Random Traffic Through Nick's Brain

Dina’s due date is June 17^th. Guess the date in the comments. We can either do closest date (or date/time) wins a prize. Alternately, suggest an amount for the pool.

I don’t quite feel ready to be a role-model to someone yet. The fact that I’m going to be no matter what scares me… mostly for my poor son. I have an idea of who and what I want to be… I just have no idea how to get there in time…

Alex’s registry is up, with a special side-registry for his stroller.

Initially, I was hesitant to have a registry. While we’re not living in “fat city”, we can still buy this stuff ourselves. It feels odd to make wishlists for anyone other than myself.

I was finally convinced by the argument that having a registry makes things easier for some people who, otherwise, wouldn’t know what to get (or, looked at from another perspective, would increase our chances of getting things we wanted).

People with kids (or people who know baby gear) should feel free to make suggestions as they see fit.

What we really wanted, we couldn’t register for: promises to visit and to babysit for us.

The men should be relieved to hear that the baby shower at the end of April is not a Jack’n'Jill. Girls only, other than Alex (sorry kid).

We have as much chance of getting a Bugaboo as we do of getting a Ferrari. Still doesn’t mean I wouldn’t want one… but seriously… $680, $730, or $780 for a stroller? I’m already weirded out that we’re paying $400 for a Mountain Buggy Urban.

On our recent visit to NYC, we talked to 4 sets of parents driving Bugaboo’s, Mountain Buggy Urban’s, and Phil & Ted’s e³. When in Amsterdam a couple of weeks ago, Jim gave me grief when he determined I was oggling a Stokke Xplory instead of a hot blonde.

<sigh /> I’m not sure what to make of the fact that I’m blogging about baby gear.

Why are we starting to baby-proof the apartment now?

• We have free time now. We won’t have free time later.
• We want to to get used to the baby-proofed apartment now. Apparently one’s IQ drops precipitously after the birth of one’s child.
• How long have you known me? I tend to prepare in advance. It usually works for me. Why stop now?

So, no… it’s not too soon.

1^st, a realization from the drive in to work.

Society is a glorified DNA randomization mechanism.

2^nd, the picture on the right was taken in Alexandria while on our recent trip to Egypt.

3^rd, reactions to the pregnancy are oddly and interestingly varied. News travels fast. People spread the good news. Surprisingly, people read this blog and found out. Whodda thunkit?

Reactions so far have included:

• One reader actually commented (verbally) that the first blog entry about the pregnancy doesn’t make it clear that Dina is, in fact, pregnant.
• Congratulatory emails, IMs, and blog comments. Probably a sign of how wired we are, not one congratulatory phone call.
• Offers to baby sit. Thank you! We’ll try and take you up on this. No… I’m not actually noting down who’s volunteered in my PDA.
• “Whatever you need for the nursery, ask and we’ll get it for you.” from our parents.
• Advice from people with children. A lot of it with the caveat that most advice is bogus and that each pregnancy and life is a snowflake. Thank you! This is very reassuring. We’re both trying to turn over a new leaf and not be so fretful about things. The advice helps. :-)
• Loans of baby / pregnancy books from recently pregnant friends. Thank you!
• Amazingly generous offers of nursery furniture from people with older children. Dina and I were touched / floored by this. It’s great how expecting a baby makes you remember how wonderful people in this world are. Thank you!
• Joking threats to buy kitchy or tacky clothing, toys, and other baby supplies. If you do this, we’ll laugh and eventually retaliate in kind.
• Quiet congratulatory conversations in public places. One of our favourites was at gaming night on Monday. Someone, noticing the present under the tree that read “To Alex. From Mom & Dad” said something like “Either congratulations are in order, or thank you for buying a present for us to give our son.”
• People who are known to be not-really-that-into-children have been surprisingly happy for us.
• People have offered Dina pillows, to reach things in high places for her, and to help her cross the street.
• Coming up to one or both of us and saying “congrats”. Sometimes asking questions, sometimes not.
• Offering handshakes, first to Dina, then to me.
• The obvious “Is it Nick’s?” joke has so far only been mentioned twice within my earshot. I’m impressed with your collective restraint.
• Offering hugs. Mostly to Dina. Occasionally people will offer me one, but I’d estimate that I get about a quarter as many as Dina does. The books warned me this would happen.
• I was reading The Father’s Almanac at squares yesterday. Some people noticed, put two and two together, and offered varying degrees surprise, excitement, and congratulations. BTW, the public vs. private as well as semi-private books refer to pregnancy books.
• Some of the more socially ept people were very good at being good news ambassadors, and helping people put two and two together. PersonA said, “He has a big stack of similar books at home.” as PersonB was puzzling out why I was reading the aforementioned book. I don’t know why, but it was oddly touching. I guess it’s great that people care enough / are happy enough for us to want to spread the news. While we’re discussing odd, the oddest reaction was that of PersonB who, upon figuring things out, didn’t say a word to either Dina or I, and simply walked away.

To all our friends who’ve been expecting before we did: sorry we weren’t even more exuberant and congratulatory, we had no idea it was this wonderful a feeling.