Sunday, November 16, 2008

Shuf and Nudge! Week 22 P.S.

Baby,
Right now, this second, 9:13pm, you are moving around in your mother.
As she sits and reads, she's yelling out to me, "Shuf" or "Nudge" depending on what you're doing.
She just said "Nudge", then again, "Nudge."
I think your ears are burning..."Shuf"...but I'm not even talking.
I'm writing about you and you can hear me...maybe I should type softer.
Hi sweetie. I hope you're enjoying your evening.

Love,
Daddy

Baby Shuf! Week 22

Baby,
So much excitement this past week! After finding out that you're a girl, we took a tour of the hospital where you're going to be born. It's a really nice hospital, with original animation art on the walls, the perfect place for my daughter to be introduced to the world, surrounded by good drawings and paintings! So cool!!

But I think you already know all that, because you certainly seem excited about it. Your Mom says you're moving all the time now, sometimes after she eats, and sometimes (it seems) after you hear my voice and/or I'm talking about you (even over the phone!).

I've asked your Mom to describe your movements to me and she says there are two types; "Nudges," a little poke of an arm or a leg, and when you shift positions with your whole body, which I've called "Shuf." It's a term I learned from "Jellaby," a wonderful graphic novel by this cool dude named Kean Soo ( http://www.secretfriendsociety.com/index.php ) something I'll be reading to you when you get here.

So that's you lately, Shuf and Nudge, Shuf and Nudge.

Meanwhile, we're in the midst of trying to come up with a name for you. We're testing out a few on you, letting you hear it, allowing it to roll around in our mouths and ears, seeing what sticks. It's tough. We don't want to let you down on this one. It'll be your name for your whole life. It's kind of a big deal. Just like you.

If you hear one you really like, just give us a little Shuf or a Nudge. That'll help us maybe narrow it down a bit.

Talk to you soon baby girl.

Love,
Daddy

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Got Labia? Week 21


I don't. But my baby does!

That's right, the wife and I made a little girl (see above). As I told the Doctor, this is her first (and last) centerfold. That indecent little arrow indicates where her action is (or isn't, depending on your perspective.)

This week has been a whirlwind. As soon as I posted last week, the wife started to feel the baby. Hah! She listened to her Daddy and kicked the mama! Way to go kid. Dad owes you an ice cream cone.

Then work was really intense (the DVD short I'm working on is on an aggressive schedule) which is good, just busy and tiring. Then on Friday, we had our second ultra-sound and voila, we know what flavor of baby we're having. She was very active during the appt. and at one point, she had her legs up, with her toes touching her face. (Already, I worry that she's going to be VERY popular with the boys).

And just like that, my world is PINK. Mother In Law is beside herself with joy at all the PINK she'll get to buy. PINK PINK PINK PINK PINK.

We have some names picked out, just some ideas, but probably won't nail anything down for a while. It is really really wonderful to know at least that much about the baby. I can say "she" and "her" instead of "baby" and "it."

I guess you could say I called it. I was thinking we were going to have a boy up until we knew we were pregnant, then, suddenly, I changed my mind. I figure it's because I am more terrified of raising a girl than a boy. But not by much.

I guess I see the world (and gender) in a very old fashioned way. Girls are treasures to be guarded and protected from the world and the dragons that hide in its shadows by the Boys that love them. Altho, some Boys (most) are dragons and some Girls (most) can knight-up for themselves just fine, i.e. my wife and some of our closest friends. Still, my instincts in this are hard to shake, even in this modern world which she will be born into. I know no sword will be sharp enough and no horse fast enough to protect her forever. But it's my job to try. I think that's what a Daddy does, so that's what I will do.

Truth be told, I just can't wait to hold her. I will be anything and everything she needs me to be, because that's my job. In a world where the worth of a Father seems devalued, and our rep has been tarnished by dead-beat-dads and worse, I have my work cut out for me. But I'm up to it.

I can learn to like PINK.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Bored Now: Week 20 Begins

Seriously Baby, we need to talk. What are you doing in there? Are you bored? Cause I am. That’s why I haven’t written. I have a solution though.

Kick your mother.

Never again in your life will I ask you to do this, but pretty please, kick your mother.

I’m serious. Don’t worry about getting in trouble, this is a freebie. Kick and punch her as hard as you can. Just so I know you’re there. We’ve heard your heart-beat twice now, which is great, don’t get me wrong, but I’m bored. I want you to be here. So that we can hang out and I can tell you all about why Godzilla and Tokyo don’t get along. Now of course, I want you to do all the baking you need to before you come out. But in the mean time, can you just let us know you’re still there, just a little heads-up for Dad?

This reminds me of when I proposed to your Mother. We were engaged for a little less than a year, and that whole time, she had the pretty ring on her finger signifying the promise of our bond and our upcoming nuptials. But what did I have to show for it? Nothing. Not a thing. And here we are again; an incredible event in my life just around the corner (you) and you wouldn’t know it from looking at me. I may as well be just some dude. She gets the pretty ring and the big, beautiful tummy (she calls it her baby fat; she’s so clever), I get to wait around and just do stuff (although, I am working on my own sympathy tummy that’s full of In N’ Out burgers instead of baking baby).

Your Mother says this is like that period in our engagement when there wasn’t a whole lot left to do to prepare for the wedding. Nothing to do but wait.

Your Mother also says she may be feeling a little something, but it also might just be gas. Which is funny. Gas is always funny (it’ll be one of the first things you learn when you get here) but this will be the only time in your life where you might be mistaken for being gas.

Sometimes I feel like you’re lost out at sea, and I want to send you a message in a bottle, in the hopes that you’ll get it one day. I guess that’s what this is, one very long message in a blog bottle. I do still talk to you through your mother’s stomach. I guess it’s a bit like praying; doing all the talking while your faith fills in the other side of the conversation.

We just reorganized our bedroom for you last night, making preparations for your arrival. Making room in our room, and our lives, for you.

I also just bought you a STAR WARS onesie. It’s so cool. It’ll be too big for about a year, but well worth the wait. I promise.

We’ve also got something else waiting for you when you get here. More from your Mother than me really, but, I know you’re gonna love them. I sure do. They’re soft and warm and wonderful. They’re called BOOBS. They’re going to be your most favorite things in the world. Likely, you’ll never get over how much you like them (even if you’re a girl, then you get your own. JEALOUS.). Say it with me now, “boobs.” Fun!

Love,
Daddy