All of the sudden, I realized I’m going to have a baby in, like, 3.5 weeks!
You’d think I would have been pretty tuned in to that fact, since I’ve been popped like a turkey for a couple months now (unlike with Milo when it was in the last week). Somehow, the belly just hasn’t done it’s proper job of alerting me to the reality of a second newborn boy in my life. Or maybe it’s easy to put the belly out of my mind (if not off of my lap) to chase my not-so-newborn boy around. Or maybe, just maybe, I’m a little freaked out, overwhelmed, excited by the idea of having a baby and a toddler, and have been in a pregnant state of denial.
Whatever the reason for my 36 week procrastination, I have decided to accept and prepare. Today during nap time I pulled out and began to re-read some of my favorite resources:
Okay, so this one I was reading more for Milo’s toddler bed transition sake than Eliot’s learning to sleep sake–but I used it several times for the Mister when he was a baby, so it was time to dust it off… It is full of research based information and recommendations regarding healthy sleep habits from birth through the school age years. Not an easy read, but I love to use it as a reference.
Dave and I chose to study and use the Bradley Method for Milo’s delivery, and it went fantastically. I loved my birth experience, and hope for something similar with Eliot. I remembered, as I flipped through this today, how much preparation we put in during the weeks leading up to the big show. I have a lot of relaxing, visualizing, exercising and breathing to do in the next couple weeks to get in the zone for another wonderful, natural childbirth.
My sister recommended this to me when I was expecting Milo, and said I needed to read it before he was born, so I knew how to help establish a schedule from the beginning. I am so glad I did! I definitely take some of this one with a grain of salt, because I was starting to feel bad that Milo wasn’t sleeping 12 hours by 4 months…but I love the solid principles, and definitely need to review them.
I’m sorry that more people can’t live in Concord, New Hampshire when they have a baby. I absolutely adored my midwife practice there, and the hospital was the perfect midpoint between home-like environment with little intervention and patient-directed labor, and high-level intensive environment in case of problems. Luckily, we didn’t need the team of specialists who showed up in our room when it was discovered that Milo had meconium, but it was sure nice to have them there. This little handbook is like a one-stop-shop for a pregnant woman with questions. It reminded me of some important things that I need to do before delivery…of course, I’ve forgotten them by now (I mean, it has been a few hours!) but I’ve got the book and will flip back tomorrow and maybe write some down:)
My mom got this funny little book for Dave the Christmas before Milo came. It is hilarious, and clever, and actually contains real information! I laughed looking through at the graphics and instructions. Perfect for a dad…or a second-time spacey mom!
I’m on my way to feeling ready.
Eliot’s abode (in the form of a Dutch Cupboard bed) is almost complete, his clothes are…ahem…still in storage in the basement, the car seat is…uh…at a friend’s house right now, we have…mmm…one single bottle and two old binkies. Bring on the baby!
Okay, I’ve got a little more than reading to do…
