What all do you have going on between now and baby?

[DeChRi]

Just curious.

Are you someone that must keep busy, or must relax? I go back and forth between thinking about planning every detail, then just putting it all out of my mind for a couple weeks. Defense mechanisms for getting through to the end I think, lol.

So not like a To DO list, but what do you have going on between now and baby? Finishing work? Finshing child birth classes? Vacations? Home Do It stuff? Relaxing and plugging away to To DO list?

Myself....I am 31w3d. We are going on a 4 day trip this weekend. During this time our kitchen will get torn apart for a remodel. We will have a weeks worth of kitchen stuff to do upon return, then reassembling things. SO I anticipate that I will be distracted until about week 34, at which point panic will hit and I will spend the two weeks after trying to get everything done. THen I plan on doing nothing much but kiddo and family and rest time from 36 weeks until baby. We also have softball games, softball practices, big dance recital, mom and me art classes, last day of school, prep for DD1 for her dad's wedding (right after baby comes), DD1 birthday party and other life things going on then. I have wrapped up the consulting job I was doing, so clear of any work.

What do you all have going on while you wait??

[katelove]

I'm 35 weeks tomorrow. We have family and friends visiting for the next week (not actually staying with us though). I have a To Do list for the house of things it would be nice to do, spring cleaningish things. I also need to wash all the baby things and I have bought fabric to make some toys as well.

We also have an active birth class coming up in a couple of weeks and a tour of the Birth Suite (I used to work there but DH hasn't seen it yet) next week. I am still doing weekly yoga classes.

It sounds like a lot when I write it all down like that but there is *plenty* of resting and relaxing as well as I have short bursts of energy followed by long periods of lethargy.

[Starfish11]

We have various birthdays this week, including mine, which makes for a busy weekend. My best friend is coming into town so that's exciting, too. She just lost a baby and found out it was a molar pregnancy so the visit will be bittersweet

We are set in terms of baby stuff; I just need to pack my bag and get my playlist together.

Work though is another story. In the next few weeks (I am 35w2d) I need to prepare yearly budgets, do staff evaluations, finish a new initiative, hire a new person for new initiative, plan New Student Days (train facilitators, finish training modules and materials), and put the final preparations on our end-of-the-year leadership event. Is it any wonder I can't sleep? Of course, I can't be productive in the middle of the night when I can't sleep b/c I am too tired--oh the irony.

We also had some big damage done to our house due to the blizzard and we are STILL waiting on contractors to come out and do estimates for us. This is the most stressful thing of all to me b/c I just want this done. I keep hearing how much contractors are looking for work but we've been trying for a month to get this done and people don't show up. Grrrrr!

[AliciaP8]

I've had an extremely busy pregnancy and not by choice. I think I'm very lucky it's been not physically demanding because of all the other stress. I'd like it very much if this last month was more relaxing.

Realistically, we have to sand, prime and paint a wall in the loft, DH is always working on house projects. We built our own house and it's never really finished I have tons of other stuff to do too around the house.

Non house related, we're just showing up for Easter at my mom's this weekend so no prep or work there which is nice. The following weekend we have a birth workshop and a baby shower. The next weekend is my Dad's 60th birthday. The next is my husband's 41st birthday but no party planned. DH has a couple of Drs appts in there and I'll be seeing my midwife each week now and working full time. I won't even start to write down what has to be done at work before I leave!

[sostinkinhappy]

Oh gosh, I have so much I should be doing but only so much I can do and is really frustrating for me.

I am to the point where I have about 30-45 minutes in the morning before I am in so much pain that I am nearly immobile and then about another 30 minutes around dinner time. I have to parse my physical activities very very carefully so that I can cover the very basics, like showering, helping with homework (which actually takes place in my bed for the most part now!), and occasional meal prep.

This pregnancy has been an exercise in learning to let go of my need to have an immaculately clean house, organized closets and drawers, and well-thought out & delicious tasting menus. And letting go of school for now...that's been the hardest part. I can read in bed but even sitting propped up puts a tremendous amount of pressure on the mesh & DSP and makes the swelling of the girlie bits even worse so I can't spend much time on my lap top.

[jecombs]

Originally Posted by sostinkinhappy

Oh gosh, I have so much I should be doing but only so much I can do and is really frustrating for me.

This is where I am at, too. I'm not having severe physical problems, but between work, taking care of DD, and keeping my house reasonably tidy, I am exhausted. Thank goodness I have Spring Break coming up next week! I'm hoping to cook double meals most days of that week, so I can put a bunch of stuff in the freezer. My crockpots are going to get a workout!

Beyond that, I don't have much going on. My MIL and her (annoying) husband are visiting us for a day next week and we're having Easter dinner with my side of the family this Sunday. After that, I've told DH NO MORE SOCIAL CALLS! This pregnancy I'm really feeling the need to isolate from extended family... not sure why. I just want to be alone with my DH and DD and enjoy the time before Aerick gets here. Once MIL leaves we will also be dismantling the guest room to turn it into Aerick's room. I'm actually really looking forward to that.

