OK, you probably would prefer to receive Elizabeth’s entries (see below) but I’m so excited to see real progress going on I’ll publish a few more photos.
Yesterday, the kitchen was being painted …
… the first of the cabinets hung …
… and the floor being tiled.
Meanwhile, in the bathroom, the sink was sitting on its vanity and the toilet was hooked up and working nicely.
Dear Blog Readers,
As you know, we are embarking on several major projects, not the least of which is steadily expanding in my abdomen. Kind of weird that the biggest and most profound thing among all these others is also the quietest and least under our control…which is sad because our other projects do not at all feel well-controlled! Anyway, the “due date” for this baby is rapidly approaching: November 2nd–3.75 weeks, or 26 days from today. Many of you may realize that the “due date” is merely the middle point of what is considered a healthy, full-term human pregnancy, which can last anywhere between 37 to 42 weeks (roughly 9 months for those of you not familiar with the weekly parlance of gestation). Even though the average gestation in our country lasts a little over 41 weeks, doctors and midwives estimate the arrival of a new baby at 40 weeks, thus dubbing one day of the year its “due date.”
I’m writing to say that I find this term problematic. First, it is misleading. While everyone knows that the “due date” is only an estimate, it is hard not to place too much importance on that day of the calendar on which the doctor or midwife has place his/her big red X. In truth, only 2% of babies are born on their ascribed “due date,” so when someone asks what is my “due date,” maybe I should answer, “There is a 98% chance that my baby will NOT be born on November 2nd.” That would really clarify the matter. (By the way, I have dealt with the issue by giving a more evasive answer such as, “oh, the baby’s coming in 3-5 weeks!” It just makes me feel better to put it that way.)
Second, I find the term slightly offensive. It reminds one of the irritating reminders from the local public library that the book is “due”, or “overdue.” Or–more salient to us these days–the remittance forms sent by insurance companies that payment is “due” by such and such a date. It also rings of such dry and uninspiring verbage as duty or dubious or duly noted.
Not to grovel to semantics, but shouldn’t such a profound and joyous event evoke a more buoyant description? Of course “advent” would be too much…but what about “arrival date,” or “day of expectation,” or “go toward the light day?” These phrases do not solve the first problem mentioned above, but at least they remind me less of the pink slips from the library I used to get in my box during graduate school, and more of something living and active about to enter the outside world.
If my baby is anything like me he will certainly NOT arrive on November 2nd, just to assert his autonomy…or maybe David and I will both be shocked by receiving a very straightforward, compliant little boy who loves to obey the rules. Now THAT would be a coup, and would no doubt cause our parents some chagrin at our avoiding all the parenting payback that we’re, uh, “due.”
When last I updated you about our renovation, the baby room had been primed. Here’s Elizabeth admiring a fresh coat of paint a couple days ago.
Ahh, she really likes the color she picked for the master bedroom too!
A couple days ago, the bathroom …
… had just received tile on the left wall!
Yesterday, they were using the tub to clean the paint rollers …
… the tub which today has a faucet and showerhead.
And the back wall now has the first coat of paint and a brand new toilet.
The kitchen plumbing was being installed the last few days …
… today the plumbing and the wall were finished.
Elizabeth admiring the kitchen and the dining room wall …
Meanwhile, in the master bedroom, the trim was being painted while Yves assembled the Ikea cabinets…
… and put in the baby room until he can install them in the kitchen …
It’s exciting to see the progress. But it’s also one of the most difficult and stressful times I’ve ever had. I’ve got a major project at work that’s due on 11/1. Elizabeth’s got a major project brewing that’s due 11/2. We want to move into our apartment a week from tomorrow. Three days between now and then, I will be in Florida in my annual training. Until then, I have to study and go into the office. Then, when I get back from training, I have 1 day until our projected move date. I’d like to slip the move date a few days, but I want to give E as much time as possible to nest before the baby comes. So … all I can say is, “Lord have mercy!” I don’t see how it’s all going to get done.
But that doesn’t take away from the pleasure of watching our vision for our apartment come true!
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