38 weeks

Tony and I have developed a new nightly routine.  Before we go to bed we each check our phones, the volume, are they working, etc before we go to sleep.  If either of us gets up in the middle of the night we check them again.  Every so often one or both of us is asking Megan to call us, just to make sure they are STILL working.  She has got to be sick of the “drills” by now.  I vacillate between being calm and patient, and ascting like a crazy person pacing the floors LOL! 

We had our 3^rd, yes I said 3^rd baby shower yesterday.  I cannot believe how lucky this baby is, she has a whole village just waiting for her to be born.  My mom and dad through this one, and we had an amazing time.  Here are some pics.  I hope everyone ishaving a great day.  MAYBE the next post will be announcing Zoey’s arrival!  Fingers crossed!

Story of an angel in a parachute...

Papa Here!!

The feeling in my life, for lack of a better explanation, is the feeling after you’ve pushed yourself out of a perfectly good plane, and are falling out of the sky toward Earth.   As far as Mike is concerned, it is too late to obtain a tranquilizer dart gun, but we’re doing okay.  

I’m confident that my parachute is in perfectly working order, but it does not rob me of the exhilaration.

I have lost my ability to track the days of the week, and we literally have something to get done every day of the week at this point.   I work a 24-hour job where I can rest in the late, late, evening, but have not been able to forget that the phone can now suddenly ring at any time.   My normal level of vigilance is two-fold.

I really really want Zoey here, and being a perfectionist, I realize that no matter how hard I work, we’ll never be “perfectly” ready.    I think this is actually a healthy place, as I believe you could literally go insane trying to get more done.   I think, if one is not careful, it is possible to lose sight of why we did this.    I “airlocked” yesterday when I heard there’s potential for snow in our forecast next weekend, as snow shuts down everything in Seattle/Tacoma, but realized again that it’s simply out of my control.

When we were at our last Midwife checkup, Megan placed my hand on her belly.     Immediately Zoey kicked into my hand.   It’s hard to convey the energy of that transfer, but it revitalizes you.   After seeing the clothes that we received from the Baby Showers washed, folded, and placed in Zoey’s room (Mike has worked SO hard on this), they stopped being gifts, and transformed into OUR baby girl’s clothes.    I’ve lost track of all of the transition moments like that, but they are amazing.

This episode has a perfect, immediate, and complete climax on how it finishes.   It’s Zoey coming into the world, and I have the opportunity to be there, front row seat.     Because we’re having a true water birth, if all goes well, I will watch our daughter swim into our lives.

Our house in Seattle has always been a textbook definition of a residential structure; a typical two-story Type III construction wood frame construction.    With a lot of work, our own personal journeys, we have decided to make it a HOME.    It will be a place of birthdays, parties, friends, family, and of recovery.    Covered in drywall dust, insulation, and little flecks of everything, I’ve looked from the center of every room and heard the voices of what is to come.

I’m excited to give this gift back to Zoey, and I’m excited in equal measure for the prospect of having a family.

The GREAT PUMPKIN!

I love the fall!  I love everything about it, the way the leaves change and fall, the crisp air, the beginning of the holidays, and the pumpkin flavored…well… ANYTHING! 

The coolest thing about future autumns is that we will always be reminded of this time waiting for Zoey to come.  These are the last days Tony and I will be just two!  I can’t believe it!!!!!!!!!!!

Poor Megan, Tony and I have both subjected her to our “drills” to make sure that even if our phone is on silent HER phone number rings through.  She has been VERY patient with us.  Megan and I text several times a day, but rarely do we chat on the phone.  So the other day when her ringtone came wailing out of my phone and it wasn’t a drill I almost peed myself!

DADDY BOOT CAMP

We are getting DOWN TO THE WIRE!  Tony and I took a baby boot camp type class this week, it was very cool and we learned a lot!  Of course we were the only gay couple in the class, luckily we live in a pretty progressive part of the country, although I did feel like some of the women were looking at us and thinking “Wait… they don’t look or speak ANYTHING like Mitchell or Cam”.  Tony and I both deviate from what I think most people think of when they think of gay men, being is that we are both SOOO butch.  Okay, okay I am slightly less butch than Tony, I’m more “soft butch”.  OKAY fine!  I only LOOK butch, regardless as we were leaving the class I could tell that some of our classmates were feeling slighted or robbed that we didn’t say anything particularly witty, or at the very least catty (well out loud anyway, secretly we judged everyone in the room).  I feel like I have some good experience with babies, and I am constantly reading the safe baby websites, however I STRONGLY recommend this class to anyone who is about to be a parent for the first time.

