Ready. Almost.

I think that I am very close to being prepared for Claire’s arrival assuming I don’t go into labour today. Or tomorrow. But Thursday is looking good for me. I have a few more items to pick up for my hospital bag (new pair of yoga pants and t-shirt so I can have something clean, not stretched out, and stain-free to wear afterwards), some new sippy cups for Callum’s bag and his toys/blankets, gather my labour music and pick out a coming-home outfit for Claire. I can probably get that all accomplished today if I made an effort. Or I can knit and right now, knitting is looking up.
I’ve given up trying to get Callum into his new bed before Claire arrives. I’ve given up even trying to get his new room livable so he can play in there and become comfortable. I’ve simply given up. I told Steve that I’m officially on maternity leave.
I feel like preparing Callum, and Steve, for the upheaval a new babe will bring has been one of the hardest things I’ve coped with in a ridiculously long time. I don’t know if this is some hormonal flucuation with this pregnancy, if Steve is in some sort of denial or if he’s simply being stubborn on this front just to disagree with me. The last point is what it feels like although that is likely not the truth. Its been this constant struggle to get him to do anything that usually ends in some tirade that I under appreciate what he has done which in turn leads to a tirade of him not appreciating what I’m trying to do. For the record, I DO appreciate what he’s done but a lot of what he’s accomplished got done because of all the pre-prep I did. He laid the laminate in the bedroom, sure, but I ripped up the baseboards, the carpet, the underlay, the carpet strips and staples. I took out the closet doors. I mudded, sanded and painted the trim when it was re-installed. I moved almost everything out of that room (minus the furniture). All while VERY pregnant because it all happened in the last few weeks. I’m just sayin’. I should also say, in the spirit of fairness that Steve did a lot this past weekend, including a run to the dump, installing the closet doors and shelves, putting together random bedrails and beds, as well as a lot of my ‘chores’ because I was in town running errands (laundry, watching Callum, etc, etc) or just plain feel lousy. And he’s got hay fever so he’s not exacty feeling like a trooper either.
Having a well-adjusted toddler is only going to make Steve’s life easier because in the middle of the night when Callum needs us, Steve is going to have to be that person. I’m going to be breastfeeding and healing and sleeping but I will NOT let my little guy become second fiddle, on this I will be a full-fledged bitch. If that means Steve doesn’t get a decent night’s sleep, tough shit. He had 9 months to help Callum adjust and fought me every step of the way, and he has a lot on his plate right now at work, so a good night’s sleep is probably in his best interests but like I said. I gave it my best, I had everyone’s best interest at heart and now I’ve given up. Its no longer my problem. heh.
The room is ‘ready’, the only thing that could still be done is the walls are in need of some serious patching and repainting, but its a room for a toddler so I figure I won’t even bother. I am thinking about moving in the furniture and Callum’s clothes tonight. I can’t decorate the room because Michaels doesn’t have what I need to do so, so that has to wait. He seems to enjoy it in there right now, so that’s a good sign.
Other than that little hiccup, I think I’m good. We have two freezers full to the brim of food I’ve made, and I am hoping to get to Costco this week to stock up the pantry too. The house is relatively clean, I just need to clean our bathroom and keep it clean. Baby stuff is slowly finding new homes in the cupboards and rooms and with the exception of a random TV in the living room, the house is looking good.
Plus, Spring is in the air, the birds are singing and the daffedils are popping up. It feels good.