Chronicles of a Father-to-Be: Part VI

We're exactly one month away from Andrea's due date!

Although it's difficult to precisely know when Baby will be among us, it is certain that in about a month from now our family will increase by one.  The anticipation of a newborn has definitely presented life with a new and exciting kind of spice.  All thoughts are of the future, thinking about the impending delivery date and the days to follow.  Where will we be when contractions start?  How will the baby be delivered? How long will we be at the hospital?  How many days of school do I get to miss?  When will we be able to come home?  The questions are overwhelming, but the answers will come before long.

As might be expected from someone who enjoys and teaches math, all this mystery and excitement isn't without it's fair share of frustration.  I like to know, predict and analyze things.  I want to have a plan, work through the plan, and complete the plan as expected.  But babies, I've learned, aren't predictable.  In the early months before we knew Baby's gender, it was difficult to even view myself as a parent.  But when that summer morning in July came around and I saw her on the ultrasound, it quickly became tangible for me.  And then soon afterward, a nervous about having a girl.  Today, I'm comfortable knowing that we'll be raising a little girl, but now I'm more nervous about being a good parent.  I know I've been blessed by people's love, support and encouragement; it's wonderful to have family and friends come together to help Andrea and I receive this baby into the world.  However, I'm not naive enough to forget that I am a creature who sins and makes mistakes.  No parent is perfect, and I will make mistakes.  I just have to rely and trust that God knows that I am ready to be a father.

Spiritually, I haven't thought much about Baby yet.  Most of my thoughts are looking forward to the typical baby landmarks.  But once the baby is born and we return to church with our daughter in tow, I pray that God will begin to turn my thoughts toward being a better husband who serves his wife, and a father who can raise a daughter that fully understands the riches that Christ has to offer her.  I must remind myself that before I even knew Baby, God has already loved her perfectly.

Here are some of the drawing/prints Andrea made that are hanging around the nursery:

  

Goodbye, Kellie!

After getting to know Kellie for two years at Alfred University, I eventually moved back to the area in 2008 to get my Masters in Education at Binghamton University.  Although Binghamton was the place I spent the first seven years of my life, it still posed the same challenges that anyone would face moving to a new city.  Thankfully, Kellie had been also been attending BU as a graduate student as well, and became my first friend in the area.  Ever since the days we spent in the hallowed halls of academia, Kellie has become mine and Andrea's most trusted and beloved friend.  Over the course of three years, we have worshiped together, served together, celebrated each other's birthdays and other miscellaneous occasions, gone on countless trips and vacations, and attended many Bible studies together.  Kellie and I even had an opportunity to work together at our previous employments at Broome Community College and observed each other's classes.

However unfortunate for us, Kellie has been given an opportunity to find employment in the great state of Rhone Island, a place much closer to her boyfriend, Albert.  As much as we would love to still have Kellie with us, it's challenging to be in a long-distance relationship, especially for as long as Kellie and Albert have been dating.  So at the very least Kellie, I will continue to pray that the time spent in Rhode Island yields you much fruit spiritually, financially (with gainful employment) and emotionally (with you awesome boyfriend)...

...but I'll also continue to pray that God will bring you back to us through a Naval Academy on the Susquehanna.

There's a lot of ways I can close this blog entry out, but I think this is most appropriate:

We love and miss you Kellie.  Our loss is certainly Rhode Island's gain!

Chronicles of a Father-to-Be: Part V

So the registries have been made and all the showers have come and gone.  We were blessed enough to have three: one for church and friends, a second for family, and the math department through me one.  Since I wasn't at the first two though, I don't think I'm very qualified to talk about what happens at showers.  However, I am exceeding content and humble to receive as much support and love from those who have participated.  For that I am very grateful.

On Tuesday, we'll be in Week 35 and both of us are very excited but also very much aware that Baby will be with us in about a month.  We are also very much aware a lot has to be done, and as of tonight, we're feeling a bit overwhelmed.  There are still a number of things we have to do (wash new baby clothes, clean the rug, get the hospital bag together, get car seat inspected, etc.) and remaining essentials to buy (diapers, bottles, crib mattress, sleeper sacks, etc).

In addition to all that we have Christmas to worry about.  Andrea is diligently working away on Nativity figures, while I'm writing lesson plans and making materials weeks in advance in hope that I can take about 5 days off from school.

Oh don't worry though, I put up the glow-in-the-dark stars on the ceiling last night.  Looks awesome.

Here's to hoping we can be a bit more put together by Thanksgiving!

Our nursery is underwater themed.  Andrea did most of the work here.

29 Weeks

33 Weeks

The Wrench

A few times a year, public school teachers get an opportunity to say phrases that aren't normally uttered by anyone ever.

Yesterday was one of those days.

I am just about to start my lesson when an usually loud clang gains the attention of the entire class. As I look towards the noise, there is a large 18-inch silver wrench lying on the floor.  As people identity the noise, there's that super quiet moment where no one quite knows what to say or do.  C, a shy student, leans over and picks up the wrench that has fallen three feet onto the floor.  In jest, I finally break the silence with the unnecessary request, "Please try to keep the wrench inside your book bag."  

The class laughs and just before we start the lesson C, informs us, "It's for tech club... after school."

Chronicles of a Father-to-Be: Part IV

One joke I tell someone who is getting married is, "Planning your wedding is the final test of engagement."  If you're able to plan a big event together, there are few things that can stand in your path.  There is so much food to be made (and eaten), entertainment to arrange, a photographer to hire, invitations to write, and a registry to agree on.  But when it comes to building a baby registry for your first child, Andrea and I both agreed that planning our wedding seemed so much easier.

With an overabundance of products - ranging from extremely necessary to ridiculously unnecessary - it doesn't take long to get confused at what exactly and truly needed.  After hours of online research, fact-checking with friends, and a few trips to actual stores, it took Andrea and I about a month to be confident we put together a registry that best suits us.  Feel free to check them both out on Target or Babies-R-Us.

As for a house update, we are pretty much baby ready.  The only thing missing now is everything that's on the registry getting inside our apartment.  I'll take pictures this weekend and give you a tour of our lovely home... right before I put the plastic insulation over the windows.  So be patient with me.

The important thing going on around here was the month long birthing classes.  Along with the hectic that the beginning of a school year brings, the birthing classes did a good job in preventing me from doing as much blogging as I'd like.  We had four sessions at the hospital where we are planning on having Baby.  Although I was very skeptical about the entire experience, enduring the two-and-a-half hour session once-a-week was actually very informative and helpful.  I certainly won't be calling myself an expert, but I know enough to be some-what helpful during the delivery process.  Also, I finally know what entrance of the hospital to drive and bring Andrea into, which is also valuable information.  (Emergency Room, by the way, for those who are curious.)

Every week the inevitable truth becomes harder to avoid - just like Andrea's tummy.  Baby Kovac will be among us in about 10 weeks.