the nest

…is still waiting for the bambino.

This is probably incredibly boring news for most of you. But, from my perspective, I’m grateful the bun is still in the oven. That cold I mentioned in my last post…well, it hung around and got worse and kept me in bed feeling pretty miserable for days and days. There were many moments when I wondered how on earth I would labour and birth feeling that bad.

But thankfully it’s on its way out. Subsequently I feel really rested, a little more prepared, and a whole lot more excited about meeting the little one.

So I thought I’d get around to posting about ‘the nest’ or the little corner of our bedroom where baby will sleep, feed and get dressed. We have a third bedroom in the house that we use as a study and although this will become baby’s room one day, I don’t think it’s necessary to deck it out just yet. Baby doesn’t need much space and I am determined to keep things simple.

The moses basket is the same one we used for Che but I’ve added new accessories…like the baby blanket I knitted, an oobee called Ned and a soft and squishy owl gift from Katja at Eco Bohemia.

My mum found an old basket on the side of the road, lined it in stripes and I filled it with wraps and blankets. My auntie made a basket full of muslin burp cloths -the greatest baby accessory ever. When Che was little we had them all over the house to literally catch the spew. They’re gentle on skin, easy to wash and they last and last and last.

To pretty up the space I placed my favourite vintage mirror on the wall and decorated it with a heart garland. The eco nino change mat cover looks perfect atop the chest of drawers that holds everything from 0000 singlets to cloth nappies, booties and tui balm – the greatest baby skin product I have ever come across.

Emma kindly made me some new pillowslips from beautiful vintage fabrics and along with soft white sheets and a cosy mohair blanket, the king bed is ready for many a day and night of sleeping, dozing, feeding, burping, gazing, cooing and cuddling.

So, I’m now officially in that space where waiting is the norm. I think I’ve been holding on to baby a bit, because of my cold, but now I’m ready to let go and labour. My plans for the next few days, if I’m still waiting:

set-up a Woolworths home shop account (because the thought of taking a new baby to a fluorescent-lit, noisy, germy shopping centre is my idea of a nightmare. I’ll be staying away from that place for a good two months)
gaze out the window
drink raspberry leaf tea
snuggle with Che
rub the belly
squat
use up all the hot water in long showers
double-check the bag is packed and ready
think a little more about baby names
(probably) cry
wonder a little more whether baby is a boy or a girl