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Apr 7

My first year as a Father.

Posted on Wednesday, April 7, 2010 in male perspective

It is still weird for me to even say that…the whole “Father” thing.  But, it is true I am a dad, and as of today I have been one for a year.  I think if you ask Cora she will tell you that I have done a decent job.

I have so many memories and I am sure I will leave out some of the good ones, but I wanted to try to get some of my thoughts down about the amazing, went way too fast year.  I mean really, she is a year already?  It always sounded so cliche when other experienced parents would tell me how fast this time would go, but they were all so right. It goes by faster than I could have ever imagined.

Here are some of my many highlights and not-so highlights from the past year (they probably won’t be in exact chronological order):

Being with my wife for the birth of our child – What an amazing experience.  From nearly being sent home from the hospital because Jodi “wasn’t really in labor” and “just because it is your due date doesn’t mean that is when you are going to have your baby”, to being worried for my child’s safety when the “labor swat team” came in when Cora’s heart rate dropped way to low, to finding out that our first child was girl, to not getting any sleep the first two nights in the hospital…it was all so ridiculously wonderful.

Freaking out in the middle of the night - In the first month of my daughters life sleep was at a minimum.  Apparently for me sleep deprevation leads to craziness in the head.  On night I was sleeping and literally jumped out of bed ran to the door of our room paranoid looking for our daughter.  Jodi asked me what was wrong and I responded “Where’s Cora!”  Half asleep she replied, “I don’t know.” which only sent me deeper in to my panic.  Jodi asked me if I had checked in the basinet (probably thinking I had lost it).  I finally went over to it and had to get within inches of Cora’s face to feel comfortable that she was okay, which she was.

Another time I had gotten up in the middle of the night and changed Cora and then went back to bed.  Later I woke up and heard Cora in her room.  In my crazy head that meant that I had left her in there instead of bringing her back into our room where the basinet was.  I jumped out of bed freaked out that our poor daughter was seconds away from falling off the changing table.  When I got there she was safe with her mother!

Cora’s fever – I don’t remember how this exactly went down, but Cora had a fever and wasn’t feeling well, but it was stable and she seemed to be doing pretty well.  Jodi went to our friends Tommy and Jamie’s wedding and I stayed home with Cora.  I wanted her to feel like she could have a good time and not need to worry about Cora (basically that I could take care of her by myself).  Well Cora seemed fine, she was pretty happy and playing.  The next time that I took her temperature it was up to 107.  I kinda freaked out!   Jodi came home and she was calm and collected and I was pretty much a basket case.  I was pacing all around the house scared for my daughter’s life.  Obviously everything turned out fine, but that was a horrible time for me.

First Hug - Even then I was pretty sure that it wasn’t really a hug, but it sure felt like it.  This was before she was walking or crawling or anything so I would usually just carry her around.  One day while I was carrying her she took one of her precious little arms and wrapped it around neck.  It absolutely made my heart melt.

Standing on the couch – This was one of the first time that I really had a good laugh with Cora.  She wasn’t really able to put much weight on her legs yet, but if I leaned her up on the back of the couch she could kinda do it.  It would only last for a couple of seconds and then she would fall over like a tree getting cut down.  I would catch before she hit and she thought it was the funniest thing.  That made it extremely funny for me.  Great memory.

Mr. Mom – I blogged about this one time, but a brief recap…It was one of the first times I was home alone watching Cora and of course the perfect storm happened.  I was feeding Cora which was crazy enough by itself (she was a mess and so was I), but then in the middle of it the doorbell rings which apparently sends and electric pulse to my dogs heart because he absolutely went nuts.  I quickly tried to clean Cora off, get her out of the chair and made my way to the door.  I tried to be careful to not drop Cora or let my dog out to kill this nice lady. She was there to buy an item we had on craigslist.  It was complete chaos for about 3 minutes!

