The FINAL Countdown

Left to Right: The "mid-thirties"-- 34, 35, and 36 weeks
The middle picture I realize I look a little trashy,
but I'm wearing my original bump-measure outfit for consistency's sake.

Dear Baby Girl,

We are really in the home stretch now! I can’t believe that we have (possibly) entered the month that you will be born. Despite a grueling hot summer, it really hasn’t felt like a long time. Dad and I are making all of the last minute preparations that we can, but every tiny thing that we do, I think of ten more things to do.  

All of your gear is put together and the car seat is locked and ready in Dad’s truck. I find it completely amusing that he is now driving around with an empty car seat in his back seat. He said, “Wow, this makes it a lot more real…” I said, “Wait a few weeks and it will be even more real!”

We took two classes in preparation for your arrival: an infant care class and a childbirth education class. They were both through the hospital and the former was very helpful. Our instructor was “Billy from Chantilly” (a female), and with her thick southern accent she was incredibly amusing. Dad changed his first diaper (on a doll), and we learned that crib bumpers and swaddling are now a no-no as far as your bedtime routine goes. “Sleep sacks” have replaced swaddles, and crib bumpers just have to go entirely. So I grudgingly returned your beautiful pink crib bumper, and Dad and I invested in some sleep sacks (although honestly sleep sacks—to me—just seem like a premade swaddle, so I’m not convinced this isn’t some marketing ploy). Dad did well with the doll and was an active participant in the class, although when asked by the instructor how many weeks along I was, he was about 5 weeks early. To his credit, he miscounted because he was counting backwards from 9 months when really pregnancy is about 10 months.

We had less luck with the childbirth class. We had this British instructor who’s opening statement was, “I hope you will like this class because really everything I say you can find online, so sorry you paid so much to take it.” What a way to sell yourself, Lady! Very encouraging. Furthermore, the class (split into two classes) was 6PM-9PM on a Wednesday and Thursday—so immediately after work and encroaching on my bedtime. This was entirely unnecessary. Either the whole thing could have been cut down to one class or each class could have been significantly shorter. The entire first night was about partner support and breathing exercises. Dad and I literally had to hold hands and stare into each other’s eyes while Homegirl tried to create a visual image of the sun rising with the most soothing voice she could muster.  Dad was making faces at me so I was cracking up and we just couldn’t take the exercise seriously. But it became less amusing once a torrential thunderstorm started right as we were about to leave. If we could have cut the sunrise short by about 5 minutes we could have gotten home much faster. Dad still holds a vendetta against the British lady for this. Also, I find it very hard to believe that this is how Dad and I will be in the delivery room. I envision a lot of screaming, and me wanting to punch him in the face if he even mentions the sun rising.

The second night was a little better. We saw several live births using various methods (i.e. natural, epidural, c-section). But the best part of the class was when the instructor stopped talking and played the videos, so she was probably right… we could have just received our education online. Every time she spoke it was completely useless information. “Remember, childbirth is a natural experience that has been happening since the caveman days so just do whatever your body tells you to do.” Gee, thanks. And honestly out of everything I saw in the videos, the epidural and catheter scared me the most so I think my plan is to try for natural (…at least until the pain gets so unbearable that I get over my nauseous aversion to epidurals). We’ll see. It’s going to be a game time decision.

So that’s what Dad and I have been up to. Yesterday we did a tour of the hospital—the holy ground for which you will be brought into this world. We were impressed. The tour was beneficial and the delivery rooms are very nice—which should be pleasant for everyone else in the room except for you and I, as we will be doing all of the work.

Again, I can’t believe that this could be your BIRTHDAY month! You are surely growing as I feel like I really popped this week (prior to this I’ve been getting a lot of looks of shock when I tell people I’m 9 months pregnant). You’ve been kicking a lot this Labor Day weekend and I’ve been feeling the Braxton Hicks every so often, so we must be getting close. We might just have a September baby on our hands!

Love,

Mom

These boxes are all for you!
Who knew one little girl in the womb could require so much preparation!

Dad and I had to call in reinforcements for the Pack n' Play.
Audrey came over and put it together in a hot second as she is an experienced Aunt.

I've had Gumdrop ever since I was a little girl and I took him everywhere.
Now, Gumdrop is yours to play with.

I've done my best to create a couple of freezer meals for your arrival,
but not nearly as many as I intended to. This is a chicken/corn chowder.
Luckily, your Nonna is much better at freezer meals than I am
and is already asking for a list of what we want.

Another freezer-meal: breakfast biscuits.
I made some sausage gravy with Nonna's homemade sausage.