I missed an important date a couple of weeks ago. Not really surprising as it’s not an official anniversary of anything. But in the scope of what I want to talk about today, it’s an important one. Eight years ago this month, on a frigid mid-Missouri winter night, I met Dr. O’C for the first time. It will sound cliché, but from the instant I saw her walk into a party I was hosting at my ramshackle house on the Missouri River I knew that was going to do everything in my power to ensure that I would spend the rest of my life with this woman. And I did. No obstacle mattered – not the fact that I was in the midst of a (failing) relationship, not the fact that at the time she lived 2,000 miles away. I was a man immediately and irretrievably in love and fully victim of the madness that accompanies that emotion. It took about six months, but by that summer we were together. And we have been since.
We’ve been together now for over a fifth of my life and I can say without a doubt that these have been the best years of my life. Every morning that I wake up next to Dr. O’C is the start of a good day and every night that I go to sleep next to her puts the cap on a good day. Not every day is perfect. I can be unreasonable, she can be stubborn. We have our fights. But eight years on, I can’t imagine my life without her.
This is probably a good thing because all of this is a flowery prelude to a bit of news that we’ve decided we’re ready to share. This is really a post that could just as easily have been a couple of sentences long. If I can put it eloquently, Dr. O’C is up the duff. In the family way. She’s got a bun in the oven. She is knocked up.
Yes, it was planned. Yes, we are happy. Boy Z’s brother or sister is due in late August. And yes, I’m hoping for a girl.* One who looks just like her mother.
——————
There’s very little good music from the 80’s, but this Squeeze track is a wonderful exception. I think it strikes a chord for me because it paints a picture of what might have been had I made different decisions. “Squeeze – Greatest Hits” is available for download or on CD from Amazon.
——————
* I should state, in the interest of saving on future therapist bills, that I would be delighted if we have a boy as well.
.
.
.
But I’d rather a girl…
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by Joe
27 Feb 2009 at 15:43
Congrats m’sieur.
Joes last blog post..When Indigestion Comes to Town..
by Erin
27 Feb 2009 at 16:04
Oh my goodness! Congrats to you and Dr O’C! That is great news and what a wonderful post in which to announce it! I love all the sentimental, flowery stuff too! Cheers to you all!!
Erins last blog post..Things I Love About Sydney
by Theresa B
27 Feb 2009 at 17:39
Congratulations! It’s always good for children to have at least one sibling — that way they can work through their violent tendencies without getting more than one set of parents involved.
- Theresa (who has five siblings and should know…)
by hereinfranklin
27 Feb 2009 at 19:57
Just in time for football season! Congratulations!
by JChevais
27 Feb 2009 at 20:18
CONGRATULATIONS!
by headbang8
27 Feb 2009 at 20:26
So, there will now be an Australian in the house! Am I right in thinking that this will be the first actual Australian in the O’C/FreeMan extended family?
headbang8s last blog post..Il a été si bon.
by Hezamarie
27 Feb 2009 at 20:57
Whoohoo! congrats to you three
Hezamaries last blog post..Wallet Crisis, Don’t ask me to change
by Angel
27 Feb 2009 at 21:13
Oh you’ve made my day! That is absolutely wonderful news! Boy Z needs a sibling. Timmins NEEDS Boy Z to have a sibling; someone else to pick on!
Isn’t it outstanding how sometimes, no matter how screwed up we are, things just seem to work out? My husband says the same thing about our first meeting, and our situation was about as likely to end together as yours was, and yet, here we are. It’s just so cool when things work out.
Congratulations to your family! Yay!
Angels last blog post..They don’t make enough Calgon to take me away.
by yellojkt
27 Feb 2009 at 22:44
Up the duff? That is a new one on me. Congratulations and best wishes for your growing family. Good times ahead.
yellojkts last blog post..Jindal Look Alike Contest
by The Unbearable Banishment
27 Feb 2009 at 23:01
10,000 congrats! I have two daughters. DAUGHTERS RULE! Fingers crossed.
Once again, you mine my CD collection. What gives?
The Unbearable Banishments last blog post..are you going to put that thing in your mouth (revisited)
by Nichole
27 Feb 2009 at 23:06
Congratulations!
Nicholes last blog post..How to win the heart of a chocoholic
by Cat
27 Feb 2009 at 23:54
Congratulations to you and Dr. O’C!
Cats last blog post..My Blogger Mentor
by Cat
27 Feb 2009 at 23:59
Now that is a weird song choice to mark this moment with. So depressing.
