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Blog Entry 44 of 82 The Happening

Steve Shultz here. I am the YourHub.com community journalist representing the vast and sunny land known as Highlands Ranch. My blog will present a quick synopsis of the hip, and maybe not so hip, happenings in Highlands Ranch and all the great photos and stories posted by residents just like you. Every now and again, I will rant and rave about what deeply interests me, and ask for your personal feedback. We like to be personal here at YourHub.com - YourHub.com is not just some nameless, faceless ghost.

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10 weeks

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Contributed by: Steve Shultz, YourHub.com on 1/3/2007

Ten more weeks.

Now would be a good time to let all the YourHub.com users know that in just 10 weeks (plus or minus) I will be a daddy. For the first time.

Yes, the doctors say our little one will be born March 10. We don't know the sex of the baby and we plan to be surprised. We do know Melinda's not carrying twins (I'm not prepared for that!).

I find it quite exciting not knowing if we're having a boy or a girl -- I think the element of surprise is not so common anymore. However, there are a few downsides to not knowing the sex of your unborn child until the last minute. Like not buying or receiving any cute pink or blue baby clothes (which is not a big deal - these colors are overrated anyway), or having to agree on at least one boy and girl name (this one's a biggie).

We have decided on a girl's name, but our lips are sealed until the arrival. There are a few boy names Melinda loves and a few I think are great, but we have yet to agree. But I know that the perfect name for our child will come in time. One thing we have agreed on is that the baby's name will be of great spiritual significance to us.

A wave of mixed excitement and nervousness suddenly hit me when on Monday my wife said, "Just 10 more weeks!" I mean, I've had plenty of time to prepare, but 10 weeks will go by like nothing! In fact, I told my wife I thought the pregnancy has gone by rather fast, but she replied, "Well, maybe for you!"

The two most amazing things I've experienced so far during the pregnancy are feeling the baby's movements (which are quite frequent and sporadic) and hearing the baby's heartbeat. We recently purchased a fetal stethoscope online so we can hear the heartbeat at home whenever we wish. There really is nothing like the sound of it.

Melinda has done a ton of research and reading on all different aspects of childbirth, both throughout the pregnancy and well in advance. I am currently in the "ninth month" chapter of The Expectant Father: Facts, Tips and Advice for Dads-To-Be, by Armin A. Brott and Jennifer Ash, which I am borrowing from my brother-in-law, Tom Nortillo ( click here to read about my niece, Gianna). The book is very informative and is written specifically for fathers about what's going on with both you and mom.

On Sunday (Jan. 7), we will attend our third "Preparing for Childbirth" class at St. Joseph Hospital in Denver. The highlight of this class will be a tour of the hospital, where our baby will be born. At the end of the first class, we got to see the graphic -- yet highly informative -- live birth video. It was a bit strange to watch, but it gave me a glimpse of what's to come.

My parents -- " Granddad and Grandma Shultz" -- couldn't be more excited to be grandparents twice within seven months (Gianna Reese Nortillo was born Aug. 20). They already bought a great car seat for the baby and can't wait for the arrival. My mom says my dad always hogs Gianna, so now they'll each get a chance to hold a grandchild at the same time.

We hope to have an all-natural hospital birth without intervention, so we'll see how that goes. My sister, Carrie, gave birth to Gianna in no time, without drugs, so we're hoping for the same.

It will be great that Gianna and our baby will be so close in age -- they'll have so much fun together. And we'll be able to get plenty of pointers from Carrie and Tom.

I'll keep you all posted on what's going on and share tons of photos of our new addition.

Did you or someone you know recently have a baby? Write a story or blog about it on YourHub.com. Be sure to post photos of the little one and Mom and Dad. Submit your stories and photos here.

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Showing 1-10 of 13 comments

Submitted By: Fairlight Baer-Gutierrez

posted on 1/22/2007 @ 1:26:44 PM

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That's an excellent Halloween costume! I hope the delivery goes very well for mom and baby. Keep us posted on how the final weeks go.

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Submitted By: Amber Lena

posted on 1/6/2007 @ 7:41:03 PM

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Oh Good God almighty! That photo makes my back and my stomach hurt!!!! There is nothing else like having a new baby. Best of Luck.

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Submitted By: Rachael Beieler

posted on 1/5/2007 @ 11:17:27 PM

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Congrats! Did I mention I make an awesome baby sitter?

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Submitted By: Sandy Clifton

posted on 1/3/2007 @ 7:15:36 PM

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Congrats! !!!!!

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Submitted By: Karin Malchow

posted on 1/3/2007 @ 7:02:36 PM

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You think the pregnancy went fast, wait until you experience how fast he/she grows up. Enjoy. And relax.

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Submitted By: Jeffrey Schwartz

posted on 1/3/2007 @ 5:14:56 PM

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Congratulations!!!!!!

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Submitted By: Eric Lubbers

posted on 1/3/2007 @ 2:11:34 PM

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Now that's a way to get your point across with photos, Steve. Those perspective shots are great.

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Submitted By: Julius Vaughns

posted on 1/3/2007 @ 1:27:57 PM

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Pretty exhilerating huh Steve?? Congrats again and i'm sure Melinda will be a champ in the delivery room. The question is, will you be conscious for the whole thing or fant halfway through?!!?

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Submitted By: Kevin Villegas

posted on 1/3/2007 @ 1:27:24 PM

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That is too cool. Steve the dad. It's got a nice ring to it.

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Submitted By: Erin Feese

posted on 1/3/2007 @ 1:27:23 PM

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Cute belly! The countdown begins...

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