Dear Baby Tayn,
I can't begin to express the way that I feel about you already. I know it's not quite time for us to get to hold you and see your face, but I want you to know that we love you more than anything. We're ready as can be to step up into our new roles as your parents, being fully responsible and capable to do what is right and best for you, according to the Lord and His will. We will lean on His guidance and wisdom and continue to trust in Him. In fact, I've been talking with Him a lot lately while praying for you. I've been praying for your health and your development while still in the womb. I've been praying for your safety and protection. I've been praying for and speaking health and life into all of your bones, organs, limbs and every other structure that is developing and already developed. I've been praying over your room, the room where you'll spend a majority of your time in your first year of life. I've been praying for God to extend His grace to you and to whisper His words of love to you. I'll continue to pray for you and for our family all the days of my life!
In preparing for your arrival, we've both done a lot of work -- from getting your room all ready with your crib, changing table and other furniture, to things like educating ourselves on what it takes as parents to care for and protect you. We've actually learned a lot from our baby courses (which you can read about on this blog later in life when you're old enough). Of course we've both gone to all your doctor's appointments and done all those necessary steps. We've read and prayed so much already to help prepare us for the wonderful days of you in our life. We've also taken good care of you -- feeding you good food so you get all the vitamins and nutrients you need -- and love feeling you kick. Actually, you started out kicking, but lately you've progressed to twirling, sliding and maybe even threw in a few dance moves (must have gotten that from your mama)!
I tell people this all the time, but I'm NOT a crier. I just don't express myself that way emotionally I guess. But let me tell you, Baby Tayn, you definitely push me to the limit in that area. In fact, last night I was standing in your room, just looking around at all your new stuff and you definitely got the best of me. I couldn't help but pick up the baby doll in your crib that we bought for our baby classes and hold it in my arms, pretending it was you. So many emotions were gushing through my entire being as I got a mere glimpse and feeling, if only for a moment, of what it will be like to hold you for the first time. I wondered how much you'd weigh or if you'd look more like your mommy or daddy. I closed my eyes and tried to picture what your tiny little face would look like -- with your tiny little arms and legs and hands and feet! Since we chose to keep your gender a surprise to us and the world, I wondered if I'd be holding a little baby boy or girl in my hands. Even now as I'm writing this, I'm filled with that same unexplainable gushing of emotions running down and filling up my entire body. I even grabbed a burp cloth from your dresser and threw it over my shoulder while I placed the doll baby on my shoulder and pressed it against my chest. I loved the feeling of holding it and cannot wait until the day comes where it is no longer a toy doll from some local discount store, but it is a priceless and gracious gift from God!
I can't even turn on the radio without hearing some Christmas music that reminds me of you. Just the other day, I was driving and heard the words, "I'll be home for Christmas, you can count on me. Please have snow and mistletoe and presents under the tree." That will be you! Another day I heard, "Oh I don't want a lot for Christmas, this is all I'm asking for. I just want to see my baby, standing right outside my door. Oh I just want you for my own, more than you could ever know. Make my wish come true, baby all I want for Christmas is you." Is that not the almost perfect song for you, Baby Tayn? Soooo...maybe not the whole 'standing outside my door' part; you're more than welcome to just come in and nap in your crib! Then of course all the Christmas songs that talk about a baby being born, though many people forget that part of Christmas, reminds me of you and you being here and us celebrating our first Christmas together!
Baby Tayn, I know that your time is near and soon that day will be here {your pops knows how to bust a rhyme.....any time ;) }. I know it is not up to me, but I have a feeling you will take after your father and arrive early (if you take after your mother, you could wind up being a 2012 baby)! I think you'll grace us with your presence on November 28th at 10:27pm. I think you'll weigh in, though early, at 8lbs 9oz and be 21in long!
Let me take you back to your very own room. Your bright yellow walls with bright colors all around, from your toys to your bouncer, crib mattress and wall art. Your dresser fully stocked with an assortment of clothes, blankets, towels and so much more. Your bookshelf lined with books and toys of all shapes and sizes. Your glider, where you'll spend a lot of time in our arms as we comfort and feed you and keep you warm. Picture the place where you'll spend most of your first few days and months and years. How perfect and peaceful a place to be. The only thing missing now is you...
