Filed under: Shopping | Tags: Baby Stuff, Clothes, Consignment Sale, mom, Recliner, Rocker, Shopping
Today your mom and I went to a big consignment sale that has a bunch of baby stuff. Thankfully, your Aunts are going to be providing us with a lot of big stuff that we need (like your stroller and car seat and baby carrier and pack-and-play, etc.), but we were on the lookout for a gliding rocker that looks like a recliner (don’t ask; it’s what your mom wants).
We didn’t find one, though, and were kinda disappointed with the sale overall, though we’re both sick (I wonder if that means you’re sick too), which probably didn’t contribute to us enjoying ourselves. What this sale did have tons of, though, are baby clothes. So, we shopped for clothes for you and we bought some, a good many in fact.
And I’ll have you know that I picked out almost everything we got you.
So, if I now tend to get on your case a little bit about what you wear… just know that it’s because at one time I was pretty good at it, or at least your mom let me think I was.
I love you, Story.
your dad
Filed under: Expectations | Tags: Arts, Athletics, Books, Camping, Disney, Encouragement, Expectations, God, Intrests, Movies, New Wave, Princesses, Russian Nesting Dolls, Soccer, Sports, Support, Theater, Thinker
For some reason, I have found myself involved lately in a number of different conversations on the kinds of interests you’ll have. In other words there’s a bunch of people who have been speculating lately about what you’ll really be in to. Some wonder if you’ll be athletic. Some think you’ll be really artsy. Some imagine that you’ll probably be both.
Anyway, all of this talk has had me wondering what kinds of things you will like. I’m really excited to find out. I’m nervous too, though. You probably know by now that I’ve never been really into sports (except soccer). So, if you really like sports, then I want you to know that I will support you 150%. I’ll just probably do it from the sidelines.
Of course you might be into books or movies or the theater or camping or something… stuff that I like. Then it will at least be a lot easier for us to do those things together.
But maybe you’re not into any of that stuff. Maybe you have some crazy fixation on Russian nesting dolls or Disney princesses or New Wave bands. If you are, then maybe you can just teach me all about them.
The point is this: I don’t want to dictate for you what you’re in to. I think your likes and dislikes will flow out of who you are… who God is designing you to be. I’m sure your mom and I will influence it to some degree, but I hope not too much.
However, wherever your interests might lie, I want you to know that whatever you decide to be in to, I expect you to be great at it. I really do. That’s not pressure. I’m not going to be overbearing and constantly drive you to succeed at anything and everything (at least I hope not; if I am, take this as permission to confront me with it). I recognize that you’ll figure it out. Just like we all do. But once you do figure it out, once you do know what you want to “be about” I’m going to encourage you in every way imaginable to grab onto that thing, hold it and never let it go… to become all that you can be… whether an athlete or an artist or a thinker or a keytarist in a New Wave band.
I love you, Story.
your dad
Filed under: Family, Shopping | Tags: Aunt Kim, Clothes, Color, Cute, Girls, Gogo, mom, Pink, Presents, Room, Shopping, Story
Your Gogo and Aunt Kim went shopping for you today. That’s awfully nice of them since they’ve already bought you a bunch of stuff, but I think it’s kinda fun for them since you’re a girl and it’s been awhile since they got to shop for a little girl. And almost everything they got you is pink.
In fact, pretty much everything everyone else has gotten you has been pink too.
You’ve probably figured this out by now, but pink is the color that is universally associated with little girls. So, of course, your mom is planning on having a lot of pink in your room. Actually, that’s not much of a change because there’s already a lot of pink in the room that’s now your room.
I think the color pink is great. A lot of the pink clothes people have gotten you are really cute and everything.
I just hope you like pink.
But I want you to know it’s okay if you don’t. You can like whatever color you want.
I love you, Story.
your dad
Part of the process of visiting your mom’s doctor’s office yesterday was that we got some more pictures.
This is you
You’re just growing up so much.
I think you look just like your mom.
I love you, Story.
your dad
Filed under: Doctor's Visits, Names | Tags: Baby Girl, Doctor, Hope, Name, Story, Ultrasound
We had the doctor’s appointment today.
One of the nurses performed an ultrasound.
We found out you’re a girl.
I knew it.
We’ve decided to name you Story. Story Reese Kinsley.
And, oh, what a Story you are.
I hope you like it.