Her first laugh – We were at our weekly bible study and at this point Cora was small enough, quiet enough, and sleepy enough for us to bring her with us.  Usually Jodi would take Cora with her when the guys and gals split up, but this night I kept her.  For most of the night I kept her entertained with Jason’s fish tank.  When I had to change her I was giving her zerberts on her belly and she let out her first little laugh.  It was so cute.  I yelled up to Jodi, but she didn’t her me.  On the way home I told her and she didn’t believe me.  Finally a few days later she got to hear it and knew that I wasn’t lying.

Eh Da! - I don’t know how it started, but that is a phrase that Cora and I will yell at each other.  She started it, but she only really does it with me.  She will say it and then I say it back.  It like it because it is ours.

Egg Hunt – This moment was bitter sweet.  It happened a couple of weeks ago when we went to visit Chris, Brigit, and MC.  We went with them to their Church’s Eggpolsion.  They an Egg Hunt and designated areas for different age groups.  One of them was 1-2 and I thought we would let Cora give it a shot even though she wasn’t quite 1.  Well I took Cora by the hand a lead her into the craziness.  Going into it I didn’t really think that it would be a big deal.  To be honest I didn’t really think she would get what was going on.  I pointed out the first egg and she slowly bent over and picked it up.  She wanted to play with it and I was trying to explain to her that she should put it in the basket and get more.  I finally got her to let it go and her next thought was to take it out again.  I was able to get her attention focused on another egg and from that point something changed.  It was like all the sudden a light went on.  She grabbed the second egg dropped it in the basket and was off for the third and the forth and so on.  Cora has learned many things over this past year but they were all normal things a child is supposed to learn.  This was different…she went to an event and partipated just like the other kids.  This may have been the first time that I realized that she isn’t going to be little forever.

Reunited – Jodi and Cora along with most the women from her family went to Chicago to visit her cousin and her new baby.  They we gone for a week.  While it was nice to have the alone time to get some things done I had been meaning to and never getting around to, it was also really hard to be away from them.  Jodi and Cora got home on a Monday around 10 am.  I come home for lunch to see them and when I walked in the door I saw Cora across the room.  She saw me too and when she did, she made a squealing noise while flapping her arms.  It brought instant tears to my eyes.

I know that was long, but they are memories I never want to forget.  God is so good to us.  What a wonderful year.  I look forward to all the rest…I just hope they don’t all go by so fast.

Feb 16

Why we love Sarasota

Posted on Tuesday, February 16, 2010 in Featured, male perspective

Jodi and I often say how much we love living in Sarasota. There is just so much to do, things going on, and places to go.  Unfortuntily with our busy schedules we don’t get to experience these things very often.

Two weekends was an exception to the rule.  On Friday night Jodi and I asked Bri to come over and babysit.  We had her get there just as Cora was going down so we left the house around 8:30.  We went to this popular Tapas Bar & Resturant called Ceviche.  It was great.  There are four floors to the restuarnt.  The first two are main eating resturant, the third is a bar with a stage and dance floor and and the roof is a second outdoor bar.  We had a great time there.

On Saturday we got up and decided to take a stroll around downtown Sarasota.  The farmers market was just wrapping up so we strolled through there for a little bit.  We then wandered through some little shops and thrift stores.  It was great.  We had no agenda just puttsing around enjoying the great weather.  Here are a few of the pictures we took of Cora while down there.  (I also added another page at the top of the our Home Page titled Photo Albums, you can got there to see more pictures)

Saturday night we went to dinner with some new friends at Libby’s on Hillview (the first restaurant we were going to had closed up shop).  This was a really nice place.  We had a great time and it was really nice to get to know Angie and Rich.

It was a rare weekend.  One that was fun. long and full of adventure…even though we never left Sarasota county.

Jan 27

Week one in the books

Posted on Wednesday, January 27, 2010 in P90X, male perspective

I am officially on my first day of the second week and I have to say that I think it is going well.  Day 2 (plyometrics), which I will be doing again tomorrow, was probably the hardest work out I have ever done in my life. Three quarters through the work out I was only doing the exercises about half as long as they were on the video, and then with about 11 minutes the computer froze.  I thanked Mr. Computer a couple of times beacuse I was already dead.

