chirp, chirp… i’m building my nest

Mama birds gather sticks and mud and grass… While we mamas gather diapers coupons and name ideas and stroller reviews.

 

With my first baby I relished making long lists of baby gear we needed (and wanted), decorating ideas for the nursery, ways to document baby’s arrival, and parenting books I wanted to read.

With my second baby I roamed the isles of Target and Babies Galore and Babies-R-Us just wishing that there was more we needed to buy. The mama-nester in me was pining to gather some tiny onsies and socks and… burp cloths. Something–anything–to make me feel like I was doing something tangible to help prepare for his arrival (other than just passively watching my belly grow).

And yet—knowing number two is a another boy—we haven’t needed many baby things. (This is, of course, a good thing in actuality!)

We needed a few more cloth diapers to beef up our stash. We needed a second crib. We needed a double stroller. (Yes, I got the dream stroller – the cadillac of all strollers – which I love!)

But this time around my nesting has taken on another form.

It’s called life-as-we-know-it-is-about-to-change-again-and-I’d-better-do-everything-there-ever-was-to-do-before-his-birthday nesting.

You’d think that when baby arrives the world will stand still and I will never be able to accomplish “normal” things again.

So I’ve been busy doing “normal” things…

Like re-organizing the medicine cabinet.

And tidying-up the craft supply box.

And sorting the gift-wrap cupboard.

And culling my closet.

And re-arranging the living room.

You know, important things that will help me in caring for the new baby.

There’s this part of me that’s terrified that once baby comes (and toddler notices) there will be no moment in my day left to do anything but play mega blocks and breastfeed and hang mounds and mountains of laundry on the clothesline.

So the bedroom floors need to be vacuumed underneath the beds… now. And the ceiling fans need to be dusted… now. And the garbage bins bleached out… now.

Or else, they will probably never, ever, ever get done.

And that, my friends, would be… par for the course and no big deal at all.

Dear friends, are any of you as crazy as I am when it comes to nesting? Don’t be surprised if you find me painting a feature wall or something sometime soon. (Oh wait, we just did that.)

chirp, chirp,

 

 

P.S. The winner of the Hazelaid gift certificate for an amber teething necklace or other product is Teva Beasley! Please send me your email and mailing address Teva and I will forward it on to Hazelaid!

 

 

 

 

Memos readers are elibible for a 10% discount on all Hazelaid products until October 7.
Just enter code Memos10 at checkout.

 

About Author

Adriel Booker is an author, speaker, and advocate based in Sydney, Australia who believes storytelling, beauty, and the grace of God will change the world. Adriel has become a trusted voice in areas of motherhood and parenting, Christian spirituality, and global women's issues. She's also known for her work with the Love A Mama Collective—serving under-resourced women in developing nations through safe birth initiatives—as well as her years spent as a Bible teacher and leadership coach. Her latest book is Grace Like Scarlett: Grieving with Hope after Miscarriage and Loss and she's made the companion grief journal available for free. Find Adriel across all social media platforms at @adrielbooker or sign up for LoveNotes, Adriel's 'secret posts' that aren't published anywhere else online. ✌️

19 Comments

  • Alicia
    27 September 2011 at 11:24 pm

    Good to know I’m not the only crazy one! It’s a bit early for me to be “nesting” but we moved the fridge yesterday and I saw how much dirt had accrued under there in the short time we’ve lived here, so now I’ve got a mental list compiling of all those things that will need to be done before the next baby arrives or else it will be 10 years before they get done. And that would be tragic, right?

