Your Grandma

Hey JJ,

This is a photo of your dad, and your grandma. It isn't a recent picture, unless you are thinking in terms of geologic time.

You probably know that I grew up in Ketchikan, Alaska -- and the only way to get out of Ketchikan was boat or plane. In here your grandmother and I are going to take that seaplane to another island, and then a jet to Portland to visit my grandparents.

Turns out your grandmother and your mom (you call her mom, her friends call her Apes, and family Apey) are a lot alike. They are both artist/tom-boy/athletic types. You will see how your mom will always decorate the house, have lots of art projects - and be afraid of math and spiders. Your grandmother is less athletic today (well, she is 81 years old) - but she still has that spirit.

Your grandmother will call me and tell me how she is old because she spent two hours weeding the garden and is tired (of course, your dad will get tired after 15 minutes of that same activity).

So if you find that you are a visual person - well, you come by it quite honestly. If you find that you enjoy a lot of sports- that skipped my generation. If you find you like working in the garden, and flowers - well, so does your mom, grandma, and even your dad.

But here's the thing-- I look forward to taking you to the golf course, and I look forward to the day when you beat your dad playing golf (it will take you a few years kid, so be patient).

Love,
Dad

The ring

The ring has much symbolism - some debated, but the true value of a ring is not to the rest of the world, it is to the person who wears it.

About every five minutes Apey looks at her ring, and she smiles. The ring we picked out for me is coming in a couple of weeks (guess the jewelry store didn't want to sell me the "floor model.").

I asked Apey - when do you want me to start wearing the ring. "Soon as you get it."

It is unconventional - but we have done a few things in an unconventional manner in our relationship. And yet, convention is as a person makes it. I'm looking forward to getting the ring, and then I'll put in on (in the car of course).

Mama Bear

Whoa... Mom, Mama, Mummy - that's just weird. Yep, for once I'm thinking 'that's what someone is gonna call ME!!' I am thrilled!
Before meeting Terry, never in a million years did I think that I'd be pregnant and carrying a baby! And now - we are - I mean, I am!! And I am so excited! So centered, so focused and so ready for this beautiful stage in my life. I thank God my heart is softened, clear and so open to giving more love to a life that will need it and want it forever!

Today I watched our tears flow as we saw the baby for the first time - and was so happy to see us both so moved by this experience. For something that happens everyday to everyone - it just seems so out of this world to us two... I guess because we never really thought it would be us - and now that's all we want! And we feel so blessed that it's happening to us!

Up until today I've been reluctant to write - call it a juvenile 'jinx' feeling - but I just really wanted to make sure it was "real" before pouring my heart and hopes out onto a page - ya know? Oh don't get me wrong - this and has been very real to me - LoL - the 14 extra pounds I've put on and the new pair of jeans and underoos I've had to buy are evidence that this is really happening to me! Not to mention the fact that my bazombas enter a room 5 minutes before the rest of my body arrives! Help! The complete fatigue has been fun too... I think Terry thinks I am a sleep-a-holic! Luckily there's medical proof and I'm not just taking advantage of seriously doing nothing on this vacation! ha ha!

But the bottom line is I've felt healthy thru it all - like this is 'supposed' to be happening - and if it wasn't... well then I'd be more worried. Phew! Thank goodness we've had a great 1st appointment! I feel like we've covered a huge milestone with 10 weeks and 2 days!

Please pray that everything goes well these next few weeks - for I will be doing cartwheels once we're past the 1st trimester... and hopefully soon I'll be doing some exercises too (14 pounds!!? Yikes!)

Thank you for sharing in our excitement - yay!

The Baby Waved

Whew -- all I can say is whew. What a day!

Started out going to the OB doctor- and all is GREAT! April is doing great and we got to see the ultrasound of JJ -- and the little kid was waving at us -- with both arms. Seriously -- we looked at the ultrasound and here was this little thing flapping both arms and moving all over the place. It was as if there was a person in there saying-- "hey, mom and dad, I know this is the first time you see me, so I wanted to say 'hi'"

Ok- that's not the first thing I saw. The nurse practitioner showed me the heartbeat-- and I see this little round thing with a beating heart-- got that -- then I saw another round thing. I kept my mouth shut-- I wondered-- could I be having twins? Well, no such luck-- the kid's head is as big as the rest of him (takes after his dad - fat head) - and once it was clear to me-- I sighed (I think a sigh of relief, but hey, I would have been happy with twins).

We were so happy - and have not stopped smiling since.

Next stop of the day--food-- April was hungry - so we went to the bagel store and had an egg in a bagel. Then off for some more fun.

We had been searching for rings the past week or so-- had narrowed it down to a few, and when she was wondering around oldtown Scottsdale one caught her eye. Today we went in there-- and it is beautiful! So we bought it -- and in the car I put the ring on her finger.

"The car?" you ask. Yup. You see the second time I flew to Tampa to meet April she was driving me around and we chatted about her sister and brother-in-law and she mentioned how she would be married to the person with the biggest age difference. I laughed -- "Is that a proposal?" - it was. So, I will forever say she proposed to me. So -- yes, the car was the perfect place for April to have her ring placed.

It was a great day. Hope you enjoy the video.

Nervous dad

April and I in San Francisco - a month before -- you know.

Dear JJ,

Today we go see the OB doc -- our first visit. I don't know what you will remember about your dad -- or what you will think about him, especially when you are a teenager. Maybe you will think that because he is a surgeon that nothing phases him -- that all things medical pass off him like water off a duck. That when you scrape or cut he calmly puts some glue in and off you go.

Well - this is to let you know that your dad does become nervous. I don't know what we will find, or see - or learn about you today. There are a lot of possibilities --

know this-- your dad gets nervous. Today is our first look at you, kid.

I'll be back later with an update

Love,
Dad

First Christmas

There are a lot of "things" that one can get for Christmas - and this was our first Christmas, so we are happy with the "loot" - but this is the best. JJ is the size of this Christmas tangerine.

Tangerines have a special meaning to me. Growing up in Ketchikan meant we didn't have a lot of fresh fruit-- especially in the winter. But at Christmas time we would get boxes of tangerines from Japan. Always a treat.

So, today we read that this is the size of JJ.

Hey- kid -- every Christmas in the future when I look at a Clementine or tangerine I will remember your mother and my first one-- when this was the size of you inside her. Love you kid-- can't wait til you read this story.

Happy Birthday Mom

December 23rd was my mom's 81st birthday! Here is a photo of my two favorite ladies - - shortly after mom found out she was going to be a grandmother.

Not much to say- other than, I am so happy that I have some wonderful people in my life-- my parents, April, April's parents, my brother, April's brother, sister, and her brother-in-law. Then there are some wonderful wonderful friends-- all of whom are the private readers of this blog.

Mom-- happy birthday-- I am glad you are going to be a grandma!