Lesson

I have to learn my lesson. I have to learn that no matter how ready I am for Daniel to arrive, he's just not going to budge until he's good and ready and He's good and ready. I cannot control the fact that I have friends and family coming in this weekend from all over the country who will just happen to be here for July 4th. I cannot control whether I have a new baby to share with them. I cannot control when I start having contractions and I cannot control where I am when the show begins. I cannot control anything beyond myself – I have to learn my lesson.
Don't get me wrong – this pregnancy has been amazing. I'm not miserable (not really, anyway) and I don't feel like I might die if I don't have this baby right this very minute. Sure I'm tired. Sure my wedding ring doesn't fit right now. Sure having contractions from 7 pm – 3 am makes sleeping difficult. All those things aside, I'm still ok – physically speaking. At this point, it's a mind game (with myself, of course). Learn my lesson – that's what I have to do.
Learn my lesson.

Holding pattern

I can say, finally, that I am getting anxious. I'm not scared or nervous - just ready for this to happen. I've been having contractions off and on since Friday. The most recent was about 9 minutes ago. I'm not very good at tracking these things, which makes it difficult to tell what's really going on.

When I was at the doc on Friday, I had dialated to 3 cms, nearly a third of the way there. That's reassuring, but a little odd to me as well. How can I be a third of the way to the pushing stage and continue doing normal every day stuff? I know people do it every day. It's just an odd thing.

Anyway, I'm ready to meet my little man. I'm ready to see whether he has my nose or Doug's; whether he'll be as bald as I was; whether he'll be a giant like his mommy or a little on the small side (prayers for the latter, please!). I'm ready. I'm beyond get set. I'm just waiting to go.

Until we actually make it to the hospital, I guess we're really just in a holding pattern, playing this waiting game. I don't know why these last 12 days should be any different than the first 200-something, but they are. God forbid we have to wait beyond July 5. . .

Crib chaos

Crib 1 - We went to Babies R Us the day we found out Daniel was Daniel (and not Lia). We looked at every crib they had, and believe me, there were many. I was more concerned with the way it looked; Doug wanted it to be solid as a sequoia. I figured that if it was on the floor, it passed the safety tests. The very last crib in the store was the only crib we could agree on. We registered for it, just in case. Three showers came and went and we decided it was time to buy the crib. Off to BRU we went. The changing table was there, but alas, no crib. What's the deal? Pulled. Why? Safety concerns. Maybe it's flamable; maybe it tips. Whatever the case, it's not my crib.

Crib 2 - I found a great crib on BRU.com. Right color, right user reviews, right everything. Except for one measly little detail - currently out of stock. Well hells bells. I Googled it and found it on several other baby furniture web sites. Guess what? Out of stock. Time to punt.

Crib 3 - We decided on a crib we found on craigslist. It came with a dresser/hutch, it was the right stain, and it looked like it was made from a redwood. Let's go for it. We called. No crib. Somebody else evidently liked it, too.

Crib 4 - Again, looked great. FINALLY in stock! We ordered it. I was supposed to receive an e-mail confirmation within 72 hours. Three days came and went. No e-mail. I called and (you won't believe this) it was on backorder until 5 days before my due date. What to do? Cancel the order and try again.

Crib 5 - After scouring eBay, craigslist, the greensheet, and every other place I could think of, I called Crib 4 back. I wonder - do you happen to have this crib in another stain? Sure do. Send it my way!

So. . . after 5 attempts, we finally have a crib. It came Monday, I brought it home Tuesday, and Doug put it together on Wednesday. Whew. I was really beginning to think that Daniel may have to sleep in a swing or a pack-and-play for a while. Looks like he'll actually have a place of his own, right from the very start.

Word to the wise (read wise as "those expecting children who do not yet own cribs"): Start now on your crib search. It could take you a while.