8 Months

The number of shirts that completely cover my ample belly have quickly dwindled. That, and the warm weather has had me scrambling over what to wear. But no fear! I have delved into my husbands drawers for maternity wardrobe extenders - also known as those white undershirts commonly (however tacky) referred to as "wife beaters."
Oh where has the time gone? That's me and my baby belly bump as of today. It's itchy, is constantly twitching and moving, and has begun limiting my mobility. Yesterday I was trying to squeeze by a small space and I actually tried to "suck it in". Of course I rolled my eyes at myself after that.

I have about a month or so left of being in this state. I'm not too worried about the birth and the pain and all that (for some reason), but I am freaking out just a little about becoming a mother of three. I get lots of "You've got your hands full," comments at the grocery store as it is. And I feel like poor James is going to be very put out by this new little bundle.

But alas, we are making our preparations. The minivan has been purchased, the doula secured, plans for locking down a co-sleeper being made, and cloth diaper sites being perused. Jason even got a new closet system for the kids which involved Ikea, and possible plans to re-carpet their bedroom or "nursery." I started doing a little chirping in his ear that I would like to not be living in chaos a week before I give birth (like last time) - so he reved up his sense of urgency to get things in order and is doing a swell job of papa bird nesting.

Here is a list of stuff I'm hoping to get done:

1. Completely detail and organize my dingy kitchen. I may be willing to pay someone to do this as bending down to scrub the bottoms of cabinets is increasing in difficulty in my, uh, condition.

2. Prepare huge portions of meals to stock away in my freezer. There will be some difficulty in this, as well, since this baby will most likely be born right before Lent, and Jason will be fasting. Any of you Orthodox mamas have ideas for me?

3. Find a bookshelf, as well as decide the best place for it in our house for the kids since their room will be changed around with the new closet/wardrobe. All their books will have to go somewhere else.

4. Stock up and plan on activities to keep Hannah busy and engaged during those early days of me sitting on the couch nursing for long periods of time. Any ideas for this? I don't even know what to do about James! Thankfully, he's just started to like books. I just REEAALLY don't want to use the tv/movies too much.

That's all I can think of for now. Poor Jason's list is longer and much more labor intensive. Either way, however strenuous the parenting gig is, we do love the family life. I'm so excited to see if this is another blond baby or maybe, just maybe he or she will look just a little like me. I saw a newborn yesterday at the park and it brought back all the memories of their sweetness and fetal movements that are so achingly adorable. And then they turn into these funny little people with their own minds and voices. I'm so happy to have these blessings.