I AM GOING TO BE A DAD!

Yep, it’s true…wow…I am so excited I don’t know where to begin.

Lucretia and I have always wanted children; however, we also wanted to be able to be married for awhile…and she wanted a chance to pursue a medical career (after four years of high school, four more of college, then four of medical school…then three years of residency I think she more than deserved it!)

SO…we’ve waited. About a year and a half ago we were riding down the road and I said to her, “Baby, I am not saying this to put pressure on you–but I just want you to know…I am ready to have a child.”

She told me that she wasn’t quite ready yet–but she appreciated me letting her know.

This past spring she told me that she felt like this fall would be a great time to start trying to have kids–but then she swore me to secrecy. She told me that when we conceived that I could not tell anyone until she was through with the first trimester. I agreed…I didn’t like it…but still, what can a man do? :-)

(By the way…I told the church that I was not allowed to tell and then we immediately began getting the “are Lucretia and Perry pregnant” e-mails. I have never seen a group of people so interested in someone’s sex life!!! Lucretia even had a lady staring at her belly one night…”just to see if it was bigger.” WOW…crazy stuff!)

You might not remember what you were doing on Saturday, November 4…but I do. Lucretia and I had season tickets to see Clemson play this year…and that was the day they played Maryland. (Big sigh!) The kickoff was at 12:00…and so I got up about 6:30 to go to have my quiet time and go to the gym…’Cretia informed me the night before that I was a freak and that I would be going to the gym alone. :-)

When I got home she said she had a gift for me. (Something EVERY married man wants to hear his wife say when he comes in the door!!!) She pointed to a bag on the table and I looked inside…and there was a book entitled, “The Expectant Father.” I looked up at her and she was holding a positive pregnancy test.

I lost it…literally…I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry…I think it was a combo of both of them…and there was dancing…and I said something that didn’t make any sense.

And then she reminded me that I could not tell anyone…she did let me call her sister…and I was also allowed to tell Clayton…my accountability partner…but no one else.

We went to see the doctor on November 29…it was a actually quite funny seeing me try to sneak through the hospital halls…for those that don’t know…I am 6′ 6″ and I weigh about 225…not exactly built for “sneaking!”

And then…I SAW THE BABY on the ultrasound. Let me be very clear about this…I saw the baby. I didn’t see a fetus…I saw life. I didn’t see a potential for stem cell research…I saw a human being. IT CHANGED ME…I’ve never seen anything like it…EVER.

After that we told a few people…not many. ‘Cretia still didn’t want to deal with people asking a ton of questions…she’s a very private person.

And then on Thursday we went and saw THE BABY again…and he/she was moving all over the place. (It waved at us!) Literally…its little arms and legs were moving…and I told ‘Cretia, “Looks like we have a little Perry…it hasn’t stopped moving yet!!!” PRAY HARD THAT THIS BABY IS NOT LIKE ME!!! :-)

We told the staff on Thursday night…and we told the church this past weekend. A couple of things in closing…

#1 - Please pray for us…we will not be perfect parents…but we both REALLY want to do a good job. Pray for the health of our baby.

#2 - If you live in Anderson…do not…and I mean DO NOT touch my wife’s belly. PLEASE…I am so serious. She has a large privacy bubble…and people she don’t know who touch her tend to freak her out. AND…she is a second degree black belt and will not be held responsible for what she does to you.
We are excited…needless to say…and IF it is a boy…I am totally serious about the name Boaz. Lucretia is NOT that excited however and keeps on saying that a girl would make things easier. SO…pray hard…and celebrate with us…yeah God…and Merry Christmas!