Battle of the Wits

(These are his reactions to Daddy playing with him-he has so many faces!)

Seth is 12 weeks old, nearly a quarter of a year! I can't believe how the time has flown by. So much has changed....but I've covered that enough for now. This past week Seth has begun smiling - A LOT! He is so amazing; I can't believe he's mine. And those smiles make up for all of the crying this past week.

Now, normally, Seth doesn't cry very much. However, Michael and I have decided that it's time for Seth to get into a good routine, and that includes sleeping in his own bed. I've been sick of sleeping in the recliner for some time now, but willing to do so if it makes Seth happy. However, I've been told that it will be better for him, in the long run, to start sleeping in his crib sooner rather than later. Being told that, I probably still would sleep in the recliner if it weren't for Michael. He's ready for a routine now, as well. And as hard as it is, we women are supposed to be wives first and then mothers. So, the battle has begun.

Babies get used to a routine rather quickly and will obviously fight change. And seeing as Seth is stubborn, I expected a rather good fight. What I didn't expect was how stubborn he would be. Friday night was the first night he didn't wake up every 20 - 40 minutes; in fact, he slept pretty well, especially considering he cried from 1:00 to 5:30 on Monday night. Last night he did well until about 4:00, when he decided that every 10 - 20 minutes was a good time to fuss. So, the past two nights have gone well. The days....well, every day has been a challenge. He usually cries the entire nap period - every nap period. I think the only reason the nights have begun to go so well is that he's exhausted by that time. I'm told to expect about three weeks of opposition. Well, I'm done with week one, and I guess I can go another two. I just hope he'll be accustomed to this schedule by the time the holidays roll around.

Seth's First Thanksgiving

As is typical, the holidays roll around and we lose track of time. Thanksgiving this year was wonderful - all three of ours! It reminds me, yet again, how fortunate we are in family and all the extras we don't deserve. How lucky am I to be able to have three Thanksgivings when so many people cannot even celebrate one?

Anyway, Seth is growing and changing! He's over 11 lbs now and over 23". One would think this would put him in his 0 - 3 clothes already, but not yet! Although we may have to start putting him in the shirts because he's just getting too long for the newborn shirts.



There have been a few subtle changes in Seth over the last few weeks. His hair has thinned out on top and his hairline has changed shape. (It looks like he may not get Daddy's widow peak after all.) His eyebrows are growing thicker and and a little bit darker, although they're still blonde. His eyelashes are also much darker now. His eyes are still gray, so we're thinking he may have my eyes.

Some of the more exciting changes include being able to hold his head up longer, smiling, and mimicing things. He was able to sit in his Bumbo chair for a few minutes while supporting his head before he got tired and leaned back. He also gave me his first whole-hearted smile, unprompted, today. He's been smiling in his sleep for well over a month and would occasionally smile when being played with or tickled, but today was his first time all on his own. Anyone who has seen Seth knows he sticks his tongue out a lot - it's like he's a snake tasting the air or something! For the last few weeks Michael and I have been playing with him by sticking our tongues out at him. Lately he'll stick his tongue out if we stick our tongues out. He's so smart!

Two Months

So my baby is two months old now. Not much has changed, yet everything has changed. It's hard to explain, but a parent knows. Subtle changes from one week to the next add up to be big changes, but how do you explain them to someone who doesn't see them happening?

The most obvious difference is Seth's weight. He hasn't been weighed in two weeks, but I know he's gaining. The skin on his arms and legs has filled out and his face is rounder and healthier looking. He's still wearing his newborn clothes, but not for too much longer - he's getting too tall for them. His 0 - 3 month clothes are still way too big on him, though. I think he may be stuck wearing gowns for a bit.

Seth's growing in other ways, too. He focuses on things more, mostly lights and the ceiling fan. He's usually great while shopping due to the constant stream of lights. He's also letting me put him down more often, although when he wants picked back up, he wants immediate results. Heaven forbid finishing a chore. That's one of two areas he hasn't changed much. He still wants to be held ALL the time.

I've given up on trying to make him sleep in his crib, because I was getting even less sleep that way. I figure Seth must need that physical contact for some reason, and I'm not going to refuse him that. Everything I've read and the advice I've been given says to give in to him and that he'll outgrow this need soon enough. So for the time being we're still sleeping in the recliner.

