sorting, washing and drying baby clothes
After two weeks of grey, we’ve had a run of perfect wintry days just right for sorting, washing and folding baby clothes.
There’s less than a month till my due date and with every little task that gets ticked off the list I’m feeling more content and prepared. On Saturday when I stood back and watched teeny, tiny newborn onesies drying in the sun, I realised that it was one of my very favourite sights. And in the same moment, I was so aware of the fact that this will, most probably, be the last time I go about such a beloved ritual.
I’m going to find it hard to stop having babies, if I’m completely honest.
This pregnancy has gone so fast and as I get to the profound waddling stage I’m soaking in all the good that comes with the uncomfortable; strong baby kicks, little feet pushing, growing anticipation and, along with it, love – so much love.
The age gap between Percy and the baby will be our smallest (by far) and so we’re entering new territory as we attempt to prepare a toddler for the imminent arrival of a baby. I wake up every morning with Percy literally attached to my back so in the next few weeks we have to entice him into his toddler bed. So far? No go! Am I concerned? Not at all. It will all work out, someway and somehow.
From here on in it’s all food preparation, afternoon naps, the final few rows on the baby’s blanket and packing the hospital bag. And school holidays….which at 38 weeks pregnant is going to be interesting to say the least.
Countdown is on…
We had twins when our eldest was 2 years 5 months old. We tried to prepare him but I’m not sure you can really prepare a kid that age very much. After his sisters were born we endured 2 months of 1.5-2 hour tantrums every single day after his siesta (which he still needed as he reverted to waking up during the night). It was brutal. Now he’s 5 and the sisters are 2 and 9 months and in just the last two months they have all started to play together without needing constant refereeing. We feel like we’re finally seeing some of the benefits of having kids close in age. It’s been an immense effort to try to give them all the attention they need and to consistently be equitable but we seem to be seeing some results in how they are relating to each other now. Each addition to your family is such a leap of faith that at some point it will turn out to have been for the best!
Oh enjoy it all! It is just so exciting. I am a long time reader but first time commenter. We have three little girls (5,3&1) and I am not done, but I am coming to realise that although I don’t think I will ever feel done, at some point I will just have to be. We will try for no.4 and hopefully all goes well. And then I will look forward to no.s 5+ as grandchildren in years to come. But there will be a period of mourning as each milestone of the last child is passed. No doubt a few tears will be shed. But a silver lining is that friends tell me getting your family to the next stage is wonderful also…. Wishing you the very best.
There is nothing quite like preparing for a new baby. I hope these last few weeks are slow and beautiful for you sweet lady. You will be in my thoughts xx
We just had our third (and last) baby 7 weeks ago. There’s definitely a sense of grieving knowing that there will be no more newborns. Enjoy your last weeks, newborn days are definitely the best ever x
My oldest two were 17 months apart, it was hard, and to I’ll be honest, I can’t remember much of the first year of my second, but, once they started playing together it got a lot easier and now they’re the best of friends, most of the time… You’ll find a way of course, as we always do, as long as there is LOVE everything will work out! Good luck with these last weeks
You are so right, it will all work out. My third and fourth will be 30 months apart – our biggest gap by far! – and even though those first months with two babies are all-consuming, it’s the good kind of all-consuming. Percy’s love and care for baby will mature him, and the baby will fit right in.
And don’t believe that Percy will suddenly be a big kid. He WILL be, but you’ll still have plenty of time for cuddles and one-on-one time with your third born.