8-Month Update

Late in Melissa's pregnancy someone said "I want to see you keep the blog going once the baby is born." At the time I thought, "no problem".

I was wrong... clearly. This is the first "real" update in months. Oh well... so goes the life of a busy dad.

It's not that I don't have the time. There are plenty of free moments, but I use those to do other things, shower, eat, and most importantly sleep (I'll tell you what we don't do... watch movies. We've had the same DVDs from Netflix for months).

The good news is-- eight months later, things are getting easier. Dominic is sleeping more of the night. He can sit up, which means he can play on his own. And he loves toys, especially the ones that play music (and what's not to love about hearing the same song over and over and over again). He loves to laugh, and we love to laugh with him.

The bad news-- I think things are about to get harder. Dominic seems to be on the verge of crawling (or walking, I really not sure which he's going to do first). Mobility scares me... a lot. Someone else said to me, "once they can walk, you're always one fall away from the ER". Great!

And let's be honest, there's nothing more painful than watching your kid be in pain. Dominic bumped his head pretty good the other day, and it took all I had not to cry, while he was crying. I guess that's how it goes.

Praying for toys perhaps?

Now we're getting ready to share our first Christmas with Dominic. Can't wait... even though he's already the best present I've ever received (although, that Josh Freeman jersey I got from my birthday was pretty nice too).

Give me a Kiss

Dominic has apparently has mastered blowing kisses. What concerns me is that he learned it at daycare. And today one of the girls (an infant, not a daycare worker) kissed him. Maybe he's a ladies man in the making. Just like daddy!

The Lost Blogs: Dominic's Baptism

I'm not exactly what you'd describe as a "religious" (imagine me doing air quotes there). In fact, you can count the number of times I've been to church on one hand (maybe two).
So when Melissa said she wanted to get Dominic baptized I was mixed. But since she grew up going to church and it was important to her, then I was all for it. Besides, I figured it at least meant more presents for Dominic at Christmas and birthdays (again, not that religious).

What I didn't realize is that I'd have to follow all these rules. First, you have to pick Godparents. No problem. Oh wait... they have to be Catholic? And confirmed? What does "confirmed" even mean?

Next you have to go to a baptism class. By the way, this was pretty silly. All they did was show us a movie made in 1985 that ultimately told me I need to show up, bring the baby, and the Godparents. Done and done.

Proof that I went to church and didn't catch on fire.

Then comes the big day. All our family came including grandparents, great grandparents, Godparents, and aunts and uncles. We all went to the church and ironically on a day Dominic was going to get water poured on his head, he needed an umbrella to keep him dry.

We attended the full mass. That's a pretty good workout. Lots of standing and sitting and standing again.

(Side tangent: Obviously it was a Sunday and football was on. Do you know who didn't look at his phone for a score or fantasy update once during the service? Me. I can't say the same for everyone in our party.)

At one point the church got quiet and what wouldn't you know... Dominic let one rip. A big one, people actually looked. Again, I'm not very religious, but I don't think you're supposed to do that in church.

Finally the service was over and it was time for the baptism itself. That took a long time. Nearly an hour. About three-quarters of the way threw Dominic fell asleep... so imagine the rude awakening when the water was finally poured on his head. He cried, but just for a second.

Afterward, we headed home for a nice afternoon of football and delicious food whipped up by my beautiful wife.

All in all, it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it might be. Thank God!

Wedding Day Priorities

That's one good looking family!

There I am, decked out in a tux, my wife a beautiful bridesmaid, the reception is just about to get going and the only thing I can think about is getting Dominic out of all the noise.

This is how your priorities change when you have a child, even when you're at his uncle's wedding.

A beautiful wedding

We had big plans. Melissa and I were both in the wedding, we even bought a sweet suit for Dominic to wear. We were one good looking family.

And it's not like Melissa and I never expected to stay all night, but we figured we'd bust a couple moves, watch the cake get cut, maybe even have a cocktail or two.

Nope.

As soon as we walked into the cocktail hour... I knew it was over. Dominic was overwhelmed by all the people and all the noise. His eyes were as big as saucers.

Can you tell he didn't like the noise?

And as soon as I saw that, I was ready to go and didn't even think twice about it.

Ultimately, we stayed through dinner, and Dominic fell asleep on my lap. After the meal, I took him back to our hotel room, and let Melissa stay and party (it was her brother's wedding).

How sweet is that?

Would I have loved to stay for the party? Yeah. Would I do the same thing about in a heartbeat? Absolutely. After all, it's all about priorities and my family is priority number one.



The good news is... before we left we took some really good photos.

Daddy and his boy... check the shoes!

Six Month Birthday

Dear Dominic,

About a week before you were born I wrote you my first letter. Now, six months later I figured it was a good time to write another.

It’s only been six months since you’ve been in our lives, and yet I can’t remember what life was like before. I don’t remember what it was like to sleep through the night. I don’t remember what it was like to sit through an entire, movie, TV show, or video game. I’m also pretty sure I used to go to these places that served adult beverages, but I don’t remember them either.

But here’s the thing… I wouldn’t want to change any of it.

Your toothless grin brightens my morning, and welcomes me home. Your funny sounds crack me up. I’ve even gotten used to finding mysterious spots on my clothes.

Every day brings something new, something amazing. One day you’re grabbing my finger, the next you’re eating real food, rolling over, sitting up, and the best so far… saying “dada”.

Dominic I want you to know, that your mommy and daddy feel like the luckiest parents in the world.

Happy six-month birthday, we can’t wait for the next six.

Love you,

Daddy

Lots of Laughs

If laughter is contagious, then be prepared to catch Dominic's case of the giggles. His uncle Brenden just knows how to get this kid going. I promise this will bring a smile to your face.

Two Big Milestones

It was a big weekend in the Chechourka household. Dominic passed two big milestones, his first rice cereal and his first night of sleeping in his room. I would have posted video of both, but recording him sleeping seems a little creepy. Besides, the eating is way cuter.



