The Virtual Nursery.
Mood:  cool
Topic: Pregnancy
A dear friend of mine is expecting a baby boy, right around the same time Julia is due. Today she put up pictures of his shiny new nursery, all decorated in blue and dancing with creatures of the sea. Aquatic paradise in the great American Midwest. It's impressive, a labor of love from a mommy so pregnant, but so far away from me.

I recently realized that little Julia, so near to be being born, had almost nothing to wear. And so we went to Babies R Us, that Mecca of the burgeoning belly club. A good third of the store is dedicated to nursery trappings: to cribs and changing tables and darling bedding sets, all in soft pinks and blues, bright sunny colors, cuddly things and dangly things. We didn't venture into that bit of the store. Never have. No need for it.

No glider rocker. No Moses basket. No changing table. No crib. No bassinet. No dust ruffle or mobile or Johnny Jump-Up. But here, Julia: Here. This big family bed, so often laughed in and loved in and barfed on and slept in by your mom and your dad and your brothers, this is for you. These tired but grateful arms, here to hold you every hour of every day. This sling where both your brothers curled against me, this nest, this home, this greying mommy, this grey-haired daddy, this bed. These are for you. Can't wait to bring you home, sweetheart. So much love has gone here, and so much more to come.