Tick, tock, tick

I now constantly feel as if I am going to have a baby any minute. I have more or less constant mild period-like pains and suspect that I am leaking amniotic fluid. (sorry, was that more information than you needed?) I also am able to go to sleep at virtually any moment. This is significant for me; I don't like to sleep long hours, rarely nap, and even have trouble sitting down for long, in my normal life. If I do sit down, I am one of those annoying leg jigglers that drive people crazy. I think both of my children are destined to take after me judging by current levels of activity, which is unfortunate.

OK, the good news of today is that I have hired someone to clean my house. Yep, I've been saying I would do it for years now, and finally got around to finding someone. Her name is Gulie, and she is from Georgia (former member of the USSR, not the southern state.) Georgia isn't a million miles from the Ukraine, and my Ukrainian grandma is a great housecleaner (among other things). I may be reaching here. Anyway, hopefully this will work out, as I am now physically incapacitated and the house is getting rough around the edges. It has been really bugging me to notice things like the dust accumulating under the couch and be unable to do anything about it - I could ask the Hub to do it, but I think I may have reached critical mass with my constantly asking him to pick up things from the floor and do things for our daughter while I sit on the couch like a lazy cow. I still cook the dinners, however, with the caveat that whatever it is must be cooked in one pot. We've had a lot of pasta and stews lately. No one dares complain.

Conversations with babies (2)

After putting a chocolate cake into the oven, 4 year old goes to town on the bowl used to melt the chocolate:

Mom: You really love licking the bowl, don't you.
Kid: I think I'll lick bowls until I'm 19.
Mom: Oh really?
Kid: (holding up a chocolate finger) Only in the house though.

Don't try this at home

I thought I was having the baby on Monday, but no sign of him yet. I'll tell you why I thought I was in labor - I woke up with a stabbing pain in my lower back accompanied by nausea. Later on the pain spread to the front, which was when we decided it was time to get the medical authorities on the case. They sent me home saying to take a break. I went to sleep for the afternoon and that was it, no more labor pains. I'm not sure if I'm glad or not - I do have some things to do this week, but I really have had it up to here with carrying this bowling ball (with attitude) around in my stomach. Last night the kicking and squirming kept me up all night. Delightful.

I think my false labor was brought on by the birthday party I gave for my daughter's 4th. There were 10 kids, but it felt like 100. It was an interesting study in child psychology - some of them turned a bit evil, like the 5 year old girl who took all the candy from the pinata and refused to share. And the other 5 year old girl was so overwhelmed by the melee that she had to retreat to the living room by herself and watch tv. And the mess! How did that grass get in the toilet? When did the front windows get scribbled with crayons? Why are there dismembered Barbie parts in the fridge? All children's parties are off-site from now on.

jitters

I think I am getting ill. I have that creepy headache-behind-the-eyes one gets when a flu is about to strike. Or, it could just be an effect of my sleep deficit. Last night I was really angry about something, and cried for a while; after that, I couldn't seem to sleep and stayed up until 2:00 reading The Fountainhead. The final stretch of pregnancy is getting to me .

My bump is like a shelf. When I am sitting down I could rest a of cup of coffee and a muffin on it. My braxton hicks contractions are starting to hurt.

I went on maternity leave this week (a bit early) because a) I have been struggling physically b) I think the baby's going to come early and c) the office is in crisis with the investors and I'd say it is a blessing not to have to pay me for this month. I need to race around and get all the baby gear together, and try to look after myself a bit better. You know you are apathetic when you eat cereal for two out of your three daily meals and pizza for the third. I also need to get a pedicure, as I can't reach my feet any more.

housewives
I also spent some time socialising with a few of the full time moms on my new street today. All come from (self-described) high-powered careers in things like PR. I wouldn't describe my marketing career as high-powered really. I mean, it has been a little stressful at times, but nothing unusual. More interesting was the concern they all have with renovating the house and interior design. Obviously, the family who sold this house to us was not keeping up with the Joneses, as it were. Everybody else seems to have skylights, expensive duvets, curtains that match the couch, playrooms, elaborate gardens, etc. I'm glad we at least stuck in hardwood floors and some antique mirrors. And repainted. Not that I feel compelled to compete with the neighbors, mind you.

big is beautiful

So, I found out today that my unborn baby is already over 6 pounds. That's acceptable newborn-size! At this rate I think we might hit 10 pounds. I'm not sure that's going to work. People already think I look ridiculously pregnant.

I'm glad though. It's better for the baby to be big - at least I know that if he comes early, he'll probably be OK. I might have problems in the birth - but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.