Jackson D. Bohne

It's now day 4 of having a new little stranger in my life.

Here are the facts:

72 hours of crying, pooping, peeing and fussy faces.

15 poopy diapers, coming from a 7 lb 10 oz, 20" long baby boy.

10 hours of naps NOT SLEEPING, just quick naps,

2 new happy parents,

and 1 unforgettable adventure.

Of course I am aware that this baby stuff was going to be a challenge. Everyone informed me, whether I asked or not. People kept saying, "your world will change" or "you'll be tired, so sleep when the baby sleeps" Ha! I'm not fully convinced of that last one. It's honestly EVERY 2 hours people! He's either sleeping crying or eating. Mostly screaming. If he is up crying or just fussy even after you feed him, how the crap are you supposed to sleep?! Huh!?

Answer that one www.whattoexpect.com!

I'm not all that bitter, just tired. Dead tired. It's feeling-like-a-zombie-tired, unaware-of-time-and-surroundings-tired. It's a process to go from my routine (wake up 7am, work, eat, hang out and bed by 11pm) to his constant roller coaster of awake/asleep awake/asleep awake/asleep, etc. I mean let's face it, I'm jealous of his routine.

In order for this to work, I have to conform to his new lifestyle outside the womb. I'm taking it one day at a time. As with all difficult moments in life, this too shall pass...I hope.

My purpose of this post is to not only SHOW off my little man, but to inform you all, of that day of days. October 14th. But like all great births, this one took place starting the day before; the 13th.

I got home from work that night, excited to watch the 1st season of Modern Family with Amy and my mother-in-law. Gwen, had made lasagna for dinner. It was delicious by the way. We sat around after eating and Amy had been feeling pain most of that day; contractions. That morning she had seen the doctor and he even said that he wouldn't be surprised if the baby was born that day. Ha! Foreshadowing. Ya gotta love it.

Amy started feeling more and more pain. So, we began to time each one. After 2 episodes of Modern Family and about 45 min of timing the contractions, they kept getting closer and closer.

Gwen, bless her heart, started rushing around the house saying "oh she is definitely going into labor, I can feel it." We packed up, with high hopes he would be born soon, but also a hesitant feeling that it might not be so.

We got to the hospital, parked and was taken to the delivery room. Then began the long process of question after question and paper work as the nurse asked Amy, who was in serious agony. I'll spare my wife's discomfort and fast forward through the next 10 hours of labor. By the way, I speak for Amy when I give a shout out to all expecting mom's- GET AN EPIDURAL!

The doctor moved fast along with many others who now entered the room. I was right by the side of the bed ready to cheer on and encourage my wife. The doc said, "OK Amy, I need you to get really pissed off at something and use that anger to push".

Less than 2 minutes later, Jackson was born.

At first, I was in awe of how big he was. I couldn't believe it was a person. I was smiling and laughing like a goof. But I felt an over whelming feeling of -this is bigger than life- that I'd just so happen to be in the right place, at the right time, with the right people. I love my child.

Yes, I was scared and worried to meet this new person. I was looking at someone who had been around for nearly a year but had never seen eye to eye.

This year has been the most challenging and rewarding.

As a new father I am learning about the importance of providing. Being the provider. This is a principle I am becoming familiar with. I have been blessed to know in my heart that God is the ultimate provider. He provides for His children. He really is the Father to my soul. Late one night, I felt the peace of the Lord assure me that Jackson is a gift from God. I must never forget that.

The Spirit of Inquiry

After work today, I was downstairs trying to run off the chub on my sides that my wife finds irresistible. While sweating while reading about pistons and the functions of a carburetor, (studying for ASVAB) I engaged in a conversation with a co-worker.

Even though most of the spoken word was basic cave-man talk . i.e. "I hear ya bro", or "yeah man". We discovered we had understanding for one another, especially in regards to life's choices. In the spirit of inquiry he asked me about what I'm "up to, dude?"

I took the time to tell him the choices that I had made since I'd been home from my mission. If you are at all familiar with the typical LDS life, then you would know that most guys who serve missions usually state that the time after their missions is the time of decision. While this is true, that doesn't always mean that 21 year old know what's best for them 100% of the time. We're human. Imperfections are inevitable.

Progression is brought by choice. I do believe that we can and do grow living what we've been taught. When we choose to listen to those who have lived longer, we are presented with their illustrations and prescriptions on the "do's and don'ts". Taking time to weigh the pros and cons will give us lists of possibilities.

The hardest choices in life are not good vs evil. I strongly feel that the most difficult are the choices between good vs good. It's when we are becoming more and more independent and we are discovering our own personal agency, or story, or destiny. I think we all have a basic idea of what we want in life, but sometimes we just want more or sometimes we want something different because of how we feel on that day. -perfect example: Amy sees a cute little boy named Hendrix come into her work and suddenly she wants to name our 1st child Hendrix. -

As we all decide whether to eat Italian or Chinese tonight, deep down inside all humans have a desire to become someone important. I'm talkin' the BIG CHEESE. We want to feel important to someone else. We all want to be valuable. To become that character; is life's greatest challenge.

I am slowly learning that I am becoming this valuable character as I get involved in my surroundings. When I choose to live up to learning what's around me, who's around me and where the hell I am, I am a soldier in the front lines facing the unwritten story. My story.

I wanted to say this to my co-worker, and maybe I will when I see him again. I am so glad that he inquired how my life is. The Human Race thrives on the spirit of inquiry, which is the direction of what I was hoping to go with this rant, but that will be another time...

Choosing a name for our future son.

Sometime in April, I was able to hear the heart beat from a our baby within my wife, Amy. For the first time in the pregnancy process(which feels like it's going on literally forever) I honestly felt a connection to the unseen. That day, I couldn't have been happier. It was a miracle to be able to listen to the small pitter-patter of someone I haven't met.
In mid June of this year, Amy and I sat in what appeared to be a small library with a hospital bed. This was to be the location of where i would see on a 19" television screen my son. That ultra sound machine was massive. So many buttons and gadgets that even I wouldn't know what to do with. I couldn't stop looking at the monitor. That day, I couldn't have been happier.
So, now comes the challenge of naming our future son. A little bit about him. He likes to kick a lot at midnight. He sucks his thumb or hand, and usually stops kicking after i touch Amy's basketball-belly.
Amy and I have spent hours looking up names, writting down possibiliites, and finding out every pro and con to each name we like. We've narrowed it down to 5...maybe 6 names that we both really like. But it's now up to you, the people that took time to read this blog, to vote on your favorite. Aslo, feel free to suggest other names that you have always liked. i.e. Theodore, Ashton, Kensington, Bradford, or Skeletore
Keep in mind that our last name is Bohne.-(bon-knee)

Thank you for reading, and most of all, thank you for being a part of our lives.

-Dom