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Less than 3 weeks. Yup, that’s the timeline. Oh boy. Here we go! The due date is quickly approaching (Feb 15) and I think we are mostly ready. Or at least as ready as we’ll ever be. Which, when you think about it, how *ready* is that? Am I ready to be a dad? Am I ready to change diapers in the middle of the night, half asleep, and *not* make a mess? I don’t think anyone is ready for those kinds of things. I think they just happen and you roll with them. Hmmm… that was a bit deep and almost uncalled for at this hour. Maybe we can chalk it up to nervous jitters because we have less than 3 weeks. Oh boy. Here we go.

We have begun our weekly doctor appointments, which so far have been fairly mundane. Nemo is correctly positioned now (head down) and the heartbeat at last check (Tuesday morning) was thumping away at 156 beats per minute. That number still floors me – I am near death if my heart rate gets that high (note to self: need to get in better shape lest I be not-quite-*ready* to chase a little one around). The doctor has not begun the cervix checks, which I imagine was because I kept saying “check the cervix check the cervix check the cervix check the cervix” and he wanted to deprive me a bit. Just kidding. I don’t really want to see a cervix. Really. I don’t.

We had our “prepared maternity” meeting at the hospital tonight, which was basically just Jessica filling out a bunch of forms (she may have put me up for adoption in the process, not sure though) and then a quick tour of the facilities. It was over in about a half an hour and the person with whom we met didn’t even introduce herself to me. It has already begun. My sperm did their job (or rather one did it’s job) and now I am relegated to the sidelines, forced to chant things like “check the cervix” and “push it out, shove it out, waaaay out” (and maybe throw in a little kick at the end for effect). Either way, it’s doesn’t matter. I’m just the dad.

I will try to take some pictures of Jess in the next couple of days. Unfortuantely, as you can tell from these pictures, she has caught on to my sneaky ways and now prefers to hide out under a blanket whenever I approach with camera in hand and smile on face. Apparently, she is a bit more ready than I am in that category.

I will try to post more Nemo updates in the final weeks/days, so keep checking back.

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Jess and I went for a walk today and were discussing the events of 2004, which then led to a discussion about the upcoming events of 2005, which was basically just more discussion about the fact that Nemo’s flight is scheduled to land on Feb 15… which is less than 7 weeks away. Actually, a pregnancy is considered full term if the baby is delivered anywhere between the 37th and 42nd week. This means that Nemo’s flight could depart early and result in an early arrival approximately 3 1/2 weeks from now. Holy crap.

So in addition to the basic things that need to be done in preparation for a new baby (like giving birth, for instance), the nursery is one area that is finally nearing completion. I had finished the basic remodel job at the beginning of Novemer, but we still needed to do the finishing touches – get a glider, put in mirrored closet doors, curtains, hang prints, etc. I am extraordinarly happy with how it all turned out and I think the Mackenzie Thorpe prints make the room. I still have some shelves to build, but that shouldn’t be all that difficult. Worse case scenario, I’ll fake a broken thumb and buy some shelves!

I haven’t posted much on our recent doctor appointments as they have been fairly bland. Dr. Madion basically listens to Nemo’s heart and then we chat about whatever we have on our minds. Nemo’s heart has begun slowing a bit in prep for arrival – from 161 beats per minute at the beginning stages down to about 145 beats per minute at our last visit. I am still amazed to think that little thing is pitter-patting at such a rate! We have another appointment coming up on Wednesday, so if anything is new I will update then.

Happy New Year!