Love of the Unknown

Lauren and I get a weekly email from BabyCenter.com , and each week there are quotes from former expecting parents.  This week, the quote ended with the mother-to-be saying "I can honestly say I love him/her already."  That quote instantly resonated with me and I realized that while our unborn child is only the size of an avocado, and we've only seen grainy ultrasounds, they have now joined the lists of people for whom I would do anything, people for whom my love is unending.  Even now I am slightly moved to tears at the thought of one day holding our child in our arms, looking in their eyes and knowing the depth of love the courses through both of us for that little one.  It is rare in this life to find people you feel that way about, and it astounds me that I already do about someone I've never even met.  As this process has progressed, I have said to anyone who will listen that I believe it truly takes becoming a parent to finally understand your own parents, to understand why people do the things we do.  I understand why parents excuse away poor behavior from their kids... because their child is their world and they love them the same way that Lauren and I will love our child, the same way our parents love us.  

Ok enough for the sappy stuff, on to other fun things: Lauren has finally entered her 16th week which means...that she still has a long way to go but is getting closer.  We had a doctor's appointment last week and the doc pronounced Lauren and the baby good to go.  There is another appointment next week where good lord willing and the creek don't rise (for those of you from back home) we'll find out the gender!  There is one more big test in a few weeks and because I'm running off to Africa, Grandma Marilyn will be coming out to begin her role as the mother of the mother-to-be, and will be with Lauren for that test.  It seems like Lauren's "morning" sickness has decided to take a break for a little while although it does like to pop back up every once in a while, but all in all mom-to-be and child are great, and dad-to-be is waiting for the nod to start rubbing some feet, or go on a Foster's Freeze run, or some other rite and cliche of pregnancy.