Jam Packed, Part One

There's so much going on, I'm not sure where to begin. This could be yet another long read. Better go with the chronological approach, leaning on our trusty day planner book to remind me of stuff.


The overarching theme has of course been our wonderful baby, who is now up to five pounds inside my wonderful wife. Everything's looking great ahead of the delivery, which should happen sometime around Christmas/New Year's. So in six short weeks, we'll be parents and our lives will change forever. We've started attending birth classes now, the free ones offered by VIHA in Courtenay. Our midwife visits are increasing in their frequency and detail. Last visit to the midwife, I got to actually feel our child through Bethy's belly -- another awesome moment! The heartbeat is strong, and the kicks and rolls are solid. Sometimes Bethy will be thrown off balance by the little one's agitations.


The classes are teaching us ways to make her more comfortable, explaining the physical process of delivery, and encouraging everyone to talk openly about their experience to date. Only four sessions, but I expect everyone will bond more in week two (this week) and have a helpful discussion. I think the ice was broken pretty nicely at the first class, and it helps to have an easy-going instructor (an Earthy English lady in our case). There are I think eight pairings in our group, mostly traditional couples, though there was one unsettling attendee -- a young woman half our age, due just a day before we are. Turns out she was a student of Bethany's last school year! Her mom was there to support her, still coming to terms with being a Grandma so young I'm guessing. They were in good spirits as far as I could see, and I'm really happy she's decided to go ahead with her birth considering the ugly alternative.


I guess Halloween happened since I wrote here last. We had about two dozen kids come to our door -- a nice amount, enough to get in the groove of candy tossing, yet few enough to allow for some leftovers. After that, it was to the sports field for a phenomenal fireworks show put on by the Fire Department. There was some kind of extra donation to the fireworks fund this year, allowing a splurge on some wicked displays that fully impressed the crowd of maybe a hundred or so. We had about ten or twelve firefighters there to run things smoothly, and it went well. Four of the senior guys were behind the rack lighting them off, a handful of guys on a just-in-case hose, and the rest dotting a line in front of the audience (us rookies). Our job was to dive in front of any shells heading for the crowd, kind of like the Secret Service. Don't laugh, it happened a few years ago! Well, the show went off perfectly, it was one of the best displays I've seen anywhere in fact. Afterward, it was across the street to the gym for pumpkin pie and coffee. Bitchin!


There was also a Halloween dance on Friday the 30th. We had the perfect plan for a costume, only to be foiled by BC Ferries calling me to work that night. Bethy still went though, plenty of friends to hang out with. She was dressed as a chef carrying a baking sheet with a bun attached. Get it?? The original plan was to have me as the chef and her stuffed into a box made to look like an oven. In hindsight, it sounds like a great way to make her even more uncomfortable.


November so far has been mostly grey and wet, with a couple of bright sunny days to break up the gloomy skies. I took a quick spin to Victoria early in the month to play in a Knuckleheads game and visit Mom. It was nice to see the guys, and especially to talk with some of the dads about my joining the club very soon. It was largely through their encouragement over the last year or so that I warmed up to the idea of fatherhood. So it was great to catch up and see the boys, even if I did commit the game-losing turnover in our own zone. Not too often your side scores seven goals and loses! It's a long trip back to the bench after such a play, to the booming profanity of a pissed off goalie.


I spent the following day with my mom -- she was off work and our goal was to find a good car seat. So we jumped around to the different outlets and made what we felt was an educated choice. We also had a nice lunch at Red Robin before I headed home mid-afternoon. Stopped in Duncan to pick up some key hand-me-down items from cousin Erica. That was a quick, satisfying 24 hours, I was able to enjoy time with many good friends, including Mom!


I think I'm going to take an intermission now, and call this Part One. Coming soon: Firefighting school, the Denman talent show, Remembrance Day, and Bethy and Steve hit the recording studio. I have a tape of the Flames and Leafs from last night to which I must now attend. Best wishes!