Best quotes on Fatherhood

1. "Sherman made the terrible discovery that men make about their fathers sooner or later . . . that the man before him was not an aging father but a boy, a boy much like himself, a boy who grew up and had a child of his own and, as best he could . . . adopted a role called Being a Father so that his child would have something mythical and infinitely important: a Protector, who would keep a lid on all the chaotic and catastrophic possibilities of life." —Tom Wolfe, The Bonfire of the Vanities
2. "My mother protected me from the world, and my father threatened me with it." —Quentin Crisp
3. "My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard. Mother would come out and say, 'You're tearing up the grass.' 'We're not raising grass,' Dad would reply. 'We're raising boys.' " —Harmon Killebrew
4. "You don't put kids under surveillance: It might frighten you. Parents should sit tall in the saddle and look upon their troops with a noble and benevolent and extremely nearsighted gaze." —Garrison Keillor
5. "A man that doesn't spend time with his family can never be a real man." —Marlon Brando as Don Corleone in The Godfather
6. "When I was a boy of 14 my father was so ignorant that I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in only 7 years." —Mark Twain
Taken from Mens Health (and no I don't read the magazine - I linked there from Dudes-to-Dad)

As promised

So I couldn't have been that out of it the other night, although L wasn't too convinced when she the Old Brown Sherrie the next morning. I was just in one of those reflective/buzzed nights. Anyway, I'm back and sober with the picture as promised. Introducing the amazing WOMBIE:

Way too cool still! It astounds me that this being is growing inside L (although I think I covered this the other night???). When I look at it I feel this tinge inside my belly -I still may be pregnant- a tinge of excitement and awe! It's the most beautiful picture I've ever seen!

What I've learn so far: "No, this trick won't work...How on earth are you ever going to explain in terms of chemistry and physics so important a biological phenomenon as first love?"

So here I sit

It's now 21:25 and I'm sitting here alone after a hectic day, pondering. Today L and I went for out 12/13 week scan (wombie is now 12 weeks, 6 days old, and 6,6cm long) and it was... well just amazing! Today, I witnessed this incredible miracle growing inside the person I love the most and wondering if I could love anymore.
Now let me be honest ... I am a little buzzed - a couple of OBS inside me! But still nothing can take away what I saw today:
2 x legs
2 x arms
2 x brain hemispheres
1 x the cutest little tummy
and that amazing sound of melody - again!
So much has changed in such a short space of time. So much growth seems to be happening all too quickly, but still not fast enough.
This awesome life is growing all by itself and already wombie seems to know more about what's going on than I do. I mean, how is it possible? I have 30+ years on this little one, and yet he seems to be getting the upper-hand; always knowing how to surprise me. I stand in awe!!!
When we speak of miracles, I always imagine like the really big things - the T.V inspired sort of miracles. But what I saw today transpires everything I have ever witnessed before. The grace and natural ease at which this little wombie is making its mark, makes me feel incredible small. I begin to doubt every piece of "profundity" (yes it must be a word) I have ever proclaimed before. This little miracle is making its mark on our hearts already. In just a few weeks. What will a lifetime hold?
What I have learnt so far: That I still have so much more to learn but love is an awesome feeling!
p.s. pictures of the scan will follow soon - when the time is closer to when I can actually function and the alcohol hasn't dulled all my senses. Sleep well my babes!

And we will call you ...

Well it has been decided - baby has a name for the next couple of months. And we will call you WOMBIE! It's a combination of womb and raider and is gender neutral. All this was kindly decided by Aunt an Uncle Wombie (who are of course U S of A'ers) and is clearly, if still somewhat confusingly, explained here:
"I think you should call the baby wombie - it's a gender neutral name and also fitting for the in utero carryover to oxygen breathing little one :) Or, at the very least, we should be aunt and uncle wombie." Thanks aunt wombie!
Now that that's decided all we have to do is at some point find a real name. I can imagine little diaper child running around the garden and L screaming after it "Wombie you listen to me and get your wombat little backside in here right now. WOMMMMMBBBBIIIIEEEEE!" The neighbours will love us. It can add to the joy I'm sure they get when I can't find the dog and go shouting around the yard "BOO! COME HERE, BOO!" Lovely.
Anyway, Telkom has finished striking, Julius Malema hasn't said anything stupid in a while, spring is almost here, and this week we go for another scan. 12/13 weeks! I can't believe it!
L's doing well; still nauseous and sore sometimes. The moods aren't too bad - and anyway, I feel partly to blame for her suffering!
What I've learnt so far: 9 months doesn't seem that long anymore - and I can't wait!

p.s. I still forget how old Wombie is! Gotta learn to count soon!

The problem is due to ...

I haven't been around for a while and there is only 1 reason:

I apologise and will be back soon!

The sounds of melody

On Tuesday, L and I went for the scan - and B2B (baby-to-be) has just turned 9 weeks. It was a hell of a day with drama, drama, drama at school and by the time I got in the car to start the hour and a half journey to the doctor/scanner lady, I was way too moody. On the drive down, L told me that she had done the bad-deed and googled to check whether we would be able to hear the heartbeat or not. The result: negative - no heartbeat should be heard. WHAT!! But I kept my composure and kept driving.

Got there again, with L brimming at the eyes, desperately needing to pee (again!). Waited because some insentive women decided she needed a scan too - and she's having triplet.

When we finally entered the room, neither L or I knew what to expect and, being the people we are, decided to see the glass as half-empty. We went through the whole process of seeing L's enlarged bladder and then ... there b2b was - in all his/her glory face down and snuggling well. But the show was just beginning.

Doctor Debbie then offered a sneak preview into a sound that would change everything ... the heartbeat! What an incredible moment. It's a sound that is indescribable and all I could do was laugh in surprise, shock, amazement and awe! It was overwhelming to hear that sound.

Both L and I were really blessed. They say that the heart begins to beat on its own at this stage, with no connection to the brain. All I can say is that I think its another way God shows us how in control he is. This incredibly little heart beats to the rhythm of God alone!

This week, L and I have both ... in our own way ... worked through the realisation that she is pregnant ... and still early in the process with a lot that still can go wrong. But, for me, that sound cemented the concept. I could hear my baby's heartbeat and it struck a chord deep inside me. It's a sound I want to hear over and over again. I want to know this person that's growing inside L. And I want him/her to be part of our lives and our love for each other.

So when I get scared now, I remember that sound and I know that that little heartbeat I heard beating independently of a brain, is wrapped in the hands of a loving God who is ... well ... waiting to introduce him/her to us! I'm looking forward to that moment with great excitement now!

What I have learnt so far: The sound of a baby's heartbeat can drown out all the other noises in my life - even on bad days.