Love always,
Dad
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Friday, November 4, 2011
300 > 50
What's up, peeps?
Thanks to everyone who has participated in the Baby Tayn Pool! If you're unfamiliar with what that is, refer to the previous blog post (near the bottom) to get caught up to speed! By the way, if you could keep your weight guesses under 12 pounds, Holly would appreciate it (actually I'm putting words in her mouth -- but I think that's accurate)! #guesstheweightanddate
Since I've last chatted, we've wrapped up our four week baby class at St. Ann's. Week three included a tour of the maternity ward. We love the rooms there! Since Holly wants to do a water birth, the delivery room we'll be in is HUGE! I am a little jealous because my sister's delivery room at Dublin Methodist had nicer TV's, but I guess I can deal with it. They make it hard for us guys to channel surf due to poor choice of the remote placement -- on the guardrail of the hospital bed facing inward toward the laboring patient (good thing I have long arms to reach over the side of the bed)! Joking of course...though my sister's baby chose to come into the world on a weekend in which the Buckeyes AND the Bengals both had a bye week! I thought that was awesome until I realized that there were no longer any bye weeks in which our baby could arrive! I told Holly that I was fine with any day, so long as it wasn't on November 29 from 9:30pm-12am due to the Duke vs. OSU basketball game! I'm just teasing (sort of)! I'll be happily and nervously distracted even if there was a huge sporting event taking place! #thanksgivingbaby?
In between week three and four of our baby class, we decided to take a breastfeeding class. This class was the class that I was looking forward to the least. I figured, how hard can it be? The concept seems simple enough to me! To my surprise, I came out of this class learning more than all my friends and family probably care to hear me tell them! Like, "Did you know that there is over 300 ingredients in breast milk, as compared to a little over 50 in the name brand formula?" I learned that breastfeeding reduces the risk of SIDS, diabetes, allergies, asthma and eczema (ok, I admit I have no idea what eczema is, but it sounds horrible and I'm glad our baby will have a lower chance of getting it)! Breastfeeding also helps moms with weight loss and can help protect them from breast and ovarian cancers. I learned terms such as alveoli, milk ducts, and colostrum. If any of you are football fans, you'll appreciate that there is a breastfeeding positioning technique called the football hold (picture the Heisman pose without the stiff-arm). How many of you actually just did the Heisman pose? Granted, through everything I learned in this 2 1/2 hour class, I couldn't help but think about these lines uttered (pun-intended) from Robert De Niro. #300>50
Week four of baby class was highly anticipated. Not only did it mean that we are one week closer to meeting Baby Tayn and finding out if Baby Tayn is a boy or girl, but it was supposed to be the week for the empathy belly. I know many of you were probably looking forward to (blackmail) videos and pictures, but "unfortunately" something happened to the empathy belly and it wasn't available for our class (now I just struck the Heisman pose is celebration)! In all seriousness, I actually wanted to put on the empathy belly to see what all the fuss is about! :) Oh, well...maybe next time! #everythinghappensforareason
So, we have one more course that we're going to later this week. It will cover caring for the baby and things we'll need to know for the first few days and weeks of our baby's life. I'm really glad we decided to take the baby courses we have so far, there is a lot I've learned and a lot I didn't know! I know there is no true preparation, since you can't really plan for the unexpected, but I feel like it has helped my understanding of what I'll be getting into in the coming weeks and months! Let's just say, I feel more prepared than I would have if I hadn't gone to the classes with Holly! #properpreparationpreventspoorperformance
If I can go off on a short tangent for a minute (and I will since it's my blog); just wondering if anyone else has experienced this before? Click Here
I can't end this blog without talking about something very, very serious. I know I love to joke and speak with extreme sarcasm most of the time, but I want to dedicate a few lines in this blog to some deep speaking from my heart. Allow me to get a little "mushy" on you for a minute, then I'll bring it back and end with a joke or two!
