Don't Mind Me, Just Passing Through the Pelvis

If ever we needed additional preparation for our forthcoming child, this past week definitely put us through the ringer. 

On Wednesday we sat through a two-hour webinar after work on nursing & breast feeding which was interesting to a point. Though I did find myself nodding off for a moment or two a few times, it didn't help that the gray cat (Whiskey) was curled up asleep and purring away in my lap. Jokingly, L wondered why I wasn't interested in seeing all the boobs. There were a lot of boobs....A LOT of boobs. Afterwards, I had to find the energy to squeeze in a five mile run in the dark, arctic night. The run was the easy part. It was the waking myself up to brave the initial blast of the single digit temps that made it difficult.

Fun with birthing class

Then on Saturday, we spent six hours at Dublin Methodist attending a birthing class. We joined two other couples who are also expecting in February. Maybe it was the standard dress for a cold, January Saturday morning, but we three fathers-to-be were all wearing jeans and a hoodie. Again, we encountered plenty of welcomed advice and tips which were greatly appreciated. Among the educational pieces were a number of videos that entailed gobs of valuable information, but also generated images we wish we didn't have to see...several times.

Remember The Office episode when Michael walked into the delivery room where Pam was giving birth and immediately exited with the phrase, "Gotta go wash my eyes." Yeah, imagine that, but about 20 or so times. On the drive home, L was trying to come up with an explanation for some of the things we saw and asked, "Do I look like that?" I was happy to tell her - and truthfully - no, no you do not. It was, however, pretty satisfying to watch the parents in the videos welcoming their newborns into the world and we couldn't help imagine what it would be like for us in the next month or so.

The birthing class nurse did remind us that the moms need to focus on getting rest and this is where I gave L the stink eye because this is something I tell her constantly. Though, Sunday did us no favors. Her Steelers needed to win to give themselves a shot at the playoffs and they did, but with a field goal in overtime which caused some unwanted stress for her. For Pittsburgh to officially make the playoffs, the Sunday night game between the Raiders and Chargers could not end in a tie - which rarely happens.

Photuris, Photinus, Pupa Pale x 3
at The Fermented Firefly

Despite having a 15 point lead with less than 5 minutes to go, the Chargers scored twice (and added a 2pt conversion) with the second touchdown coming as time expired to send it to overtime. L is now cursing and yelling at anyone to score. It was an out-of-body experience to hear her beg for whomever had the ball to score a touchdown and/or throw a pick-six, and for either defense to strip, scoop & score - ALL AT THE SAME TIME. She didn't care just somebody score some damn points! 

As you can imagine, it came down to the Raiders kicking a field goal with two seconds left in overtime to have the game NOT end in a tie. So much for rest, we went to bed near 1am with work coming just a handful of hours later - but Pittsburgh is in the playoffs....somehow. My Bengals will now get to host the Raiders in their playoff game next weekend, me thinks I'm now jinxed.

All of this as I attempt to complete Columbus Running Company's Inspire Columbus Winter Challenge. It is a commitment to yourself to run or walk at least one mile outdoors every day in January. You log your miles and have opportunities to win prizes along the way. 

Sounds like an easy thing to do, but forcing yourself to squeeze in a few miles each day with less than human weather going on and mostly in the dark (usually an after work thing for me) is a testament to one's will and desire. I'm used to taking at least two days off each week during the rest of the year, so in order to keep from going overboard on this challenge I try to replace the off days with short jaunts. So far, so good on my end but the recent super cold spell is making it tougher to get started each day.

35 weeks & baby is the size of a lean, mean,
fat reducing, grilling machine

I had signed up for the Fantastic Frigid 5k Series, but race #1 ended up being on the same day as the birthing class. I did pick up a pretty cool event shirt, but race #2 will take place on January 22nd of which I should be able to take part. These are apart of the larger, inaugural, RunColumbus Race Series, a year-long series of races in Central Ohio where you earn points with each completed event and battle for age group titles and such. We will see how many I will be able to take part in as the year progresses. #MettleMonday 

Also on Saturday, I bottled the beer I created for the arrival of Russell. And to our delight, it looks, smells and tastes as I had hoped. It should be ready to pop open when our son decides to grace us with his presence. And it will be nice to have some substance to go along with the fun label created for the occasion here at The Fermented Firefly.

So according to the baby app we use, the boy's arrival is expected in about 5 weeks - give or take - and is the size of your standard George Foreman Grill. It has become real enough that L has a hospital bag or two packed and ready to go on a moments notice, so the butterflies are in full force. I don't think anyone is ever expertly prepared for having a child, but I think we are prepared enough that the unexpected is our expectation. We are ready to not be ready for the smoothest, bumpy ride (or the bumpiest, smooth ride) imaginable. 

R.O.K.S is preparing to land, T-minus 35 days, or so, and counting....

Michael Buble -A Foggy Day in London Town

A foggy day in London Town

Had me low and had me down

I viewed the morning with alarm

The British Museum had lost its charm

How long, I wondered, could this thing last?

But the age of miracles hadn't passed,

For, suddenly, I saw you there

And through foggy London Town

The sun was shining everywhere.

A foggy day in London Town

Had me low and had me down

I viewed the morning with alarm

The British Museum had lost its charm

How long, I wondered, could this thing last?

But the age of miracles hadn't passed,

For, suddenly, I saw you there

And through foggy London Town

The sun was shining everywhere.