All By Myself

During the work week it seems that couples only see each other for a few hours a day. There are those few moments in the morning while getting ready for work, watching the news, and grabbing a breakfast bar on the way out the door....And those few hours at night for dinner and unwinding...Let's face it - Most of us work until 4 or 5 and then don't get home until 5 or 6...So the time spent together in the evening is limited...Well, when you get pregnant the time seems to diminish A LOT!!

One of the first signs of pregnancy is fatigue...Well, if by fatigue you mean acting like you were hit in the head with a tack hammer whenever you are at a rested state, then my wife is all over it! I swear I have never seen a person fall asleep so fast in my life...Once her glasses hit the night stand, it's all over! It's like she is turning a switch from awake to sleep! Normally this is a pretty good thing...Many people would love to fall asleep so easily...Well - she does this at 7:45pm...When you don't make the end of Wheel of Fortune I think you have issues!!

So, what have I done with all the down time?? Most of the nights I have taken full advantage of being in control of my TV destiny and falling asleep to sports on the tube without anyone telling me to "put something else on," or to "find something we both want to watch!" Guys - isn't it funny when they say that! I mean, they should just say, "Can we watch what I want?" - because that's what they mean! Anyway - there are also the nights where I fall asleep really early too! When there is nothing on TV (normally Wednesday nights) and I am finished harvesting my crops on Farmville (my newest vice), I figure there is nothing to do, so I sleep!

When you are married there are those times when you just say to yourself...."LEAVE ME ALONE!!" Obviously, this can be said by the husband or wife, and I think it should be said more freely...We all need our down time....But this pregnancy stuff gets a little ridiculous! Its like someone is saying, "Sleep now, because you wont know what sleep is like later!" But, how can i sleep when there is Anthony TV on all night!!!!

We are now almost 11 weeks along and entering the end of our first tri-mester! Crazy how fast time flies...especially for Christine...She has slept through most of it! HA HA!

RAGING!!

It has been said (not necessarily by me) that pregnant women get a little crazy early on in pregnancy! I am pretty sure that my lovely wife is OK with me sharing that I have seen a little bit of this early on!! Hormones are a crazy thing at times, and during pregnancy they seem to be all hopped up like a bunch of 10 year olds on pixie stix! In my life, I have always dealt with sticky situations through humor...and these hi-hormonal times call for a bit of the same! Every time Christine seems to be getting a little out of whack, I say "RAGING!" - as if to say that her hormones are raging out of control! Now, the first time I said this I was definitely taking a walk on the wild and dangerous side! She could have erupted like a volcano and spewed lava in my direction...But - I know my wife, and she thought it was hilarious!

Being able to use humor in this situations is a gift, BUT there is a such thing as over use....And I have not mastered that yet! I know what you're all thinking...Christine is so sweet, how on Earth could she "snap!" Well, lucky for you all - I have an example...My brother and his girlfriend were coming over for dinner and they called me that afternoon asking what they could bring. I said a dessert would be nice, so they asked me what Christine could not eat so they didn't make that...well, in all the books and websites that i have looked at - i thought (which was my first mistake) that she could not eat nuts...So, i relayed this information to my brother. So they come to dinner and they bring a dessert with half nuts, and half NO NUTS! Christine enquired about the dessert and I said (acting like i helped her out), "I told them you couldn't have nuts sweetie!" She looked at me as if I had just ended her universe...and said - "WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING??" HA HA - apparently, she could have nuts, and wanted nuts!! Everyone laughed and i said, "RAGING!" Then she laughed!!

So guys...give it a try! If your pregnant wife is going off on a tangent and seem out of control...look at her and say.."RAGING!" But be ready to run in case they arent as cool as my lovely wife!!!

Questions

Life seems to be full of important questions that people will ask...and I have noticed that there is clearly no end in sight!! When I was a single college grad I would often get asked..."So, when are you going to settle down and date someone?" As if I wasn't looking, right? After Christine and I were dating for about 6 months the progression of questioning went on the path of engagement!! "When are you going to buy a ring and propose to this girl??" I remember that I didn't even have a chance to brush the dirt off of my knee before the next question followed...."When is the wedding?" AHHHHH

The questions however intensify after that, and they seem never-ending..."Are you guys planning on having kids?" - YES...."When?" - Not sure...we don't want to wait too long! "How many?" - Can I have 1 first?!! It felt like a HUGE relief to announce that we were pregnant...maybe the questions would stop!! HA - NEVER!!

• Are you going to find out the sex?
• Do you have names picked out?
• Are you going to breastfeed?
• Is your house big enough?
• Whats the nursery going to be?
• Is Christine going back to work?
• Can you afford this?

For the record...YES, YES, not personally, YES, No idea, YES and NO!

Christine and I are planners, more her than I! Today in fact, I got a call from her asking what I was doing on a specific date next spring....My answer of course was - No idea! For this reason we need to find out the sex of the baby! We think that for the first baby the showers will go smoother if we know what we are having and know what to register for....plus we would drive ourselves insane!!

I have always heard expectant fathers say that they don't care if they are having a boy or a girl...just want a healthy baby! I always thought that they really all wanted sons, but they just said that to make their wife happy...And maybe they did...A boy would be great since my brother has had 2 beautiful girls, and we need some balance! Then again, a daughter would be great too...I always cry at the movie "Father of the Bride" and would love to have that kind of relationship with my daughter! I honestly thought I would always say BOY when I was asked that, but I guess things change when you are going through it! So my answer....boy or girl....a healthy baby is all I want!

