One Pregnancy Post A Week: Nesting

Nesting: n. the tendency to arrange one's immediate surroundings, such as a work station, to create a place where one feels secure, comfortable, or in control

A few weeks ago I went into full "nesting" mode. I had always heard about nesting during pregnancy, but it's definitely a new feeling when you're actually going through it. It was satisfying for me to organize, clean, declutter, store, and of course, buy some new things!

I wrote a lengthy description of my nesting experience so far.

{Click below to read more.}


My dad once mentioned to me that I have creative ADD. I start ten different projects and then leave them in various stages of completion. When I was younger and had a room of my own, I was constantly moving things around my room, painting something on the wall, making my own storage solutions (old shoe boxes; my mom's tupperware; baskets from around the house; etc.), organizing my ever-growing stash of crafting supplies. I was also a type of hoarder and would keep every homework assignment, birthday card, friendly note, doodle and magazine cutout I received because of sentimentality. I'm a little better at separating with inanimate objects now. If I want to keep something, I scan it and make a digital copy or take a picture of it. I did that with my collection of plush animals because I couldn't bear to get rid of them! Now they're all safe (and taking up much less space) in my memory book.

Fast forward to last summer when we moved here. I had the best laid plans to purge, organize, and redecorate our new apartment because I knew I would finally have the time to dedicate to it since I wouldn't be working full time. I made plans, drew pictures, browsed the web for inspiration, and I managed to do some things.

Then I got pregnant. And the desire to do anything went out the window, much like my energy and appetite. For four months I sulked and drudged around the apartment frowning at the old furniture, stacks of unpacked plastic bins, and mismatched fabrics. But I had no desire to do anything about it. It was the complete opposite of nesting. My husband was at school or studying all day and I literally just sat there like a big lump. It was so disconcerting! I did not feel in control and it was making my crazy. It felt like it would never end!

Thankfully, and blessedly, I did get over it. Around my sixth month, right around the beginning of the year actually, I felt like starting over. I tried to look at my apartment and all its contents with new eyes because now I had no choice but to organize.We'd soon be joined by a third little person, and there was no room for him the way things were situated then. So I went to work.

This is already getting long so I won't make it longer, but pretty much all January until now, I've slowly emptied closets, dressers, drawers, cabinets, plastic bins, and baskets and have successfully made room in a space that previously looked and felt like there was no room! We've graciously been given not one but two cribs (a smaller one and a larger one), clothes, wooden toys, and other little things for our boy. The only things I've bought so far are baskets to put his tiny clothes in and a few Polo Ralph Lauren shirts ( à  la his Daddy) at the second hand store that I couldn't pass up. I'm going to keep the baby stuff to a minimum, 1. because of space, and 2. how much does a newborn need, anyway?

I think my dad would be proud of me. I not only started projects but I finished them in record time, mostly the same day I started. I hope that's a habit I can continue to develop. One thing I should mention, I have not done it alone. Franco has helped immensely. One example: last Wednesday I went to work for a few hours. Franco had some free time because he had just taken a big test the day before and needed a break from studying. When I came home and I felt like I walked into a new apartment! Franco had moved all of the furniture--desks, computers, dresser, bookcases, T.V., piano (!), everything--to match the plan I had showed him a few weeks before. Needless to say, he was sore for a couple of days, but I was so grateful! I hope the next several weeks go smoothly as we prepare to completely flip our lives upside down (in a good way) when our baby arrives. Baby Boyo (our nickname for him until we choose a name) is welcome in our humble home any time! He won't have much, but he'll have all the love he could ever want.