My Coach

Tuesday Paul and I went to our 4th baby class offered near the hospital we are delivering at. We signed up for a 7-week course (every Tuesday from 7-9 pm). It has been so much fun to sit in a room with 20 other pregnant couples and talk about being pregnant and what we are experiencing! It has been a really nice refresher for me - I learned a lot of this stuff when I was doing my OB rotation/clinicals in nursing school - and I think Paul is really learning a lot about the birthing process and his role in it all.

The nurse who is teaching the classes each week has truly emphasized the role and importance of the husband, or "The Coach" as she addresses them each week in her presentations. Paul is taking his role VERY seriously and I find it unbelievably sweet and entertaining.

Tuesday she had us practice our breathing techniques with simulated pain. Basically, she had me put some wooden clothes pins on my ears and I couldn't remove them until the fake contraction was complete. Paul had to coach me through it by practicing all that he has learned - breathing techniques, talking to me, helping me focus, massage, etc. Maybe it was because he was put on the spot, but throughout the entire contraction, Paul was frantically searching through the booklet to see which breathing technique he should be having me do. All I could do was laugh, try to get him to focus and look at me, and practice my breathing. By the end of the contraction, I was laughing my head off. He is SO CUTE.

Paul has been a very active part of the pregnancy throughout it. He attends all of my appointments - missing only one because he was out of town on a business trip. Even if it's just a check of my weight, BP, and a "how are you doing?" in the office... he's there.

He loves to feel Madeline kick, makes me dinner, gets me water, and bends over to get pans or pick up something I've dropped. He gives me back rubs and massages my hands and feet when they are swollen after a long day at work. He hugs me when I start to cry for no reason at all and reminds me to be positive when I get a little cranky. He takes such good care of me, our kitty, and our home.

I don't think he realizes how wonderful he actually is and how much our little growing family loves and appreciates him as our protector and patriarch. I can't wait to see him with our little girl. He is going to be the best dad ever. I am so thankful for the oppertunity to be his wife and the mother of his children.