In a couple of weeks, I will give birth to my first baby. Hallelujah! He is supposed to be a boy named Quentin. I don't know if I'll believe that I'm going to meet him until he actually comes about.
What will he be like? Will he take after all of his relatives or will he have a personality and look all of his own?
Where did his spirit come from? I feel he has a spirit already, inside me. It is motivated to hiccup during certain hours, to stretch in particular ways, and to love fruit.
This child has brought me a gift already—bonding with female strangers. Everyone has advice and ideas to give. A door of openness and vulnerability never usually reached with a stranger, especially over such personal and medical information, is suddenly opened.
I'm collecting my cash from the ATM at the grocery store when a woman approaches me. She is mentally challenged, and continues asking me a question again and again that I can't follow. Then I finally understand! It's a conversation that I love to have with her.
"When are you due?" she asks me.
"Oh! In October!" I tell her happily.
"Is it your first child?"
"Yes, it is!" I respond.
"Is it a boy or a girl?"
"It's a boy!" I exclaim.
"What is his name?" she wants to know.
"Quentin!"
"Oh…what is his middle name?" she then asks.
"Well…what's your name?" I ask her.
"Jean." She says.
"Well, maybe his name will be Quentin Jean." I respond.
Jean smiles, and we part ways.
It's a conversation that I love to have with her. I feel proud to have the answers to the questions that Jean asks.
People ask me, "Are you prepared?" How in the world do I truly prepare for this? I have bought the diapers and the baby clothing. I always take the vitamins and do yoga almost every day. But am I prepared?
Let's stick with what is possible.
Lord, you know me in my innermost being.
I thank Thee, that you knit me in my mother's womb.
I was mysteriously and wonderfully made.
-- Psalm 139