Tony and I went baby clothes shopping too… Look I love him, but shopping is just not his strong suit.  He BARELY buys himself new clothes (as is evident by the PILES of clothes I had destroyed that were from 1982).  Until recently I have noticed that he has like 6 T shirts and 2 sweat shirts he REALLY likes and rotates wearing them, I tried hiding them under stacks of BRAND new shirts in his drawer.  He DUG them out.  So shopping for little girl outfits was definitely challenging for him.  While I am breezing through the aisles throwing anything cute into the cart, he is evaluating each and every item of clothing and wanting to know what exactly it will look like on our princess, and how he will be able to get to the diaper, what it is made of, what item will go with what item, etc.  AT FIRST I was getting annoyed with him and then it HIT ME… this big tough former marine/firefighter guy was standing in a BABY CLOTHING store trying to process something that would be akin to me being trapped in an auto parts store or being forced to difuse a bomb.  He stepped WAY OUTSIDE of his comfort zone and SHOWED UP.  That is ONE of my favorite things about my husband.  He always shows up, even when it’s hard or difficult.  What a gift that will be for our daughter.  He will always show up for her.  Oh and I am proud to point out that since I brought his lack of clothing diversity to his attention, he has RARELY worn the same outfit twice in one week!  

Zoey is on her way.  I simultaneously CAN’T WAIT and feel unprepared.  However, what I know is she has plenty of clothing, shelter, and TWO papa bears to love and protect her.  We have each other, so I guess maybe we ARE ready after all.

33 weeks 4 days

33 weeks 3 days

Hi Zoey, Papa again.

You're hearing our voices alot more now, Mommy Megan is wearing the BellyBuds and sending bedtime stories and Vivaldi to you.    We worked hard on that, 'cause we wanted you to feel safe and used to our voices before you arrived.

Daddy insisted we get more clothes for your first growing months.   Suffice it to say, you're going to be styling those first few months.    We'll probably lose a few to spit-up and poopy, but there's ALOT of backup clothes.    We should've tipped that forklift operator....

Daddy and I went to a newborn care class the other night to hone our skills a bit on taking care of you those first few weeks.    The doll baby was very compliant as I diapered and re-diapered it.   I just KNOW you'll be that helpful, and won't wiggle at all.    We got to see what to expect with your diaper changes.     Having peered into a box of newborn and first months diapers, I think we'll save time by using a "diaper gun".    There's guns for drywalling in construction, shirt guns for passing out shirts to attendees at stadiums, why not a diaper gun?    It LOOKS like a weapons magazine when you open a box of diapers, hundreds and hundreds of diapers all in a row.    Otherwise Daddy will get tired changing all of them.    Six a day....Sheesh!!

Your next ultrasound is coming up, and we'll get to see how you're doing, and even a little of what you look like right now.   It's been many many weeks since we last got to see you, but we know you've been swimming around pretty good all along.   Mommy Megan can attest to it.  

There's so many details before you arrive.    I myself have to stop, breathe, and focus that this is all about you.    I looked at Daddy during the newborn class, for a while actually, and saw how READY he is for you.      I could see in his eyes he was dreaming about you, already taking care of you, and planning your days.

I spoke with a friend that you were our little girl.    His comment was between his boys (sons) and his daughter, his daughter had him wrapped around her heart.    He always is ready to "jump in" when she neeeds something.     Being a Former Marine my chest puffs out and stiffens as I tell myself no baby will run me down like that.     My heart says different.      It says "That's our little girl......".

Love,

Papa

32 weeks 5 days!!!

Dear Zoey-

32 weeks 5 days!  Your Papa and I are in a whirlwind of activity trying to make sure that everything is ready for your arrival.  Papa has been working so hard with the crew to make sure that the house is ready and safe.  He loves us both so much and wants us to always be safe and happy.  I cannot wait to see you and him together.  You are already his entire world.  We have decided to keep the apartment for the first month or so after you are born, just to make sure that everything at the house is done. 

