Nesting

Every day I notice that I am more and more pregnant. My belly is growing a lot and it's harder to move around. It's more and more clear to me that our baby girl will arrive soon! It's so exciting and this pregnancy has been an amazing experience so far. I feel really good over all but I am definitely starting to feel like I am getting into the third trimester and slowing down a bit. I am getting a little more tired and lazy, and at times I have no patience for things and get a bit cranky. One thing that has not slowed down, it's actually increased, is this urge to get as many projects and things done around the house. One of those projects is getting the nursery ready which is coming a long beautifully. But I definitely sense this nesting mode kicking in lately. I feel like I have to get so much done. I feel guilty when I don't work on my dissertation. I really want to get my three chapters done before April, maybe even having proposed already and starting IRB. The pressure is on. And the nursery is so much fun but I still have so much to do it feels like. And then there's all this other stuff around the house. Brad and I can spend all weekend doing things (right now we are organizing our newly furnished garage with St. Regis cabinets (sweet) and doing things in the yard, or other stuff. It's like the list never ends. I just want to get everything done and perfect before our little girl arrives because I know I will be soooo busy and won't have time for anything else anymore let alone sleep. Sigh. The weekends have been very low key lately. I am getting more tired and going out to bars doesn't seem fun to me at all anymore. Thankfully brad and I both can't get enough of our new house and love spending the weekends at home, cooking and watching movies or our tv shows. It's so peaceful and I'm so glad my husband is enjoying this time with me without feeling like he wants to go out. It's funny but I think Brad is in his own way of course going through the pregnancy with me. Very cool. Yesterday Brad put the crib together all by himself and it looks great. It definitely hit us after when we were done and just stared at it. It was like..wow this is really happening..and it's happening soon!

Today I hired a doula (Michelle) to help me during labor. Brad and I are meeting with her in the next week for her to walk us through the entire birthing process and step by step of what happens when you arrive to the hospital until you leave. After that we put together our birthing plan, which I will show to my doctor and see if he's ok with it. I feel really good about everything. I really like my doctor and I'm happy I have a doula that will help me go through labor, and especially to help me have a natural birth. She's very experienced and I'm happy to have her with us when we are in the hospital. It gives me a sense of security and safety. Now I have to continue my prenatal yoga classes, and in march brad and I will be taking Michelle's intensive birthing class to help prepare us for labor! I am trying to be as proactive as possible and so far I think it's all coming together :)

All in all, I just can't wait to meet my baby girl! Feeling her kick is the most incredible feeling, I can only imagine what it will be like when I see her for the first time! Bliss.