Counting down

As the countdown really kicks into high gear (21 days from today!), I'm feeling a lot of different things. This really is the beginning of a different life. For decades, most of us are able to put ourselves first if we really want to.
As a kid, most of us put ourselves first without even thinking about it. It's just natural for many people.
As a teen, nobody understood us. We were islands in this crazy world.
In college, we finally had our parents off our backs and really had a chance to put ourselves first.
After college, we started to learn that putting ourselves first didn't pay the bills. The change began.
Married life? You can't just think of yourself when you're living with someone else.
But even in those recent parts of life, we all could be first for a while. Tough day at work? Just sit down and veg in from of the TV. Or grab a drink with some friends and laugh about work. Or relax with your significant other. You're not really first, but at least all the other things that sometimes have to come first can be pushed to second.

But it's all different with a baby, isn't it? The baby will always be first. There's never a time again where the parents can be first without question. If the baby cries, he's first. If the baby has a fever, he's first. Drop the baby off with a sitter and go on a quiet date? Make sure to bring your cell phone ... the baby could become first again at any instant.

That's a big change.
I hope I'm ready.