Do you know what you were doing at exactly this time last year? I do, but then it's a little bit easier for me.
It was a Sunday and I'd been to see Yorkshire play cricket at Headingley with a few friends. I'd then come home and, after a bit of fretting, had ordered Vanessa and I some pizza. And at this precise time, I was clearing up our pizza boxes in preparation for bed.
Moving on a few minutes, we were upstairs watching the American version of The Office when Vanessa suddenly felt a series of shudders in her tummy. But, after phoning the maternity ward of the Leeds General Infirmary, was assured that her full term baby was merely having a bout of the hiccups.
Daddy-to-be was most relieved, if truth be told. He wasn't really ready, his bag wasn't packed and, according to his terrified little mind, most first time mothers had their babies about two weeks after the due date anyway. He needed to be mentally prepared and there would be plenty of time for that. Of course there would.
About ten minutes went past. The TV was switched off. Vanessa removed her glasses, laid her head on the pillow and closed her eyes. Daddy-to-be read his book for another quarter of an hour or so and did exactly the same, before turning off the light.
And, upon a count of around a hundred, Vanessa's waters broke. It was time to for daddy-to-be to pack his bag. It was time to be brave. It was time to get ready to be very, very proud. It was time to meet our child.
Tomorrow is Jamie's first birthday. You could say we're rather looking forward to it.
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