Bryson West Horner (the best, brightest, and most beautiful baby in the world...of course I am a little biased)

So I guess it has been a little while since I posted, huh? Well, I guess that I will use my go to excuse, "I've been busy." Busy enough to postpone all extra curricular activities, including hiking, biking, paddling, and yes, blogging. But don't feel too bad for me yet, it was all well worth the effort. Over the last few months (that I neglected the blog) Lindsay and I have managed to prepare our house, cars, family and friends, and almost our minds for the coming of our son, Bryson. His awaited arrival has left Lindsay and I in wonderment. We wondered who he would look like, what kind of personality would he have, how would our lives change, and could we stand up to the challenge? Well, all of our questions have been answered...sort of.

Bryson West Horner came into the world at 6:40am on May 26, 2009. The experience was like nothing I have ever known and "sent my world a-whirlin'." It was a mix of excitement, joy, amazement, and freak out! As I witnessed the woman that I love LABOR through the delivery, I, like most dads, suddenly realized that there is no more I...it is US know. Our family has begun and I am so proud of my wife and son. Lindsay was a trooper, she endured a 15 hour delivery and then transformed into a perfect mom. Bryson didn't do too bad either, he endured the travel through the birth canal, the nursery (for those who don't know, they man-handle babies), and inexperienced parents. Needless to say, as the father and husband to these two, I am elated!

Well, now that we have survived 5 days, I am getting back to reality and fully enjoying the experience of being a new dad. One of my sister Jenn's friends, after a few days of being a new dad said, "we still have the baby...DHS hasn't come and taken him away yet!" While I don't neccessarily feel that inadequate, it is nice to know that with help from family (thanks mom, steph, and the rest...we couldn't have done it without y'all), Lindsay and I CAN survive parenthood. Well, better yet, Bryson can survive us! To tell you the truth, I keep waiting for him to get upset and have a bad day. He has been a really good baby so far...sleep, poop, pee, eat, repeat.

Anyway, I will write more about how he, and us, are doing along the way. For now, I will not make you wait any longer for pictures. So here is Bryson and thanks to all of my wonderful family and friends who waited up all night, traveled long distances, and have offered so much support! It is truly awesome to be a part of such a strong community of support although we are so far apart. Lindsay and I love all of you very much and are so appreciative.

Me and Prego Update

Wow, I had no idea that it has been 2 months since the last time I posted. Ooops! Well, I will just rely on my tried-n-true excuse; I've been busy. The good news is I have been busy with fun stuff. Although I have had enough of history (15 hrs is plenty), I am really enjoying my other classes. Economic Geography has turned out to be a serious challenge but rewarding. It is a mixed under-grad/graduate class and according to the graduate students, Dr. Harper has been treating us all like graduate students. This has made for some "oh crap" moments but it has also let me know that I can handle big challenges when I am interested in the topics. My next favorite class is Cultural Anthropology, which has really opened my mind to different ways that I can look at all cutures as unique and important parts of the human race. I like that my professor really tries to get the point across that all of us have our "niche" in the world and just practice "living" in different ways. My special education class is more like attending a comedy routine due to the antics of my professor, Dr. Calder. He can be serious when he wants to, but that usually lasts only 5 minutes at a time! He definately keeps the class interesting. And last but not least, my guitar class is great! I am learning a lot, but I just wish I had more time to put into it. Actually, I think I just put other things in front of practicing, so really, I just need to make time for it. Well, that is enough about me...lets talk about the PREGNANT ONE!

Just in case anyone was wondering, Lindsay is doing great! Well, as "great" as one can expect at 7 months pregnant. We are fully into the 3rd trimester and she is involved in twice-a-week visits to the labor and delivery office for her non-stress tests. So far, they are going well and we both are looking forward to the next visit to Dr. Link on Monday 23rd. This weekend we picked out paint for Bryson's room and I hope to have it finished by the end of the week (I will post pictures when finished). It really feels like time is speeding up for me. Everyone told me that it really slows down in the 3rd trimester, but that is not how I feel. Maybe it is due to my crazy schedule. Anyway, below are some pics that I took of Lindsay at different stages of pregnancy. I am not totally sure how far along each picture is, so I will have to edit that once I talk it over with the all-knowing mother-to-be.