Other that the plyometrics, the next hardest thing is the meal plan.  It takes forever to try to plan out your day.  I do think I have developed a appreciation for eating good food.  I feel like I have more energy because my body actually has fuel to burn rather than fat to store.  I will keep the updates coming.  Mostly so I can look back.  Hopefully my journey we be encouraging for someone else to try.

Jan 20

and so it begins

Posted on Wednesday, January 20, 2010 in Featured, P90X, male perspective

I can’t say that I have really done much of any exercise since…about Thanksgiving.  You know how it goes.  Your work has a pot luck Thanksgiving the week before so you eat like crap the whole week.  Then you have a huge Thanksgiving dinner with your bible study group the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.  Then you have a huge Thanksgiving dinner on Thanksgiving.  Next the cookies start coming in at work, people are baking cookies and giving away snacks and rather than make anyone feel bad you of course eat as much as you can.  By this time you might as well wait till after Christmas to try to get back in shape.  But, then comes new years and before you know it, you weigh the most you ever have.  You know how it is.

Maybe you don’t, but that is how it went for me this past year.  Now I am typically not one to make New Year’s resolutions, I did realize that I had to something.  Jodi felt the same way.  She didn’t quite give in to goodies like I did, but she too felt like it was time to get back in shape.  Our solution…P90X.

Today was day one.  I got up early this morning and started my journey to getting in shape.  I didn’t go crazy since it was my first day, but I felt the burn.  I think I am really going to like this.  Jodi and I are also doing the meal plan that they suggest to stick to while you are  going through the program.  The crazy thing to me is that we are eating more food during the duration of the day then we did before.  I fell like I am already noticing the benifits.  No I am not that crazy that I think I got buff off one day, but I had way more energy today, never crashed like I usually do around 4pm, and just felt better.  Maybe it is mental, but I am encouraged.

I am sure I will ad more posts about how it is going.  Stay tuned.

Jan 15

Mr. Mom?

Posted on Friday, January 15, 2010 in Featured, male perspective

Okay, it has been a really long time since I have written in the blog (is it in the blog or on the blog…anyway).  I don’t know why I have taken the hiatis I have, but it hasn’t only been from the blog, this includes most things to do with the computer.  I check my email every third day or so, I haven’t updated my status on Facebook since who know when, and what is this Twitter thing I keep hearing about? (Just kidding on that last one, but seriously)

I just haven’t made it a priority of late, I would much rather spend time with my beautiful wife and baby girl.  But, yesternight was a perfect picture of what chaos can insue when Dad is left in charge.

It started with Jodi dropping Cora off at Nadco at 4:40 in the afternoon.  This was the first night of her self-defense class and it started at 5.  I took the liberty to show Cora off to anyone who cared at work.  I am a proud Dad.  So, I shut down my computer and strolled Cora out.  She was in a really good mood so she was alot of fun.  She does this really cute thing where she makes this whispering sound.  It is so precious.  If you make the sound back to her you can have a whole whispering conversation.  I think it is so cool how you can have a conversation with you child without saying a word.

We got home and it was time to feed her dinner.  She is still downin’ the Mama’s milk, but she is also eating home made baby food.  I was in charge of the baby food since Jodi was out learning how to kick you butt.  On the menu was cauliflower that was mixed with some cheese I believe.  The first few bites go great.  Cora, like her Dad, digs the cauliflower.  But, about half way through I get the lock jaw.  She is not opening those lips for anything.  She has also gotten quiet good at swatting away the spoon when she is not interested.

I tried everything, I made her laugh and snuck it in only to have her ooze it back out, I heated it up to make sure it hadn’t gotten to cold, I even resorted to acting like a gorilla to get her attention.

