As we get ready for this little babe to arrive, we've been advised by many friends to "enjoy these weeks". I've actually told a lot of patients this same advice in the past. I've cautioned them of the upcoming night-time feedings, sore nipples, diaper changes, general sleep deprivation, and unpredictable changes that parenting will bring. What great advice I thought I was giving. Now I get pretty annoyed when people tell me to enjoy this time.
I imagined that in my last month of pregnancy I would be doing all kinds of really cool things- hiking my favorite trails, getting extra hours of sleep, cooking amazing things to put into the freezer, sewing all kinds of crafty home-wares, and getting ahead on darling knitting projects.
But somehow- life is not as idyllic as I pictured it! The pregnancy has been healthy and pretty darn easy. But these last few weeks are testing me a bit. My nights are full of frequent trips to pee, painful hips and low back, and difficulty rolling over (imagine a six-point turn). So with such poor sleep, my motivation after a long day of work to do all of the lovely above listed projects, is pretty poor. Of course Brent is getting no sleep with such a restless bed partner. So we're a little grumpy, restless, and anxious for the babe to come.
We're excited to meet this little creature. We're excited to have our lives turned upside-down, and to embrace the chaos of parenthood. I think we're both as ready as we can be, waiting with a feeling of "bring it on". This kind of anticipatory anxiety forces us to try to slow down and "be" in the moment.
Hopefully we'll be able to take that annoying, but good advice to enjoy these weeks. I'm going to try to enjoy these moments of discomfort, fatigue, excitement, uncertainty, urinary frequency, and nervousness, and maybe put a casserole or two in the freezer and get a little exercise.
-Val
