Past due

I love to make plans in advance. I referenced this fact in a recent column about a surprise party that was thrown in honor of my pregnancy. The surprise was awesome, but that doesn’t change the fact that I love to plan things out to have a general idea of what is coming.

I have enjoyed making plans with my husband, Tim, as we prepared to welcome our first child into the world. We learned early on having a baby requires you to change your life, even before the baby gets here.

Tim did a wonderful job with the nursery. He painted it a fresh new color. We chose a nice gray neutral color since we didn’t find out if the baby was a boy or a girl. Tim hung shelves for decorations and books and made the room look more and more ready for baby to arrive.

We’ve added a crib, dresser, changing area, rocking chair, the list could go on and on. At the beginning of December, Tim and I felt like we had acquired most of the big items we would need and thanks to generous friends and family at baby showers, we have many cute outfits, blankets, toys and more for baby once he or she arrives.

As Dec. 27 approached, Tim and I were more and more excited to meet our little bundle. As a first-time mother, I really had no idea what to expect. I’ve heard plenty of stories and done lots of research about how I will know when it was “time.” However, I was still anxious about what I was about to experience.

Planning out Christmas celebrations was an interesting feat. Plans were made, but our families knew things were tentative. Everyone was more than understanding, looking at me like a ticking time bomb that could go off at any moment.

I have learned a lot during this journey. The main thing I have learned thus far is a baby does not always follow your plan. As Tim and I rang in the New Year, Baby Pratt still had yet to make his or her arrival. My anxiety for labor has been with me each day since about a week before my due date, never knowing if today would be the day Tim and I will head to the hospital. However, baby continues to move happily within me, seeming to be in no hurry to be on the outside.

I’ll admit, I have felt some frustration in the past week. Tim and I have been so excited to welcome the newest member of the family home. Each day baby isn’t here, just increases our desire to meet our little one.

I had taken time off of work in preparation of the baby’s arrival. It has given Tim and I a lot of time to enjoy together at home. It’s kind of like our “babymoon” even though we haven’t made any big travel plans. It has allowed me to have a little fun at Tim’s expense. I can safely blame the baby’s tardiness on him. His mother has told me he arrived late when he was born, extremely late. He was a month overdue. While I’m thankful my doctor will not allow that to happen nowadays, I can safely tell Tim his son or daughter is already taking after him. I was born premature, but I was a twin so that’s not unusual. At least I was still born in the same month I was due. The joking has helped Tim and I pass the time as we continue waiting for the moment we will become parents.

As frustrating as it is at times, I know at the end of the day all Tim and I really want is to have a healthy baby. I wanted things to go according to plan, but there is nothing to do but wait and continue to be excited for when baby does arrive. So, Tim and I are on baby’s time and are trusting in God’s plan to deliver to us a healthy boy or girl.

Contact Pam Pratt at pampratt@newtondailynews.com