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That's wonderful news. I'd give some words of wisdom about managing the house and a baby, but I've yet to do it to my own satisfaction, so all's I can say is don't sweat the small stuff. But decluttering and getting the house squared up before the arrival sounds like a brillant idea.

I do have to insert unsolicited advice here: start eating really nutrient-dense meals and snacks and remember--reelaaaaaax and enjoy your chance to participate in a miracle!

(((hugs)))

Anhata
www.familynaturally.com
Your Family's General Store, Naturally

--Sleep. Sleep every minute you possibly can.

--Declutter.

--Nap. Doze. Get some shut-eye.

--Sew, knit, whatever craft you like doing.

--Did I mention sleep? get a LOT of sleep.

Lynn Siprelle, Editor

That's fantastic news How are you feeling? Not too sick I hope?

As to coping afterwards, my advice would be to relax about the fact that all will be chaos for at least six months! Just let it happen and think "I have a tiny baby, there are more important things than an ordered house". Eventually you will start to notice that you have a little more space in your head and your day, and that's the moment to slowly take control again.

And what the others said about sleep? That's SO true!

Zillah

Congratulations to you and your DH! A quick look at the calendar looks like your little one will be here in Late January/Early February(?) Personally I found that to be a GREAT time to have a baby: I felt great through the holidays, stayed in through most of the end of winter, and by the time the weather broke, baby and I were BOTH ready to be out-and-about!

You're getting good advice: Eat well, sleep LOTS, and embrace the chaos! Your new blessing will not be growing up in your SIL's life....he or she will be growing up in yours and frankly there are a lot of things worse than raising happy and beloved children in a less-than-perfectly-tidy house! You'll be great!

Blessings,
Lenora
"...if woman's work is never done, why bother about how much of it [isn't] getting done at any given moment?"
~ Claire Fraser in The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon

Yes, my projected due date is February 8. Which means it's just possible I might have a birthday baby, since my birthday is February 4. I just hope there's not an ice storm like there was with me! More likely I'll go late, though, since that's what happened to my mother and grandmother. Though, so far, my pregnancy has apparently not been much like my mother's with me, so who knows? She's always told me how sick she was with both me and my sister, and so far I haven't been sick at all (I know, I'm lucky!) Food aversions, yes, but no actual nausea. Just this week I've started to have a little more energy again, so it must be time to tackle the clutter. I bought a couple of prenatal exercise DVDs (since my usual exercise involves some jumping and that doesn't seem so wise), and I've been trying to do one at least every other day. And yes, eating lots of healthy food and lots of protein. I've been using Fitday to help track my diet. I can't believe the number of calories it says I'm eating! Not that I'm really worried about it, but it is quite amazing! I've definitely been enjoying sleeping in lately, too. I'd probably get a lot more done if I got up earlier, but on the other hand, I won't get to do this much longer!

Hope all goes well.

I'm afraid that's just about the sum total of my advice for anything you might ever want to do in the next 10yrs or so... If you want to declutter, now's the best time (taking it gently of course), if you want to spend time with friends who don't have kids do it now (you'll bore them witless with babytalk afterwards!), if you want to take a trip go now!! In the next few months you'll stop wanting to do stuff, so get it done in the next couple of months, and then for at least a year afterwards you'll just be trying to get yourself back together - as Zillah said, you have to surrender to the chaos for the first 6mths. And then...

well anyway, Congratulations to you both and don't worry about how you'll adapt. You just will.

I second what Lenora said about the winter baby, because I had both mine in the same heat she had her eldest in! - not fun, especially not the swollen feet!

Kerri.

This is so exciting!! Congratulations!! Don't worry you'll figure it all out. Relax. Sleep. And, just worry about you and your baby. When the baby arrives just think about your baby and yourself. Not the dishes or the laundry. For now just enjoy the alone time. I am very happy for you!!!!

Great news!