Any day now (patience is a virture)

Less than one week to go and the anticipation of Daniel's expected birthday on December 14 seems to consume me. I have read that only about 5% of babies are born on their "due date", but I am hoping to be in the minority group. Many close friends and family have warned me, "Get plenty of sleep now and enjoy the silence." Impossible. Often I find myself part of Insomniacs Anonymous, my mind spinning with all the last minutes things I should do, or think I should do. Apparently this is some type of normal nesting instinct I am experiencing or, perhaps, a sadistic method of parenting preparation.

Fortunately, living in Germany at this point has many unexpected blessings. Maternity leave begins 6 weeks prior to birth and continues for 8 weeks after birth. I am so thankful to have had the past 5+ weeks to be at home, tackling the many projects on my extensive to-do list. Since the population growth here has been declining for many years, there is a government incentive which allows a parent to stay home with a child for one complete year after birth while receiving 67% of his/her salary. Not a bad gig, even if it does feel like German welfare. I consider it payback for the seemingly excessive tax rate that provides for all the socialized services the government provides, including all the ultrasounds I received during my pregnancy, the midwife consults over the past few months (which will continue for up to a month after Daniel arrives)... all with no out-of-pocket expenses. When I first started working for a German company in July 2007, I often complained that I only brought home about half my pay after all the taxes. Now I consider such a system a blessing.

God is teaching me patience, of which I greatly lack. Must be that type A control-freak personality. I am His work in progress. Certainly, I will really have to chill-out when little Daniel finally does arrive.