Baby boy’s due date was January 16. He’s officially late… and so much for my instinct at thinking he’d be early! But, from what I’ve read, this is pretty normal. About 50% of all babies are born AFTER their due date.
Little Miss was a late one too; I developed pre-eclampisa pretty late on, and my blood pressure skyrocketed when I hit 41 weeks. I was induced then… and she appeared rather quickly thereafter; just a 13-hour labor. So this time around, so I’m told, I should have a speedy delivery… whenever he’s ready.
In the meantime, there’s a lot of waiting going on. I’m trying to keep Little Miss and I as busy as possible, but I’ll admit: every morning I wake up and I can’t help but think… well that was another night he didn’t arrive, and another day of waiting. Because most people go into labor at night, right? When they’re the most relaxed? (Feel free to share your story below!)
Last Thursday was my last day in the office at The International Kitchen, so I’ve officially been “home” for a week now. I’m still working (with my personality, it’s hard for me to NOT work honestly), but it’s definitely on my own schedule now… which often means during Little Miss’s naps and after she goes to bed.
That also means I’m just doing a couple hours of work a day. (Because let’s face it, I’ve been taking a cat nap nearly every day this month, to be honest). But working gives my brain something else to do other than think about WHEN our new baby boy is going to arrive.
I’m also trying to focus on the positives of waiting…
For starters: more time with Little Miss. Even though I was only in The International Kitchen’s office twice a week, I can tell Little Miss is enjoying having me around (for the most part). We went over to my mom and dad’s the other day to go to the Kid’s Museum, and when I told her I’d be staying — rather than dropping her off to go to work — she gave me the biggest smile and hug.
She’s definitely been soaking up all her mama and me time and I’m glad I can give that to her before her brother arrives… because as much we’ve tried to prepare her for life with baby brother, and as much as I know she’ll be excited, it’s going to be a big adjustment for her, especially once he starts sleeping in her room, whenever that may be (and if you have any tips on that, feel free to share them below too).
I’ve also been nesting like crazy. I’m cleaning, purging, and organizing like I NEVER have before. (Those who know me well know this is a BIG deal). I wasn’t even this extreme when I was pregnant with Little Miss (then again, I worked straight up until I was induced, essentially). I’ve donated and thrown out more bags of stuff than I can count… and something that has been on my to-do list since I was pregnant with Little Miss is happening too: my office is starting to feel more like an office than a dumping grounds for papers and a mish mash of stuff!
And it feels soooo good making this room a haven of sorts. Not only have I “released” a whole ton of papers that I definitely no longer needed, but I’ve packed away some books and my old writing — things I just can’t dare to part with but don’t need to be shoved in my bookshelves and drawers — making the small room feel welcoming (rather than a tad stressful).
Plus, an organized office makes me happy because it means I’ve reached a goal of mine: I’ll be working from home full time for the foreseeable future. I have zero idea what my ‘schedule’ will be like of course — and you’re probably laughing now like I am too, because what kind of ‘schedule’ does one even have with a newborn other than ‘survival’? But at least now I have a place that feels truly dedicated to my work, mainly with my makeup biz.
So that’s what my “waiting on baby” looks like… it’s hard to believe I’m “only” four days past my due date. It feels like an eternity waiting for him to be ready… but I hope he knows we’re ready for him, and we are so ready for the next chapter in our lives as a family.
