Preparing for Dadness

While sitting at my desk pondering life as the 12:01 siren goes off in Saratoga, I realize that I am more than a bit preoccupied these days.

More than likely, by the next time I write a column for the Saratoga Sun, my wife and I will be parents for the first time. Our baby girl is due on the 19th of October, by my wife’s calculations, or the 28th if the doctor is correct.

Either way, big change will be here soon.

Much to my wife’s chagrin, I have not been overly stressed about the birth of our daughter. At times in the past, I would have been a total mess as I ran around like a chicken with my head cut off and lost sleep over every possible detail of what needed to be done, and worse yet what might or probably would go wrong.

Even my wife had to admit the other day that while she worries I am not worried enough, I am a big jerk when I get obsessed about something and this mellower version of Erik is much more pleasant.

I feel like there are two major contributing factors to my newfound ease in the face of a major life change. The first is that I have been working a program focused on my own serenity in order to be a better, more giving human being.

I have had a few crises in my adult life that I have not handled very well, and having this rigorous program in my life has made a huge difference, but that is a topic for another column somewhere down the road.

The second factor that puts me at ease is that I think we are prepared, and the preparing for our baby girl has been a vehicle for bonding with my wife. We have created a nursery in our house that seems like it will be a happy place for all five of us (baby, two dogs, my wife and me). It is now populated with happy little trees and forest animals a new dog bed and all of the accoutrement a little girl really needs.

My wife and I even worked in harmony together painting, reorganizing the house to accommodate losing a guest bedroom, and furnishing the nursery.

No small feat considering my aforementioned tendency to be a jerk.

As for being a dad, I have managed to fulfill my lust for material goods with new baby-related items. We have a great stroller that does more than I ever knew a stroller could do. The crib will eventually convert to a toddler bed, then a day bed and eventually a full-size bed.

Ah, dreams of future projects ...

A video baby monitor is on the way that pans, tilts and zooms all by remote control (techno-nerd heaven). But I am most proud of having my own diaper bag. I plan on caring for our girl equally and possibly more than my wife during the day once she goes back to work.

You’ll be able to identify me on the street as that guy with the skull and crossbones on his black diaper bag.

Possibly the biggest part of feeling prepared is that we have a great doctor at the Women’s Clinic in Rawlins — shout out to Dr. Thompson — who has an amazing staff. They saw us through some tough times at the beginning of the pregnancy with ease and proficiency. We have been hearing more great things about her and her team from the nurse who is teaching our birthing classes too.

We have also toured the maternity ward at the hospital and met our anesthesiologist and the nurses who will take care of us after the birth.

All of this put my weary soul at ease.

So, here’s to everyone in the Valley having another beautiful month as we slide into fall (may it last more than a week).

The next time I see you—you can call me “dad.”