Playing the Calendar Game

Welcome to the Three Month Countdown. I am about to admit something embarrassing to you guys. In the past few weeks I have started playing this compulsive game with myself. It's called Calendar-Checking. Calendar-Checking is a really fun game and so easy to learn. All you do is grab a smart phone, open your calendar App, and gaze at the next three months. Really, you don't do much more than that. You just...look. You may "check" to confirm that such-and-such event is still securely planned for the 24th, or that this or that is definitely happening on the 15th. Or, you might engage in the most fun behavior of all...staring at the 31st of October, trying to imagine how you'll be feeling when that day arrives. If played correctly, this game induces a trance-like state of daydreaming and imagination. But frankly, it's just weird.

Let me tell you what I'm staring at.

August - Event-Packed Month. I may have bit off more than I can chew for the month of August. I am six months pregnant and you really can't tell from looking at my social calendar. Aside from the ongoing dog chemo appointments, midwife appts, dentist appts, Intro to Hypnobirthing, and little things like that, we have a few major things going on this month.

First, next weekend we are making a five hour drive up to Sacramento just for a quick weekend trip. Everyone keeps telling me I'm crazy. Drive five hours one way just for the weekend? But I have four really good friends who live up there (two couples) and I've been meaning to go up and visit them for a long time. I am not the best at maintaining long distance friendships and these are really important to me, so I'm making an effort. I figure it's only going to get harder after baby comes.

Then, on the 15th, we have our appointment with the Perinatalogist. This isn't like a big "event" in that it takes a lot of time or planning, but I am SO excited for it so it deserves mentioning. With the switch to the midwives, we don't get ultrasounds at appointments anymore, so I haven't seen Baby since he was 19 weeks. This time he will be 29 weeks. I know the purpose of the appointment is to find out if my placenta has risen up and I am somewhat anxious about that (but feeling positive and hopeful/excited to get good news), but really I am just so psyched to see how much he's grown and hopefully get a good 3D pic.

On the 24th, we have our Baby Shower. This merits a whole post of its own regarding the planning process, etc. But, long story short, I am really excited about it. We are doing a low-key, co-ed Shower with no baby games or baby decorations. Just a lot of people sitting outside at a park enjoying food, alcohol, and each other's company. Oh, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to the gifts!

Labor Day Weekend. Now this is another thing that you might think we're crazy about. But if you've been reading this blog you will know that I have been less than satisfied with living in LA lately and, on top of that, I am someone who loves to dream about the future. After our recent trip home to Montana, we started to dream more and more about relocating. So, over Labor Day, we are going to throw the dog in the car and hit the road to drive up North to Napa/Sonoma/Santa Rosa area and just...explore. We will have NO agenda, NO hotel bookings, and NO idea where we'll end up. We just want to explore and dream a little. I am so excited. But...really....a five day road trip at seven months pregnant? Oh, and no hotel reservations? Over Labor Day? With a dog?? Yep. Crazy. I can't wait.

September - Preparation Month . In the month of September, we have no crazy road trips planned. I promise. Instead, it will be devoted to two main things to prep for baby. First, we have classes, classes, and more classes. Every Saturday for the whole month we are attending a Childbirthing class put on by our clinic. Then, we have Breastfeeding, Childcare and possibly Hypnobirthing to fit in (still not sure if we'll do the whole Hypnobirthing series). Oh, and I want to also register for an Infant CPR class. I am going to be super-educated and prepared.

The other main preparation project for September is the Nursery. We will see what we got at the Shower and then purchase whatever is left on the Registry/whatever crazy things I decide we need last minute. We'll put the nursery together (can't wait!) and start on prepping the entire house. By that I mean, last minute projects like clearing out the closet in the nursery, sweeping dust out of places that have been dusted in years, finding a place in the kitchen for bottles and baby stuff, and just completing last minute stuff.

October - Waiting Month. I want to have everything done before October hits. We'll see if that happens, but I really just want to be ready. Not for any paranoid reason like he may come early or whatever, but I just want to feel - done and ready. Then I can use the month to just sit, wait, and psychologically prepare (aka freak out). I will leave work two weeks before the official due date and just focus on relaxing and giving myself some down time.

So that's it. Guess what? If you read through all of this, you unwittingly played the Calendar-Checking Game with me. Fun, isn't it? No? Hmm. Maybe you have to be six months pregnant and a bit anxiety-driven to fully appreciate it.

Tell me, what are YOUR plans for the next three months? Or, if you're pregnant, what are your plans prior to baby's arrival? Does anyone else play their own version of the Calendar Game or are you just more of a take-it-as-it-comes kinda gal? Come on...share!