The three-month countdown is on! As I enter my third trimester, it’s hitting me that there are many aspects of my life I enjoy that are going to change come December. That’s why for the next 12 weeks, I am going to make a conscious effort to make time for all the activities I enjoy doing before our little girl arrives. Here are my top 10 tasks for the next three months.
Enjoy the last of my quiet mornings. One of my favorite things to do, on both weekdays before work and on the weekends, is wake up a little early and enjoy a cup of coffee while reading The New York Times. It’s my quiet time before the day begins–and I’m not naive enough to think this time will last.
Travel. With our little lady due soon, I know my travel schedule will slow down. So I’ve planned few trips for the next few weeks. My husband and I always go skiing for his December birthday, although this year, that falls right around my due date. I didn’t want him to feel shortchanged, so we will be celebrating his birthday off skis in September in Newport, Rhode Island. This will be our last trip before we are parents and allow us some time with just the two of us before our daughter is born. I’ve also scheduled a girls’ spa weekend in the Berkshires, which will be my last chance for a while to spend some quality time with the ladies (and get some last-minute parenting tips from my friends who are moms!).
Sleep. I have always been a good sleeper, sleeping straight through the night for at least eight hours. I know this will change soon and I’m going to enjoy every ounce of sleep now while I can. There is a lot of snooze button-pushing going on these days and on weekends, I linger in bed just a little bit longer, knowing my days like this are numbered!
Workout. I run or go to the gym about five days a week. That hour is my time to unwind and I find it to be a big stress reliever. Fitting in workout time with a baby and a full-time job is going to be tough. I am sure I will find a way, but in the meantime, I’m going to enjoy my gym nights…and maybe scout out the babysitting room at the gym while I’m at it.
Dine out at my favorite restaurants. My husband and I go out dinner a few times a week–we find it easier to go to a local restaurant near our apartment than to cook dinner after work. But once baby comes along, I am sure it will be more convenient to order in food or snack on whatever is in the refrigerator, so I’m making a note of my favorite restaurants and plan on frequenting them over the next couple of weeks. Maybe I’ll even make a point to become friendly with some of the hostesses so they won’t mind a crying baby in a stroller in a few months!
Read. I usually read about a book a week, but based on the many comments I’ve gotten from friends with children about how they haven’t picked a book up in ages, I have a feeling my reading days are dwindling. So, I’ve just downloaded a couple of books to my Kindle that I’ve been wanting to read and I plan on enjoying every last plot twist and turn.
Luxuriate in manicures and pedicures. There is nothing like getting a manicure and pedicure to help me unwind after a long day at work or help me kick back on a rainy weekend day. Fitting in the time to get a manicure and pedicure with a newborn sounds a bit challenging, so I’m going to savor this luxury while I can. I am sure my nails will chip daily from diaper changing and bottle preparation, anyway!
Enjoy time out with friends. During the week, I often meet friends out for drinks (non-alcoholic these days!) and dinner. I love these nights out for a chance to catch up on what’s going on in each others’ lives. I know I will always make time for friends once the baby is born, but I know it won’t be as often as I’d like. So, I already have a bunch of dates on the calendar and plan on scheduling many more nights out with my girls over the next few weeks.
Organize. I’ll admit that I like a neat apartment. And I like order. But there is never enough time to get everything straightened out the way I like it and when the baby arrives, that time will become even less. My goal in the next few weeks is to organize! I’m obsessed with getting the closets in order (especially getting rid of clothing I haven’t worn since the Bush administration) and bringing some unneeded items to our parents’ houses for storage. As small as our little girl will be, I know all her stuff is going to need a lot of room.
Savor carefree weekends. I am going to bask in all thirteen (give or take!) weekends and enjoy the fact that they are unscheduled before my daughter arrives. Right now, I wake up whenever I want and usually go for a run in Central Park. Once I’m a parent, I have a feeling I’ll be waking up a lot earlier and if I make it on a run, I will be pushing a stroller.
