Mommie needs a book recommendation (PLEASE HELP, READERS!!) – or a hobby – or something.

Well, beautiful Boy, you are due in about 9 days and I’m about as bored as I’ve ever been in my whole life. I want to paint the living room, but your dad has totally vetoed that idea. He makes a good point that I’d be inviting a bunch of chaos which we’d have to live with for a long time if you decided to be born in the middle of the project. I also shouldn’t inhale a bunch of paint fumes or stand high-up on a ladder.

Your room is ready; the laundry is done; the hospital bag is packed; the cleaning guy has been here (I just looked at the kitchen, though, and there might be a little work I can do in there today). I’ve read everything in the house; and since you’re dad is still swamped with work, I’m not willing to start doing any of those things which might hasten your arrival. I’ve sure been fantasizing about them though… Walking a lot, sex, swinging/bumping, drinking various herbal concoctions, eating spicy food… All of these things not only make me nervous, they make me hopeful. How weird is that? But your dad has three more cases to close before he’s ready to take his paternity leave and two big days of court at the end of the week. Once those things are all done, and once he’s had a good day or two to recover from the all-nighter he pulled last night and any all-nighters he pulls between now and then, you’ll find a world waiting for you with eager and open arms.

So how have I been occupying myself lately? (I should explain, in case I haven’t already, that I am not taking classes this semester so that I can stay home and be a mom. Thus, it was only after my projects from last semester that wrapped up that this boredom set in.)

Reading. I really like fiction; specifically fiction with strong female main characters and usually, by female authors. I particularly like Anita Shreve books. A random smattering of other books I enjoyed a lot include “Ahab’s Wife,” “The Pilot’s Wife,” and “The Passion of Artemisia.” But reading for pleasure is just not something I’ve been able to allow myself in law school, so I’m unplugged from what I’d like to read, and I need a book suggestion. Help, anyone?

I’ve been trying to read about preparing for you. Some of this has been extremely helpful. I have enjoyed: The Baby Book – William and Martha Sears; The No-Cry Sleep Solution – Elizabeth Pantley; and my favorite, "Raising a happy, unspoiled child" - Burton L. White. Some books have been unhelpful and incompatible with my values. Some examples of books I have NOT enjoyed are “What to expect when you’re expecting (it’s alarming to read all the possible things that can go wrong);” and “The Girlfriend’s Guide to the First Year” (do these people even like their children?.

Watching TV. Why did I ever think I would enjoy this activity? I didn’t, actually. TV is just anesthesia to pass time. On DVR I had saved up a few episodes of “House,” which I enjoyed, but are now gone. I also had a few “ER” “Boston Legal” and “House of Babies” and a huge number of “Baby Story” and “Bringing Home Baby.” Believe me. There’s only so much TV a soul can watch. If I had to sit through the commercials (instead of fast forwarding through them) I’d never have watched as much as I did, but I’ve still deleted more than I’ve watched.

We went to the doctor this morning, and all looks fine. I’m measuring 38cm, which means I’m about the same as I was last week. That’s normal. The uterus just can’t get any bigger. My weight also stayed the same (170lbs – hardly a call to celebration, but since it’s been there for 3 weeks, at least I’m not gaining anymore). My blood pressure was higher than I think is good – 128/77 (they like it to be lower than 120/80 so I’m in an okay range, but I thought mine used to be lower than this). The doctor also mentioned that she is on call on Feb. 1, and that she might deliver our baby. That’s exciting because the likelihood of getting her is ordinarily quite low. She just isn’t on-call that much.

Our due date is January 31, but most babies are born sometime between 38 and 42 weeks gestation. That means according to the generic odds out there, you could come any moment, but my intuition says you’re still a week or so away. So, I need something to occupy me. I’ll help your dad at work a little, in the few limited ways that I can (copying, etc…) but anyone who has ideas for a good book I could check out, please let me know! If anyone needs some free infant care, I’d love to help you out! If anyone needs company, call on me! In the meantime, I’ll just nap, putter, and blog.