pro!!!!
If you’d like, I’ll gladly write a post on why the Buckeyes are better than the Huskers, even though we lost the game 🙂
I’d be happy to share some of my new Mexican-Esther inspired recipes! Let me know.
Every night (or almost every night) when you make dinner make a double batch and freeze the extra. Your freezer will be full in a couple of weeks! Plan out some easy crock pot meals that you (or hubby/friend/oldest child etc.) can just throw in in the morning.
Remember that homeschooling is more than just the book work. Life experience IS learning so it is school! Sit on the couch and read with your kids. Work together to clean the house. Find the baby clothes and then talk to your kids about newborns and their care as you are going through the clothes. Have a baking/cooking day with the kids. These things ARE school.
I’ll be praying for you!
My 12th child was born a full month early…you’d better hurry up and buy those diapers!
Sandy
Remember that last burst of energy your going to get with nesting! You’ll get done for sure 🙂 I just wanted to encourage you about sleeping arangements…my 3 kids shared a room for 12 years! That was one boy and two girls. They grew close because of this and even missed it a “little” when we moved to a bigger house:)
If you would like me to do a post after the baby is born I would be honored..just let me know:)
Blessings
Shari
It somehow doesn’t matter anymore once you have the baby. It all works itself out somehow. Don’t stress…Maybe you can have just a wordless week…pictures of the baby every day!
Try to get some sleep!
Hi guys! Thank so you much for the interest expressed in guest posting for me. On my contact page you will find what I look for in a guest post as well as my email address. I am not wanting to duplicate already published material, but this did give me a great idea. If you have a very funny story posted on your blog email me your link. I will pick a few of my favorites and share your links with the readers here!
Dear Esther…. You forgot number 11. RELAX!! You are bringing a new life into this world. Enjoy it!! Who cares if your house isn’t clean. If people show up, greet them in your bathrobe. Your family can eat sandwiches and it won’t kill them. If your friends want to know what to do to help LET THEM!! I try to make a habit of bringing a meal for my friends families when they have new babies. And I’ve been known to clean a bathroom or watch a couple of kids. I’m sorry I don’t live closer 🙂
Good luck with all your baby preparations, Esther! We almost missed #1 with our second-born. My parents were supposed to babysit, but they decided to go away for the weekend since my first-born was 21 days late. My second-born was 2 days early! We caught my parents in the middle of the night before they had a chance to get away!
Yay! I’m so excited for you! I can’t wait to hear the news about the birth of your baby boy. And LOTS of pictures???
It will all get done. Don’t worry. =) That’s what my husband always tells me when I start getting stressed out. Sometimes he’s lying, because it really *won’t* get all done, but what he means is “It will all be okay!” Lady hormones, I tell ya! And pregnant ones at that! Enough to drive a man batty. He’s so nice, my husband. =)
I’d make you a meal if I knew where you live! Maybe airmail?
These times just before the baby always make for the sweetest memories 🙂
As for getting behind in school…might be a good time for a book order. My kids love to read and I would use the Veritas catalog to get some ideas and then head over to Rainbow Resources, get more ideas and order up all kinds of books. When the box came it was very exciting and kept the kids busy and reading (even reading to eachother) for hours and days. My youngest is still reaping the benefits and finding books on his older sibling’s shelves that he hasn’t read yet.
I’m due in january and in total denial that we are even adding a new baby to the family. definitely with you on the moving slower than usual and having to slow things down so I don’t yell at my children like a crazy woman. we just moved to a new town… i need to get on the whole making friends thing ASAP so i can make arrangements for my kiddos! Blessings to you on your pregnancy!
I feel for you! My youngest was born in February and I never felt ready. But things did come together in the end. We took quite a bit of time off school in the weeks before she was born because I was a tired crazy woman! Amazingly, after she was born I felt great and was able to do quite a bit of school. We eventually found the old baby stuff and the little one actually slept in a crib in my closet for a while. It was quiet and that was the only solution I could think of at the time. As for the house…..I told my hubby that I promised to go in to labor if he would pretty please hire someone to clean the house. When my due date passed, he caved in and hired a housekeeper for a Saturday. I went in to labor THAT VERY NIGHT! I kept that promise!
Good luck as you work to get things done!
First, you are so cute!
Second, all those little things like cleaning the house? Forget about it. Focus on the important. And home school – hey, everyone deserves a break, and what’s a better reason for a break than a new family member?
The car seat- that one I’d say you need to get soon…
I’m not sure I can write half as funny as you, but I’d love to help out if you need a guest post.
Good luck!
I am so glad you shared this on my mommy resource meme. This post was one of the most viewed ideas shared last week. Check out your feature here: http://www.crystalandcomp.com/2011/11/the-mommy-club-share-your-resources-and-solutions-18/