The second way Seth hasn't changed is his sleeping. Two to three hours is average, though sometimes he'll go as long as four hours. Of course I don't nod off exactly when he does, so I'm averaging much less sleep. Lucky for me I married a great guy who has recently started watching Seth between 9 or 10 until 12 so that I can get a few hours of uninterrupted sleep. I didn't want to ask for it, but I was getting desperate and my patience was getting low. It's only been for the last week or so, but it's making a big difference.

Seth is going to the doctor tomorrow to get evaluated for a new formula. He's been having really painful gas for the last five days and it's horrible to watch him suffer through it. Mylicon doesn't help much, so I think the answer is to try something new. And I'm going to ask that he get his two month shots instead of going back in two weeks. I guess we'll see how it all turns out tomorrow.

Happy Days Are Here Again

Things are looking good this week. Seth is up to 9 lbs 6 oz. and is finally starting to fill out. He still has some catching up to do to fill out all of that loose skin on his arms and legs, but it's coming along. Any day now he'll be my chubby bunny!

Other than this piece of news, nothing has been happening. Of course we held our breath Tuesday night in the wait to hear who our president would be. Well, what can I say? Although I feared Obama had a good chance of beating McCain, I never really thought it possible. It was a really big blow to me as the results rolled in. I guess I thought America would be able to see through the liberal media's hype, but I guess I gave us too much credit. I really hope that Obama will prove me wrong and be a great leader for our country. Unfortunately, his plans to save our country don't make sense and he has yet to prove himself in any political arena.

Enter: Mother Guilt Complex

I realize I'm overdue on my blogging for this week and this is due to several factors.

I took Seth to a new doctor last Thursday since the doctors at UT did not seem very concerned that he was losing weight instead of gaining and that he would go for 10 days without having a bowel movement. I tried not to be the hysterical new mom who calls about everything, but I was not happy with the service I was getting. I may not have gone to med school, but I know that isn't normal.

This new doctor's office was recommended by Michael's co-workers and were supposed to be very child-friendly. So far, I am pleased with the staff and the doctor. This doctor was very concerned with Seth's symptoms and immediately requested bloodwork and an ultrasound and switched him to a new formula. His bloodwork came back fine and I'm supposed to find out the results of his ultrasound tomorrow. The doctor wants to rule out kidney or bladder disease, but his final diagnosis was "failure to thrive." Well, everything else I could handle, but those three little words just crushed me: failure to thrive...did that make me a failure as a mother that I hadn't switched doctors earlier? That I hadn't noticed how unhealthy this was for him? That I was failing him? Well, I know logically that it wasn't my fault, that I'm allowed a certain amount of mistakes as a new mom and that I thought I was doing what was best for him. After all, I did everything the first doctor said. But logic cannot explain this to a hurting mother. He's only 5 weeks old and I've already failed him.

So, that's why I haven't felt like writing lately. I didn't want to post a wholly negative post. So the positive note is that I took Seth for his first pictures today. They came out really cute and I can't wait until the twelfth so I can pick them up! Surprisingly, he was a good boy through the whole shoot and didn't cry at all.

The best news, though, is that Seth has gained close to a pound since Thursday and is back near his birth weight. Now if we can just keep pudging him up he'll be able to fit into his closet full of clothes!

30 Day - Money Back Guarantee

But I think we'll keep him!

Another week has passed and our little boy is now a month old. It's amazing how much he has changed in just that short amount of time. Looking at pictures, he's still smaller than what he was at birth, but his personality is changing and he's becoming smarter.

Seth now has periods where he is very alert and for longer stretches of time. He notices more now - if we put him next to the aquarium, he'll actually watch the fish; next to the stereo, he'll watch the lights; next to the mirror, he'll watch himself. He likes music and dancing. He's becoming this little person!

Most importantly, though, he is allowing me to put him down without crying more often. He is now getting used to the carseat, swing, and his crib. For whatever reason, he still doesn't like the bassinet. So today Michael and I are going to put his crib in our room and put my dresser in Seth's room. Hopefully this will make Seth (and us) happy and he will sleep through the night in his crib and I can finally sleep in a bed again!

As for me, I'm starting to get used to this mommy role. The sleep schedule isn't so bad anymore and I'm finding I have more patience. In the beginning, I would get stressed out by Seth's crying, but now that I know he's ok and he's just crying to get attention, it doesn't make me as nervous. Of course, him getting over his health issues has made the most impact in that respect. So now that things are getting easier, I'm wondering what my daily life is going to be like. I have all of these amazing female role models around me that are raising children and being productive in their own unique ways. I have a cousin who makes little girl costumes, a friend who makes personalized bibs, and a sister-in-law who not only raises four children, but homeschools them, drives them to all of their activities, and even grinds her own wheat to make her own bread! Now I'm not going to be so ambitious to think I can juggle all of that, but I would like to find something that is just for me. I need a hobby!

