The "Story"

Here we are... eight weeks in.  I suppose the "Hey, I think I'm pregnant" and here's how I found out story deserves some space.  Let me set the scene:

Part 1:

I have been taking ovulation kits for some time.  For those who don't know how those operate, it's very similar to a pregnancy test.  You have two lines that eventually appear.  Once the second line is darker than your test line, it's positive and 'bam' ovulation should happen in the next 24-48 hours.  Up until that point, a lighter line than your test line is a negative test.



Part 2: 

It's a Friday evening (August 31st), which happens to be the evening of Franklin Incentive Day, and I'm joining some co-workers for happy hour after work (spending our hard earned incentive money on alcohol).  I am thoroughly enjoying a Great Lakes IPA when the thought comes to mind that 'hmmm.... something's a little off here' (if you know what I mean).  I make a mental note to take a pregnancy test when I get home.


Part 3:
Jonathan is on duty at the fire station Friday, August 31st and Saturday, September 1st.


The "Story":

I arrive home Friday night (after receiving a $25 parking ticket for being 13 minutes over my meter) and run upstairs to take a test.  I let it do its business and go downstairs to turn on a movie and pop some popcorn.  I go back up and check it.  Sure enough... two lines, but the line is not darker than the test line.  Negative, Not pregnant, Better luck next month.  I throw it in the trash can and proceed to my popcorn.

On Saturday morning, I get up and do my normal morning routine.  I sit down for the first OSU game when a thought comes to mind... Last night, I took a pregnancy test, not an ovulation test.  It was positive you dummy.  I run back upstairs and dig in the trash can (gross) to find my test.  Sure enough.... two lines (of which color doesn't matter).  To be sure, I decided to take a dummy-proof digital test that spells it out for you.  PREGNANT!

After a moment of shock, I decide that I'll wait to tell Jonathan until our 5 year anniversary on Tuesday, September 7th.  When he comes home on Sunday, I try to carry on as normal.  However, if you see my post below, lying doesn't suit me so well.  Turns out... keeping big secrets from my husband is not exactly my forte either.  I manage to save it until mid-afternoon when I call him up to the room that we already discussed as the nursery.  I careful lay my tests out on the foot of the bed.

His response?

                    Keep reading....
   

I Have No Clue What She Wants...

So, I get home from a 48 hour shift at the firehouse.  Beat down by being there for two straight days, being busier than most...and not to mention I was on the medic.  I get to the on-going money pit we call home, only to be greeted by unfinished hardwood flooring in the new foyer.  My happiness of being home quickly fades as I walk through the new front door remembering the promise of, "I'll finish it this weekend when I get home". 

I begin to work feverishly to wrap this small project up.  It's football Sunday, I am ready to watch my "Factory of Sadness" embarrass all of Ohio...and the world.  I have one task...finish this damn hardwood flooring.  Luckily for me, I have a wife that isn't afraid of work and has learned to measure and cut with my mitre saw quite proficiently...basically, the best thing that could have come out of marriage (joke...I love you babe). 

So, we get the floor all finished after what seemed an eternity, especially when it came down to the finest details of the edge.  We eat lunch and I sit down in the ever so comfy swivel chair.  I flip the tv to CBS and start watching football.  Moments later I hear, "Hey, Jonathan!" "Jonathan, can you come up here for a sec?"  I knew exactly where she was by the pitch of her voice.  Upstairs in the large spare bedroom.  My chin sank to my chest, eyes closed ever so slowly hoping it was just a dream.  Please, no more remodel talks.  Please, just be an upgraded ceiling fan that needed to be replaced from Keith breaking it (at least that is my story).  We had just talked about finishing the first floor, before we started any remodeling upstairs.  To buy myself time in that talk I said, "Let's just wait until there is a need.  I don't want to remodel anymore". 

I stagger upstairs.  My soul feeling like it is being ripped from my body because I know there is wall paper border screaming to come down, painting to be done and the never-ending options of decorating.  I get to the top of the stairs and I put a smile on my face, like I am really going to be indugent in this conversation.  I step into the room and there is my wife in her typical stance looking, sizing up and planning.  Her arms crossed, leaning on her left leg and she says, "What do you think?"  Immediately, I respond with, "Babe...?" and my body language says..."No way, I am not talking about this room!".  She kept making these weird gestures and looking around.  I am oblivious to what is going on.  Then, I start really looking at the room thinking she changed something and I am definitely in the doghouse if I don't notice what it is.  Then, she directs my attention to three white sticks resting on the foot of the bed. 

