Forget that.

I returned home on Wed. March 9th from a breakfast meeting. Jooae said something like “I have something to show you”. Now this could have been anything, and generally in context, this would mean that Asher did something either highly cool, or devastatingly naughty. She took me into the bathroom and there it was, a pregnancy test. My slow working mind put two and two together and came up with a stunning response, “Really?”, and not necessarily the kind of “really?” with a lilt in it. No it was a “really?” of questioning the validity of the test. It was not disappointment mind you, but more of surprise that it was a positive (this, by the way, was at least a more sanitary way of finding out then last time). I mean we had just started trying again and figured that it would take some time to, eh, get back in the saddle. We both literally did not know how to respond other then to start working some math to figure out when the baby was due. And here is where we had a little problem.

Um, guys you may want to check out here again if you don’t like discussions of ‘woman things’. So there is this monthly cycle thing that women have and if it is pretty regular, then noticing that you missed its monthly gift is recognizable and thus makes it easy to use the formula for figuring out the due date. However, Jooae’s was not so regular and we just had stopped using birth control at the end of January (also a reason we thought it would take a few months). Therefore we had to look at possible conception dates. Funny thing is, we could not find any due date accounting method from a conception date. You would think this would be possible to do. So the best we could figure was something in the mid-Nov. range. So Baby 2 (this is now the official name of the baby by the way for blog purposes. If you send in comments, please follow proper protocol and refer to him/her as Baby 2) would be a year and ten months younger then Asher. A bit earlier then expected, but we can roll with the seasons.

*An inside joke that the one confirmed reader I have of my blog will understand.

Okay so first, some heart searching confessions - I am a horrible blogger. I think my last post was like fall of 09. You know, life and stuff happens. Furthermore I was in an ethical quandary. I mean, my blog is called Pre-Daddy Ditties. Once Asher was born (more on that later), I was no longer a Pre-Daddy. Thus do I change the blog name to reflect my new dadhood and continue writing under that title or do I continue under the current title because of all the vast branding implications if I were to change to a new name? See, this dilemma is really what kept me from writing over this last year and a half.

Speaking of which, here is generally what happened since the last post: Jooae got bigger until this super cute boy decided to join us. We named him Asher. He ate, pooped, slept, rinse, repeat for the first 6 months (wait, cross out the sleep - he definitely enjoyed keeping us awake). He started moving and all the things babies do, blah, blah, blah (I hope he doesn’t read this later). So, now he is a super cute, finally sleeping, belly protruding toddler-ish kiddo. I would post his picture but I don’t want to cause anyone to swoon from his cutability.

So, now we are on #2 and I can write under the Pre-Daddy Ditty title once again with clear conscience. However, just to really get everything off my chest, you should know my real motivation in writing again. Money? Nope. Fame? Don’t think so. Creative outlet? Maybe a tiny bit. Overactive sense of fairness? You bet. You see, I am the youngest of four boys and growing up, I kind of noticed that when you are the youngest, there really are not that many pictures taken of you. Thus I have resolved that I will do things equally for my kids so that they all are equal sharers in our love expressed through photos, videos, and blogging about their in utero days. Makes perfect sense, right? So by my calculations, that means I need to write at least 20 posts to equal Asher’s. I suppose I can write more if I occasionally throw things in about him too.

Blog on!

On this note, we had our first lab test this weekend with the OSU vs. USC game. I had Jooae briefly orient her tummy to the receiver to catch the signals of the play-by-play. Of course I made sure Baby P was no where near when the sad ending came about. It is my hope by the time Baby P is of age, Ohio State will be able to beat a top 5 team again, so no use spoiling anything now. I have below a picture of the experiment in action. Go Bucks!

Mother and baby showing school spirit!

THE BOOK Cliff Notes
Now because I am the kind of guy who likes to make your life easier, I can tell you a few things since I have read THE BOOK (not because I don’t trust what Jooae is telling me, I was just curious what this magical BOOK was all about). Most important for many of you is that you should know your wife is going through many changes. There are all these hormone things bouncing around. This means she may sometimes act a little loopy, or cry for no reason, or even, dare I say, yell at you. This is all normal. Just do your best to listen and comfort your wife as much as you can. She is putting up with a lot after all. THE BOOK says a bunch of other stuff, but the second most important part for you is that yes, normal sexual relations are possible though with modification. As an incentive for you to read, THE BOOK actually gives some suggestions on how to keep the zing in your marriage in this department. Oh yeah, THE BOOK also says some stuff about your baby’s growth. There that is the guy-ified short version of THE BOOK. Now go and actually read it!

I must also say a few things to the women out there regarding your hearty recommendation of THE BOOK. Again, overall I think it is a great resource and everything, but it is NOT WRITTEN BY A DOCTOR! There, I said it. I hope I don’t burst any bubbles. I am sure the authors are very wise and all, but it is shocking that they don’t have at least one OBGYN as a co-author. So reader beware. The other thing is that THE BOOK has a tendency to throw expectant mothers who are already worried about every little thing when it comes to pregnancy in to orbital levels of anxiety because it tends to harp on everything that could go wrong. So if you are prone to worry, perhaps just skim those parts. ‘Nuff said.

In baby news, Jooae is definitely feeling more movement activity. THE BOOK tells us that Baby P is around 7 inches and 11 ounces. The fruit sizing method is the length of a banana, though I imagine a fairly plump banana. A cool thing is that Baby P is taking in amniotic fluid now so can taste what Jooae eats. So now is the time to get hooked on kimchi and other spicy foods!

Anyway, we are halfway there and as far as updates of the week go, Jooae is most definitely showing. we had one of those genetic blood test thing-a-majigs and everything is normal. In other good news, we went out on Sunday to HomeTown Buffet to eat hand-over-fist after my million calorie burning Hood to Coast race this weekend. Astonishingly Jooae ate pretty much just like normal Jooae. For those who don’t know, Jooae is pretty small, but boy can she pack away the food. of course she hasn’t been able to eat as normal since being pregnant, but this was the first glimmer of her old gastrointestinal abilities. I just went into the living room to retrieve THE BOOK and apparently Jooae has also begun pregnant exercises from some video she got at the library. that may have to be another topic…

In baby news, THE BOOK tells us that at 20 weeks, the baby is (using their food measurements) the size of a small cantaloupe. I prefer honeydew, but that is okay. The little one is clocking in at 6.5 inches and 10 ounces. THE BOOK also tells us, for some reason, that by this week the babies genitalia are fully formed including that if it is a girl, she now has 7 million premature eggs. This is pretty wild if you think about it. Just 5 months ago the baby was an egg and now she would be producing her own. Man, God is really amazing in his creative intricacies.

Okay, that is this weeks update. Halftime over, band back to the bleachers.

Now that she is showing and gaining some weight after losing it from ‘morning’ sickness, she is complaining of getting fat. I just look at her and excitedly state, “That’s great! that is how it is supposed to be!” I was a little surprised when she gave me THE LOOK 9guys you know what I am talking about). I mean, here I am excited she is finally eating and putting on weight and was (apparently foolishly) she would be feeling the same. I suppose I have still much to learn about the changing whims of a pregnant woman. that’s okay, i am a good student these days.