You Go Back, Jack, and Do It Again...

Yeah, yeah, I know. Long time no blog. Well, for the two of you who still follow this thing (you know who you are), you have probably been wondering what it would take to get me posting regularly again. Well, truthfully, it would probably take another set of circumstances like the one that started this blog in the first place, waaaay back in October of 2005.

I'll let you mull that over for a minute....

Okay, time's up. Yes, you are correct, sir! We are indeed expecting again. We waited a bit longer to reveal the big news this time. I was presented with the big news very casually on Christmas Eve by the mother-to-be. She basically told me that I would have to wait until August for my big Christmas present. Of course the hint completely flew over my head at first, but then it circled back and smacked me in the back of the neck. "Really?" I said. "Yup," replied Margaret.
Of course I was bursting to tell someone, and Margaret ended up having to tell her sister during the big yard cleanup in January, lest she look lazy by not doing any heavy lifting. That in turn necessitated telling her mother. I let a few close friends know and then we told my father and his wife. Margaret wanted to write up a plan for maternity leave at work before telling everyone there, and so yesterday she dropped the news officially, leaving me free to tell the worl-, er, both of you.
So late August ought to be an interesting time. Nigel will be three in May, and while he really has no idea what is in store for him, we are trying to get him used to the idea of eventually having to share the spotlight. We'll touch mommy's stomach and say, "Nigel, do you want a baby?" Initially, he wasn't thrilled at the prospect. "No," he would say, in a very matter-of-fact way. Eventually he started playing along, kissing Margaret's belly and poking her navel. I think he thinks the baby is going to emerge from her belly button. Anytime we mention the baby now Nigel says "Sara," which is the name of one of the younger toddlers at his daycare. I'm guessing that when he realizes that he is going to have to compete for attention, he's going to be a bit upset. To fight that, we plan on keeping things as close to business as usual as possible. Nigel isn't going to get swept aside when the new baby makes his or her debut. He's my first born, and while I won't love him any more or any less than his sibling-to-be, we both will forever share the bond of being the oldest kid. He's also growing like a weed. He's already over three feet tall...and he is not yet three years old. I was similarly sized, and I suspect the not-so-little-anymore guy is going to be taller than me when all is said and done. It was awkward and tough growing up usually a foot or more taller than your classmates from kindergarten on. I have been taller than all of my teachers since third grade, and I hit six feet tall in sixth grade. I will do my best to help him adjust. He's a pretty resilient little dude though, so I think he'll be fine.

So there it is. We're gonna do this all over again. I could say that having been through this before that the second time might be a bit less exciting...and I would be a liar. We have the first sonogram on April 2, which just happens to be my birthday. I can't think of a better gift than to see my future son or daughter move for the first time.

UPDATE: April 2, 2009

Well, today is my birthday, and we did indeed get to see the little guy for the first time. Well, it was the first time for me, but Margaret had seen the fetus once previously at an appointment I had to miss because of work. We had the advantage this time of the doctor's office having one of those fancy 3D sonogram machines. First we saw and heard the little heart beating, then lo and behold, there it was in stunning 3D clarity. Bean 2: Electric Boogaloo (Margaret insists it be known that I take full responsibility for the in utero name. For late-comers to this blog, start from the beginning for the whole "Bean" explanation) appeared to be sucking its thumb. After some maneuvering by the tech, we were able to see Bean 2's sex...

Drum roll....

It appears that, unless the umbilical cord is arranged in a truly strange way, Nigel will have a little brother come August. It should only get more interesting from here on out...

Oh, and here are some pics taken by my phone. Not the clearest images, but you can make out the little guy sucking his thumb.






This might be the second time we are going through this, but I can honestly say that I am no less humbled.