The excitement leading up to a birth feels like the moments before an opening pitch to a game that’ll never end. Like waiting for the needle to drop on the first track of a record that will always be playing, from now on.  

That’s the strange bit. Usually you have a party to look forward to, or a bit of travel, or a new job. I suppose weddings are most similar; you have this great big moment and party, and your life isn’t the same after that. Particularly if you’re someone like Jack. 

Oh yeah, and it’s a surprise party, but you’ve caught wind, so the only surprise is precisely when the curtain’s going to rise, but also the curtain’s in your living room. 

The expectation of a home birth too, makes the waiting game all the stranger. At any moment this monumental scene will descend upon our house. It’ll be very intense for a little while, but then it’ll be only a little intense...more than it was before, forever. 

I’m looking forwards anyway.