The Final Countdown!!!

So, now I have that song by Europe in my head.  But, it truly is getting close to the day where the number of people in this family grows by 50% and the love in our hearts grows infinitely. 

We just about have the nursery completely finished and ready for Lil' Nolie (that's his rapper name).  We liked a jungle theme and I figure he'll look pretty similar to a monkey as a little guy and will probably resemble a giraffe as he gets older like his papa. 

So, Kara is the most beautiful pregnant woman that has ever walked the earth, maybe I'm biased, but I am truly in awe of what she is doing.  It has been a pleasure to help her through this and I'm thankful every day for her strength.  Here's a picture of her at 34 weeks (about 10 days ago).

But, we've decided that Nolan is going to be grounded for quite a while once he gets out...he's gotten in trouble for the following: improper use of toes, inappropriate somersaults, failure to follow directions, and inducing heartburn, back pain, and miscellaneous ailments. 

We've been so fortunate through this experience to have dozens of people give us gifts to get Nolan's life started and we thank all of you for your extraordinary generosity.  We've also received a lot of advice and I'm sure at some point we'll try all of it, because as much as we think we know already, we will come to a point where we have no clue how to help him.  But, I'm counting on instinct taking over....after all, people have been giving birth and raising little people for countless years, we aren't pioneers in parenting by any means.

I heard from one of my college friends, John, last night and I congratulate him on the birth of their first baby, Charles.  He filled me in on a few of the adventures they've experienced such as sleep deficiency and projectile poop.  But, the one thing that stuck with me was him telling me that just minutes after his son was born, while screaming (as most newborns do), John went over to him, started talking to him, and instantly his son stopped crying.  The son recognized his father.  On top of it all, this was Father's Day.  I'm so happy for John and Sarah. 

For me I truly hope that my little boy will feel peace and calm when he hears his father's voice.  And, I know he will find comfort and serenity in his mother's arms. 

So, I'm dreaming of that day and enjoying the last few days as a non-parent, checking things off of our to-do and to-purchase list.  I plan on writing again before he is born, but if I don't I'll be sure to post soon after.

Any man can be a father.  It takes someone special to be a dad.  ~Author Unknown