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 

"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