(End of) Independence Day

It is really hard to wrap my mind around the fact that, after 25 years of being completely independent, in another three weeks there will be someone who totally depends on me for the next 18 or so. Getting adjusted to the fact is quite a bit harder without having any visable evidence of a baby. I can imagine it is going to be quite a shock to us when a nurse or doctor puts the baby in our arms for the first time -- but perhaps in that way we aren't much different from any new parent.

Despite the lack of evidence, we spend the weekend doing mostly nesting-type things -- rearranging our shed full of outdoor gear, doing a big shopping trip to BabiesRUs, and hanging out with three couples who have 6-12 month olds. The baby's suitcase for India is nearly all packed, and weighs more than the baby will weigh for another 7 or 8 years, and doesn't even include the bouncer seat that we've just deemed necessary for the trip.

Our suitcases aren't packed, but I have started assembling a gigantic medicine kit, and Adam will be getting our electronics organized this week. This task includes learning how to operate our fab new camcorder that my family purchased for us -- hopefully we'll learn to use it before the airplane trip, because the 100 page, 6 point manual isn't as good airplane reading as the "What to Expect in the First Year" book that I'll be lugging along. Also on my reading list, though perhaps when we get back, is the Baby Signs book that faithful garage-saler Aunt Jackie purchased for us. Watching adorable Ruth sign the word for "more" over and over today at brunch showed me how wonderful it is for a baby to be able to communicate before they can talk.