This post was supposed to be poignant
But I’m just not feeling it.
Tomorrow morning, I will head to the hospital to have a baby for the third and final time.
Last night, both of my girls fell asleep on top of me as I watched the Florida Republican primary returns. It had been a long day for all of us, and as I stroked their backs and kissed their hair, I thought about how much I would miss having just my girls. I wanted to write something lovely for them today, expressing how special they are to me and how important it is to me that we remain as close as we are now, despite the imminent demands that their little brother-to-be will place on all of us.
But then this morning, Kyle realized that one of our booster seats had been inadvertently left in his friend Bill’s rental car. Then, water from the master bath began dripping through the dining room ceiling. THEN, I lost all rationality and perspective and started shrieking about all of the crap that everyone had left strewn about, because right about now it’s really fucking painful to bend over and pick up after anyone, even myself.
Hormone cocktail, anyone?
The booster seat has been retrieved, and silicone sealant has been purchased to address the cracks in the master bath shower tile grout (and much to my smug satisfaction, the plumber confirmed that the previous owners had in fact retiled the bath themselves, quite amateurishly), and I am too tired to shriek about clutter anymore, let alone pick it up.
I’ve still got a list of about a dozen work-related tasks that remain undone. I’ve got at least a dozen more thank you notes to write and stamps to buy. I’ve not yet packed my bag for the hospital. There’s half-dried baby laundry in the dryer, a half-read library book in the baby’s cradle, and a half-finished baby blanket on the kitchen counter.
Meanwhile, I can’t even answer Kyle’s perfectly reasonable question of “What would you like for dinner?” I don’t want to do a single thing but sit, and maybe watch an old John Hughes movie.
So although I’d love to have written a beautiful letter to my girls, telling them how much I adore them and always will, I’m going to have to settle for another comfortable night on the sofa.
Maybe if I’m really lucky, they will fall asleep on me again, and I can savor our closeness one last time with just my girls and me.
January 30th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
I think I just saw a glimpse of my future, on a hot night in August.
Good luck, Julie. I’ll be thinking of you.
January 30th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Julie-
I hate to say I know exactly how you’re feeling… but… I do.
I don’t quite know what else to say – it really is a whole new world.
Gretchen
January 30th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Best of luck tomorrow MGM. I look forward to pictures of the new guy.
January 30th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
I am excited for you, but also sad because I do understand that the precious time you have now will never be quite the same. It will be just as good, but different.
I will be thinking of you tomorrow.
January 30th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
I’m soooo excited for you! Whoo hoo! Imagine, the ability to bend over once again! To be able to go for hours with out having to pee! The sweet newborn smell…
May it all go well. I’ll be thinking of you…
January 30th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Best of luck, Julie!
I can sympathise. It feels like we’re about to rip the rug completely out from under our girls’ feet any day now, and we did this on purpose.
January 30th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Yep, I’m feeling the hormone cocktail since I laughed, then got all teary-eyed reading this.
Hope everything goes smoothly tomorrow. Soon you’ll know what we were talking about with the boys!!
January 30th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Maybe you should watch “She’s Having a Baby”?
Good luck, Julie, I’ll be thinking about you and your lovely family tomorrow!
January 30th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Best of luck with the delivery! Enjoy that boy!
January 30th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
That is so sweet, having your girls sleep on you. I wish my son would do just that.
That being said, I would kick my husband out of bed tonight and sleep with my girls one last time before the newcomer appears.
January 30th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Best wishes for a safe and quick delivery! Can’t wait to read all about your new boy once he’s home.
January 30th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Good luck, Julie!
Enjoy that spinal block.
January 30th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
I’ll be thinking of you tomorrow and about how your life is going to change just like that. I’ll be thinking about how there will be no more pregnant MotherGooseMouse.
Oh yes, and I’ll also be thinking about this super cool fact: that you will be able to slam back some shooters with me at BlogHer this year (because it’s all about me isn’t it?).
January 30th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Good luck tomorrow.
January 30th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Maybe not what you had hoped, but it’s real. And that will mean so much to them later on when they’re hating you for bringing that little rascal home.
heh.
We’ll be thinking of you. And that sweet little boy.
xox
January 30th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
I’m thinking of you, Julie, now and tomorrow.
Good luck!!
January 30th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Good luck Julie! It’s time to take a break from being poignant. I am looking forward to the baby update!
January 30th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
You deserve to do absolutely nothing at all.
I’ll be thinking of you all day tomorrow. Good luck!
smooches.
January 30th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
I think you should be free to do whatever the hell you feel like when you’re that pregnant.
Good luck tomorrow! I’ll be thinking of you!
January 30th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Your love doesn’t need poignant expression. It’s boundless either way.
Am sending so much love!
January 30th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Your girls got something so much better than a poignant letter. They got love and closeness with you. That is so sweet.
Good luck with the everything!
January 30th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Yes — the girls will know, no matter what you write or don’t. I hope you’re sitting back and enjoying a little Breakfast Club right now.
January 30th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
Best of luck tomorrow!
January 30th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Fingers crossed… and you know looking back later that life without your new addition was not complete, no matter how lovely “girl time” has been; and, of course those moments will continue – there will be three girls and two guys each doing their own things in addition to those family moments and the mom n’ son bonding activities.
(Wow, that was a long sentence.)
Best of luck. Stay healthy. Recover fast.
January 30th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
Good luck, sweetie.
January 31st, 2008 at 3:42 am
I could have written the same thing myself, four years ago. I’m thinking of you, sweetie – can’t wait to hear all about the newest addition!
xoxoxo
January 31st, 2008 at 7:07 am
I was the same way. THE SAME WAY. But oh bringing home my boy was such a blessing to ALL of us.
