Susie is ten weeks along today. She’s still doing very well in that she’s not sick, just tired. One thing that’s kind of funny is her new aversion to chicken. Susie loves to eat chicken, but she hasn’t wanted it at all since being pregnant. I read that when you’re pregnant your hormonal changes affect the chemistry of your saliva which makes food taste different. Crazy. I can’t imagine not wanting to eat chicken. I have what a past dentist called “strawberry tongue.” He said my taste buds are bigger than most everyone else’s, so I taste foods more intensely than other people. If a certain flavor of ice cream tastes pretty good to you, you can be pretty sure it’s blowing my mind. So in the future if you see me really enjoying some food and it looks like I’m enjoying it a little too much, just leave me alone and let me enjoy it in my own little world.
It’s hard to believe she’s been pregnant for two and a half months. Of course, we’ve only known about it for three weeks, so maybe that’s why it still feels so new. The first sentence you’ll see if you click on the Baby Gronseth simulator is: “From now on I am no longer called an embryo, but a fetus.” I guess I’ll just call it my baby. I have this mental block about the word fetus since it’s thrown around a lot by groups that promote abortion. I can’t imagine thinking about this little guy or girl as just a mass of tissue. I can’t see how someone could experience the birth of a child and not at least wonder who designed all this and recognize that there’s someone out there who is very creative and has our best interests in mind.
The other night as I was falling asleep I watched Susie sleeping and I realized that very soon our time alone will come to an end. On one hand, that’s very exciting because I can’t wait to meet my first child. But on the other hand, I want to spend time with Susie now because it won’t be long before we will be sharing the responsibility of watching our kid. We’ve spent years together now and I can’t imagine life without her. She is the perfect complement to me; God has blessed me with a wonderful wife. So in the same way I can’t imagine being without her I also can’t imagine someone else living with us. But I also can't imagine growing old without kids (got all that?). But overall I think I’m as ready as I'll ever be.
It’s funny how life changes. I remember that I’ve always been one to embrace the challenges of change. I was ready to head off to college and get a taste of living on my own while still being dependent on my parents. I was ready when it was time to move to Texas, then Louisiana, when I started my first job out of college and really was on my own for the first time. I was definitely ready for Susie to move in with me when we returned from our honeymoon in Mexico. I’ve been ready each time we’ve moved since being married. Each time I’ve encountered a major change in my life I’ve found things to look forward to and been able to let go of the things I’d miss. I guess I’d consider myself a pretty adaptable person. But I have a feeling that my world is about to be rocked.
It’s ok, though, because God’s promise is to do immeasurably more than we could even ask or imagine (Eph 3:20). He’s already made His work in our lives obvious, and so why would I expect any different with this new venture? He sets our paths and blesses us as we follow Him. That’s the goal I strive for, so I’m waiting with anticipation for this change and for the new person that will live in our home with us and compete for our time and make us laugh and make us cry and wake us up at night. It will be taxing and it will be fun and it will be trying at times and it will be an adventure. But God will be with us each step and so because of that I say “bring it on!”
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5 comments:
Dude your post has me singing Notorious B.I.G.'s "I love it when you call me big Poppa, throw your hands in the air if you's a true playa!" HAHAHA. I don't remember exactly where along in the pregnancy we were (I think it was the choosing the name stage) and I would walk around saying her name and singing: "I love it when you call me big Poppa...!"
Ah yeah, the good times. I'm so glad you and Susie waited a while to enjoy one another. You'll continue to enjoy one another with a child (even more so now) but it is different than when it was just the 2 of you. I think that time spent together provides an incredible bedrock for what's to come! I've fallen in love deeper and differently with my wife as a Mom and it's incredible what children bring out in parents.
Oh and btw, I think that all sex leads to dancing not just premarital :)
So I was thinking more along the lines of Donavon Frankenreiter's song than I was of Biggie, but that works too! I guess Notorious works with the current theme of everyone calling it "Baby G." Can't wait til it's born so we can move past the Baby G phase.
Congratulations Matt and Susie
I know what you are feeling Matt, but it has been over 25 years since I experienced what you are feeling.
I can tell you from experience that life will change.
BUT life with children means so much more that I cannot imagine life without them.
Sherree and I made our chidren the focus of our lives, sacrificing many things along the way.
We are not sorry.
All of our chidren are the greatest source of pride and accomplishment that any parent can hope to accomplish.
Mark
We just got your New Year letter in the mail and I just can't stop thinking how Awesome this is. I decided to catch up on everything before I made any comments because it is bedtime here and that seems to be the only quiet time that I can sit at the computer without someone wanting to help me type.
One word of advice don't ever say "My child will never" (at least out loud) because you can never predict when they will have a melt down and you will want to crawl under a rock. My mom always said that "You raise your children for other" and I feel like that has been true of the way I have tried to raise the Ladies. The are not nice or well mannered when they are with me (to the standards that I would like them to be), but get them out in public or with someone other than me and you would think I was the parent of the year because they are perfect!
Also remember that it is ok for them to cry. I know that it is very tempting to pick them up everytime but resist the urge. Put the baby in the bed, close the door, sit on the couch with Susie and snuggle.
Matt--Hank and I received your New Year's letter today and we are rejoicing with you over the blessed news that God is expanding your family! I've been blessed by reading your blog tonight. Your reflections are precious! We, too, waited on the Lord for two years before getting pregnant with our first child. The waiting was tough, as we thought we were so ready to become parents. During the wait, as I was praying one day, I felt so clearly that the Lord told me the waiting was not about our readiness to parent, but rather it was about the world being ready for the new child and for the timing being right for the things he or she was going to be uniquely crafted to accomplish. Once I understood that, I was able to be patient, and now, three children later, we love waking up each day and seeing these precious little gifts grow and develop! Yes, since finding out in July 2003 that we were expecting our first baby, we have added three children to our family. Caroline is 3 1/2. Claire is 2, and Blake is 9 months old! Please tell Susie I will add her to the list of pregnant friends that I pray for regularly. I hope y'all will continue to enjoy the marvelous journey of this pregnancy! I liken pregnancy to waiting to open the greatest gift you will ever receive. And, the most amazing part is that though you finally open the gift on delivery day, a child is a gift that never stops giving, as you get to unwrap new parts of him or her constantly!! Y'all will be wonderful parents, and I can't wait to read more of your journey into parenthood! Blessings to you, Susie, and the baby!!
Whitney Yarborough
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