Cats last blog post..My Blogger Mentor
by Noble Savage
28 Feb 2009 at 00:30
I had a feeling this announcement was coming soon. Congratulations! A second child is twice the trouble but twice the love.
by courtney
28 Feb 2009 at 01:33
That is fantastic news! Congratulations!
courtneys last blog post..A Very Malfeasance Oscar Night
by mickey
28 Feb 2009 at 01:39
I was all ready to smother you with my congratulations, but then you dropped this bomb: “There’s very little good music from the 80’s.”
Wah? Are you serious?
Dude, that just hurts.
But congrats on the kid-to-be. Girl Z? Boy Z.2? Kid X?
mickeys last blog post..And she’ll never grow up to bite your face off
by chris
28 Feb 2009 at 01:42
Oh. Maw. Gawd. Congratulations!!! Dr. O.C., no wonder you almost cried at my last post, you’re probably in the middle of a hormonal hurricane. I wish for you an easy, uncomplicated pregnancy and a healthy mum and bebe.
The good thing is #2 is much easier because you know what you’re in for. The bad thing about #2 is you know what you’re in for.
Best of luck guys and I’m really happy for you. Good work Chris(and that’s probably the last time you’ll get any credit since mama does most of the work here).
chriss last blog post..Trifecta of Chris
by Rol
28 Feb 2009 at 02:22
Congrats and all the best to you both.
Rols last blog post..25 (Part 3)
by Andrea
28 Feb 2009 at 02:24
Congrats to all three of you!
I’ve been told that having a second child is a piece of cake, you’ve got the first one there to distract you from all the worrying about whether or not you’re “doing it right.”
I’ve also been told that it gets exponentially harder with each successive kidlet. I tend to believe this one.
We’ve got little R trained to say “baby” now too, get Boy Z trained up, it’s pretty mushy and gooey.
Hope Dr O’C is feeling good and enjoying round two.
by Lara
28 Feb 2009 at 02:41
Woohoo! Great news!
As for girls… they’re a different breed to raise. Easier at some points, tougher at others. Whinier by far, but way less exhausting (other than the non-stop whining)… boys just never stop moving.
But what I found amazing was just how entirely different EACH one was… kind of blows away everything you know of genetics to think that these three entirely different little people all came from the same two parents.
One last word of wisdom… One more and they’ll have you outnumbered… best quit while you’re ahead.
by tysdaddy
28 Feb 2009 at 02:58
Congrats! On finding a fine mate, and for the bun in the oven.
You guys look so happy . . .
tysdaddys last blog post..Socks . . . and a T-shirt
by lora
28 Feb 2009 at 04:40
congrats!!
loras last blog post..the new followers feature can suck it
by Brittany
28 Feb 2009 at 05:00
Congratulations!!! That is incredibly exciting news, and it is great to hear of someone so in love.
Brittanys last blog post..Pub-Corn: Beer Flavored Popcorn. Yes, you read that right.
by jams O'Donnell
28 Feb 2009 at 05:05
Congratulations to you both!
jams O’Donnells last blog post..
by Andrea
28 Feb 2009 at 06:04
P.S. I also hope that if you have a girl, she looks like Dr. O’C. Seriously.
by Sherrie
28 Feb 2009 at 09:50
Congrats congrats CONGRATS!!!!!
by Sherrie
28 Feb 2009 at 10:09
In case it didn’t go through last time, congrats!!!!!!!!!!!1
Sherries last blog post..3 More Days!
by Tom
28 Feb 2009 at 13:28
Congratulations to you both.
by mongoliangirl
28 Feb 2009 at 15:24
Oh Oh Oh! Wonderful news! Big hugs from Hellbilly & I to both of you. How wonderful!
mongoliangirls last blog post..Hurry up and ask because I REALLY do have to go now!
by Mom
28 Feb 2009 at 15:29
We are so happy for you all. Number three for us. And we WILL be there in November to enjoy them. I had given up on grandchildren a few years ago and now I am about to have the third. You just never know what turns there are on the road of life. Congratulations!!
by heather
28 Feb 2009 at 16:14
Congratulations! I will quote my five year old girl: “I hope you will all yell for joy louder than a moose.”
heathers last blog post..Interview for A Free Man
by Florida Girl In Sydney
28 Feb 2009 at 18:06
Oh MY! Congratulations!!!!!
That is fantastic. It’s shocking going from one to two– but so great! What a beautiful post, I hope she reads your blog and knows how much you appreciate her!
