He's Pregnant (Dec. 8)

It looks as though the Christmas season will be an entirely different experience this year. Spending time with family is always special, but this year we have an extra little “package” to get excited about. There’s something comforting about sharing experiences and getting advice from those who know the most about you.
It’s strange to think this will be the last Christmas with just the two of us, and a year from now we’ll be shopping for soothers or bibs, or whatever it is you get babies for Christmas.
We had our third doctor’s appointment last week and it was encouraging. The heartbeat was stronger than the last time, and all signs so far point to a healthy pregnancy. I should mention that my wife is exceptionally ravishing these days. I occasionally worry about having the ugly baby in the delivery wing but, considering who’s carrying it, I should have bragging rights among the proud new dads.
For the past week my wife has been feeling the baby move around and even give a few kicks. This is something I’d really been waiting for, but I never seemed to be around at the right time. She realized it’s most active in the evening while she’s relaxing on the couch and drinking juice. So a few nights ago we sat on the couch and set the scene. I placed my hand on her belly and waited nervously.
“Did you feel that?” she asked.
“Feel what?” I replied.
“There it is again.”
“That’s impossible,” I said. “I didn’t feel anything.”
I was ready to give up and pull a fake. What kind of a dad am I going to be if I can’t even feel my own baby kick? (Even though the female is the one who has abnormal hormonal action during pregnancy, the man can be a bit dramatic too.) And then it hit me, literally. I felt the slightest little tap on my palm, followed by about four more.
At first I was just happy that if finally happened. The rest of my life flashed in front of me. It finally became real that there was a little person in there that I’ll one day be able to play soccer with, sing really bad songs to and watch those dreadful Saturday morning cartoons with.
If my emotional response at that point is any indication of how I’m going to handle the labour and birth, they’d better give me an epidural too because I’ll be crying more than my wife.
The other day we discussed what would be the most appropriate way to approach the next four months. On one hand, we’re excitedly anticipating the arrival of our child, but on the other, it’s our last days as a young couple with no attachments. While I realize our lives will change in ways I can’t yet imagine, I am more than ready to accept this challenge and begin a new stage in my life with the person I love the most.
We may not have planned for this baby, but a funny thing happens to you when you realize everything happens for a reason. These experiences along the way have become lessons about myself, and I’m learning more about myself through these than I ever could in school.