Hello, Due Date!

Our original estimation of Seth's due date was October 20th and was moved to October 16th and then finally October 11th. So, of course when he decided to show up on September 20th, a whole month earlier than the first estimate, we were definitely surprised. It's amazing to think that yesterday was when he was actually scheduled to arrive and yet I was holding a three week old baby.

Seth is doing much better this week. He no longer needs to be tested for his bilirubin, which is a HUGE relief, because we both hated going to the hospital every day. He also finally had his "bm" after 9 days and beat his urinary tract infection. So now our little boy is healthy and pretty happy. He's starting to be much more vocal about his likes (but mostly dislikes) and has taken to staying up all night the past two nights. I do not care for this new nocturnal activity, but realize that all babies go through it at some point. I just hope it is a short-lived phase. On a semi-interesting side note, Seth suddenly decided one day that instead of hating the pacifier, it was his new best friend. Now it's in his mouth most of the time, but only this one in the picture. Apparently the other ones are just not the right fit.

Nothing else has happened recently, so I figured I'd fill out this blog with a list of things I have learned over the last few weeks:

1. It is possible to take a shower in under five minutes
2. The sink and the trash can fill up at an amazing speed
3. It is much more important to empty the trash than it is the sink
4. One big box of diapers does not last nearly as long as one would expect
5. Company will inevitably drop by just as you are feeding the baby
6. Uncles are not comfortable with the idea of you feeding the baby, even if you're covered, and now call well before stopping by
7. There is absolutely nothing on TV between the hours of 1:00am and 6:00 am (or any time really)
8. It is very easy to give baby advice when you have slept through the night
9. Consequently, it is not easy to take baby advice when you have not slept through the night
10. No matter how little sleep you get, how dirty your house gets, or how chaotic your schedule becomes, it is all worth it when your little baby cuddles up to you

Health Update!

I am very happy to announce that Seth is no longer at risk for jaundice! His level has dropped to 11.7! Now if we can just beat this urinary tract infection and get him to "make some twosies," we'll be good to go.

Where Have the Days Gone?

Well, my little man is now 2 1/2 weeks old and I fall more and more in love with him every day! He is doing pretty well, all things considered. I still have to take him to the hospital to have his bilirubin checked every day, but he is down to 13.1 from 16.7, so I'm thankful for that. Unfortunately he also has a urinary tract infection, but it was caught pretty early and he is on medication. I'm hoping by this time next week he will be all better and he and I can just enjoy our days at home.

Now if it was up to Seth, we would just cuddle in the recliner all the time. He is definitely learning to get what he wants and all he wants is to be held! I've been trying to break him of this by putting him in his swing, carseat, bassinet, etc., but he is much more committed to getting what he wants than I am to what I want. He has a set of lungs on him and he puts them to good use during these moments. My limit thus far has been 30 minutes of screaming/crying. I'm hoping that once he gets a clear bill of health I'll feel less guilty about putting him down and will stick to my guns. At this point he's in my arms day and night and I would eventually like to sleep in my own bed again. But I can't really begrudge him this little comfort right now - and I secretly love that he wants to cuddle with mama so much.

On a side note, our family and Michael's work have been so great to us. My mom moved into the house next door last month and has been doing my yardwork/landscaping along with my Uncle Marty. They've also been checking in on me every day to make sure everything is ok. Michael's dad is coming to visit tomorrow and his mom came up from Alabama last weekend. His sister-in-law dropped by last week and brought us a delicious dinner so that I could get a break from cooking. My cousin Angel checks on me every day or so and offers practical advice and my cousin Amy stopped by yesterday to bring Michael and I some birthday cake from her daughter's birthday party. Michael's co-workers have been showering us in gifts and have been full of well-wishes. We may not have all of our friends and family near us, but we definitely don't feel like we're lacking any love.