I hope everyone is doing well!

We found out that Lindsay can fit into a pair of my pants now! I told her that would really cut down on our clothing expenditures!

Feeling is Believing

Until this morning, I was still unsure if I could feel the little man move inside Lindsay's belly. Not so anymore! This morning Lindsay woke me up to the little guy dancing inside her expanding bump and I felt it! Of course, it didn't quite knock me across the room, but it no longer felt like just another rumble in her tummy. It was a definite poke from a hand or foot or bum. It was great! For a month or so, Lindsay has been enjoying the kicks and prods of our little boy while I have been anxiously waiting to decidedly feel him. I think this yearning came from the desire to connect to something that she knows exists. It's not that I don't believe that she is pregnant-that part is evident-rather a lack of physically experiencing it first hand. Well, the waiting is over, which has brought on another stage in the realization of becoming a parent. It's fun experiencing these changes through the pregnancy because they are so evident. Unlike other changes in life, the development of becoming a parent has been very real and in-my-face. The greatest thing about the latest change is that I can now feel his movements and start creating a bond. Of course, I am offering my wife's belly to other's hands, but I can't wait for family and friends to feel our little man. It is pretty special!

Baby Boy

On January 7, 2009, Lindsay and I recieved the news that we were having a baby boy. Although we were a little surprised, it was very exciting news. First, it is worth mentioning that this day was the birthday of my father, grandmother, and Lindsay's grandmother. This continued the amount of crazy coincidences that have littered throughout this pregnancy. Any-who, it was pretty incredible watching as the ultrasound technician displayed our baby boy on her screen. It amazed me how closely he resembled a fully developed baby. His arms, legs, feet, and hands look as they will when he enters this world. Although the images did not pick up his skin, he still seemed to be a miniature version of a fully developed baby. It was incredible! I was torn between watching the screen and the technician's hand as it slid over Lindsay's belly. I couldn't decide whether to watch him or to decipher how he was situated in his little incubator. This pregnancy has completely changed my understanding of becoming a parent and what it means to be a family. Crazy how this baby has yet to enter this world, however, he has already changed mine. I am sure most of you are thinking, "just wait," but I am expecting nothing less than my bewilderment to continue. I also am expecting the rest of the pregnancy, and beyond, to be no less spectacular as the last few months have been.

Below are the second set of pictures of our baby and I need to include an advisory. After sending these around, I have learned that it is very obvious that he is a boy! If you have any problem with seeing the male anatomy, please be advised that the following might disturb you.

"BIG" Update

Okay, so I have fallen behind once again on keeping the blog up to date. Duh, right? Well, I will do my best to cover all that has happened in the last 1 1/2 months. The most important news will come tomorrow, Lindsay and I will find out the sex of our baby while hitting a halfway point in her pregnancy. We both are super excited to see the baby again in the ultrasound and look forward to putting an identity to this baby. I feel as though it is a starting gun, issuing the beginning of our purchasing marathon that will soon follow! This is a very exciting week for us and as soon as I can, the next baby pictures will be on here. Okay, so past that, we had a great Christmas spent with family and friends. It really felt like a vacation this year, our Christmas stretched from Dec. 24-Jan. 3. Lindsay and I really enjoyed seeing everyone and being able to make the rounds while also having some time for ourselves. We also had a great New Year's day with our friends Dain, Leslie, and their 5 month old, Carver. Those guys amaze me everytime we visit them; they are building a house (pretty much with their own hands), working full-time jobs, and raising a baby. I could only hope to have the mental, emotional, and physical capability that those two have! Well, since we came back to talking about people with babies, I guess that I could add a few coming-of-age photos of our baby! So here they are, the much anticipated photos of the "lady with a baby!"

November 30, 2008 Lindsay at 14 weeks

January 3, 2009 Lindsay at 19 weeks