34 1/2 Weeks!

Well, we're almost there! I still can't believe that our little Celeste is almost ready to be born! I've read up on some baby topics -- everything from potty training, to the types of toys to buy a child to encourage development, to tips on traveling with an infant. Overall, I think I'm pretty ready for the arrival.

However, I must admit that a part of me is really anxious. Just thinking about the little creature that will totally depend on me for everything is enough to throw me into a panic. She won't be able to tell me what she wants, so how will I know? Yes, I do realize that there's a handful of things she may possibly need, but what if she wants to be burped, and I do everything else before I get to the burping? She will have to suffer as I go through the motions of changing her, giving her a pacifier, trying to feed her, when all she wants is to be burped some more?! Last weekend I was talking to my friend Anna who has a 2 month-old, and she said that sometimes you just can't figure out what's wrong -- it could be that his left foot is itching, and he's unable to scratch it. I think what I'll do is create a checklist of everything that a baby can possibly want, and put "itch extremities" at the bottom, so that when all else fails, I'll gently itch her arms, legs and back.

Aside from gathering advice on what to do with babies, we've been gathering baby stuff from our friends. We now have a swing, 2 car seats, 2 strollers, a bassinet, a bouncy seat, a baby bath tub, some clothes, and a LOT of diapers and bottles! For now, everything is just sitting in the baby room, but I think this weekend I will start to decorate -- I'm really excited about that!

And so, I find myself on the verge of motherhood. But as frightening as it may be, I think I'm in good shape, as I have the best support structure in the world: I'll have Mike, Alicia and Alicia's mom by my side from day one; my mom and mother-in-law once I get back home; and of course, many friends (most of whom just became mothers in the past year). Yup, I think I have a decent chance of making a good mom! (or so I keep telling myself!).