The Final Days of Pregnancy

It's hard to believe that in a week's time, I will no longer be pregnant. You think it's not going to end, and then the day comes like today, when you realize that it is ending. Just as I got used to my cumbersome body, I feel a pang of regret knowing that this huge butterball of a mid-section is going away, transforming into a human baby, but gone, all the same. My massive tummy and I were just getting the hang of it. Now, wham, it's going to be taken away from me. Pregnancy bliss, being spoiled by strangers, getting special treatment, not caring about caloric consumption, always having the perfect excuse, taking my own, sweet time, spending lots of time on the couch, getting favors done, letting it all out, and so much more, will be gone in a week. Back to reality and anonymity.  I quite got accustomed to the perks of pregnancy.  Though I complained a lot and though they seemed to loom on forever, I adored the nine months.  To find myself pregnant in April this year at age 46 was a titillating discovery. Staying pregnant in the vulnerable first 12 weeks was an enormous relief. Watching my body grow to gargantuan size in the mid-section was shocking.  Getting around the last several weeks has been tiresome.  And all the possible combinations of emotions poked their heads in to this three-quarter of a year-long experience. Physically and emotionally....it challenged me in a wonderful way. I took care of myself as best I could. And I continued on with my life as if the pregnancy were an appendage. Because I knew that I couldn't just sit and bask in the advanced-age pregnancy. I had to get some things accomplished, pregnant at 46 or not. Most important of those things was to be the best mommy to my daughter as I could be.  She deserved all the attention I was able to give her throughout these nine months. I hope she thinks I did a good job.  So, I am looking at my last weekend I'll be pregnant. What will I do and how will I savor it?  I am going to spend all my time with my daughter. It will be our last weekend together as a mommy and daughter duo. This is her last weekend of being the only child. She can get spoiled a little! Tonight we got our Christmas tree. Tomorrow we will finish decorating it.  A pre-baby celebration will be had.  But if I end up in the delivery room this weekend, it will be an abrupt end to a fun-filled journey of pregnancy in my 46th year.  

What's Left to Do as Week 39 Approaches?

There is nothing left to do - aside from the maddening nesting - except sleep and eat.  Braving the December 1st NYC thunderstorm today for, perhaps, my last doctor's appointment, I crossed off the last of the few errands by buying a large supply of baby diapers at Babies R Us.  Here's what's left between now and my due date next week:
-Get a base for the infant car seat
-Buy a breast pump on Craigslist
(Baby daddy can do those above two items)
-Purchase a Christmas tree from a Manhattan sidewalk vendor (reminiscent of a scene in When Harry Met Sally) and decorate it with the family over hot chocolate and Christmas cookies (the latter of which - though would be fantastic to spend the evening baking them - I will buy. Just so you know, daughter and I did bake cookies a couple nights ago and topped with homemade purple frosting. That counts as my seasonal home baking, doesn't it, even though the cookies came out sort-of ice hockey pucky??).
-Decide what to do with cat while basking in a glorious hospital stay for baby's birth. Dad and daughter will be staying with friends.
-Get in some fun and relaxation!!

Is the last item really going to occur? How much fun can a 39-week old pregnant lady have? For that matter, is sleep going to happen? Insomnia? I have it, thus, along with the myriad of bathroom trips I make, my body is on auto pilot. It must be because I don't really feel that tired.

Relaxation? Yeah, right. It ain't gonna happen because a pregnant mommy doesn't slow my daughter down.  And the apartment doesn't cook dinner or clean for us.  There's no such thing as relaxation for a pregnant person unless you're Queen Victoria with nine children. Plus, the above list will grow as I come up with more chores, as I inherently will.

Eating? I plan to let myself eat for two until the big day, when reality strikes me in a moment of panic when I realize I have gained 45 pounds and a box marked "skinny jeans" will be staring me in the face when I get home from the hospital.  But I have a week left to luxuriate in Godiva chocolates from Macy's. The dieting bridge can be crossed later. At least I didn't gain weight in the last week as I've not been to the grocery store to load up on impulse snacks.  I just ate a mug of Grape-Nuts.  Hmmm...it's fun to eat cereal at night. Late night healthy snacking I'll do. That will be my fun and relaxation.