The things people do when you are holding a baby

It's really strange. The way people interact with me when I'm holding Etta, or have her in a store is really unlike anything I've ever experienced before. In Target, I've had several women stop me, ask how old she is, how much she weighed when she was born, whether she's eating and sleeping well and then proceed to tell me all kinds of things about their kids.

A few weeks ago I was at the doctor's office with Cree and we were waiting for a while, so I had Etta in the lobby and we were walking around, she was sleeping, etc. One of the people in there told me about her 2 kids, 17 and 18, and that she was looking for a companion/lap dog for her mom. A guy reminded me that I shouldn't pick her up every time she cries, because then she'll be spoiled. A woman told me about when she had her daughter, and asked if I had any stitches and told me about the importance of taking time to heal.

A (rather young, I must say) nurse told me that she had SIX kids and really loved babies and that her oldest is 18 and that none of them had her eyes. Later, she came back and asked to hold Etta and when she gave her back she told me that she'd had her tubes tied, but there is some kind of expiration on that procedure -- 12 years or something -- and that she was pregnant again, but she wasn't going to keep it.

It was heartbreaking. You could tell she really wanted to have the baby, but that she thought she shouldn't because she had so many already. Her oldest daughter is also pregnant, and isn't keeping hers either. It was really sad, she didn't well up, but I did. I asked her how she felt about it, and she just sighed.

A few individual facts

One month from today, February 22, is my due date and I can barely put my socks on.

I have been wearing one of 3 pairs of shoes every day, none of which require bending down or tying.

The childbirth classes are informative, I am finally becoming desensitized to watching birth videos from the 80s.

Bringing a selection of decaffeinated hot teas to a birth center meeting will endear you to the group indefinitely.

Last night, I tried to make extra dinner to put in the freezer for post-baby-arrival, but then we ate it.

The baby room is almost complete but we still need to pack the hospital bag and install the car seat.

We had a lovely baby shower last weekend and had so much fun. I cried in front of everyone when I read the cards.

Birthing classes

Last week, we began our childbirth classes at The Birth Center. It's been interesting so far, and I'm alternating between looking forward to the labor/delivery process and trembling in fear. I take refuge in the fact that people (including many of you!) do it every. day. and if they/you can do it, then I can too. Right?

We're planning on a natural childbirth, without pain meds or medical interference at all, ideally, so there's that too.

As a part of the childbirth classes, there was also a breastfeeding class which was very informative and useful. I'm feeling more prepared as we get closer to Delivery Day, but I also can't help feeling nervous! Luckily, we've got some relaxation techniques we've been working on, and whenever I feel tense about it, I try to take some deep breaths. It's helping so far.

Isn't that nice of me?

I don't know if it's some kind of hormonal thing, but I've been really nice. And I'm feeling really happy. It's kind of weird, actually. Not that I'm some big jerk normally, but I've noticed the past few weeks that I've put priority on doing nice things for people, and Cree is the primary recipient.

For example, I might make her some coffee on a day when I'm already running a little behind because I think she'd appreciate it. This is not earth-shattering, but it is a difference from before. I read in one of The Books that there is something to the happy-pregnancy-hormones, so I'm leaning toward that. It makes up for the crying a few months ago, I guess.

Also, since some of you were interested, I'll give you a Halloween update. I had my costume all ready, and The Burger Baroness came over to get ready for the party. Cree helped her make her costume, and it was killer, by the way. Here's a borrowed shot:


We're getting ready, and then 9:30 (maybe) rolled around and we still hadn't left. It was pretty much curtains from there and I ended up not even going to the party because I was all tired or something. So I didn't get to wear my costume, but I put a variant of it on so I could share it with all of you.


Do you get it?