Babyness

We toured the hospital's maternity ward last night, followed by a lovely (and rare) dinner for two since we already had a sitter. I've been very spoiled by Medical City in Dallas, so I can't say I was overly impressed, but it is certainly satisfactory enough and gave us little butterflies of excitement for the impending arrival. It's amazing to see the tiny diapers and t-shirts and to remember that our big boys and girl at home used to be that small! Baby Rayan is going to seem like a giant next to the new little one. The neatest thing they had at this hospital is a baby photo machine thing. We can roll the hospital bassinet under the camera and take as many pictures as we like instead of having a photographer come to the room. We can post all the pictures to the virtual nursery for family and friends to look at, and print a few for ourselves, all at no charge. We can also use cell phones in the delivery room to keep our parents posted. It's about time technology advanced far enough for that! I'm not thrilled that they're going to kick me out after 24 hours (with Mina I left after 6 hours, and with Layla begged to be released after 12 hours, but have since learned my lesson and enjoyed every peaceful toddler-free moment in the hospital I could get!) but I'll manage. I suspect Baby will need phototherapy like his jaundiced brother and sister anyway, in which case I'll be staying a little longer.

I had my 38-week checkup today, details of which have been posted at 40 Weeks, and I'm taking Layth and Maya to a class tomorrow evening that prepares children 3 1/2 and over to welcome a new baby into the house. I'm just now starting to try to prepare Rayan for the baby, but I don't really expect him to get it until we bring the baby home.