His first non-boobie meal consisted of rice cereal. He wasn't exactly sold at first but after he realized it was food, he was all for it. He liked the rice cereal, but he LOVED the bananas we fed him the next day. So much so, he was even trying to eat the banana he had spilled onto his bib.

His face may not say it, but he's bananas for bananas!

We're already gearing up for his next meals. We're making the food ourselves, using "Cooking for Baby". We've already whipped up some meals of peas and sweet potatoes. We're freezing them to serve up later. I like this food-making stuff because A) I'm cheap and B) I get to use the food processor!

As for moving to his room... it's a move a month overdue. We had big plans to move him out of our room after 3 months. But as I've learned... your plans are not always your kids' plans. First he got sick. Then he had the allergic reaction to amoxicillin. Then he got sick again (thanks again daycare).

So far, the move has been a roller coaster. The first night was good, the second night was terrible, the third night was good again. Can't explain the ups and downs, but hopefully it gets a little more consistent. 

As for the next milestone? I'm rooting for sleeping through the night.

The First Trip to the ER

The last place you want to be as a parent is the ER, but that's where Melissa and I found ourselves last week. Let's back up a little...

Dominic started daycare back in July and since those places are Petri dish of bacteria it was only a matter of time before he got sick. And that time was about two weeks. It started out as a little cold and eventually became an ear infection.

We took him to the doctor for the ear problem and they prescribed him amoxicillin. He really liked it. I think it's because it was really sweet. So everything was coming up roses…

…Until the last day of his of the medication and he got a really bad rash. After turning to my old friend google we decided to head to the ER at 10 PM.

 The ER is... um... interesting. It was a lot of different sets of parents and kids. There were obviously caring ones, and then there was the parents who told their 3 year old to quote "sit your ass down."

When we finally got into the doctor he seemed more interested in Dominic's AC/DC onesie than his rash. He also had no explanation for the rash even though it seemed fairly obvious that he was having an allergic reaction to the amoxicillin. Adding to the ambiance of the ER was the person in the curtained off area across from us throwing up. Not the "I ate something bad" puking but the "there's a chance my kidney is coming out on this one" retching.

After being told to give Dominic an incorrect dosage of Benadryl (don't worry we figured out that the doctor told us 3x's too much before we gave it to him) it was time to discharge. There we had the opportunity to stand in line behind a gang-banger who was clearly faking his arm injury to get some pain meds. How do I know this? My first clue was the flipping out when he realized the doctor didn't prescribe him any.

Also in line before us was a woman (I think?) who in her baritone voice told Melissa what a terrible doctor visit she had. If she wasn't a man then she used to be.

So at the end of our visit what did we learn? We learned that Dominic is allergic to amoxicillin. We learned that ER doctors are dangerously bad at math. And we learned that the ER is great people watching.

Dominic's New Bouncy Chair

If there's one thing Dominic loves to do... it's stand. So this past week my cousin Amanda let us borrow her bouncy chair. It was an immediate hit, not just for Dominic but for mommy and daddy as well. This kid is a crackup.

The Lost Blogs: Dominic's First Flight

(Writer's note: This is the beginning of a series of blogs I meant to write over the past few months and never did. I'm calling them "The Lost Blogs" an homage of sorts to my favorite Corey Haim & Corey Feldman movie "The Lost Boys". First up, our first flight with Dominic).

This was my chance at revenge. After years of screaming babies, kicked seats and general unpleasantness in the air, I was finally flying armed with a baby. It was Dominic’s first flight.

The recipe was perfect. The flight to Vegas had been delayed 40 minutes, the plane was packed and Dominic was still getting over a bit of a cold. The only thing missing was me tapping my fingers together Mr. Burns style and saying “excellent”.

We took the back seat in the plane (thanks to Walt Gray for that advice) and geared up for takeoff. I’ve always heard that babies get fussy when the plane lifts off because they can’t make their ears pop. So, I figured once we got in the air the show would begin.

Instead, Dominic slept. And slept. And slept. Not a peep.

He woke up a little while later, so maybe it was a fluke. Maybe the sleeping helped him ignore takeoff. Once we started our decent into Vegas, he was sure to start screaming.

The landing was not exactly smooth. We hit a bunch of turbulence. The plane was bouncing like a ping-pong ball. Dominic’s eyes were huge. Here we go…

Nothing.

Seriously, he never made a sound. He complained less than the adults on board. In fact, one stewardess told us she forgot he was even on the plane.

The plane ride back was more of the same.

The highlight was we were sitting next to a young guy who was completely hung over. He looked like he would have rather died than sit next to a baby. By the end of the flight, he said he was amazed by how great Dominic behaved.

Turns out my devilish plan was ruined by my angel of a son.

4 Months Later

Those pajamas say it all!

Dominic just turned 4 months old… but he’s been in our lives now for 1-year.  And what a year it was.

Oddly, people talk about how much your life changes. Really, ours hasn’t changed that much, just a lot more diapers, a lot more drool and far less money. Anyway, I figured this was a good opportunity to look back at the last four months and look ahead as well.

What’s surprised you the most about being a parent so far?

Melissa: I think I’m most surprised by how little sleep I can get by on.

Justin: I think I’ve been surprised by just how silly people act around a baby and that includes myself. Ridiculous faces, silly noises all to make someone who poops in their pants smile.

What’s the best part of being a parent?

Melissa: The chubby cheeks and that big smile. I also like the funny noises and the giggle. Even though I’ve only heard one.

Justin: I love it all. Well maybe not the lack of sleep, but everything else is great. It’s amazing how consumed you can get by such a little person.

What’s the most useful advice or warning you received before Dominic was born?

Melissa: Invest in a good stroller. We use the BOB everywhere.