Outside of my lovely little family, not much has been going on. I'd like to say I've spent a lot of time catching up on reading, but with Seth in my arms, it proves difficult. So, instead, I've watched A LOT of movies/tv shows. Michael and I have been working our way through The Fresh Prince of Bel Air again and have been getting into the Halloween mood by watching horror movies. And when all else fails, I resort to my Harry Potter movies. I swear I'm not one of those Harry Potter geeks - it's just so easy to watch because I don't care if I fall asleep during them. If anyone has any movie recommendations (particularly horror movies) please let me know. I could definitely use something new to watch. Oh, we did get to watch the VP debate - GO PALIN!

In closing, I have to give props to my husband again. He really is so great! He shows me so much attention and is always willing to help in any way he can. Even with my post-pregnancy body, he still makes me feel like I'm attractive to him. Although this has not been a big issue for me, I know that if he didn't act so attentive, it probably would be. He even sleeps on the couch so he can be near Seth and I. I love the men in my life!

Motherhood is...

simply amazing!

I wasn't sure what I would write at first for this post - there is just so much in my heart and mind and I don't think I could do any of those thoughts justice at this time. But the main thought that keeps coming up is this: how could anyone doubt that there is a God when we have such wonderful blessings in children? I have a son, a baby boy all my own, and no theory, evolution included, could ever explain this to me. I know this train of thought is a little foggy, but it makes sense to me. People are always looking for miracles in life: angels, talking bushes, food that can feed hundreds, cures for "incurable" ailments. But what about daily miracles - the sun shining, birds singing, feelings of well-being, friendship? I've always tried to appreciate these daily miracles that so many take for granted, and now as a mother, I have so many, many more to look forward to.

I've never thought of myself as an overly emotional person; I try to be rational and practical, and this has worked out well for me. However, in this past week emotions are taking over. Seth melts my heart each time he nuzzles up to me and smiles. He is the best thing I've ever done and he gives me a purpose. Motherhood consists of so many things that I will be learning over the course of my life. Not only am I responsible for his daily living needs, but I will be his teacher, mentor, counselor, and friend. I can only hope that I am up for the challenge.

In summary for the past week, things are good. As Michael's post stated, my labor and delivery went very well compared to many women and I am so thankful for it. My recovery has been equally as good. The only downside of this week is that Seth's bilirubin scores have been high, putting him at risk for jaundice. Because of this, we have to take him to the hospital every day to get blood tests. His score is slowly decreasing and we're hoping he will get through this soon. It breaks my heart every time they have to stick him and he screams. He handles it very well and is only upset while the blood is being taken, but I can't wait for it to be over.

Seth is a great little baby, and I can't wait for everyone to meet him. He has now met a small part of our family and has made a good impression, I think. He's not a fussy baby and he doesn't mind being passed around to new people. And, of course, he is adorable! Who wouldn't love him?!

On a side note, Michael is amazing! I had some small doubts as to how he would react during labor. I thought he would become nervous or agitated or even that he would try to crack inappropriate jokes, but he surpassed all of my expectations. He was literally with me every step of the way - not once did he leave my side or become frustrated with me. He supported me through the entire experience and did everything he could for me. I really can't think of anything he could have done better. I am so glad that Seth has such a wonderful male role model as a daddy.

Seth's 0th birthday bash!

(Please note that all spelling and grammatical errors were intentionally included as evidence of our exhaustion)

Friday, Sept. 19th, 12:30pm -
Kristin and I are at a baby shower being held in our honor by my coworkers. There is abundant pizza, gifts, and nerdy jokes (I provided most of these).
Several people ask when our child is due, and I answer Oct. 11th, although technically we are full term so it could be any time soon. "Hopefully not
today though!" (laughter).

Friday, Sept. 19th, 6:15pm -
Having completed my day at work I come home to Kristin who is busily cooking dinner and doing general housework. While picking up some clutter she gasps and runs to the restroom. A few minutes later I hear her timidly call me. "Honey," she says, "either I just had a really embarrasing accident or my water broke!"


Friday, Sept. 19th, 9:00pm -
At UT Hospital the doctor has determined that Kristin's water has broken. We are moved to a delivery room where we are told to expect about 12-14 hours of steadily increasing contractions as Kristin dialates and Seth is prepared to be born.

Friday, Sept. 19th, 11:30pm -
Kristin's contractions have rapidly set in and she is in a lot of pain. She is becoming very discouraged because she does not want another 12 or so hours of this. She finally breaks down enough to call for an epidural.

