Baby: Bun in the Oven or Visit from the Stork?
Not like Sam needs another reason why a personal finance blogger should join Yakezie. But if he did, he can add you will soon have a baby. My fellow bloggers Retire By 40, Sustainable Personal Finance, and Couple Money recently became proud parents. Well, you can soon add me to the list. Blogging is great because you can express yourself and help others, but it is also a good tool to document your life. Here’s how it went down.
Flashback
I had a rough day at work. I was taking a break, catching my breath, and dozing off in the bean bag. The Mrs. came home and changed clothes. A few minutes later, she emerged telling me to follow her into the bathroom. I thought she had broke something and needed help cleaning it. She had two plastic sticks and opened boxes on the counter. I was a little dazed from my nap. “What the?”
I was a little slow on the uptake, but I finally pieced it together. I thought it was a prank. I asked if this was for real. She was a little teary eyed and asked if I was happy. I was stunned speechless. “Yeah I am.” We hugged and I teared up a bit, too.
After the shock wore off, I felt a sense of urgency. I’ve been pushing myself pretty hard lately, but almost felt a need to push higher and harder now. I was doing pretty well taking care of the both of us, but now there’s one more on the way. Job stress and world news instantly became microscopic. When you get news like this, everything really takes on a new perspective. I immediately thought of next steps for me, our jobs, the blog, and other logistics. We need to find a doctor. Can we still travel? We need to clean the second bedroom. We need to gather hand me downs. Wow. Earlier I’ve been rubbing my wife’s tummy more. Did I already know?
Final Thoughts
I am normally very mellow and complacent. When this happened a few months ago, I went into overdrive. I nailed a job interview and I went to BlogWorld to push my blog higher. I can breathe easier since the baby’s tests just came back clean. But there is much work to be done and many questions with no answers.
Can my wife and I work together as a team to face our greatest challenge yet?
Will I be a good father and guide my child to avoid the life mistakes I made?
Can I provide my family a better life than I have?
I’m not recommending this for everyone, but if you are similar to me, nothing will light a fire under you better than having an extra mouth to feed.
Bun in the oven or visit from the stork? What gets you fired up? Any advice to a soon to be father?
Please forgive me for putting a Justin Bieber video. I’M HAVING A BABY, OMG!
Stay Inspired!
Buck
Congratulation! I know how great is your feeling just like my husband when he first learned I am conceiving our first baby. Anyway, I love your video, Justin Bieber is one of my favorite celebrity but MJ is the best!
Thanks Corinne. Glad you enjoyed the video!
Wow, congrats! I think we can forgive a little Bieber action this morning!
Yeah, we’ll forgive the hideous Bieber post. Wow, congrats, Buck! That has to be a euphoric feeling! Don’t stress out. People have babies everyday…..you’ll be fine!
People have babies everyday. Thanks for the pep talk! Sorry about the hideous Bieber post. Shows how crazy I was after the news!
Thanks for the congrats and the forgiveness!
Congratulations Buck! Say goodbye to the life as you know it! It won’t be the same again (in a good way!)!
And some quick tips:
1. Get lotsa sleep!
2. Watch as many movies as you can in a *movie theater*!
3. Have favorite restaurants? Now’s the time!
4. Take that romantic vacation!
5. And finally, be kind to your fellow passenger whose kid is wailing! 😉
Thanks MC! Awesome tips, will try and follow as many as possible. We did Puerto Vallarta a few weeks back. Been so busy, haven’t had time to write about my trip!
That is a great news! congrats! Nice video of Bieber there.
Thanks Barbara. Glad you liked it!
Congratulations. As for advice, just take it one day at a time. And try not to let yourselves get out numbered. Going from 4 to 5 kids was the hardest since we only got 2 hands each.
Thanks CFM! Will try. I really can’t imagine 5. How do you do it?
Well, actually we have six and I must be doing it very well, thank you!
We get by on a wing and a prayer.
That you are!
Buck, this is so exciting. I am really happy for you. We haven’t gotten pregnant yet, couple more years, but I won’t be surprised if my hubby ends up stunned like you.
Thank you Miss T! I’m sure most guys are like deer in headlights. Thanks again for the positive thoughts. Sending them right back at ya!
This is the 5th Yakezie baby (I think). I am due around April. Blogging makes you fertile…that is all there is to it!
