Enjoying the journey
The last few weeks before my son was born were a whirlwind of emotions—anxiety, fear, stress, but also happiness, joy, and excitement—all mixed with occasional moments of heightened anxiety. These weeks were filled with surprises, last-minute tasks to check off, and the discovery of previously unknown baby items, all in preparation for the big day.
Reflecting on the weeks leading up to my son's birth, I've realized that capturing everything in a single post is impossible; it would require several novels. So, I've decided to break down the weeks leading to the big day into a few posts. While I still expect to omit some details, I aim to retain what I believe are the most significant highlights, starting with the immense joy of experiencing pregnancy for my wife and me.
Around 8 to 10 weeks before my son’s birth, my wife and I were at the peak of managing our to-do list leading to the big day. The nursery was ready, the closet was full of tiny clothes that had already been washed and were just hanging, waiting for someone to wear them, and our hospital bags were nearly packed. We were proud of our project management skills, seeing most of the items on our checklist already marked. It was also around this time when my wife read online that our son could perceive light in the womb by then. It sounded a bit like science fiction to me, but we had to try. That night, while in bed, we pointed a flashlight at my wife’s belly, and there it was—the first time our son responded to us by kicking the light spot from the flashlight. We were beyond joyful that night. Although we had seen my son kick before, this was the first time it felt like we were communicating with him. It felt like he was talking back to us, probably telling us to stop it because he wanted to sleep! Still, it was a magnificent moment, one my wife and I still talk about and get emotional over.
There were many moments like this along the way. From assembling the crib to pushing the just-assembled stroller around the house. From that very first ultrasound to the weekly online updates letting us know how big our son was compared to first a poppy seed, then a lemon, and finally a pumpkin! I think it’s essential to be prepared, attend classes, read parenting books, and have a checklist of items to get done before the big day. But it's also crucial to relish the joyful time when your child is in the womb, to build those very happy memories when everything started to feel even more real than the prior day, those weeks and days leading to meeting that little human being that will change your life forever. Time goes fast, and it was those last few weeks filled with immense joy that my wife and I cherish the most. Don't get me wrong; what comes next is also incredible, but there's something magical about the time leading to your child’s birth—the love becoming more tangible, the anticipation of this new life that is about to start. It's impossible not to smile when we think back to those days. We are grateful that we were able to savor it, and those memories have become invaluable treasures for us.