If you read these blogs, you know that 2009 has not been a very good year for me. I’ve seen the lives of friends shatter and crumble around me – divorce, miscarriage and death. My own life has been beset by difficultly – my job being eliminated, emergency room visits. In general, 2009 has been tough to muddle through.
But I have something waiting for me in December that I think is going to make everything worth while…
Cami and I are expecting our second child.
As you can see from the date on the sonogram – July 23 – I’ve been sitting on this information for a while. Not for any particular reason. Except sometimes it’s hard to wrap my mind around the thought that we’re having another baby. I mean, Henry keeps us so occupied already, the fact that Cami’s pregnant sometimes slips my mind.
I would feel bad, but I’ve talked to friends who are also in the middle of their second pregnancies, and they admit to the same thing. You’re so busy trying to keep the first one from stabbing his eye out with a fork, you kind of forget the second one is on the way.
Well, there is no avoiding it now. Cami is showing beautifully and thoughts of the pregnancy consume my thoughts every day. Sometimes those thoughts are “Holy crap, I don’t have a job. How are we going to afford two kids in day care?” But most of the time, they are less panicked.
At any rate, for those of you wondering: Yes, we do know the sex of the baby and; Yes, we are sharing that information…
It’s a girl.
As for the name? We’re keeping that one close to the vest.
Having a girl let alone having a sibling for Henry to interact with is new territory for me. I’m not worried about the burping / feeding / rocking phase of development. I feel like I have those skills finely tuned. What freaks me out is what will happen when the kids are older and start bouncing off each other.
I never had a brother or a sister, so I understand very little about family dynamics. Cami has a younger sister, so she brings some experience to the table. But I’m coming at this with no idea if or how these two are going to get along.
This is my problem as a parent – I’m always thinking three years ahead of myself. Before Henry was born, I had all these big ideas about going to the zoo, playing catch and hanging out all the time. I gave no thought to the burping / feeding / rocking, etc.
I feel like I’m falling into the same trap with the new baby. “What’s it going to be like when she comes home crying because another girl said she didn’t like her shoes?” That kind of thing. What kind of advice can I give? Except for the highly acerbic kind?
Like anything else, I suppose I just have to play things by ear. All I know is that it will be a different experience for me.
Cami’s due date is sometime around the middle of December. But since Cami is planning on having another C-section (after delivering Henry by Cesarean last time) we won’t know the exact date until we meet with our surgeon.
All I know is that I’m very much looking forward to meeting Baby Brazelton and as I know more, I will be happy to share details with you.
In the meantime, I just wanted to put the good news out there and share a little bit of my life with you.
Thanks and take care.
What more needs to be said than: Woohoo!
Congrats! This is going to be an exciting time for you and your family. As far as advice, just keep Henry in on what is happening. He’s a little guy, but they’re more perceptive and intuitive than you would think. Just let him know you still love him and want him around even though sometimes you may have to give a little more attention to baby sis. Explain why you’re doing things with her, and even find ways to let him help (passing the baby powder, or fastening the diaper tabs). Just use your common sense, and you’ll be fine. Books from the bookstore help, too. š
Congratulations!!!!! This is exciting news!!!!
Congratulations!!! I myself found out last week that I’ll be a dad for the first time and seeing that echography picture made me anticipate going through those same steps that much more! So, congrats again!! š
aww, i can’t wait to see what the girl looks like! this sounds really exciting. š
Andre, congrats to you on your good news! It’s a life-changer, that’s for sure. “The hardest job you’ll ever love.” Totally a gooey Hallmark sentiment, but also completely true!
Inho, we’re also very excited to find out what she looks like. Henry looks so much like me, I really hope our baby girl looks like Cami.
Tom, many many congratulations on the happy news!
And IMHO, the fact that you have the concerns that you mention mean that you’re going to great as a father to a little girl. I’ve always seen that as a paradox – to me, the parents who worry the most about their parenting end up having the least to worry about, if that makes any sense.
Keep up the good work, and I hope that this is just the first bit of good news that you’ll be sharing with us over the next few weeks!
You found this out on my birthday and didn’t tell me???
Kidding, of course. I’m thrilled for you and Cami, and speaking as an older brother, I’m sure Henry will get along just fine with Baby B.
My brother is three and a half years older than me, and is my only sibling. Even though we had some rough years during his high school/my middle school time, the older brother/younger sister dynamic is probably my favorite sibling type ever. We are in our early twenties now and are so close. Congratulations!
this is great news Tom!!! congratulations!!!
Yay š Congratulations.
So, when she begins to date in like 16 years or w/e, Henry will be lining the house with barbed wire and cleaning guns with you? lol. If I had I little sister, that’s what I’d prolly do. lol. Congrats, man. This increases your chances of having a child that you’ll share your love of movies with. š
Congratulations!
And by the way, just because Cami had a C-section last time, that does NOT mean she must have one now. If your doctor says that, you need a new doctor because it is totally false and up to Cami 100% how she delivers.
No, Cami’s making the decision to have the c-section. Actually, a day after we had Henry, our surgeon told her there was probably a 70% chance she could deliver normally the second time. But she was in labor for 32 hours before they finally had to take the baby and I don’t think she wants to go through that again.
Ah, okay. I just wanted to check, as I’ve seen two many women pressured into C-sections because of lazy doctors. Congrats again!
Well, we went with midwife services and not a traditional doctor and they were very, very reluctant to go with a c-section unless it was absolutely necessary. Even our surgeon didn’t want to do it unless there was a threat to the baby.
After 32 hours, Cami was exhausted, couldn’t push anymore and the doctors did what they had to do.
Congrats Tom and Cami and Henry! That’s so exciting! Maybe you can start your own daycare š
Ahhh congrats Tom!!! That’s tremendous news. The older brother-younger sister dynamic is always interesting, and it definitely pays when they’re in their teens and he can watch out for her and make sure that the younger punks treat her right.
Congratulations, Tom!
In the teen years not only can your boy help look out for your girl, but having a girl can help you with your boy. When teaching him to respect women, it could help to tell him to treat women the way he would want guys to treat his sister.
That is a great point about respecting women, Chuck. I hadn’t thought about that!
congrats! You deserve some good in a year that hasn’t been the best for you.
Well, being a long time reader here and frequent commenter, I wouldn’t feel right if I didn’t post on this!
Congrats Tom, that’s great news! Chuck has a good point, and I imagine Brother-Sister relationships being strong when they grow up together like that. Brother-Brother wrestles each other and fights sometimes, but usually brothers are protective of their sisters… especially big brothers. Very exciting Tom.
Congratulations again to you and Cami.
Congratulations to you, Cami, and Henry. Best wishes to Cami on the pregnancy, I hope that she’s feeling well.
Congrats! That’s wonderful news.
Mazel Tov! Congratulations! Felicidades!
That is great news! Congratulations to both of you, and may the c-section go smoothly.
I’ve always thought that I’d much prefer an older brother versus a younger sister which is what I have. Pretty much for the reasons mentioned too.
Tom, Cami I’m very pleased to hear that you are having another baby and wish to offer my congratulations, and by odd coincidence my wife and I are expecting our second as well in december, also a girl. Looks like we’re both getting some of the best christmas gifts we could ever expect
Congrats to you as well, Derrick!
Congrats on the big news. This has been a tough year for you and I can imagine that the job situation has you a bit freaked, but somehow you’ll manage. This little girl is a gift to be treasured far more than gold. All the best to you and Cami.
Congratulations Tom.
All the best to you and your wife!
I love the comic and the TF Podcast!!
D!