Another Glorious Mouth to Feed….

Over the past Thanksgiving holiday, we tried to see as many members of our family as we could to share some BIG news!

Apparently, my wife and I (mostly my wife) are pregnant with our third child – affectionately known as Junior Constantino or Junior “C” for short [see ultrasound photo insert taken at week 9].

As of today, 11/29/2012, the baby is 11 weeks old with a due date of June 19th, 2012. My wife and I are absolutely THRILLED at the prospect of re-parenting.

Ironically, one of our favorite shows happens to be the NBC comedy-drama Parenthood where one of the main couples (Adam and Kristina Braverman) happen to be in their early 40′s with two older kids who recently had a baby.

Hmmm…sounds familiar – I mean, talk about life mimicking art!

Personally, the timing couldn’t be better because I was starting to run out of things to blog about – now I’ve got a windfall of prenatal blog fodder that’s ripe and ready for sharing. Everything from the wonder of “morning sickness” to a baby’s lanugo is fair game.

In all seriousness, we’ve been trying for quite sometime and we’re ecstatic about the pending addition to our lives. We’re truly looking forward to experiencing all of this baby’s developmental milestones again, while sharing them with our daughters. It truly is a blessing and reminds me of a scripture from Psalm 127:3

“Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him.”

I couldn’t have said it better…

Question: At this moment are you closer to your child leaving the womb or your child leaving home? How does that make you feel? Any advice you’d offer?

http://profiles.google.com/andilit Andrea Cumbo

Congratulations, Tor and Tor’s wife !! What great news!!!
- TorConstantino
  
  Hey Andi, thanks for the kind words and comment! We are completely stoked over this news!!
http://www.alise-write.com Alise Wright

Congratulations! Here’s to an easy pregnancy, a complication-free birth and a healthy new Constantino!
- TorConstantino
  
  Thanks Alise! I echo your sentiment re: an easy pregnancy and birth. Thus far my wife (Kim) has had the worst morning sickness of all three kids. According to the doc, she’ll be turning the nausea corner this week….
http://shipboundfortarshish.wordpress.com Bonnie Anderson

Congratulations to you both and your daughters, too. What fun you have ahead with #3 and I look forward to hearing about her in your blog. We are closer to having the last one leave home. He lives in our converted garage and is contemplating going back to school so we cannot project our due date like you can, but we love having him out there.
- TorConstantino
  
  Bonnie, thanks for sharing. Even though our oldest is only 10 years old, she keeps crossing maturity bridges – over which, she can’t go back.
  
  That makes me a little sad, but I expect that to change over time as I watch her grow into a strong, smart, thoughtful woman.
  
  Regardless we’re conveying to our girls that this is a “team” event in which we all have a stake and role! Thanks again for the kind words.
http://www.adjuvancy.com/wordpress Roy A. Ackerman, Ph.D., E.A.

Mazal Tov, Tor!
I understand the thrill, the love, AND the trepidation… my son arrived when I and my wife were north of 40- with four other children (then) ranging in age from 14 to 8…
May your wife’s pregnancy be easy…
- TorConstantino
  
  Thanks Roy – that’s why Kim didn’t have any wine when we had dinner at your place about a month back.
  
  Wow, I didn’t realize that you had an 8-year spread between your youngest and the next. We’ll definitely be tapping you for some advice – who knows this might be a new consultancy revenue stream for you
http://twitter.com/Ironic_Mom Leanne Shirtliffe

Congratulations! What fab news. Love those ultrasounds…

Advice? Nah… I have none…
- TorConstantino
  
  Thanks Leanne! Yeah, the resolution on those ultrasound images is on par with an etch-a-sketch. We’re hoping for a late-term 3D scan in February – that would rock! Perhaps that would justify me buying a 60″ 3D flat screen TV
http://www.robshep.com Rob Shepherd

Congrats! That’s awesome! My kids are 8 months old so we are just figuring this thing out. I will tell you that if it’s a boy make sure that you purchase a wipe warmer. It helps them not to pee on your face on a weekly basis. Although that would provide the blogging material you were looking for.
- TorConstantino
  
  Rob, we were sure to have the doctor check for two heart beats – twins run in Kim’s family. That would have been a handful but a blessing nonetheless. Regardless, we’re having a singlet. Thanks for the wipe tip!
http://bit.ly/hWr7Cw Rob T

Congratulations!!! Such great news. We watch that show too. Just don’t hire an attractive receptionist…
- TorConstantino
  
  Duly noted RT, we also avoid mysterious art instructors and attractive autism teachers as well….
Michelle Woodman

Congratulations! My husband and I have yet to have children (and I’ll soon be 40), so this gives me joy *and* hope. Thanks for that.
- TorConstantino
  
  Awesome Michelle! My wife’s OB told her about a woman in that practice who was in her early 50′s when she delivered her first. Thanks for the kind words!
http://randomlychad.com Chad Jones

Congratulations, Tor! What exciting news!
- TorConstantino
  
  Thanks Chad, it truly is exciting my man!
Laura

Hey Tor. That is fantastic. Many, MANY congrats to you and your growing family! I am SO excited for you guys! Are y’all going to find out the sex of little Junior, or are you going to be suprised?? Just curious. If you’re finding out, I’ll officially be stalking your blog in about 6-8 weeks as the anticipation builds. haha

In reference to your question, at this moment – I’m closer to the womb, but none in there! I have three kids – ages 3, 6, and 9. They are immense blessings in ways I cannot even put into words. As I watch them grow up, and they get bigger, and time flies – part of me is sad just because they will only be little for so long…but, the rest of me is insanely proud to be a parent to these little miracles. As far as any advice goes – I know your kids are older and understand more, but always always always make time for them too. Let them know how amazing they are, and how you value them and their help.
- TorConstantino
  
  Thanks Laura, we definitely will find out the gender as soon as possible – I’m too much of a control freak to NOT want to find out….
http://perichoreticlife.blogspot.com/ Michael

Congratulations, Tor! I’m sure you will be “pregnant” with new things to write very soon.

I myself am closer to sending my first to college, though my wife and I would love to have another child if God should bless us.
- TorConstantino
  
  Great comment Michael! I think my excitement over a new baby is due to my expectancy of re-experiencing life milestones again through their eyes….
http://twitter.com/JohnJeremyVines John Vines

Congrats!
- TorConstantino
  
  Thanks John!
Tabak28

Wonderful news, Tor! Congratulations to you and the family. Can’t wait to read more posts about Junior C
- TorConstantino
  
  Ilana,
  Thanks for the kind words – it’s great to hear from you! Please drop me a line and let me know how things are going for you – here’s my personal email, torconbooks@gmail.com.
Anonymous

Congratulates!!! I have found myself being closer to my child since his birth 10 days ago. My wife feels the same way.
http://www.esauproject.com Julie Shreve

So happy for you guys, Tor! I don’t have kids and am not close to having kids, so I have no advice. Sorry, man!