Four weeks ago the back bedroom in our house was considered mine.

Living in a small two bedroom house, I knew that Ben’s room would eventually become Baby Hillyer’s room. I knew that the days were numbered for my books, the framed photographs from college and the double bed on which I spent many a Sunday afternoon reading the newspaper or taking a nap.

There just wasn’t enough room for baby and me in the room. For that matter, I don’t think my wife would be receptive to setting up a nursery on the back porch.

At first, you might think that a baby would not take up very much space.

For those who may not have recent experience in outfitting a family for a baby, let me be the first to tell you that a baby comes with stuff — a lot of stuff.

Four weeks ago the last vestiges of my pre-father existence were packed up in boxes and shipped off to various storage areas across the county. With the bed gone, the pre-digital television banished and the bookshelves cleared, the room seemed amazingly big — and empty.

And then the stuff started to trickle in. It started slow at first.

Friends were gracious enough to lend us a beautiful wooden crib they had used for their son. Unfortunately, somewhere in between their house and our house, I lost all of the bolts with which to assemble the crib. Until we were able to order another set of bolts, pieces of crib sat against the bedroom wall.

However, the wait for the bolts didn’t prevent other stuff from coming. First came the carpet. Then came the bassinet that converts into a playpen.

My mother, who calls several times a week to counsel me on baby stuff, sent a vibrating chair fitted with a tropical-themed mobile filled with an assortment of baby items.

The once accommodating bedroom started slowly to fill.

It wasn’t until the bolts finally arrived this week that my wife and I finally put the crib together. To my surprise, the crib gobbled up much of the remaining space.

And that is before the diapers, wipes, ointments, baby toys, bulb syringes, clothes, blankets, stuffed animals, burp cloths, books — could there be more?

I am amazed at how much stuff comes with this tiny little person, who had not yet arrived.

I don’t even want to think about the next 18 years.

As we have been amassing this incredible array of things for our baby, I have been equally amazed by a whole other collection of stuff we have been grateful to receive.

Even more affirming than the physical baby things has been the collection of hugs, smiles, pats on the back, encouraging words and showering of love from people from all over the community.

In recent days, people have gone so far as to roll down their car windows while waiting at the stoplight to inquire about the baby.

Another passed by in the grocery aisle this week and ask, “Is it here yet?”

During assignments, many have come up to offer calming words for this nervous father-to-be.

With four weeks to go before the baby’s arrival, our baby’s room is now overflowing with the love and generosity of the community.

If it takes a village to raise a child then this child has a great start.

And for that I am very thankful.

Ben Hillyer is the Web editor of The Natchez Democrat. He can be reached at 601-445-3540 or ben.hillyer@natchezdemocrat.com.