Saturday, Sept. 20th, 2:00am -
The anesthesioligist has finally gotten a break from several emergency calls and is able to administer Kristin's epidural. She is in extreme pain and has been rocking on the bed desperate for some relief. Unfortunately the epidural proves to be a difficult one and is finally completed after about 30 minutes and 5-6 tries. However it proves to be worth the trouble as after 15 or so minutes Kristin is feeling better and the nurse is able to check how far along she is. The nurse is shocked to find that she is already at 10cm and ready to give birth.

Saturday, Sept. 20th, 3:00am -
Kristin has begun pushing and Seth has made fast progress, and is already crowning. The whole birthing crew is called in and the real show begins, lights descend from the ceiling, Kristin's bed transforms from beneath her into some kind of genius labor platform, and the doctor is in the catching position. Seth's head is slowly pushing through, and the doctor decides we need an episiotimy. After the cut, Seth bursts free in one giant wave of water! It is 3:21 am, and he is born crying in a raspy voice. Kristin exclaims that he sounds like Donald Duck, which elicits a laugh from our attending nurses and doctor. They weigh Seth at 8lbs, 5oz, and measuring 20.5 inches.

Sunday, Sept. 21st, 8:25pm -
Seth is aproaching 2 days old, and Kristin and I combined have gotten maybe five hours of sleep. Our kid is sleepy, and it can be difficult getting him to eat. Because of this we are a little nervous about heading home tomorrow morning, but we know that God will help us get through this difficult period. Personally I expect that within a day or two he will get past this 'sleepy phase' and begin eating and pooping too fast for us to keep up. We're extremely happy, we're extremely tired, and are looking forward to going home to begin life as a new family.

Sprinters Have Nothing on Pregnant Women Headed for the Bathroom!

First thing's first: Seth is doing well. We had our 36 week appointment yesterday where the doctor and ultrasound tech said he is right on target in size. The tech said he is still in the head-down position and his heartrate is strong. She also said that he looks like he only has a little bit of hair, which is the opposite of what she said a few weeks ago, where she pointed out "all that hair." Either way, I'm not going to assume that an ultrasound can detect hair all that well and we'll just expect the amount as a surprise. We did get to witness Seth practice his breathing for a few seconds, which shows up basically as his ribs moving up and down. It's such a weird and amazing concept that there is a human in there getting ready for life in the outside world.

Outside of the visit, but still on the topic of Seth, things are good. He is still keeping pretty calm, although it does seem like he's trying to do some remodeling to his temporary home by pushing as far out as he can. I've tried to reassure him that it's not necessary, but he doesn't listen to reason yet - so I do what I can and gently push back. He eventually takes the hint, gives up, and I assume, goes back to sleep.

I always enjoy the days of my doctor visits, not because of the inevitable hour-long wait to see the doctor with a lack of any decent magazines, but because it gives me the reassurance that my boy is doing well. However, yesterday was a great day for another reason. Michael opted to take an extra week of support calls at work (which makes for very interrupted evenings, nights, and weekends) so that he can take a day off of work and - get this - spend it doing things I want to do!

It began with him going to my appointment with me and keeping me company. After the hour and a half wait/visit, we went to Olive Garden for lunch. Now I know this doesn't seem all that special - we used to go out to eat weekly - but to a woman who has been living on Raisin Bran for the last several weeks, it is a HUGE deal! I knew I would regret it before I even ordered, but I knew it would be worth it, so I went all out. I got pop (with a refill!), a big salad, several breadsticks, and cheese ravioli! Yeah, I was in pain for most of the day and night, but I wouldn't do it any differently. Yum!

So after that, we went to Target to get Michael's dad's birthday present. I know that sounds dull and not worth mentioning, but I've been harrassing Michael about suggestions for his dad for well over a month and it has been eating away at me that we hadn't decided on anything yet. Now that's one thing off my mind.

Finally, we went to Zuma Fun Center. Being as it was a Tuesday, it was nearly empty and we didn't have to wait for anything. We played two rounds of miniature golf (we each won one, although he totally kicked my butt) and several arcade games. It was a lot of fun, except for two things: pregnancy really does make you tire out more quickly, especially when it's warm and when you're near the end of things you really ought to choose your clothing wisely. I had chosen a pair of maternity shorts that have never actually fit well and like to fall off with every couple of steps. Now I know that in some fashions, the whole pants-drooping-off-your-behind is cool, but it makes playing miniature golf (and really anything else) annoying. So I eventually threw in the towel and asked to go home.

