I'm going to be a dad.

[fabsroman]

Since you guys are my extended family, I figure it is only right to let you know that my wife and I will be having our first kid in April. I told my parents two weeks ago and most of my friends over the last week, with the exception of you guys.

Lynne is 10 weeks pregnant and is due on April 16th. Her doctor made the comment, "Good thing neither you nor your husband are CPAs," and my wife started laughing. After she and he cleared up the fact that I am a CPA, he asked her how two intelligent people could not have planned this better. Simple answer, we thought it would take a little while for her to get pregnant and we were planning on a summer due date that wouldn't interfere with hunting, fishing, or work, in that order. I'm not going to sleep much if the baby comes the week before the 15th, but the only thing I am praying for is a healthy baby.

We told both of our parents on September 10th, which is my mom's birthday. For my parents, we gave my mom a birthday card and put a picture of the sonogram in the card and we wrote Happy Birthday Grandma on the sonogram. My mom had to leave the room because she started crying. My dad, the tough guy he is, said "Now you are really making me old aren't you." However, my dad has told all my aunts, uncles, and cousins on his side of the family without me asking him to do so.

Two more weeks and Lynne is done with the first tri-mester and she hasn't thrown up once.

Okay, that is about all I can think of news wise right now. Now, I have to get back to work so I can start a college fund somehow.

[captain2k_ca]

That is really AWESOME Fabs!!


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[Jonesy]

I just have to laugh! You are soooo in for it! I guess it won't be too tough, there will be the both of you to work on raising the little one. It already seems like forever ago that mine were baby's. Congratulations to you Fabs! As of April of next year, the work begins.

[Andy L]

Congrats buddy. :)

Your life is going to change, for the better....

Andy

[BILLY D.]

hey, congrats pops. i kinda figured that when you made your post awhile back.

may your only troubles be "little ones". old family saying.

if you ever want to read a good book on fatherhood, get bill cosbys book. there is a lot of truth in it, and it's for all socio-economic backrounds. especially when you have more than one child. there is always one in the family thats an informer. in our home that was daughter #3. shes the one living in havre de grace,

congrats again. they are a blessing.

[toxic111]

Congrats, I am sure I will be not far down the line either, getting married this December, and I know we want kids in the not distant future (since both of us are in our 30's)

Wish you and Lynne the best!

[fabsroman]

Thanks guys.

I know my life is going to change, as it always does. Life has changed many times for me, as it has for all of us. God only knows how many times it changed for me before I turned 18. Seeing my dad leave the house at age 2 was terrible according to my mom. I would go crazy, start crying, and then try to pull the curtains off the wall. Going to school at age 5 was a huge issue for me because I hated leaving my brothers and sister and I would spend most of the time in kindergarten and first grade trying to adjust to it. Then there was going to middle school. There was the move to a new neighborhood and starting a new high school as a freshman when I was 14. After 18, there was going to undergrad. Then there was graduating and starting a new job at 21 while trying to pass the CPA exam. Went from being broke to having a lot of money. Then there was starting law school at 24 and becoming broke again. Then there was graduating from law school at 27 and having money again. Then there was getting married, buying a house, and being broke again at age 33. Now, at 35 I have money again, but I am sure I will be broke again once the baby is born.

I know there will be a lot of responsibility once the baby is born, but I think we'll be able to handle it. My wife and I get along pretty well, so the additional stress of a child shouldn't be too much. Plus, once that kid hits 3 I'm going to put him/her to work around the house. LOL

[Andy L]

Dont forget hunting. I started my oldest at 7 on deer. Hes a seasoned deer slayer at 12 with 5 deer and a couple turkeys under his belt. My youngest will be 7 next year and I cant wait. The oldest one dont need dad too much in the field anymore. I love it.

For me, I dont care as much what I kill anymore. I have too much fun watching their reactions. Hope you get that same feeling.

Andy

[fabsroman]

Andy,

The only reason I like to shoot a limit of any bird nowadays is so that I can watch my dog Nitro get excited and make the retrieve. Once I have kids out in the field with me, I am pretty sure that the only reason I will want to kill bunches of birds and deer is so the kids have a great time. I am well beyond the need to kill a ton of anything anymore. I have gone dove hunting 4 times so far this year. Killed 1 the first day I went, 2 the next time I went, 9 the next time, and 12 this weekend. The only reason I felt bad the first two times out is because Nitro didn't get to retrieve too much. Other than that, they were all great days spent with my dad and some of his friends. This weekend, Nitro did a bunch of retrieving and has slept most of Satruday night and all day Sunday. I know he had a great time. I'll feel the same way about taking the kids out. A great day for me will depend on how good of a day they have.

