It’s hard to know where to start when putting into words how lucky I am to have Bryan for my husband and how lucky Liam is to have him for his father. I knew in choosing Bryan to be my partner in life that he would make an incredible dad, which is part of the reason I married him. To see him transforming into a dad through this pregnancy, though, has surpassed my expectations.
Bryan has taken such sweet care of me as I have gone through the ups and downs of being pregnant. He has read books and articles and email updates from various pregnancy websites, and has been excited each Saturday to see what size vegetable Liam is that week and how his little body is developing. He has been enthusiastic about attending classes- from Preparing for Labor and Delivery to Breastfeeding for Couples to Dogs and Babies and more. During our Labor and Delivery class, we got an hour to break for lunch and as we got into the car, I noticed he was giving me a funny, smitten look. I asked what that was about and he told me how he was in awe of what my body was doing to grow Liam and how proud he was of me for doing a great job carrying our baby. He learned all of the various massage techniques to help me through potential back labor and breathing exercises we can do together so he can coach me and support me. He showed up 110% and as I looked around the room, he was noticeably more engaged than a lot of the other dads there (not to brag, but… I have to brag.) He lies beside me in bed and counts kicks, and sits on the floor beside me while I rock in nursery and reads Liam books. He holds onesies up to his shoulder and practices burping him with a precious grin on his face. He already adores Liam and I can see in his eyes that he is adoring me too as I grow this little guy.
I got some great advice from a college friend, Whitney at The Curtis Casa, about pouring into your spouse during pregnancy. She told me how she had learned that amidst the myriad of people and resources who will offer advice and the many choices you have to seek support during pregnancy, it’s so important to fully trust your husband to be what you need! Doctors and doulas and parents are all important, but at the end of the day, Bryan is my guy. It will be up to the two of us to parent Liam and to love one another well throughout this crazy parenting adventure. I have really tried to take this to heart and allow Bryan to step up to the plate rather than seeking too much of what I need from outside people, and he has truly blown me away. It’s already been an experience which has brought us together in a new way, and it makes me SO excited to actually see him hold our boy and watch him learn to be a daddy.
There have certainly been days when I have been flat out cranky and hormonal or when I have felt overwhelmed by one aspect of pregnancy or another. He has been so patient and has constantly told me I am beautiful (which feels especially good as I have reached the third trimester and the comments asking if I am having twins or if I am due TOMORROW because gosh I am just so big have begun!) I really don’t know what I would do without him. Even tonight, he made a yummy dinner, put on some nice music, sat and ate with me, did the dishes, and has promised to read the instructions then talk me through how the heck to use the breast pump that came in the mail today. (Wild night here at the Hill House.) I’m just really thankful for the man that he is and the way that he has shown up throughout this pregnancy. I cannot imagine doing this with anyone else.
Thank you, Bryan, for loving me so well and for being the incredible dad that you already are.
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