Back in the saddle

The Monday after a holiday is sort of void of all productivity, isn't it? I mean, how can one focus on anything of real importance after consuming mashed potatoes and lounging on various couches for five straight days? Also difficult? Returning to regular blog posting once you let your site get good and dusty over the holiday break. But Tuesday is just a mere hour away, so I may as well put the holiday behind me and return to normal life, where there is much less lounging and mashed potato consuming, unfortunately.

So, how was your Thanksgiving? Ours was very nice although I have to say I'm not much of a fan of holidays that make me sweat when those holidays aren't the Fourth of July. Highs were in the 70s in mid-Texas, where we were, and although it did get somewhat chilly today, I can't tell you how ready I am for a freeze or a serious, long-lasting cold front to blow in and hang around until March. We went to Schlitterbahn's Hill Country Christmas on Friday night and I was wearing short sleeves. And flip-flops. All this sun- and heat-hating I've been doing lately is directly because of this pregnancy and not because I actually want to live in a colder climate, I feel the need to clarify. I really can never be cool enough these days and that's a new development, I assure you, and it makes me want to tell all women who have been quite pregnant in the dead of summer in Texas that you deserve things, like money or chocolate or children who sleep through the night right out of the womb.

Speaking of kids, ours is going to be here in less than 11 weeks and how the hell did that happen? We sort of looked at one another this past weekend and realized that, huh, we should probably put a to-do list together or at the very least move my shoes and books out of his room. Nesting just hasn't hit me, kids, and I so wish it would. I understand nesting because there is So Much To Do and when you're ... um ... rounder than usual, you need an actual condition to force you off the couch to get those things done, but it just hasn't happened for me yet. In fact, I've given up on nesting altogether and have instead turned my attention to batting my eyes at my mom to help me get everything in order by February.

I do go back and forth between disbelief that our son's arrival is so close and wondering how on earth I will last another 11 weeks, my stomach expanding and my hips, groin and back hurting so badly, I'm sure it's illegal to be in so much pain without being allowed a handle of tequila. About 22 times a night, Mike has to help me roll over, and I have to stop MID-ROLL in order to catch my breath and make sure I haven't died. (Obviously, I completely understand why Angelina Jolie found being pregnant so damn sexy.) I go back and forth between wanting to soak up every moment of the final stretch of this experience and wanting it all to be over, like yesterday. Maybe the day before that, even. My friend Elizabeth emailed me last week and said, "this is the long stretch, I remember." And she's right. There's so much to do and so many things to fixate on (like a birth plan, which is apparently something that consists of more than "make sure everyone comes out OK and in one piece"), but the days do feel as if they're inching along slowly and painfully. I can kind of relate the waiting to our engagement. Part of the fun should be the journey, but you still obsessively count down to The Big Day and foolishly wish away all the other time. Except I'm told there won't be an open bar during my labor, which is tragic, really. Also, I'd wager me shimmying into my wedding dress in February ain't gonna happen.

Comments

[Camels & Chocolate]

I think everyone in South City shares your void-of-productivity sentiment: I went to the biggest grocery superstore at prime shopping hour (5), and it was more or less deserted!

Also, it was 70 here over the weekend, too. I love the heat, but I'm all for finally putting my fall wardrobe to use. Never thought that would be a problem in the Bay Area.

[Elizabeth]

Eleven weeks!? Holy cow, lady.
I think it's so cool that you are on the exact same trajectory I was on two years ago at this time. Minus my obsessive nesting, of course. (Although that might just be my all the time personality).

I do remember that this bit was the long haul, but it was also the time when I started to get really really really excited to meet my boy, because it finally started to be real, that someday soon I would be meeting my son.
On the other hand, I seriously had to pee like seven hundred times a night and oh man did that get old fast.

[olga]

If it weren't for my chiropractor (and the fact I live in Idaho) I wouldn't ever have been able to make it through my pregnancies!

[She Likes Purple]

Chiropractor, hmm. I'm totally intrigued now.

[Rachel]

Wow...It doesn't seem like that much time has passed since you first posted that you were pregnant! Your description of pregnancy makes me rethink wanting to be pregnant! Ha-Ha!

[Jess]

Eleven weeks is like... so few weeks! I can't believe how soon it's all going to happen! But you'll get everything done that needs to be done, and you know, if you don't, he can always sleep in a dresser drawer for awhile until you get everything together.

[SparklieSunShine]

An open bar during labor now that is an idea!

[Candy]

T-minus 16 days and counting until "due date" - and I still have yet to get a nursing bra or pack the hospital bag. I'm such a slacker.

[Raven]

Thanks for the Schlitterbahn tip! I am totally taking Sprog there when we have him on Christmas break :)

[Kristabella]

As much as I bitched an moaned about having to work on the Friday after Thanksgiving, it was a hell of a lot easier to get up Monday morning. Just like any normal weekend had passed.

Just to clarify, I don't want to work on the Friday after Thanksgiving again. I will be using a vacation day next year when I have them.

[Loralee]

I hate to tell you this, but you don't get REALLY big until your last 4-6 weeks. :S

However, "Nesting" will kick in and you will have no choice BUT to accomplish your TO DO list, so I wouldn't worry about it.

You are going to be THE best parents!

[Catherine]

I am 28 weeks tomorrow...and WOW, I cannot believe that not too far in the future I'm going to have this little tiny baby girl to hold and Wow, it's a scary thought.

I have no problem rolling over...it's the Getting up seven times to go PEE!!!

What is the deal. I can NOT drink anything for four hour's before bed...and I still have to get up at least five times. It's just nuts!

[Catherine]

OH and the heat!!! I live in Phoenix. It's been 75-80 degrees every day. I'm miserable. And if I had my way, I would still be running the a/c. My husband says i'm trying to freeze him to death. I sleep with a fan blowing on me, and no covers at all. He's over huddled on his side of the bed wrapped in a blanket and comforter. I can't help it :)

[Emily]

If I weren't already 35 weeks and in terrible back and hip pain and on the verge of having a repeat bout with preeclampsia, I'd totally fly down there and help you with the nesting. FOR NESTING IS MY PASSION.

[Kristie]

What the hell was up with fairly warm weather on Thanksgiving?! It's criminal, I tell you.

And today?! Warm again! Although it did cool WAY down around 5, I was shocked.

These last 11 weeks will fly by, I'm sure of it, and little Mr. baby C will be here and you'll wonder how those last 11 weeks flew by so darn fast.