Today is our baby’s official due date. Nine months ago, I imagined this day differently. It sort of seemed like due dates were really firm, but I have since learned that only 5% of babies are actually born on their due date.

But nine months ago, I anticipated that I would have a baby today. Now, it’s only 7am at the time you’re receiving this, so there’s still a chance that we gain another Nyhof today…

Jourdan and I have often joked that for all the medical and technological advancements we’ve made, you’d think we’d be able to figure out exactly when a baby is going to be born. But the reality that absolutely no one knows is also part of the magic and whimsy (at least for me…)

Anticipation is a funny thing.

A week ago, Jourdan was experiencing some early labour symptoms to which I responded by going “full Greg” on the day. I shoveled the driveway and cleaned off the car every hour. Then I would move the car up and down the driveway to make sure not a flake of snow settled between it and our front door. I backed it in so that the passenger’s side door lined up perfectly with the walkway. In between rounds of snow jousting with the city plow, I packed my “go bag” and made sure all our snacks were on the counter.

My neighbours think I’m a type-A maniac, and they’re right.

I had nine months to prepare for this moment, and when it was happening, I still didn’t feel like I was ready.

Everyone tells you that “you can never really be ready,” but I disagree. I think being organized and prepared - mentally and physically - is a pretty good place to start. In most other areas of my life, those things help me feel “ready.”

The rest of it is out of our control.

When I thought it was go-time, things felt out of control. I paced around the house all day and had a difficult time completing any task that wasn’t shoveling snow or packing. Even though I knew what I was doing to be silly and restless, I couldn’t help myself.

Obviously, the baby didn’t come last weekend, but the point here is this - It’s easy to spend a lot of time and energy fretting and doing things in anticipation of something you have no control over.

I heard this great sound bite from standup comedian Bill Burr (of all people) this week…

“You’re gonna be fine. And even if you’re not gonna be fine, isn’t it better to exist thinking you’re going to be fine until it’s not fine? And then when it’s not fine, you can just handle it then?

There’s no sense to ruin right now.”