Waiting

This Is Goodbye, originally uploaded by CrdvJavier

Pregnancy is boring, for dads. Getting the big news was great, and there was a flurry of activity, at first. Now? I'm settled into the long, dull wait.

I don't have much to contribute to this part. My wife is going through her own things in her own body, and I do my best to help, and otherwise life is back to normal. It's a bit of a let-down after all the excitement, but I guess I should enjoy this while it lasts!

Support

Support, originally uploaded by Andreas Reinhold

My wife is normally super-competent at getting stuff done around the house, so I'm only marginally aware of her contributions. I'll notice a pile of dirty dishes in the sink, for example, and the next time I walk through the kitchen they're all cleaned and back in the cupboards.

Then she got pregnant. I knew that things would change, but what I didn't know was how many things I take for granted. When she started feeling tired and sick, and suddenly the chores didn't get done, I was caught somewhat off guard. In turn, she is surprised when I actually wash the dishes or cook a meal.

I don't mind taking more responsibility for these things. It's just that there are unspoken agreements in our marriage about who does what, and she had accepted most of the "maid" duties.* It's all stuff that I did without a second thought in college, but not in our marriage, so I get bonus points for doing it now. It's a good arrangement.

*My job description includes giving back rubs, killing scary bugs, and taking out the damn dog at 6:00 in the morning.

Sickness

seventy :: 365days, originally uploaded by ♥stefani!

Chronologically, my wife's at the stage where she could start to expect feeling sick, sore, and generally miserable all the time. The fact that she is right on schedule could be taken as an indication that the pregnancy is proceeding normally. For some reason, she doesn't take any comfort in this suggestion.

Color wheel puzzle blocks

I wasn't aware that I had strong opinions about baby toys until my niece's first Christmas. She got so much noisy, annoying, plastic crap! If I had my druthers, our home would institute a ban on any toy that requires batteries (for the baby, that is).

I know what I hate--the ones that talk are the absolute worst--but I'm still learning which toys I like. There must be lots of great toys for kids that don't drive parents crazy, and they will be posted here as they are discovered.

First up: I'm adding this wooden color wheel to my "approved" list. This puzzle is available online at A Toy Garden. Pottery Barn sells a set with fewer colors and labeled blocks.

Kid Kustoms hotrod strollers

The Roddler by Kid Kustoms, originally uploaded by jalopnik

I may never drive a fancy ride myself, but $2,500 from the muscle car fund can buy my kid a stock "Roddler," pictured above. Custom fenders, paints and trim cost extra. These strollers look incredible, so why do I suspect that I'd just feel like an asshole pushing one around?

Link via Babygadget, which I'm going to be watching from now on.

A Second Opinion

After peeing on a couple of pregnancy sticks, my wife made an appointment with her doctor to verify the diagnosis. This was done, again, with a urine test. In return she got a confirmation (yes) and ETA (June).

So that is all very interesting and exciting. Modern science is truly remarkable. Isn't it amazing that we can get all this information, just from looking at pee?

Handmade baby shoes

photo credit: Heather Bailey (via TreeHugger)

I'm a hands-on kind of guy--if I can do something myself, then I will. If I don't know how to do it, I will learn from someone who does, or teach myself. I look forward to creating some baby stuff in the upcoming months, and basic booties look simple enough that I might give it a try.

The pair pictured above are made by Heather Bailey, and she is providing a free pattern if you would like to sew your own. Of course, the best part about do-it-yourself projects is the potential for customization. Ribbons and bows are good for girls, but a boy baby would look awfully stylish in some tiny faux-sneakers.

More instructions and ideas are available at TreeHugger.