Extreme Nesting

All parents have the nesting instinct, whether human or bird or other animal. Some mothers' impulses result in useful tasks like freezing casseroles and making baby blankets. I feel an overwhelming urge to repeatedly wash our pool towels and hang them out to dry so that they smell like chlorine and Downy. It is so comforting to see all the towels hung out, and to inhale the clean smell on a hot day.

My nesting instinct also manifests itself as a crazed push to do as many activities as possible with the kids before the baby is born. (Scott would argue that's my normal M.O.) Yesterday, we went to Lagoon, school shopped at Target and hung out at the pool. Then Scott took the kids to a movie. After I waved goodbye, the nesting thing took hold in a more useful way. (I didn't freeze casseroles. I have David's Pizza on speed dial.) The cleaning ladies had been here, and I started where they left off, putting away every last sock, vacuuming, folding, finally doing something with all that stuff piled up on the kitchen desk. I straigtened every bedroom, picked flowers for the table, swept the garage. I set up PT's cute bassinet that my sisters-in-law gave me. The whole house was looking satisfactory before I left to see 17 Again with my friends at 9:30. (My last chance to see a movie!) On my way, I saw Scott and the kids driving home with a big bag of popcorn from their movie. I almost turned around to follow them and confiscate the popcorn so it wouldn't spill and ruin the rare tableau that is our house at a spotless moment.

So...the nest is feathered. I have muscles I can't move today, but I'm pretty sure they're not the same ones I'll need to give birth. My job now is to keep the kids out of the house, thus maintaining popcorn-free domestic nirvana. It looks like I'll have to grab my nice, fresh towels and take the kids swimming. They can spill stuff there, and I can sit in the shade and read. I HAVE to finish my book before the baby comes!