Random Thoughts of the Ultra Pregnant Woman

Do you ever have so much going on in your life and in your head that you're just not quite sure where to start? That's where I am right now. A bit overwhelmed, nervous, yet excited at the changes that are taking place in our life.
By the time I write my next article, our new baby will be here and we will officially be a family of five girls! She's due June 2, and anticipation is running high in our house. The girls talk about the baby pretty much constantly, and have even been practicing changing diapers and swaddling their dolls. We bought our first pack of newborn diapers last week, and the girls were pretty awestruck to see just how little they were!
I think the thing they are most excited about is being able to help rock the baby to sleep. Coincidently, the thing I hope for most is that they are able to, as opposed to the baby being fussy! Wouldn't that be great?





I would like to say that I am simply excited for the baby's birth and leave it at that. However, realizing how soon it really is is bringing out the anxious side of me too. My husband, friends, and doctor have been telling me to take it easy...or as easy as I can with other kids to take care of. I really want to listen to them, but there's so much to do! The other moms out there probably know what it's like to have "the nesting instinct" take over your brain, right? Not only do I want to keep up with the laundry and other general housework, but I need to finish up last minute nursery decorating, clean up the front yard, plant my garden, finish renovating the bathroom, and just generally save the world from mayhem before the baby arrives.
The other thing I'm anxious about it the thought of having five children! I know I already have four and adding a fifth shouldn't seem like a huge deal, but it kind of does. I mean, FIVE kids? That just seems like a big jump from four. Also, is it weird that the thing I'm the most anxious about when it comes to having 5 kids is going out in public with them? At home we can at least develop some sort of routine and everyone can be busy doing their own thing. I think I can handle that. In public, the girls are normally really well behaved, but despite that, we get "looks" wherever we go, like are one big 5 headed monster or something (when Daniel's not with us). I don't mind some level of attention, and I do love talking about our girls, but when people start talking about how "crazy" we are or how it's too bad that we don't have a boy, it gets tiring quickly...and I have a feeling it will be just that much worse with five girls.
Ah well, such is life, right? Maybe in a few months I'll be able to write an entire article about  how I've learned to handle it all with grace and the occasional witty comment. Until then though, I'll take some deep breaths and try to take it one day at a time.
And in two to three weeks, we will have a brand new little baby in our family to love and snuggle, and that in itself is pretty great I think! For all of the concerns and fears I'm dealing with, I mostly feel overwhelmingly, 5 times over,  blessed.