I should be a daddy by the weekend

The feeling of anticipation is like waiting on a NASCAR race to begin. Wednesday for me is should be like “Gentlemen start your engines” and hopefully we will hit the checkered flag by Thursday afternoon.

The first eight months flew by and now month number nine seems like it is hanging on for dear life.

My wife said the baby has already taken after me and gotten so stubborn that she will have to be dragged out of the womb. I can’t help it if she catches the “Strickland stubbornness,” that began a long time ago before I even got here.

I’m writing my piece a little early this week because by Thursday I shall be at the hospital welcoming a new family member. My wife is scheduled to be induced on Thursday morning and by that evening I should be a daddy.

That means I’ve been out of the office since Wednesday, but not to worry I will be back on Monday because I’ll need the money to buy her whatever she needs, not necessarily wants.

She will probably get anything she wants though, because I know the grandparents and aunts on both sides will spoil her until they can’t spoil her anymore. As a matter of fact, she isn’t even here yet and she already has all sorts of things to play in and with.

People are probably going to ask me how I feel about 20 million times on the day after delivery and I figure I will feel a little bit of every emotion you can feel. Scared and happy are probably the two that will top the list during the whole process.

For those avid readers of this column, maybe next week instead of my picture being in the block, I may let you all see my beautiful ray of sunshine, but of course that will totally be up to my publisher.

Of course, I will teach her to cheer for the crimson and white so we know she will be better off then some, just kidding.

As long as the baby is healthy and Amy is feeling good then I will be back on the road covering stories next week.

Thanks to everyone who has asked and showed thoughtfulness during this time. I’m sure our lives will never be the same again and I am excited to watch her grow up and become beautiful young lady one day.

There I’ve said my peace. Until next time, Later Dayz…