The rest of the evening was quiet: I relaxed with my feet propped up and we watched the classic and very cheesy horror movie "Witchboard." We then read a bit, spent quite a bit of time talking about how much our lives are going to change in just a few more weeks, and then went to sleep early.

Although the day wasn't spent at fancy places and we didn't try new and daring things, it was a day that was memorable. I know Michael had to pull some strings to get this day with me and I know he would have done some things differently if it had been up to him. The point of it all is that he actually planned ahead (not a typical Michael thing) and made a day that would be fun for me. Pretty soon our roles are going to be changing and we're not going to be just a husband and wife, but a father and mother. It's reassuring to know that he is still thinking of me, not just as this "mother" figure, but still as the girl he fell for over three years ago: his friend and a girl he still wants to impress. He'll be a great daddy, but I don't see it changing what a great husband he is.

Hush Little Baby...

Today marks my 35th week of pregnancy and it is really starting to hit home. Technically I will be considered full-term in just two more weeks...TWO WEEKS! Now, of course, four or five weeks will be best, and that's what we're hoping for; however, my selfish side is quite ready to have my body back. It will be nice to sleep through the night again (or at least not to be waking up to make trips to the bathroom) and to be able to sleep in whatever position I want. Before becoming pregnant, I was mostly a side-sleeper, but that has become very uncomfortable in the past month or so and now I have no choice but to sleep on my back. Yes, I'm aware that this is the opposite of what most women go through, but I seem to like to deviate from the norm.

Seth has become more lethargic in the past week or so. He still stretches and kicks every now and then, but mostly he seems to be bunkering down for the big adventure to come. Maybe he knows he needs to save his energy. According to the books, he should be close to 19 inches now and a little over five pounds. I'd love to be able to take a peek inside there and see what it's like for him. He's partial to my right side and he seems to like to stretch his little legs up towards my ribs. Thankfully for me, he hasn't started putting his feet in between them yet.

Other than that, I don't have much to report. It's been a very busy week and I know the next few weeks will be busy as well. Really it's a blessing, because as D-Day approaches, I know I will get increasingly nervous. Michael's answer to this is always, "You'll be fine." I know this, but it's not exactly the reassurance I need, so busywork is good for me.

A glimpse into my mind (it's dark in here).

When Kristin created this blog, I secretly made a commitment to myself that I would use it. In my own head I'm a pretty interesting person, but when it comes to writing down these thoughts my unique and creative musings tend to lose the awesome voice they have in my mind, at least until I build some momentum. Once I actually get started I can churn out several pages of work in one sitting, an ability which greatly facilitated the procrastination of many school writing assignments until the very eve of their due dates. Nevertheless, I always made great grades on those assignments, it's merely that act of starting that holds me back. I just gotta have the inertia.

The Tennessee State Fair begins next week, and as I was looking over their event schedule I discovered that they have demolition derbies. These events have always held a special place in my heart, and I plan on sneaking out and attending one. This is pretty high on my 'awesome things to do' list, closely following 'being in a demolition derby'. The latter goal will take some time and planning, and that is why I started a secret savings account for my future mid-life crisis (shh, don't tell Kristin). I'm pretty sure I will be able to talk her into it, I plan to make her choose between that or letting me get a motorcycle so dangerous that no insurance companies will cover me. I imagine some kind of jet-bike, possibly hovering, powered by an unstable nuclear reactor. It will literally leave a trail of fire when I gun it.

Seth will arrive soon, and I am very excited. I don't know if it makes sense, but I already love the kid. All I know of him are a couple of strong kicks from within my wife's abdomen, but I really can't wait to have him here in the outside world with me. I'm eager to see what sort of physical features he inherits from us, and I'm eager to see him grow into his own person, and I'm eager to teach him all sorts of things; about God, wisdom, life, people, music, science... Yeah, I'm already becoming one of those guys that thinks he's going to give his son all the things he wanted but never had, or the opportunities he never had (not that I was lacking on those, I was very blessed and well cared for in my youth). Basically, I'm overjoyed about the whole thing, and I want to be great at it.

Well, I'll stop here. I'm sure my blog posts will be much more abstract than my wife's, but I also hope that they will be enjoyable. I'll leave you with my 'list of awesome things to do'.

