Am I pregnant???

So I've been having some really strange things happening to my body, and in some of what I've read, they say that guys can experience pregnancy symptoms too. So, being the ever intrepid explorer and searcher of all knowledge, I decided to take the quiz. Here we go:
Q: Have you missed your period? Well it does tend to happen. But that could be that I don't want to actually see a particular class on a day - convenient missed period! YES!
Q: Are your breasts sore? Not really, but maybe a but tender. Let's just answer no! It happens in winter.
Q: Are you more sleepy than usual? Yes, but that could be that I actually have to work.
Q: Are you feeling moody? According to L, much more moody.
Q: Do you have an increase in cervical discharge? A WHAT! I hope not!
Q: Have you missed more than one period? Dude, we've answered this already (see question 1). I'm sorry! I'll try to be on time in the future! What the heck, let it go!! YES!
Q: Do you feel movement in your lower abdomen? Yes, especially after eating pizza
Q: Are you having weird food cravings? Interesting question - define wierd. I now crave olives and pasta ... hmmm.... and burgers and pies and steak and .... hmmmm...
Q: Are you having more frequent headaches? I teach maths to 42 thirteen-year old, what do you think?
Q: Have you had any bloating? No, but I do float a bit more in the bath. Does that count?
Q: Have you outgrown your clothes? I find that my shirts don't fit so well around my midriff, but I just blame the clothing companies for making the sizes smaller.
Q: Have you had a positive pregnancy test? Yes, the one L peed on before she told me which side to hold (not my finest moment).
AND NOW FOR THE RESULTS:
You answered 7 items out of 12 Yes.
Your score is 60%. You're probably pregnant, see your doctor or midwife!
I KNEW IT!!!

It is very strange how, even though I'm not going through all the physical changes (thank goodness I don't get the morning sickness), the emotional changes have been awesome. I keep having to remind myself that this is really happening, baby! Yeah!!!

What I've learnt so far: Being a guy rocks (something I won't tell L when she's 8 months pregnant in the middle of summer) and then rolls every day as fear and hope collide!

Say cheese

As L and I walked into the doctor's office she turned to me and said, "I need to pee!" something that has been happening quite frequently lately! I did too, but mine could be put down to nerves. She really did need to pee, but couldn't. We were there for our first scan and a ton of thoughts were running through my head. So off I went to the bathroom and left L alone to suffer in silence. And boy did she suffer.


I walked into the doctor's office with one thought: get the scan done so my poor wife can have a pee break. But, oh no, he wanted to chat. Not just about the pregnancy, but about our holiday plans, and how he would go on holiday there as a kid, and .... it seemed like her misery would never end.


Finally, we went through to have the scan. My heart must have thought I was running a marathon because it started pounding away. Not too sure what I expected or wanted to see ... but all of a sudden this incredible peace just settled over me and I knew it would be okay.


Doctor, interesting as ever, showed us the bladder -which by now I thought was just going to pop though L's eyes, and then all around and up and down and blah blah blah. Eventually he found where the little rascal should be ... and there it was ...

Not what I really expected!!! I still lose what should be there from time to time, but I know somethings there. We have another two weeks to go before we get to have another scan - so this first picture of b-2-b (baby-to-be) will just have to do! Not the prettiest, but hey he's only been going for a few weeks. L says he looks like me, I dunno, probably just because he's bald!

Something has changed for us since having this scan. It's like it has all become a lot more real and settled in our hearts. We're talking about it more, planning with more certainty, and open to discussions. It feels good!

What I've learnt so far: Things progress at their own pace! I cannot speed it up or slow it down. So patience is definitely being learnt!

