Feeling ready…
… er, as ready as one can be in these kinds of situations. I don’t think anyone is ever really ready for the force of a new life- we have to let it mold us into the people we need to be. That’s just my theory anyway. But I mean in a practical sense, the bathtub is scrubbed, the garden is going on its own, I’ve got two huge boxes of stuff to give away, birth supplies are together, and we spent the whole weekend organizing and smoothing things over a little. Jeff took the day off yesterday and we were just a whirlwind. At dinner we both looked up and said "Oh hi!" It’s not like everything is just magically done, but the projects that are left are just projects- they won’t impede on everyday life. I even made a chore chart for myself (well, really us, since Jeff will have to help for a while until he goes back to work), and I really think it’ll keep us from drowning in dog hair or toddler goo (they aren’t gooey, but goo seems to follow them…). So far so good! The only thing left really is the big sister doll, which I have to get some major work done one- but that’s fun. Hopefully I can get it done before the birth! One way in which I feel a little lacking is in my head. I don’t feel that I’ve had the time to meditate on this upcoming birth or baby the way that I did with Vera. I guess that makes sense, seeing as how it’s not my first and I’m distracted with a two-year-old and everything else, but I think in the days before birth (now that the silly scrubbing and stuff is out of the way) I’ll take some time to just relax and focus. I’ll take Maya out to the graveyard, or I’ll spend some time just by myself in a bath… Something quiet and just for me, every day.
Anyway, it’s really nice to just have little stuff done, like hanging this mail sorter. It was sitting around for ages.
And some before and afters:
This was Vera’s play area before. We’ve got this great open space upstairs that we wanted to use for multiple purposes. It used to be our bedroom, but we realized it was kind of a waste of useful space. So now it has 5 jobs. Play area, office for Jeff, craft space for me, exercise space, and sitting/guest room (we have a futon mattress, we just need a good frame!). The craft space you’ve all seen, it’s basically done. We had the larger part of the room act as the sitting/tv area, but now that we don’t need that, I realized that Vera’s play stuff could come out of this narrow hallway part of the room and the futon could be there instead (and also that way toys aren’t all over the walkway). Anyway, still working on the sitting area, but the new toy space came together quickly.
Sitting/exercise space before:
And now. Now all of her toys/art stuff are all in the same place. 🙂
I mean, I might just be on a nesting frenzy, but I feel like these are good changes.
I was also crafty yesterday, and I finished a few little projects. First- postpartum pads. I had all these extra toddler sized prefold diapers (super absorbent and cheap), so I thought they’d work well for the first week or two postpartum. Normally I would have just gone out and gotten a couple of boxes of disposable pads, but I realized that would be weird seeing as how we don’t even use toilet paper anymore… So these were cheap and easy to throw together. I’d like to find someone with a snap press so I can put snaps on them, but until then I’ll just safety pin them. I think I’m going to tie dye them, too. 🙂
My original plan was to back them all with microfleece to keep them somewhat waterproof, but it made them way too bulky. I did two pads that way, so they’ll be my overnight ones. I had planned to serge the edges, but the crazy serger that my SIL lent us was being weird. Anyway, a little sloppy, nothing glamorous, but they will certainly do the job.
Then as things taper off, I’m planning on using these beautiful pads that my friend
So now we’re all set up! It occurs to me that it might be weird for people to read all about this kind of thing. I guess it’s just stuff that I think about these days, and that I think more people should think about. I mean, this is life, right? And an update- the cloth wipes are great and I don’t see us ever going back…
Anyway, other projects yesterday were hemming a curtain for the bathroom (finishing touches are so gratifying!).
And making this handy clothespin bag:
This is much more exciting than you realize- being 9 months pregnant and bending over to get a couple clothespins over and over again is not that fun. But I’d been wanting to make one of these since the clothesline went up.
And lastly, a blurry 39 week picture. Vera comes in and says "Whatchoo doin?". I tell her that I’m taking a picture of the baby, and she says "Hello baaaaaby!" and touches my belly. I love it.
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oh my word your belly looks amazing!!!! you look fantastic!!
Thank you! You are so sweet!
Once again, you are gorgeous, mama! 🙂 Everytime I see a post from you I wonder if THIS one will be the birth announcement. 😉 Looking forward to meeting that new little life you’re cooking up!
I LOVED my pp cloth pads SO much. Delilah was born by caesarean (so in a hospital, obviously), and the disposable pads the hospital provided were really uncomfortable and gave me a rash. 🙁 I couldn’t wait to get home to my nice, thick, soft cloth!
Haha, hopefully soon I will make that post! I mean, it will be soon regardless, I guess… 🙂
What a horrible thing to have a rash right after giving birth! What the heck is in those things… yikes!
You’re looking lovely and well, and this makes me glad.
I love all the things you’ve been making lately! Definitely going to check out that etsy shop. 🙂
Oh, and I have a press but I need to see if it’s for snaps as well as grommets; I’m not sure if I have the size attachments you need but if I do I’d be happy to bring it to you and help you get it sorted if you’ve not used one before. Just let me know!
Also, I bought a couple of cloth pads just now. Because they were cute. 🙂
That’s awesome! I would totally love to use your press! Let me know if it works for snaps. Totally cool if it does. 🙂
Also, big yay for supporting my friend- she makes great stuff.
It does in fact do snaps! Now I just need to find the attachments. 🙂
You should be getting a little package in the mail! I sent it out yesterday hoping that it would come before your baby decided to make an appearance!
I’m glad you’ve gotten things in shape enough that you can rest and relax and mentally prepare yourself. 🙂
Such an exciting time!
Also, you look fantastic and I love how Vera interacts with the belly baby. She’s going to be a great big sister.
I just got it!!! I’m sending you a message right now. It filled my house with sweet lavender… I love it!
awwwwwwwww! That last picture is so cute! Hello baby indeed.
I just know this will go really well for you, Grace. 🙂
Thank you for your encouragement! I really do think it will go well, regardless of what happens. 🙂
you look great and I bet you’re feeling ready! My little one is just about one month old now! The days run together for sure!
I am very anxiously awaiting the great news that you’ve had your baby also.
I totally undersand about not being able to focus on the delivery as much as with the first…however I think it might be easier since you’ve been there and done that before. My third birth, though not easy, was wonderful, none of the sensations were a surprize or too hard to manage. I think for you it will be the same.
A month!!! How did that happen already? I need more pictures…
I did post some pics today, but I am curious about your friend who sews- I wonder does she or would she make nursing pads? I’d need a zillion of the washable kind. I am going to check her page 🙂
She does custom stuff too, so if she doesn’t have any on her site just send her a note asking if she has time to make some.
Dang mama, it really looks like your belly has dropped and extended since the last picture! Hello baby is right! 😀
Thanks so much for the shout out m’dear! 😀 😀
That clothespin bag is so cool! I’m totally going to make one of those!
It has dropped! I’m measuring a centimeter smaller than last week because baby’s head is so low in my pelvis… pretty crazy.
You better post about your clothespin bag! If I could do it over again, I’d make the hole just a little higher, but it totally works this way. 🙂
Why hello there, you gorgeous Goddess! You look beautiful! You should be the poster woman for fertility, or something like that. 🙂
You are too nice to me! But I do feel awfully fertile… 😉
Wow! You sound ready, you look ready… so exciting 🙂
It could be any day now, right? I’m sure that you will have a good birthing day.
Yep, any day now! I kind of thought last night, but here I am all preggo this morning. 🙂