When I found out I was going to be a father I was overwhelmed with emotions. I was extremely happy because Ashley and I were finally fulfilling our dream of becoming parents and that we were going to get to share this amazing journey with our families. I was upset because we were not going to get to share this moment with our family that were not here like Ashley’s dad, Aunt Jeanne and our Grandfathers. Mostly I was scared to death. What kind of father would I be, I could barely take care of myself let alone have a little baby rely on me for a bottle, and a clean diaper. I remember all of the firsts like it was yesterday. I remember seeing the ultrasound picture for the first time, hearing the heartbeat with our mom’s for the first time.
We decided not to find out if we were having a boy or a girl when Ashley was pregnant with Aiden. We wanted to take advantage of one of the few surprises in life. I can honestly say that I did not care whether it was a boy or a girl, I just wanted the baby to have 10 fingers and 10 toes and be healthy. Of course I would have loved him even if he wasn’t perfect. We had a name picked out for both. The middle names were going to be Garrett for Ashley’s dad or Jean for my Aunt Jeanne. They were two very important and influential people in our lives and we wanted to honor them and have them be a part of our children.
I especially remember the day at the hospital. We were there at 6 a.m. and spent all day at the hospital and Ashley was not progressing at all. We were not the only ones there as my parents, Ashley’s mom, Nana, Ashley’s Mom-Mom Kevin, Timmy, J.T., and Trevor all spent the day at the hospital. Finally at about 6:30 they decided that Ashley needed to have a C-Section. Aiden was born at 7:23 on May 23, 2007. He was absolutely perfect and I fell in love with him from the very second I first laid eyes on him. We spent the next few days at the hospital before Ashley and Aiden were allowed to come home. Ashley and I did not want to let go of him. We have amazing family and friends who just wanted to meet Aiden so much so that we had at least 30 people stuffed into Ashley’s room the night after Aiden was born. It is a good thing she never had a roommate because that person would have hated us.
We were far from being perfect parents (and probably still are) we tried to clean Aiden’s nose with the syringe and for the first few times were squeezing the bulb while it was still in his nose and probably blowing everything further into his nose. No wonder the kid hated the thing.
A little over two years now we found out that God was going to bless us with our second child we were so excited that Aiden would have a little brother or sister. Of course every time we asked him he kept telling us that he wanted a sister. We debated and decided that for Aiden’s sake this time we were going to find out if we were having a boy or a girl so that we could prepare him in case it was not a girl. This time I am not going to lie I actually wanted a girl. I would have been fine if it was a boy but part of me wanted to have my little girl and all the dreams a father has with having a girl. Finding out if we were having a boy or a girl made this pregnancy a totally different experience for us. We could get the room ready, buy clothes that were gender specific. Aiden was so excited when we told him he was having a sister. Our mothers were so excited because they could go out and buy little girl’s stuff. I think my mom was more than excited it was the first time in her life she would have a little girl around in the family.
This time Ashley was scheduled for a C-Section. The night before we took Aiden to Giovanni’s his favorite local restaurant and had our last dinner as a family of three. We then took him to Me-Me’s house where he was going to spend the night since we had to be at the hospital by 6 in the morning the next morning. We got to the hospital and sat and waited in a room until about 6:45. They then took Ashley to prepare her for surgery. They gave me scrubs and told me to sit in the waiting room while and they would come get me. It seemed like it was taking forever. They finally came and got me. It was only a matter of minutes before we welcomed Raegan into the world. She had me wrapped around her finger the second I saw her.
My mom and Ashley’s mom bought Aiden to the hospital to meet Raegan. He was so excited he loved her and loved being a big brother from the second he saw her. All he wanted to do has help with her , hug her and kiss her. He was upset the first night when I had to take him home so that Ashley could get some rest.
It feels like just yesterday that it was just Ashley and I at 103 Pinetree court with our family there helping tear down that pointless wall over 6 years ago, but at the same time, I can hardly remember what life was like before our kids. I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.
I am taking in every second of everyday I get to spend with my kids. My family makes me one lucky man!
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