Imminent Parenthood

Parenthood is on the mind. As of yesterday, the Girl and I are at 33 weeks. Parenthood is definitely imminent. We also learned yesterday that the likelihood of the baby making it to full gestational... tude (?) is less than likely. As of yesterday, she was dilated 1-2 cm. So, in <= 7 weeks, we'll be parents again, only this time we should actually get to bring the little one home with us. At this rate, if it's a boy, the child may not have a name, either. Having trouble with boys' names. So, if you have a suggestion, go ahead and email it to me. Why not? Maybe if we choose your suggested name, we'll sweeten the choice with a little something. There's an idea. Today, we attended a class at the best hospital ever (tm). The class was OK. It was informative, but not terribly engaging. To be fair, though, I was exhausted, and we've been through this before. I'd be curious to ask the point of view of one of the other couples in the class. Despite the dry nature of the class, I still feel more prepared for the day it happens.

What I don't feel prepared for are the several weeks following that day. Having never gotten this far before, I am really not sure how to care for a baby. I'm excited and terrified simultaneously. All I want is to be able to bring this little one home. After that, I am afraid of screwing up parenthood, as I'm sure many people are. Will we make the correct choices? Will we provide the child with a good life? Will we prevent harm from the child, while sufficiently allowing the child to experience and enjoy everything life has to offer? Will the child choke on a matchbox car? Will the child every grow up to appreciate the original transformers? Am I talking as if the child is a boy, when it could be a girl?

The only reason I'm doing that is because I think that's what I see in the sonograms; not because I want a boy over a girl. At this point, all I really want is a healthy child.

Of all things, I'm particularly interested in putting a child seat in the new car. I don't even really know why.

Ha! Is it good fortune or bad that suddenly I'm listening to Odd One by Sick Puppies.