I am so excited I sometimes don’t think I am going to survive the next few weeks!  You have been my dream for so long and we are just a few weeks from meeting each other.  Everyday my heart expands more than I thought possible.  I vacillate between intense excitement and overwhelming panic.  I want to be the best daddy I can be for you.  You, my princess, are a blessing and deserve to have the best parents.  I promise you that I am going to be the very best daddy I can be.  I will absolutely make mistakes.  I am going to make you mad, embarrass you, and frustrate you to no end.  And I am going to love you, protect you, comfort you, and be present for you.  Every day.

Megan says that you are super active and are definitely making sure she knows you are in there.  Wait till you meet her!  She has kept you safe and taken such amazing care of you.  She will never know how grateful your Papa and I are to her for making you a possibility for us.  We definitely could not have picked a better person to be your mama.  Thats YOU in there!!!

Thats YOU in there!!!
Megan just pointed out the poster in the background.  How fitting, I love our office!

We went to see the midwife yesterday and everything is going well.  Now we will see her every two weeks instead of monthly.  Your heartbeat is music to my ears, so strong, so alive. 

I love you Zoey.  Keep growing, I will see you soon.

All my love,

Daddy

Miracles can be yucky too

Megan, Tony, and I had our ALL day birth class this weekend.  The class itself was awesome and really helped all of us to feel better prepared to develop our birth plan.  I will say that I do not recommend doing it all in one day if you can help it.  It is A LOT of information and A LOT of emotions.  Tony and I rolled out of bed and BARELY showered, Megan apparently went to the beauty salon beforehand.  LOL.

EARLY morning class

Megan looks beautiful!  Don't judge me, it was EARLY

Look at those hotties!

Our plan is to have Zoey at a freestanding birth center instead of in a hospital. Megan had her daughter at the Birthing Inn and LOVED it.  Tony and I were a little skeptical, but wanted to respect Megan’s wishes.  That was until we walked into the place.  It is absolutely gorgeous and the energy is just calm and peaceful.  The deal was cinched when we met our midwife Amy.  She is exactly the person you want to be caring for the mother of your child and your unborn baby.  She is amazing.  She was respectful of our unique situation and exudes compassion, warmth, and empathy. 

Kelly is a self proclaimed “semi retired Doula”, she is the one who taught our class on Saturday.  She is also full of warmth and somehow managed to keep our attention for an entire 8 hour day.  The time seemed to fly by.  The information we received was amazing and helpful.  And Kelly’s high energy and enthusiasm were awesome. 

Having said all of that I have a confession to make.  The miracle of life appears to be… gross.  I can’t wait to witness it, and be a part of it, but I have never been so grateful to be born male in all my life.  I will also admit that I have an even greater respect for women.  It is magical what their bodies can do, and what they as people can withstand.  I continue to look at Megan with awe; for her to know what she was getting into and choosing to do this for us… wow.  I hope that I am worthy of the gift she is giving us one day. 

Love, Papa

Dear Zoey,

There are SO many things happening right now preparing for your arrival.    Papa has help getting the house nursery and rooms ready.  Daddy is packing away his spring ensemble.    Mommy Megan is helping you grow and get stronger every day.   But mostly we dream about you.     We've recorded bedtime stories for you so you can hear them even before you're born.   Daddy read one called "And Tango Makes Three".     It's your story......

We had your 1st baby shower.    So many friends came, so many people excited and happy for your arrival.    The party was SO beautiful, and Daddy completely ran down the battery of the camera taking pictures of it, he was so excited.
That night when we unpacked all your gifts, we imagine how you would look in each outfit, how each gift would become part of your life.

Planning and more planning.    Papa's time off work, Daddy's time off, the apartment time, our time after you're born together.     All I want for you is a full belly and a healthy happy smile.

Daddy has been shopping at the Carter's baby store so much that the clerks hug him when he comes in.   He does have an eye for how to dress us both.    Papa knows Daddy is thinking of everything for your care.

We fuss and worry about this and that, wring our hands sometimes, but we know it's all worth it.    How I can't wait to see your first smile.

Love,
Papa

31 weeks, 4 days… that’s you in there!!

Papa's Extreme Shower Experience.

Papa  (Tony) here.

We had the 1st baby shower yesterday.

In true Mississippi form, we combined our Marriage vows with our Baby Shower.

Yeah, we got married.   The big tying of the knot.  Game over.   Check and mate.

Yep… that’s our amazing surrogate officiating

We have Registered Domestic Partnership here in Washington State, but it's called "Everything But Marriage".  Or as I refer to it, "Marriage Light".    It gives us a TON of legal protections for each other, and for the baby.    But mostly, I just love Mike, and wanted to make it real and legit.

