We had our first snow today. I love the snow. The first one is magical - we haven't seen it in months. You look outside and everything is covered in white. I am biased because I work from home so I am always warm and toasty. I also don't shovel or drive in it much. But, it reminds me of hot cocoa, days off school, Christmas at Gramma Lang's, warm sweaters and a break from the heat. Then, in about 2 months, I will be ready for spring. Actually, this year, in 2 months or so, I will be ready for you to be here :) Your dad hates winter. He hates the cold. He hates shoveling. He hates driving in it. He hates it all!
Tomorrow, you turn 26 weeks - woohoo! From our program, your statistics look even better now. Your chances of survival went up to 80% and risk of serious medical conditions went down to 45%. We want 100%/0% but we take each week as a victory! I think you had the hiccups this morning - for a few minutes, I got rhythmic little blips in my tummy :)
I have to tell you the truth - your dad is whining because he never gets a call out on your blog. I mention him (good and bad) and I have told you how much he loves you and how great a dad he will be to you but he has whined twice now that he did my birthday post and I haven't done a 100%-dedicated-to-him post. I told him that was because I was only using him to create you and then for child support and alimony afterwards :) Even the book club girls were making "awe" noises because they have read on the blog that he helps cook and clean and take care of us. So, now I have to make some stuff up and get it out here so he can feel good about himself. haha - just kidding E - I won't lie to you about your dad.
Your dad is ornery. He is quiet but deadly. You may think he is just sitting there zoning off into space and when you least expect it, he will throw out a zinger and take you by surprise. Or, he is just absorbing everything and he will comment on each detail later. He is funny. He is silly. He acts like he is 10. He is sarcastic and he has a dry sense of humor. But, he also has crude sense of humor when it comes to the stupid TV shows and movies he likes.
Your dad has a big heart - he genuinely does care about most people and tries to do right by them. He is the only one in the whole state who can stand the pain of taking your Great Gramma Faiman anywhere. He will do anything for any of his friends or any of his family. As laid back as your dad is and as big as his heart is, if you cross the line with him, you are done dealing. I promise it takes a lot to cross a line with him but he does have that Brigham stubbornness and once you are done dealing, you are officially done dealing. He also has a big heart for our animals - even if they are being turds!
Your dad is loyal. He is loyal to Wells Fargo. He is loyal to his friends. He is loyal to his family. For some reason, he is loyal to the stinking Chiefs and Royals. He will be loyal to you. He is loyal to me.
Your dad is a good husband and I hope he teaches you to be the same. He is caring, he takes responsibility for 50% of the house. He balances me out in almost all situations - when I am mad, he calms me down. When I am taking something too personally, he tells me to chill out. When I am being extreme, he helps me to be fair. When I am sad, he tries to make me happy. There are 2 things he doesn't balance me out on - we both hate to clean and, unless it is a huge extravagance, we don't balance each other out financially.
I am very lucky to have married your dad. We will joke around with each other - when I pick on him, he will say "You are the one who married me." We can laugh and be silly. We can be sad together. Unfortunately, we have had a lot of practice in grieving together. But, you know what E? I learned that we really had what it takes when we came out of all of our trials and turmoil stronger as a couple. Infertility could destroy marriages but I believe that it made ours stronger.
You know what else, Eli? The guy knows how to show emotion. That is something foreign to your mom. When your dad cried in front of me the first time, I was like "Who the heck is this guy and what is he doing?" However, it is because I wasn't raised around men that cried. Your Grampa Keith cries at funerals and, now that he is getting old, he will tear up at different things. Your Grampa Larry only cried once that I ever saw and not even at funerals. I never saw your Great Grampa Lang cry and I think I saw Great Grampa Frankie cry when his son died. So, this display of emotion was so foreign to me. But, I hope that you feel confident enough in yourself to be able to cry and be emotional and know that it doesn't make you any less of a burly man :)
I think you will be in good hands with your dad. He may not teach you all the mechanical things that Grampa Larry would have taught you or all of the construction things Uncle Jeff can teach you. But, he can teach you a lot about being the best man you can be. He will love you unconditionally. He will do his best to raise you to be the best person you can. He will laugh with you. He will play with you. He will take you to sporting events and watch you play sports (if that is your thing). He will encourage you. He will discipline you. When you are older, he will be your friend.
Just to show you how silly your dad is, here is a photo you will enjoy!
