A Word To The Guys

Everyone talks about the biological clocks of women. I don't think that such a thing exists for men in general (though I could be wrong.)

I always thought I would have children - but it has never been a deep-seated longing. More of an intellectually held belief, in the way one thinks: "One day I'll have gray hair, smoke a pipe, and routinely look over my stock portfolio." One might even call my prediction of children indifference. If I had fallen in love with a woman who didn't want children and I loved her, I probably would have married her anyway.

But for someone who has never longed to have children, I sure am glad I have them now. No matter what else I do in my life (and I still do plan to find the cure to at least a couple of fatal illnesses, maybe rescue a few cats from burning trees, and write a novel that will outsell all the Harry Potter books put together - to name just a few of my goals) these girls (and any tykes who might follow them) are hands-down the biggest accomplishments that I'll ever, er, accomplish.

Guys who are afraid of parenthood have a reason to be afraid. It's a huge adjustment to your life, and if you're still in love with a certain partying lifestyle, you're going to have problems. But if you're open to change and realize that life has many seasons, consider experiencing this one. It might be the best thing you ever did, too.

Surrounded by Loveliness

So many beautiful ladies in my house! What a lucky guy I am! (gulp)

Here are some photos of my sister, Katy, and her husband, Chris. The photos of Stella at the playground were taken last Christmas. She's gotten so big.

More of Meg

More photos of our new baby girl here - we're all doing great! We came home Sunday and are getting adjusted to life as a family of four. Stella LOVES her little sis and wants to hold her constantly. Today she was singing "this old man" to her while she lounged in the bouncy seat. So far so good, but I'm not expecting this big sisterly love to last too long!

Meg has some jaundice so she's on this special light that we call her glowworm blanket. She's had to have her foot pricked a bunch which stinks, but we're hoping to have it under control within the week. We'll keep you posted!

take care!

Meg in Black and White

Getting to "Meg"

Introducing...
Marjorie "Meg" Loren Larson

Born: Today, August 10, 2007, 8:35 a.m., at Haywood Regional Medical Center in Clyde, N.C.
Weight: 7 lbs. - 2 oz.
Height: 19 3/4 inches

Delivering Physician: Dr. Robyn Matthews, UAB Medical School classmate of an old friend of mine, the late (and great) Jim Akers of Florence, Ala.

Namesakes: Margie Otto Engel, Eric's maternal grandmother, who was born Marjorie but who had her name changed to Margie; and Keith Loren Larson, Eric's dad. Loren is not short for Lorenzo in this case, but an old Swedish moniker.

Probable Nickname: "M-Lo"

Mom and Baby are doing great!

Except for the head of dark brown hair, she looks remarkably like her big sister Stella did on Day One.

Marian gives everyone her best! She'll be back home Sunday or Monday. Her mom is in town to help out for a few days and Eric's sister arrives on Tuesday.

Thank you for all your prayers and good wishes!

One More Day

In 24 hours our lives will go from controlled chaos to just plain chaos. Baby Larson Number 2 will have entered upon the world, should everything go as planned.

There is that Hemingway story in "In Our Time" in which Nick, the young protagonist, is on a house call with his physician father. A woman is having a baby in the next room and the woman's husband is lying in a bunk bed agonizing over the screams of the woman. By the end of the story the man has slit his wrists. I seem to recall, in the end, that mother and child were doing just fine.

Thank you, Ernest, for another uplifting portrait of the human spirit.

When I read the story in college I remember reacting in my writer's journal (required by the class - I'm a terrible journal-keeper) just how LAME Hemingway's take on manhood was in this story. So aloof was Hemingway from anything female that it actually made sense to him to have a character commit suicide rather than get involved with his wife's pain. I suppose it has been known to happen (weirder things have) but when new life is on its way with your own blood running through it how in the world can you be anything but awed and amazed and excited to see what, who, reveals itself?

No one looks forward to the birthing process except, perhaps, doulas. If one day they invent a pill that magically transports child out of mommy's belly into swaddling clothes, all clean and nice, dads will still worry something bad will happen along the way. It is just a helpless feeling. But isn't it worth it, Dads?

A couple days ago Stella was crying about getting water in her eyes in the bathtub and I was drying her off. She said, "I'm going to the hospital," and I said, "Why?" and she said: "I want to say 'Aaah.'" That just made me laugh so hard. She started laughing even harder. It was a truly great moment. I look forward to great moments with both my children, so panic here.