I am so in love with this man…

The ceremony went off in perfect weather, with a perfect altar that our friends set up.     The garden was incredible.   The music even worked out.    We performed a "handfasting" ritual, using all the colors of long ribbons, each signifying a quality in our bond.   It turned out beautiful, the knot held, so I did not escape.    With our friends looking on, we declared our love for each other.   Mike even shared his true feelings about some of my favorite clothes (my COOL t-shirts), which he doesn't like.  I am, for all intensive purposes, a MARRIED man.

Mike and I and my mother in law

Mike and I with my father in law

Then we did the Baby Shower.    I have never BEEN to one before, and was unprepared.    I needed practice on what to say as each gift was open, as I ran out of things to say after "AWWWWW", and "Super Cute!!!", and "she'll love this".    After the 12th gift, I felt like a goof.     The gifts were amazing, thoughtful, and adorable, I just didn't make the cut on my what I was supposed to say.

But it was alot of fun.   And I got to hang out with people who were excited that Zoey was coming.

See the confusion on my face?   And Zoey’s BIG SISTER helping!

I can't speak for Mike on this one, but I am in awe of our friends in preparing for this Baby Shower and our Ceremony.    I didn't know what treasure we really held till yesterday.   Maybe that's the point of these showers after all, that you won't be going it alone....

3/4 of the way there!!!

Holy crap!  Can you believe that we are 3/4 of the way done?!?  In a lot of ways I feel like we just found out Megan was pregnant!  We are at 31 weeks and 4 days today.  Megan is a real trooper, but I would imagine things are getting a little crowded in there.  However, she looks great and keeps a smile on her face, even though she would be well within her rights to take it all out on Tony. 

I gotta tell ya, I definitely have the better end of the deal.  I get to feel Zoey kick every day.  I wish Tony could experience it as often as I do.  He makes the cutest faces whenever he experiences something like that.  No matter what is going on in my life, when I feel those little movements I can’t help but smile.  Our whole world is in there.  She is truly the best thing that has ever happened to me and I am humbled by the emotions her kicks stir in me.

I was thinking this morning about how things have changed since I first chose my children’s names in high school… what?  Don’t all men do that?  In High School I wanted to name my girl Britney Nicole and my boy Vincent Neil (yes, I am ashamed to say that I was madly and deeply in love with the lead singer of Motley Crue).  Then I went through this James Dean phase and wanted to name my boy James Dean and my daughter Dylan Marie (to match my niece’s name Devyn Marie).  It occurred to me how weird it is that even though her name is not going to be what I thought it was all those years ago, the dream of her has always been there.  Soon Tony and I will be welcoming our daughter into this world.  Wow….



30 week 4 days

Birthday Parties!

I LOVE kid’s Birthday parties!  The noise, the chaos, the people, it’s all very exciting!  Megan’s daughter turned 5, and we were fortunate enough to be invited to her party.  I don’t know if I have mentioned it or not, but S is incredibly adorable, and luckily she and I seem to have moved past the unfortunate Barbie movie incident (PHEEEW!).  She was even cuter than normal on this day though and I was impressed with how polite she is for a 5 year old.  As she sat on her chair, surrounded by what can only be described as a SHIT TON of presents, she took her time opening each one and thanking each person after opening the gift.  SHE EVEN OPENED THE CARDS FIRST AND “OOOHED AND AHHHHED”.  I STILL rip open the card, look for any money or cash, and that throw that sucker aside so I can rip into the present. 

Speaking of presents, it’s always a little tricky with kid’s parties.  I am always worried that the kid will open our gifts and say “I have like 10 of these!!!”  Or “That’s for BABIES!”  or something.  Thankfully she enjoyed the presents.

This was also the first time we have met Megan’s extended family.  I have to admit I was a TOTAL wreck about this.  I mean here is there granddaughter, niece, cousin, etc. and she is pregnant… by two GAY men.  As it turned out I should have known I had nothing to worry about, after all these are the women that Megan comes from.  Everyone was full of smiles, and hugs, and “CONGRATULATIONS”.  It was beyond amazing.  The outpouring of support was incredible.  They all just welcomed us in and are excited to love this baby.  It was cool to see the line of women that Zoey is a part of.  To experience the love and strength that pours out of these women. 

It makes me feel good to know that Zoey is a part of them, and that they are a part of her.  She will be an unstoppable force. 

