I'm back. Oh, you didn't notice I was missing? I went two whole days without blogging…and why? This whole third trimester thing is dragging me down. I've been too tired to take a photo, resize it for the web, sit upright at my computer, then formulate a cohesive thought. My brain seems to have taken a leave of absence.
For example:
Wednesday, for some reason I have yet to discover, I suddenly forgot what time my girls' Japanese lesson was and I dropped them off half an hour early. They called me on my cell phone to let me know, but I had forgotten it at home. When I went to pick them up, I realized I forgot to bring the check to pay their teacher. And in hashing this all over on the way home, I forgot to stop by my parents to pick some things up like I said I would. Keep in mind friends, all this forgetting happened in over a two hour period.
But all is not lost. The weather has been sunny and {almost} warm. I spent two days cleaning and organizing my laundry room (and this is the room where we keep our school books). I even managed to get every dirty laundry basket in the house empty. Yes I, the mother of 13, got caught up on laundry! Never mind, that if I skip for one day I'm back in the hole. The reality is, I'm caught up now.
In between I've been lying on the couch, planning birthday parties (did I mention Hezekiah's birthday kicks off ten months straight of birthdays in our house???), teaching school, driving around and keeping the peace. Not to mention a little laundry, cooking and cleaning on the side.
On the bright side, my midwife has insisted that I lay down and rest for a week after my baby is born. She specifically said: no cooking, no laundry, no dishes. For a whole week. I can hardly wait!
I hope you all have a happy, productive Monday!
Happy Mothers Day to a very super mom!!
My Aunt always says stay in bed in your PJ’s (very important as it indicates to everyone that you are in fact not going to clean, cook or any other such thing) for a week after having a baby. Mom’s deserve that rest and time with the new baby.
Don’t worry. Your Japanese teacher remembers what happens to the brain during pregnancy and marvels at how you get all your kids through their school days. I love how your nesting is kicking in. Take care and Happy Monday!
Put me on your list of people that will bring a meal over.
A whole week to snuggle and get to know your new baby? Without cooking or cleaning or laundry? Surely this must be what Heaven is like! So thrilled for you!
It was fun to wave at you in the parking lot on Thursday… I saw you reading in the “parent holding tank” and thought you probably needed a few moments of peace and quiet.
You looked beautiful, though! (My Kez was also very happy to see another one. 
)
I think a whole week of resting up sounds well-deserved. Maybe you should do one added week for each baby you didn’t do that for?!
I’m sorry to say that the forgetfulness is continuing. You’ve forgotten about that $100 I lent you, and you’ve forgotten how to spell ‘cheque’.
Nice try, TonyM
I do NOT know how you do it all!
I seriously am AMAZED! I only have two
children and can’t keep up with my house!
Thankfully I love laundry, but even I do 2 loads a day for 4 people. so I can only imagine what yours is per day!!!!!
super woman!!!!! that’s yoU!
take a rest!
tara
Oh man, sounds like me when I’m pregnant! My brain takes a 9 month leave of absence! I actually read something that said it’s scientifically proven that a pregnant woman’s brain literally atrophies so that baby gets the extra Omego3′s – thus causing our brain-farting – it’s also supposed to take about 18 months to recover. No wonder I’m so forgetful! Naomi’s now 13m, and I’ve recently been remembering most everything I need to… which is a different turn from 13m ago when I was forgetting most everything.
I, for one, missed you! Happy (belated) Mother’s Day – times 14!
In Mexico, the tradition is to take forty days off after having a baby. Often other women such as older daughters, sisters, friends, the mother and the mother in law will take turns helping, and it’s not uncommon for someone to stay at night to help as well.
(It’s not only forty days of not cooking or cleaning, though. There’s a traditional diet and all sorts of customs.) It might sound impossible to take forty days off, but it works here because everyone expects it and everyone pitches in, knowing you’ll do the same for them when they have their babies.
I like that tradition!
I was able to stay in bed for a week after our baby was born in March. It was lovely! I’ve never done that before. Only trouble was the family forgot to feed me. So I kept a jar of peanut butter and a bag of chocolate chips in my room–got to keep up my strength, you know.
I think that’s my favorite picture ever of Tilly.