I have nothing planned to write about this week. I assumed I would either be in the hospital or announcing my daughter's birth by now, so I find myself in some sort of weird mommy blogging purgatory.
As I'm sure I've mentioned many times (you can read the full birth story here), Mazzy was two weeks early. It was my first day of official maternity leave and I was looking forward to a few weeks of pre-baby relaxation. I was not feeling "about to pop" in the slightest. In fact, that morning, I ran four miles at the gym, went to lunch with a friend and then went grocery shopping at Trader Joe's. Contractions started unexpectantly on my walk back home (four blocks, two avenues), while I was carrying five overflowing bags of groceries.
I never had the feeling I could blow any day now. I never had the crazy weight gain at the end when your baby gains three more pounds in less than two weeks. I never felt the lovely sensation of "baby dropping". And I never went through the mind-numbing, time-dragging, skin-stretching period of WAITING that I am currently going through today.
Turns out these last two weeks make for quite a different pregnancy experience.
For one, my stomach has practically doubled in size in the last week. If you don't believe me, ask my husband. I told him as much and he agreed— doesn't he know he's not supposed to do that??? And if you don't believe him, ask Mazzy. She is getting increasingly perturbed at the lack of space on my lap.
It is now incredibly uncomfortable for me to sit, stand and lie down. Getting up is near impossible. Rolling from one side to the other feels like someone is sticking a knife in my back. And earlier I sneezed and somehow it translated into a toe cramp.
Running four miles? YEAH. Let's just say, my life/diet/work-out routine was a lot different three years ago. Now, my biggest workout is putting on my shoes. Which is harder than I ever remember lunges or bicep curls being.
Also, I know "fashion" says "leggings aren't pants", but at this moment my house attire, sleepwear and going-out-in-public clothes are one and the same. Just be happy I'm not walking around in my bath robe, is all I am saying.
BUT, on the plus side, there also are many wonderful things about being two seconds away from giving birth.
1) Everybody takes my calls. Although I have to quickly caveat each conversation with— "I haven't had the baby yet." And then half of them say "Oh. Can I call you back?"
2) I've switched my focus from eating healthy to sweets. And, I'm still eating like I'm on death row and each meal is my last. I had chcoclate chip pancakes for breakfast this morning, took Mazzy for red velvet cupcakes this afternoon and ended the evening with a bowl of coffee ice cream.
3) I feel absolutely no guilt putting my relaxation ahead of my ability to be a quality parent. "You want to watch another five hours of television? SURE!!!"
4) I feel absolutely no guilt asking Mike to do everything. "Can you please give Mazzy a bath? When I crouch down on the floor, I feel like a bowling bowl is resting on my pelvic bone. Thanks."
5) I'm happy I'm not working. Since I work freelance, I normally spend my days either working or hustling for new jobs. I have never once enjoyed my time off napping and catching up on the last season of Dexter. (Guess what I am planning on doing tomorrow?)
6) I am impeccably groomed. My toes are done, my eyebrows tweezed and I'm shaving every day like I have a brand new boyfriend and I'm not sure when I will wind up back at his place.
7) I actually got to do a lot of the things I thought I would have no time to do on my LAST MINUTE PRE-BABY TO-DO LIST that I posted last week.
For instance, my mom volunteered to watch Mazzy last Thursday night so Mike and I could go see ARGO.
(REVIEW: Ben Affleck is a great director but he would be a much better director if he stopped casting himself in his own movies. Regardless, see it— it's very good.)
On Friday, I got these crazy lower back pains and was certain that I would not make it though the day before going into labor, so I actually got off my ass and PACKED A HOSPITAL BAG.
And, (and this is the big one)— WE DECIDED ON A NAME!
Well, we had the first name but now we have the middle name too and I am quite thrilled about how it all came together.
So…now we just need the FREAKIN' BABY to be born.
You know, before I run out of blog fodder.
The last weeks are the worst because everyone is asking you if you had the baby yet – like you wouldn’t have let them know or anything…
I remember looking at my blog and thinking, I don’t know what to write! I want to write about the baby being born, the baby being here etc, but I can’t because GEEZ I DID NOT PLAN TO BE PREGNANT UNTIL 39 WEEKS 6 DAYS.
Milk the last few days.
Oh wait, you are! YAY!
I am 41 weeks today and I got no lie, 4 messages within an hour asking “how are you going hun?”. I’ve already let everyone know that I went over with the last one, so I’ll probably be over with this one, and not to hold their breath, etc etc, but it’s just not sinking in. I hate having to be polite while I say, “yup, no baby yet thanks for asking.”
sigh. first world problems. at least I have no guilt asking everyone to do everything for me. “Can you grab my phone? I think I heard a text. Its 3 rooms away under the quilt beside the lamp. thanks”… but of course I end up wanting to punch my phone because its another message asking me how I’m going hun.
My son was 10 days late. I tell you this because I must make everything about me and also because I’ve frequently asked him what the hell took him so long and he claims not to have any idea. So just don’t expect little Marinka (am I close?!) to have the answer for you, either.
If you want the baby to arrive, finish everything on your to do list. I did that when pregnant with my daughter and literally the next morning, I woke up to a puddle — my water broke and it was showtime. Many, many well wishes to you for a safe and healthy delivery and to you and your family as you welcome your little one.
