So this past weekend I barely even got out of bed.  I was exhausted, crampy and irritable.  I took advantaage of the fact that Jason was home, the girls had no where to go and laid in bed all weekend (Go Saints!).  Then Monday I had to go to the doctor again and run errands and do the whole “I’m a personal driver” thing for Chandler, schlepping her to a better school in a neighboring city.  And then picking her up…  Thank goodness that I was feeling less tired.  Then this morning I woke up with a crazy jolt of energy!  Seriously, I was thinking about doing a 5k this morning.   So I went to the market, did 4 loads of laundry, cleaned the house and rearranged my office.  Oh and I did some really lame self portraits that I will post a link to after I upload and edit them.   I should be working on my Daring Bakers Challenge that is due tomorrow, but I don’t really feel like it.  I’d rather paint my nails and scrub the floors… in that order (counter-productive, I know).

And my to do list is almost done (just in time)…

1. Put up the crib - the same one that I used for Chandler and Taylor - Now waiting to have carpets cleaned
2. Evaluate whether the bedding or mattress needs to be replaced - I want to make her all new bedding - I found fabric to match the baskets I bought last week… when does that ever happen???
3. Move the changing table out of my office and empty it out - it is currently serving as a tv stand and office organizer
4. Purchase a stroller and carseat
5. Pack for the hospital - I just have a list of things for the cooler that needs to be packed when we leave 
6. Buy all those fun, but unmentionable, things that we girls have to buy to care for ourselves after giving birth
7. Do about 20 loads of baby laundry
8. Buy diapers, wipers and all the baby things needed for the baby changing station, including a countoured changing pad and covers
9. Buy all the bath things  I have purchased the bath accoutrements and a friend offered up her baby bath recliner
10. Register at the hospital
11. Finish my Birth Plan
12. Buy a baby swing and bouncy seat - found a seat but the swing is elusive.  I pick one that I like and then read the reviews and find myself at square one again!
13. Pick up my bassinet from my brother and his wife
14. Buy a baby monitor  a friend offered up her new monitor that they are not using 
15. Pick a name or shall I say “convince hubby of Bebe’s name” *** Closer on this one!!  Yeah!
16. Register for baby things - did this at Babies R Us and Target 
17. Find a diaper bag - I think I found one that I like and as a back up, my brother’s wife is also bringing a diaper bag that she is not using
18. Convince Jason that we do not need a guest bedroom, a nursey is more practical  For the record, I don’t think that a guest bedroom/nursery is practical at all, and I don’t see it lasting more than 6 months or so, but I rearranged the furniture (again) and things are much better in there.
19. Draw up a design for the closet in the GB/Nursery, build it and install it (ha ha!!)
20. Have carpets steam cleaned

So I had another exam yesterday (great fun!!)…  and I have progressed to 80% effaced (you deliver at 100%) but still holding at 3 cm!  Holy smokes!  How does one progress through labor with no contractions?  She is about half way through the birth canal and I am one sneeze away from holding a slippery little newborn.  I mean, it’s funny and all but it is also really concerning me because I have rapid delivery (Taylor was born in a mere 4 minutes).  I kinda need a contraction or two to let me know when to leave for the hospital, which is 35 minutes away, conservatively.

I have gained 7 pounds now and I measured my waist (or what was my waist) and at 38 inches today.  It really helps that I am 5′9″ tall and have a long torso.  

But the funniest thing, the thing I want to leave you with is this…  I will be 37 weeks on Thursday, and the doctor has encouraged me to “hold it” for another 8 days…   

Um, how do you do that?  Really.  If you know, please feel free to leave a comment.

~Blondie