It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like...

Whew. The house is decorated for Christmas, including the tree, up and decorated. Could use another strand of lights... My hospital bag is mostly packed, including a tiny adorable girly outfit complete with tights and booties. Pump parts and bottles have been located and washed, just in case. Pink flowers are stamped around the border of my daughter's room. The infant car seat pad is washed and mended (stupid mice), and the straps are at the littlest setting possible, ready for my (hopefully) tiny girl. My birth plan is printed & in my purse, ready to be discussed at my Tuesday appt. I still have a mile-long to-do list, my house is still a mess (and my mother is coming when the baby is born, so it'd be nice if it was a little cleaner when the baby decides to come). But I feel a lot better just having those 'important' things done and ready.

And sitting under these homey Christmas lights, with the tree glowing on the side of the room, providing plenty of light even without the lamp on, I feel relaxed. These lights remind me of the weeks when Z was tiny. Many hours sitting on the couch together, nursing, rocking, holding, wondering what in the world I had gotten myself into, and whether my life would ever be the same again. (In case you don't have kids yet, or your first is still tiny and you're wondering this yourself, the answer to that question is: No, it won't. But it won't always be as hard as those first weeks, either. It will be even better than before, in many ways, I promise.) Anyway,now that the lights are up, it feels so much more real - like, okay, she can really come now, because the Christmas tree and lights are up. :)