Just as I am making a complete fool of myself I see a woman walk up to my front door (who can see me making a fool of myself).  This woman doesn’t look familiar and all I am thinking is how bad timing this is.  Then she does the most foolish thing a visitor to my humble house can do…she rang the door bell (I know).  Needless to say Chase (our dog) goes ballistic.  There must be some sort of electronic device in my dog that is set off by the ringing of the door bell because whenever it happens he acts like he wants to get out of his skin.  Oh but even better, this is not “normal” ballistic Chase this is bite wound recovering, infection having, surgery gotten, staph infection diagnosed, cone wearing Chase.  Who even though he has been wearing the cone for about 2 weeks still has not figured out the dimensions of said cone.

So, there I am with Cora in the highchair food all over her face, Chase going nuts whipping his cone into every possible object, and me not knowing what to do.  My first thought was answer the door, so I got up, boxed out Chase like I was trying to get a rebound and cracked the door.  ”Hi I called about the chair your selling on Craigslist.” she says.  ”Um, okay.  That must have been my wife you talked to and she’s not her. Hold on a second.” I said and I shut the door.  Next thought: put Chase somewhere that he can’t kill these people.  I manage to get Chase in the sun room, but of course, he is still going nuts, which after a while can make you go nuts too!  Thought #3: I need to go out to the garage and show them the chair.  Thought #4: I can’t leave Cora in here by herself.  I unlatch Cora from her cauliflower encrusted throne and take her out to the garage.

The good news is the lady bought the chair and didn’t even try to get me down on the price.  I think she may have felt bad for me.  Seriously, that was one evening.  I don’t know how Jodi does it everyday.  She is a great woman, wife and especially mother.  I am forever grateful to the strengths and abilities that God blessed her with.

Aug 23

Cora’s Dedication

Posted on Sunday, August 23, 2009 in male perspective

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Okay, so this actually happened 2 weeks ago and I meant to sit down and write about it right away, however what I want to do and what actually happens seem to be getting farther and farther away from each other these days.

I want to start off by thanking God for our beautiful baby girl. Cora has been such a blessing to us and we are completely humbled that God has entrusted us with one of his own creations. The morning started off a little messy, but that is our life now! Ultimately we couldn’t have asked for a better day.

Our church is pretty casual, even for Florida! I typically were flip flops, shorts and depending on the day, either a polo or a t-shirt. However, my wife and I along with Cora were going to be on stage this day and from what Jodi tells me you can’t wear flip flops with kaki pants. The only brown shoes that I had the would work are a pair of Timberland boots that I have had since high school. I still think my flip flops would have been fine, but it all worked out.

The church has us meet in a secluded room before the service starts so they can go over names and how things are going to play out. It is at this point that things start to get messy. Cora was in her car seat and a ripe oder started to permeate from her direction. We had a few minutes before we had to head to the sanctuary so Jodi picked her up to change her only to find out that she had blown out of her diaper and the mess had gone up her back and onto her brand new dress that we bought just for this occasion. We used up nearly all the wipes we had to try to clean her up. Luckily we didn’t want the typical frilly white dress and went with a dark brown one with pink spots so you couldn’t really see anything, plus it was on the back. The one thing you could notice was the stench. And I am not using that word lightly, the girl stunk. One of the other moms had some mellon flavored hand sanitizer and was nice enough to let us use it. Instead of smelling just like poop she now smelled line a mellon flavored poop-sicle!

It was time for us to make our descent to the sanctuary. When we got there we waited back stage for Cora’s big moment. People are taking pictures and getting ready for the word to go and that is when Cora decides to give me a present of some warm chunky spit up down the front of her dress and all over my hand. Normally that stuff doesn’t bother me, but maybe it was the combo of the warm chucks and the smell of the melon poop-sicle that put me over the edge. Luckily I was able to compose myself, but I was pretty grossed out.

