2008 March 18 — slackermama . com

I’m 37 weeks along today. I had Liam at exactly 37 weeks so it almost feels a little surreal to NOT have the baby today, for some reason. But I know it’s a good thing too. Two more days count for quite a bit in “womb-land”. According to my trusty BabyCenter email, she’s the size of a Swiss chard today. If only I knew what a Swiss chard was. I’m starting to think I’m woefully uneducated in the area of fruits and vegetables because there are apparently a whole lot of them I had no idea existed.

Kile took a half day today and spent the morning cleaning Harry’s bathroom and doing dishes. Both of those are staggering tasks and I’m not entirely sure which one is “worse”. As Kile said to me as he was scrubbing out the bathroom, “This is the perfect punishment for Evie. If she ever screws up, just have her clean this bathroom. I can promise you she won’t do it again.” I fear for Harry’s future spouse. Now hopefully, we can urge him to keep it clean for the next several days.

Evie’s room just floors me. It’s so… girly! I’m not used to such a display of pink and butterflies and flowers. But I’m so happy it’s done now. That’s a huge item off my list and a large weight off my shoulders. Kile really delivered on it, I’m pretty proud of him. I did what I could to help, but I was really just “support”. I don’t think I picked up a paint roller once (though I did pick up a brush to touch up a couple spots). And I just held the wallpaper border up while he pasted it to the wall.

I feel like I’m caught in this surreal little “bubble” right now. Time is stretching out, but not necessarily slowing down. I’m having a hard time imagining my life past this weekend. I look at Liam and I can’t comprehend him not being the baby anymore. I look at the wee diapers we have here ready for her and I can’t comprehend actually using them. I’ve left all the tags on all the clothes and can’t even unwrap my diaper cakes. It’s like being caught in limbo or something. No going back (duh), moving forward but not quite quick enough for my tastes. I count her little kicks and pray that she keeps on kicking. I keep thinking of little things I need to remember to do or pack or tell someone… my stomach is in knots when I think about it all. My stomach is in knots because I’m so excited.

I also worry because that is me. I had a great time with the spinal and the surgery last time. Will it be as easy this time? Will I feel anything this time? Will the surgery make me throw up? It didn’t before, but I know it can do that. And how about the baby? It was nothing short of miraculous that Liam came out of my belly squalling. Will we be as lucky this time around? Will they need to suction her first? Will my heart climb up into my throat while I wait to hear that cry? Worry, worry, worry.

But SO EXCITED.

In closing, I have to share this ad I saw on IMDB this afternoon (while looking up actor David Morse whose portrayal of George Washington on “John Adams” literally gives me goosebumps). This probably doesn’t mean anything to ANYONE other than Kile and I, but I saw this and I literally laughed out loud. This is one of Kile and I’s favorite quotes from Napoleon Dynamite. Surely we’re not the only people who have seen (over and over) and enjoyed (entirely too much) this movie. Anyhow. I think we have to have this t-shirt. I absolutely CANNOT WAIT to show it to Kile. Hmm, his birthday IS coming up…

Get the word out:

So… it’s done. The nursery, that is. PRAISE BE TO JEEBUS. Good timing too, seeing as we have about exactly 48 hours before have to be at the hospital (probably less but whatever). Tomorrow hardly counts anyhow since I’ll be gone in the morning at my last NST appointment and my mother in law will be here in the afternoon. Talk about under the wire! But it’s rather gorgeous, if I do say so myself.

^{The crib lacks a mattress and I just set the bumpers in there, but you get the idea.}

^{The valance was a pain in the arse to put up and those diaper cakes are just too precious to unwrap.}

^{The bedspread is in the washer still, the Boppy finally has a cover and I’m still not 100% sure about the quilt on the wall.}

^{See those letters? I painted those mahself.}

The walls are a real pale pink above the wallpaper border and a pale taupe below. It’s really a nice effect. You can see the rest of the nursery pics over in my flickr photostream if you are so inclined.

In other (related) news, I got TWO packages yesterday! One was from longtime online pal and frequent commenter Lisa. She is just such a sweetheart and has been holding onto this beautiful cardigan for a while, wanting to give it to me. Thank you SO MUCH, it’s just perfect. I love the little purple flowers! Kile, when he saw it, was equally impressed. For he now knows the value of these adorable cardigans because Babies R Us charges a small fortune for them. Leave it to a man to think that way.

The other package came from Miss Zoot. Part of me had to giggle as I was opening it, because of course as we all know, she is the real father of this baby. All joking aside, she is completely sweet and thoughtful and the adorable dresses she sent just OOZED her style (which, I’m sure you know, is a total compliment). I don’t even think these pictures do the dresses justice because they are THAT CUTE. I am vowing right now to put this girl in these dresses at every opportunity. Thank goodness we go to church. Heh. THANK YOU, Zoot. You rawk.

^{The one hat has a little bow in the back (aww!) and the yellow dress has the most adorable bow in back too. AM DYING.}