Thirty-four weeks into pregnancy number one I was so ready for W’s arrival. Match-ready you might say.
The nursery was freshly painted, cot assembled, drawers filled with clean and neatly ironed baby-grows and blankets. I had bottles and breast-pumps at the ready, hospital bag packed and the delivery suite number on speed-dial.
Thirty-four weeks into pregnancy number two is an entirely different story.
The ‘nursery’ is currently a wasteland of old and new mattresses piled in a massive mattress mountain atop a partly dis-assembled bed. A mountain randomly strewn with leaflets issued by the midwife, yet to be read. Paint samples are splattered across one wall with names like ‘yellow daze’ and ‘lemon pie’ scrawled nearby…unclear as to which particular sample they refer to.
Drawers are overflowing and spilling their contents to the floor. Not baby-related contents. Mostly toiletries pilfered from hotel bathrooms and EVEN MORE LEAFLETS, also yet to be read. I know lurking within them I am also sure to find a manual for a device I do not remember owning, at least one key for a door I cannot possibly identify and a padlock…without a key. How do I know this? I just do.
The baby clothes we saved from when W was small are yet to be retrieved from the loft let alone washed or ironed. Likewise the Moses basket, bottles, sterilisers…the list goes on.
And yet despite knowing all of this I cannot bring myself to do anything about it.
So far my grand total of preparation for the arrival of number two has consisted of purchasing:
- One rabbit shaped comforter
- One pack of nappies
Yep…that is it.
What is wrong with me?
I am not like this. I am a born organiser.
I haven’t even made a list.
I LOVE lists. Normally.
My lack of organisational skill is not currently limited to the baby either. I am wearing maternity jeans with a hole the size, and oddly also shape, of Papua New Guinea. I have an alarming number of grey hairs and my fringe is rapidly approaching the end of my nose, and my toenails, although freshly painted, look as though they were painted by a three year old.
I am acutely aware of all of this yet the thought of trekking to the hairdresser fills me with a dread I cannot put into words and choosing women’s jeans is about my least favourite pastime even when I am not eight months pregnant and the size of a small country.
It is time I pulled myself together.
I am going to start a list.
Well maybe a list of the lists I need to make.
You’ve got to start somewhere right?
Please tell me I’m not alone. Were you match-ready for baby number two?
Disclosure: This post is brought to you in association with John Lewis however all words are my own.
If you can be blase about pregnancy, I guess it means you’re a veteran parent.
Perhaps. Or just terribly disorganised?
I was in labour with 2nd and was rushing around trying to pack a bag to go to hospital even though I’d be scheduled to go in later that day for ‘a rest’. My Mum had to take my 18mth old eldest shopping for nappies & newborn sleepsuits while I was giving birth as I hadn’t even organised the baby stuff.
Eeek! Right, perhaps I need to do more than write a list!
I think when you’re having your first you can barely see past the birth. It’s the huge unknown. When you’re on 2 you know you don’t need to spend hours wistfully staring at a moses basket until the final stages. You’re busy with who you already have and time is at more of a premium. You actually have everything you need, and it won’t take too long to get it all out, wiped, washed and ready. The nesting usually comes in plenty of time, and it will all work out in the end.
Best of luck when baby comes. Be aware going from 1 to 2 is (in my opinion) as big a difference as going from 0 to 1 :p
Can’t speak from any experience as we stopped at one but I imagine you are a bit more relaxed second time round because you know what’s actually important. Lets face it baby doesn’t need the nursery to be painted the instant its born – it will probably be in with you anyway.
Thanks for sharing, I’m pinning to the Sunday Parenting Party pinterest board
Thanks Monko. I have no idea where the time has gone this time around!
I love this post. We’re talking bout number 2, but I can quite see this being me when we get there.
Maybe a job for a couple of weeks time?
I have no idea where the time is going! Help!
Thanks for stopping by 🙂