Justin: I think not telling people his name before he was born was the best advice. Not only was it fun because it drove our parents nuts, it also created the awesome moment where I got to introduce Dominic to them.

What was the least useful advice?

Melissa: Honestly, sleep when the baby sleeps. By the time you’re ready to lie down he wakes up. It never times out right.

Justin: I’m not sure I got bad advice. Besides I ignored most of it.

Last question, what are you looking forward to most before Dominic’s 1^st birthday?

Justin: I’ll answer this one first. I can’t wait for him to walk. Lugging around that carrier is a lot of work. Do babies even walk before their first birthday?

Melissa: I’m looking forward to the first real hug. One, where he knows he’s hugging me. Also 8 hours of sleep in a row.

Justin: Amen to that.

The Bus, The Boy, and the Bucs Fan

Dominic had his first experience with the bus this weekend. It wasn't the school kind, or the buses downtown full of homeless people. Nope, this was the Future-Hall-of-Fame NFL running back variety... I'm of course talking about "The Bus" Jerome Bettis.

The Bus, the boy, and the Bucs fan

So how'd this picture happen... let's start at the beginning.

Melissa and I decided the best way to beat the heat this weekend was to escape it. So, we decided to head to South Lake Tahoe and who knows maybe we'd see some stars at the celebrity golf tournament. So we packed up Dominic in his finest Hawaiian onesie and headed out the door.

Our first stop was going to be somewhere for breakfast. Heading up highway 50, we see the Red Apple Cafe. Looks quaint, that's got to be fun right? Right?!?!?

Um... no. It was 85 degrees inside the place, the food took 40 minutes and even worse Dominic had what we affectionately like to call a poop-fountain. For you non-parents, that's when the poop travels all the way up and out the back of the diaper. That leaves his shirt as the last line of defense. It's not pretty.

Between the heat, the poor service and saying aloha to Dominic's Hawaiian shirt, the Red Apple Cafe left me with nothing but sour grapes. Needless to say, the trip was not starting off on the right foot.

Now we're well behind schedule but soon enough we're passing Heavenly, Harrah's and MontBleu. We park and head to the golf course.

As we're walking up, we immediately see Jerome Bettis and Sterling Sharpe through the fence. (Timeout. Here's what you need to know going forward. Melissa's brother, Enrique, is a huge Steelers fan. HUGE. There's a good chance he's wearing Steelers underwear as I type this). So, I take some pictures through the fence from about 30 yards away (not exactly close ups).

We go inside the course, buy our tickets and start our walk around. This is when the trip takes a huge turn. Two strangers see us with Dominic. They also had a baby with them and tell us that because we have him they'll give us their VIP passes to the clubhouse. WHAT?!?!?!

From this point on it was serious VIP status. Free food, free drinks, celebrity athletes everywhere. The captain of the Miracle on Ice hockey team, tells me what a cute baby we have. We sit next to Aaron Rodgers, Jerry Rice, Carrie Prejean. I even got the opportunity to shake the hand of Buccaneers star Ronde Barber (not especially friendly). I get a beer next to Oscar de la Hoya. It was crazy cool.

At some point, Jerome Bettis walks in and sits down. Melissa and I discuss whether we should approach him. Eventually, I convince her to take Dominic and ask him for a picture (look a woman with a baby is going to have a higher success rate than a guy dressed in Buccaneers gear). He says he'll come by before he leaves.

And then... poop fountain number two. I was sure that Melissa was going to be in the bathroom changing Dominic and The Bus would leave. Luckily, Bettis likes to eat (as you can tell from the picture).

Eventually, The Bus was done eating and got up to leave. Both Melissa and I were sure he had forgotten and would just leave. All of sudden, he comes to the table and says "you still want that picture?" Heck yeah!

I'm not sure if I said anything to him or even shook his hand. Whatever the case, he was such a nice guy it almost made me want to root for the Steelers (calm down Ricky, I said "almost"). 

Rollover Caught on Tape!

Tonight Dominic rolled over on his own for the first time. I didn't see that coming. Fortunately, I knew there'd be more where that came from and caught the second rollover on video.

It's sort of long, but the payoff is worth the time.

A "First" for everything...

We're entering the 3-month mark, but really we're entering the world of firsts. Over the next few months, we'll get our first giggle, first tooth, first steps and Dominic's first day at daycare (more on that later this week).

But one thing that is clear, our first "first" is going to be crawling. Right now, Dominic is like the "Little Engine that Almost Can". He's trying (check out the video), but he just can't seem to get the arms and legs working in conjunction. He really pumps those legs, but with his hands end up by his head, he looks like he's pretending to be a bull in Pamplona.



As for me, I'm not sure I'm ready for him to crawl yet. After all, it's the first step (or crawl) toward independence & adulthood. And before you know it... we'll be talking about first kisses, first dates, and the scariest thought of all... the first time behind the wheel!

OK, maybe I'm getting  a little ahead of myself.

Dominic's New Jungle Gym

If there's one thing we learned at daycare it's that Dominic loves a jungle gym. So like responsible parents we went straight to Babies R Us and got him one for home.

You'll notice this one has an ocean theme (thankfully, no oil spill). Who needs Nemo, when you have an octopus and a whale? It also comes with a variety of other dangly things. Everything a nearly 3-month old could ask for.

Dominic & His Wrist Rattles

So this is Dominic's newest form of entertainment. It's great, he wears himself out and then it's nap time. Plus, it's pretty entertaining for mom and dad.

Painful Day at the Doc

Two things I don’t like… needles (as noted when Melissa had to get an epidural) and my son being in pain. So the two-month visit to the doctor’s office was a worst-case scenario.

Dominic had to get three shots, and one oral vaccine. Melissa took a smart road and fed him while all this was happening. But, the nurse decided to give Dominic the oral vaccine first. That seemed like a good idea. It wasn’t.

Breaking him away from his eating got him all worked up. And then, she stabbed him in the leg and the screaming started. Two more shots and Dominic was hollering like… well… like someone had just stabbed him in the leg three times.

