As some have guessed.

And our dear friends and neighbors and family already know.

And Winnie I think knows, as he now settles in a ball at Kelsey’s feet, always.

…

We’re pregnant.

Mostly Kelsey, as I like to say/acknowledge/dad joke.

I felt our little one move in momma’s belly for the first time on my first father’s day, in Kansas City, while we were with Kelsey’s family and road tripping out to Indy, where we’re moving, just a week or so ago.

The first trimester was rough. I did all I could to support, of course, and though Kelsey and I have been through so much I had no idea how rough the nausea and all was. It is not “morning” sickness. It’s all day sickness, and all night. For months.

Wow. Mom.

Raised by a single mom, I continue to be in awe of moms.

I’ve looked forward to and wanted to be a father for many years, if not most of my life. I love children, and parenting, and learned so much in summer camps and in leadership and in childcare situations in the big group communities I grew up in, in the Buddhist community. And now I will learn so much more. Advice always welcome!

I have long argued that having children, in this day and age when we are burning up our planet, can be a good or bad thing, depending on the parenting. From a Buddhist point of view, if we can raise caring, kind, responsible children, it could be vital. We need care-ers, folks brave and open and vulnerable and fun to inherit this earth. So that will be our task, our duty, our honor. To raise a child who loves this earth, just as my mom taught me to (don’t hit the tree with a branch, don’t step on ants, support good businesses, boycott bad ones, walk and bike first, avoid plastic…so much of this came from my caring, fun, sweet, politically-active mom).

I am honored and in love and in friendship and in communication bond with my dear wife, and I am happy, and endlessly intimidated, but also feel good and caring, to get to travel this new path with her.

We have a long list of favorite names—beautiful names with meaning, names of folks who’ve contributed to society and this dear planet of ours. Names with good nicknames, and some nobility to them.

Kelsey, I love you.

Leo, we love you.

Baby, we love you.

Family, thank you and love.

Community, thank you.

Sangha, thank you.

Best friends—thank you and love.

Here we go! I can’t wait to meet you! You will be born into a caring, fortuitous situation, and may we be of benefit, and may you be of benefit to this wild world in need of…love!

~ Way

 

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From Kelsey:

Nearly 6 years of raising my beautiful lion cub
Now a new life grows in the home of the my womb
A little chickadee testing kicks and wiggles
Hums and hiccups
Tears come to my eyes in feeling you
You are as close as you’ll ever be
Yet I still miss holding you
A future I yearn for
Five and a half moons from now

Last week you fit in my palm
Now you wiggle your way right and left
Up and down
From heart to base of nest

Conceived under the lunar eclipse ‘fore equinox
Called Earthside under the super moon ‘fore Yule
I’m called deeper into you and us
As we move together toward fertile darkness
A light, together, in deep solstice

I am your Mother
Initiated as so
You are my child
A soul-being to Leo
The first Love of your Father
A life chosen into a matrilineage of strength and devotion
We will call you by name when we feel the milky newness of you born anew into my arms
My body is home to you
No matter where you wander in the big world
No matter where receives you or humbles you or guides you
I will always be Mama
I will always be
Right here.