The Long Goodbye (Part 3): Loose Ends

I had preliminary pains for about 12 hours yesterday, so I must write quickly! Tim will post news of the baby when she(?) arrives, so if you'd like to know, check in later ("later" means tonight or in two weeks, whenever Baby Dowdel decides to make an entrance). Where shall I begin?

Physically: this past week has been plain uncomfortable, even for hardy Grandma Dowdel. I think I've managed (read: didn't cry over) the pain, but I've learned there's one thing that's tough to do without: sleep. I've been too uncomfortable to sleep well, and that brings out the demon in me faster than a camel can spit. I change positions every couple of hours, and I've run poor Tim into the ground. More on Tim later.

Emotionally: I've had a couple of tear fests, but nothing I'm horribly ashamed of. This morning's was a bit much, mainly because I was caught by surprise. I was reading the last few chapters of my parenting book (reviewing the signs of false labor), and I came upon a section about what to do if a baby dies in utero, during delivery, or shortly after. I immediately thought, "Now, there is NO reason for me to read this section. It will only upset me, and it serves me no purpose to continue." Two pages later, the tears were flowing and I could not stop myself from reading. I could not imagine the deep sorrow of coming home from the hospital to a nursery all ready for a baby and ... no baby. I mean, every toy, every blanket, the crib--everything has been carefully chosen by you or a loved one for your son or daughter, a piece of your thoughts went into every item, and yet--OK, OK, I'm stopping myself now. I should have done that earlier today. I felt so bad then that I couldn't even read the rest of the information, which was probably a good thing. Tim's going to end up taking all of my books and magazines away, I can tell.

Speaking of Tim: I'm going to go ahead and give a shout out to my husband. Throughout my pregnancy, and especially this past week, Tim has been textbook supportive. He always asks the question any MTB loves to hear: "What do you want?" He's Johnny-on-the spot taking care of heavy lifting, dishes, taking out the trash, etc. He's taken my sometimes unreasonable rantings with a she-didn't-really-mean-it attitude, and God bless you, Honey, 'cause I didn't! I'm sorry for the times I've been bad; I was under duress, I was raised by wolves, I forgot my meds, it was my twin sister--ya gotta believe me!

Freebies: OK, for those MTBs looking for useful things or those out there who are shopping for a baby shower gift, let me go ahead and give you my best list:
THE BEST PREGNANCY STUFF
1. Snoogle
This body pillow took a beating, and I love it more because of it. Unfortunately, I'll have to break the seam on it to shove more stuffing into it (Mr. Snoogle has a rough life), but it'll be worth it.
2. Bella Band
At $25 a pop, this band of elastic cloth seemed over-priced. Now I say, "Worth every penny!" It's super easy to use, saves you money (you don't have to buy as many pregnancy pants), and smooths out body shapes. Love it!
3. Parenting classes
Yes, I mocked them plenty of times, but the thing is, I learned a lot from them. People assume MTBs know how to breastfeed, give a baby a bath, and handle emergency care. Um, no.
4. What to Expect When You're Expecting
Whatever parenting book you chose, just get one. There will be times when you'll have a question you're too embarrassed (or forgetful) to ask your doctor. A quick reference will reassure you, so that you don't have to call your doctor after-hours for the ninth time.
5. Parents or Parenting Magazine
Caution: Subscribe to ONE or possibly TWO magazines, but no more! I made the mistake of ordering too many mags the minute I found out I was pregnant, and it became a beat-down trying to read them all.
6. Babycenter.com
This site has a lot of good info and whatnot, but the coolest thing is the weekly email. It sends you an illustration of how the child will grow in the next week and what changes you can most likely expect with your own body. This was a great way for Tim to keep up with what was going on, and I'll admit, I looked forward to that email every week (reminded me I was making progress).
7. Bra extenders
Seriously: what's the point of buying a bunch of over-sized bras that you'll only use for a few months? You might as well save the cash for nursing bras and camis later (which are also pricey, by the way), if you choose to breastfeed. Instead, buy some latch extenders at a fabric place ($2), and use the extra cash for a nice massage.
8. Beauty treatment
Doesn't matter which one you do (pedicure, manicure, pregnancy massage), at some point, do one. It's nice to be taken care of, especially during the final trimester.
9. Consumer Reports online subscription
Face it: when it comes to buying the safest, most cost-effective baby gear, few people besides Super Nanny can make the right choice. Get advice from other parents, but always remember that gadgets and safety knowledge change. I think most parents are better off getting unbiased opinions. Warning: baby stuff is often upgraded, so a product that got rave reviews a year ago may not be available today.
10. Clear, over the door, hanging shoe organizer
I read a great tip in a magazine that new moms should use a plastic shoe organizer as a simple way to see and access small baby items (socks, pacifiers, creams, teethers, etc.). I set one up, and I can already tell it's going to save me time and effort.

I received a bunch of other cool gifts for the baby, but I can't honestly say how much I'll use them because I obviously have no baby to test them on. So, the above list is mainly for mamas. Hope y'all find it useful.

Time to rest. Will chat more in a bit ("The Long Goodbye (Part 3): Loose Ends, Part 2").

P.S. Feel free to mention whatever products you think an MTB would love.