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welcome to the big 3-0
By heather | May 27, 2008
Somehow, without noticing, I’ve hit 30. Weeks that is.
I barely flinched when I turned the actual age 30. As I sit here I’m trying to remember what I did.
With this 30, I’m starting to feel vaguely uneasy. Not freaking out, just a slight fraying of the edges. I like knowns and plans and lists.
The first time there was a little romanticism in imagining the middle of the night contractions and poking Brett to let him know “it’s time!” That didn’t happen.
I’m comforted by plans and so far I have none.
Let’s compare 30 weeks the first time vs 30 weeks the second time.
Then:
Nursery outfitted and decorated. Crib ready and waiting.
Now:
Alex is moving out of the nursery and into this room:
Baby sister will take up residence in Alex’s current room but with new furniture. Her furniture will be delivered somewhere around week 34 or 35 assuming the stars align and it’s 32 degrees in hell. It’s possible, even likely that her room will be totally empty and that the baby store will not return any of my hormonally charged and progressively more hysterical phone calls.
Then:
Bags packed, pre-registration at hospital done, maternity leave paperwork approved and filed.
Now:
Uummm. Yeah.
Then:
Shower gifts and baby clothes unpacked, washed and ready to go. Car seat installed and approved by local fire department.
Now:
Baby clothes scattered throughout house including attic, bathooms, Alex’s closet, and playroom. All are unwashed and not sorted into “definitely boy-give away”, “definitely boy but so cute can’t bear to part with”, unisex, or girl piles. Car seat in pieces waiting for me to finish cleaning crumbs out of base and reassemble.
Then:
Brett and I had lengthy baby name lists in separate Excel spreadsheets which we merged then ranked and eliminated ruthlessly. We tried out name combinations and made sure the initials didn’t spell PEE. We talked about how much easier it would be if we were having a girl, because duh! Girl names are sooo much easier!
Now:
Girl names are not easier. Our spreadsheet has been looked at and revised only once. Baby girl is screwed. Brett likes a name that two of our friends have used to on their dogs and I am incapable of letting go of Emily but I will. not. use. the name that has been number one for the last 10 years.
Then:
I still wore high heels and cute stretchy little maternity skirts to work.
Now:
I pile on more makeup so people don’t look at my inappropriate footwear flip flops, non-pedicured toes, and maternity shirts with mysterious stains on the belly.
Then:
The fitness director at the gym came into the yoga room when I was warming up for a class and promptly freaked out when she found me in a handstand.
Now:
“Hey Brett…grab my knee and roll me over wouldja?”
Then:
Labor and delivery was just an unknown, hypothetical concept.
Now:
In the same way that the best scary movies are rooted in real life experience, I know exactly what’s coming and I REMEMBER. My first labor was short and I am hoping and praying for Groundhog’s Day in the delivery room except this time with the epidural working.
Is it too early to be thinking about this? Or should I - seriously already - stop watching So You Think You Can Dance, get off the couch and get busy?
Topics: pregnancy |
May 27th, 2008 at 10:43 am
ah. and all of it means you have still never been more beautiful.
but whoa…2 seperate spreadsheets that were merged? oy. now that’s organization.
jen’s last blog post..the cheese stands alone
May 27th, 2008 at 11:43 am
I think you know what is coming, it allows you to relax a bit. Enjoy it! Mom’s deserve this time. You kick ass - don;t let go of the name!!!
Anne’s last blog post..Buggin? and a Pluggin?
May 27th, 2008 at 11:44 am
I think you know what is coming, it allows you to relax a bit. Enjoy it! Mom’s deserve this time. You kick ass - don’t let go of the name!!!
Anne’s last blog post..Buggin? and a Pluggin?
May 27th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
You know I was thinking about the name thing too. If you love the name, who cares what ranking on the list it is. Andrew is on the same list and we haven’t met that many Andrew’s. Who cares if it is popular, it is a great name and if you both like it, then that should be her name. Our names were popular back in the day and we turned out okay.
May 27th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
I think you will find everything coming together in the next few weeks. I cant wait to find out what name you guys decide on!
Miss’s last blog post..Blah, Blah, Blah? and a tag
May 28th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Too funny. I say relax for another week or two. It’ll all come together. And you know what come next so relaxing is at a premium.
Can’t wait to find out the name. We didn’t decide until a week before he was born. We’re last minute like that.
skiplovey’s last blog post..A day late, a dollar short
May 28th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
Do not get off that couch. My number 2 is 9 months old and I still haven’t sat thru a whole TV show yet..except for kids’ shows. (Then: Number 1 didn’t watch TV until he was 2 yrs. old. Now: Baby watches Cars/Toy Story/Land Before Time/etc. every afternoon with his big brother). Sigh.
A friend once said that, with two kids, you will get done exactly what has to and nothing more. So don’t worry about it too much. Two is exhausting, but it is a hoot!