Restless
I managed to fall asleep tonight. Trust me, that was a MAJOR accomplishment. If it hadn't been for that acid reflux problem of mine, I might still be asleep. I'll consider myself lucky that I got any sleep at all. You'll know why in a minute.
This has been an exciting week. On Wednesday, I crossed off one of the many dates that's cluttering my calendar by attending a campaign house party for Joel Kleefisch. Today I added a new date, February 5th.
This week at work was the kind of week I live for: busy-busy-busy, with a healthy dose of pressure, lots of challenges to overcome, extra hours, and never a dull moment. Seriously, I get a high from making myself feel smart. We've been starting up a critical piece of equipment and I'm the guy who's working on the control program. On Tuesday there were a dozen people standing by, ready to pounce on me if anything went wrong when we flipped the switch(es). Even so, every night this week I've come home at odd hours with a big smile on my face because the whole start up was going better than I could've hoped.
Tonight I struggled through traffic on the freeway to get home just in time to set up for the podcast. When I got home, the dog was behaving oddly for some reason. I noticed that she sat in the middle of the backyard staring, motionless, toward the alley for at least a half hour. When I tapped on the window she gave me a strange look and went right back to staring. Strange, but my dog is a little bit demented.
Kelly showed up at home right as I was finishing the podcast and she brought a friend with her. She said the following and I knew exactly what I was about to hear:
So, how could I fall asleep tonight, with this on my mind?
Because of the birth control that Kelly is taking, we've already lost three months of prep-time without even realizing it. My female readers may want to take note of that. Kelly's been having headaches, morning sickness, fever, loss of appetite, and a number of other symptoms. Because she was on one of those pills with the three month cycle she always managed to find some other excuse for the discomfort.
The baby doesn't worry me. I'll be glad to have it, and there will be many long arguments in this house about how it should be raised. I've already imagined what the three of us would be like together. I'll just have to remember that whenever the kid screws up, it is half hers after all.
What I am worried about right now is how we're going to afford our new life. I joked with Kelly tonight that I really don't have a preference toward a boy or girl, in fact I'd rather she gave birth to a puppy because that's all we can really afford. We've got gobs of evil credit card debt from working on the house (which we have no equity in yet), both of our cars are acting like they might want to give up on us, we owe my parents for our brand new windows, and I've got a funny feeling the house is going to want a new roof soon. There isn't any room to play with, and I have a bad feeling the baby doesn't care. I think we're going to have to start looking for a trailer home big enough to fit my TV.
If you're reading this before 8am, you're among the first to hear it. I debated briefly over the politics of announcing this on my blog before telling friends and family and I came to the following conclusions:
Note to self: no more Jagermeister right before bed.
This has been an exciting week. On Wednesday, I crossed off one of the many dates that's cluttering my calendar by attending a campaign house party for Joel Kleefisch. Today I added a new date, February 5th.
This week at work was the kind of week I live for: busy-busy-busy, with a healthy dose of pressure, lots of challenges to overcome, extra hours, and never a dull moment. Seriously, I get a high from making myself feel smart. We've been starting up a critical piece of equipment and I'm the guy who's working on the control program. On Tuesday there were a dozen people standing by, ready to pounce on me if anything went wrong when we flipped the switch(es). Even so, every night this week I've come home at odd hours with a big smile on my face because the whole start up was going better than I could've hoped.
Tonight I struggled through traffic on the freeway to get home just in time to set up for the podcast. When I got home, the dog was behaving oddly for some reason. I noticed that she sat in the middle of the backyard staring, motionless, toward the alley for at least a half hour. When I tapped on the window she gave me a strange look and went right back to staring. Strange, but my dog is a little bit demented.
Kelly showed up at home right as I was finishing the podcast and she brought a friend with her. She said the following and I knew exactly what I was about to hear:
I have to talk to you about something.Followed by:
... blah... blah... something... Gyno... something... blah...Oh Shit!
