Pumped...

There are few things I enjoy more than shopping on the last Saturday before Christmas, a few meaning anything.

Nevertheless, my wife and I went out to spend a little Christmas money.  I remember when Christmas money was meant to be wasted, maybe not wasted but spent without thought to the future.  This is no longer the case.  Christmas money—as in Christmas bonuses, gifts, money found on the street, or however else it comes into my possession will quickly be spent on baby stuff.  Not baby stuff as in fun stuff like say, a stuffed monkey or a basketball.  No, baby stuff as in a changing pads, or a glider chair, or even worse...much worse.

I found myself in Target looking at breast pumps.  Yes, the events that have transpired in my life have taken me to the aisle in the store featuring devices with suction cups that look like air horns.  While my wife looked at the various makes and models (low speed, fast speed?), I slowly began taking a few steps back mumbling something about a sale on shoelaces before turning and sprinting, running away like I was being chased. He’s very mature for his age—said not one of my teachers ever.

I wasted what I thought was a suitable amount of time for any reasonable person to pick out a breast milk pumping apparatus, before heading back to the baby section, catching a scowl from some guy wearing an ill fitting cap on his head and a XXXXL shirt.  Look, why do you have to be a tough guy in the maternity section of target?  I get it, you’re cool. 

Moving on, I arrive back to find my wife being assisted by a guy with his daughter.  One of his daughter’s actually, and this guy seemed to know a thing or two about breast pumps.  Helpful and pleasant, the man explained that he has three daughters and recommended the pump my wife was holding.  I stood towards the back, snickering like an adult when the topic of leak pads arose, prompting my wife to thank the nice man as we put the most expensive breast pump in our cart.

On the way home, I started thinking, was there a time when breast pumps made him feel uncomfortable?  Was he ever scared? Does Target place “Dads” in the aisles to recommend the most expensive breast pumps? 

  

Friendly Advice...

Get used to it...

As one of my coworkers was heating up his lunch today--as he always does when everyone else goes out to lunch--I asked him about his kids.  With two boys of his own, at 8 and 11, he has more than his hands full.   I told him my big news and he quickly congratulated me.   As he started to laugh at my naivety, he was more than willing to offer some advice.

Your time will cease to exist.  You will eat, sleep little, and take care of the crying baby.  He explained that he and his wife worked in shifts, so the other could sleep. 

Eating out is a thing of the past.  With childcare, diapers, clothes, and insurance, getting used to leftovers is a necessity.  At home, he explained he and his wife had eaten out maybe once in the past year, I may have openly cringed.

Getting to work on time is a miracle. – At least when you have to get the kids to school on time.

Diapers are expensive - He made sure I understood this.  Diapers are expensive.  Got it  He also let me know that I would get used to changing diapers, it becomes second nature....you don't really have a choice is how he put it.

Our talk was brief, I started to sense that work was his escape from kids and home so I decided to changed the topic to our usual subject, sports.  He seemed happy to change gears, as the tired and weary look on his face perked up at the mentioning of football and away from what must be his chaotic home life. 

I’m thankful for his advice and at the same time confused as ever.  Oh well, I’ll learn soon enough. Everyone has their own way of doing things; I’m just trying to take it all in. 

Well hello there!

Yesterday, my wife and I went for our first ultrasound.  I had no idea what to expect but words can't describe the feeling of seeing that little peanut on the screen.  We watched as he (or she)  bounced around in there with a healthy little heartbeat of 160 beats per minute.  I'm still in awe and haven't stopped looking at the pictures.  We won't find out the sex for another two months, but at this point we're just hoping for a healthy baby.    The rest of the visit was not as exciting, at least not for me, but I had the trusty scans at my side to keep busy.  I was unable to pay attention as the nurse went through routine questions with my wife.  I did manage to learn a few things however, and it doesn't look like I'll be getting off the hook on the nightly massages.  I also found out that my wife's constant night time peeing is normal and will most likely continue..  At eleven weeks now, we're almost in the 2nd trimester, I wish we could speed things up!

I have a lot of preparing to do before I meet this little guy (or girl), but after yesterday's experience, I'm all the more eager to get started.   As excited as I was when my wife told me she was pregnant, yesterday it all became real.