He holds a special place in all of our hearts and he knows it.
All the things left undone won’t matter. They don’t matter. Your husband, your girls, and this new baby boy…THAT is all that will or does matter.
Blessings Julie!
I’ll be praying for you an easy delivery.
January 31st, 2008 at 7:30 am
Best of luck today! Hope you got your last snuggly night with your girls.
January 31st, 2008 at 8:24 am
Julie- I didn’t realize today is the day! I’m thinking about you, in some ways its probably better that it’s happeneing then to be sitting and thinking about the new family dynamic- you are in it girl! Best of luck!~
January 31st, 2008 at 8:28 am
This probably won’t help much, but hey. It worked for me. When I was in the hospital having Will, I took the nightgown that Maggie slept in the night before & tucked it into a ziplock bag. When I was missing her later that evening, I took it out of my bag & smelled it. The mix of strawberry shampoo & her scent made it a little bit easier to be away from her.
Best of luck to you all, and I look forward to reading the “Welcome Baby Boy” post.
January 31st, 2008 at 8:29 am
Good luck for – oh! – today! I hope everything goes wonderfully and I look forward to seeing the new little guy
January 31st, 2008 at 8:30 am
I know it’s probably happened by now, so… I actually think this post will be appreciated by the girls someday. Because it really is a little slice of life, just before baby-boy-brother arrives.
Can’t wait to see the next post…
January 31st, 2008 at 8:45 am
I think all the craziness is the universe’s way of keeping you busy the night before.
I’s 10:43 EST now, and you’re probably up and heading to the hospital if you’re not already all iodine-d up. Sending you white light, great thoughts and happy vibes. Can’t wait to see that first photo.
January 31st, 2008 at 10:00 am
I don’t know… that was pretty poignant.
Hope things are going wonderfully right this very minute!
January 31st, 2008 at 10:10 am
Best of luck to you!!! We are all thinking about you and hoping everything goes super smooth!
January 31st, 2008 at 10:43 am
Aagh! I’m so far behind on my blog reading that I just found out that Baby Boy is probably coming today (and maybe is here now!)
Congratulations! Can’t wait to meet him!
And I remember that on the eve of Rosie’s birth I exploded over the stupidest thing (J had gotten the wrong size pull-ups for Mimi). Definitely hormones and stress were the culprits. Luckily all had blown over by the next morning, as I’m sure all those annoying little stressors did for you as well.
xoxoxoxo
January 31st, 2008 at 10:56 am
Good Luck Julie…or Mothergoosemouse!
I am the opposite, I have two boys and just recently (7 months ago) welcomed our little girl into our world! It was weird to go from “my boy” to “my kids”, but it is fulfilling to have it all. Just like some of the others say ~ to have the newborn smell again and the snuggling and the sweet little whimpering will be all worth it!
GOOD LUCK TODAY!!
Ellie
January 31st, 2008 at 11:17 am
Since it’s already tomorrow I’ll just say I hope you’ve had or do have a most wonderful day! Thinking lots of good thoughts for you. And I’m seriously hoping that you did nothing at all last night.
January 31st, 2008 at 12:01 pm
I hope last night was just what you needed and that you have a healthy and speedy birth. I look forward to reading your story and seeing pictures of your beautiful boy.
January 31st, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Hope everything went smooth and you are holding a beautiful baby boy and wondering why you were so ill yesterday. Hormones do make you crazy. Good luck with your newest bundle of joy.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Have the cath put in AFTER you get the spinal, m’kay?
Best wishes! Can’t wait to hear the good news on BabyBoyMouse!
January 31st, 2008 at 4:20 pm
The very best of luck to you tomorrow.
January 31st, 2008 at 5:33 pm
I remember so well the moment we went from two kids to three. Thinking about you and wishing you (all of you) well tomorrow and in the days after.
January 31st, 2008 at 6:01 pm
It’s evening now, so I’m guessing you’re holding your new little guy tight and counting fingers and toes. Hope everything went well and you’re recovering peacefully.
Can’t wait to see the pictures!
January 31st, 2008 at 6:09 pm
I’d hate to see the poignant post.
This one made me cry.
Good, good luck friend.
See you on the other side.
January 31st, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Oliver Sebastian Marsh
7lbs 9oz
20″
perfectly healthy as is mom.
January 31st, 2008 at 10:46 pm
Thinking of you lots. ANd lots.
Oh yeah and second the advice In the Trenches of Mommyhood gave you! Because, uh…. YEAH.
January 31st, 2008 at 11:35 pm
It was still very sweet, screeching and all.
We’ll be thinking of you, sweetie. Let me know if you need anything.
Looking forward to meeting the boy.
XOXOXO
February 1st, 2008 at 6:49 am
Julie, I’m thinking of you! There will be plenty of time for poignant posts once the baby’s here. And you will see a whole new, beautiful side of your girls once they meet him. xoxo
February 1st, 2008 at 7:28 am
ooooh! he must be popped out by now. Oooooh! congratulations for spawning a man-child — welcome to the club!
February 1st, 2008 at 11:31 am
I feel so bad, I didn’t realize you were having a scheduled delivery! Which means you are now the proud mama of a beautiful BOY! I bet the girls are thrilled to be big sisters, too. The best part about having the third child is that the older two can help with fetching things for you!
February 1st, 2008 at 2:21 pm
I think they’ll know just how much they mean(t) to you.
February 1st, 2008 at 6:36 pm
This is beautiful too! Best to you all, Mothergoosemouse! Whoo-hoo!