So, how could I fall asleep tonight, with this on my mind?
Because of the birth control that Kelly is taking, we've already lost three months of prep-time without even realizing it. My female readers may want to take note of that. Kelly's been having headaches, morning sickness, fever, loss of appetite, and a number of other symptoms. Because she was on one of those pills with the three month cycle she always managed to find some other excuse for the discomfort.The baby doesn't worry me. I'll be glad to have it, and there will be many long arguments in this house about how it should be raised. I've already imagined what the three of us would be like together. I'll just have to remember that whenever the kid screws up, it is half hers after all.
What I am worried about right now is how we're going to afford our new life. I joked with Kelly tonight that I really don't have a preference toward a boy or girl, in fact I'd rather she gave birth to a puppy because that's all we can really afford. We've got gobs of evil credit card debt from working on the house (which we have no equity in yet), both of our cars are acting like they might want to give up on us, we owe my parents for our brand new windows, and I've got a funny feeling the house is going to want a new roof soon. There isn't any room to play with, and I have a bad feeling the baby doesn't care. I think we're going to have to start looking for a trailer home big enough to fit my TV.
If you're reading this before 8am, you're among the first to hear it. I debated briefly over the politics of announcing this on my blog before telling friends and family and I came to the following conclusions:
- Kelly wants me to talk about it here, and she doesn't care who finds out in what order. She asked me how long this would take to hit my blog and seemed disappointed when I didn't do it right away.
- I don't think anyone I know wants a 2am phone call.
- None of my "non-internet" friends reads my blog, so who will ever find out?
- I don't appreciate the shallowness of the "you should've told me first" mind set anyway. I do things when it makes sense to me. 2am on a Thursday night, awake with heartburn, seems like the perfect time to do a little baby blogging to me.
Note to self: no more Jagermeister right before bed.
32 Amendments:
Congrats Aaron - kids are a wonderful experience. You will find the money somehow.
Two years ago my wife and I didn't have any extra money for a credit card payment. When Matthew was born a year and a half ago all of a sudden we had the extr $975 a month for day car.
You will find a way.
Congrats
Like I said before, Congrats!
And, by the way, let's extend that note to yourself: no more Jagermeister ever, unless it's in the form of a Jagerbomb, and then...it's still pushing it.
Congrats Aaron!
You know this means finally growing up; at least when the kid's present.
Congrats, Aaron!
We are expecting March 1, I'm still paying off debt from college, we live in a small apartment and our lease is up February 1 (with the potential for having a new landlord then), and a heap of other financial responsibilities.
But we'll manage.
Also, your family will more than likely be thrilled at the prospect of a grandchild. So NEVER say no to offers of help. Heck, my mom is already buying us diapers.
Everything will work out. It always does.
Good luck to you!
Just had our first earlier this year. No sense in worrying about the debt - the new baby isn't going to...
And really, when the baby comes, they are the best remedy for anxiety...
Congratulations and welcome to the club.
Congratulations!
Congratulations, Aaron and Kelly! When we had our first, we didn't have a pot to pee in. You just make it work. You'll find that your priorities will rearrange and you'll have more pot than you know what to do with. Wait a minute...that's not what I meant.
Babies don't need as much crap as you think they do. We bought all kinds of toys for our baby, but for the first 6 weeks, she was fascinated by the ceiling fan. So you pretty much just need a bag of diapers and a ceiling fan.
Congrats.
Congratulations!
This might help:
My mother passed away when I was very very young. My father raised my sister and myself all by himslef on the salary of a truck driver.
On that very same salary he also managed to put me through college to get a bachelors degree and my sister through law school.
He is my best friend and we remain a very close family.
My point is, you are not going to know how to do something until you
are smack dab in the middle of doing it and then you just keep going.
Congrats, btw, we just found out that Melinda is pregnant, too. :)
Outfingstanding Aaron Congrats to both of you. You both will make great parents. Dont worry about the money it always works itself out and you have lots of friends.
