This past weekend all outstanding electrical issues were solved. I figured out the issue in the baby’s room and the electrician was over Saturday and Sunday and the 200 amp service installation is complete. The old service wire and meter box were ripped out yesterday and all that’s left is finishing off the laundry room. And, well, that’s just the laundry room. So it wouldn’t be the end of the world if that wasn’t 100% complete before the arrival. So with 7 days until the due date I have made good on my promise to Kate to have a new kitchen and bathroom, a new electrical system, and the baby’s room completed and installed before we added to our family. I was never worried. So what’s going through my head these days? Take a look:

• I have lost my cell phone and I’m the least bit concerned. Others have picked up the slack in the panicking department. I don’t think I’ve seen it since Friday or Saturday. Kate called it today and it went right to voicemail. Oh well, I guess if Kate wants to go into labor she better do it within shouting distance of me.
• Kate’s belly is so big right now it’s almost unbelievable. Last night we watched a movie together in our bedroom. We’re both sitting up against the head board and her belly is jetting out what looked like a good ten inches. I know it probably had something to do with the way she was sitting but still, it was ridiculous! And the when you touch it you can always find the baby’s feet and side. I don’t know how the baby is still comfortable in there. Maybe she isn’t and we’re a day of so away for the big day? That would be nice.
• We had breakfast and dinner over at my mom’s house yesterday and everyone is over the top excited for the baby’s arrival. When we were leaving everyone gave Kate those “the next time we see you you might have a baby” hugs goodbye. It’s definitely an exciting time for everyone.
• Kate told me that a lot of her people (family, friends, etc.) are worried that they’re not going to get the call when the time comes. And since I’m the phone man when we’re heading to the hospital that makes me mildly important to this whole process. So if you’re hoping for a call and it never comes, I don’t like you!
• Kate informed me yesterday that on more then one occasion she has been approached by strangers telling her she was having a boy. When Kate told one of these people that she was in fact having a girl the lady laughed and again said “that’s a boy”. My mom chimed in and said she thought the same thing based solely on Kate’s appearance. But she was in the room for the ultrasound so she never felt the need to say anything. Basically all of this got me thinking of the massive undertaking that would be needed if a boy did come out. For starters, a closet full of pink girly outfits would all need to be returned. While all immediate family females were doing that I would need a dependable team of people frantically painting the baby’s room a different color. Our only saving grace would be that we did buy (and register for) a lot of gender neutral things. Even the area rug in the baby’s room is green. But I’m sure I’m getting ahead of myself even entertaining these thoughts. Not to mention I’m actually excited at the prospects of having a girl.

I know I labeled a previous post the same title but it again seems fitting. With a mere 11 days until the baby’s due date I am officially feeling the jitters that accompany her arrive. It’s more excited anticipation then it is nerves or fear. I can’t wait! This morning we had our weekly appointment and again all looks great. Mom and Baby girl are in perfect shape for the big day. So what am I thinking about leading up to the big day? Let’s take a look:

• Kate’s officially huge! And so I don’t get in trouble when she reads this I need to clarify that when I say huge I mean her belly. The rest of her is still skinny (although her ankles tend to swell up towards the end of the day). She really looks incredible. I should also throw in there that she has actually lost some weight from last weeks doctor visit and this week. And of course the exact amounts are not to be made public because I don’t plan on sleeping on the couch for the next few weeks.
• Last Friday I got a call from Kate at around 2:45pm telling me she was heading to the Hospital. Yeah that’s right, the hospital. The place where people give birth. After recovering quickly enough to ask why she was already telling me it was only to look at her swollen ankle. Which was determined to be fine and we spent Friday through Monday down the shore relaxing.
• On Friday when I got to the Hospital I walked into the delivery room where they had Kate and to my surprise she was hooked up to all types of machines and was lying on the delivery table in a gown. I almost fell over. But again Kate quickly calmed my concerns and my knees regained stability.
• The baby’s room is basically done. It has been cleaned to the point where the boy in the bubble would feel free of any disease or allergens. Now all it needs is some electricity and it will be good to go.

With a mere 20 days left I am emotionally ready for the baby’s arrival. I am ready to be the baby’s daddy. I’m sure my burping, rocking, and diaper changing abilities will all return within days after the baby’s first appearance. As for being tangibly ready I think we’re 95% prepared. And we would be fine if the baby arrived tomorrow. Some of the things I think will still need to stock up on are more for us then for the baby. We need more coffee, creamer, sugar, and whatever else will help keep us adequately awake to perform our parental functions. I also need to hook up electric to the baby’s room. But I’ll do that Wednesday night. So with that done and nothing to do but wait, Kate and I will be leaving for the shore Friday and returning Monday evening. I hope to accomplish three things this weekend: (1) eat burritos from Surf Taco in Seaside Park; (2) go fishing on Sunday and Monday; and (3) sleep the remaining hours of the day. I’ve personally had this weekend circled on my calendar for a few months. But enough with my dreams of R & R, onto stupid thoughts from the past week:

• I decided today that I need to set-up some sort of chain system to notify everyone when Kate goes into labor. I was thinking about creating seven lists and when the time came I would just call the first person on each list and they would handle it from there. It would greatly eliminate me having to call everyone in the world. I’ll probably also set-up an e-mail that would let a lot of other people know when we were heading to the hospital.
• Tomorrow we have our weekly appointment for the baby. I can’t help but think the doctor is going to examine Kate and tell us to go right to the hospital because her water is starting to break or something. Wouldn’t that be exciting! Wait! That would ruin my grand plans for this upcoming weekend. I guess that would be alright.
• Christina and Andrew have foolishly offered to dog sit our Great Dane Tyson this weekend while we’re down the shore. Little do they know we’re never picking him up after the weekend is over. Thanks guys!
• I have finally installed the base to the infant car seat in my car. It was really strange. This morning when I went to put my briefcase into the back seat it was right there staring at me. I couldn’t help but think that in the next few weeks there is going to be a little baby girl snapped into it. Oh man!

Who really knows when this baby is going to arrive? The only thing we know for sure is that in could be anywhere from today, until six weeks from now. The due date is exactly four weeks from today. And from what we’ve been told the doctors don’t let people go more then two weeks late. If it gets to that point they will induce. With all that said I’ve decided it’s about time I release my guess as to when she is going to deliver. And I am welcoming everyone to offer their guesses by simply posting a response to this blog entry. And for the person who correctly guesses the big day, you will receive a pacifier autographed by our newborn.

So what day does the soon-to-be dad think he’s going to get to drop the “soon-to-be”? June 8th! It’s a Thursday and it would be four days early. That’s my official guess. How did I come up with June 8th? Let’s take a look at the five factors. Kate was born pretty much on time which I took into consideration. Also, we’ve been told that first time mothers tend to go past the due date. Which I felt also needed to be considered. The third factor was that I was born two weeks early! If Baby Big Head is like her father she’s going to be in a rush to show herself to the world. The fourth factor is that I plan on making Kate walk 2 miles a day leading up to the due date to help move the process along. And the final factor in choosing June 8th…… it was the date Kate and I first went out together! On Junes 8th 2001, Kate and I were set up on an informal double date with my cousin Danny and his then girlfriend (and current wife) Kristi. And of course the rest is history. I look forward to seeing when everyone thinks BBH will arrive. Now onto this weeks rumblings:

• Kate called me this morning to tell me that when she got to work it was pouring outside. And that she thought her umbrella was all the way in the back of her SUV. But instead of getting out of the car and opening the rear door to retrieve the umbrella, my 8+ month pregnant wife climbed over the seats until she got the back of her car. I tried to picture the logistics of her successfully climbing through her SUV and I couldn’t. Oh, and the umbrella wasn’t even there. She had to run from her car into her office.
• Friday night we had a graduation party in New Jersey. It was for Kate’s friend’s husband. It’s the couple who had the baby in early January. Well that baby (Cameron) spent some quality time in my arms. I was even able to feed her a little towards the end of the night. Needless to say it made me even more anxious for BBH’s arrival. I really have no fears or apprehensions of feeding, holding, or changing a baby. I’m ready!
• Last night we had dinner at Kate’s parent’s house and my family came too. The topic of changing diapers came up and I said that it had been awhile since I’d changed one. Then I turned to my now sixteen year old brother and said, “I think your diaper was the last one I’ve changed” (when he was two, not recently). He gave me a funny look and said nothing. I think it made him uncomfortable. Not as uncomfortable though as when I brought up that he crashed my car last week. I don’t think he’s emotionally over that yet.

With only five weeks left we are all but done the house and baby’s room. And the laundry room is also near completion. The estimated May 28th date of completion has been moved up nearly two weeks. Pictures should be available soon on the blog of all three of these rooms. Also coming soon is a belly shot of Kate taken yesterday. She’s huge and looks great! She‘s definitely getting into that stage where she’s uncomfortable. And if she’s on her feet too long she her ankles swell up a little. But overall she’s looking cute. Her are some thoughts from the past week:

• Kate’s mom feels the need to announce her arrival anytime she stops by the house. And when I say “announce her arrival” I mean she hollers “Mi-mi’s here!” (Mi-mi is what she wants to be called by her grandkids) Maybe the fact that Bella is the only one who gets excited is proof enough that this announcement is not really necessary. Unless she’s carrying dinner or something. And then I’ll be running to her and pawing at her leg too.
• Kate is finally starting to sleep at night with various pillows wedged into various spots around her. It’s weird when I try to cuddle with (after she’s asleep) only to find a pillow wedges under her belly and between her knees.
• The baby is not even here yet and she officially has more clothing then I do. I think I’m going to register at Old Navy and hope people start buying me clothes. It’s like my existence is already forgotten.
• The kitchen hasn’t been functional for a week yet and Kate has already moved almost everything around. Saturday night we had a couple friends over for a little BBQ and I could hardly find anything I needed to make the burgers. And then I get home last night from work to find out that everything I learned about our kitchen the night before was deemed useless because it’s all been moved. I may never be able to find the seasoning again.