A little whisky please, love

So, up until today, things have been going swimmingly. There have been no major hiccups and the idea that L and I will be parents in about 7 and a half months has begun to settle. It started to feel more like one of those morning-after hangovers, with the dull recollection a couple of times during the day that something significant had happened. What? Who knew!
It was a good, satisfying feeling, like I was growing up. But today we watched "Jaws for the parents-to-be", otherwise known as National Geographic's In the Womb http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/episode/in-the-womb-2228.
I must say that it was a fascinating exploration of the growth of a baby from conception to birth ... but I was left with the uncomfortable feeling of wanting to fast-forward the whole process; like, "let's just skip all the building stuff and get to the holding, cuddling, sleepless nights part!" And to top it off some of the babies just looked like aliens which made me even more anxious. What if our baby is ugly?
Towards the end, the most unbelievable thing happened - the baby was born. And I don't mean unbelievable, in that it was amazing, I mean unbelievable in like "Holy crap! What the hell was that!!!" I couldn't believe they actually showed the baby being born. What parent-to-be wants to see that? The only effect I see it having is us wanting to push the baby right back up there and let it bake for another, I don't know, let's just say 50 to 60 years! And I could see L was affected too. We had to watch a bit of Malcolm in the Middle (yeah the one about the screwed up kids) just to get her mind back on track.
I guess the overall effect was still one of awe. It certainly brought me back to reality. And, while I still want to fast-forward the whole process, I'm now a little more grateful for the next couple of months and the opportunity to get ready - like really ready mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually - you name it, I need it!
What I learnt so far: Babies being made is one &*!£ experience! All the best my love!

Creative-Type Dad: What To REALLY Expect When You're Expecting: My Advice To A New Dad

I found this post and thought it really appropriate!

Creative-Type Dad: What To REALLY Expect When You're Expecting: My Advice To A New Dad

Great advice!

Just a thought

“When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand.” Henri Nouwen

This is an interesting quote I just stumbled onto and it got me thinking. I want to be the most important person in the life of my wife and child (to-be). But, if we raise our children in the way we were raised, then it stands to reason that I would be the one "giving advice, solutions (and) cures". It is our very nature and purpose, especially as guys. If L (your mother) gets hurt, my response is instinctively to protect and "fix".

But I know I have experienced this kind of friendship! I know L has loved me this way and so I know it is possible. I want to be this for you; offering a warm and tender hand if you ever get hurt!

Thought for today: I'm completely out of my depth - but loving it!

The beginning continues ...

and this week has just been a haze of emotions - FEAR being the main one! Baby is only 5 weeks old and already I'm in a state of panic! Is this what to expect from fatherhood - oh boy! It's strange the things that I'm worried about, coupled with the fact that I can't even see it! What will I be like when I can see the baby? Falling off a bike? Knocking his head on a table corner? Running into a wall?? Going on a date (OH DEAR!!!!!!!)

The reality that he/she is on their way is beginning to set in. I find myself day-dreaming about the most bizarre things. What if her head is too big for her body? What if I don't know what to do with her when she arrives and land up forgetting her on the roof of the car? What if Boo (the dog we love to hate) doesn't like her? What if I suck at this? What if ...

But at the moment, while I sit and type this, I'm really scared he/she doesn't make it. The term used is "we might lose him ..." What's with that? I lose money and car keys and my cellphone! But there it is, I'm scared we might lose him. And so, both L and I stalk around the topic, and try not to get too excited, and all the while I think we just want to shout it from the roof-tops. To say "To hell with all of it! We're having a baby." But we can't, you see. We might lose him!

Please understand that it's the most frightening prospect of this whole experience. We really want a baby! And in the middle of it all, I know that the fear that sits in the pit of my stomach, is real love. Love for L - I don't want to see her get hurt! Love for the child-to-be! Love for a God who decided this experience, with us together, would be the best for all. He loves us that much and he knows every feeling and emotion we are experiencing and all I hear him saying is "Everything's gonna be alright, rockabye." (Shaun Mullins - but I think He likes it too).

I got a picture of the baby from the net ... it's not too pretty, but I'm sure he'll fill out soon enough -

See, I told you it wasn't pretty. Tomorrow L and I have been married for 5 years and I still consider myself the luckiest guy! She loves me so much and I love her just the same - what more could I want in life! So we're going away for the night and who knows, there could be a little brother/sister soon. Oh wait, maybe that's not possible right now! Oh well, let's see, shall we.
What I learnt this week:
Fear's normal. Being afraid is what makes us feel and makes us human! But love ... Well love just about conquers all!