Counting Down the Days

It's almost 9 a.m. on a Wednesday morning.  I'm feeling a little contemplative, as I sit at "J.P.'s table" in the back room at Bongo Java and give serious consideration to taking a "mental health day" off work.  Looking to my left, I look out the window at the cars in the back parking lot, the nearby houses and the students hurrying to class.  There's standing water in the alley after a night of rain (J.P. and I have been known to drive through the puddles in the alley again and again, laughing as we splash the water up on both sides of my truck, after a good rain).

A couple of days ago, Jude remarked that we're exactly 6 weeks from the birth of our second son, Diesel Leonidas Newman (joking . . . maybe).  In some ways, we have vacillated back and forth between taking a laid back approach in our preparations (i.e. doing very little) and sticking our heads in the sand, ostrich style (i.e. doing very little).  Reality set in as Jude decided it was time to do some serious nesting. 

Over the weekend, we made some decisions on how we're going to set the house up (for 2 children), with a key assist from our friend and interior decorator extraordinairre, Charly Roos.  We also selected a new bed for J.P. (we're planning on converting his "toddler bed" back into a crib) and a chest of drawers.  J.P. is going to stay in his bedroom and we're going to convert the nook to a nursery of sorts.  Over the weekend, I borrowed a pick-up truck and removed the old desk and chair from the office.  Our plan is for the office to be a playroom, where we'll put J.P.'s train table, toys, books, etc. 

We've got plan, at least, which gives Jude a sense of security that we'll be ready when the baby arrives.  Last night, Jude made a list, day by day, of what we need to accomplish.  That's good for me, because I generally work better from lists, as opposed to haphazardly bouncing from one task to another.

Beginning this week, Jude goes to Baptist Hospital every Monday morning for an "NST" (non-stress test).  After our son's heartbeat is monitored for 30 minutes straight and results are transmitted to our doctor's office, Jude is free to go if everything looks (and sounds) good.  Every other week, she leaves Baptist Hospital and goes straight to our doctor's office for a quick visit.  Every Thursday, starting tomorrow, she'll have an ultrasound.  The extra attention is due to Jude's age, not any particular problem that has deveolped.

I've decided J.P. is nesting, too.  Sunday, at Church, I looked over and as he sat between Jude and me, he was lightly rubbing Jude's stomach with his hand while he listened (or appeared to listen) to our priest, Father David Perkin, give the homily.  It was a pretty special moment.