And just as sudden as the screaming started… it stopped and he went back to eating. What can I say? The kid likes to eat. The worst seemed to be over. It wasn’t.

If you’ve gotten a tetanus shot lately, you know it leaves your arm feeling pretty sore for days. So imagine you’re two months old, you’re going to be a little cranky. And Dominic was.

He started crying, and screaming, and wailing. Poor little guy was not happy. Thankfully with the help of a little Children’s Tylenol he settled down. It was a very long day… and we get to do it all over again in two more months.

Two-Month Thoughts

As we celebrate Dominic’s 2-month birthday… here are some random thoughts that have been kicking around in my head…

-       I don’t know what it is about becoming a parent that makes you suddenly start referring to yourself in the third person… example: “Daddy refers to himself in the third person all the time.”

-       People say you can’t go to the movies when you have a baby. I have a solution... the drive-in. It’s perfect. You don’t have to leave your car, which means you can feed the baby if needed, if he screams no one can hear him, and Dominic sleeps like a champ in his baby seat anyway. Now I just need to find a drive-in.

-       Traveling with a baby is a whole new experience. It requires a lot of stuff. Strollers, boppy, basinet, dozens of changes of clothes, blankets, diapers, wipes, toys, medical supplies… and of course awesome hats…

BOB Revolution Revelations

One of the things I've been looking forward to most... was taking the boy on a run in the BOB (for those without kids, that's a really nice jogging stroller). Nearly two months after Dominic was born we finally headed out the door.

Melissa had already used the BOB in a stroller strides class. She said it was a piece of cake and that Dominic really liked it.

So there we were ready to run. First observation, it's way harder to run with a jogging stroller than by yourself. Especially if any hills are involved.

Dominic spent the first 3/4 miles checking out the scenery and enjoyingthe ride. He started to dose off and then...

The wheels came off. Literally. The front wheel came completely off... bringing the run to an abrupt stop.
So there I am in the middle of the park, broken down stroller, screaming baby and no cell phone. A true father-of-the-year. Panick started to set in... how am I going to get the baby (who's in the carrier, which by the way isn't exactly light), the now broken down $300 stroller and myself home?

Luckily, after a few mintues of work I got the wheel back on. Turns out it was loose to start with. So here are my BOB Revolution revelations... check the wheels before I leave next time... and oh yeah, bring a cell phone.

The Late Shift

In one of the few baby books for dads, the author suggests you work out a deal with your wife where she gets up with the baby and you sleep all night. I'm not sure who he married... but this ain't happening in my house and probably not in yours.

It doesn't matter that you have to work, it doesn't matter that you can't actually help the baby in most cases (daddy just doesn't have the goods), what matters is keep your wife from going crazy. Sometimes I think, Melissa just wants me to get up so she doesn't feel alone.

I'm not going to lie... getting up with the expectation of being functional isn't easy. You find yourself doing crazy things, rationalizing with the baby (come on, just a few more hours of sleep), even bribing him (I already owe Dominic four or five trips to Disneyland). On the flip side, I've learned you can get a lot of DVR time when you get up at 4 a.m. and even a few rounds of video games (I've mastered holding him and the controller at the same time).

Besides... when you're rocking the baby at 2 a.m. and he gives you a big toothless grin... it's all worthwhile.

Two of a Kind

A lot people say Dominic looks like me (some have used the word “clone”), others say he reminds them of Melissa.  But the family member Dominic has the most in common with right now… is our dog, Sputnik.

I’m not saying Dominic acts like a dog or the dog acts like a newborn, but the similarities are undeniable. Let’s start with the obvious, they both spend their days doing one of three things… sleeping, eating, or pooping (we’ll only tackle 2 of these three).

The average newborn spends 16-18 hours a day sleeping, the average dog 13. See, it’s science, not just my own paranoia.

When it comes to food… Sputnik barks when he’s hungry, growls if you get too close while he eats. Dominic cries when he’s hungry, grunts while he’s eating.

The similarities don’t end there. They both feel about the same when it comes to water... neither likes a bath. Sputnik hates water in general. As for Dominic, I think the picture says it all...

Neither likes their finger/toe nails cut. Thankfully, Dominic doesn’t bite you while your cutting his.

They both start the night out in their own beds, and somehow end up in ours (turns out... four IS a crowd). There’s no hope of breaking Sputnik of this habit, but there’s still hope with the boy.

But it's not all bad. Perhaps the best trait they share right now… they’re both here to greet me when I get home. It’s great to come home to a dog that’s always excited to see you and a little boy who’s future is wide open.

Who's the Boss? That's easy...

"What shall I decide today? So many options!"

If life with a newborn is all about balance… then right now we’re like Bambi on the frozen pond… still trying to get our legs under us.

Hold on I think I need to go change a diaper…

Ok I’m back now.

Here’s the thing. You spend the first part of your life being told what to do by your parents, then your teachers, and now a number of bosses. They all had one thing in common… they could walk & talk. Now the person in charge of my life can’t do either.

Dominic decides it all. He dictates when we eat, when and how much we sleep, where we go, when we go (there’s no more “quick trips” to the store). And while he’s not exactly Clinton Kelly, he can even decide for you “what not to wear” (albeit in a much messier fashion).

He decided that mommy didn’t need a bagel the other morning, so he created a “diaper” situation that allowed the dog to steal it. He also helps other people make decisions, like when we took him to a nice restaurant and you could see people deciding whether to stay. For someone so small… he wields a lot of power.

We are slowly learning. Melissa has mastered making dinner is very small increments. I’ve finally figured out that if I’m going to blog I need to make it shorter, and while he’s eating.

Now if we could only figure out how to get more sleep.

Learning on the Job

Dominic Ryan: 12 Days old

Well it doesn't matter how many books you read, or classes you take there are just some things about fatherhood and newborns you learn on the job. So twelve days in, here are the five things I've learned so far...

