If you don’t see me around next week, it’s not because I’ve headed south to escape the winter that seems like it will never end.

It’s because my wife is going to give birth — God willing — to our first child next week.

Her due date came and went this past Monday, so we’ve scheduled an induction for Sunday evening.

It’s a far cry from what I was expecting, or what I had imagined.

I thought I’d wake up in the middle of the night to find my wife in heavy contractions and have to make a mad dash to the hospital. That, or leave work in the middle of a meeting to rush to the birthing suite.

It seems like we are going to avoid that hectic scene.

Instead, we are going to sleep in on Sunday and have a nice brunch. We might watch a little television or a movie as we wait for the evening to come. When it is time, we’ll slowly pack up the car and head to the hospital where we will check in as if it were a hotel.

It sounds quite nice, actually.

Of course, these plans could change quickly if our little girl decides she’s ready to put a face to the voices she’s been hearing the past few months.

I doubt that will happen though.

My wife and I joke that Lucy is already showing signs of my laid-back nature. She’s comfortable where she’s at and isn’t going to budge until she’s ready.

I’m actually in favor of her waiting for Sunday.

I just got a new video game and I look forward to getting a few hours in before our lives are about to change.

I’m also looking forward to spending one final weekend as a plain old married couple.

No diapers. No crying baby. No waking up at 2 a.m.

The space between now and Sunday night truly feels like the calm before the storm.

However, she’s a storm I am very much looking forward to meeting.

I just hope she holds off a couple more days.

 

Craig Haupert is the community editor for the Niles Daily Star. Call him at (269) 687-7720. Email him at craig.haupert@leaderpub.com.