Last Sunday afternoon David and I were sitting in the living room doing our usual quiet Sunday activities. It was quiet – no music or anything. Just a peaceful, restful lull in the week, interrupted only when one of us thought of something to say or had something to share from a book.
All of the sudden I realized… Wow. This is going to end very soon. We are usually home on Sunday afternoons and we’ve spent a lot of them this way. Approximately 496 of them since we were married. I counted how many were left. Probably around 11.
We’ve talked about a lot of different aspects of Little Miss Peanut coming – taking her to church, taking her grocery shopping, taking her to the farmer’s market, having her for the holidays, etc. But I hadn’t thought yet about how Sunday afternoons will be different. Truth be told, it made me feel a little panicky for a moment. But it passed.
So today we spent one of our last 11 Sundays in much the same way we usually do. We also spent some time looking through a baby name book, finally actually writing down some of the names we’ve tossed around. We’ve been pretty casual about this whole name thing, but I’m starting to feel a little more sense of urgency. David now has a new front runner, a name I had thrown out a few times before and he had never really said much about but now he really likes. I would say we’re tossing around about five names seriously at this point. It is such a huge responsibility to give someone a name! Peanut has to live with it the rest of her life – as a child, as a young woman, as a middle-aged woman, and as an elderly person. I would like her to have something that will be enjoyable for every stage of her life.
You know, in a lot of ways waiting for this baby to come feels a lot like counting down the days to graduation or summer vacation or the end of a job. There’s this longing for the days to pass quickly and yet a realization that at the same time you don’t want them to pass too quickly because that will mean a phase of your life is over. Forever. So we continue to live in the now and think about the not yet and ponder the transition inbetween.
People always used to say ‘make the most of your pre baby time’….and I always used to say ‘I am’. Don’t think I did really but never mind. On taking a child to church, Daniel (17 months old) will sit pretty much quietly through the first 20 minutes, and then we take him out for the sermon. He has been coming to church since he was about 1 week old and is incredibly sociable and happy with everyone there. Not for one minute do I think all babies should be able to do this……he is a baby who likes to sit and doesn’t try to escape, so this has made my life easier! All babies are very different…but I do firmly believe that if you set them off as you mean to go on it certainly helps them. Enjoy your remaining 10 Sunday afternoons.
I think living in the here and now is the best way to go. It’s allowed to me to cherish those quiet moments (and free time to go to the movies or dinner date without worrying about a babysitter) before Lou was born and has also allowed me sit inside each new moment of her life. I’ll admit the first few months are a bit of a blur, but I haven’t wanted any of it to stay any longer than it should or hurry any quicker than it’s supposed to. It’s allowed me to enjoy each stage and season to its’ fullest. With each new phase of life (newlyweds – which lasted all of nine months before Lou came – and new parents and watching Lou – and us – grow and learn), I keep thinking, it doesn’t get better than this. And then it does.
I’m so excited for you and all the many changes about to take place in your life. It’ll never be the same. But you’ll never want it to be. (Save for my tiny tantrum yesterday morning about not having a baby sitter and losing my freedom and all…but I’ll blame that on the pregnancy hormones from this second blessing!) 🙂
Enjoy every quiet minute of the next few weeks. Soon you’ll be wondering if life existed before your little one.
You’re right–things will change. But depending on the “kind” of baby you get, it can be nice to be stuck at home, with lots of down time while the baby’s napping. That said, the first month or two is still a whirlwind, but my dh actually enjoyed “babysitting” a lot more when they were babies, because they would sit with him, and then go to bed. But when they become active, your life really really changes. But it really is wonderful to enjoy the changes and new joys that each stage brings.
I had that same panic once:)
But now we can’t even imagine those days. He is the joy in everyday:)
Don’t wish those days away just yet. I’ve blinked since my peanuts were born and now they are 9 and 7! I can’t even pick me wee-est one up anymore. It makes me cry to think of it.
About the names, keep them between Daddy peanut and Mommy peanut. Introduce Peanut to the world when it’s their turn. I made the mistake of sharing my names for my daughter and was harrassed by my family long enough to change my mind (and give up names that I would have liked better). I regret that now… but it’s too late to go back! 🙂
You are quite right when you say you life is about to change drastically. But the LORD is good and it is all part of HIS wonderful plan! We have two precious little girls, a two and a half year old and a 3 month old, and even though life is rather hectic these days we wouldn’t want it any other way! GOD truly blesses us through our offspring. At the same time He uses our children to teach us things nobody else could! May the last few days of your pregnancy be blessed and at the right time – may He bring you your precious little princess!