32 Weeks... and a "Daddy" Post

Here we are... 32 weeks down.. whoop whoop! I just want to start out by thanking you all for taking the time to read this blog. This is our journal, our thoughts, and our hearts during this pregnancy. Sometimes it's hard for Jordan and I to put down exactly what we're feeling, because sometimes... we can't even put it into words to one another. But, we just write (type) out our hearts and we know that one day, when we look back on these blog posts... we'll be so glad we took the time to write all this down. Now... for the "Daddy" post... :)

Okay, so here it is, "The Daddy Blog". I am not sure how good this blog will be. I am not always good at sharing what I think and feel, but I am going to try. It is weird to think that I am about to be a Daddy, but with every kick I am able to feel, it is becoming more real. It has seemed like it would be so long before she would get here, but now it is only 8 weeks away, and time is moving fast. As Anna Lee told you last week, I was able to find a teaching job at Constantine Elementary in Anniston. I was so excited to get this position and it has lifted a huge burden off my shoulders. It is also exciting because now I won’t have to work multiple jobs and I will have more time to spend with my baby girl, and of course... I am going to spoil her. Sometimes I talk a big game around Anna Lee about how I am not going to spoil her and I am going to be hard on her, to which her reply is to laugh at me and say that she is going to be such a daddy’s girl and I am going to be wrapped around her finger. Of course I say that it won’t be like that, but deep down I know it will be true.

Since we found out we were going to have a baby it has been hard to believe. I didn’t believe it at first when Anna Lee brought me the pregnancy test with a little bitty faint blue line that I didn’t think was there. Even after my sister-in-law convinced me it was there, Anna Lee still had to go get a digital test that said “pregnant” to convince me. Once I believed we were pregnant, I couldn’t wait to feel her move. Once Anna Lee started feeling her I started trying to feel her kick and I convinced myself I did. When I finally felt her kick I was so excited. Now she does it all the time. I love watching Anna Lee’s stomach move and feel Ada’s little kicks. It is reassuring to know that she is growing and developing even though I can’t see her and so much is out of my control. I can’t wait until I am able to hold her and see what she looks like.  It is weird to feel so excited and nervous at the same time. Excited to hold my little girl and nervous about all the responsibility that will come with being a father. It is also exciting to see my wife progress in her pregnancy. And I have to say that I think she is a beautiful pregnant woman. And even though she has been uncomfortable she was still able to help me decorate my classroom. She stayed all day on Monday, and was there for several hours on Tuesday. I am so thankful to have such a wonderful wife who is willing to help me even though I know she is tired.

As we get closer to Ada’s due date, Anna Lee and I have begun to talk about what she will look like. Anna Lee thinks she will look like me and I think she is going to look more like Anna Lee with dark hair and skin. I guess we will find out, but not soon enough. I can’t wait to see and hold my little girl and watch her grow.

Gosh I love that man... :) Now on to Ada's developments... this week, Ada should have started to settle in the head-down position, although she isn't yet. She's working on it, I guess she's just waiting until she has NO room to lay side to side :) Ada is mainly just working on gaining weight these days... and so am I :) She'll likely double her weight over the next eight weeks. These days, Ada is busy in there. She's blinking, looking around, grabbing at things, making faces... she's even practicing breathing, peeing, and listening to everything around her.. This excites me, because this is what my sweet baby girl will be doing OUTSIDE of my womb in just 6-8 short weeks! If Ada has a full head of hair, she has it by now.. and right now, she's probably weighing in at about 4 pounds and measuring over 17 inches long.

A few more quick updates and that will be it... I am now going to the doctor every two weeks (I think I said that last week). My appointment was on Tuesday of this week. My total weight gain is now 9 pounds. My blood pressure was elevated a little bit (123/74).. I know that's "normal" for most people, but mine has always been lower. Usually, my top number never gets above 95.. so for me, it was a little high. I told him about my swelling (although he noticed it in my ankles and feet).. he told me not to worry about anything serious.. but he is keeping a close check on it, and so am I. I'm getting in the habit of letting Jordan check my blood pressure once a day, just so I can keep record of it. Ada's heart rate was 142, and I am measuring right on schedule.. however, you'd be surprised how many people ask me A) when I'm due... and when they realize it's not for 8 more weeks, then B) is it twins? I've learned to just laugh it off. So I finally got the nerve up at this doctor's appointment to talk to Dr. Daniel about how "convenient" it would be for her to come around 38 weeks... of course he just gave me this "yeah right" look, but this is why I love him... instead of immediately shooting me down, he listened intently at all my reasons.. smiled... and then told me some things I could do that would help get my body ready for her to come. I know many people think I'm crazy to think my first baby will come early, but I know the chances are slim. I just don't see anything wrong with praying for it, as well as, doing what I can do prepare my body for delivery... Well that's enough for this week...