Baby on the brain...

So slack. So lax. So unmotivated. Who? Ah, guess...

I could be doing 800 things that need to be done, and I'm doing the one that LEAST needs doing! Of course, that's no surprise-- it's my M.O.

I haven't updated this blog for a very long time; I've no excuses. I'm just lazy, and I don't feel, really, the slightest bit interesting to anyone outside my immediate vicinity. All my changes are on the micro-level, and I'm focused so inward. Grow, grow, grow, baby, grow!!

And that baby IS growin'! My bellay is enormous; though I just had my first weight gain last visit. One pound. Thank goodness, as I am packing 40-50 extra around anyway!

Whew. Those Braxton-Hicks are getting pretty frequent-- I suppose it's time though, as I'm 31 weeks today. Out of 40. Oh, man-- I cannot believe that means in 11 weeks MAX, but almost surely sooner, I will have this little baby in my arms, at my breast, instead of bump-bump-bumpin' around inside me.

[Awe]

We have switched from the OB and hospital to the midwife and birthing center-- and saved ourselves a 1/2 hour of drive time and a ton of stress/futility/irritation. Insurance is also almost certain to cover a bunch of the cost-- and potentially even more than they would cover for a hospital birth. Unbelievable.

If I would have known about this "benefit-level exception" with Monkey-- he would have been born at the BC too-- and I would have been a lot more delighted! Oh, well. You can only be where you are at. C'est la vie.

Monkey is growing by leaps and bounds. He gets that Mama has a "beeb" in her bellay, but doesn't yet comprehend what a HUGE impact this is going to have on his life. No way out but through...

Redbeard and I are going to be purchasing a new vehicle in the next little bit here. My 2-door SUV is just not going to work with Monkey still rear-facing and the baby seat base being a fixture in the backseat as well. The SUV also only seats 4, so there's no room for any other passengers: a drag if company is here!

We are unsure if we will be a CARS customer or if we are going to try for a generous deal on a 2009-- depends on what is available at the time when we can get over to the dealer. Redbeard's schedule has been quite full and he is working overtime as well.

His boss goes on maternity leave in the next little bit here (she's 4 weeks ahead of me), and then he will additionally be taking over many of her duties. I'm fortunate that my MIL/FIL and my mom are coming out to visit-help when the baby comes, b/c Redbeard (being "just a mon") may only get a few days or a week off and then I'd be on my own!

I expect I will get plenty of use out of my Maya wrap sling- as the baby will just have to learn to nurse on the go while I take care of Monkey's needs. Still, it will be nice to have a *leetle* time, while my family help is here, to get used to each other and the process which never got well-established with Monkey b/c of his poor latch and the nipple shield-- before he self-weaned at 2 months.

I sincerely hope for a different outcome this time!

We're not so much nervous Nells this time though, as we are not first-time parents! I think that helps enormously!

I have the co-sleeper up and have diapers, etc., in place. Just need to wash/wipe down: blankets, car seat cover, car seat & base, swing cover, swing base (and set it up!). Next will be packing the bag for the BC and checking everything twice! It will be wonderful to not have to worry about Monkey, with one or possibly two of his grandmas here to stay with him while we have the baby. That was a concern for me!

So, everything is coming together, and I get my waterbirth! Yes! Bring it on when you are ready, baby girl! Only... not quite yet, okay? Let's give it at least 6 weeks. O. M. G. Six weeks is full-term...