Almost Zero
In about a week my son
will turn zero. That’s right — zero.
The 31st day of January was my wife’s official due date,
the date when it was all supposed to happen. The wife and
I were to rush to the hospital on this day – hope in our
eyes – to finally see the infant kicking inside her.
As it turns out, all of that is
well over and done.
In fact, it happened what feels like ages ago.
On the 31st, my son will be just over 4 weeks old, going on zero.
He wasn’t supposed to be around yet. We were to spend this
month planning – anticipating. I was supposed to dive under the
house and bring out all the hand me downs. My wife was supposed
to let the worries of childbirth weigh on her a bit. Cambell would
spend the month in his womb, close the beating of his mother’s
heart, listening to the muffled voices outside. All of us would
get some rest in the final month leading up to the big day.
Instead this month was a blur. Diapers and feedings crowded
our days and nights. Our previous sleeping schedule became a
distant memory. The bassinet sprang up in our room.
Visitors appeared in our doorways, eager to pile love onto
our newborn son.
We began to watch our tiny infant begin to sprout into the child
he will one day be; a person began emerge from the tangle of
his legs and arms. It’s been quite a ride, but definitely a
pleasant one.
It may sound like I’m complaining just a bit. I assure you
that couldn’t be farther from the truth. After two and one half years of
trying, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with something coming early for a change, especially when it is a gift as blessed as this.