Got a pretty funny story about Nitro from Saturday. A wounded dove landed on a tree about 75 yards away and I told my dad to make sure Nitro sat while I went to shoot it (i.e., I didn't want the dog scaring it away). Well, when I got close enough to the bird, I raised the gun and heard my dad screaming sit, stop, bad dog. I turned around to see my dad on the ground beating Nitro. It turns out that Nitro took off when he saw me raise the gun. Problem was that my dad was holding him by the collar. Nitro weighs 100 lbs. and my dad weighs 230 lbs., yet the dog managed to drag him on the ground a decent amount. Luckily, nobody got too hurt. My dad had some scrapes on his arm and I am sure Nitro had some bumps on his head.

I am sure that my wife and I will have some disagreements regarding when the kids can come hunting/fishing with me because we have already discussed it. I was 5 when I started to go with my dad, but I didn't shoot a firearm at that time. I started shooting at 7 or 8. My wife's initial thought was 12, and I know that isn't going to sit well with me, so we will have to wait and see how it all turns out.

[Andy L]

My boys each got a BB Gun at 4. Strict adult supervision, obviously. Each got a 22lr at 6. And the oldest got a Youth Handi Rifle 243 at 7. So far its worked out good. Oh, and a Remington 870 Youth 20ga at 7. I am spending more money that I probably have to, but Im getting each of them their own guns, not hand me downs, so they can take their youth guns with them when they leave home. Maybe they will teach their kids.

Fabs, there is no feeling on earth to match that frosty Nov morning in 2001 when my oldest made a 150 yard shot and dropped a little 4pt buck in his tracks. Then layed the rifle down and I got one of those "arms and legs" hugs. And the glow in his eyes and on his face. Nothing like it in the world.

Have Fun.

Andy

Edit: Besides their youth guns, I bought the oldest a CZ 550 in 6.5x55 Swede to take with him. I will do the same for the youngest. Only thing I got when I left home was a swift kick out the door. I want them to have some good memories and something to remember the good times afield with dad.

[Duffy]

Congratulatrions, fabs! What great news! Now, shoot and hunt as much as you possibly can until spring!

[Rocky Raab]

Add my congrats, Fabs. Before you know it, your kids will be 30 - and three months pregnant. That's wonderful, too. Believe me.

[Mil Dot]

Congratulations Fabs!

[Jack]

Congratulations, Fabs !

[Steverino]

Better get all those toys now my man!$$$$$$$$$$

[LoneWolf]

Congratulations Fabs!

Everyone is rght, your life will change so much. But there is nothing to compare to the joy and pride you experience in your children.

[rubicon]

Hey Fabs, Congrats poppa! And wait till that little one arrives and not only changes in life style but watch how time flys. One day they are stepping on your shoes and sems like the next day they are grown and stepping on your heart. Enjoy every second, and believe me it just keeps getting better and better. Im in the grandkids stage and they are more precious to me than the very air I breathe. But what I wanna know is ----she is doing fine- but- do you have morning sickness? LOL

[fabsroman]

Steverino,

Trust me, I am trying to get all the toys right now. I am in the process of putting together a $5,000 bicycle that would normally cost around $8,000, but I'm a schrewd shopper. Next on the list is a Browning gun safe, and AR-10, and an AR-15. After that, I will be pretty happy and can live with a single gun a year and a new bike every 3 to 5 years.


Rubicon,

No morning sickness from me. I am just trying to get everything in order for when the baby gets here. Sure, I have some additional worries (e.g., baby furnitire, college fund, bigger house that is closer to my wife's work), but they will resolve themselves in time.

Like I told my wife, I am both excited and scared. Kind of like how I used to feel before big bike races. Excited about the positive possibilities and scared to death of the negative.

[Rapier]

There is a lot to be said for ten fingers and ten toes, the rest comes after.

I have 4 grand kids from a daughter and son. You will find being a parent at times is one of the hardest things in life. But like most things, the real rewards come from the hard work. A parent's reward is when some stranger walks up to you and says your adult son or daughter is a great person.

All the best for you and the Mrs.
Ed

[GoodOlBoy]

Congrats Fabs. My wife and I have been trying for 8 years. Maybe someday.