Finally it was time to dedicate Cora. Just a quick note for those of you who are not familiar with the term. There are many denominations within Christianity. One of the issues that separates denominations is baptism. Some feel that infant baptism is the correct way and others feel that baptism should be a decision that is made by a person after they have asked Jesus into their hearts. Being Baptists, Jodi and I agree with the latter. Since we don’t do infant baptism (christening) the dedication is a way to not only bring the child before family and the congregation, but more importantly the child is brought before God and at that time the families are dedicating to Him to raise the child to love Christ and follow Him.  Okay, so we were last in line of four other couples.  Pastor Tim and his wife Jennifer introduced each couple, the maternal and paternal grandparents, and most importantly the little one being dedicated.  When they introduced us Tim asked for any family that was there for us to stand up.  It was so humbling to see so many people in the crowd that love us and Cora stand up to support us.  He gave each parent a book to encourage us in our parenthood as well as a little bible for each child.  After Tim asked the congregation to take part in the raising of the children’s lives he closed in prayer.

We got some pictures with Tim and then we went into the sanctuary to find our family and enjoy the service.  Tim gave an awesome sermon about finding Christ and how there is no better time than the present.  He explained how we tend to put things off until tomorrow and how we always think we will get to things later.  His point was if that is our attitude tomorrow will never come.  He went on to say that everyone who was there at the service had a decision to make that day!  Very powerful and thought provoking.  We are blessed to have a pastor who is so excited about Christ and the impact He makes on people’s lives.

After the service we were hanging out in the lobby and as people started to leave we realized how many of our friends were also there to support us.  We are incredibly blessed by the friends that God has provided us.  It is so encouraging to know that they are there for us.

For lunch Jodi, Cora and I met our families at Chili’s.  We had a great time hanging out with everyone and are very grateful for all that could make it for Cora’s special day.  We truly felt loved.  Before the food got there I took a moment to thank everyone for coming and how excited I was to know that everyone at that table would play in intricate part in Cora’s life.  I later told Jodi how I kinda got choked up in the moment just thinking about how blessed we are.

So, that is it.  Cora has officially been dedicated to the Lord.  We pray continually for God to use her in a mighty way.  We are excited to see what He has planned.  What a beautiful God.

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Feb 28

That isn't supposed to be a…

Posted on Saturday, February 28, 2009 in male perspective

**WARNING** If words like Uterus, cervix, or vagina affend you don’t continue.

Jodi gave a little insight into our first Lamaze class in the blog below, but I thought I would throw my 2 cents in.

First off, these classes are driving me nuts.  We have the same lady for every class we’ve been to, and she is really starting to annoy me.  Examples: The first time I heard her say “Feel free to ask a question as soon as you have it.  I know from being pregnant that with baby brain if you don’t ask right away you may never get it back.” it was kinda funny.  But, she starts EVERY class with the same lame jokes.  Also, she wastes so much time.  I think she is being paid until 9 pm so she tries her best to make every class take that long.  Even if that means that she has to ask if there are any questions 4 time and then sit there in awkward silence.  Or, just talk really slow and go over things numerous times.  Also, and I just realized this last class and I am sure it is going to kill over the next FIVE weeks, but she is ALWAYS touching herself.  Maybe it was because we were doing the whole “relaxation thing” last class, but as she was instructing the Mom’s-to-be how to relax I am pretty sure she was helping herself relax.  She was caressing her neck and then other times stroking her leg.  Weird.

Enough about the teacher, she is a nice lady, just a couple of quarks.  The part that I so desperately wanted to blog about is great.  I am sure I won’t do it justice with this story, but I will do my best.

The first thing we do is introduce ourselves to everyone and discussed if we are having a boy or girl or in our case don’t know (we started our own category).  Then we begin to talk about the birth.  All this time our teacher lady has had some different items on a table.  I paid no attention to them as she always has some sort of props she uses.  So as she is discussing why birth is painful (I whisper to Jodi that is was the apple in Eden) she leans back to her table and grabs a couple of props.  One is a realistic model of the pelvis hip area.  The other is some sort of knit ball.   I thought the ball was going to represent the baby, but then I notice that this ball has short sleeve like opening and all the sudden I get it.  I lean to Jodi with a smirk on my face and say “That isn’t supposed to be a…”  and she smirks back at me nodding her head, YES.  It was a Knit Uterus!  That’s right, a Knit Uterus.  I happened to look it up on line and found a company selling this thing, here is there description.

