Getting from “Almost Ready” to “Ready”

Today I continue in my valiant attempt to hopscotch my way through the tasks that somehow “should” be completed before I can call myself “Ready” for the birth of little Delano, as we expect to call him when he arrives any day now.

As a mom is “to term” at about 37 weeks, hypothetically by that time she should be “Ready,” such that when the moment arrives she will have not a care in the world but may focus her heart and her body solely on the little life that passes from inside her protective womb and out into the unpredictable world. The first few weeks of life are then dedicated to intimacy with the family, nursing, and recovery.

Hypothetically, by this time, the bills are paid, the room is as clean as it’s gonna be, the nursery nest is done-been-fluffified… um, yeah, here we go:

• the PCP has been selected,
• Christmas presents have been purchased,
• first son’s online chess membership has been set up,
• first son’s allergy treatments have been done to living areas,
• pet’s have been washed in allergen shampoo,
• new used baby hammock has been washed and repaired,
• the home birth biller has been properly coordinated with the health insurance representative,
• the wedding dress has been preserved,
• the thank-you’s have been completed,
• the wedding photographs have been downloaded, compiled, and forwarded,
• the wedding album has been ordered,
• the piano has been budgeted for,
• the baby registry has been updated,
• the baby blog has been started,
• the baby update email has been sent,
• the life insurance has been settled,
• the business contacts have been notified,
• the home birth supplies have been collected,
• the just-in-case hospital bag has been packed,
• the birth plan has been printed,
• the vaccination/Vitamin K/eye prophylaxis letter has been printed and signed…

Guess what? I’m not yet “Ready”!

Of course what we all have to come to terms with in our hectic lives is that we’re never really “done.” Such is the problem with lists. If we didn’t use them, we’d inevitably forget something really, really important causing us more trouble and more things to do. But when we do use them we remain in a state of perpetual visceral awareness of “undone-ness.”

I’m simply allowing myself to snake through my days and do what I can do until I get exhausted, which happens earlier and earlier in the day. As you can see, this blog is on the list of my “things to do” and now I’ve gone done and done it! So stand by for ongoing news of how bebe and I and Ben love are all doing. I’ll try to keep in touch and post photos as often as seems materially and spiritually appropriate!

Love, H

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