Calling a halt to nesting. For now.

Sydney and I have been home for exactly one week, and I have only today been able to shake off the “nesting” impulses that gripped me the moment we walked in the door.  After unpacking our bags I just kept going, organizing the drawer of scarves, putting away my few Christmas decorations.  And then I started clearing out drawers for baby gear, reclaiming an entire bookshelf for baskets and bins that I know I’ll need when he or she comes along.

I have found a home for the blankets and toys and books my mom gave me from when I was a baby (yes, handing over baby blankets did make my mom pause and think, “Whoah, this is really happening).  And I did much reading and shopping online so that we now have a place for the baby to sleep, a place on which to change it, and a few linens.  Don’t worry: I didn’t spend huge amounts of money or buy lots of stuff.  Just a couple of things.  Most of the energy has been channeled into organizing what we already have; room, not stuff, will be the biggest necessity around here.  Sydney and I did, however, treat ourselves to a Christmas present: a glider.  It was the one piece of baby “stuff” I knew I really wanted, having spent countless hours rocking my babysitting charges to sleep and attending to what made those long nights more and less comfortable.  The chair is ordered, and should be here in plenty of time for our newborn.

When Sydney was on the phone the other day I realized our internet connection wasn’t working (precluding further reading and list-making), so I wandered into the bathroom and in an hour had thrown out old medications and unused cleaning products and neatly labeled and organized all of the items in the closet and drawers (trust me, they weren’t that bad to begin with!!!).  I found myself unfolding blankets and refolding them, just as a way to get a bit closer to the little squirmy thing inside me, the one that I can’t hold but that kicks me nearly every hour of every day.  Arwyn has noticed the kicking, too, and now gives me baleful looks when she sprawls out on my person and gets kicks in the stomach as her reward for warming me up.

But now, much to Sydney’s relief, I’ve let go of the cleaning and baby-baby-baby thoughts.  They can take a backseat for awhile as I get some work done!

Erin