    Reply
  • SushiMama
    27 September 2011 at 11:35 pm

    I’m on baby number one and already thinking we MUST clean the carpets before baby comes or it will never happen. And I have 7.5 months to go! Have fun nesting:)

    Reply
    • Adriel @ The Mommyhood Memos
      28 September 2011 at 5:24 am

      Oh, you’re pregnant! Congratulations – that’s wonderful news!!! Hope you’re doing well… and getting those carpets cleaned. 😉 Take care of yourself! x

      Reply
  • Becky
    28 September 2011 at 1:31 am

    Well, at least you’ll have two cute and cuddly excuses to not be productive! Whenever I was round the clock nursing my babies, I just took it as a reason to relax (with baby #2, interspersed with trips to the kitchen for crackers and cheerios for #1) and read a book or watch television. I’ve been to the other side, friend. You’ll have a chance to clean again. I promise! Enjoy these moments. 🙂

    Reply
    • Adriel @ The Mommyhood Memos
      28 September 2011 at 5:25 am

      yes, i’m looking forward to it so much!! i don’t really enjoy cleaning anyway. if i was rich one of the first things i’d do is hire a housekeeper! 🙂

      Reply
  • Ana
    28 September 2011 at 4:10 am

    Oh my goodness, when nesting hit when I was pregnant with Phinneas, I painted my parent’s living room and dining room while they were at the coast. I just “had” to do it because I knew nothing would be done when he arrived.

    I hope you’ll be able to just kick back and relax a bit before Babe comes!!

    Reply
  • Rachel J.
    28 September 2011 at 5:32 am

    I know what you mean about how there doesn’t seem to be as much to do this time around! It’s kind of sad, but then again, I haven’t had the energy anyway. I think it’s starting to kick in though…I have been stocking up on new recipes in the hopes that I’ll find time to cook and freeze a bunch of meals to help with the first few weeks.

    Reply
    • Adriel @ The Mommyhood Memos
      28 September 2011 at 6:00 am

      yes! i haven’t had the energy either!! only recently have i felt really good energy-wise… maybe yours will kick in too! never got around to any meal prep though. that’s admirable!! 🙂

      Reply
  • Sarah
    28 September 2011 at 9:43 am

    Oh my gosh! Your statement about how you’re sure when baby two arrives you will do nothing but Mega Blocks and nursing and laundry…that’s EXACTLY how I feel! And as tired as I am from being 2 weeks from giving birth, those things I am just sure I need to get done now or never are SO hard to do! Thank you for making me feel better 🙂

    Reply
    • Adriel @ The Mommyhood Memos
      28 September 2011 at 1:06 pm

      Yes, they are hard to do… I”m due in 10 days, but I’ve had a burst of energy lately. Really enjoying not feeling exhausted for the first time this whole pregnancy! Maybe I can enjoy it for a few days before bub comes!!

      Good luck to you! Not long now. 😀

      Reply
  • Kerry McCullough
    28 September 2011 at 11:14 am

    I totally went nesting crazy last week! I’m only 23 weeks and I decided to bust into all of the newborn thru 3 month stuff in the basement– clothes, hats, socks, and burp cloths… and split up the drawers between Niall and his baby brother to be (about a good 4 months away still). I just had to do it, I can’t explain it 🙂

    Reply
    • Adriel @ The Mommyhood Memos
      28 September 2011 at 1:07 pm

      You go girl! I only just got all the baby stuff back out about two or three weeks ago! Was starting to make me feel stressed… and was so nice to have that one crossed off THE LIST. But yeah, nesting is like that though isn’t it? You just feel COMPELLED to do certain things! It’s a little c-r-a-z-y town. 😉

      Reply
  • Lindsey
    28 September 2011 at 11:37 am

    Oh boy. Nesting is a horrible, horrible disease that inflicts itself upon me with each baby. Usually in the form of strong urges to repaint. The whole house.
    But this time I’m just buying a few new furniture pieces and purging like crazy, so far.

    Reply
    • Adriel @ The Mommyhood Memos
      28 September 2011 at 1:09 pm

      hahaha, i love it! funny how some women start cooking and stockpiling the freezer – i wish i could find motivation to do nesting like that! i’m much more inclined to paint and decorate like you… but geeze, the whole house? take it easy girl!! 😉

      Reply
  • Tiffany
    28 September 2011 at 2:33 pm

    Oh yes, my nesting during my second pregnancy was all about organization. It was insane but worth every minute 🙂

    Reply
  • Rachel
    29 September 2011 at 1:16 pm

    I hate to say it, but you are right. Now that baby number three is here and four months, I barely have time to brush my own teeth, let alone organize anything, or keep up with my bog! 🙁

    Reply
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