Wow, we’re due in April, too! Blogging makes you fertile? You might be on to something!
Congratulations, it certainly changes your life. As a husband, enjoy this period because the next 18 years will be busy. As a soon to be father, you will never be sure of anything again. Your future will be full of surprises. Good and bad and you will get through them all. Enjoy every minute of it because it goes very quickly.
Thanks for the well wishes and the usual sage like advice KC!
Congratulations. Having a kid is a rewarding experience, but also a huge challenge. So many stages of life and things to deal with. I’ve got five kids who are now all adults. It was great seeing them grow up and it’s pretty cool having them as fellow adults. Love my kids.
Grandkids aren’t too bad either, but I guess you’ll have a while to think about that.
Lee
Tossing It Out
Thanks Lee! Gonna try and survive my first kid and hopefully one day tackle the grandkid issues!
Well, first, Congratulations! I definitely think life changes, like marriage or a baby, lights the fire under one’s derriere. It makes you strive to be better. But definitely take it one day at a time and don’t get too overwhelmed. 😉
Thanks Little House! My derriere is getting a little warmer these days. Just need to take it one day at a time. Thanks again!
You are going to be a great Dad. I don’t even know your real name or what you look like, but feel like I know you through your writing. I’m so happy for your growing family.
Thanks Hunter. Same here (know you through your writing). With great role models like yourself, I can’t go wrong!
Congrats Buck! I know you can do it! Best wishes on your new life journey…
Thank you Mary! Best wishes to you on your life journey as well!
Congratulations!! Good luck, and let the panic work to your advantage to get things done now. 🙂
We’re working on baby Saver #3 over here and the best advice I can give you to survive the first three months is to read “Happiest Baby on the Block” by Harvey Karp. It’s tips for soothing newborns, and the tips have worked well on my two (wildly different) babies so far.
Thanks for the excellent tips!
I second the “Happiest Baby on the Block”. My husband was using the techniques about 6 hours after our first was born. You can rent it on Netflicks as well.
Thanks for the tip SF, will definitely check it out!
Two sticks and some opened boxes?
In our day, I recall having to wait for my wife to have the doctor’s visit!
We’ve come a long way!
~Bruce
Yes we have come a long way! Wonder what the devices will be like 20 years from now?
Congrats to you and your wife, Buck! How exciting! Yes, it will give you plenty of motivation to get things done.
After having 4 kids, my best advice is to take it a day at a time with whatever your wife needs and whatever the baby needs. I hope that you both will learn to work together in taking care of the baby and helping each other as needed.
When you are about 3 months from her due date start putting meals in the freezer for those early weeks after the birth. Just make some meals in double quantities and freeze the extra. Be sure to label them & you’ll have some great choices frozen in no time. They could come in handy for some of the last few weeks of the pregnancy also.
Best wishes for a healthy pregnancy and easy delivery!
Thanks for the well wishes and sharing your experiences, Maggie!
Congratulations, Buck! Best wishes and hope all goes well. Expect that pictures of Baby Buck will be gracing the pages of this blog before too long…
Thanks 101C! I’ll get back to you on the pictures. Need some suspense going forward, right?
Congratulations! On the baby and also making things happen with your extra motivation! No tips since (hopefully) no babies over here any time soon!
Thanks Kellen! Need to make the most of my time now!
Such a great post followed by Bieber at the end of it?! What the hell, Buck? lol
Congratulations! This baby is going to change everything and everyone in your life. So brace yourseslf. 🙂 Make sure to say Congratulations to Mrs. Buck. I am very happy for you guys!
Thanks Aloysa! I know, forgive me for the Biebs video. Would you believe I was experimenting with SEO and targeting millions of tween girls? Wont happen again!
Congrats and take good care of that growing nubbin!
You can never know what it is like to have a baby until you have one. Each one is different. I’m sure your Mom has all the advice you need!
Thanks Marie. Never heard nubbin before, but will do my best to take care of it!
Congrats!!!! That’s so exciting. 🙂 You’re going to be a great dad and that’s awesome you’re feeling extra motivated and making progress in your career! -Sydney
Thanks Sydney! Will definitely try my best!
Wow! Congratulations Buck! You will be a great dad, that’s for sure. I love the dedication you have especially after knowing such fabulous news. Good luck on your career!
Thanks CCG! Trying to be a good role model and provider at the same time!