In the weeks leading up to Mother’s Day this year we’ve spent most of our family energies getting ready for a fourth child. Last night on Mother’s Day Eve we went ahead and exchanged presents in the event that baby decided to give his own present in the form of labor. But the morning came and the day passed and still there’s no baby.

Like every Sunday morning, the kids and I spent the hours leading to lunch at Northland while I worked. Jenn had what could be a final span of hours all to herself. It may not seem like much of a gift, but to a mom with three-going-on-four kids, time alone is a rarity.

Jenn’s requests for gifts were slight – she just asked for no whining and a clean room from the kids. We attempted to oblige, and to add general awesomeness in the form of a quiet day. With a child to birth in the days to come tuning our usual vim and vigor down a notch for the day’s remaining hours seemed like it would be a blessing to a woman who has done so much to bless us. So we took a family nap. (Even at nearly 7 years of age, Sebastian can be still occasionally coaxed into napping.)

We went low-key for dinner too and sauntered down to our favorite pizza joint. It’s down the street from home and right on Sanford’s riverwalk. The atmosphere is great and the pie delicious, so it’s usually a winning way to end a weekend. With all the post-nap energy we walked to a nearby pond and spent an hour feeding birds, chasing birds and just enjoying the quiet moments before this fourth child arrives.

There’s not much I wouldn’t do for Jenn. The kids, though limited by age and wisdom, would likely say the same. She’s the most remarkable woman I know and we all love her and depend on her for so much. Usually our manifestations of love are more ostentatious than a relaxed day. Hopefully we delivered something wonderful for her as she’s getting ready to deliver someone wonderful for the rest of us.