New Territory

Screaming babies, booger pickin' toddlers, awkward teens, and to-cool-for-school youths are everywhere.

They've always been there, but I didn't really notice them until now. Come November 5th, we're going to be responsible for another human. I see parents scrambling to keep it together. At fast food restaurants, I hear parents yell their kid's name (first, middle, and last) followed by some life threatening slur stating the consequences if they don't get out of the playground and eat their kids' meal. I think to myself, "oh $#!+, that's going to be us." Our future is starting to become more of a reality, especially every time Lauren comes barreling into the bathroom to up-chuck the delicious sausage/spinach/onion/mushroom egg scrambler (garnished with avocados, of course) I prepared 10 minutes prior. Was it the eggs, the almond milk, the fact that I can't cook, or the simple truth that Lauren is growing a miniature homo sapien in her body? I try to be sympathetic. I try to comfort her. I say thing like, "you can handle this; show that fetus who's boss!" Followed by, "hurry up, we're going to be late for work." I have to "encourage" her from a distance because I have the WORST gag reflex! I try to hold her hair back, but I usually wind up just shoving it in the back of her shirt before running out of the bathroom. She's excited to see how I react once I have to cleanup my first diaper blowout. 

To help me prepare for what's to come in November, Lauren has been trying to educate me on childbirth. "I learned everything I need to know from my time at Old Hatchie Vet Clinic," doesn't satisfy her. Apparently, a set of chains, a fence post, and a come-along will not be involved. Lauren is adamant about having a natural birth. Midwives, doulas (not to be confused with a medulla oblongata), birthing coaches, and Ricky Lake are all terms that we talk about routinely. After watching (most of it) the Business of Being Born on Netflix, I'm starting to understand what we signed up for when we signed a contract with VCU Health's midwifery program. Contrary to my assumptions, we will not be having our baby in a wooden hut with tiki torches and a dancing witch doctor. We'll be delivering with trained medical professionals, supporting staff, and in a hospital (the best

Hospital in VA to be exact) should anything go wrong. I'm planning to be Lauren's "birthing partner". I'm not entirely sure what that means yet, but she bought me the manual to read while we soak up the sun on the lake this summer!

We feel like there is so much we have to do, but I don't think either one of us feel rushed to get them done. I'm more concerned about the parenting stuff we need to learn after our kid is born. I often ask: Is Macgyver's kid the reason everything now has to be baby-proofed? Should we make our kid play piano? Is Neyland Peyton a good name for a boy or a girl? Do we start saving for college or make them pay their own way? Will we have to go  over a wall to vacation in Mexico? Why do all babies love Sophie the Giraffe? Is it safe to wash my clothes with used cloth diapers? Are science experiments still a thing? If I ask them to pull my finger, will they laugh at what comes next? Is it still safe to rub dirt on scratches? We have so much to learn. But, I couldn't ask for a better partner to figure all of this stuff out with together. Lauren is going to be an incredible mom, and I can't wait to start a family with her.

Until next time, bye!

PS, We just found out that our baby can now hear sounds. Feel free to send us your favorite songs for the Baby Moore playlist!