35 Weeks and Counting
Remember? I’m having a baby. A bullet post for your reading pleasure.
- It hit me (again) the other day that I’m having a boy. Obvious differences aside, I’ve started evaluating what that’s going to mean on a more general level, not just in terms of how he will act. But, also, in terms of how it will change the kind of mother I am. I’m wondering how many of the changes will be fair, and how many of them will be prompted by pure sexism.
- I am nowhere near as prepared for this baby’s arrival as I was for N. I still have to wash and fold clothes. Assemble a crib. Buy a few things. Pack a hospital bag. Arrange the room where he will sleep. And you’d think that this laundry list of items would create a sense of urgency. But, no. It simply makes me want to take a nap.
- Braxton Hicks. Also known as false labor? Also known as, “Oh, great, as if it’s not going to be enough to actually have to go through the real thing. Let’s practice for what seems like fifty times a day.”
- My SIL’s baby shower is in four weeks at my place. Is it wrong that my only goal right now is not to have this baby before then?
- I feel huge. I can’t get up without grunting. And, yes, I know I’m pregnant and blah, blah, blah. But, I’ve always held this irrational belief that when you start to have to grunt when you get up, it’s the same as saying goodbye to the last vestiges of your youth.
- I keep waking up every two to three hours. And I can’t get to sleep. The fact that my body seems to be undergoing preparation for the fact that I won’t be getting a full night sleep for the next several months is fairly miraculous. And extremely annoying.
- And, like last time, in classic NYCWD and LeSombre style, this last bullet is for the next person that says, “Oh, just five weeks? That’s right around the corner, isn’t it?”
47 Responses to 35 Weeks and Counting
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Hrmmm, I don’t think I said “right around the corner” as much as going into a diatribe of how quickly time passes without us recognizing it. Thank you for not smacking me.
@Hilly, Heh… that is TOTALLY different.
Can’t sleep but need to sleep. That was the part I couldn’t understand. At a time when you need to be as well rested as possible, your body won’t let you.
No pictures?
J.
@HoosierGirl, I hate having my picture taken when I’m this big. I promise I’ll post at least one.
My kids leave July 10th. Any baby preparations that need to be made after that point, I will gladly help with.
I’ll even fold.
@Miss Britt, You’re the best.
Braxton Hicks would be a great name for a baby. Or a character in a cheap paperback.
@B.E. Earl, Admit it. You wrote “porno” before adjusting that comment to read “paperback” didn’t you?
What? You’re STILL pregnant? I thought you would have had that baby by now.
(How many bullets does that get me?)
In all seriousness, try to remind yourself this: in eight weeks or so, neither you, nor Tariq, nor the baby will remember that the room wasn’t arranged, or the laundry wasn’t perfect or whatever.
@SciFi Dad, Yeah, that’s true. Except for this little girl that lives with us who is all, “You need to do my brother’s laundry, mama.” She’s a slave driver.
Just remember who did this to you.
@Karen Sugarpants, Hahaha, I know, right? I’m starting to feel bad for him, though. Yesterday, I couldn’t find my keys and I screamed “Where-did-you-put-my-keys-I-can-never-find-anything-around-here-because-you’re-so-disorganized-and-I-just-give up!!” Five minutes later? Keys. In. My. Pocket.
Hope it all works out as for the timing, but round 2 more often than not, comes early…. Better get your butt in gear. Easier said than done @ 35wks, I know BUT…. 2nd for me: water broke at 3am 3 1/2 weeks early & same as you, I was NOT at all excited about crossing off any items on the “Get Ready For Baby List of To-Dos”
Can’t wait for you to experience BOY! As for sexism, whatever works!
@SteF, Was that supposed to make me feel better??!!
The tricks our bodies like to play on us in the weeks before the birthing process begins is the worst part of pregnancy.
I can handle the puking and cramps, just let me sleep kid!
@Sheila (Charm School Reject), Exaaactly.
“I’m wondering how many of the changes will be fair, and how many of them will be prompted by pure sexism.”
Funny that no matter how we recognize these things, we still fall back on them from time to time.
Try to look at the five weeks this way: You have 7x more of the pregnancy behind you than you have ahead of you.
That didn’t help, did it?
@Finn, Actually, that was sort of helpful. But, technically? It was another way of saying, “it’s just around the corner.”
My SIL’s baby shower is in four weeks at my place. Is it wrong that my only goal right now is not to have this baby before then?
It’s absolutely not wrong. And just in case something happens that threatens this I have two words for you:
Duct Tape
That stuff works wonders!!!
@NYCWD, I’m sensing a vast duct tape conspiracy on the Internet. This is the second time in a week someone has promoted duct tape to me on my blog.
