Baby Stuff

I've been reluctant to start collecting baby items. I've known that it would be the responsible thing for a mother-in-waiting to do. . . be prepared. But somehow, until recently, I just couldn't bring myself to it.

I admit that I am a natural born procrastinator. But I'm thinking that an added factor might be that, deep down, I have a hard time believing that this adoption venture will ever really pan out. That there could someday be real children of our own circling the floors here. It's not quite real yet. For example, while visiting family in Montana this winter, I was talking with my nephews and Pat (my step-mom) during supper. We were counting up the number of cousins my nephews have on both sides of their family. The number was something like 26. Then Pat concluded the count with, "...and one more on the way!" I turned in surprise and said, "Really?! Who's expecting?"

In the past month or so, friends have started to ask if we could use some of their baby stuff that they no longer need. After a few brushes with instant parenthood, my inner procrastinator has relented. I see the wisdom of having a some essentials lined up in order to avoid the panicked baby gear outfitting trip to WalMart, en route to a baby delivery.

And so, the gear has begun to arrive. As I look at items that I never even thought about needing, I thank God for friends who have small children and know what babies (and parents) need! The biggest shipment of baby stuff arrived with my sister Karin who had gotten a car-load (seriously, the car was full) from our friends Steve and Steph in the Cities. By the time it was all unloaded, there was a mountain of boxes in the kitchen plus some miscellaneous things that defied boxing. Baby things seem like foreign objects here. Sure, I've been around the accoutrements of my friend's and family's babies. But it's all been sort of peripheral to my life. Now here it all is, landing square in the middle of our home. I haven't been directly involved with this much baby stuff in over 30 years, when my younger sister was born. Reality is beginning to sink in. Baby stuff is about to become an essential part of daily life.

Presently, we've collected an infant car seat, bottles, books, clothing, wraps, and toys. Homemade cloth diapers and reading material are on their way from my Beth in PA. This is one great thing about being late in the game - many, many of our peers have gone before us. Hand-me-downs and parental wisdom are plentiful.

For now, all the baby items are stacked in the basement, awaiting their new small person. One toy, the Animal Planet Grassland Patrol, has remained upstairs for some extended play. The set is complete with buff, muscle-man bush veterinarian, truck, tent, HQ, python, monkey, rhino, elephants, lion, etc. A certain household member - who shall remain nameless - delights in daily animations of the grassland adventure. We gotta get him a kid to play with.