Awesome Things To Do:

1. Be a father! (see, I'm starting at the top)
2. Play a guitar solo so awesome that it actually causes someone's face to melt.
3. Wrestle a bear to the death, and win.
4. Purchase a hovering jet-bike.
5. Learn kung-fu.
6. Rescue children from a burning orphanage.
7. Execute a barrel roll in a car that cleverly removes a bomb attached to the underside by bringing it into contact with a giant crane hook conveniently hanging nearby (go see 'The Transporter 2' for more details).
8. Compete in a demolition derby.
9. Attend a demolition derby.
10. Crush a car with a monster truck (blasting Lynyd Skynyd on the stereo optional).
    

Baby Shower Madness!

My mom, aunt, and grandma pulled together and threw me an awesome shower a few weeks ago. Obviously with me being the star (ok, maybe Little Seth was), I was unable to take pictures and had to wait for them. I just got them in the mail today, so I figured I'd do a combination baby shower/33 week update post.

The party was fun, although I was a little nervous at first. My aunt and mom kept adding more and more games and ideas to it, and I was a little scared it may turn into a circus or something nearly as big. However, they ended up trimming it down a bit and it ended up being what I wanted: a get-together with family where we played games and had the opportunity to chat and catch up. My grandma (who should do this professionally) made two great cakes, a diaper cake, and a bunch of cute favors, while my aunt and mom were in charge of decorations, food, games, and prizes. If all the effort that went into this occasion and all the many, MANY gifts I got are any sign of how loved Seth is going to be then let me tell you - he may as well be nominated king now! Even though it was a relatively small gathering, I got way more than any one woman should have! Suffice it to say, I felt (and always feel) very loved and know that Seth will be loved just as much.

Moving on: today was my 33 week check up, which is normally pretty dull. However, this was where I was to find out if Seth is growing a wee bit too fast for his own good (or more importantly - my own good). As it turns out, he is smack dab in the middle of the road at the 50th percentile for weight. As of today, he weighs four lbs. 15 oz. The doctor said the previous doctor must have mis-measured, which is sort of what I was thinking. My personal/skeptical opinion is that this office will run every test/ultrasound/etc. on you to line their pockets a bit more - but that is a long rant, which I will avoid.

On a side note, Michael came to the visit with me in the hopes of seeing Seth in a more active state, like I saw in the 14th week. Well, proving just how stubborn he is, he wouldn't move at all, except when the tech poked at his back - then he moved just enough to get away. Once I was out of the office, though, Seth was back to kicking Mama again.

Apparently the further along you get in pregnancy the less clear the picture is, so the tech had to explain just about everything we were seeing. Normally she gives us three pictures, but this time she gave us one, which is essentially a dark blob, that verifies that Seth is, in fact, a boy. We also have to trust her when she said that Seth does have hair and is still a thumbsucker. He is also in the head-down position, which we had already kind of figured.

So the two things to take away from this post are: 1. I have some really great people in my life, and 2. Seth (hopefully) will not be a huge baby! Yay!

And so it begins...

Louis Armstrong got it right, "What a wonderful world!"

As most of you know, Michael and I are expecting our little miracle (also known as Seth) in just under eight weeks. All the shopping is done, the nursery is nearly complete, and we only have one more pre-parenting class to go. So now it's just time to sit and wait. Unfortunately, patience is not one of my strong points.

I had planned on starting a blog once Seth was born, however it occurred to me that the last few weeks before his birth may make for an interesting prologue. We are blessed to have some family near us, but we have many loved ones who are not as close. Because of this, they may not always be as up-to-date as we would like, but hopefully this blog will help to keep them updated.

At this point, I don't have much to write about. Seth has become quite the athlete over the last few weeks. He kicks, jabs, and pushes like it's his business, but I wouldn't have him stop for anything. Michael and I enjoy feeling and watching his movements knowing that he's growing strong. And speaking of growing, he may be taking after his daddy. The doctor told me at my last appointment that Seth is measuring a bit big for his age, so she scheduled another ultrasound for next week. He's been on track at every other visit and I've only gained six pounds to date, so I'm really hoping the due date will be pushed up or that he was just having a growth spurt. Although I do want him to get his height from his daddy, he can wait to start that until after he has made new living accomodations!

I have been extremely fortunate throughout this pregnancy and have had very few complaints - some soreness now and then and some heartburn. I'm learning to control the heartburn and Michael is great about offering massages whenever I need them. Actually, Michael has been wonderful with all of this and I couldn't imagine doing it without him.

So, that's about it for now. I hope to make entries at least once a week, but we'll see how that goes.

<3