I swear the last 6 weeks of pregnancy is a form of torture.
Being the mom of both a boy and a girl, I know that there are differences in my mothering. I try to be aware of it and to question myself as to “why”, but it isn’t always that easy. I also have 10 years between my children, and I’m sure that makes a difference.
As far as making that sound when you get up…I make it when I plop on the couch when I get home from work
I wish you a calm and comfortable next 5 weeks.
@Becky, Thanks for the calm and comfortable wishes… so sweet.
You know, I suggested duct tape yesterday for a different reason, but Dawg’s on the right track!
@Kris, Ha! I just replied to Dawg that I thought there was some kind of conspiracy as duct tape as already been promoted once this past week!
please don’t duct tape your danger zone. imagine how hard it will be to take it off!
@Crys, Hmmm. $5.00 roll of duct tape versus $90 Brazillian wax… I think we may be onto something here…
Having a boy isn’t going to change what kind of mother you are unless you count the fact that you will love both of them even more than you thought possible.
And you’ll just have to get used to dinosaurs, cars, and trains in about a year. 
That and the little boys like jumping head-first off the couch, front porch, stairs, deck, and on, and on, and on. So, yeah, I’d start a payment plan with your local hospital. 
@Coal Miner’s Granddaughter, Heh. Yeah I remember my brother spending a lot of time in the ER.
@Coal Miner’s Granddaughter, I never went to the ER as a kid.
@Avitable, Which confirms that you? Are a girl.
@Coal Miner’s Granddaughter, Pfft. My vagina would beg to differ. Umm, I mean penis.
Aw, and I still need to meet Baby #1! One of these days.
And hey, not like you’re busy or anything, so can I count you in on the Summer of Love guest posting extravaganza?
@Karl, I just got the e-mail yesterday. Was I second tier or something?
I think I can work you in.
@Faiqa, Second Tier? You’re the GOLD tier, baby. I sent you an email 3 times over the last 10 days or so. Maybe you’ve got me set to filter right into your spam folder.
Just sent out the schedule but I’ll get you in there.
I’ll help with anything, too. Want me to babysit N for a while?
@Avitable, Hmmmm. Actually, I bet you’re a stellar babysitter. And given both your and Nuha’s shared love for making sure that everything is done exactly the way it *should* be … you would get along famously. What are you doing on Friday night?
@Faiqa, Friday is “Make fun of Homeless People Night” and Nuha would be more than welcome to join me.
@Avitable, Wow. I thought we were the only ones that did that. It’s so wonderful that basically we’re all the same on the inside. You know, exclusionary and elitest.
@Faiqa, yeah, but you guys call it “Make fun of Stupid White People Night”.
@Avitable, I have no idea what you’re talking about.
oh how i wish i could come down and steal n. for a bit. while i am not much for all that other getting ready for a baby crap, i am all about hanging out with that precious little girl.
faiqa, you are one of the most physically beautiful women i have ever seen. i can’t imagine you feeling huge. and honestly, i would love to see a picture of you pregnant. i bet you are stunning.
You know I would be down there, folding and cleaning and making crafts with N!
Also, I saw a picture and you ARE beautiful!
BROTHER FOR THE SISTER! How KIND of you!
So the question we all want to know is…… does hor hospital have Wi-Fi? After all this buildup, we’ll be expecting Tweets, pics, and some YouTube clips, of course. Is Tariq ready for all of this?
Oh, and late-term maternity meltdowns? Yeah, my wife is all over that. *Sigh*
@RebTurtle, your hospital. Jeez, you’d think I had baby on the brain!
My response to each bullet:
-That’s one of the main reasons I didn’t find out the gender, so I could hold off my own (fearfully) and society’s need to place a preordained role on my child.
- I love how we have the same stress response!
-WHAT?!?! I thought you just got those things maybe once or twice during your whole pregnancy…repeatedly?!-that ain’t cool, that ain’t cool.
-Don’t stress we can always reroute the party to my Mom’s house, if need be. I think you are in the process of nesting for my child instead of your own through the baby shower, very sweet, only you would do such a thing. I love it though and I’m not questioning you at all!!! Translation- (I remember your comment about bodily harm if I said anything again).
-I’m 26 weeks and I started grunting 2 weeks ago on all movements:getting up, bending down, and even turning over.
-Amen sister, I’ve been up since 4 am, which is really good for me usually it’s 2 or 3 am. It’s now 6:30 am -perfect go back to sleep time but never a minute sooner.
-My lips are sealed.
HaHa..I grunt when I try to get up too,although I am not pregnant..just have shonky knees. In a few weeks it will be all worthwhile. Keep smiling.