This is an eventful month at Fred’s and Annie’s house. How about yours? After all, Thanksgiving is this month. Many of us will be feasting and cooking, watching the Macy’s Day parade, football, and just hanging out.

Us, too! However, our Thanksgiving event is secondary this year.

We are going to be great-grandparents again. What? Did I ever, ever, plan or imagine the day when I would be a great-grandmother? Maybe Fred, a great-grampa, but hey, he’s older than I am by 2 months. 

Our oldest granddaughter, Lorrie, and husband, Justin, are expecting their first child. They are utterly, unimaginably ecstatic. I remember telling Lorrie when she first became pregnant, “from now on, you will think about this every minute of every day. You will be aware every second that you are pregnant. It will be the first thing you think about when you get up and the last as you fall asleep. Justin, on the other hand, will think of it once or twice a day!” After all, he’s not the pregnant one.

Mothers? Remember? 

Now Justin is thinking about it a lot. He has moved into the “thinking about it many times a day” mode.

This baby is a girl. We don’t know her name yet. We will find out after she is born. But, she is the first “girl” to be born on her dad’s side in a long time. Girls are rare there. And his family is pretty stoked over this.

Funny story. When they were here visiting this summer, I asked them where they had made room for the baby’s arrival. They live in a comfortable (but not large) two bedroom apartment in the city. I knew they had acquired a crib, a cradle (made by other grandparents), and a dresser. Baby’s “space” was relegated to one half of the guest bedroom.

Justin remarked, “Yes, we have it pretty much prepared. After all, how much room can a little baby take, right?”

I about choked on my gum. 

What a logical assumption; logical, but totally unrealistic, right?

I tossed out some choice remarks right then. 

“Oh, Justin. Little babies take up a lot more room than that. You will have baby items all over the apartment. Let’s see ... a swing, a stroller, a car seat, baby blankets, a diaper container, toys, clothes, baby bottles, or a breast pump, a baby lounger, rocking chair, night light, dresser, baby sound monitor, toy basket, baby washcloths, high chair, and so much more.

I swear that he turned a shade of green! Then he just stared at me ... just like the little, defenseless raccoon caught in the headlights!

“Oh, sorry, Justin,” I thought.

Now, the time is close. It’s approaching D-day.

And this couple is more excited and expectant than ever.

Lorrie asks, “How will she look? Will she have hair? We can’t wait to meet her!”

Several baby showers have taken place. Baby’s clothes have been washed and sorted into drawers and onto hangers. 

“I can’t believe this. It doesn’t seem real,” exclaims Justin.

Oh, it will be real, very, very soon, Justin! 

Mom’s bag is packed. The house is clean. The pre-natal classes are completed. 

“Let’s get this show going,” she is thinking. Because, life as they have known it, will never be the same again. 

Now the countdown begins. 

Judi Tabler lives in Pawnee County and is a guest columnist for the Great Bend Tribune. She can be reached at bluegrasses@gmail.com. Visit her website juditabler.com.