 7:08:50PM on 05/03/2010 | It has been nearly seven months since my last blog, once again I blame Facebook for distracting me. I vow to do better in the future. So let's see what has happened in those seven months: I brewed more beer, I turned 31, Christmas, 2010 hit, Erin turned 31, and oh yeah, we announced that we are having our first baby! Our little guy (name yet to be revealed) is due May 10th, but we had to bump that date up to Wednesday May 5th (which is this Wednesday!). Erin and I couldn't be more excited. It has been a long road to get to this point. Erin and I have been together for over 13 years now and I remember back in early 2006 telling her I was ready to start a family. Problem was that our lives at the time were total chaos. We were living in Dallas, I was still working crazy long hours in the video game industry, and Erin was working long hours managing a photography studio. Our schedules were so demanding that we could in no way justify raising any children in that environment. This was the key factor in deciding to move back home to St. Louis. Erin and I quit our jobs in Texas and moved back to St. Louis. Roadblock #1: "Crazy lifestyles in-conducive to raising family", cleared. Enter Roadblock #2 "Sell a house in middle of this country's biggest housing crisis". Nothing ever seems to go as planned and if you are familiar with our story, you already know that it took 18 months to sell our house in Texas. During that time we lived with my in-laws and our lives were in complete limbo. We had no idea when our house would sell, and we couldn't bring a child into a time of such uncertainty. Over a year went by, I changed jobs to my current position, and Erin's photography business took off. In May 2008 the house in Texas sold. We finally got past Roadblock #2. By June we had bought and moved into a new house. Everything was good to go right? Wrong. Roadblock #3: "Conception" slapped us in the face. I will not go into any personal details but we spent month after disappointing month finding out that wasn't going to be easy for us. Finally in September 2009 I got the news Id been waiting to hear for well over a year. Erin called me while I was at work and told me that she had gotten a positive test result. We were finally pregnant. So here it is May 3rd 2010, well over four years since Erin and I decided we wanted to start a family. I am less than 48 hours from meeting my son for the first time. I spent a lot of time this weekend reflecting on the long road and many sacrifices that led us here, and I have to admit I am really glad that path is behind me. We come to a new path on Wednesday, a new life begins for us and I cant wait to greet it with open arms.  | |||
By: Lauren Made at 9:10:09AM on 05/04/2010 | There are dozens of people who love you out there right now cheering on this little miracle! You and Erin will be great parents and hopefully at some point in the future, when hindsight really is 20/20, you will realize why this was God's plan. Congratulations! | |||
By: Erin Made at 6:33:43PM on 05/04/2010 | We are so blessed to have so many wonderful friends and family around us. And please don't misunderstand us :) Nick and I do not regret any part of the path that has brought us to this point. We are stronger emotionally and spiritually as a result of all the we've experienced. I am extremely grateful that God has loved me enough to continue testing me and shaping me because it's been through these trials that I have grown closer to him and appreciated my blessings that much more. So here we stand on the brink of the most amazing experience of our lives and all I can say is thank you. Thank you to all the people who have helped get us here and thank you to my amazing husband who has made this journey not only possible but exciting. In less than 12 hours we will all be celebrating another of God's miracles :) | |||
By: MOM C. Made at 12:31:03PM on 05/05/2010 | God bless all three of you. I can't wait to meet him today, I tossed and turned all night last night. | |||
By: MomL. Made at 8:41:01AM on 05/07/2010 | So please post some pictures! We are so happy to finally meet Anthony David, and happier that a new chapter has begun for you. Love to All! | |||