I love you, Story.
your dad
Filed under: Doctor's Visits, Telling | Tags: Development, Dr. McKenzie, Heartbeat, Picture, Size, Sonogram
February 25! That’s when we’re expecting to get to meet you. Of course, I guess you’ll come on out when you’re good and ready.
We actually got to see you today. We were trying to listen to your heartbeat, but the nurses couldn’t seem to find it. However, Dr. McKenzie came in and did a sonogram and we actually saw you. Here’s what you look like right now:
Evidently you’re about the size of a grape. That’s so small. But today we saw your little head (that’s it on the lower part of you), and your little arm buds (like a sea monkey) and your heart beating. It was so fast. And if you’re the size of a grape I can’t imagine how small that heart of your’s is.
So, now we have some way to measure how you’re coming along and to begin to know what we have in store. This is awesome! You’re awesome!!
And, of course, we got to finally tell everyone about you. People are so pumped. More people were interested than I really thought would be, and I’ve been showing your picture around all day. It’s been great. If this is how they respond to just hearing about you, I can’t began to imagine how they’ll respond once you actually get here. We can’t wait.
I love you, Baby.
your dad
Filed under: Doctor's Visits, Finding Out, Telling | Tags: Dr. McKenzie, Family History, First Doctor's Visit, Info, mom, Picture, Sonogram, Ultrasound
So, tomorrow’s the day. Our first doctor’s visit. Evidently both the nurse and the doctor are squeezing us in between other appointments, so I have no long we’ll be there. I also don’t really know what exactly to expect. But here’s what I can gather.
1. They’ll do a couple of different tests just to make sure that you’re really real. I know you are, but I guess having the confirmation of the medical profession will be encouraging.
2. They’ll find out all about our family history, as far as medical stuff goes. I guess they use that to help determine what kind of stuff… actually, I don’t know what they’ll use that for, but something to help you out and make sure you’re as healthy as can be.
3. They’ll do something to determine just how far along you are. We don’t know exactly how they’ll do this. Maybe a sonorgram. Maybe an ultrasound (I don’t know what the difference is between those two). Maybe something else. But, I’m really looking forward to knowing that, because it will mean that…
4. We’ll find out when your due to enter the world.
5. Your mom’s doctor (Dr. McKenzie) will do an exam (let’s just leave it at that).
Beyond that, I have no idea what’s going to happen. Oddly, my Expectant Father book was a little vague as well, or else I skipped it somehow.
But I’m really hoping we’ll get some kind of picture of you so I can post it up here and elsewhere for everyone to see and for you to be able to look back on someday.
I wonder if you can tell somehow just how excited and anxious your mom is about tomorrow.
Oh, and we’ll probably start telling tons of other people about you too. That should be fun.
I’m praying for you, and I love you, Baby.
your dad
I know. I know. It seems like I just keep talking about how hard it is to not tell anyone. Well, actually, it doesn’t seem like that’s what I keep talking about. That is actually what I keep talking about.
It’s just that I can barely contain it. Thankfully there’s been a lot of stuff going on at work, so I’ve had a lot on my mind and haven’t really found myself in a lot of situations where it would be easy to tell. But there was one today. I almost told Taylor, like really. I think he’s one of the people that will really be super-excited for us.
It’s just two more days until we find out a little more about you. If my timeline is right, then you’re about the size of a tadpole, which is weird to think about. But you could be even bigger than that and even have hair and fingernails and eyes and hands and stuff.
I wonder what color eyes you’ll have, and what color hair. I wonder how big you’ll get before we get to meet you. I hope and pray you’re doing well.
I love you, Baby.
your dad
Filed under: Telling | Tags: Anticipation, Book, Excitment, Expectant Father, mom
I’ve never felt like this before. I’ve never been so excited about anything in my entire life. In fact, the word “excitment” doesn’t even cover it. I’m ecstatic. No. More thant that.
And I almost blew it today. I almost told.
I went to Dairy Queen with our friends Erin and Hannah, and I wanted to tell them so bad. I even texted your mom to ask her if I could. She immediately called me to tallk me out of it. I was strong. I can wait. Just three more days until we know a little bit more about you.
I was looking through my Expectant Father book again tonight. There’s so much I’ve still got to learn about you. This is obviously going to be the biggest challenge and blessing of my life. I hope I’m up to it.
I hope you are too.
I love you, Baby.
