Only 34 shopping days until...

HOLY CRAP. ONLY 34 DAYS?!

I wish I hadnt done the math... I'm SO not ready. At minimum, I still need:

1. Bassinet sheets
   
2. Baby washcloths and towels
3. Baby shampoo
4. Baby soap/body wash
   
5. Baby lotion and/or oil
   
6. Diaper cream
7. DIAPERS (I think I have about 12... that should last all of 2 days... or less...)
8. Wipes
   
9. Pump
   
10. Bottles (various kinds in case he hates one of them)
11. Baby Tylenol and/or ibuprofen
12. New batteries for video and digital cameras
13. Bookcase or shelves for 50 million toys and books he's gotten already
    
14. Tiny outfit to wear for hospital picture and another tiny outfit to wear home (could choose from among the ones I have or choose something else)

And, I need to DO the following yet:

1. Finish setting up nursery (everything is en route... furniture, rug, etc.)
   
2. Choose daycare provider
3. Complete maternity leave paperwork
4. Complete tenure-clock-stoppage paperwork
5. Add kiddo to health insurance (note: called and found out he's covered for the first 30 days automatically)
6. Finish revising and resubmit 2 articles
7. Grade final papers (due after T-giving holiday) and finalize grades
8. Work on several aspects of Grant that will be taking place in my absence
9. Finalize paperwork for field project that will start in my absence
10. Have fun with Spouse in anticipation of chaos when child arrives
11. Decorate for Christmas early (as in next weekend)
12. Haircut, massage, pedicure (oh, wait... that's tomorrow... :-) )
13. Breathe

*sigh* I wish I werent so. damn. tired.

Update on Test Results, etc.

BP was back down to normal. YAY! And, ALL of the test results came back normal. Thank god.

The only worrisome factoid: based on ultrasound data, the Dr estimates that the not-so-little one is nearly SIX POUNDS. We have 5 weeks to go and he could gain up to half a pound a week between now and DDay.

After I had a small stroke, the Dr. assured me (while laughing) that my child will not be 10 lbs. He estimates that he'll come in around 8.

PLEASE COME EARLY LITTLE GUY....

Six Weeks to Go and the Advice Keeps Piling Up

I'm not good at taking advice. I'm not even good at listening to advice. But the pregnant abdomen must be target-shaped because I'm getting more and more.

The pushiest advice comes from new mothers. They seem to want to alleviate any doubts they have about choices they've made by pushing them onto everyone else. Doesnt matter if it is advice about what to eat, what to wear, what to buy for the kid... I'm getting it all and in doses that I just cant stand. I appreciate wanting to "share one's wisdom" but isnt it common courtesy to wait until asked?

Here's an example (and god help me if this person finds my blog): For the past six months, someone I know has been trying to coerce me into (get this) buying her used breastpump.

Now it isnt as gross as it sounds. The pump itself does not ever come in contact with the milk. The new owner would buy new attachments, etc., and it would really just be the mechanism that was reused. HOWEVER, she has told me no less than 5 times that it would be "stupid of (me) not to buy it" or "really dumb to buy a new one when I have one you can buy." She even went so far as to check what they were going for on ebay and told me that she'd sell it for a "modest" price.

I've told her no in 5 different ways. This last time I let her know that I'd decided to go a different route she flat-out criticised me for my choice, but followed it up with "But, you have to do what you think is best...." Then, she offered to loan/sell me a bunch of additional baby crap (swing, bouncy chairs, etc.).

If it were coming from anyone else I think that I would jump at the chance to save some $ because this is costing me a fortune, but I just dont want to encourage her!! I will feel indebted to her somehow if I borrow her things and I think that the debt will just give her an excuse to continue to give unwanted advice and criticism.

Ugh.

Ive also discovered that its best not to discuss my thoughts on how long I plan to breastfeed with her (or several other women I know for that matter). For people hell-bent on wanting others to respect their choices, they are clearly NOT ready to respect mine....