As the journey ends, the adventure begins

Growing up, it's funny to have drummed into you that if you made the slightest mistake at all, as a young couple, you'd immediately fall pregnant. Cue the scenes of super unrealistic morning sickness the immediate next morning. Thanks, Hollywood, for making it seem that easy. People who've had the fortune to have children or are currently trying, know that this can be a process or a journey entirely in itself. As a parent now twice over, this is a fact of life I've come to appreciate and respect.

And what a beautiful journey it was for us, as we recently welcomed our newest family member. I write this blog because I saw the pregnancy as the journey of our son coming to join us and complete our family. And of course a journey for my wife, who bravely and beautifully cared for and carried the baby from a microscopic state to the amazing human we have with us today; which now marks the beginning of our adventure as a complete family.

The journey

This journey like any good journey is never a sure one. It's filled with challenges, unknowns, pains, mixes of emotions and of course ultimate hope of reaching the destination. Though this has been a journey well-travelled by millions of others, this still remains one of the most precious and meaningful journeys as humans and of course to us.

I recall, one chilled out afternoon I was lazing in my hammock at home, Lucy hands me a pregnancy test. I wasn't expecting much as she was fairly casual, but I saw the emblematic positive sign; this was the mark of this journey's beginning.

This was just the first leg of the journey, there are a number of milestones you as a couple quietly or not so quietly are waiting to pass. There's the first heartbeat scan, then there's a series of tests to check for health defects and then tracking the general course of your child's health leading up to the day of birth. All of the while your wife takes on the very physical challenge of having this baby grow within and start to cause aches and pains. Then there's finally the climatic day when you know baby will be arriving, it's one filled with anxiety, excitement and a little drama.

Not saying the name

What's in a name? Whilst it's just a word that represents someone, it was something that took careful deliberation, thought and creativity. It mattered to us like I'm sure how it matters greatly to all parents. It needed to feel like part of the family already, it needed to feel familiar and at the same time, it needed to feel unique and a name you'd be proud of all at once.

And once we confirmed our choice of a name, something odd happened. I held off sharing it and didn't even use it even in private. Keeping it a surprise from family and friends was not the primary reason. I even refrained from using the name in writing or in talking with my wife.

Why? Because my deepest fear was that our child wouldn't make the journey to meet us. What is just a name, is a word that connects us from this world to his world in the womb was one that could easily turn from love... to heartbreak. I know that we've been fairly fortunate without much complication, but a part of me didn't want to assume that.

The Adventure Begins

Welcome to our adventure as a family Logan.

And just like that... standing together on a Saturday morning and the breakfast menu is still being served at McDonalds, we had a newborn in hand and the sun was shining bright outside. We almost didn't know what to make of it! Being parents the second time around does come with a sense of familiarity around the whole situation and thus comes the confidence to know we've got this.

Lucy was an absolute champion and the best mother you could wish for, she cared for our newborn with confidence and grace. This meant that I had the space to then to ensure our home was ready to welcome our newest member of the family into the space. It also meant that I had the ability to spend time with Leon and then bring him his newest brother Logan.

The moment that felt like it's all come together, was the very special moment that we were all together as a family unit. The four of us in the same space on earth. I didn't know what to expect but the first moment was perfect and I wouldn't have had it any other way. The smiles, the laughter, the playing around the room and introductions between my two sons made my heart melt a thousand times over. I'll remember a lot about this time but most of all I'll remember how this time marked our adventure beginning as our family of four.