I want to share with you my visit with my new nephew, Jackson. I discussed in my last entry about how proud I am of my big sis! She's awesome and amazing and is already a terrific mother! Anyway, I got to hold Jackson for the first time this past weekend! I was a little nervous and anxious at the same time right before Amanda placed him in my arms. I haven't really held many babies in my life. I remember when my cousin's daughter Kiana was born 13 years ago. I was too scared and nervous to hold her. I actually did hold my little baby nephew Braylon, but only for a few minutes until I had to pass him off to the next person. I'm not quite sure why it is, but I like to wait until babies are a few months or a year old before I hold them. Newborns were just too small for me to hold, I guess...
Well, she handed Jackson over into my arms and I instantly felt so many emotions welling up inside of me. I can't really explain the feelings, but I absolutely loved holding him! I could NOT take my eyes off of him! He was asleep the whole time I was holding him, but it didn't keep him from moving his arms or lips every now and then! And he kept making the most adorable little smiles and half-smiles like he was dreaming about something that was cracking him up! I got to see and feel his little toes and fingers! He was (and is) awesome! I love him! Leaving their house that night, I couldn't help but think about the arrival of Baby Tayn! I absolutely cannot wait to meet him or her and experience being a daddy! I can't wait to experience a whole new level of love and appreciate! I cannot wait to put all my baby knowledge from our classes to use and, at other times, forget about anything I learned and just use my fatherly instincts! #babyjackson
Ok, now that I've shared that, I'm back!
I was just thinking the other day (it gets dangerous when I do some thinking) about how during 30-degree nights and mornings last fall/winter I remember running the heat. Due to a pregnant wife this year, we have the windows open and a fan running all night while we sleep. Speaking of that, do any of you experience that weird phenomenon where you can feel really hot, but your skin and body are really cold? How does that happen (hypothetical questions, know-it-alls)? Before I get off on any more tangents (I like to refer to them as Tayngents), I'll let you all go so you can eat some Toasted Holes (<-- click) #tayngent
Well, that's about it for now. So, until next time, keep smiling, stay positive, and everything will be ok! #moretocome
-John Maxwell from his book Everyone Communicates, Few Connect
Thanks to everyone who has participated in the Baby Tayn Pool! If you're unfamiliar with what that is, refer to the previous blog post (near the bottom) to get caught up to speed! By the way, if you could keep your weight guesses under 12 pounds, Holly would appreciate it (actually I'm putting words in her mouth -- but I think that's accurate)! #guesstheweightanddate
Since I've last chatted, we've wrapped up our four week baby class at St. Ann's. Week three included a tour of the maternity ward. We love the rooms there! Since Holly wants to do a water birth, the delivery room we'll be in is HUGE! I am a little jealous because my sister's delivery room at Dublin Methodist had nicer TV's, but I guess I can deal with it. They make it hard for us guys to channel surf due to poor choice of the remote placement -- on the guardrail of the hospital bed facing inward toward the laboring patient (good thing I have long arms to reach over the side of the bed)! Joking of course...though my sister's baby chose to come into the world on a weekend in which the Buckeyes AND the Bengals both had a bye week! I thought that was awesome until I realized that there were no longer any bye weeks in which our baby could arrive! I told Holly that I was fine with any day, so long as it wasn't on November 29 from 9:30pm-12am due to the Duke vs. OSU basketball game! I'm just teasing (sort of)! I'll be happily and nervously distracted even if there was a huge sporting event taking place! #thanksgivingbaby?