Intially, I thought..."What the hell are these ovulation kits doing in this room?" and then I get to the last one that reads, "PREGNANT!"  I was speechless.  I smiled... a lot.  And then looked at her in disbelief and said, "Really?"  She gave me a hug and I couldn't let go!  We're having a fricking baby!!!

Lying by omission

Anyone that knows anything about me knows that lying isn't really my forte.  This was certainly appreciated by my parents while I was growing up.  Even if I tried to get by with a little lie, which required me to turn around and walk away since it was written all over my face, it didn't last.

Example:

• Mom:  Jamie, we're you drinking last night?  Jamie (walking away):  Of course not!  I told you...we were watching a movie.  Mom:  Oh, really?!  Well, can you please explain the bottle caps I found in your pockets?     [Busted.  Clearly, I should have learned to do my own laundry sooner.]

On top of my inability to lie, I absolutely hate the concept.  One can imagine the difficult position this early pregnancy puts me in.  I'm not saying that pregnancy is full of lies, but omitting that little detail feels like one.  

I participate in a core workout class at work twice a week.  How do you explain going from a person who completes the "hard" exercises to one that now has to do some of the "easy" exercises?  Although a joke or being tired can work for a day or two.... How do I keep people from getting suspicious?  If they ask me the magic question "are you pregnant?," how will I feel about saying no?  (I already know the answer to that)

How about this one -- turning down alcohol.  The girl that never turns down a friendly drink and "drinks like a man" (thanks to the Coakley gene) is suddenly turning down drinks.  Although I can pass it off to some that I am not drinking for health reasons, others aren't buying it (already).  That should make an upcoming football party rather interesting.

To all that I say .... Bring on the belly!  It will make my life easier!

Waitin' on the belly,
Jamie

7 years of growth and development

I would like to take a moment to let everyone know that I am very ecstatic to learn that we have a little one on the way.  We took the time (7 years-start date 08/14/2005) to get to know each other, how to push each other's buttons and to simply figure out what the hell we were doing with our lives.  I am still trying to adjust to my new title of "dad" or "daddy".  In the mean time, I want to send a message to my biggest supporters over the past several years.

Here we go...

Makita tools, I would formally like to announce that I will no longer be contributing to your lofty profit margins and spending endless hours figuring out which tool I am going to buy next. Despite the power of your impact drivers and hammer drills, you are no match for what is in store for me.  You are probably more cost effective, especially in the event of our little Duck being... a little girl.

DeWalt and Porter Cable, although your ergonomic engineering has made my life easier and my frustrations less likely, I am trading you in for something that has been engineered out of love and inevitably going to create turmoil and test my patience over time.

KREG, Jorgensen and Bosch your precision tools, clamps and machining capabilities have challenged me to indulge in more advanced projects.  They have made me realize that I am capable of developing my skills beyond my imagination.  Like all the aforementioned, you simply cannot provide me with the tools to hone in the life project that we are planning for.

Grizzly, unless your tools come with college fund reward points...please, please stop sending me your nicely organized, hardback catalog.

My deepest regrets,
Jon Spryn
"Soon-to-be Dad"

5 years, 2 dogs, and a Duck

Jonathan and I celebrated 5 years of marriage this month!  5 years!  Amazing!  We're onto our second home, which we have been very busy remodeling.  Our two dogs (Drake and Dace) have been right there through everything.  Life can't get much better....

                                                                     .... or can it?!

It's time for Jonathan and I to move away from being completely carefree adults into a life full of responsibility!  I say that as if our life has been free of responsibility this whole time (yes, please!).  We are expecting our first little bundle of joy (aka "Duck")!

Why Duck, you ask?  Great question.  Easy answer.  We clearly could not go with a name everyone else uses (peanut, bean, insert yours here ____, baby, pea, bun, etc), so we made up our own!

We are just entering six weeks of pregnancy.  No one knows yet.  Very odd to be writing to myself.  Online.  For the world to see.  But nobody knows.  Soon you will and we want you to see what you've missed, should you so desire!  It's also an evil plan to surprise friends and family along the way.

So, stay tuned for updates from the both of us.  I assume that many of you will find comedic relief along the way.  Here's a preview:  I've never changed a diaper.

Until next time,
Jamie