And, I love Squeeze… that seems pretty unimportant here.
Florida Girl In Sydneys last blog post..Here Boy!
by eden
28 Feb 2009 at 19:05
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That is frickin’ AWESOME news, Freeman!!!!!!!! Congratulations to you … all three of you! Soon to be four of you! Oh yay. Having children is the meaning of life, you know.
XOXOXOX
edens last blog post..Video Killed the Radio Star
by Agnes
28 Feb 2009 at 23:00
Wonderful news, many congratulations to all of you! I’m an August baby too, an excellent month to be born, to be sure. Very exciting news!
by Courtney
01 Mar 2009 at 00:04
Congrats! That’s wonderful news! Thoughts for a happy and healthy pregnancy…
by mjrc
01 Mar 2009 at 00:51
it’s amazing how happy you can be for people you’ve never met! many, many congratulations to you both–actually, to you three! : )
mjrcs last blog post..Friday Finds With an International Feel
by SouthernInsanity
01 Mar 2009 at 02:43
Congratulations. What a heartfelt post.
SouthernInsanitys last blog post..An open letter to YouTube
by sarala
01 Mar 2009 at 02:48
Congrats! I wound up with two boys and thought of having a third just to shoot for a girl but decided I was getting too old and tired. But I wouldn’t trade my second son for all the girls in the world! You will be delighted with whatever you get.
It is touching how happy you are with your wife. Good luck to you both.
saralas last blog post..Blue Skies and Time to Wash
by carrie
01 Mar 2009 at 12:12
that’s awesome! congratulations.
carries last blog post..
by April
01 Mar 2009 at 15:47
A big congratulations to you and your lovely lady. Here’s wishing you a happy and healthy baby, boy or girl! You better treat Dr. O’C right, lots of foot massages and pampering from you! It occurred to me that everyone in your family will have been born in a different country.
Aprils last blog post..Book Review: Twilight
by Jessica K
02 Mar 2009 at 04:54
Congratulations!! I am so happy for you! Good luck with the girl thing… Didn’t work out so well for us!
Jessica Ks last blog post..Yippee!! Snow!
by Robin
02 Mar 2009 at 08:11
Yay! I’m so happy for you. If you do get a boy, just know that same sex siblings are WONDERFUL, because you can pass down clothes, and they are more likely to have similar interests. My girls are already playing together (at forty and twenty months). I know I could do the math myself, but how many months apart will your two be? I’m so glad I didn’t miss this post!
Robins last blog post..California Dreamin’
by NATUI
02 Mar 2009 at 13:08
I have been WAITING for this!!! Don’t ask me why, but there has been a disturbance in the force and it is something I have been musing over for the past few weeks. Thank you for sharing this great bit of news with us! It is very welcome, indeed.
NATUIs last blog post..You Sure Do Pick Goofy Friends
by Muskrat
02 Mar 2009 at 13:21
Congrats! I hope y’all have a girl, too. And if you don’t, just try again in another year or two.
Muskrats last blog post..friday confessional for february 20: i totally pissed in your kool-aid
by The Right Blue
02 Mar 2009 at 13:38
Wonderful, delightful news — for all of you. I wish Dr. O’C an uneventful pregnancy — also for the sake of all of you! Sending little girl vibes your way (although I’m sure the wee one already has decided its gender).
Bobbie
The Right Blues last blog post..Search me! (The Google Search Meme)
by SSG
03 Mar 2009 at 00:13
dude, your life is fucking great. keep up the good work.
You guys rules as a family, including timmins.
ah, shed a tear.
SSGs last blog post..It’s only me…
by Sarah, Goon Squad Sarah
03 Mar 2009 at 03:03
Congratulations!
Sarah, Goon Squad Sarahs last blog post..Yes, I said Elephants and Butts
by Xbox4NappyRash
03 Mar 2009 at 08:04
Greedy guts!
Congratulations, It’s not often I can say that and genuinely mean it. I’m delighted for all of ye.
Xbox4NappyRashs last blog post..Swing low, sweet, er..chariots?
by admin
03 Mar 2009 at 08:18
Thanks all for your kind words! We’re looking forward to the next several months. We’ll keep you posted.
admins last blog post..Late evenings by the fire with little kicks inside her
by Dr O'C
03 Mar 2009 at 11:17
Speak for yourself when you say you are looking forward to the next several months. I will be getting heavier and heavier and still having to run after a crazy toddler:)