2 Year Anniversary

We have been so very busy lately, and I apologize for not updating more regularly. This is something that I will be remedying soon, but for the moment the expectant mother and I are on our way to Des Moines to celebrate our 2 year wedding anniversary and the birthday of a dear friend.

I am very excited about everything coming in the next couple of weeks with this process, especially finding out the sex of our child on April 9th! Unfortunately that is immediately preceded by (April 8th) my 11th or 12th colonoscopy...I have literally lost count.

But not to dwell on the negative, I need to stay focused on all the positive. I am loving every day of this process. I think about our coming child almost continually throughout the day. I love how my beautiful wife looks with that precious baby bump, and I look forward to watching it continue to grow. Laying my ear on her belly to listen to our little one move all around and putting my hand on her baby bump to feel each kick or punch makes me smile with joy.

As you all know, for me this has been a LONG time in coming...and I am going to cherish each moment.

~Father Finally

17 weeks +1 day

The ridiculous world of pregnancy apps

Being a 'first time father to be' I though to myself "Hey, I should get a pregnancy app or two to help with the process," and while I have learned some things that I did not know before I am frankly appalled by their apparent views on dads.

As some of you probably already know these apps give you a daily and weekly information post, most of which are directly targeted to the mothers to be. Once in a while they post something directed towards the father's, and let us just say, these particular posts paint a very unflattering image of all the fathers and fathers to be out in the world.

To show you just what I am talking about, here is yesterday's remarkable post from Baby Bump...

"Just for Dad: I'm Interested...
When your significant other is pregnant, perhaps one of the best ways to show your support is to take an active interest in her. Even if she's talking about how the baby's foot was kicking her bladder (again), stop and think about how important these topics are to her. It's obvious that when the baby kicks her bladder it is very annoying to her, and her telling you about it makes her feel somewhat better. And when she goes on and on about baby names, that means she wants your input, too. So instead of responding with "uh huh" s and "hmm" s, make an effort to comment, provide your feedback, or ask questions. You may get a very stunned-yet very happy-response, and you'll both get a boost of confidence at serving an important role in each other's daily lives."

My first and simplest response? "DUH!" I'm about to be a father for cripes sakes! Plus, you know...I love my baby mamma; that is in fact why I married her and am having a child with her. I want to know how she is feeling all of the time, and be there to help take care of her. I also am certainly going to be involved in the naming of, and all the other things involved with, our child.

I can't be THAT different than the other expectant fathers out there. These apps just seem belittling and give fathers to be no credit at all.

Thanks for listening {end rant}
~Father Finally

Father (to be) Finally

Here I am at 40 years of age, and finally finding myself as a father to be; a dream I had given up on many years ago until a series of events led me to my amazing wife, and our new and wonderful life together.

After a lost pregnancy a little more than a year ago, and trouble conceiving again after, we had chosen to move on and I again had found myself giving up on the prospect of having a child of my own. To our surprise it was within a couple weeks of the decision to move on that we took the test that both surprised and thrilled me at the same time. A joy that can not be described in words no matter how hard I would try.

Already having two high school aged children of her own (both who are great and who I love as my own), ever closer to adulthood and making their own way out into the world, I am ever inspired by her want and willingness to virtually 'start over' as people have said and bring a new child into this world with me. One of our flesh and of our blood, carrying on the bloodline of my father and my father's father; a bloodline that seemed as though it may possibly be severed at this generation of me and my brothers.

There of course was some worry early on given our previous pregnancy's outcome, and a difficulty during one appointment finding the heartbeat of our child. We however were able to see a healthy and bouncing baby, as well as a very strong heartbeat. Now at a little over 15 weeks we have finally reached the point where most of the danger is behind us. We are able to share the joyous news with one and all and begin the genuine preparation for all that is to come.

This is my outlet to write about what I feel and what I encounter on this new journey and chapter in my life. Thank you to anyone who decides to read these words and share in the process with me in some way.

Do not read too much into the beginning baby blue template of this blog. It is still five weeks until we will find out the sex of our new child. That being said, I leaned this direction because at this point we both have the gut feeling that we will be having a son. This is yet to be seen, but I will be just as happy and have every bit as much love to give either way. I look forward to finding out however, because it will make shopping so much easier for us and others.

Our Kellybean is coming! I longingly await the day I am able to hold our little one in my arms, yet am enjoying each day and each moment up to that point, knowing this is my one time to experience it all. I do not wish it to be gone too soon, yet the wait to gaze upon the face of our child sometimes seems unbearable. It is a precarious balancing act that I am so blessed to be in the middle of.

~Father Finally