28 weeks 5 days (Dear Zoey)

My Dearest Zoey,

I felt you kick.  I felt your movements for the first time and I have no words for how amazing it felt.  I hear from parents all the time that there is no way you can be prepared for how much you can be prepared for the love you will feel for your child at birth.  I believe that, but I am still taken a back by how much I love you now.  Feeling you kick was the best moment of my life.  Papa was there and he felt it too, and I could tell that he was as impacted as I was.  Feeling you move inside Megan’s belly was like everything in that moment was right and good and perfect.  Our love, Your Papa's, Mama Megan's, and mine created you.  You are safe and healthy.  My life is perfect.

You moved.  Your little foot reached out and touched my hand, and in that moment all of this made sense.  I love you my daughter.  My little Zoey. 

Love,

Daddy

 28 weeks 4 days

28 weeks 5 days



Shopping with Grandma!

My mom is the cutest little nugget you have ever seen.  She really really wanted to buy Zoey’s coming home dress.  This was a huge deal for her.  I didn’t realize until the morning of that it was huge for me as well.  To be doing something so traditional, yet something that so many people take for granted, as shopping for your child’s homecoming dress with your mom… man, I tell you.  Here is the proud grandmother with the dress and hat we chose. 

Tony and I are definitely in trouble!  When I went to pick up my mom for our shopping adventure she pulled out the “odds and ends” she has picked up for Zoey.  Odds and ends?  So after the forklift dropped off the CRATE of stuff, I realized that Zoey has an entire wardrobe for both next spring and next summer.  Not to mention lamps and teddy bears and a BIG red dog named Clifford!  Man she isn’t even here yet and she has Grandma and Grandpa WRAPPED up!  The truth is I cannot wait to see them with her. 

In other news Megan’s birthday was YESTERDAY!  She is currently on a trip, so we didn’t get to see her and had to make sure she had her gift prior to leaving (okay, truth is I am HORRIBLE at waiting till the actual day to give presents).  Here is further proof of the AMAZING person our surrogate is, as if “surrogate” didn’t already say it enough.  I was teasing her a few weeks ago about buying an acre of rain forest on her name.  And she says to me that she has always thought it would be cool if someone bought a goat for a family in Africa, so they can have milk, and start a herd and take care of their family.  At this point she has to know that she could basically have asked us for anything and we would find a way to get it for her.  So we bought a goat for a family in her name.  And you would have thought we had bought her a Prada purse!  THAT’S who she is and a quality that I pray Zoey inherits.

We’re at 28 weeks.  Wow.  That is well over 2/3 of the way done.  I can’t believe how close we are, yet still so far away.

Garanimals for adults and Mom's big purse.

Tony here.

Mike was getting on me about what I was wearing the other day.    According to him I have some kind of internal "sequencing" device where I wear the same thing on particular days.    All the time.   See, I'm missing that gene that most of our "kind" gets.   I have no ability to dress myself.    When I was growing up I remembered a clothing line called "Garanimals".    You could match the tag for the shirt with the tag with the pants, and BINGO, you had an outfit.   Like having your own personal fairy godmother.    In High School art class my teachers asked, "How did you graduate first grade???".

Why don't they have Garanimals for Adults?    I have been "Relieved Of Command" regarding the dressing of our daughter.   Apparently she'll look too much like a hobo or a circus clown if I make the attempt.

Keep in mind I haven't required alot of flair for most of my life getting ready for work.   It's always been a uniform or protective equipment of some sort.     So maybe I need to sneak in some practice with the baby while Mike's not paying attention......

In the 1970's Mom's always had these enormous purses.    There was an animated cartoon in the mid 1950's called "Felix The Cat" (See "Felix The Cat : The Magic Bag" on YouTube).    He walked around with this bag that could change into an aircraft carrier or a solar panel.      In looking at all the bags that we'll be shlepping around, it reminds me of those purses Mom had.    She could pull out a kleenex, codeine cough syrup, a bag of popcorn, hide an entire dinner Ham, or help someone into the country.     My Dad was the same way.    I remember trying to pull my Dad's jacket off the back of the chair, and having it fall on me, and realizing I was trapped under alot of weight.   Every key, knives, tools, flashlights, you name it, it was in there.

I SWORE TO GOD I would never become those people.    But it's happening.    We're going to become THEM.

