Posted on 04/12/2016 10:02:02 AM PDT by 20yearsofinternet
So, my wife and I just celebrated our one year anniversary, and got each other the best present of all... we're having a baby!
She's only 4-6 weeks along at this point, so we haven't told anyone yet. We want to wait about 3 more weeks until the first real checkup. But I can't wait that long to tell someone... anyone who will listen/read!
We're going to the OB on 5/3 for a first appointment and to hear the heartbeat for the first time. I'm so excited to be a father. I'm happy we did everything we could to start our precious cargo's life off in a place of love and security. Got married, bought a home, settled in.
I feel so blessed and fortunate that we barely spent any time trying and (so far) have been successful. We gave it a shot in January and my wife was plotting everything on a calendar and using ovulation tests and to be honest, I think she was stressing herself out about it and that might have affected the success. Life got in the way of the meticulous tracking during February and she had given up on the record keeping, with plans to start again this month (LOL). We're lucky, I personally know people who have had to go multiple rounds of IVF to conceive, and I'm so very thankful that we didn't have to do anything like that.
For the past week I have been thinking non-stop about all the things I want to do, both around the house to get ready and after the baby is born and beyond, once it grows enough so that I can start teaching him or her about the world.
I'm relatively young around these parts (mid thirties), and I think my age and experience has kind of tempered any nervousness I might have had about becoming a dad. I'm of course hopeful and cautiously optimistic, but still a little nervous about the pregnancy going well, my wife being healthy and comfortable, and everything else involved with making it to the finish line happy and healthy. But as far as the baby actually getting here, I'm nothing but pure excitement. I'm ready for this.
I've always remained pragmatic about having children, just so that I didn't get myself all pumped up to be a father as my sole purpose in life only to find out I couldn't have kids, or my wife couldn't. I'm pretty good about managing my own expectations. But now that we know we can do it, I can't lie to myself, I'm basically giddy with enthusiasm.
So, it'll be a couple of weeks before we tell our families, but I had to get it out of my system.
Now, if you care to, give me some advice on fatherhood! LOL
Congratulations! You are going to have so much fun!
Have you decided how to break the news to the grandparents yet? There are lots of great ideas out there. For the first one, gave us a counting-down calendar (from Hallmark), which has blocks that can be changed for “how many weeks until I am a grandma”. For the second one, a little pendant with charms in it, that had birthstone charms for the 3 existing grandchildren, and a baby block for the next one. You should tell them on Mother’s Day, IMHO.
Now I am expecting my 5th Grandchild any day now (Noah James) and again I can't wait to meet him.
Congratulations dad.
The greatest gift a father can give his kids is to love their mother.
Congratulations to both of you. Take good care of your wife.
The greatest gift a father can give his kids is to love their mother.
Congratulations to both of you. Take good care of your wife.
Another piece of advice: Don’t share the names you have selected until the birth, and then it is too late for anyone to weigh in with their myriad opinions.
CONGRATULATIONS!
I remember that excitement like it was yesterday. Our “baby” is now 17.
You will be so tired and worried and all that, but every day you will have the chance to fall in love again with your little miracle. And you will have a life purpose that will provide you a wonderful life, worth everything.
God bless your family. Best wishes for a healthy pregnancy and birth.
congrats and there is no baby manual... just enjoy being a father... the years will go by in a blink.
Happy for you!
Your enthusiasm bodes well for being a good father.
We’re going on a trip to tell the grandparents in person sometime in the coming weeks. For her parents, this will be their 3rd grandkid, so we’re going with a themed onesie with something to the effect of “Look what you’re getting for Christmas!”, since the due date will be around then.
This will be the first grandkid for my parents, so I’m going full “Shock and Awe” on them and having them unwrap this:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Grandparents-Handbook-Elizabeth-Laban/dp/1594744122
Not being a grandparent yet, I will bow to your greater wisdom.
Ditto on the joys of being a grandparent. My wife and I had all five of our grandchildren staying with us for the entire week of spring break. We really hated to have to give them back.
Playing ball with the grandsons in the backyard just as I did with my sons three decades ago was as good as it gets.
It would be really cool to take a picture of your wife daily in the same clothes and pose. Put them on a speed video timeline and share.
Congratulations!
Congratulations!
I had twins, a girl and a boy. The nurse came in and said she wanted to take my son and weigh him. Like an idiot I trusted her because she was, or looked like, a nurse. It seemed like an eternity before she was located and my son returned to me.
Never, ever, let that baby out of your sight, and go home as soon as possible.
5s’s to calm a crying new born
1) Swaddle, pretty snug
2) Sway/Swing
3) Shush - white noise
4) Side - lay them on their side in your arms.
5) Suck - give em something to suck
If you are skilled you can do all 5 at once. They all mimic aspects of their experience in Mom’s womb- very soothing.
Don’t go crazy with toys.
Don’t let the tike go to sleep in your arms before putting them down for the night, teach em to fall alseep in the crib early.
Choices - give ‘em choices and expand the boundary line as they mature. When they cross it - take immediate action.
God Bless
PERFECT
That’s awesome! Being a dad is the most important job in the world. Make sure they get to know their creator and everything will fall into place.
Congratulations!
Congrats! Children are the greatest gift in the world. Enjoy every minute -yes even the diaper changing and 2am feelings. They truly grow so fast. Blessings to your family.
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