Well, to say I’m distracted right now would be an understatement. I feel like that squirrel that gets in front of your car and can’t decide which way to go, so he just stands there frantically looking both ways. You could probably already tell that I’m scattered by my absence around here. I think I’ve started nesting. Is grandmother nesting a thing? I’m trying to think ahead to everything in December from getting our Christmas food planned and bought to packing a bag in case we get a baby call in the night and about 89 other things in between. I never decorate this early, but I’ve put up just a few decorations here at home because we’ll actually celebrate Christmas at our townhome since it will be too soon for the new mother and baby to travel. That means I’ll have to put out some splashes of the season there, too, to set the mood for our Christmas gathering. The gifts are bought and wrapped and already on location, so that much is done. I had two summer babies in months when there was not one other thing going on, so this Christmas season due date thing is new and it’s no joke. 

It’s really been just the sweetest season. With the exception of the glaring and complete absence of cooler temperatures until yesterday, this fall has been a fun time of celebration. The expectant parents have been loved so generously with showers and Jack has been graciously celebrated by those who prayed for his arrival long before the news of him came. So many beautiful prayers have been voiced and special handmade heirlooms gifted and hostesses have gone to great lengths to make things just so. There have been a lot of tags removed from itty bitty sleeves and baby clothes washed in gentle detergent and little, tiny socks matched and folded. The final touches have been added to the nursery and they’re checking their lists and their bags are packed. They’ve taken their classes and installed the car seat and assembled many baby things. There’s even been a girl day for pampering the expectant mother with brunch, massages, and shopping. There are still, at most, 3 weeks to go, and I’m starting to feel like I did on Christmas Eve when I was a kid. Something big and exciting is coming, but I have to wait a little while longer. 

Last week, I even had a shower of my own. A surprise grandmother shower! I thought we were meeting up at a friend’s house for a Friendsgiving sort of gathering, but I was surprised when I saw extra guests and they announced it was a Punkin Party! My grandmother name, Punkin, is the nickname my Daddy gave me as a little girl, so there were little pictures of the two of us on the tables. Oh, how he loved babies and he’s missed holding so many of them. The small details were just the sweetest reminder of God’s goodness and faithfulness through the generations. Pumpkins were the theme and I enjoyed opening a table full of baby toys, books, and essential supplies to keep at our house. 

It’s been almost a quarter of a century since I was the guest of honor at a baby shower. Back then, there were huge playpens, bumper pads, Barney toys, Playtex nursers, and baby monitors that would pick up your neighbors’ cordless phone conversations. Now there are magnetic closures on sleepers, bottle sterilizers, oxygen monitors, and they wouldn’t dare put their babies in any of the contraptions we used. We wore big circus tents to cover our condition and these girls wear form-fitting clothes to showcase their bumps. Our diaper bags were brightly colored with some sort of baby-themed stitching embellishing the front and theirs look like designer bags that you’d never suspect as a vessel for carrying wipes and bottles. I suppose we weren’t the sophisticated pregnant people that they are today. I need to read up on the modern baby ways as I’m sure they’ve drastically changed since I last birthed a child at the turn of the century. Let me add study and preparedness research to my to-do list as I’ll want to be up to speed and not in Dr. Spock mode when I stay with them that first week. 

As people sent me pictures from Blair’s different showers, I’d see myself sitting there beside her looking like my mother did almost 25 years ago at Carson’s shower. In 2000, I sat there with my naturally dark hair and taut skin and she was in her 50’s and probably having a hot flash and trying to remember if she turned off the oven. We just celebrated her 82nd birthday last weekend and it hit me- by the time this little baby gets to be as old as Carson, I’ll be about her same age. As my friends and I watch our parents get older, we’ve started to notice some concerning signs of aging ourselves. One by one, we’re getting closer to the head of the line and we have no idea how we got there so fast. In my mind, I still see myself at about Blair’s age. My mother was just my age not long ago. And I have no idea how she got in my grandmother’s spot. Somebody really needs to slow down this ride. 

Wanting to enjoy all the goodness of the holiday season and baby season, this will be my last post of the year- except for Jack’s arrival announcement post whenever that might be. If he hasn’t come by the 15th, they’ll induce, so he will definitely be here for Christmas. Please keep praying for a safe delivery and healthy baby boy. We can’t wait to finally see the face of this miracle that God has so graciously given to our family. 

I’ve so enjoyed doing another year with you. Sometimes, we’ve limped along in a fog and, just when I thought I might throw in the towel, I’d get on a roll with some lucid thoughts. We celebrated 10 years of M&M this year. You cried with me when my heart was shattered over my sweet boy, Otis. You laughed with me about our anniversary trip from the lake of eternal fire. You held your breath with me as we waited for news about the embryo transfer. So many moments shared. You are faithful and I am beyond grateful for you. 

May God bless you and yours this Thanksgiving and Christmas season. We close out another year with thankfulness and joy and look to a new start with the hope and peace of the Christ child. He is the Giver of every good thing. 

Happy holidays to you!

JONI