The Wait Continues

It is now May 4th — 19 days until our daughter is due to be born. Preparation for the big event is fun, but we’re both getting pretty anxious to be parents. 🙂

You can’t go anywhere in our house these days without seeing the obvious signs of preparation for a baby. The nursery itself is finally complete. We’ve painted, installed new carpet, put up a wallpaper border, and hung new blinds. The room is now furnished with a beautiful white crib (purchased for us by Jen’s Grandma and Grandpa Mayes), a white glider/ottoman combo, and the final piece of furniture, a wonderful dresser and changing table combination that we were able to purchase in Grand Rapids this past weekend.

The signs of the baby extend far beyond the nursery. Our living room has been rearranged to make room for a baby swing and a bassinet/play yard. The stroller is folded up and stored in our office. We’re constantly reminded that the big day is quickly approaching. So many people have given us so much, helping to assure that we’ll have everything we need for our daughter. We are extremely thankful for this.

But after all this preparation, it all comes down to what is maybe the hardest part: the waiting. And there’s not much we can do about it. 19 days is a short time, but it doesn’t seem that way. I find myself thinking about the baby and our new life with her all the time. I don’t like heading to work in the mornings because I just hate to leave Jen. It is so much fun just to enjoy this time with her.

And even though I know it will probably be a few more weeks (especially since it is very common for first-time mothers to go past their due date), it is unbelievable to realize that I could be a father at any time. After spending years thinking of this as a future event, I’m almost there. When Jen starts her labor process, it is time. Time to take what we’ve learned about birthing a baby and put it to the best use that we know how. Time to coach Jen through it and then witness this miracle of a new life coming into the world. Time to bring that new baby into our home for the first time and permanently take on all the joys and responsibilities that her presence in our lives will add.

I know that this is a very common thing. People have been bring new babies into the world for thousands of years. But as we get ready to experience it together for the first time, I can’t imagine anything more exciting or amazing.