3 weeks to go!

Dad has requested that I have baby girl 2 weeks early in order to avoid conflicting with the Boston and Big Sur Marathons. I'm not sure if I will be able to comply with that request, but maybe I'll do my best to be at least 1 week late? Dad has pointed out that there is no certainty with one week late. I have pointed out that there is very little certainty in my life at the moment in general. :)

People keep asking if I'm ready to evict baby girl, and I think the answer is a surprisingly resounding - NO! I'm actually relatively comfortable, (though Brian keeps asking why I am always grunting) and I really am feeling like it's much easier to care for both of my children with her inside of me than it will be when she comes out. I am finally starting to feel like we have a functional system in place for being parents and individuals, and who knows how two kids will upset that routine.

Also, I've just been adoring hanging out with just Nathan at the moment. He's been super fun, tantrums have been at a minimum, and I'm just generally soaking in this "almost two" stage of awesome. He's just throwing new words out there right and left, stringing 4, 5, 6 words together to communicate, wanting to hold/hug everything in sight (including planes in the sky, and animals in books), and generally being our little goofball. It doesn't hurt that the weather has finally decided to become even remotely decent which means walks outside, trips to the park, and better metal states all around.

So yes, while I am absolutely looking forward to meeting our little girl, I am having a really hard time wanting to mess with the delicate balance we seem to have struck, which a newborn is sure to do no matter what.

Oh, also, the childbirth thing. I can't really say that I'm looking forward to that part with any great enthusiasm. I ironically felt much better prepared last time than I do now. We had taken classes, and the information was fresh. Now, while I have absolute confidence it will all go fine, I am dealing with that pesky (and appreciated) labor amnesia. I really do need to brush up on some pain management techniques or just settle myself with the idea of an epidural.

I really did need to pack a hospital bag though. It was terribly out of character for me not to have one packed yet, and I think I subconsciously haven't done it in the belief that once I have it I'll actually need it. So I did at 37 weeks. Seems reasonable, right?