Daddy & his little tearcher

1. In the line of Dootie

In twelve days, I’ve been wetted on, peed on (there’s a difference, one is a leak, one is a spray), pooped on, puked on, spit on, and then peed on some more. This kid seems to think daddy is a walking, talking port-a-potty.

(Special note: Shortly after writing this, Dominic did two of these things on me at once. I'll let you guess which ones.)

2. Diaper “Not-So-Dandy”

While we’re on the subject, I’d like to give the makers of “Huggies” a very tight “hug”… right around the neck. We have “newborn-sized” diapers… only Dominic is creating some “man-sized” messes. Why? Because the diapers just don’t fit. We’ve gone so far as doubling up… to no avail. Where can I send my laundry bill?

3. Laundry List of… Laundry

Speaking of laundry. You get a lot of advice when people find out you’re having a baby. So why didn’t anyone tell us to start stocking up on laundry detergent? Since Dominic came home the washer and dryer run continuously. Our home has turned into a 24-hour Laundromat.

4. Waiting to “inhale”

We already made our first unscheduled trip to the doctor. Nothing serious, Dominic was just having some serious eye-crust. Anyway, here’s what I learned… there’s really nothing worse than sitting in a waiting room full of sick children. NOTHING! Call Guinness… I may have broken a record for holding my breath.

(At least, we got to hear some strange woman’s tale of pregnancy, appendectomy, and C-section all while teetering precariously close to dropping her daughter on her head. Got to love Kaiser.)

5. Sleepless in West Sacramento

And finally, no new daddy blog would be complete without a second to complain about lack of sleep. Honestly, it’s not been that bad… at least not for me. Unfortunately, (or fortunately, depending on how you look it) I can’t help Dominic at night much at this point. He only wakes up to eat and daddy don’t have the goods.

Dominic's Big Debut (LOST style)

(Note: I’ve started writing this 3 or 4 times… and have been interrupted by feeding time, poopy diapers, and gas pains. Welcome to fatherhood! Before we start here’s what you need to know… when everything started I was watching “LOST”… so I have written this in true “LOST” style… complete with flashbacks. Just think of this symbol “~~~” as the flashback “whoosh” sound.)

Our little man.

Wednesday, April 14^th, 11:14 PM

“You’re ready. 10 centimeters, complete, and +1. Let’s start with two test pushes. Dad, you need to grab a leg.”

~~~

Monday, April 12^th, 12:55 PM

“Well you’re only about a centimeter dilated. Kaiser will only let you go 2 weeks past due. We can talk about scheduling induction now or we can wait for a week.” Our doctor adds that she will not be around next week because her sister is getting married.

“Might as well do it now,” Melissa says. “What days do you have available?”

“We can do it, April 20^th, at 5:30 PM.”

“Ok, that sounds fine,” Melissa says.

I’m disappointed by this development. Everything else in my life is so planned out; I was really looking forward to the labor spontaneity.

~~~

Wednesday, April 14^th, 11:25 PM

“Things are looking good. I’m going to get the delivery cart ready.”

“We’re going to have a baby!” I’m just a little excited.

~~~

Wednesday, April 14^th, 6:27 AM

“I’m feeling kind of crampy this morning,” Melissa says.

“Different than the last few days?” I ask?

“I’m not sure. Do contraction pains start in the back and move forward?”

There’s only one thing to do in this situation… Google it. WebMD says Melissa is having real labor, not more Braxton Hicks. Time to start calculating the contractions, luckily there’s an App for that.

~~~

Wednesday, April 14^th, 11:30

“We’re pushing. Baby will be here soon!!!” That’s the text I sent to Melissa’s mom, who is my contact to huge group in the waiting room.

~~~

Wednesday, April 14^th, 8:30 AM

“Dulce, are you ready to make the drive?” I ask.

“Oh, oh, oh. Uh… I need to get dressed. Get in the car, uh, uh, uh.” Grandma maybe hyperventilating.

I call Melissa’s brother. His excitement seems to disturb his office. “SHUT UP,” he says. “I’M ABOUT TO BE AN UNCLE!”

My mom is in Modesto. She has to drive an hour back home to get my dad. My brother is asleep and doesn’t answer his phone. No surprise.

~~~

Wednesday, April 14^th, 11:35 PM

“Pushing lasts between a half-hour to 3 hours for most women.”

“I’m shooting for a half-hour,” Melissa looks determined.

~~~

Wednesday, April 14^th, 10:15 AM

“In a perfect world, I’ll examine you and we’ll say your staying. You’ll be uncomfortable for a few hours, get an epidural, then be happy for 3 or 4 hours, then it will be time to push.” This is the doctors projected schedule.

We’ve been in the triage room for about an hour already, feels like about 10 hours. The drive to the hospital was less hectic than expected.

The doctor also puts the “Vegas Line” on the baby weight at 7 lbs., 13 ounces. That sparks a series of over/under bets. The “unders” won.

~~~

Wednesday, April 14^th, 11:45 PM

“You’re a really good pusher. Justin, do you want to see the head?”

“Um, no.” A decision I would reverse shortly.

~~~
Wednesday, April 14^th, 11:30 AM

“The baby’s heart rate is really dropping,” Nurse Christie says. “We need to figure out what’s going on.”

This would happen for the next 12 hours. Almost like clockwork, every hour on the hour, the baby’s heart rate would plummet for a minute and then go right back up. This would keep the doctors, nurses, and expecting parents on their toes for the rest of the day. Each time it dropped, more people would come into the room.

Eventually, they would hook him up to an electrode to get a better read on his heart rate. Luckily, the first time this happened was the scariest moment of the entire birthing process.

~~~

Wednesday, April 14^th, 11:50 PM

“You have amazing control of your legs. That was a really good epidural.”

