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.

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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.

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This picture says it all...

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