And are feeling ready to meet our little man. Yesterday I washed and put the baby hammock together so now he has somewhere snug to sleep when we get home. We used the hammock for Tommy and the kids can’t remember it so thought it was all very exciting when we were assembling it. One of Lil’s dolls is currently occupying it at the moment – luckily she doesn’t wake for night time feeds!
We also got the baby bath out and gave it a wash…I’d be happy to wash the baby in the sink while it is little but I do like popping the bath on the table so that the kids can gather around and be a part of it. Tommy and Lil have been having a bath in the bath for the last few nights and then turn the baby bath into a boat and float around the big bath in it – great entertainment!
So, while I could easily busy myself with odd jobs and sewing projects and more housework, I would happily have the baby tonight but I’m also content to wait for another week – it would just be nice to know WHEN that day is going to be!
SUPPLIES: Make It Perfect, Baby Shower Creative Card Ed Emberley, Happy Drawing Too, Sheep in Natural Art Gallery, Urban Mod, Pointelle in Shade
This naming a baby business is doing my head in! How do you do it? Naming a baby is such a big deal – you are responsible for giving this little person the title that they will be referred to for their whole life. If that isn’t difficult enough, getting both Mum and Dad to agree on one name is even harder!
Oscar’s name just clicked one day, I don’t think we actually thought about it that much, it just popped into my head and we both liked it and it was done. I heard Lil’s name in a restaurant one day…one of the wait staff called out “Lil” to someone in the kitchen and I was sold! Tommy is a family name (after my Dad) and it’s completely fitting that we named him Tommy because he has SO many characteristics and similarities to Dad.
But this one…it’s so tricky.
I could name a zillion girls – girl’s names can be pretty and sweet and cute and quirky and tomboyish…but it seems that a boys name needs more thought and attention.
I’ve got a handful of names that I actually really like, but Jaron isn’t coming to the party with any of them!
Thanks to Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends I think we have agreed on one. (Really, I was lying in bed one night and picked up the Thomas book sitting on my bedside table and read them all out!)
But I’m not spilling the beans because you already know that we’re having a boy so I’ve got to surprise you with something, right?! You’ll find out soon enough…today is week 39, so I’m expecting to have this baby boy in about 2 weeks!
I’ve been consistently 6 days overdue with all of my babies, so am planning on it happening that way again this time…I’ll be in for a shock if this one decides to make an early appearance because I’ve got my schedule planned for the next 2 weeks and am still whittling away at my list of things to do before baby!
I did, however get myself a little bit organised today and finally made a start on the hospital bag. With Tommy, I didn’t start packing until I was actually in labour (I know, 6 days overdue…what was I thinking?!) and his labour was so fast that it was very rushed and a little bit stressful leaving it until the last minute!
We keep chatting about what this little one is going to look like…our other three have been totally different as babies. From completely different moulds so I wonder whether this one is going to have a different look altogether or take after one of the others?
“Motherhood is not a hobby, it is a calling. You do not collect children because you find them cuter than stamps. It is not something to do if you can squeeze the time in, it is what God gave you time for.”
1, 2, 3 & 4: I’m determined to be organised with family birthdays this year, so every couple of months I get ALL of the presents ready for the next few months, wrap them, pack them up and post them off. And to save money on postage (Australia Post is a killer now!) I’ll send all of the family member’s presents in one parcel with instructions not to open until the big day(s)! Usually I start off the year with good intentions, but by about now my enthusiasm has fizzled and the poor people with second half of the year birthdays miss out. So far, it’s working…
1. My little house elves are finally paying off! ** 2. Tommy happily obliges to a quick trim at the family salon after he helped Jaron buy a new pair of clippers. ** 3 & 4. Cute face (and arm) painting.
1. Big and little Tommy are smitten when they get to meet and jam with Lorin Nicholson – an inspirational blind guitarist. Little Tommy now wants a guitar for his birthday. ** 2. Lil gets clever and devises a sign so that “when you ask me to do stuff I can just hold it up!” ** 3. Smallies read together. ** 4. We took a little pre-baby trip to Hobart and the highlight was the hotel room and swimming pool!
1 & 2. Seems like there have been family birthdays galore in the last month with more to come in the next few weeks. On Sunday we celebrated both Jaron and little Nancy – I’ll share the recipe for Jaron’s triple chocolate mousse cake topped with fresh and chocolate-coated raspberries tomorrow!
With just over 4 weeks until D-day, I’ve got lots running through my head at the moment. I quite like the rush I get leading up to having a new baby…my To-Do List gets even longer than usual and I actually manage to work through it at a faster pace than usual because I know that soon enough things will change dramatically and I’ll be lucky to cook dinner and get the washing each day! Here are some of my thoughts this week…
On Growing:
Me at 11 weeks pregnant vs. 35 weeks pregnant.
Funny how you forget just how massive your tummy is going to get! When I was 11 weeks I thought I had a poking out tummy – ha! What I’d give to look like that right now!!! It seems like the last couple of weeks I have gone from feeling comfortable with a nice sized tummy to getting very large and a lot more uncomfortable. Sleeping is hard, even when I am really tired. I’m just trying to view it as my body’s way of preparing me for sleepless nights in the future. But, I have to admit that this is the best late stage of pregnancy I’ve had out of all four babies. I don’t know why, because I am older and busier this time but think it might have something to do with starting much fitter and continuing my gym regime throughout the entire pregnancy. I’ve only just started to slow down now, but still manage to make a couple of classes a week and plan to keep doing so for the next month.
On Nesting: I love this instinct! I have set myself a goal to clean out every single cupboard in the house before I have the baby and I’m about half way through. Our house is for sale (anyone want to buy it – please?! We love this one but have great plans for the next one!) and if it happens to sell just after I have the baby I want to make sure that I’m not stressed out trying to clean and pack at the same time so I am getting rid of junk and clutter while I have the time and energy.
Aside from doing lots of cleaning jobs, I’ve been sewing like a mad woman! New patterns, birthday presents for the next few months, kids clothes, baby clothes…I’ve got a big “To Sew” list and I seem to be adding to it as quickly as I cross items off!
This big pile is a peek at what I’ve sewn over the last two weeks – mad woman, I tell ya! – but sewing really is a relaxing pastime for me. Some people prefer reading, others watch TV, but I find joy in making! I feel like I’m bonding with the baby as I sew things for him. I imagine what they will look like on him and get all excited about finally meeting him. And when I get my act together, I’ll photograph all of these goodies to share over the next few weeks too!
On Labour: My attention has also been focused on labour. It’s no secret that I’m a labour-junkie. It’s hard to explain…I feel the pain and in the moment I don’t think I’d be telling you that I’m having fun, but I love the rush of labour – the lead up to it and the moments right after. I’m getting a little excited about doing it again! I’ve been very blessed to have straight-forward and relatively short labours though – and in my mind I can’t see this one being tough after the last three, but I keep having to remind myself that it could be a killer and not to get my hopes up too high! (See Lil’s labour story here and Tommy’s here – Oscar’s was 7 hours and very “text-book”, I’ve got it written down in a journal and should transfer it to the blog sometime for safekeeping.) Aside from thinking about labour, I’ve been spending a bit of time watching as many episodes of One Born Every Minute that I can get my hands on and have watched the Call The Midwife series too. I love seeing how different women respond to labour and how their labours progress. Call The Midwife is a very educating peek into how pregnancy and childbirth was dealt with in the 1950’s – watch it if you haven’t already. How things have progressed and improved with time! If I had to choose a new profession, I think I’d choose midwife. Or maybe a doula? Anything to get me into as many labours as possible!!
