A Husband's Perspective

Hi Everyone…..Andrea here.

I am officially in the home stretch I guess. I can now see the light at the end of this pregnancy tunnel. Here I am in week 35 and absolutely shocked that I will meet my baby boy in only a matter of weeks. I cannot wait. Who is this little person that keeps me up at night with his kicks and stretches? Will he have a lot of hair? Will he look like his Daddy? Will he cry a lot? How much will he weigh? Finally – I will have answers to all these things that every soon-to-be parent wonders about.

So I was going to write about my complaints with this pregnancy and how I can’t wait for this kid to come out already. However, after reading how Ginny has PUPPP’s, I think I’m going to keep my mouth shut, because really….my sore back and hips do not compare to an extremely itchy rash on my body. I consider myself lucky that I’ve gotten off so easy.

On that note, I had to think long and hard about an interesting topic to write about. It dawned on me while sitting beside my husband Chris, that maybe getting “a husband’s perspective” on this whole knocked-up business could be enlightening for the blog readers…and also for myself. So I whipped out the pen and paper and began to “interview” my husband on pregnancy. So without further adieu, here is what he has to say on the matter:


A Husband’s Perspective

Q: How does it feel to be on the brink of having your second child?

A: I am totally excited. Can hardly wait. It’ll be fun to have a baby around again. From our first experience, there are a lot of things and moments we’ll know to capitalize on and really cherish because we now know how fast they grow up.

Q: Do you ever wish you could be the one that’s pregnant and get to experience childbirth?

A: No. It’s just not in a man’s mindset to do that. But I do wonder how you feel having a little miniature human floating around in your belly. (Note from Andrea: “Floating around in your belly”….hahahahaha…..only a man would say that…the last time I checked, a belly and uterus were two different body parts…no? Bless his heart).

Q: Is it strange seeing me with a big belly?

A: I get a totally different perspective of what a woman is and what she’s capable of doing. I realize how truly difficult being pregnant can be and at the same time how amazing it is. I hear you complain a lot about the hardships like a sore back and then I hear you talk about the great things in the same breath like the baby moving, the baby being able to hear my voice, etc.

Q: Do you find me attractive with a big belly?

A: Yes I do. I am just as attracted to you physically and emotionally. (Note from Andrea: I wonder if he would have the same answer if a non-biased third party was asking the question and not his very pregnant wife? Good answer Chris. You are a smart man.)

Q: What things have you enjoyed so far about our pregnancies?

A:

1. When you told me you were pregnant
2. Finding out the gender of our children early on in the pregnancy
3. Watching you change from my girlfriend, to my wife, and ultimately a mother
4. Watching you take an active interest in being pregnant. I admire the way you research and read about it.

Q: What things have you not enjoyed about our pregnancies?

A:

1. You hogging the bathroom and the bed
2. You wearing my underwear (Note from Andrea on this: Yes, it’s true, I wear his boxer shorts as pj’s sometimes because they are so comfy. Don't worry - I only wear the clean ones).
3. Your unpredictable mix of emotions.

Q: What is it like watching the birth of your baby?

A: Out of the top five things you’ll ever experience in life, it’s got to be #1. It’s the most emotional, most endearing, most human experience you’ll ever witness.

Q: What’s the hardest thing about having a newborn baby?

A: Realizing the daunting responsibility that you now own. You don’t know what responsibility is until you have a child.

Q: What is your take on driving a mini-van?

A: Why do they have to make them so ugly? I’d rather drive my parent’s 1972 station wagon that had wood paneling and chrome bumpers.

Q: What advice can you give first time Dad’s-to-be?

A: You can either be right or you can be happy when it comes to the heated and emotional debates you are guaranteed to have. Choose the later. (Note from Andrea: Please. Mother’s know best. That’s the way it’s always been. We can’t help that we’re right all of the time.)

So there you have it. That is what my husband Chris has to say. My plan now is teach him the difference between a belly and a uterus and their respective purposes.

So my last day of work is this Thursday! Yay! I’ll have three glorious weeks to relax before my son makes his debut. Don’t get me wrong – I actually have a long list of things I need to get done before September 28th (the big day), but it’ll be nice not working, you know?

On any note, I am so excited to finally get to meet my son. A new person to love. What beats that?

I’ll leave you with this great quote I came across:

“Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.” – Elizabeth Stone