Overtime

February 4, 1999

We went to the doctor yesterday. The baby is not yet ready to arrive. Our best bet is for sometime early next week, though you never can tell.

I have to admit that I've really wanted the baby to be born this week, specifically yesterday or today. When I got the news yesterday I was a little disappointed, but by today I think I'm over that. Bumpy will arrive in the fullness of time.

Besides, it's not like we haven't had some other things to do. Today we made a bid to buy the house we're renting.

This one comes from nowhere: as recently as Saturday this past weekend, we were focusing on the baby and on eliminating all debt before saving to buy a house in a few years. Then we learned that the house we're renting was going back on the market, priced to sell.

For a while I argued that we should deal with the bad timing and move, but Jean persisted that we should buy the house to simplify our lives in so many ways (including never having the house taken from under us). We went through several gyrations, but decided in the end to go for it. Last night we went over the contract and the numbers with an agent, and today – after Jean had a discussion with a lender – we sent in the contract on the house.

With a baby due, we've asked for a quick response: ten in the morning tomorrow. Unfortunately the seller has left for Alaska, so we are unlikely to hear from her tomorrow morning. Her agent thought our offer was a good one, and that she'd be likely to accept.

More than anything right now, I want this thing done. I hate pending questions of fate. I especially hate that we've been distracted from the birth of our baby for the past day or two. I can only hope that the seller agrees to the contract tomorrow or Saturday at the worst.

Hi. I'm Jean. Much to the surprise of pretty much everyone (including me) this is Day 0, and I feel great! I still eat, sleep, knit, work and convince Kevin to buy houses. I've been really fortunate because I've had such a smooth pregnancy. Sure, there are some incredibly annoying aspects of pregnancy (i.e. stretch marks are ITCHY), but really, in the big scheme of things, these don't matter. I still have energy, although my nesting instinct has manifested itself primarily at work. Gotta get those claims done, that kind of thing. I just know I'm going to be lying on the table trying to squeeze out this child when I suddenly remember some stupid case in litigation that has to be answered.

Anyway. I have to mention that this little child is getting the coolest father! Kevin has been so excited throughout the whole pregnancy, and his disappointment was evident yesterday when the doctor said that I'm not even dilated one centimeter. I have had the singular pleasure of experiencing the Bump for these last several months. While it's nice that I get to know her before anyone else does, I still want him to be able to be with her as much as possible. Although I try, it's just not the same when I race into a room and say "Feel the little pointy part!" only to have the child submerge once again into the murky depths of me. I know she'll eventually come out and join us, but it's tough when I just want so much to share her with him but can't. So instead, he's racing around with the dogs tonight till there is someone else who can join him. And how do I teach a child not to run in the house when her response will simply be "Daddy does!" Great.

Tonight, we went out to Fuddrucker's for dinner in honor of Bumpy's due date. Our conversation topic finally did get redirected from the distraction of purchasing a house and returned to the happy anticipation of our child. The restaurant was full of children celebrating a birthday party. Balloons and magic tricks surrounded us as the magician won over the heart of a little boy seated behind us - his face went from mild concern to absolute joy as the magician pulled shiny trinkets from behind the boy's ear. With admonitions to wash more frequently behind the ears, the magician left the boy and his brother with some balloon animals.

It was great to see the delight that a child's face can bring to a regular moment in life, and I can't wait to see the wonder of my child's little face. I also can't wait to see Kevin's face (presuming he hasn't lost it in the delivery room) when Bumpy takes her first breath.

Life is good.

It rained, it cleared, it clouded up again. It's been a blustery day, but the wind tonight was refreshing.

visiting: First 9 Months (Cool site!)