"If the God you believe in as an idea doesn’t start showing up in what happens to you in your own life, you have as much cause for concern as if the God you don’t believe in as an idea does start showing up. It is absolutely crucial, therefore, to keep in constant touch with what is going on in your own life’s story and to pay close attention to what is going on in the stories of others’ lives. If God is present anywhere, it is in those stories that God is present. If God is not present in those stories, then they are scarcely worth telling." ~ Frederick Buechner

28 January 2011

A List of Ten

My brain's going a mile a minute today, so I'm too distracted to pull together a concise, on-topic post, so here's a list.

1. Nich and I have started a new one-year Bible reading plan. We haven't done this together since we were dating, so it's exciting to be doing it again. This time, we're following a chronological reading plan. It's sort of weird to leave Genesis behind after a few chapters, jump into Job's misery, and then go back to Genesis, but it will also be nice to not feel like we're just trudging through from front cover to back cover.

2. My hospital bag is mostly packed. At least, I have the essentials in there. Oh, okay, fine, I just have a change of clothes for me, a coming-home outfit for the baby, and a blanket for the baby for the car trip home. Whatever. I've started.

3. My usual laundry schedule is once every two weeks. I take a day and do three loads (lights, darks, whites). I wash, dry, and fold it all in one day and then Nich comes home and puts it away. Lately, though, I've been feeling like I should do it more often, because I don't want to come home to a pile of laundry if I go into labor. Isn't that funny?

4. People say ridiculous things to pregnant women. I wish they had "Mute" buttons.

5. I'm learning to sew cushion covers with a friend from church. Lesson learned so far: I do not like to iron small things with a steamer iron.
 a. It burns your fingers if you're not careful.
b. It smells funny.

6. I'm not sure how the whole "nesting" thing is supposed to work for those of us who are already a bit compulsive when it comes to keeping our houses clean and organized. I've heard a couple women say that they did crazy things like scrub their kitchen floors with a toothbrush. I'm sorry, but I really don't think I'm going to be doing that. That just sounds dumb and pointless.

7. Even if I go past my due date, I will not be drinking caster oil. That's disgusting.

8. I feel a little grumpy when people ask me repeatedly if there's anything I "need" still.
a. Of course there is. For the first time in our lives, we're trying to prepare for a new little person to live with us.
b. I've already told you where to find our registries. What else am I supposed to tell you? That you can buy us one of the $100 items on them specifically or that you can come over and do my dishes every day? I'm sorry, I have more class than that.
c. Please don't give me your gross hand-me-downs. Would you have wanted to get stained things to use for your baby, especially your first, when you were pregnant? If it's something you obviously don't want to use anymore, why would you give it to someone else? And don't tell me to throw it out if I don't want it. Throw it out yourself and save us a trip to the dump. Don't get me wrong, I love hand-me-downs and used stuff. Just have the decency to make sure it's in good condition. Your life may be busy, but do you think I have time or energy to do extra sorting or laundry right now?

9. I think the snow is beautiful, even if I do have to shovel some of it once in a while. Stop griping, people. It's called winter, and it happens every year. If you don't like it, move. Also, pregnancy is not a sickness. Pregnant women are not invalids. We are capable of shoveling, and if we possess a smidgen of a brain, we know to listen to our bodies and not push it too far. Thank you to those who help us shovel or even better, come over with your snow blower, but all the rest of you sitting in your warm homes lecturing us? Save it for someone who wants to hear your "advice."

10. I'm feeling a little snarky, lately, can you tell? :~) And even though I've warned people about leaving snarky comments on my blog,
a. It's my blog, so I can be snarky if I want to be.
b. I'm pregnant, and I've been VERY good for the past nine months about not complaining. Mainly because I think it's incredibly lame that women use the "hormone" excuse for having bad attitudes about life, whether that's in pregnancy or when they have their periods. I figure, I can be a little gripe-y this once.
c. If you had practical strangers coming up to you regularly, staring at your belly (which already makes you feel physically uncomfortable), and saying stupid things, you'd eventually want to punch someone, too.

*11. Because I can ... and because I want to end this post on a cheerful note :~)
One of my favorite things right now is seeing how excited Nich is about our baby. We set up our crib this past weekend, and ever since then, Nich has been wandering in there a couple times in the evening to "just look." I love it. He has also been putting his head close to my belly and saying, "Okay, we're ready for you to come out now. Your room's all ready, and we want to meet you!" I like it.

The End. I think I'll go do some laundry now.

Good Food for Thought Here

2 comments:

  1. love it. you have to speak your mind honestly once in a while. and i am so happy that nich is truly excited about your new journey. i dont know if all new-fathers feel the way he does but i sure hope so.

    still cant wait to see his cute little face once he is born and the completed nursery. just wish we could come visit you guys soon. but it may happen one of these days.

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  2. Yay hospital bag!! I think that's all you REALLY need... ;)

    It is so much fun to watch the daddies with the babies. I'm so excited for you.

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