GoodOlBoy

[muledeer]

A big CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!! Take a Lamaze class together and participate in the delivery. Beats sitting in the waiting room.
muledeer

[Andy L]

Hey Fabs, if you do take LaMaze together, a word of caution and advice. Those pregos dont have much of a sense of humor after several months. Keep your thoughts to yourself..... :rolleyes:

Andy :D

[muledeer]

Yeah and don't yell at her during delivery:eek:
muledeer

[grayghost]

Congratulations Fabs! Best wishes and a healthy baby!!!! grayghost

[LoneWolf]

O there will be yelling during the delivery... mostly at you Fabs.
Something about never, ever touching her again.:D

[rubicon]

Lone Wolf is right- And I always heard-ITS ALL YOUR FAULT!

[fabsroman]

Thanks guys. Regarding lamaze (sp.), my wife has already been looking at classes and trying to coordinate them with my schedule and her schedule. Can't say I am looking forward to them, but I guess they are necessary.

Petey already gave me some advice not to give her my hand with my wedding ring on it because there will be indentations in my fingers around that ring. He also told me to give her all of my hand and not merely two or three fingers or I will get a bloody stump back.

[Valigator]

the one thing you can be sure of is "life as you know it now, wont be the same after, Good luck"

[fabsroman]

Val,

Everybody keeps saying that. Life as I know is constantly changing for me anyway, so what is another change. My life today is nothing like it was 3 years ago at tihs time. If we go back 10 years, my life is not even close to what it was back then. Life will always be different. Heck, this baby will change my parents' life to a certain degree too because it is their first grandchild. I'm looking forward to it, even though it means my life is going to change.

[GoodOlBoy]

Fabs, just remember what most of the parents are tellin ya is that it is a good change. Sure there are weeks of no sleep, crying babies, and other things, but in the end I believe it is all worth it. That's why my wife and are are still tryin. I love kids and I want them so bad I would give up just about anything to have them, and I mean anything.

GoodOlBoy

[Dom]

Congrats Fabs & the Mrs.

Been out of town so kinda late replying, but do enjoy them when they are little -- before you know it they're all grown up!! Waidmannsheil, Dom.

[larryours]

CONGRATS ! FABS, Enjoy them while their young, they seem to grow up so fast, I'm just waiting for my second go round( my granddaughter) just turned 2 the 22nd Sept., got her lifetime hunting & fishing license for her 2nd birthday. Once again, Congrats Poppa

[fabsroman]

Thanks guys. My dad was really bugging the heck out of me about grandkids because he wants to be young enough to take them out hunting. Hopefully, that will not be a problem in 5 or 6 years.

[WT Kevorkian]

Just saw this on here tonight, wanted to tell you congrats, Heather and I are expecting a baby boy, she is due November 7th, a little too close to the peak of the rut for me, but hey whats a guy to do. Deal with it and move on,, I'm looking forward to it and I am sure it will be lots of fun. Don't worry your families will give you just about anything you need for the kid, her dad is paying for the viacord, her mom has bought the furniture, and the drawers are already stuffed full of clothes that she got at the first baby shower and this weekend she is having another shower, I don't even know where we are going to put all this stuff. About all I've done so far is paint the room, help put up the border, carry the furniture in, and well clean all my junk out of there first and consolidate all my hunting "junk" into one room. lol I'll let you know how it goes. Take care and congratulations!

[fabsroman]

Thanks, and congratulations to you and Heather. I remember you talking about having a kid and wanting to wait until you didn't have a dog, but I guess Heather got her way because the dog wasn't that old the last time we hung out. Any way you look at it, it will be great.

Lynne is due April 16th, and that is way too close to tax season for me, but I will deal with it however I have to. At least I planned the baby around hunting season for the most part, if you don't count turkey season. LOL There will always be something that we can complain about. Rockfish season usually starts on April 15th, so I could be crying about that too.

We might be able to find out the sex of the baby on Monday, and I'll post about it if we find out. Her mom, her sister, my mom, and my sisters are already planning the baby shower(s). So, I'm not really worried about buying too much for the baby. If our family and friends respond half as well as they did for our wedding, we shouldn't need much. The room has been ready since I remodeled the townhouse, so I don't have to worry about that either. The only thing I have to worry about is having a healthy baby, and Lynne has been pretty anal about that.

Good luck to you and Heather and let me know how it goes.