Baby season actually began Sunday, July 24, when Erich and Jill gave birth to little Fischer. It was amazing to be so in touch with Erich while everything was happening. Just 48 hours later, we used the FaceTime feature on my ipad & their iphone to catch up with them and "meet" Fischer for the first time. Other than a big yawn he gave us, he was pretty much spent. Only two days on this earth and the kid had already accomplished one of life's biggest ordeals, just being born.
As Erich, Jill and Fischer kicked off the start of baby season, we assume Marian and Darryl are up next. Baby Alice should be making herself known later this week with a due date of August 13th. This past weekend I was looking through some old pictures of our time growing up, and they made me smile. While Marian and I fought like most siblings do, the love for my sister will always be strong. I feel her pain, her happiness, her confusion. It amazes me the little girl who chopped off her own hair when she was seven is about to have a child. My niece will be amazing, simply because her mother is.
We should be following with Little A shortly after Alice's arrival. Steve and Catherine are expecting their daughter just a few days after us, then Greg and Sarah follow early September with the arrival of their son. Coincidence is certainly a factor here, but some part of me believes this was a bigger plan. For us all to go through something so amazing as individuals and also as a group is fascinating. I am sure we will all rely on each other for guidance, an open ear and the occasional "oh yeah, my kid did this ...," but it is totally reassuring to know we will all be going about this around the same time.
Serious question ... does it count as nesting if you grow more tired each day before the kid arrives? Oh wait, maybe it is just that I am getting older. Realizing everyone who has a kid will say "oh you don't know tired yet," it baffles me I have been this tired all summer. Typically during weekends a 7am or earlier wake-up is ordinary. This past summer 8 and 9am has been more like it. Maybe my body is smarter than I give it credit for, and this is nothing more than a preemptive strike.
We have spent most of the summer preparing. Fixing up the baby's room was the largest task. Breaking down the old furniture, bringing in the new, putting up crown molding, painting and decorating. It has been exhausting, but Court has been a great general contractor. She had the design plan she wanted in her head. We did not go crazy or over the top, but we totally transformed the room. It was well worth the sweat equity.
Pretty soon we will be seeing her smiling face. Little A has caused Court some discomfort these last couple weeks, so hopefully we will see her sooner than later. While Court will be taking off a few weeks, I am taking a lead from Erich and plan to stay home for two weeks. I had heard most guys take a week. Realizing football season is also about to kick-off, my phone and email will not be far away. Right now though, it is much more important to me to see that little lady through her first two weeks.