Less than 4 weeks

We have less than 4 weeks to go. This weekend we installed the infant car seat and moved James's car seat, so the minivan is looking really hip now. The last few things on my list of "to do's" include buying a double stroller (still trying to decide on tandem or side by side, yes, life is difficult), packing my hospital bags (labor and delivery vs. longer stay room) and the ever-important pedicure. Yes, I know, it seems ridiculous to get a pedi simply because I'm pushing out a baby. But, hey, I won't be looking too hot in photos during and immediately after the birth, so at least I can take comfort in my feet looking nice. And, I can't get to them myself anymore, so some nice person will have to deal with it down there.

We have almost decided on the baby's name. I think he will like it, and everyone else will too. We are happy with our decision - it's a name I've been saying to myself for the past few months, so I'm excited to meet our little one. I wanted to name our second son a strong, solid name, yet one that also implied a laid back, go with the flow nature. Unfortunately, I'm finding from my friends that second kids just kind of have to fit into the life that the family is leading, rather than the other way around for the first kid. Hopefully that will make us as parents more relaxed and the baby more laid back in general too.

James seems to understand a bit more each day about the baby coming to live with us. He understands that the baby will drink mommy's milk, so hopefully that won't freak him out - esp. since he has no memory of the fact that he breastfed for 16 months! In general, he is doing well and is a typical 2 year old. Some time outs happened this weekend but he seemed to learn his lesson.

So besides baby prep (the nursery is done, I've bought diapers, wipes, washed the clothes, raised the crib, etc. etc.) I am trying to get us done with other prep as well. Greg's car needs a new tire, so he's in charge of that (oh, his new job is going well and we are all loving his new very short commute!). We got a new, faster laptop today - Greg's Father's Day (and Christmas, I might add) gift. And I'm finally copying the Intonations cd to drop off with the current director (my college a cappella group) so they can have a copy for their archives - they didn't have the cd (the first cd the group ever did) or the tape (which sounds ridiculous, but hey, it was 1994). So when I found out these facts and the fact that the director lives in Herndon, I emailed and said I'd drop off the stuff this summer pre-baby. Phew. So stuff like that has been weighing on me. I've put off other stuff like buying a scrapbook and ordering announcements until the baby has been born and we've settled in a bit. I know, I'm nuts but I always think ahead. :)

This week looks to be a good mix of activity and down time. Hopefully we can go to the pool but only a few times...it's STRESSFUL to take James alone and to be this pregnant. He just runs around and throws balls and makes me crazy. And then, he hears the ice cream man and wow, all hell breaks loose. Sigh. But we paid for it and gosh knows when we'll go again post-baby, esp. in August. Ugh the humidity! So besides the pool, we have a meal drop off/playdate tomorrow, then a visit with my parents on Tuesday to get out of the house, then some playgroups, etc. And then Thursday we have an ultrasound to check the baby's weight...Greg and I have discussed this, and we are not concerned about having a big baby - let's just say, I am not concerned. I do not want a C-section nor do I want to be induced, so, no matter what they say, we'll just nod and smile. I've written a decent birth plan outline which I plan to introduce to my doctors on Thursday, so we'll see how that goes. We are just of the mind set that we will be our best advocates for our son's birth and for our birth experience. I'm not saying that I won't take an epidural but I want to go as long as possible without one.

I'd better sign off and go to bed. I took an hour and a half nap today and yet I'm still tired. Greg has been really great this weekend - got up both days at 6 a.m. (as my mother said, "Greg? Greg? Greg got up at 6?"), made coffee, took out the garbage and on Saturday, played with James until 8 a.m. so I could get some rest. Honestly, I think the idea of the new computer just got him excited, so he couldn't sleep. :) Hey, I'll take it. Plus, he played outside a LOT with James - the kid can't soak up enough fresh air. So I took advantage of that to get my crazy stuff done inside.

I'll post a few photos from recent weeks now.