You won’t hear from me for a while — don’t worry, baby and I are OK — so here’s a (final?) pregnancy update before I take a break from blogging for a bit …

******************************

Pregnancy Update — Week 37, Day 6

The good: Tomorrow will be the first day of week 38. I imagine baby is nice and plump at this point. I can’t wait to hold my chubby little cherub.

The bad: I’m fighting a terrible, terrible cold. It sucks to be sick and pregnant at the same time. I hope to get better before I give birth.

The ugly: I apologize if you’re sick of hearing me complain about my stretch marks, but they really are UGLY.

My home office space is in chaos. As far as organization projects go in my house, it’s priority No. 1 for me. And it’s also my inspiration for today’s “conquering clutter” topic.

I came across this article with great office set-up and organization tips on the HGTV Web site. Check out the article for more tips on concealing cord clutter and caring for media and computer equipment.

Here’s part of the article:

Oregon-based professional organizer Vicki Norris shares her tips on how to combine a work space in a family or living room, and how to get it organized:

1. Invest in adequate furniture.
Offices need a clear work area, and that means providing adequate space for computer hardware and peripheral equipment, a spot for reference materials, file space and a location for frequently referenced supplies and paper. Make sure your office furniture provides ample space for work and storage.

2. Establish activity centers.
The efficient office should be zoned into activity areas:

• The Work Center, which includes a clear work space, the computer and frequently-used office products.
• The Reference Center, which includes binders, manuals, dictionary and professional books and materials.
• The Supply Center, which contains office and paper supplies.

3. Properly place the hardware and peripherals.

• Position your equipment by frequency of use. If the printer is used daily, it should be within easy reach. If the CPU is only accessed for troubleshooting, it can be placed under or next to the desk. If a scanner is rarely used, it can be placed outside the work area.
• When setting up hardware, be conscious of access to drives, trays and cords. Don’t block access to drawers or take up leg room with tangled cords.

4. Establish a paper processing area.

• Create an area within your Work Center for papers that need immediate action.
  
• Store paper associated with clients or ongoing projects in an area that is easily accessible and within your view.
  
• Establish a permanent filing system for papers you will reference, but not on a regular basis.

Do you have any home office organization tips to share? What works for you and your family?

******************************

Pregnancy Update — Week 37, Day 5

The good: I’ve never felt more ready for baby.

The bad: I’ve been a little careless about my diet recently. Can’t stop snacking on potato chips (not the baked kind), cookies and ice cream. I need to get back on track.

The ugly: What if baby comes way past her due date? I cringe when I think of giving birth naturally to a 10-pounder. Ai-yah!

Since I started blogging about my pregnancy a few months ago, I’ve been very candid about the entire experience.

Every entry I post, pregnancy-related or not, includes a “pregnancy update” in which I share the good, bad and ugly of that particular day.

I’ve received mixed reviews about my “uglies.” Here, I’ve complained about everything a pregnant woman may not want to necessarily share with others: skin tags, stretch marks, constipation and peeing from sneezing. Some say it’s waaaaay too much info, while others — mainly other pregnant women — appreciate my honesty about these ugly pregnancy symptoms and ailments.

I recently came across this story on WebMD that covers probably the worst of them — from excess gas to “cheeseburger crotch.”

I found it to be a hilarious read … mainly because it’s soooo true. At least for me, it is.

I recommend other mommies-to-be to read this one (even daddies) because the article doesn’t just cover these embarrassing pregnancy symptoms, but offers real solutions.

Here’s a snippet of what the writer, Colette Bouchez, says about “when pee ruins your socks and shoes:”

It’s not just rumor, it’s really true. Pregnancy and incontinence go hand in hand.

“I can remember during my first pregnancy I went for a walk, something made me sneeze — and I felt this gush of urine. I tried to get home as quickly as I could, but another sneeze brought a second gush and, well, it wasn’t long before I felt the warm trickle of pee down my leg, heading straight into my socks and shoes. I felt like I was 7 years old again,” says Stacy Quarty (author of “Frankly Pregnant: A Candid Week-by-Week Guide to the Unexpected Joys, Raging Hormones and Common Experiences of Pregnancy”).

The problem, says Kathryn Macaulay (assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of California, San Diego Medical Center), is your growing uterus pressing on your bladder, making it hard to hold even a small amount of fluid. While drinking less during the day can help if you’re out and about, Macaulay says that also means having to drink more fluids in the evening — which not only means up-all-night trips to the bathroom, but also the possibility of wetting the bed.

A better solution: Get going on those Kegel exercises — muscle-toning movements that help increase urinary control. “Don’t wait until after pregnancy — do them now,” says Macaulay. In the meantime, try wearing a sanitary napkin or incontinence pad for the times when sneezing takes you by surprise.

