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!!

[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!$$$$$$$$$$