When I was a little girl my mother read me a book called The New Baby, illustrated by Eloise Wilkin. It was a little Golden Book. The images were exquisite and formed my imagination. Even though I'm the oldest of six children and had plenty of opportunity to see what a nine-month pregnant woman and a red-faced, squalling newborn and a house full of hyper-active new siblings looks like in real life, these are the images that formed me.
My daughters and I are at my sister's house, waiting for her baby boy to arrive. Her third son. And it's still these images that come to mind.