One of the most effective cervical effacement and dilatation teaching tools ever devised, this knitted uterus model is made of variegated blue acrylic yarns that differentiate the fundus, lower segment, cervix, and vagina (attached with snaps).


I mean seriously.  The thing looked like a sweater, stripes and all.  The best part is when she proceeded to unsnap the vagina, stick her hand up the cervix and pull the baby’s head out!  (I’m not sure if I got that order right) I don’t know how to take these classes seriously.  I mean really, a Knit Uterus.

knit-uterus

I am all for knitting, don’t get me wrong.  I am sure it is great hobby.  I nice sweater or cap is a great idea.  Old ladies sitting around knitting random items of clothing for members of their families is a great gesture.  But the idea of a some factory mass producing stripped knit Uteruses makes me sick, and also laugh.  It takes a talent to knit a sweater or even a blanket, but it you can knit a Uterus you are a yarn master.

Feb 16

Don't call it a come back.

Posted on Monday, February 16, 2009 in male perspective

**WARNING** If words like Penis, Penis-head, or Slide Projector affend you don’t continue.

 

Yeah, it has been a while since there has been a little male perspective on this blog.  Believe me, I have gotten all the emails and letters requesting for my insight.  So, without any further delay…just don’t call it a come back (little LL reference).

 

Have you ever been in a room with a bunch of people making jokes and laughing with you wife, then look around and realize that the two of you are the only ones laughing.  That pretty much sums up what our first experience was like at the “Baby Care” classes we are attending at our hospital.  

 

Funny thing you may not know about me…when I get in large group of people and there is awkward silence I always go through a million different funny things (well things I think would be funny) to say out loud.  Every once in a while I actually say them, but usually it is just under my breath to Jodi.  Like at this class, we are there maybe 4 minutes and here it comes…awkward silence, and in my head I just want to blurt out “So, babies huh?”.  I know, it is not even that funny, but in my head it is hilarious.  

 

So the class starts off with this nice lady welcoming us, and breifly going over what we will be learning.  The next thing I remember the lights are out and some how this lady got here hands on my grandpa’s slide projector from the late 70’s.  My first thought is “aren’t we at Lakewood Ranch Women’s Center, where is the flat screen with the Blue Ray video?” my second thought was “how does this lady know my grandpa?”.  

 

She starts flipping through slides and mentioning some helpful tips.  I have to admit that over all I learned some stuff that will most likely be useful information.  But, then came the circumcision discussion.  This is when I almost lost it.  She must have said the word Penis or Penis-head 12 -17 times in a row.  But the kicker was when she was warning us about the recovery for the little guy’s little guy.  Her exact words were “The first time you open up the diaper there is going to be an angry little penis looking back at you.”  Of course all I could think about was a penis with an angry face questioning me as to why I put it through such torture.

 

Jodi and I thought it was hilarious.  It was so funny.  But then we looked around and we were the only ones laughing.  We started to think that maybe we were too immature for what we are getting ourselves into.  Then again maybe we could laugh about it because we are actually calm enough to see the humor in a good Penis-head joke.

Oct 24

Indescribable

Posted on Friday, October 24, 2008 in male perspective

This past Tuesday we had another appointment.  This time we met Dr. Alvarez.  This is the first time we’ve actually met the Dr.  Every other time we’ve been there it has been a mid-wife that we have met with.

Well, if you saw my entry “Looking for a Heartbeat” you would know that at the last appointment that is what we were doing.  But we never got to hear it.  So this time we thought we might have the oppurtunity.

We weren’t in the room very long when Dr. Alvarez came in.  Like I said until this point we had been dealing with the mid-wife and nurses (all women).  When Dr. Alvarez walked in he introduced himself, shook our hands, and got right to business.  Just not quite as sentimental as the women have been.  He asked Jodi to lay down and before we knew what was going on he had whipped out some sort of device out of his coat pocket, placed it on my wife’s abdomen, and the next thing we knew we heard this fast paced little “thump, thump”.  It was little dubs hearbeat.  We had finally found it.  Don Johnson would be so proud!

