Preparing ...

In the last few months, we've been through several stages of "getting ready for baby."

There has been a lot of reading done - on baby basics, parenting, breastfeeding, pretty much everything under the sun.

There have been purchases - for the nursery, for the baby, for the condo, etc. In the most recent weeks, I've gone a bit bananas stocking up on stuff that I don't want to worry about in the first few weeks that Elle is with us - toilet paper, grape juice, razors, shampoo, cat litter, cat food, etc. I've managed to accumulate quite a stash of things, and I managed to get most of it on sale with coupons.

There has been cooking - we've got several meals in the freezer ready to pop out when we're just too tired to cook or leave the condo to get food.

There have been classes, conversations, appointments, research, decisions - from everything from pediatricians and ear piercing to night-time feedings and childcare. Questions asked, questions answered, advice offered.

There has been furniture assembly. There has been car seat installation. There has been washed laundry. Scrubbed sinks. Mopped floors. Dusted furniture.

There has been bouncing around on the birthing ball, in the hope that baby will position herself correctly for delivery. (Or, if you're Tim, the ball is used to terrorize the cats.)

There have been "lasts" - last haircut before baby, last cleaning of the car before baby, last potluck before baby, last concert before baby. Every day, people at work ask if they'll see me tomorrow.

And now, there is waiting.