All I can do is agree. Melissa seems to be in no pain, but is still in complete control. She’s amazing.

~~~

Wednesday, April 14^th, 3 PM

“Can you go tell them I’m ready for an epidural?” Nine hours of contractions was enough. The last few have been really strong.

Minutes later, an older gentleman comes in to administer the wonder drug. I’m in panic mode. Melissa and I have agreed that her mom would come in and take care of her while the giant needle went in her back. Problem is, her mom’s not here yet.

I guess I have no choice.

“I can just stand,” I say as they scramble to find me a seat.

“No you can’t. It’s not allowed. Too many dads pass out. Most of them are firefighters and police officers.”

“Good thing I’m a television news producer.” I don’t pass out. I don’t look either.

~~~
Thursday, April 15, 12:15 AM

“You’re doing amazing Meli,” I say as she digs deep to push for a fourth time during a particularly long contraction.

“The head is just about out.”

~~~
Wednesday, April 14, 3:30 PM

“There’s meconium in the womb. That is a little worrisome because if he comes out and takes a deep breath, he’s going to inhale it all.”

Not exactly the news expectant parents want to hear. This probably means mom won’t get to hold him right away. It also increases the chances of a C-Section if they can’t get him out soon.

Just something else to worry about.

~~~

Thursday, April 15^th, 12:28 AM

“One more push. Here he comes. No don’t swallow little guy! We need to suck that stuff out of his lungs. Dad, if you want to cut the cord, you need to act quick.”

The little man comes out screaming… and pooping. Even in shocked panic, I know that’s funny.

I cut the cord, and they rush him to the warming table. An older British woman starts clearing his lungs. I’m in awe. I can’t do anything but stand there and look at him.

“Justin! Get the camera!” Melissa brings me out of my trance.

“Oh yeah, the camera!” I spent $800 on it, better use it. I also take a second to text… “It’s a boy!!!”

~~~

Wednesday, April 14^th, 4:30 PM

“So you’re still not going to tell us the name?” My mom asks. Probably the 12^th time she’s asked today.

Everyone is in the delivery room visiting Melissa. After the epidural she feels great.

“They’ve been trying to get me to tell all day. Even offered me money,” I say.

“Oh yeah? How much?” Melissa asks.

“Not enough.”

~~~

Thursday, April 15^th, 12:58 AM

“Dominic, meet your family. Family meet Dominic Ryan Chechourka.”

“I love the name,” I don’t know who said it… because I’m holding my baby boy for the first time, so I’m a little distracted.

Our White Rabbit

Much like Alice’s white rabbit… our baby is late. He’s late, for a very important date. He’s late, he’s late, he’s late!

Right now (Monday), Baby C’s really only a day behind schedule but it feels like an eternity. It’s sort of like waiting for a Jack-in-the-box. You know he’s going to pop out at some point, you just don’t know when and you know you’re going to be startled.

Every night for the past week I’ve gone to bed thinking, “tonight is the night”. Every morning I wake up… and Melissa is still pregnant.

And I’m not the only one anxiously waiting. Melissa’s over being pregnant. And I’m pretty sure the grandparents-to-be are sleeping in their clothes, shoes at the ready, waiting for the call. They call to check-in, and then can’t hide their disappointment.

We go to the doctor today. We’ll get an update with how far along Melissa is, and we’ll set a date for induction (should be sometime next week). Kaiser won’t let you go more than two weeks past the due date.

Hopefully, we won’t get that far, but we need our white rabbit to get hopping.

Open Letter to our baby...

Dear Baby C.,

We’re now seven days from your due date. That means at some point over the course of the next two weeks, I will officially become your daddy. I’m not sure who should be more frightened, me or you.

Here’s the thing. It wasn’t that long ago that I was riding a big piece of cardboard (named the Express) down a flight of stairs, racing beer that was flowing down a giant beer bong (called the Twister) wrapped around the banister. And now, I’m supposed to raise you and encourage you to stay away from the Expresses and Twisters of the world? Good thing we have your mother around.

I’d also like to apologize in advance. I’m going to embarrass you. A lot. I sing in the car, I dance in the living room, I make silly jokes, and somehow I still think I’m cool. The good news is… you’re probably going to think I’m hilarious… and then you’ll turn 9.

I also apologize for this sports thing. I love sports, I want to coach, I want to take you to games and I want to play 1-on-1 until you can beat me. I hope you adopt my love for the Buccaneers, but don’t feel like you have to cheer for your mother’s Dodgers. If you don’t love sports… well… we’ll figure something out.

The one place we will not compromise: school. You will be a good student. You have no choice, your mother is brilliant, and your father is a genius. We’ll try not to ride you, but we won’t let you slack. A little hint, come to me for the math help. Your mother is better at the English.

The last thing you can count on… love. There’s a lot of love in this family. Your mother and I may never have a lot of money, but this family will always be rich with love.

Despite my trepidation, I’m ready for your arrival. I’m soooo ready, and so is everyone else. We’ll see you soon.

Love,

Your daddy.

P.S. I also apologize for Sputnik. He’s not so bad once you get past the smell and the slobber!

Five Baby Questions

Whoever said, “waiting is the hardest part” must have been waiting for their first child to be born. We’re just twelve days away from the due date, and it might as well be twelve hundred.

So to pass the time… Melissa and I are going to play 5 questions (I couldn’t think of 21).

Question #1: What has been the highlight of your pregnancy?

Melissa: I can only have one? I guess it would be, seeing the baby’s ultrasound picture. It was funny to see how excited you were to find out we were having a boy. I thought you were going to jump out of your skin.

Justin: The ultrasound was a great moment. I’ll pick something different. One of my highlights was telling our families. Everyone was so excited… and everyone had great and very different reactions. I’ll never forget asking my dad how he felt about being a grandpa and him responding “for how long”.

Question #2: What was the lowlight part of your pregnancy?

Justin: The snoring. If snoring were an Olympic event… you’d be Michael Phelps right now.