[emnic77]

I'll be pretty busy. We got our 7 raised beds built (well, DH did that) and set into the yard over last weekend and two weekends ago, and then Friday we get a huge topsoil/compost delivery. The other three adults in the house will spend this weekend shoveling and wheelbarrowing soil to the raised beds, while I start seedlings inside and start cool weather veggies in the appropriate beds. So excited to get peas and spinach and stuff in the ground. We have tons of seedlings to start indoors so I'll be doing a lot of that over the next couple weeks.

We are about to start a raw milk "CSA" ("CSD?") and hopefully will be able to make our first batch of raw milk cheese the weekend after next. My birthday is April 25, so DH and my sister and BIL and I are going downtown to see the musical of "Young Frankenstein", which will probably be my last hurrah before a newborn. DD has the "pre-test" part of her black belt test in karate on May 1.

My sister and I both play in a community wind ensemble that rehearses once a week, and our concert is April 15. There are only two of us in the percussion section, and the other guy keeps looking at me nervously asking when my due date is and whether I'm "sure" every week. We are already racing around back there covering 4 or 5 parts between the two of us, so he's nervous that I'm going to leave him in the lurch by hatching before the concert.

My sister's kitchen renovation/demolition starts up sometime in April, and the contractor will be gutting the basement bathroom that got flooded at the same time, too. So I'll likely be the one around directing traffic for that, as I have the most flexible schedule of the four of us. Lastly, our house celebrates any holiday that gives us any reason to cook and eat all day (and pour tequila) so Cinco de Mayo is historically a big one for us. My sister is terrified that I will go into labor that day, thus dampening the festivities, and my BIL is determined to make something so spicy that I'll have the baby the next day. I'm due the 3rd, technically, but I told them I'm not expecting this one until Mother's Day if it follows the other two's lead.

I HAVE to paint our bedroom, hang some art, and get some window treatments. Gah. I am so far behind on that because the weekend I had planned to do it, we got flooded. I refuse to give birth in my sparse white non-curtained bedroom.

[starkyld]

Hmmmm...

We have our childbirth class & an infant + CPR class. We also have a baby shower and have to gather together whatever we haven't already accumulated afterwards. My mom is flying in for most of a week to go to my shower and to straighten up the house + go searching for baby things + whatever I need help with.

I have to finish my dissertation and get it to my committee. I also have to finish editing this chapter (by tomorrow!) and finish editing a review article (soon!). I have to decide about enrolling in the MPH program and send them my deposit within the next 2 weeks if I'm going for it. The dissertation will be defended after Bagel's born, but I want it written and in the hands of my committee beforehand.

My husband has to move all of his woodworking supplies out of our study/dining nook and into his parents' basement for now so that we'll have a place for Bagel's things. We also need to try to suss out a plan for getting my husband's business off the ground, but actual real progress on that front won't take place until after Bagel's here.

We want to start looking for a new place to live, but wouldn't be able to move until july 1st in all likelihood, and the NYC rental market has a fast enough turnover that we won't realistically be able to start looking until mid-May (at which point I'll be HUGE--or possibly have an infant). We might not be able to move until August 1st as a result.

[Jelinifer]

I'll be working up until the day I pop, so that takes up a good amount of my time. This weekend we're celebrating DH, my cousin, and my birthdays since we're all April babies.... and I'm taking Tuesday off from work (my actual birthday) and trying to think of some fun stuff to fill the day with that can't easily be done with a babe in tow...

Otherwise, I'm sitting around ferociously knitting hats and booties trying to bide my time and not get too antsy for the next month while we wait

[poetgirl]

We took an 8 wk natural childbirth class in Jan-Mar so we're good with that. I was touring with my book but those trips are done and also teaching 3 classes online but I just finished those yesterday. So I formed this crazy list of things to do that goes on forever. Thing is I am petering out really quickly these days. So I started with the easiest thing-wash the shower curtain-and I proceeded to flood the basement when a washrag jammed up the drain. Now I'm exhausted from cleaning that up. So much for Day 1.

But the larger picture is that I am going to solve one house conundrum after another, finish a few writing projects, take a bfing class and go to a LLL mtng at least once and basically get everything I need for the baby and for postpartum.

[organicpapayamama]

well let see here.....

I am checking things off my TO DO list, which includes stuff around the house, packing my labor bag and a few last things for baby. Im working working working, trying to save every last dollar to pay for my maternity leave. Trying to figure out day car plans for DS when I go back to work. worrying about bills and trying to plan for no pay for a few months. I find I am busy most days. not because Im trying to keep myself busy but because thats the life of a single mama. I am also making it a point to try and relax because doing too much gives me way too many bh than I am comfortable with. I think thats it for now.

[Shannie77]

I feel somewhat overwhelmed by everything that is going on.