You'll see us walking down the street, me in a jacket weighing 40 pounds, dragging a bag weighing twice that much, and our baby in Mike's arms in a Gold Lame' pantsuit (my idea, and we'll be running too late to change her).

Mike irons EVERYTHING.    Unlike him, I pull it out of the dryer, or I do the... wait for it... sniff test.    If it doesn't smell like my armpit or worse, it's wearable.   Most guys function in this manner.    It's worked for like 10,000 years, so get off my back....

Mirror mirror on the wall...

Sigh… it’s happening.  The spot of blonde, or what I had convinced myself were blonde, hairs on my goatee have turned… GRAY!  Tony, that sweet lovable man, has been assuring me that they weren’t gray for months.  I foolishly believed him.  However, today time ran out on my denial.  They are gray.  How could this be possible?!?  I’m only thirty…two!!!!  If that wasn’t bad enough as I was showering I found some on my CHEST!  Before you know it I will be wearing sandals with socks, denim shorts, gas station sunglasses, and walk around with a blue tooth in my ear.  I’M A DAD!  I love it, but I could do without the gray hair or the gas station sunglasses.

A few months ago I was telling Megan this story I had read about a woman approaching a gay couple in a grocery store, they were with their toddler who was throwing a fit.  The woman apparently asked them where that child’s mother was.  I know that the idea of gay parents is new to many people, but really?  Megan said that she hopes if that ever happens to Tony and I that I will tell her that I am in fact her mother.  LOL, I love her.

27 weeks! 

THE FINAL COUNT DOWN!

I haven’t been very good about blogging lately.  The truth is I have been just completely overwhelmed with all there is to get ready.  My amazing husband has been busting his butt to get our house redone and ready for Zoey.  And our friends have truly been awesome in helping that process along.  I sometimes get way too caught up in what I want to have done before she gets here, and it takes Tony making me take the time to stop and remember what an amazing blessing we are getting, and that as long as the three of us are together and happy all will be well.  I read not too long ago that two of the things that cause couples the most stress are a remodel and having a baby… we chose to do both in the same year.  I know right? 

You know what?  I know it is all going to be okay.  This whole process, including all of the emotional stress, will be more than worth it when we have our little daughter in our arms. 

So today marks the first day of the last trimester… the last trimester!  In so many ways it feels like Megan was just coming through our door telling us she was pregnant!  And in other ways it seems like it is never going to get here.  Up next baby showers and shopping and classes! 

This pic is a little late it is the 26 week pic from last week.  THAT’S OUR KID IN THERE!!

WORSHIP THE BELLY!!!

25 WEEK BELLY PICS!

Cutest Belly EVER!

24 weeks!!!

What I discovered during our first pass at the baby registry is that even though I am married to the BUTCHEST man on the planet, he’s sort of a wimp when it comes to shopping.  I DID forewarn him that he would need to eat, stretch, and hydrate before we went.  Is it my fault he didn’t listen when I told him this would be a marathon not a sprint? 

ANY WAY…

Megan is 24 weeks and 4 days pregnant today!  She continues to just blow me away with how well she is taking the changes in her body; I guess the fact that she looks so beautiful must help.  Even still, I don’t know how she does it with such a great attitude and such grace.  She truly is amazing.

Dear Zoey,

My beautiful daughter you are the light of my life.  It is a mere 16 weeks until you make your arrival into the world, and I am torn between sheer joy, like a kid before Christmas, and panic because I want everything to be ready and fitting your arrival.  We are working on getting your home finished for you.  Papa and I both want to create a safe place for you that always feels like love.  Your papa half jokingly asks me if I am going to let him hold you once and awhile when you are born.  I say half joking because the truth is I have carried you in my heart and dreamed of you in my head for so long that when I finally have you in my arms I might not be able to let you go.  My wish for you is that you are safe, healthy, and happy.  I cannot wait to meet you.

All my love,

Daddy

24 weeks There is a princess in there!

I love the smell of baby registry in the morning....

Tony here...

Yeah, about the title, it’s an “Apocalypse Now” reference….

It’s kinda how I felt going into Babies R Us Wednesday night.    You’re all very familiar with how military Generals have to use electronic barcode scanners to obtain tanks, guns, tents, and warfare materials for Iraq and Afghanistan.  Actually, that’s not how it happens, but maybe we’d have less wars if they had to meticulously inventory what a newborn needs as they do that stuff.   When the girl at the Baby Registry counter set us up with the scanner and set us up to go out into the store, she had on one of those “overworked stewardess” fake smiles.  Like she’d been on a red-eye to Detroit and back overnight.   Maybe she was just coaxing me to run out of the store.   Or maybe that was just me.

