Welcome to In the Mind of the Man blog. Here I will try to keep a sort of running diary of my thoughts and experiences about raising a child from a male's point of view. After hearing countless people tell me that her childhood will be over in a Blink of an Eye, I decided to take time to stop and reflect on the day to day mundane activities my daughter and I share. I hope you enjoy reading and sharing in my journey, but most of all I hope my daughter and I enjoy looking back at this blog 20+ years from now and laughing.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Things That You're Forced To Do When Your Wife's Pregnant

"Matt, I need to do this!  I'll go without you, I'm just saying, I need to do this before the baby comes."

This was the tough predicament I was put into last month when my pregnant wife demanded we go on one last vacation to someplace warm before the baby comes. 

I know what most of you are thinking.  You're thinking, 'Man, Matt!  You really have it rough.'

Well, I appreciate it, but don't worry about me. I can handle it as it comes. 

As only a good husband would, I got on the Internet right away and started searching for, "someplace warm," to take my unreasonable wife.  

After a painstakingly long search of sold out or overpriced islands, we found a deal in Aruba. We had already been to the island once before, but that made it even more intriguing. We wouldn't feel the need to do any site seeing. Just sit on the beach and soak up the sun for a few days. 

So now here we are.  The sandy beaches of Aruba. So sandy that my pants have already gotten... well, sandy. The blue waters of the Caribbean. So blue that I can't tell where the sea ends and sky begins.  The warm island sun.  So warm that I have already had to move out of it because it's too hot.   

Please don't feel too bad for me, though.  I was fully aware that this was part of the trials and tribulations when I signed up to start a family with Heather. 

We've only been on the island for about 18 hours and Heather has already said on numerous occasions how overwhelmingly happy she is right now. 
 
As I sit here typing this post, staring out into the clear blue ocean, I am reminded that this is what it's all about. Sacrificing for the ones you love.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

It's a...Girl!


We just had our 20-week anatomy scan and everything checked out normal.  The ultrasound technician immediately informed us that she would be taking the photographs, but that the doctor would be in to give us the analysis.  She calmly, and without emotion, perused the inside of Heather’s belly identifying the body parts one by one. 
“One arm… There’s the other...”  

Heather and I are smiling at the screen, at each other, back at the screen.

“Eye lids...
“Nose...
“Lips…”

“Does everything look normal?” I asked.
“The doctor will be in to tell you that!” 
Oh, sorry.  

“There’s a foot… here’s the other...
“Femur...
“Abdomen...
“It’s a girl.”

Wait, hold it… It’s a girl?

And just like that, as if she was just reading us the daily special at a run-of-the-mill diner, she announced that we were having a daughter. 
It didn’t matter, though, the tone of the announcement.  I looked at Heather and I could see the happiness gleaming out of her.

A GIRL!  Heather cried softly in joy.

And so there it is.  I am soon to be the proud father of a baby girl. 

Below are some pictures from the ultrasound. 
The last one might be a bit X-rated… Just saying.


                              Here is a profile of the little girl.


                            Her two feet.  So cute!


                          My Little Girl is not shy.  I'm not sure how I feel about that right now.