Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Planting a nest?

Everyone talks about "nesting," that semi-psychotic urge that hits pregnant women in the final days or hours before labor where they feel the need to clean the bathroom with a toothbrush or reorganize the pantry alphabetically. Some doctors and books and veteran fathers swear by it- the telltale sign that the action is about to begin.

Unfortunately for some of us, those urges exist pretty regularly, pregnant or not, which makes pinpointing the actual nesting rather difficult. Because honestly, just like Monica on FRIENDS, I really DO wish I had a tiny vacuum with which to clean my actual vacuum. Instead I have to settle for disassembling it and washing the parts in the kitchen sink.

So here's what I'm wondering- since the cleaning and organizing can't be counted on as a sign with me, is it a sign that I decided it was of the utmost importance to create a small botanical garden on my back porch today?





I don't really know how to interpret this. Lots of moms find themselves repeatedly washing and refolding the baby's clothes or meticulously adjusting crib bumpers as they prepare for the little one to arrive. So why am I more concerned with planting? I mean at this point I don't plan on the baby living on the porch. Well... maybe if it cries too much.

Given my history of keeping plants alive and the impending arrival of a child that is going to cost lots of money over the next 18 years, the small fortune I spent yesterday at the Lowe's Garden Center may not have been the wisest move. But really, I don't think I could have slept without these plants safely in my kitchen, waiting to be relocated to their window boxes today.








(I took these pictures while the flowers were still safely in their cartons. I was a little scared that if I tried to photograph them after transplanting them to their new homes they might fall over and die in front of me. We'll see how it goes.)

Anyway, I am sure for some women none of this ever nesting business ever really happens or means anything. Some days I think I could never have enough energy to "nest" properly and I should just go to sleep for the next few weeks.

But if there's one thing I do know, it's that EVERYONE has an opinion to share with a pregnant woman. I'm not due for another 2 1/2 weeks, but any thoughts or predications of an arrival day? If you guess sometime very soon and you are correct I may just name the baby after you.

5 comments:

  1. Well. nesting/planting... i'm sure they could be the same thing right?! My nesting kicked in late... like... after the baby was born. I don't recall nesting with Trey until AFTER when, the day after I got home, I was cleaning the bathrooms. Weirdness. Typical for me that things happen backwards...

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  2. Haha, I woke up at 5 am one morning with John Dickson to mop the kitchen floor. He still didn't come for several weeks. When we finally made it to the hospital, I was extremely distubed that the one thing that had not been done at home was dust our bedroom. Obviously I have still not forgotten it.

    P.S. I'm not allowed to visit any garden centers. I make plants suicidal. I also make clothes bleed in the wash. I'm better with children :-)

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  3. Oh!!! You look so beautiful!! Kati showed me a picture earlier today of your most recent tummy shot. ( I think you are bigger than she was but you are all tummy.) I am getting so excited for the two of you. Soon to be three. ( I mean 5 ) And yes, I do think the planting is your nesting. Oooh, the P.S. from Amanda sounds just like Kati. Thank goodness they are better with children.

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  4. You're good...no worries...your house is clean and now mouse free! Hope your flowers do well! I say July 4th is the day!

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  5. Feel free to come nest on my porch too, it's looking pretty bare and could use some plants. Can't wait to see pictures of baby shorty...whenever he/she chooses to make an entrance!

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