Well...I thinks that's all for now...The only question I want to hear on this Monday night is "Are you Ready for Some Football???" And yes I am!

3 things

Well, we just had our 8 week appointment - and it was as good as advertised! We are REALLY pregnant! it hits home when the doctor takes the time to go over everything with you and tell you how everything is going...And I am happy to report that all is very well! Christine was a trooper as usual and the nurses and the doctor could not have been better!

We had a sonogram and I got to see the heartbeat again...still amazing to see! I was happy that they took us back right away and did the sonogram because that is really what we both wanted to see - that the baby was doing great and to see that heart beating. And it was beating at 151 bpm, which I'm told is perfectly normal (it looks like our kid already has their parents stress levels)! After the pics the nurse took us back into a room and told us one of the best things I have heard so far...She said - "I will give you 3 pointers to your pregnancy that you should live by!" WOW, I thought to myself - I can even remember 3....and they made a lot of sense!

1. Don't read books! (WHOOPS, already started!)
2. Don't go on the Internet! (Christine is guilty here!)
3. Your friends aren't doctors! (HA HA)

I like #3 the best! The books and the Internet can scare the Hell out of you, but that third one can be the kicker!! I'm sure you have all heard the expression..."Opinions are like _________...Everyone has them (This is PG folks!)!" When you're pregnant - EVERYONE around you that has either a) been pregnant, b) known someone who has been pregnant, or c) wants to be pregnant, knows what you should be doing during your pregnancy! My wife and I were actually worried that she has not been sick and nauseous yet!! HA HA - AGAIN, we were worried that she WASN'T sick! Why? Well, because her pregnant friends are all sick! HA HA! The nurse told us that it is perfectly normal and perfectly lucky, and to laugh at our sick pregnant friends!! She really said that, but I would NEVER laugh at a pregnant woman!

After that the doctor came in and examined Christine (her yearly woman check-up), but this time it was a little different....Why? Because I was in the room during it! I have a better appreciation for being a dude after that exam, and I will leave it at that!! I'm also sure I will be more happy to be a guy after 9 months!

FACEBOOKing the fact that we were pregnant after the long wait was the best!! We have such a great group of family and friends supporting us! I could not wait to put that on there, but we all know that I have Facebook issues!!

That's it for now...and remember friends - you aren't doctors! But you can keep the opinions coming!!

Early...So Early

First off....i must say that I NEVER thought I would ever write a blog. But, at the urging of a good friend, I decided to give it a try (thanks Val)!

My lovely wife and I have been trying to have a baby for a while now, and it has been an adventure to say the least!! Ever since I can remember I have only wanted 1 thing...not a million dollars (although that would be pretty sweet) - I've always wanted to be a dad and have a family. My family means everything to me....always has, and always will! So the idea of starting a family had me so excited!!!

Home Pregnancy Tests can change your life, and also make you miserable for weeks on end! Unfortunately, for the first few months of trying we were completely miserable upon reading the results. Thoughts would creep into our heads that we may never become parents, and that it just wont happen for us...It made our days long, and our nights even longer with the lack of sleep! Christine and I are planners and tend to worry a lot...So having this weigh on us was pretty hard!

There were always constant reminders that we were NOT having a baby, and that EVERYONE else was...There were more pregnant women around us wherever we went than ever before!! The waitresses we had for dinner were pregnant, most of our bridesmaids from our wedding were either pregnant or had just had a child, and every time the phone rang - SOMEONE WAS PREGNANT! I told Christine that we shouldn't answer the phone anymore! Don't get me wrong...We were always so excited for those around us...but inside it was tough!

But I am happy to report...that on September 14th, at 4:30am (Yes, you are reading that correctly - 4 in the morning! Christine set her alarm for early in the morning since it was a Monday and she would have to prepare herself for work if it was a negative test)...my wife was screaming for me to come into the bathroom..."PREGNANT" was shown on the test as clear as day...After i cried like a little girl...I said to my wife, "Now what are we going to do?" It was a joke of course, but I sort of meant it! How was I going to be a dad? My dad was (and still is) a hero to me, and now I am supposed to be that for my child?! Truth be told - I can't wait to attempt to be as great to my kids as my parents were (and are) to me, but the pressure is there, and the bar is high!!

Seeing the heartbeat at our week 6 appointment was easily the coolest thing I have ever seen. The early stages of pregnancy are scary times! I'm reminded of the line from The Santa Clause (I will be quoting movies often on here), "Ever seen a Million Dollars? Well, just because you haven't seen it, doesn't mean it doesn't exist!" Well, before our 6 week appointment - I wasn't seeing anything, and I was constantly asking - "are we still pregnant?" The test says you are pregnant, but she doesn't feel pregnant, and she looks the same - so, are we pregnant?? Well, seeing the heartbeat made a believer out of me! There is something alive and growing inside of my wife...WOW! It's easy to blow it off when someone tells you how magical of a time it is, but trust me - it is!

I will be updating this blog from time to time to let everyone know whats happening (whether you care or not!)...After Val mentioned this to me, I thought about it and agreed that it will be a good way to document the process and give everyone a few laughs from time to time!!