24 Weeks

Ok…so these weeks are going by faster and faster.  Meanwhile I am so not prepared for the baby, I am being so un-Lindsay about the whole thing.  The normal Lindsay would have everything she could possibly need for the baby taken care of or at least figured out.  The normal Lindsay would be freaking out right now because she has nothing for the baby to sleep in, she hasn’t started stocking up on diapers and although she has found a few things for the baby to wear, she would be freaking out because she can only find pajamas that are acceptable for her child.  Being in China has caused me to start becoming a lot more “Lindsay” in some ways and let things go…there is no middle ground.  I am kind of happy that I am not stressed out about not being ultra prepared this early, who needs the stress…right now I am just focused on eating. 
Don’t start to worry…this week (actually this afternoon) I am going to a furniture shop that is meant to have decent furniture.  I have also contacted a friend whose brother has a furniture making factory in Huizhou and he takes orders for custom furniture.  If either of those things don’t work out I plan on just picking something up at IKEA (if we were in America I would probably get the furniture from IKEA anyway but most Chinese don’t use cribs so they only have 2 to choose from at our local IKEA).  I figured after our Christmas party this Friday I would start stocking up on wipes and diapers…I just don’t want them stacked when we have people over.  As for the clothes…I have found a few outfits that aren’t pajamas and I ordered a few from America on Black Friday.  I am really only focusing on things Zachary will need while we are here.  There is so much I don’t need to worry about for the first 5 months.  I will most likely be doing a lot of online shopping the month before we move back so I have the things we will need ready and waiting for us in my parent’s garage.

This week I started eating less each time but more frequently.  My typical day is built around food.  I wake up and usually eat a bowl of cereal around 9:00 (this is the most difficult meal because I haven’t eaten all night and I usually need to rest after the cereal…sad…I know) my second breakfast is a granola bar, then I have a snack (maybe a peanut butter bar), I eat lunch at noon which is half of a peanut butter sandwich on wheat bread (which I stock up on in Hong Kong), my second lunch is a piece of fruit, then I eat some sun chips (also smuggled from HK), and I eat peanut butter bars, gummy bears, cereal, granola bars, raisins or whatever I feel like for the 3 or 4 more snack breaks until dinner.  I eat dinner around 6:30 which is usually spaghetti, mac and cheese, or a very small portion of whatever I cook for Adam.  Then I will eat another 3 snacks before bed.  Maybe if you add it up I eat a little more than a normal person does on a given day but not too much more since I eat such small portions.  If I go out for the day all these snacks get put in ziplocks and fill up my purse.  I drink only water (not because it’s good for you but because the thought of anything else makes my mouth dry. 

I am also not sleeping well at all and I wake up with a sore neck and back.  I start with 6 pillows but by the time I fall asleep I am down to 2.  I know I would feel so much better and sleep a lot more if I could sleep propped up like a lounge seat but I just can’t sleep that way.  I don’t get to take naps much because I have kept busy and well honestly every time I think of taking a nap it is either too close to bed time or I feel like I need food.
My ziplock bag preparation and my lack of sleep is really getting me ready for Zachary to be here needing things and crying.  I think taking care of myself is helping me get my feet wet in taking care of the baby and my ability to survive on less sleep will help with night time feedings…hopefully Zachary won’t need to eat every half hour like I need to!
******Cool Week 24 Fact: Zachary is producing white blood cells and he may start hiccupping soon!