Melissa: At least I’d be winning. The worst part for me was buying new clothes and not fitting into my shoes. I don’t like looking like a frump.

Question #3: What surprised you the most during your pregnancy?

Melissa: Two things. One: people’s openness for sharing their own pregnancy horror stories. Going into labor at 24 weeks, epidurals gone awry, morning sickness for 9 months, the list goes on and on. Number two, the invasion of personal space. People just come up and touch your belly without even asking. Would you touch a fat person’s belly? I don’t think so.

If you want to touch the belly... just ask first.

Justin: Just be thankful you didn’t really start showing until 7 months. I’d add to that the overwhelming amount of unsolicited advice. My favorite advice starts with, “you’re going to get a lot of advice, but here’s what you need to know…”

Question #4: What are you most nervous about?

Melissa: Having my water break at work. That would be embarrassing.

Justin: I’ve thought about that happening. I’m definitely nervous about labor in general. When will it happen? While I’m at work, while we’re asleep, or worse while I’m in the middle of an intense game of Madden? I don’t like all the uncertainty.

Final Question: What are you looking forward to most in the next few weeks?

Justin: I’m really looking forward to watching the NFL Draft (April 22) with the newest Bucs fan in my arms. Our first father/son sports moment. I’ll be honest there will probably be tears.

Melissa: Poor child, thankfully he won’t learn until years from now why his dad’s team had the number 3 pick in the draft.  I am looking forward to everything. Except for maybe the 2AM feedings. I heard that’s what dads are for.

Ready... Set... Baby?

We're ready. We're set. Now all we need is the baby. 

Sure hope this kid likes sports... he may not have a choice.

Hard to believe just a few months ago I was panicked that we wouldn't be ready in time. Now, the room is done (see above photo). The car seats are installed (hopefully in the correct positions). The baby classes are over (I'm still recovering from breast feeding class). And I'm pretty certain we have every baby-essential ever made (except for maybe a pee-pee teepee).

I mean, take a look at all this stuff...

3 car seats (we only have two cars), 3 strollers (running, regular, umbrella), a crib, 2 mobiles, a dresser, 45 infant-sized onesies, a changing pad, 10 boxes of infant-sized diapers…

(Pause for taking a breath.)

A swing, a rocker, a high-chair, 2 pack-n-plays, 2 boppies, 15 pairs of infant shoes, 17 receiving blankets, 12 regular blankets, 3 swaddling blankets and a handful of stuffed animals and toys.

Is it too much? I have no idea. Here's what I do know: This kid is still three weeks away and he's already taken over the house. I can't imagine what it will be like once he's here.

One other thing that's blown me away during this last nine months... the generosity of the people in our lives. It's truly been amazing. We wouldn't have all that stuff without you. So, if I haven’t told you all before, I’ll tell you now…

THANK YOU!

The Baby Bucket List

Everyone has a list of things they want to do before they die (like skydiving or run a marathon). They call it their “bucket list”.

Well, I’m coming up with my “Baby Bucket List”. These are the five things people tell me I need to get done before the baby gets here or the things they say won’t happen again after he gets here. Unfortunately, I only have three weeks (or so) to get them done.

1. Sleep- it almost seems unfair that a pregnant woman doesn’t sleep much in her last trimester. Between the pee breaks, and the general uncomfortableness, Melissa isn’t exactly racking up the “Z’s”. Luckily, I’m sleeping like a baby.
2. Go to the Movies- This is probably the thing I’ve heard the most. Here’s the thing, we didn’t go to a lot of movies to begin with. This is a low priority.
3. Play video games- I’ve been told to kiss my Xbox goodbye. Well then, we’re going out with a bang. I’m playing around the clock… morning, noon and night. Or at least when Melissa will let me. (P.S. The baby is still hoping for a Nintendo Wii.)
4. Go Out on the Town- Hitting the clubs will be the hardest thing for me to give up. Sometimes I just feel like dancing and I have moves like you’ve never seen.
5. Hang out with the Boys- I actually did this on Friday. Guys, it was great knowing you but apparently I will never see you again.

I’m not really sure how many of these will get done. Especially, since I waited until there was just three weeks to the due date to start them. Oh well, how much will I miss these things anyway? Not much, right? RIGHT?

3 Quick Posts

(Note: These are just a couple of things I’ve been meaning to post. So without further ado…)

Brilliant marketing. That’s all I can say.

After seven months, Melissa finally had to buy maternity clothes. It wasn’t exactly the shopping trip either of us wanted to make for very different reasons. Melissa didn’t want to admit she needed maternity clothes… and well… I just don’t like shopping (at least for women’s clothes). Turns out I was in for this pleasant surprise…

Those are two comfy leather chairs in front of a big screen HDTV playing ESPN. Since this discovery, I’ve been asking when we’re going to go back.

-----------------------------------

We took another baby class I haven’t mentioned yet. It was actually part of our all-day class. In it, we learned things like “diaper changing” and “swaddling”.

But perhaps the most important lesson I learned… fake plastic babies are creepy.

See what I mean. Creepy.

---------------------------------
This picture says it all...

My Dodge Neon is now a family car. Now, we just need a baby to put in it.

Officially Freaked Out!

Nine to 5 is a way to make a living. Coincidently, it’s also the exact amount of time it takes to become totally freaked out about child birth. Please, let me explain.

Melissa and I spent the entire day (9-5) in a getting-ready-to-give-birth class.

That’s 8 hours of watching babies be born, with medication, without medication, and by caesarian section. Giant needles going in, catheters coming out. Vomiting, crying and nearly passing out and that’s just what I was doing. What was happening on screen was much worse.

And so much information, how do I keep it all straight? Do we go to the hospital when the contractions are 1 minute long and 5 minutes apart? Or 5 minutes long and 1 minute apart? An epidural makes you pain free, but makes labor longer? Isn’t it already like 30 hours? Ahhhhh!

