Rest

Today is the first day of experiment number two: rest.

I’ve done a pretty good job of planning for what rest will look like once the baby arrives – staying in bed in the first week, limiting physical activity, letting people care for me – but I don’t know exactly what to do for rest until then. Fortunately, I’ve done most of the preparation I wanted to do, so I don’t really have anything hanging over me. But because I’m not working, I struggle to maintain a sort of structure to my day. For me, structure usually entails chores, work – productivity in general. I don’t think I want to abandon productivity all-together, but I think I can be more mindful of what it looks like.

This morning I woke up and showered, but I opted to stay in my robe while I drank my tea and ate my cereal. I stripped the bed and washed all the bedding, but I’m not going to re-make it until my husband gets home and can do most of the work. Even simple things like stretching a fitted sheet over a mattress are difficult these days with a big belly and all that relaxin surging through my body. I also decided to finish a book I’ve been reading for pleasure instead of reading a baby book or spending time on the internet. I can now check book number three of Dan Simmons’ Hyperion Cantos off the list (it’s really good, btw). I’m also leaving a few areas of the house “untidy” for the time being. Maybe I’ll ask Harley to help out when he gets home later.

In addition to rest, I’m still maintaining my hydration experiment, at least until the baby comes. I’ve found it comforting to have something concrete to do that will benefit both me and baby, and it adds a helpful bit of structure to these long days of waiting.