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Wednesday, February 17, 2010

A Transformation

Over the past few weeks, I have been witnessing the beginnings of a magical transformation. I have been watching the Fabulous Dude transform into the Fabulous Daddy-to-Be. This has been a very special time for me. I have never met a man who loves babies and children so genuinely. I have waited for the day that I would get to see him become the father of my children because I know that this love will only be intensified when it's directed towards his own baby.

The most obvious way I have witnessed this transformation is in how he has been acting towards me as I've been battling the not so fun parts of pregnancy. To give a little background information, my husband is not the most compassionate and sympathetic human being when it comes to caring for a sick wife. Under normal circumstances, when I am sick, he is kind but not overly nurturing. He will get me soup and toast, a hot water bottle, some medicine, or run me a bath - if I ask him to do it. But, he's generally not one to jump up and pamper me and try to make me feel better. That's just not the way he is. He says it's because I am sucky when I'm sick, I say it's because he has no heart. Either way, that's the way it is, and I'm used to that.

Since we discovered that I am pregnant, however, it's an entirely different ball game. The level of his compassion, sympathy and nurturing has sky rocketed! Almost every morning, I am up at the crack of dawn, sprawled out on the bathroom floor, clinging to the toilet bowl for dear life. And, most of these mornings, he is sitting there beside me, on the edge of the tub, rubbing my back, handing me a cool cloth, putting tooth paste on my tooth brush and offering a glass of water. And then, he follows me back to bed and curls up beside me, rubbing my back until I fall back asleep. Granted, there are mornings that he just doesn't hear me and realize that I am up already, but on the mornings he does, he's there with me.

Another thing I have noticed is his increased concern for my eating habits. After these early morning episodes, he often gets up ahead of me, and prepares some breakfast so that I am able to nibble on something before I get out of bed. And, at the end of many days, he comes home and asks me what I was able to eat/not eat that day and if I got enough. He offers to put more snacks, meals, and smoothies together for me than ever before.

And lastly, he has started to call me more often during the day just to check in. He used to call semi-often but usually only if there was a reason ... a question to ask me, or a message to give me, or something like that. Now, he calls most days just to see how I have been feeling. He also has come to appointments with me and asked questions and listened to the details about appointments he hasn't been able to be at.

I appreciate these things so much because they show how happy he is to be a part of this journey. While I have already seen my baby on the ultrasound screen and can feel my body changing, the only evidence he really has of this new life is a positive sign on a plastic stick and the sight of his wife with her head over the toilet. I'm already learning that the journey to parenthood is so different for the father and the mother. But he is doing everything he can right now to be a part of it. And I love that.

So, while I show my excitement about our impeding arrival by looking at baby stuff online, and telling everyone I see and talk to that I'm expecting, he shows his excitement in a different way - by caring for and about me, and by showing genuine interest in the pregnancy.

I'm am seriously so pumped that he is the daddy to my baby and I cannot, cannot, cannot wait to see more of this transformation!

37 comments:

Lisa said...

This is a beautiful post, L!

Kate said...

what a wonderful post, thanks for sharing! Your husband sounds wonderful!

Jessica McCoy said...

That is so awesome. I cannot wait to experience that. :)

SnoWhite said...

I'm so sorry that you've been feeling so horribly, but, on the plus side- what a beautiful expression of your husband's love!

This Texas Momma said...

*sniff sniff* This is the sweetest post! I am so happy for you, that you have an amazing husband to care for you and is so excited about this baby. What a HUGE blessing!

Ashley @ The Happy Little Home said...

The sweetest. You should print this and put it in the baby book. Hang in there :)

Brooke said...

how incredible!! :)

Gina said...

Awwww, this got me all choked up.

Have you tried sea-bands, lemon drops, preggy pops, or Lifesaver popsicles? Those all worked for me!

Holly said...

That is the sweetest thing I've ever heard!
I love Ashley's idea to print this out.
Sorry you've got morning sickness, but they say that's a good sign. Have you tried those sea-sickness wristbands? I used to wear those pretty much constantly when I was pg.

jenn said...

awww - i just got tears in my eyes. what a great guy. :)

Lucky in Love said...

