He's Having a Baby

It's a new year and I'll start right off by talking about something that's happening that's going to make this year unlike any year I've ever lived. I'm having a baby for those that didn't already know. Well, technically I'm not having the baby, but it I am indeed expecting a baby. This will be my first baby ever, so it's all pretty exciting and interesting and I'm sure that I will document a lot of this. I'll try not to make it the ONLY thing I talk about here so as to not bore those that don't care. I understand that some people don't care, and that's OK...I'm not offended. It's possible that one day, the baby will go back and read all this content that I've posted over the years...I would if my parents had done it. I won't count on it.

So here are things I've learned so far about having a baby:

Everyone wants to tell my wife horrible stories about their pregnancy. Please don't. It doesn't help, it's not cute or funny to tell horror stories...it only causes worry. Everyone likes to tell you all the horrible things about having a baby and nothing about the wonderful parts. I'm sure there are good things, right people with kids? If it was all horrible, there wouldn't be a point other than to keep our wondrous planet populated and that's not a good enough reason.

Most other women treat the husband/father like he's not part of the process. This isn't particulary true with my immediate circle of friends (thank you), but generally it's true. I have been treated in some cases like Katharine is having a baby without me and I'm supposed to totally focus on her. Now, it's true that she needs extra support and attention because she has to grow a human being, which is a pretty big and important job, but seriously people...she still has to go on with daily life as well. She can do (and does) a lot for herself, although she attempts the, "can you do this because I'm pregnant" when she doesn't feel like doing something, she knows and accepts that she's not going to get away with it. I clean the litter like I'm supposed to...I've been shoveling the snow mostly on my own...but Katharine can still do things like take the dog out in the yard and carry all of my heavy stuff (haha). She knows what I'm talking about and thankfully she's reasonable.

Daycare is expensive. Yeah, we've already started looking at daycare 5 months ahead of time because we were told to. Holy crap...it's $275 a week for a few days a week! So here's something you really don't want to skimp on, right? Nobody is looking for bargains when it comes to who is going to raise your kids while you're away. The jury is still out on this one.

3D ultrasound is pretty awesome. I wasn't supposed to see the 3D ultrasound...it was way too early and frankly, the baby looked like a cross between an alien and Skeletor, but the ultrasound tech was nice to me and showed me anyway. And gave me a picture...although the baby was covering his/her face with his/her arm.

A lot of people want to name your baby. I will happily listen to your suggestions, but when it comes to the actual naming, we're going to own that responsibility. If I can name a Warcraft character, I can name a human being. Here are my rules for names so far. Make sure I know what the initials spell and what nicknames that other kids will come up with because kids can be cruel. This coming with experience from the guy whose middle name is Howard...which was always linked with "the Duck" as soon as anyone heard what my middle name was. There...now you all know.

Everyone wants to touch Katharine immediately when they see her. Yeah...not OK, and you all know it, so stop doing it unless you ask first.

Everyone wants to feed the baby...he/she is not born yet...Katharine's got that job under control

Last thought for now...I want to know what it is so I can stop calling my child "it"...and so I can start buying him/her toys. Everyone has an opinion on what it will be too. I'll know soon because I'm impatient. Some have asked, "Don't you want it to be a surprise"? Sure I do...the day that I find out, it's still the same surprise only 4 months earlier. Anyway...isn't it a boy or a girl? No suprise there. The pictures here are from a month ago already...we'll get more in the middle of February when we find out the answer to the big question.

Do you have anything going on in your life that will make this year different than any other? New baby? New relationships? New house? New job? Whatever. Let's hear it!