So then thing happened

It finally happened. Even with all the difficulties, problems, heartache, and craziness along the way, it really has happened: I'm going to be a father. Assuming anyone reads this who is not on Twitter and Facebook, my wife and I are expecting our first child in early September.

It's both awesome and daunting at the same time. I have no doubt I am the same as every first-time father-to-be: trying to figure out how we're going to make it work, if I'll be a good dad, wondering how I'll be able to handle diaper changes, sleep deprivation, and knowing that another human being will be dependent on me in so many ways. Breast milk or formula? Disposable or cloth? How soon is too soon to introduce them to Star Wars, Star Trek, and Doctor Who?

Now don't get me wrong, I am certainly not complaining about this. My wife and I have been trying for nearly five years now, and we've been told that we wouldn't get pregnant without artificial assistance (guess they were wrong on that point) and have endured the pain of two miscarriages along the way. So when they say a baby is a blessing and a miracle, I feel that we're both acutely aware of that.

There are so many questions that we will need to answer in the months and years ahead. We'll make mistakes along the way; some little, some big. I don't know much about parenting or what's to come, but I do know that our baby will be very loved and they will know it.

I'm trying not to get myself locked into certain parenting ideas, that we're going to do this or not going to do that because I'm smart enough to know that once the baby arrives, any plans that we've made are probably going to get thrown out the window. While I will certainly hope that our child is into things like science, math, science fiction, Dungeons and Dragons, and all these other geek things, I'm also promising myself that I won't be one of those parents that forces their kid into something that the child obviously does not want to do. I do not want to be one of those parents that tries to live vicariously through their own children.

 Needless to say my life and I will be sending out on adventure fairly soon: a trip to Europe. We're actually going to England and France in June and until we get back from that trip, I'm probably not even to be thinking too much about parenting as long as all the doctors appointments are going well.

So I would like to apologize in advance; at some point I'm sure I will turn into every new parent who wants to constantly talk about their children, show pictures or videos, and every Facebook and Twitter status will be about the baby. I will do my utmost to make sure that period is as short as possible.

Just promise me if I turn into one of those parents, somebody throw something at me.

EDIT: I just found out that Blogger apparently doesn't want to recognize carriage returns when I type a post in from my iPad, nor does it allow me to edit an entry after I post it.  Wonderful!  Google, can you guys please get your asses in gear and work on some good apps for iOS and the iPad?  I understand they are your rival, but all you're doing is alienating your customers that want to use an iPhone or iPad.