You Know You're About to Have a Baby When.....

 - You pull up your blog thinking you've been on top of updates and you realize not only that it's been almost a month since the last update....but that it was about the dog.  Who is totally fine now and you would never know we had to spend a ridiculous amount of money to bring back to life.  (We also signed up for pet insurance, finally, and the underwriter is 'investigating' his case.  I'm sure we'll be denied!) 

- You realize you will be 37 weeks pregnant on Saturday and that is now considered 'Full Term'.  Translation.....you can go into labor at any point and there is little to be concerned about. 

- You realize you will be 37 weeks on Saturday and you need about 6 more weeks to prepare for maternity leave and the arrival of a new little one.  Can someone please give me either a few extra weeks or a little more energy at night to get the things done that continue to hang over my head??

- You celebrate because you will NEVER have to buy another maternity outfit again!!  Ever!!  I had to purchase two outfits to get me through a big meeting last week.  One where it I had to present to a room full of people for much longer than a very pregnant woman should suffer through.  But, at least my belly was covered.  Can't say that about all my clothes these days.

- You realize that a name for the baby is really important and you haven't really settled in on any.  At least if it's a girl.  We are very far behind here. 

- Strangers are now comfortable blurting out in public 'Wow!  You are about to Pop!'  That phrase always makes you feel good.  Ha!! 

- You puff up after eating a bowl of strawberries because it has .2g of sodium hidden somewhere in there. 

- Panic sets in because it's been 5 years since we had a newborn.  But, just because it's #2, I have yet to read a single line of any book on what I'm supposed to do.  Is it really like riding a bike??  I got hit by a truck after riding my bike for 30 years.  Will I feel like I got hit by a truck in a few weeks??  

- You can only wear flip flops.  And even those are not comfortable any more. 

- Reality sets in at the oddest times that our little family of 3 will never be the same.  This is both joyous and scary.  Equally. 

I think I could go on an on.  The 'nesting' stage is knocking on my door.  I think it might actually enter my home sometime soon.  Except I have way too much going on.  Work could not be crazier.  So, I haven't opened the 'nester' yet who's standing on my doorstep.  I'm avoiding it.  Until I realized I have less than a month to go. 

The last time I had a baby I had this wonderful thing called 'family' close by.  I don't even think I was that prepared then.  I just think they picked up my slack for me.  I remember my sister coming to the hospital saying I had the crib sheet order wrong and that she set it all up right.  Why is she now 1500 miles away?  I still don't remember the order.  I think my mom and my sister did one last load with 'Dreft' of all the baby things when I was in the hospital.  So, now I'm waiting to wash everything until the last moment.  We have tile floors now and the dust collection is incredible!!  I don't want to wash something and later realize it only needs to be washed again at the last minute.  But....how do I know when I'm going into labor?  When is 'the last minute'?? 

I keep thinking I want this baby to come early.  At least we could get 'the show on the road', you know?  But, Olivia had 40 weeks and 2 days to bake.  She came out ready for the world.  I kind of want this little one to have that same opportunity.  I think it needs to bake a little bit longer.  However, I also need some room in my stomach.  I'm dying to go for a run at the park.  I'm ready for Olivia to know if she has a brother or a sister. 

Only time will tell....I guess I'll go answer the door in the meantime.  After all....there are some things that need to get done.