Keep in mind I was raised by two redneck Mississippi parents.   My mother didn’t have a “Diaper Genie Mark III Cryogenic Stasis Unit” or a “Pamper’s Cuddler’s Diapers Fast-Autoloader”.    From what I could tell my mother had a couple of sheets, maybe 3 cotton diapers, dangerous baby pins, some rags, etc.   As far as I can tell, I didn’t have a portion of my butt rot off.   So when I’m looking out of the corner my eye at Mike after we’ve scanned the 500 count diapers box the 6th time, I was a bit befuddled.  Seriously. 

Wait… HOW many diapers are we going to need?!?

What do you MEAN we’re not done?!?

  

If I suggested at this point that our baby have anything less than what’s on our inventory list, they’d be dragging the bottom of the river for my body.    But I admit I’m more than a little anxious about these “high tech” devices for our child.    When it came to selecting Zoey’s play center (the bouncy thing she sits in), Mike walks up and is all excited about the most elaborate techno monstrosity.   There isn’t a square inch on this device that doesn’t light up, make noise, or spin.  Frankly, a 747 aircraft revving on the tarmac and throttling up for take-off could sneak by this device with less noise.  And EVERYTHING has a built-in MP3 player.  The diaper stacker DOES NOT need an MP3 player……

I honestly didn’t know there were 10 types of blankets for the baby.  Receiving blankets, Swaddling blankets, baby quilts, shower blankets, oiling blankets, everyday blankets, dress-up blankets, etc.  In one aisle I think we simply scanned everything.  I did not feel like I knew what was going on.

WOH WOH WOH… research… blah blah formula

Strangely, both Mike and I ignored the “Suggested” Babies R Us inventory.  One of the key items we missed was a baby monitor.   As I went to sleep last night I was chuckling to myself about our current lack of a baby monitor.  Would we ever open the package?  Since I am currently at a loss of when Mike will actually put the baby down, let go of her, or let someone take her out of his sight, I view this less as a “forgotten” item.   I jokingly wonder if it’ll EVER be used.  Maybe her first day of KINDERGARTEN.  LOL.  He’s not going to let go of Zoey till at least she’s 25 years old.

At the end of the day, I will move Heaven and Earth for this child.   And I’ve already accepted there is something we forgot, or sometime where I’ll have to make a late hour run for.  Maybe in the snow and ice.  And I’ll do it gladly.



Family Dinners.... with PRINCESSES

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY PAPA BEAR!!!  Yesterday was Tony’s birthday and we had a great birthday dinner with our family, including Megan, her daughter, and husband.  Tony is way more comfortable making people feel special than being celebrated himself, but he deserved all the attention he got and more.  When he was opening his gifts he asked Megan's daughter to help him.  It was the cutest thing you have ever seen.  I know he was doing it partially because all little kids like to open presents, even other people's, and partially because he knew her cuteness would take the spotlight off of him.  I had this moment when I looked at everyone there to celebrate my husband and my heart was beyond full.  They love him so much; the truth is he is very easy to love. 

Tony about to have a panic attack from the attention

Tony using Megan's daughter as a an attention "shield"

One of the best parts about last night was my first baby, my niece Devyn, was there.  I call her my first baby because even though I always knew I wanted kids, it was her birth that sealed the deal.  I was 18 when she was born, younger than she is now.  The very first time I held her there was this instant connection and bond.  When her mother had to go back to work, I took care of her.  I loved every minute of it and I still think of her as my baby. 

Princess Devyn and I then…

Still my pretty pretty princess punkin head

When I was at my worst in my addiction the closest I could get to pulling it together was when she was around, not that I was able to do it very often, but for her I tried.  The circle of life is amazing, and one of the coolest things is that very soon I will get to see my first baby holding Zoey.  I hope that they are as close as Devyn and I were.  She’s a beautiful young lady and smarter than she even knows.  She isn’t completely aware yet of how amazing she is, but my hope for her is that she will soon.  Devyn is also fiery and stubborn, and sometimes she drives me crazy, but I do admire her strength and her convictions.  No one will ever run over her that is for sure.  I am so glad that Zoey will have her as an example to look up to.