Ugh, yes. My son was born 9 days late, and every day further away from my due date, I hated women who had their babies on time or early more and more. He was also 9 lbs. 8.5 oz. so I was freaking enormous. It was also August. And I HATED it when women were telling me to enjoy my last days and catch up on sleep. Yes, because I was getting SO much sleeping done. Hopefully she comes soon!!
My first son came on time (born on his due date- went into labor 2 hours before midnight and he was out in 6 hours total)which is super fast, so we expected baby #2 to follow suit… Instead baby #2 was 3 days late and took 14 hours… those 3 days and those 14 hours felt like ETERNITY!!! “Every baby is different” is really true- annoyingly true! Good Luck and Congratulations- life is indeed bout to get real!!!
I hear you Ilana! My daughter went 9 days over. Don’t do what I did out of sheer desperation for things to be different. I was so over being pregant. I had very long hair at the time and as it was the era of perms….I decided I hated my hair on day 7 and gave myself a perm (which I was expert at, by the way). Left it on too long, hadn’t washed it before I went into labor the next night and then spent 8 hours thrashing around. By the time labor was done, I had huge knots in the back of my head and looked like I had been electrocuted. 6 weeks later, I saw a picture of myself and immediately went and got a haircut lol it was sooo bad! Don’t do anything rash is all I’m saying. Hehehe.
Enjoy your downtime, it will end very soon and you will at times think, wow this was so much easier when you were inside me and I didn’t have lug you, the seat, all your stuff and your sister and her stuff at the same time!
I kept checking back here all weekend thinking I was going to see a brief “we have a baby!” notice. I promise not to call or text you to ask though. I am so excited for you and can’t to find out her name and deets!
You PLAN your blog posts? I guess that’s what separates us goats from the sheeps. Or something.
Well I’ve been thinking about your pregnant self and waiting by my instagram account, because I know soon there will be an adorable wittle baby photo for me to comment, “ADORABLE!” with the rest of the planet. Or I might just click ‘Like” but in my mind I will be screaming “Adorable!”
Yup. You’re ready. When you stop fearing the arrival and are so uncomfortable you are like “Just send me into labor already!” you are so ready.
My first was 4 days past my due date. My second was 5 days before. I reached that point about three weeks prior to both of my children’s due dates (both of them were almost 9 lbs when they were born).
The one lovely advantage about the second one is you have been there before and you know the baby books can be full of shit and have learned no one knows what is right for you child but you.
In my case, it meant I basically said “bite me” to the nurses when I DARED have my second co-sleep with me in the hospital bed because she would only nurse, sleep in my lap, or scream unless I did so. It worked like a charm and I had more sleep in one night than I did over three days with my son, because I heeded their fears about “NO! You can’t do that!”
And yes, the belly gets far bigger than you can possibly imagine those last few weeks.
Sending “Ilana is ready to have baby vibes.”
Is there a pool? I pick Wednesday morning around 7 AM.
That cannoli totally gave me a stomach ache. (I love how random that sounds!)
You know, I never planned my blog posts until these past two months when I felt like every day of blogging might be my last.
It’s nothing elaborate or fully written. Basically a computer sticky that says:
M- complain about still being pregnant
T- Mazzy’s obsession with monsters
W- try to convince Dr. B to write post
T- ????
F- recap
And there you have it. The machine behind Mommy Shorts.
Sending lots of “push em out shove em out waaaay out” vibes your way. My first was a week overdue when I went in to be induced (I had such bad edema I couldn’t stand for more than 10 minutes or my cankles were as big as my thighs). I had one shirt and one pair of pants that still fit. It wasn’t so much that the shirt still fit, it just hung low enough to cover my humongous belly. My second son ruined my plans of planned cesarean by deciding he wanted out at 38 weeks. To this day their personalities reflect how they made their entrances.
My first two were both two weeks overdue. “The waiting is the hardest part” played over and over in my head for two weeks straight. The good news is that both of my labors with those guys were under two hours!
blog fodder if needed:
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20647170,00.html
I’m excited to hear your baby name. I have two unique names for my daughter Esme Victoria(Ez-me not Es-may) and Avalon Kaylee 🙂
SO exciting! Hope she’s here sooooooon. I cannot wait for the name 😀
That’s what my list looks like when I’m feeling REALLY organized.
I spent the last 3 or so weeks of my pregnancy with Caitlyn staring at my belly, yelling “GET OUT!”. I had never been so uncomfortable in my life.
I hope all goes well and new baby makes her appearance soon.
You? Run out of blog fodder? Never.
Looking forward to your upcoming adventure as a mom of two 🙂
Try and hold out to Saturday.
Well, go into labor on Friday night.
I’ll be in the hospital Saturday at 8:30am
😉
Great job on getting some to-do stuff done! Now you are really ready!! I mean, physically with the bag and names. Who knows what a lil infant will bring to your life! I can’t wait to read about the adventures and then really think about whether I’m ready for #2 😉
I so know this feeling. I am sending effacing and “opening” thoughts your way.
Wow, great post – thanks for sharing. it’s interesting to always hear the different points of views / feelings of the moment from the mom with her first pregnancy compared to her second pregnancy. I actually just shared a post today on advice for my friend Julia, who is due on the 25th. I’d be curious what your advice is for the first time and now the second time around!
Good luck!
I hope you happy and wish you good luck!
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