Care to share your most embarrassing pregnancy symptoms or moments?

******************************

Pregnancy Update — Week 37, Day 3

The good: My OB returns from his Mainland vacation this week.

The bad: Walking isn’t easy when you’re this far along. I’m huge and heavy. I’m slow. My back aches and this pelvic pressure is so uncomfortable. I’ve often joked about using a cane or walker, but lately the idea has become seriously appealing.

The ugly: As a result of “the bad,” I now have an exaggerated waddle. It’s very embarrassing, but something I can’t help. Sometimes I feel like a drunken elephant.

I’m bracing myself for what’s to come.

Over the past few days, I’ve been mentally preparing for the arrival of my baby girl by forcing myself to recall in as vivid detail as I can the worst of childbirth and those first days, weeks and months home with a newborn.

I want to remember exactly how difficult it was. I don’t want to be caught off guard.

Turns out I did a really good job blocking out all those horrible memories:

The overwhelming pain of back labor — like someone taking a sledge hammer to my tail bone — and the indescribable burning sensation of a drug-free, natural birth.

A sleep deprivation like I had never known in my life; the kind that made me so nauseous and so mentally and physically unstable that I was truly a danger to myself and, frighteningly, to my newborn.

And her crying. The maddening and sometimes inconsolable wails that tested an already battered soul.

It was rough. And in my most desperate, darkest moments, I questioned — even regretted — my decision to become a mother.

But now, every moment I’m with my daughter, I’m reminded that motherhood was my only true calling in life. That and nothing else.

My child makes me weak — in that deliciously wonderful way — when she shoots me a goofy, nose-crinkling grin at random or hums herself to sleep at night.

When she giggles contagiously and turns into mush as her daddy tickles her to the floor.

When she calls out for me in her little voice first thing in the morning.

I’ve realized I would go through all that pain and suffering — all of it — again in a heartbeat.

So reliving those difficult times in the past hasn’t only helped prepare me for the worst of what’s to come. It also reminds me of the best.

******************************

Pregnancy Update — Week 37, Day 1

The good: Baby is considered full-term as of today.

The bad: My hips have been really hurting lately.

The ugly: These horrible stretch marks seem to be multiplying by the minute.

If you frequent my blog, you’ll know I’m HUGE on organizing. It’s something I write about at least once a week. I enjoy searching for all kinds of tips on decluttering, organizing and doing whatever it takes to bring order to a hectic life.

So I’ve decided to devote Fridays to sharing what I find with you — unless there’s a big protest, of course — under the title: “Conquering clutter.”

Let’s start with getting started.

One of my favorite books is Donna Smallin’s “The One-Minute Organizer, Plain & Simple: 500 Tips for Getting Your Life in Order” (Storey Publishing).

Smallin says in her book: “You don’t have to stop everything to get organized. You just have to START. Make organizing a part of your daily life. Do it first. Do it fast.”

Smart woman.

Here are some tips — very do-able ones! —from Smallin on how to start getting organized:

1. Start with the most visible clutter first. Seeing clear and obvious results will give you a boost of confidence.

2. Start with today’s mess. Do whatever it takes to keep up with daily mail, dishes and laundry. Then set aside time to catch up.

3. Commit to spending a set amount of time every day on uncluttering and organizing activities. Schedule your organizing sessions for a time when you are mentally fresh. Make an appointment with yourself and write it in your daily planner. Then honor that appointment as you would any other appointment. If you absolutely cannot do this every day, try to schedule in two or three 30-minute sessions each week

4. Decide in advance what your reward will be for completing each organizing project or room. Ideas: Plan to buy yourself flowers, treat yourself to a pedicure or massage, or invite friends to enjoy coffee and dessert in your newly uncluttered family room.

5. Give yourself a deadline. Offer to host a family dinner over the holidays, plan a party at your house, or commit to participating in a neighborhood garage sale.

6. Be realistic about what you can and can’t do. You can’t unclutter your home overnight. You can unclutter a counter top or drawer in as little as 15 minutes.

7. Tackle one room at a time. Organize that room one shelf, one drawer at a time.

8. Set a ticking timer for the length of your organizing session to help keep you focused on what you are doing.

9. Give organizing your full attention. Let your answering machine or voicemail take calls during your organizing sessions.

10. Start right now. Spend the next 5 minutes picking up five things and putting them where they belong.

Do you have any suggestions on getting started that you’d like to share?

******************************

Pregnancy Update — Week 36, Day 5

The good: I have a sense of humor. I think that’s a must to help a pregnant woman get through those final, difficult days. Laughing does wonders.

The bad: When I’m at work, it seems like every 5 minutes someone stops by my desk and asks, “Are you STILL pregnant?”

The ugly: My belly has been especially itchy lately.