Thud Thud Thud...

Life Lesson #306--Life is all about balance

(Today's entry will be co-authored by D & E)

Friday we met with our OB/GYN for our second appointment to chart our baby's progress. Friday's menu included a weight and blood pressure check for E followed by the monitoring of the baby's heart beat. The good news is that everything is fine and our baby is now almost 14 weeks into its new life on Planet Earth. The great news is that E got to hear the baby heart beating. Unfortunately I wasn't there to actually hear it for myself. I had to give a talk Friday on branding to a group of marketers. Our doctor was running about 50 minutes late for our appointment and I had to leave before we could get started. It was pretty upsetting to know that I had missed an important day in the course of our pregnancy. You realize that life is all about balance and that sometimes things don't work out the way you planned. My relevation this week is that for a guy that loves what he does for a living, no business deal can compare to the simple event of hearing your baby's heart beating. That's why today's piece is co-authored. E was there and she experienced the wonder of life in a simple heart beat.

I wish I could think of something profound to say regarding hearing the baby's heartbeat, but all I can come up with is "It was SO COOL!!!!" My doctor started using the heartbeat monitor, and we didn't hear anything at first. I'm sure it was only 30 or 45 seconds before he found the heartbeat, but it started to feel like forever, and my worrying mind couldn't help but run in all different directions. And then, BAM! A heartbeat. Thud-thud-thud....it was going so fast, and once I heard one thud, they all sounded the same, but I really think I could have listened to it all day long and not gotten bored. And then, I burst into tears. I guess you are more prone to crying when pregnant. I was so excited and happy to hear the heartbeat and it was such an awesome feeling that filled me. But then I started laughing. So here I am, laughing and crying at the same time and saying "Oh my god" over and over, and wishing with all my heart that D was there with me. But the crying and laughing makes your belly move, so then the monitor moves away from the heartbeat and you can't hear it as well. So then, I'd try and hold my breath to be able to hear the heartbeat again, but the laughter and tears kept coming. Somehow I think this might be a metaphor of the life D and I have to look forward to as parents....we just have to do our best to make sure the laughter outweighs the tears.