1./ We need to sell our house (looks like that will happen tonight)
2./ Find a new house
3./ Possibly move
4./ I have to choreograph 6 dances
5./ My students have 5 days of exams I need to go to
6./ My students have a recital in May (the younger ones in June but obviously I won't be there for that)
7./ Complete my processes binder for when I am on mat leave from my WAH job
8./ Pack
9./ Renew drivers license and health card
10./ Taxes
11./ Plan a birthday party for DD
12./ Complete transitioning DD to her own bed and nightweaning her

UGH!

[feminist~mama]

Oy! Some of you have A LOT going on!

As for me, I'm hoping to work until the bitter end, lol. So that takes up a good bit of time.

DP's birthday is this weekend, so that will be nice. We're not making a big deal out of it, mainly just a fancy dinner out.

I've got a TON of packing/moving/rearranging to do in this house, otherwise the baby will not have any space. Sigh.

We're short a number of baby things still, so I have to get those. And call the diaper service.

We've been looking for a house to buy, but at this point I'm feeling fairly resigned to staying put until after the baby. There just isn't a lot on the market where I live!

DD has softball and school, so just regular stuff there.

ETA: Although I'm happy with my regular paycheck and that certainly makes things easier, I have been wistfully thinking lately about how much time work takes up, lol! I feel fine and there is no reason for me not to go though... Sigh!

[Mommabean]

Well TONS....

With two boys in soccer we have practice 4 nights a week and games every Saturday (season ends May 27th so then there will be season ending parties).

We are have just started painting our hallways and that should be done in 2-3 weeks because dh is a paint one wall every couple days kind of guy

I have a shower that will be the 24th of April.

DS4 has a school program that is on May 7th and I am so worried I will have bean early and miss out and this is tearing me up inside. Even though I know I could go LATE and just have to sit through a 2 hour preschool program 38 weeks pregnant and miserable

I work 10-15 hours a week at church, so basically I am working 5 hours every Sunday and then I work Wednesday & Friday mornings for 2-3 hours. So on top of everything I need to keep the house maintained so I'm not cleaning PP, get to the store and do one last MAJOR stock up on the pantry, and freezer cook at least 8 more meals.

and that is just what is PLANNED out. There is so much other things to do baby wise, we have to register by middle of next week, wash all the baby things, need to find and get my pump working, and going to my appointments regularly (every two weeks after tomorrow!!! then we move on to every WEEK!!).


I'm exhausted!!!

[emnic77]

Originally Posted by Mommabean

DS4 has a school program that is on May 7th and I am so worried I will have bean early and miss out and this is tearing me up inside. Even though I know I could go LATE and just have to sit through a 2 hour preschool program 38 weeks pregnant and miserable

ugggh, this happened to me with DS. DD had an Irish Dance performance at school that she was so proud of and so hoping I could go. So, I went. At two days post partum. I had just seen most of her classmates mom's a couple days before that (I went into labor late afternoon) and we had all been talking about how overdue I was, then I turned up with a newborn in a sling. I was sore, but I really couldn't miss it.

[Darlingricki74]

I still need to buy a ton of stuff, mostly the little things like breast pads, nursing bras, etc. But all we have is a carseat, stroller, and clothing. So lots of shopping! Other than that, just lots of doctor appointments-I'm high risk, so I go once a week for my regular appointment, plus I just started my 2 times a week bpp and nst's. I'm having a c-section at 38 weeks, so I need to get busy shopping, baby will be here in just over 4 weeks!
Oh, and I need to schedule with the hospital to go in and pre-register and do the tour.

[Crispie]

Easter will get us through another week at which point I will be 33 weeks.
35 weeks is our wedding anniversary
At the end of April I will be 36 weeks and we've committed to officially closing the daycare for May and June (at least) (DH had work pull through so I get some time off and I cannot EVEN express how happy I am for that!!!)
Then I plan on getting a pool set up out back at 37 weeks (friend of ours got a "real" pool put in and gave us their above ground "dohboy" woot woot!) I want to get a pedicure around 38 weeks and take a nap every day
I am also doing my hypnobabies very regularly now, and look forward to it each night.
DS is turning two when I am 39 weeks and I want to plan him a good party. Last year my dad passed away two weeks before DS's 1st bday so it kinda got minimized a bit.

So, I guess I kinda have at least one thing each week planned out to help pass the time

In between I'd love to:

Get our raised beds for gardening up and planted ASAP!

Get a couple holes in the wall patched and painted (we moved everything around lately and some furniture was mounted to the walls so it left chunks too big to paint over)

Finish my knitting projects (monkey sock soaker for DS and use up the rest of my wooly pink yarn for newbie)

Get all our baby supplies and homebirth supplies purchased, opened and organized...including washing some clothes and lanolizing all my newly knit stuff.

Hopefully some of it WON'T get done. I am one of those mama's that cannot stand to have the whole to do list crossed off and just be sitting. and. w.a.i.t.i.n.g.. . . . The tick of the clock makes me miserable those last few weeks and labor paranoid so I'm trying to stay very busy and save the resting for when she arrives. (other than obviously making sure I get good sleep )

I do like that I'm due the end of May...I'll be "killing" much time reading all your birth stories!!!