People always talk about the miracle of birth. But as far as I can tell, the only miracle is that people have more than one child.

(Breathe. Hee, hee, hee… blow)

Ok. I’m better now.

It wasn’t all bad. Melissa spent half the class getting massaged. We learned some good hand, foot and back techniques. There were some breathing lessons (as demonstrated above) and even a group drawing activity where we drew a pregnant woman doing a handstand (please don’t try that at home).

One last thing I learned. I’ll take our boring pregnancy any day. I’ve jokingly complained about Melissa being boring, but after listening to these other women’s horror stories (one has been sick since week 4, another has been diagnosed with Leukemia) I won’t do it again. Instead, I will thank God for allowing us to have an easy pregnancy and hope for a smooth delivery.

Even if it freaks me out a little. Or a lot.

The Bee Gees are Lifesavers

It was called “Safe from Harm” but our latest class should have been called “How to Keep Your Baby Alive”. From what to do if you drop your baby, to dislodging a penny from their throat, we covered the gamut of childhood maladies… and honestly it was a little frightening. Turns out babies are pretty fragile.

Here are the 3 important things I learned:

1. The Bee Gee’s “Staying Alive” may actually keep my baby alive. Turns out, the beat of the disco classic is the exact pace you should give chest compressions during CPR. Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb lifesavers? Who knew?

2. Saturday or Sunday between 4-6 PM at grandma and grandpa’s house is the most dangerous place for the baby to be. Saturday & Sunday are statistically the most dangerous days, 4-6 the most dangerous hours and for whatever reasons a high percentage of childhood injuries have at the grandparents’ house. Do the math.

3. Maybe my parents were trying to kill me! First, I had the exact toy box used in the movie about what kind of toy boxes NOT to have. Second, they kept philodendrons all over the house, and it turns out philodendrons are poisonous. Third, they regularly kept me locked in a hot car with small, sharp objects. (Ok, I made that last part up, but the first two are true.)

Another topic we covered… SIDS. The experts recommend you put the baby to sleep on their back (the opposite of what our parents were taught). And they recommend a pacifier for sleeping (something about regulating breathing). If it keeps my baby alive, I’m all for it.

The strangest thing we learned: the extremes the teacher has taken to keep her kids from killing themselves. She has twin boys and said she taken everything out of their room. EVERYTHING! No dresser, no bookshelves, no pictures, just beds. She said they couldn’t be trusted with anything. I guess so.

All this makes me glad we’re only going to have one baby to keep track of… and keep alive. Now I'm off to buy The Bee Gee's Greatest Hits.

Why is this Elk wearing pajamas? You're guess is as good as mine, but it was outside of our classroom and I felt the need to share.

A Guest Blog: The Cleaning Crew/Babies R Us

(Special note: This is a guest blog by my lovely wife. You'll notice one thing about this blog... I'm not mentioned once. Not once. That means, one of two things... I either didn't help at all or I'm being phased out. You decide. Without further ado... the blogging stylings of a mom-to-be. Seriously, not once?!?!)

“Martha Stewart has nothing on us.” That’s what I was told about mid way through 8 loads of baby laundry, closet organization and bathroom cabinet organization this past Sunday… mind you by this point I was zapped of virtually all energy and I was sitting in a chair in the middle of the baby’s room. In addition my somewhat swollen feet were now propped up on my giant red sit-up ball -- the swelling may have had something to do with the 4 inch heels I insisted on wearing to the baby shower the previous day but this is the first and last time you’ll hear me admit that. In fact forget I said it. They’re great shoes I love them.

The self issued challenge of the domestic goddess Martha Stewart began from the moment southwest flight 1843 landed Friday night. My mom arrived in Sacramento for a weekend visit, mainly for the purpose of coming to a baby shower – but we both knew there would be no leisurely weekend sipping coffee and chatting – there was serious work to be done. With 8 weeks to go until the due date, organization was the name of the game. To get the full perspective of what I was in for, it should be said that my mom and Mr. Clean may have been related in a past life. I, while neat and orderly in my own mind, have nothing on my mom.    

Clean (Melissa), Cleaner (Melissa's Mom), Cleanest (Melissa's Grandma)

From the moment we woke up Saturday morning it was on! Appropriately colored bins were purchased for under the bathroom cabinet. Tags were removed and clothes of all sizes were sorted according to color to be properly washed with the $15 bottle of Dreft that we purchased (fyi – that’s the first and last bottle of Dreft we’re buying... scent free / dye free is all you need apparently. You can bet I won’t fall for that expensive scam again – I have shoes to buy after all!) Closets were organized and guest room blankets and pillows properly stored. Unnecessary items were discarded (my apologies to the trash collector this week – the bins are a bit heavier than usual!) 

That's not Babies R Us. That's our dining room table.

Our massive dining room table became the staging area for baby clothes sorting.  Everything was washed and properly folded according to size. We even got my cousin in on the action after the baby shower ended, she thought she was coming to visit for a few minutes, and we promptly put her to work. I’m thinking that after that, my grandparents can count her out for any more great-grandkids anytime soon. 

In between the organization extravaganza I was told our laundry room was in need of a little “light cleaning”. I think that was my mom’s way of politely telling me she was horrified that the dust bunnies appeared to be multiplying before her eyes in the laundry room. She tackled that tiny space with excitement. Clorox wipes, mops and more bins for proper organization were used. She even found time to hang some paintings in there that we’d had sitting on the floor. I have to say, I’m highly impressed! Who knew a laundry room could look so nice? Hopefully I can work on keeping things looking that way – at least for a while.

By the time Sunday night rolled around we were both exhausted (or at least my mom pretended to be for my sake) but we accomplished a ton, and I feel much more prepared for April. And yes after seeing all we did in just 48 hours, she might be right, Martha Stewart has nothing on us – at least not when I’m in my 4 inch heels.