Waiting is NOT my favorite activity… and patience is still a virtue I’m working on.
So these last 2 weeks have not been particularly easy for me… and yes, I’m STILL waiting {not so patiently though} for this baby to arrive!!
Depending on which due date you want to use, I’m anywhere from 40 – 42.5 weeks pregnant.
Yup, I am ready to be done! I’m ready to not feel so huge, ready to not have people touching my belly, ready to not have people asking me why I haven’t had the baby yet {or look so shocked when I tell them I’m over due}. And of course, I’m SO ready to hold my little girl “on the outside” instead of just feel her “on the inside”.
However, I DO feel blessed that I still haven’t experienced many of the common pregnancy side-effects I hear so many women talk about. I’m not sick, I’m not swollen, I don’t have stretch marks, I haven’t gained THAT much weight, and besides sleeping, I’m not even extremely uncomfortable.
So I suppose I can hang on a little bit longer… if I must!
But I’m getting restless…
Since I had a few different due dates, and since I just LOVE to plan ahead, I told myself that I had to be 100% ready to go by November 1 {which was actually after my very first due date}.
And, as I’m sure you can imagine, I WAS 100% ready by November 1.
The nursery was ready, all the cute baby shower gifts were washed and put away, I made a few returns and purchased the items I still needed to buy, our freezer was reasonably stocked with freezer meals, the car seat was in the trunk, and our hospital bag was pretty much ready to go.
But here I sit, 17 days later, still waiting 🙂
Over the past few months, I’ve turned down organizing appointments, really fun speaking engagements, extra virtual assistant jobs, and many more fun activities that required reservations because I didn’t want to sign up for something I wasn’t sure I could follow through with.
At the time, I had to say no to those opportunities, but now I’m kicking myself and wishing I had more things to keep me busy {hind-site is always 20/20, right!}.
So I feel like I can justify the long list of the little projects I gave myself last week to help me stay busy until this baby comes! Don’t worry, nothing is too strenuous, and I’ve been having a great time “getting stuff done” while I wait… and wait… and wait!
Here’s my ‘Waiting for Baby’ Project List:
- Completely clean out and reorganize all our kitchen cabinets — DONE!
- Clean, quickly re-organize, and sweep out the main garage — DONE!
- Bring a full truck load of stuff to a local thrift store – DONE!
- Sew curtains for the kitchen — DONE!
- Help Dave clean up the yard, rake leaves, clean yard tools, put everything away for winter, etc. — DONE!
- Clean up our porch, deck, patio, etc. — DONE
- Vacuum out both cars and clean the interior — DONE!
- Get an oil change in both cars — DONE!
- Deep-clean the showers — DONE!
- Wash all our pillows, blankets, comforters, and rugs — DONE!
- Rotate/flip all the mattresses — DONE!
- Finalize the design for our baby announcements / New Year’s card {we just need to insert pictures, print, and mail} — DONE!
- Start a couple very easy knitting projects that I can work on in the hospital — DONE!
- Wash my make-up brushes {I always forget to do this} — DONE!
- Clean/wash the stroller, car-seat, pack-in-play, bouncy seat, etc. — DONE!
- Finish all my canning for the year and put all the canning stuff away — DONE!
- Finalize my 12 amazing guests posts for after I have the baby — DONE!
- Schedule all my giveaways for while I’m on “maternity leave” — DONE!
- Clean the stove… again — DONE!
- Come up with ideas and props for our newborn photo shoot – DONE!
- Put up Christmas decorations — DONE! {expect for one tree that we need to buy yet}
- Sweep and clean out basement — DONE!
- Mop floors and clean baseboards — this is the last thing I’m procrastinating on 🙂
- Bake and cook for the freezer — continual process
- Stay on top of all the regular cleaning, dishes, laundry, etc. — continual process
- Keep working on our 2011 photo album — continual process
- Stay caught up with my blog and all my other virtual assistant jobs — continual process
- Make my holiday shopping list and start looking for deals — continual process
- Read more baby books — continual process
It’s amazing how much stuff I can get done when I don’t have anything else to do but wait! And it’s been great to have different things to keep me busy and keep my mind off of the whole “waiting game”.
