Preparations

I feel like I'm so close now. 2.5 weeks until the due date, but 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after are normal, so it could be any time now. Lots of Braxton Hicks contractions one night last week, but I was working late and it was hot. I felt better after things calmed down and then nothing happened all weekend. Monday I was nesting like crazy. Cleaned my desk. Recorded an outgoing message for my voice mail to play while I am on maternity leave. Same for email. I distributed a stack of paperwork a foot high to the proper people. I had so much energy last night I worked on dishes and laundry and then made brownies. Then today, with ridiculous over eagerness and self-sufficiency, I tried to move some boxes and pulled a ligament in my belly. Yikes! Very painful and scary on the way home. But after I managed to sit down and relax, everything is back to normal. The midwife said to take a tylenol and warm bath and things should be even better in the morning. Of course my "normal" now is waddling around stiffly every time I get up from sitting or lying down. It takes me 3x as long to get anywhere as it used to.

People at work think I look bigger this pregnancy and I'm certainly feeling less than eager to continue with my daily tasks. Last time, I don't remember feeling anything but happy to keep working. Ironically, two of the midwives have now told me this baby is a little smaller, maybe 6 lbs. That would be nice, we'll have to see. Baby still doesn't have a firm name. Mitchell seems to be the middle name, but for first names, I'm stuck. Samuel or Walter maybe. I think Roland would still be Daniel's pick.

Daniel is hard at work on painting and preparing our new bedroom. We finally picked out a color, a muted green shade I hope will be relaxing. However it turns out will be great, fresh and new. His sister Emily's graduation is this weekend. Maybe next week I will wrangle some folks to come out and help us finish off the bedroom.

Our refresher childbirth class is going well. We've had one class and we'll have another tomorrow night. We're going over lots of things that were good to be reminded of. I hope we'll practice a little more this time on our own. Visualizations, affirmations, comfort positions, etc.

We've gotten several books from the library about new baby brothers/sisters for Johnny, but I'm still afraid it will be a hard adjustment for him. He's so wonderful. I know he'll get a kick out of having a brother, but I know he'll want our attention more than ever, too. I'll enjoy being home with both of my babies this summer.