You are a lucky, lucky girl my friend :) I'm so glad he's being so sweet to you. You deserve it :)

Annie said...

aw :) this makes me smile!!
i'm so happy for you two!
sounds like you have such an amazing hubby/daddy to be by your side!

Nicole said...

What a precious, precious time! Document every word that FD says about you and your pregnancy and especially about the baby. Put it in a book and give it to your child. Especially if the baby is a girl, she will be thrilled to know the endearments her daddy had about her while she was still in your womb.

Hope you feel better soon!

Kayla said...

O, great post! I think it's great that he's there for all of that stuff, more power to him! He will be a great daddy and you, a great mommy!! :-) Hope you get to feeling better soon!

KW said...

That is stinkin' adorable! Thank you for your sweet words of encouragement on that post, my disappointment today stems from the fact that we're trying - it's only the first month, and I don't want to announce it to blog world, but since you're preggers I thought I'd share - it's only our FIRST month to try - but I've wanted to for a LONG time and I'm getting nervous I will feel this way every month, PLUS my visitor decided to be 5 days late showing up! TEASE! :) So again, thanks for your prayers and sweet encouraging words!

You sure have a sweet hubs - mine is like yours, LOVES kids - I can't wait to see this side of him :)

Jackie said...

So wonderful to hear...and hopefully you will start feeling better soon.

Vee said...

That is soooo sweet!

Without question, my favorite part of becoming a mother was watching the hubs become a daddy! Wait til you get home from the hospital....if was anything like me, you won't have to lift a finger! =]

"Cookie" said...

Hi! Found your blog through MckMama's...

Great post! I know how you feel about a husband who "transforms" once your pregnant. I'm pregnant with #2 and my husband is more caring now than with the 1st. He knows how hard it it dealing with a 2 yr old by himself....he realizes how tough it can be with me getting farther and farther along in this pregnancy.

I think I saw in the post but not sure..... do you try eating a few crackers before you even try to get out of bed in the morning? I had a friend tell me that helped her from being sick in the mornings.

Meg said...

loving these preggo posts! ;) Looking forward to hearing more!

Kate said...

Awww, yea for your husband being an excellent daddy-to-be!

Gwen said...

This is such a great post!!! I hope you print it out for the baby book. He'll amaze you for years to come. :) XOXO

katie said...

too sweet!

d.a.r. said...

gosh dangit, are you trying to make me cry?!?!

This is too sweet, you are SO blessed!!

Gwen said...

I have tears in my eyes. You are both very lucky to have found each other and be sharing this grand experience.

Brittany Ann said...

This is just beautiful! What a wonderful transformation for the FD! And for you!

Kristin said...

aww isn't it fun! jorden is just now starting to hit that point and i'm loving it! :) enjoy every minute of your babying! :) but i hope you get over the morning sickness ASAP!

Tricia said...

Tears, literally.
I'm so excited for you guys. (not the ugly toilet-hugging part, of course, but for this time in your lives) ;) The toilet hugging should end soon. Then you can just enjoy this journey together.
Oh, the first one is so miraculous. (The rest are too, but the first is all together different.)
Enjoy!

XO*T

Taryn said...

aww- that is awesome. I can't wait to see how he changes as your condition changes.

(I had a dream about you last night- weird.)

Heather @ Simple Wives said...

So precious!

Jessica McCoy said...

I received and award that I would like to pass along to you! It's on my blog!

Shaina said...

This is the SWEETEST post. Tear.

Mandi @ Sweetly Home said...

That made me teary! What a great guy. I'm so sorry that you are feeling so awful. I'll pray that it gets better for you. Your blog to post would be an awesome to include in a baby book or a scrapbook of your pregnancy.

Suzi K said...

Aww what a great husband you have go there! So sweet!

Terral said...

The moment your child is born and you watch your wife transform into a mother right before your eyes is awesome for a husband to see. He's going to witness something amazing in a few months. Congrats!

Tereasa said...

Hey girl, I just left you a little something on my blog! I think you already received this. You don't have to play along if you have. If you haven't received this award, you deserve it.

Courtney said...

So this is indicative of how behind I am in my google reader, but I'm just now finding out you're pregnant, and I'm SO SO happy for you! You guys are going to be amazing parents!

Emily said...

Sounds like you have a good daddy-to-be husband!!