I have always been a planner. I have lists everywhere – in my purse, organizer, notebooks, on the fridge, etc. I like to think that I am organized and will be ready for anything that life throws my way.
This pregnancy was one of those things. I was ready to be pregnant because I planned for it. I read about pregnancy. B and I talked about pregnancy. We had plans. I wasn’t scared to be pregnant or have a baby because I knew I had roughly 8 months to plan for the baby’s arrival.
And 8 months is a long time, right??
WRONG. Wrong wrong wrong. Friends – the panic has set in and I am starting to become a nervous wreck. Moving into a new house while pregnant was not as easy as one would think. We have not unpacked everything and we have been here for over a month. We don’t have curtains, our bed isn’t put together, our tvs aren’t mounted, there is nothing hanging on the walls…you should see our closet…
oh I could just go on and on. And the next person who tells me that these things take time is going to get smacked…because I am only tutoring at night and these things should be done!
SO, I started a “Things We Need for Annabelle” list today (based on what we received at our showers) and it makes me want to vomit. I also have a “Things We Need to Do” list that must be complete before she arrives. I just added three more items to that list above btw...
With all of these lists, I surely hope we can get everything done if we have some help from family and friends. But for me alone – I am practically ADD. I can’t get one thing done at a time because I can never focus on that one thing. I have to do 2 or 3 things at a time. And then I screw them up.
I also become extremely irritable when I have a lot on my plate.
I get cranky, I get mean, I yell at my cat for meowing too nuch, and I cry.
I cry a lot.
And, of course, last night I asked myself…
What if she comes early?
I am 30 weeks tomorrow…
Excuse me while I go throw up…
Oh goodness, those are some pretty good lists. I’m a little panicked for you now. I bet there are plenty of people who would love to help you though. And hey, if you want some free maternity photos, I’m in Chattanooga!
Oh man! I do the same thing. Make a to do list, start a project, start another one, and by the end of the day, the house is a mess and nothing is done! I’m sure you will get everything (or at least the most important things) done before she is here. If I have learned anything, it is that there is nothing scarier to a husband than a pregnant woman on a mission!
I really feel for you sweetie! You won’t believe it but I feel like I’m reading a repeat of my pregnancy…both of them! We moved 4 times during my first pregnancy and twice during my second! With LJ, the second, we moved into our house 17 days before he joined our family!
I’m an obsessive planner! In my day book I plan time to plan! I’m totally serious right now…so I get the panic! And it’s okay! Get in a nice bath tonight with whatever scent soothes and relaxes you and let your mind run. Because despite what others think…the act of planning relaxes a planner! 😉
The next step is to break those to-do lists down! Organize them in most important to least important. Then tackle it one day at a time. The night before choose one or two things starting at the top that you feel you can manage to accomplish in the next day! And be realistic! Don’t plan to set up the crib if no one is there to help (I’m speaking from experience…trying this will tempt you to grab wine!) Go to daddy and say on such and such day we will do crib. But choose a task that you can accomplish and just focus on that. You’ll feel less stressed, more organized and before you realize it your to-do list will be a done list!
Everyone gets the same way, don’t worry! We are in the same boat and we haven’t even had our shower yet. All Hannah has is a changing table, pretty much, crib is up but we have no mattress. So, if she comes .. she’ll be naked and sleeping with us 🙂 or with her sister in her toddler bed.
Girl, I am the same way (it must be a teacher thing). I have lists that tell me to make lists. haha. I felt like I had a ton to buy for my little one too, but I just looked online for sales and bought things little by little and that took away the price anxiety. One thing that helps me is that once I write my master list, I rewrite it and break it down by days in the week (Monday- do this…. Tuesday- do this… etc). I find I’m much more organized and efficient if I see the things I’m supposed to do that day when I wake up. If not, I end up wasting the day away. and trust me, you have time. I’m 36 weeks on Saturday and it feels like once I reached 34 weeks, time has stood still.
