Things I’m Looking Forward To*

Yesterday was a bit of a challenging day for me. It started off so lovely, then Hank had meltdown after meltdown and by 1:30pm I was exhausted and passed out of my bed. I never nap anymore… for the most part I find it just isn’t worth it. When I nap I never sleep well at night, but after three nights of interrupted sleep (Hank’s version of helping me prepare for the bebe) I couldn’t keep my eyes open.

I paid for it later as I tossed and turned for an hour at bedtime but those glorious, peaceful, meltdown-free 90 minutes I napped were worth it.

My energy just isn’t what it used to be now that I’m in the “larger-than-life” phase of my pregnancy. I really can’t complain about much–aside from some nausea early on and some other textbook symptoms, I haven’t struggled too much. And I’m well aware that the fact that I’m pregnant at all is a huge blessing, so I try not to complain.

Much.

That being said, now that the countdown to baby time is really on (T-20 days to my due date), there are a few things that I am looking forward to again…

1. Laying down. I mentioned earlier that I had a nap yesterday… it was lovely, but it was not without the assistance of my BFF: Tums. I cannot recline in any way, shape or form without taking them or my heartburn flares and rages. I cannot wait to be able to think, “I feel like laying down for 37 seconds while my children destroy my house” and just be able to DO it. Bliss.
2. Walking. Like, actual walking. What I’m doing now is more like a slow duck waddle where I have to sway side to side to create enough momentum to propel myself forward.
3. RUNNING. Once I’ve got that walking thing back, I honestly cannot wait to start running again. I figure it will be October(ish) before I get the all-clear to hit the pavement, but I am so, so excited. It’s been hard seeing all these happy joggers running past my house and car and not being able to throw on my shoes and join them. Right now I’m that creepy lady with my face pressed up against the window watching them run with envy.
4. On that note, putting on shoes of any kind would be amazing. I’m down to two pairs of sandals that I can sort of slide on my feet without assistance.
5. Why you ask? Because my feet are SO FAT. I thought I knew feet swelling from my previous two pregnancies, but being pregnant in the summer is a new beast. I long ago lost the ability to touch (and see) my feet, so the Hubster bought me an amazing spa package and I’m off to have a massage and pedicure tonight. I know he bought it because he loves me and knows how stressful the last month of work has been… and also because my feet are large and frightening and maybe this will help? haha (Note: they are not swollen beyond the point of normalcy. I’ve already had this chat with my midwife. Fear not.)
6. Belts. I cannot wait to be able to wear my non-maternity clothes again… specifically pants that do not need to be pulled up to my chest to stay on.
7. My energy. Right now I spend a lot of my time feeling so… useless. I know that I’m not, but I can barely complete one task around the house at a time without needing to take a serious break afterward. I tried to clean my bathroom on the weekend and I had to take breaks between cleaning the tub and the sink. How sad is that?! I finally have the time to blitz my house, and have absolutely no energy to do any of it. I’m much better at just letting things go and not beating myself up about it, but it would still be nice to not feel so drained after picking up three toys.
8. Regular sized bath towels. Lemme just say that my regular towel would be wholly inappropriate (and ineffective) these days. Go beach or go home.
9. Not having a wet shirt when I wash dishes. I am at the place where I have to put an apron on to wash the dishes. Why, you ask? If I forget and just start cleaning, I eventually notice that the lower half of my belly feels… chilly. And wet. When I go look in the mirror (because I clearly can’t see that region on my own anymore… *sigh*) there will be a great big wet stripe across my belly where it has leaned against the counter. It’s super attractive. It’s even better if I forget to check and leave the house like that. Which may or may not have happened. More than once.
10. FOOD. All of the food. This baby has parked himself in a place where he severely limits my appetite… I will sit down absolutely starving, and be SO full six bites later. Then of course I’m hungry again in an hour… craving all the things I can’t eat because they will cause my heartburn to rage. It’s a vicious, vicious cycle.

In the grand scheme of things, these are all small sacrifices in the cause of something much, much greater. More than anything I am excited to meet this tiny ninja that hiccups and roundhouse kicks me all day long.

I’m just also looking forward to holding him in pants that don’t require an elastic waistband and shoes that I put on my own non-fat feet. ;)