The first time I was pregnant, I worked at a fancy fashion magazine, wore high heels, pretty dresses, worked late, went to photo shoots and attended dinners and parties with a non-alcoholic cocktail in my hand.

This, my third pregnancy couldn’t be more different. Wearing loose pants, wooly socks, writing on my laptop while sitting on our couch with a cup of coffee in my hand and in bed by 9:30pm is what most of my last 280 days have looked like. Most women say that being pregnant gets harder and harder the older you get. I have realized that for me it depends on how you spend those 9 months. Even though I’m now eight years older than I was during my first pregnancy, this is by far the easiest one I have had.

Not that it hasn’t been without discomfort and sometimes interfered in my motherly life with my other two kids. It definitely has, but in a lighter and less painful way than the first two times around.

Until a week or so ago, expecting a new baby has proven to me that patience is far from my middle name, and though I have had loads of last minute preparations to spend my time on, a feeling of discomfort and distress have taken over my body and left me sleepless and uneasy. And so I have had to resort to old ways to find a bit of calmness and try and enjoy these last few days of being a mother of two.
Here’s a list of my How to get through those last days of pregnancy – my favorite things to do:

– one-on-one dates with my two elder daughters. I really cherish those little moments and conversations that only happen when I’m alone with one of them and know for sure I’m going to miss it during these next few months.
– Making the baby bed ready for her arrival. Putting on that sheet suddenly made it all feel very real.
– Long, hot showers and an extensive overuse of my favorite skin products.

– Some tiny knitted essentials for the new baby. Knitting is totally new for me, but I have to admit that it’s got me hooked.
– Taking naps. Because sleeping throughout the night has not really been an option for me for the last few weeks and won’t be for a very long time to come.
– Organizing my cupboard and sorting out my piles of clothes to make room for baby clothes. Living in a New York apartment with three kids and a husband means a constant lack of space.
Go get a haircut. Because I know this won’t happen for the next few months.
Go on dates with my man. We do it during the day, while both our other kids are in school, one of the perks of having a husband who is self-employed.
Make or prepare a present for my elder children to bring to the hospital. Becoming a big sister can be a shock and leave the kids feeling uncertain and insecure, so anything that takes focus away from this is good.
– A pedicure to take care of my sore feet and have my toe nails look pretty because I can barely reach them by myself anymore.