Huzzah to the start of your own personal branch of your clan
Congratulations, Aaron!
You are taking this so seriously that you are going to be a great dad.
Remember, the most important things don't cost a thing: love, kisses, hugs, praise. Always praise -- yourselves as parents when you do well, as well as your progeny when they do well.
And that's from someone from a very large family whose parents couldn't afford us, either, but we all muddled through somehow.
Also from someone who was a single mother for many years, and my grown progeny muddled through somehow.
Above all, forgive yourselves when you don't muddle through quite as well as you wish. Your kids will forgive you, love you, hug you, praise you, because they were raised that way.
Start stocking up on diapers....NOW! :) Ask for them at Christmas, birthdays, any other occasions for gift giving. You're going to need them, and believe me, you'll run out faster than you think even if you have a whole warehouse full of 'em.
Congratulations! Get some sleep! :)
It isn't about the coin. It's about hugs that smell like peanut butter and crayon pictures on the refrigerator.
Congatulations to you both. get some sleep while you have the chance.
Wonderful News! Congratulations Kelly & Aaron!
Dear Aaron and Kelly,
Congratulations. I'll excercise restraint and be brief and not abuse your commenting system and...
Basically, we'll have lots to talk about over sushi. If we're still on.
You know how to reach me,
Truly,
Sara
P.S. Will this turn into a pregnancy blog? :D
P.P.S. This is one of my favorite posts ever from one of my top five blogs of all time. (Pay attenttion to the yogurt part.)
Congratulations and best of luck. It is my fervent wish the baby and mom come through this healthy. And, believe it or not, you will survive.
Btw: My Kelly is expecting January 9th. When it comes to newborns, all political ties dissolve.
Aaron,
Are you saying it kind of makes an hour without callers seem like a piece of cake?
Congratulations!
Fraley, I was thinking about how all of this goes back to that hour in some way.
Granted, the baby would've found a way to be here anyway. My kids are going to be so much smarter than me.
But, this blog, the podcast, and this amazing display of support all go back to an impulse decision, the luck of the draw, and three minutes on a bar stool. None of you would be here for me without it!
The next time you see Jerry Bott, rub it in for me, would you?
Will do. Right after I ask for a larger fee. Sorry, man. Happy for you, but a mans gots to eat!
Congrats, folks and ditto to the advice above. Love finds a way.
Congratulations! The money will be there. Like others said, it's amazing how much money you "find" when you have a child! Babies don't care about name brands. Remember that, and you'll do fine!
I'm going to buy a lot of burlap and some twine.
Why buy the burlap - just go to some high end restuarants a pick through their garbage for the old potato bags - I wore one untll I was 12 and I am normal ;)
Suddenly, Clint, I think my child is getting only the most expensive Vera Wang crap I can find.
So that's what a little Aaron looks like... So is it a boy or a girl, or do we need to start a pool.
CONGRATS!!! :) Babies are exciting little people! (and good luck sleeping in 2007!)
I don't think anyone I know wants a 2am phone call.
I'd have been pretty excited. We should make it a trend - all bad things must happend between regular daylight hours, so a midnight call is always good news.
I can't wait to meet the new baby; subject to change will make a good nickname for the first two years or so. Heh.
Ya know I can't say anyone I know that has kids was ever "financially ready" for them shoot both of mine were oops babies unplanned but not unwanted and I'm doing fine. I can't say this enough having kids is funnier than the best sitcom out there pure entertainment. I think you will be a fantastic father. Congrats! BTW when is kelly due?
Congratulations, The baby will be very luck to have you and Kelly as parents. Your priorities will change as you plan for the baby. You'll find a way, and it will all work out.
Holy smokes... congrats. I expect cigars at the next Drinking Right! I can just picture it now... you're kid is going to have an infant blog won't s/he?
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