Sunday, July 27, 2008

Miss Jackson is Due in Two Weeks

This weekend was the first weekend in months that Jake and I had absolutely no plans.  It's been glorious, and we actually feel prepared to welcome Miss Jackson whenever she decides to make her appearance (as prepared as you can be, I guess).  Her clothes are washed and folded.  Her diapers and bottles are organized.   The house is super clean.  All of our adult laundry is done. The house is full of food.  Basically, she needs to get here ASAP before the house gets dirty again and I feel the need to reorganize all of her belongings once more.  

This nesting thing is real, for sure.  I've done a ton of writing/revising the last few weeks (after just as many weeks of not doing much because of pregnancy distractions and the aforementioned nesting), I just got a fresh manicure and pedicure, I've picked out her baby announcements already, and on my list of things to do today is "wash makeup brushes" -- is someone looking for projects or what? My errands tomorrow are to get an oil change and the car washed -- oh, and I must finish thank-you notes.  I was (only) two thank-you notes behind until this weekend, when M.J. got more gifts from sweet friends at lunch on Friday and an incredible package from Caroline's parents yesterday afternoon (such cute stuff that I wish I could show you, but everything was monogrammed and I can't give her name or initials away yet!).  Everyone has been so, so sweet -- so yes, finishing my thank-you notes definitely ranks as more important than washing the makeup brushes, though rest assured that in my current nesting frenzy, the makeup brushes will be taken care of, too.  I think even the dogs are going to have to be bathed and groomed. Everything else is shiny and clean, so they should be too, right?  And we've already made the arrangements for them to be walked/fed whenever the big moment comes.

We even have a brand-new MacBook, although that has much less to do with getting ready for baby and much more to do with the fact that our previous much-loved and much-abused computer finally died last weekend.  (Although the new computer's webcam/video iChat is going to make M.J.'s grandparents VERY happy, even if my parents don't it know it yet because they are not particularly tech-savvy.  Jake is going to install a webcam for you, Mama and Daddy, and teach you to use it and then you can chat with us and see M.J. live, for free, all the time!)

The only important thing that I haven't done yet is pack my hospital bag, though I have cute brand-new nursing pajamas and a stack of trashy magazines set aside and ready to be included. I know this should have been done weeks ago, but I guess I must subconsciously want to save it for the excitement of the moment.  I love to pack for any trip, and packing a hospital bag to go have a baby is pretty exciting, so I guess I'm trying to savor it or something.  (Plus, I've been over all the lists of what to take to the hospital and it's not that complicated -- pillow and pajamas and toiletries and something to wear home and something for the baby to wear home and stuff to entertain me during labor -- what am I forgetting?  Jake's in charge of his stuff and the camera.)  

The doctor said last week that they would likely not let me go more than a week past my due date, which means that we have three more weeks of waiting at the absolute most.  That actually seems like an incredibly long time considering that I would be just delighted if she decided to show up tonight.  In the meantime, though, I have still more writing/revising to do on my book, lunch plans on Tuesday and Thursday, an Old 97's show on Tuesday night, book club on Wednesday night, a neighborhood party next Saturday night -- plenty of things to do to keep occupied before our daughter finally decides she wants to come out and see what we look like.

9 comments:

Elizabeth said...

Ohhh, I can't wait to hear the news!! I have a list of things you might need too that I'll email you - it's a list my sister and her friends prepared and I made a few additions to after having my two. It's the stuff not everyone will tell you about!

Unknown said...

Yay! I am honored to have made the blog! Don't worry about your bag - no matter how carefully you plan, you always show up at your destination without something necessary (like a toothbrush) but seem to have included something like a weird lamp from the basement. They will have the most important things at the hospital. As a former L&D nurse, I feel the need to make my case for anything that alleviates pain, particularly blocks and epidurals. I will expound on this if invited. I mean, pain benefits no one and coming out of the delivery room with your makeup intact is really a good thing.

Emilie said...

I have pretty much decided on having an epidural, after being TERRIFIED of them for my whole pregnancy. Taking our childbirth class and learning about them made me feel better about it, and I am uncomfortable enough at some points now that the idea of refusing pain medication when I get not just uncomfortable but downright miserable no longer appeals. I'm still going to try to hold off for a while, but I am 99% sure that unless some miracle occurs, an epidural is in the cards.

Ashley said...

I'm so glad you got your manicure and pedicure. I was literally getting in my car to go get a pedicure when my water broke (11 days early). 2 yrs and 3 mos. later I still haven't had one!

Kevin and Bonnie said...

holy crap!! 2 weeks!! i'm so excited! sue and my mom have already discussed and made clear that since we all have our webcams we are ready for little MJ!!! I actually forgot we have one on our new Macbook (twin macbooks!) and it will be fun to put it to use for the first time when MJ arrives! love ya

Hannah said...

I was terrified of the epidural, too, but it all happens behind your back. Getting the epidural was definitely a good choice for me.

What are your plans to announce Miss Jackson? Does Jake have an email list/cellphone text list? This is important- everything else you can worst case scenario send someone out to buy or bring you.

Ariail said...

I keep checking to see if you have a we are on the way to the hospital post. I know y'all are excited.

Ps. I LOVED my epidural and it was not scary at all.

Jennifer said...

I keep checking to see if you are in labor! I'm so excited for you! There's just nothing as exciting as having a baby!

Hannah said...

I'm with Jennifer. You need to post regular "Not in labor yet" updates.

Unless you are in labor. Are you?