This weekend was all about getting ready for baby. The hospital bags are packed, and most of the things on my baby to-do list have officially vanished. It finally feels like we’re making some real progress!
Saturday morning, the girls and I started by deep cleaning the car. The weather was just right, cool enough for me to survive as long as I stayed in the shade. I decided to move the toddler car seats all the way to the back so it’ll be easier to get baby in and out. The girls absolutely love riding back there, and so far it’s been a success. I can already tell climbing into the back seat with this giant belly isn’t exactly graceful, but thankfully I’ll be much more mobile once baby is here.
That afternoon, we tackled as much as we could from our storage room. Let me tell you, I should have done these chores weeks ago. With how little room I have left, this bowling ball of a belly gets heavy fast. I’d get frustrated having to stop and catch my breath after every little task, but that’s just the reality of this stage of pregnancy.
Meanwhile, Chase went full Superman and carried the changing table up from the basement while I sorted through all the infant clothes that could pass as gender-neutral. Of course, I nearly cried over every tiny outfit. I’d look at my husband and whine, “Babe... they were so little!” Poor guy. He deserves a medal for surviving my hormones at this point.
The bassinets are set up both upstairs and downstairs, which will make life a little easier. One of the perks of having the girls first is that we have two of almost everything, so I won’t have to constantly haul baby gear from one floor to another.
I could definitely tell Violet senses that something big is about to change. She’s my little Velcro baby and usually loves helping me with everything, but this weekend I could tell she needed a little extra attention. She’s so excited about her baby brother, and I know once he’s here she’ll understand even more. For now, though, she’s been acting out a little more than usual, which I know is completely normal for siblings adjusting to a new baby.
Watching her brought me back to before the girls were born. I remember being so afraid of splitting my love and attention between two babies at once. What if I accidentally favored one? What if I looked back years later and regretted not giving enough to one twin over the other? Somewhere along the way, I realized love doesn’t divide, it multiplies. My heart didn’t have to split in half; it simply grew bigger. And I know it’ll grow again for this little boy.
Even though we still have a few things left to finish before he arrives, I’d like to think I can relax a little more after this weekend. I’d still love to clean out the closets and shampoo the carpets, but I also know those things aren’t absolutely necessary. If I’m honest, they’re probably just keeping my mind busy so I don’t become a complete nervous wreck over the next five or six weeks.
For now, we’re as ready as we can be... and now we wait. (Well, as patiently as a very pregnant woman can wait.)
