Dear Son, On Location

--36 Weeks (Before Birth)--

Dear Son, 

You've been acting up as of late, and really, something tells me that it won't be the last time I have to say that to or about you in the upcoming years. That's parenting, I guess. But you've become quite the active guy inside your mother's belly - kicking, shifting, spinning, and making her uncomfortable in the most random of moments. 

I'll never forget you intentionally blocking your face during the recent sonogram photo. Or even, when they attempted to shift your body, you bending over and showing your butt to the monitor. 

Already, such a proud father. That's my kid. But yeah, you're an active fella.

Oh, but don't be mistaken, she nor I are annoyed at all, as you're arrival getting closer continues to bring us more and more joy. Myself, personally - I've begun the project of clearing out our apartment for you, at home - on location. Rearranging shelves, tossing furniture we don't need, making spaces for your stuff, and basically, getting ready to have another person live here with us. 

However, while we prepare your new home and everything in this location for your arrival, it was our visit to the hospital, and a basic tour for "gameday" if you will, of the birthing process, that really brought things into focus. 

Listening to our tour guide, a Register Nurse, on her experiences of THE DAY, and all that encompasses what will happen in just a few weeks, brought this experience to a whole new level. 

This is where mothers will go. 

This is the room you will give birth in. 

This is one of the rooms you will stay in. 

This is where families will wait. 

This is where you can find parking. 

OK, Yes, that last one was definitely for me, but as you'l soon find out - those types of things are hard to come by in this great city. 

Yet, being on location, of where you will be born, for both of us, was emotional in many ways. We had dinner at Dinosaur BBQ afterwards, a spot your mom finds to be a slice of home, and one I find to be completely overrated (you can break the tie in a few years). Both of us sat there for awhile, gazing, searching, yet, overwhelmed with joy - and yes, fear and anxiety - but mostly joy. 

There is just something special and just REAL about knowing our exact plan of attack on the day you decide you want to enter this world. It's odd, but I don't believe I'll ever forget the visuals from that tour. Being on location was special. And with such a plan in motion, we're one step closer to being closer to you. 

And as our apartment moves from a collection of obvious "His and/or Her" items to clearly "Adult and Baby", the visuals around the apartment are sheer advertisements and debut displays of who is on the way - you. 

You're moving, but most importantly, in so many ways, you're on location. I just can't wait for you to BE HERE.

Sincerely,

Your-taking-in-the-changes-around-the-apartment Dad