Oh, and don’t’ worry — I’m also doing fun things like a little holiday shopping, researching/shopping for a new computer and cell phone, and spending WAY too much time on Craigslist and Pinterest!
So to all of you who have emailed me and sent me Facebook messages with your prayers and well-wishes; I REALLY appreciate it… and I’m just as anxious as you are to have some news to share!
Now, let’s just hope she makes her grand debut BEFORE all the relatives arrive on Thanksgiving!
Erin says
Glad I came upon this list! I’m still a ways away, but I have to do some of this stuff!
beth says
Many prayers for a great delivery. Motherhood is quite a ride! All the best to you and Dave.
Denise says
you look beautiful! she’ll be here soon!!!
Thrifty Mom in Boise says
I was three weeks over due with my first baby (9lbs 11oz!). I thought he would never get here. Sounds like some serious nesting you’ve been doing.
She’ll get here soon. You look really great too. I looked huuuuuge!
Kristen says
I don’t like waiting either, but at least this is waiting with a (soon) ending in sight! And what a wonderful ending…and beginning…it will be! I’m amazed at all you’ve accomplished. I aspire to be as amazingly productive as you!
Pyper says
Wow – you have the patience of a saint!! Hang it there – she’ll come out eventually!
And you are amazing to be getting all the stuff done! Kudos to you.
Alyssa says
I always made list while I waited too, and when I finished them, I’d make a new list. My husband always said that maybe if I stopped making lists the baby would come!
I was only over due 1 weeks. I can’t imagine what you’re feeling. Next time, I’m going to add a week to the farthest out due date I get. Maybe then it won’t feel so long.
You look amazing by the way!
Emily says
Oh my, I’m worn out just reading that list! You amaze me!! I have now started a list of things to do before #3 arrives…granted I have 5 1/2 months to go but you’ve inspired me!! Praying for you while you wait! 🙂
sarah says
The waiting is the hardest part! One of the comforts I held onto with both of my pregnancies is God has a special birthday date in mind for them and it isn’t the Dr’s educated guess of a “due date.” My first was 2 weeks early but I had been on bed rest for 3 1/2 of the last 4 weeks of my pregnancy with him and my second was 2 days early but in my experience that was 2 weeks late….. My point is she will come one way or an other! Try to enjoy it – what’s that annoying saying you hear people say “it goes by so fast” its annoying because its true 🙂
Renea says
I too, am waiting for an email letting us know she’s here!! Good luck & Blessings! Renea.
Jennifer says
I know that feeling! I hope she decides to show up soon. Praying for a safe and happy delivery for everyone.
Erin says
You look SO adorable! Hoping baby girl makes her arrival soooooon! 🙂
Suzanne says
I hear you! I’ve been waiting and looking to see if you’ve had her too.
I went off on leave on Oct. 28th, with a due date of Oct. 30…only having to wait until Nov. 6th to be induced at 41 weeks. It is sooo hard and so hard to start anything new because you think, “Oh, but I could go into labor tonight!” 🙂 It is soooo exciting too.
I’m wishing you a wonderful delivery!
Jessica says
Thanks for the update! I kept wondering if you’d had her already and just hadn’t gotten around to telling us yet because you were too busy enjoying her. 😉
Your blog is one of my favorites (maybe my absolute favorite?). I envy your organization and productivity– and now your PATIENCE!
Now go have her so that you can cross “Have a baby” off of your list and enjoy your little girl! (If only it worked like that!)
Shannon says
Well, if you get bored, you can come expend some of those “nesting instincts” on my home! LOL!
Chris says
Are you saying you did all that in the last 17 days??? Wow, amazing!!
Tammy says
Now that is what I call…nesting! Sounds like God is helping prepare you for all the times you won’t be able to prepare for 🙂
Paulette says
Andrea, you are sooo tiny! I always looked like a beached whale 🙂 … This was always the hardest part for me…WAITING…ARGHHH! We’re so happy for you and Dave. Looking back at your “things to do while I’m waiting” list makes me tired (heehee) You are definitely a high energy girl!
Lora says
Love that belly picture 🙂 Thinking about you and praying for you daily! So excited to hear the news about your sweet little girl! Lots of love to you and Dave!