I don’t know if you have seen it or not, but there is an awesome video out there by a Christian speaker Louie Giglio (I posted the segment from this video below, I suggest watching the whole thing) called Indescibable.  It is about how huge and vast God is.  He explains this by showing some awesome constellations and different galaxies out in space.  In one point in the video he shows the Vela Pulsar way out in space, Louie proceeds to tell us that NASA pointed a radio telescope at it and they picked up this rhythmic beat from it.  He says that all of creation was glorifying God and it didn’t want to miss out. 

That is the exact feeling I got from hearing my child’s heartbeat, that it was glorifying God. 

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpCR-mvzCNs]

Sep 27

looking for a heartbeat

Posted on Saturday, September 27, 2008 in male perspective

I think Don Johnson said it best in 1986.  ”Heartbeat, I’m lookin for a heart beat.”

Jodi and I had our second appointment yesterday.  This was supposed to be the “hear the heartbeat” visit.  But, I guess it just wasn’t meant to be.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULI5kolBpAk]

The second appointment started alot like the first.  Jodi and I both got off work early, we met in the Outback parking lot so we could ride together, and we were both excited; this time to hear our little buddy’s “Heartbeat”.  

We get to the women’s center and when we are in the elevator we start talking about what is going to happen.  As the doors open I tell Jodi that I am a little worried that I am not going to be as excited as I was for the first one.  Everyone has told me “wait until you hear the heartbeat”, so I feel like I have to live up to these expectations. But I really liked seeing him, what if I don’t react the same way from hearing him?

When we first walked into the office the first question my wife asked was “do you need a urine sample?”  The reason for her concern was that she really had to go.  The receptionist said yes, so Jodi thought she was going to have to hold it.  As we are about to go sit down, the receptionist said “if you really have to go, we can get your sample now.”  Lifesaver!

While you sit in the waiting room they have a TV that is entertianing you with some CNN health channel.  Did you know that 67% of the nations water supply has flouride added to it.  Well I do and now you do too.

Jodi’s name gets called and we head back.  She hops on the scale and it reads the same number as the first appointment.  I ask the nurse if this is normal and she says it is fine and ushers us  into the room.

Jodi hops on the transformer and we wait.  We are sitting there for a little while and then the mid-wife comes in.  She asks us some questions and then I ask her if it is normal that my wife hasn’t gained any weight.  She tells me that they don’t even worry about weight, as long as she is eating, in the first trimester.  To which I reply, “I don’t get it, she has definitly gained girth?”  They both just laughed.

So now the mid-wife takes this microphone looking thing that is attached to what looks like a tape recorder, but is actually some sort of speaker.  They goop up my wife’s belly and start rubbing the mic on it.  They were shoving it into her gut, moving it around, but they couldn’t hear anything.  We were starting to get worried, but the mid-wife said they were going to get a better mic.  Again she tried but no matter how hard she was “looking for a heartbeat” she couldn’t find one.

Later Jodi and I talked about how we were worried that maybe something was wrong.  I think the mid-wife could sense the concern from us and she told us that Jodi’s uterus was sitting very far back and that was proboably why we couldn’t hear him.  She also said we would just go do another ultra-sound if we didn’t hear it.

So we didn’t hear him and we had to change rooms.  The ladies left and Jodi had to get dressed.  We both looked at each other and to our surprise we were both excited.  Jodi actually liked the idea of seeing him better, and as you know from the beginning of this entry that is what I preferred too.

So we went in the the other room and they dimmed the lights.  Next thing we new there he was up on the monitor again.  But, this time it was so much better.  He actually looked like a baby.  A very small miniture baby, but still.  He was no longer the shape of a peanut with stubs.  He had legs with knees and arms, and I think he was actually break-dancing. The nurse said that the way his chest and head were moving he had the hiccups. It was so awesome to see him looking somewhat human!

We got another picture which I will upload soon, but what an awesome experience, again.  God is so amazing, our baby is alive, developing, growing and even break-dancing.  This is no accident, this is God at work.