It Begins

Becoming a dad has been a dream of mine for several years now and I am still in awe that it has finally come true. Since learning that I will be a dad last fall I have learned a lot of new things, some interesting and some not so interesting, and I intend to use this blog to share those things with all of you.

So far, my favorite part is all of the planning. Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a very organized person, and preparing for a baby to arrive takes a lot of organization and planning. From preparing the nursery, registering for presents, figuring out finances and daycare options, taking parenting classes at the hospital, and supporting my pregnant wife, I have kept very busy. So far, the one thing that I am not looking forward to is the actual delivery as I really don't like to see my wife in pain and hospitals are not my favorite place to be. That being said, we started a 5 week birthing class at Mercy this past weekend and after only 1 class, I am already feeling a lot better about the whole experience. With less then 2 months to go until the due date, I am hoping that my comfort level continues to grow with each class.

Another thing that will help us greatly when the baby comes is the timing of her arrival. With Erin being a teacher, she will not have to return to work until August, giving us plenty of time to get acclimated to having a baby at home before having to tackle the challenge of balancing 2 work schedules while raising a child. It also will fall during the down time in my "coaching year", allowing time to evaluate how/if coaching can continue to be a part of our lives.

I have a lot more to write, but will leave it at this for my 1st entry. I cannot express to you how excited I am to be a dad, and I look forward to sharing with you all along my journey.