I was seven months pregnant when we moved into our house, overwhelmed was defiantly the feeling I had. Like you I love lists, and can’t just focus on one item at a time so I made a master list then smaller list to not overwhelm myself. It helped to get things done, but not everything was done before Caleb arrived. I was able to get the things that had to be done and everything else was just not a priority. Don’t panic your fabulous!
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Take a BIG DEAP BREATH!!! I will all come together and remember everything doesn’t have to be perfect by the time she arrives. Oh, who am I kidding, I think the same thing!! LOL!!! Just breath!!!
If y’all have insurance, a lot of insurance company’s will provide you with a breast pump!
YES! I am going to be getting it closer to the delivery date… it is just stressful not having it here in front of me where I can see it.
I feel like I could have written this post!! We have been living in our new house since July 1st and we haven’t finished unpacking yet either. I keep panicking because we need to buy so much stuff (I’m 19 weeks and I know my baby shower won’t happen until after Christmas), and I’d rather buy a little here and there than have to buy it all at once time because we’ve run out of time. I’m ready to buy the crib and nursery furniture and my husband is all “Hilary, the baby isn’t even here yet!!!!!” Well duh, that’s the point, right? I’m also worried about my growing belly because it can only get MORE in the way as we go! I am soooooo right there with you on this one!
I am glad that I am not the only pregnant girl freaking out!
Haha I always start with clean house and end up with a mess… and then I just want to crawl in bed.
Aw thanks!!! I wish I knew that earlier before I booked my shoot! I would’ve totally driven to you since you’re 1.5 hours from me!
I think I need some yoga!
Thank you! I am trying to take my list and narrow it down to MUST DO and then put other items on certain days of the week (as little goals) to be done.
I was in the exact same boat when I was pregnant. I moved across states alone when I was almost 7 months pregnant. I had MANY crying fits about the boxes that still weren’t unpacked and the nursery that wasn’t done. My hubby would tell me that we could still do stuff when the baby was here, and it would make me even more unreasonable! I made it worse for myself because I decided to make my son two blankets and three sets of sheets, which took forever. I finished the sewing two days before I went into labor, and I literally went into labor as my husband was putting up the lights in the nursery, the last thing we had to do!
Yes yoga always helps!
You can take outlet covers off your list…you won’t need those until she gets mobile 🙂 Try to take it one day and one task at a time. It is doable!
I’ve been making lists too. I love my husband but he is so easy going and it drives me crazy! I finally created a “shit we need to do” list. Problem is I was just diagnosed with a hernia today and pretty much everything is off limits for me for a while. No bending or lifting. We have so much to do I have cried all day but things will get done!
Aw no!!! I saw on Insta that you had a hernia. I am terrified I am going to get a full blown one since I may have a teeny tiny one already started… I hope that your husband helps you out!!! Be safe girl!
Oh those are just things I ordered for the nursery to replace the ones we painted over by accident… they aren’t the security ones!
I could NOT imagine moving now! It’s good to know that everything worked out for you in the end. There is a light at the end of the tunnel for me!
Not to freak you out, but my sons both came early, so it’s great to plan in advance just in case. But really, all you need right away is a cute robe to take pictures in the hospital in, lots of diapers, bottles or a pump depending on how you plan to feed your baby, car seat, stroller, and a monitor. Most of the things you don’t need right away. Please make sure to get rest too.
Good luck with your to-do lists! You’ve got this! 🙂 On a side note, I’m starting to mentally prepare myself to maybe try for a baby soon(ish). You mentioned some reading that you did in advance. Do you have any book recommendations? I would love to read up in advance!
Congrats!!! I definitely recommend reading the beginning of What To Expect When You’re Expecting. They talk about getting pregnant. Also, The Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy is a pretty fantastic read!
Thanks for the advice!!! I keep thinking she is going to surprise us early too!
Hahahahaha I love that image. I am sure Annabelle is going to be naked in our bed as well… our bed that is on the floor and not on its bed frame because we won’t have gotten around to it. And if we don’t have diapers – B says he will teach Annabelle how to use the kitty litter.
I am definitely going to break down my list into a more manageable day-by-day thing. I am also not touching that crib alone!