In between week three and four of our baby class, we decided to take a breastfeeding class. This class was the class that I was looking forward to the least. I figured, how hard can it be? The concept seems simple enough to me! To my surprise, I came out of this class learning more than all my friends and family probably care to hear me tell them! Like, "Did you know that there is over 300 ingredients in breast milk, as compared to a little over 50 in the name brand formula?" I learned that breastfeeding reduces the risk of SIDS, diabetes, allergies, asthma and eczema (ok, I admit I have no idea what eczema is, but it sounds horrible and I'm glad our baby will have a lower chance of getting it)! Breastfeeding also helps moms with weight loss and can help protect them from breast and ovarian cancers. I learned terms such as alveoli, milk ducts, and colostrum. If any of you are football fans, you'll appreciate that there is a breastfeeding positioning technique called the football hold (picture the Heisman pose without the stiff-arm). How many of you actually just did the Heisman pose? Granted, through everything I learned in this 2 1/2 hour class, I couldn't help but think about these lines uttered (pun-intended) from Robert De Niro. #300>50
Week four of baby class was highly anticipated. Not only did it mean that we are one week closer to meeting Baby Tayn and finding out if Baby Tayn is a boy or girl, but it was supposed to be the week for the empathy belly. I know many of you were probably looking forward to (blackmail) videos and pictures, but "unfortunately" something happened to the empathy belly and it wasn't available for our class (now I just struck the Heisman pose is celebration)! In all seriousness, I actually wanted to put on the empathy belly to see what all the fuss is about! :) Oh, well...maybe next time! #everythinghappensforareason
So, we have one more course that we're going to later this week. It will cover caring for the baby and things we'll need to know for the first few days and weeks of our baby's life. I'm really glad we decided to take the baby courses we have so far, there is a lot I've learned and a lot I didn't know! I know there is no true preparation, since you can't really plan for the unexpected, but I feel like it has helped my understanding of what I'll be getting into in the coming weeks and months! Let's just say, I feel more prepared than I would have if I hadn't gone to the classes with Holly! #properpreparationpreventspoorperformance
If I can go off on a short tangent for a minute (and I will since it's my blog); just wondering if anyone else has experienced this before? Click Here
I can't end this blog without talking about something very, very serious. I know I love to joke and speak with extreme sarcasm most of the time, but I want to dedicate a few lines in this blog to some deep speaking from my heart. Allow me to get a little "mushy" on you for a minute, then I'll bring it back and end with a joke or two!
I want to share with you my visit with my new nephew, Jackson. I discussed in my last entry about how proud I am of my big sis! She's awesome and amazing and is already a terrific mother! Anyway, I got to hold Jackson for the first time this past weekend! I was a little nervous and anxious at the same time right before Amanda placed him in my arms. I haven't really held many babies in my life. I remember when my cousin's daughter Kiana was born 13 years ago. I was too scared and nervous to hold her. I actually did hold my little baby nephew Braylon, but only for a few minutes until I had to pass him off to the next person. I'm not quite sure why it is, but I like to wait until babies are a few months or a year old before I hold them. Newborns were just too small for me to hold, I guess...
Well, she handed Jackson over into my arms and I instantly felt so many emotions welling up inside of me. I can't really explain the feelings, but I absolutely loved holding him! I could NOT take my eyes off of him! He was asleep the whole time I was holding him, but it didn't keep him from moving his arms or lips every now and then! And he kept making the most adorable little smiles and half-smiles like he was dreaming about something that was cracking him up! I got to see and feel his little toes and fingers! He was (and is) awesome! I love him! Leaving their house that night, I couldn't help but think about the arrival of Baby Tayn! I absolutely cannot wait to meet him or her and experience being a daddy! I can't wait to experience a whole new level of love and appreciate! I cannot wait to put all my baby knowledge from our classes to use and, at other times, forget about anything I learned and just use my fatherly instincts! #babyjackson
Ok, now that I've shared that, I'm back!
I was just thinking the other day (it gets dangerous when I do some thinking) about how during 30-degree nights and mornings last fall/winter I remember running the heat. Due to a pregnant wife this year, we have the windows open and a fan running all night while we sleep. Speaking of that, do any of you experience that weird phenomenon where you can feel really hot, but your skin and body are really cold? How does that happen (hypothetical questions, know-it-alls)? Before I get off on any more tangents (I like to refer to them as Tayngents), I'll let you all go so you can eat some Toasted Holes (<-- click) #tayngent
Well, that's about it for now. So, until next time, keep smiling, stay positive, and everything will be ok! #moretocome
"People may hear your words, but they feel your attitude. They will not always remember what you said. They will not always remember what you did. But, they will always remember how you made them feel."
-John Maxwell from his book Everyone Communicates, Few Connect
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