Currently, I am waiting.
And waiting.
And waiting.
Waiting for my second child to arrive.
I am really ready be done with this pregnancy so I’m working on exercising my patience “muscles”.
If you are waiting for something as well or trying to fill time or (gasp) bored (one of my least favorite words), here is a list of ideas to make the time pass.
1. Scrub the bathtub. Feel a sense of accomplishment despite your grunting.
2. Go through all you own to reorganize and discard the unused. Or in MJ’s case, hide his collection of old t-shirts so that his purge-happy wife won’t throw them out.
3. Make a cheery, springy wreath as detailed in this tutorial from The Pretty Poppy.
4. Create earrings.
Make one set from some funky beads you found on clearance.
And make another set from obnoxiously colored earrings, also found on clearance, and then spray them black.
5. Clean out all cupboards, drawers and shelves because you are going slightly insane while waiting.
6. Try out this Distressed Picture Canvas tutorial from Delia Creates. It’s very cool and the final outcome is one-of-a-kind. (Since I’m still waiting, I’ve been trying to decide what other pictures to distress. If the baby ever comes, maybe I’ll use one of those…..)
7. Wait for spring to arrive and enjoy the few tulips that made it past the blasted, thieving squirrels.
8. Discuss any number of important and pivotal topics with your chatty two-year-old. Try to keep up as she likes to keep things fresh by constantly changing the subject.
9. Get a new king-sized bed. This may lead to another whole house reorganizing-shake-down, thus making No. 2 null and void. Claim insanity or out-of-whack hormones. Or both. Be thankful your husband has learned to live with (and, secretly, deep down, love) this obsession.
10. Create curtains from a shower curtain.
I purchased this cotton shower curtain from Target, cut it in two and added a cream-colored edge to the middle side of each panel.
I also made the hanging loops because with the new edges, the curtains required two extra hooks to hang nicely (packages come with 12 and I needed 14). Saved myself $10, too
11. Read all magazines you’ve allowed to pile up lately. Once you’ve read them and torn out the good stuff, recycle them and get them out of your house. One less thing…
12. Wash and clean out both cars from winter dirt and sand and the eating habits of a two-year-old. This job can be delegated to a spouse or significant other. I mean, one does need a break sometimes.
13. Wipe down and wash two infant car seats. Install them correctly in each newly clean car. Try not to get frustrated each time you see them without a baby inside.
14. Sew a bunch of these fun Hobo Sacks from Made. They are addictive.
15. Sigh and moan because you are still waiting.
16. Create Mother’s Day cards for the mothers in your life. (If Mother’s Day has passed, then any old holiday will work.) Delia Creates posted on this idea.
17. Round out the whole-house-clean-up by going through and sweeping out the garage. Get rid of more stuff!!!! Then thank your parents wholeheartedly for their help in transporting and storing items that don’t presently fit but will hopefully be used in the future.
18. Wash and fold all baby blankets, burp clothes, changing pads and little onesies for the new baby. Refrain from rolling your eyes each time you see the unused piles of stuff.
19. Marvel at your almost three-year-old. Be amazed that three quick years have passed already. Try not to cry too much; growing up is part of life. If necessary, go back and look at her first year photo album and point out all the facial expressions that she did in her first days of life that she still does today. Mourn the loss of her baby days but remember to be thankful for all the days to come.
20. Dye a few shirts. I tried outiDye from Jacquard and really liked it. The dying is all done in the washing machine. Pretty swift and easy. The directions online are different and better than the package, so read them before doing anything.
21. Visit your doctor weekly. Okay, maybe this is specific to me but hey, it’s something to do.
22. Walk, climb steps, garden, help carry outdoor furniture from their winter storage to the patio, crawl on the floor while cutting and pinning your modified curtains, carrying a wiggly Love Bug when she requests it and walk (did I already say that?). Move any which way to maybe entice the happy baby inside to come out.
23. Pack a suitcase for yourself, your husband and your child. Only allow yourself one curse word when you have to step over it each day.
24. Take photos of your only child (and her fabulous hair), for soon (or not so soon) there will be two.
Maybe jump in the picture yourself.
25. Maybe some more sighing and moaning because, yes, you are still waiting. Wish for better patience. Because, after all, you are the only person in history to ever wait for a baby to be born (or whatever else).
There you have it. Twenty-five things to fill your time.
I realize it’s a bit heavy on cleaning and organizing which can be confused with nesting, a common occurance with pregnancy. These things would be done regardless, much to MJ’s delight.
Since I have done all these things, I am working on another list.
Hopefully, I won’t need another 25 items….
Take care!
-amy j
LOVE the first picture under #24. LOVE IT. Seriously I think it could be in a baby magazine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!