I have done nothing - judge me!

At the OB/Gyn's office today, the nurse handed me a promotional bag of goodies filled with pampers, diaper rash cream and baby tushy wipes.

"Gee," I said, when the doctor walked into the room. "This kinda makes me feel like I'm really having a baby."

"That's your only clue?" he said dryly.

Ha. Ha. I still find it very hard to believe - even though I am well into the swing of things - that in a few short months someone will think of me as their mother. I've been so wrapped up in worry about having a healthy baby, I've literally overlooked the fact that I am indeed having A baby.

Aside from mentally preparing myself to be away from work and for the hardships that accompany breastfeeding and getting a newborn to sleep through the night, I've done little else to get ready for the kid's impending arrival.

No crib. No swing. No baby bathtub. I haven't bought anything yet.

I suppose I should get on top of these essential preparations, but I still feel like there is an ocean of time before the situation becomes more real.

Some people won't tamper with fate and don't shop or set up a nursery until the baby's born and on it's way home from the hospital. But, I've never been superstitious. Others, have had the entire room ready by 30 weeks - with little outfits tucked neatly into drawers. All of it just waiting. But that seems strange to me too.

I'll have to find a happy medium - maybe I'll take advantage of Boxing Day sales and buy a few cute things (does baby stuff go on sale?? It seems like it wouldn't) and leave them in an unopened bag on the floor of the baby's room.

That messy approach will surely enrage my neat freak husband.

But, getting him all worked up just might make me feel a bit less stressed about what I haven't yet done (uhm, I love you Ted!)!

Comments

[TorontoMom2Be]

It's not bad to start preparing, especially after 24 weeks when baby becomes "viable" and that you're feeling good. I always laugh when I hear people decorating their nurseries when they are barely 12 weeks pregnant. That, is way *too* early. My take is, as long as you're feeling good - take this time to decorate and enjoy. I'm almost 24 weeks and just got our crib last weekend since it was on sale. Secondly, we were given a whole slew of things by friends and neighbours, so we're pretty much ready to go. Just a fresh coat of paint, and some cute baby clothes and viola!

Enjoy this time, because who knows - you might start to feel crappy (I hope it doesn't happen), but take this opportunity to start to put things in place - especially over the holidays.

[Mary]

My first came 4 weeks early...we had nothing ready! That was when I discovered that babies don't need much at all....change table? I changed both kids on the floor...no chance of them falling off the change table...crib? Neither baby slept in a crib until they were about a year old (co-sleeping is fantastic!)..baby bath? washed both girls in our bathroom sink or took baths with them in the bathtub...I could go on and on but basically babies don't need a lot.

[Stephannie]

Even though I was pretty prepared for when our baby arrived - decorating, painting, buying the necessities - I never once felt like I was going to be a mother, that I would have an actual baby in an empty bedroom in our house. It wasn't until I was in the operating room, strapped to the table having an emergency C-section that I turned to my doctor and said, rather humourously, "Oh yeah, I forgot, there's an actual BABY that comes at the end of all this!"
Mind you, this was after more than 30 hours of labour...lol...it still makes me chuckle to this day!

[Cora]

I'm 23 weeks and have purchased absolutely nothing...aside from one bib and a book called I love Daddy that I used to tell my partner we're having a baby. I'll make a list over the holidays and watch for the items we like to go on sale. I don't expect the baby's room to be set up until march break.