Last time around I didn’t nest. Instead I made much point of saying how we had to clean and disinfect our ant-ridden studio before the baby arrived, yet never really got around to doing anything. I’m undomesticated, you see. I can just about manage to put my dirty laundry in the basket but anything beyond that is pretty much a miracle.
This time around I knew we’d have to do something with the house. Whilst not dirty, it is generally messy. We’re just not tidy people. None of us. So with the Christmas holidays here we packed the boy off to the mother in law’s and set to work, one room at a time.
Five days later we’ve pretty much done a deep clean on each of the rooms, gotten rid of the boy’s double bed and built up his new single, rearranged our bedroom so there’s room for the moses basket and a decent chair (I’m still holding out for one that rocks. I think the boy is too) and the house is actually looking in a decent condition. There’s still bits to do; the husband’s desk will forever be a junk yard, I think, and three days on he’s still trying to organise the boxes of lego, but we’re pretty much a go. Aside from a few purchases still to be made, Lumpy can make an appearance and we’ll be ready.
Of course the problem with all this activity is I didn’t realise quite how it would leave me feeling. In those first few days I felt on top of the world. I was achieving things, I was busy and despite the fact that I was tidying and cleaning, I wasn’t bored. Yesterday, though, I hit a low. The husband went out to pick the boy up and I was left behind waiting for the bed to arrive. And I had nothing to do. I felt completely lost and miserable. Then, once the bed arrived and I realised I couldn’t even carry the thing upstairs, I felt totally useless.
We have a week and a half of holidays until the boy returns to school. With Christmas in the middle and a boy to lavish attention on I’m sure I’ll be fine. It’s those hours when he’s away and before Lumpy’s born that bother me. How I’ll fill them, what I’ll do to stop myself sinking.
In more positive news, on Monday, amidst the falling snow and chaos, we went for the latest ante-natal appointment. Lumpy has managed to turn again, this time head down with his back on my left side. I’m hoping he doesn’t feel the need to move that much between now and the birth. I’m booked in to receive my home birth kit next Monday morning. The bad side was the midwife decided it was time for another blood test. At least she sprung it on me and did it there and then instead of making me wait until next time. I’ve still got a hole in my arm though.
So all that’s left to do is inflate the birth pool. We’ve cleared the dining table into the conservatory to make room and have everything waiting. We’re shopping for nursing bras this afternoon (have to drag the husband along to endure the torture too!) and then off out for our anniversaryso that’ll be a task for tomorrow morning.
And then it’s time to wait.
I am also COMPLETELY undomesticated in every way, yet two days before my son’s birth I cleaned our apartment top to bottom. It was sparkling when I left for my 37 week appointment. When I came home after giving birth 4 days later, the house was a DISASTER. Kitty litter, everywhere. Apparently Matt forgot about the cat, and the dishes…and the dust.
haha
I’m excited for Lumpy to arrive!
.-= Sarcastica said 8 Months; a letter to Nolan =-.
Glowstars Reply:
December 23rd, 2009 at 17:45
I’m sure men forget about everything when it comes to keeping the house clean! lol
What’s domesticated?
Have a great anniversary x
Glowstars Reply:
December 24th, 2009 at 10:22
I’#m glad someone else is as unfamiliar with the term as I am!
Good luck – I desperately wanted a home birth both times but it wasn’t to be. I know it sounds obvious (and you are probably sick of everyone saying it) but any time you get to yourself should be spent enjoying the boredom – you won’t lie on a bed staring at the ceiling in silence for a loooong time with two children!
Ellen (also at http:worldofamummy.wordpress.com/)
.-= Ellen said The primary school application maze =-.
Glowstars Reply:
December 24th, 2009 at 10:24
Clearly you’ve got the wrong idea about how motherhood works in this house – I lie on the bed staring at the ceiling and the husband does all the work!
Tidy houses are for ninnys ;o)
xx
.-= Mrs Hojo said It’s Christmas time =-.
Glowstars Reply:
December 24th, 2009 at 10:24
You callin me a ninny?
heeeyyy!!!
I am more domesticated than you are!!!
Plus don;t worry baby… something tells me that this time you will do just fine!!
luv ya!!!
xxx
.-= Urbanvox said Six Years of Madness and Mayhem! =-.
Glowstars Reply:
December 24th, 2009 at 10:24
If I get too bored I can always hassle you day in day out!
I’m on the OCD end of cleaning. I turn down playdates to clean, well sometimes. I’m desperate for company now so the house can wait.
It’s possibly unhealthy though. The trouble is I/we are also beyond messy so it’s a loosing battle.
Good luck with the homebirth!
.-= Nat said Gridlock =-.
Glowstars Reply:
December 24th, 2009 at 10:26
Perhaps the answer for both of us is a cleaner!
YAY! Can’t wait for Lumpy’s arrival!!
Merry Christmas xx
.-= Mrs Hojo said It’s Christmas time =-.
I am so excited about Lumpy. I can’t wait. Hope you had a lovely anniversary and a fantastic Christmas. Much love XXX
.-= Selma said MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU =-.
Very excited for Lumpy’s arrival. Just use the time to take long,hot baths, read the books you’ve been meaning to get to and watch those unseen movies! Good luck with your home birth!!
.-= Karen @ If I Could Escape said Giving back . . . =-.
Glowstars Reply:
December 28th, 2009 at 14:01
Long hot baths – I couldn’t fit in that tub if I were a size 8! lol
You sympathized with my cervical zings, which brought me to your blog where I see you are also scheduled for a home birth. I’m also attempting this with my first baby and am not far behind you, due in early January. Best of luck – it’s also reassuring to see you are on the same hormonal see-saw that I’m on!!
.-= Tanya said Mama Chat Volume 2 – A Dish on Parenting from Real Moms =-.