We first found out about the pregnancy the way I'm sure most couples do nowadays. A few days after a missed period, Michelle picked up a home pregnancy test from Target while we were there seeing about a raincheck on some shelves.

Moments after taking the test, it indicated a strong, clear positive. All I could muster as Michelle showed me the test results, was a few short syllables, a huge smile, and several bouts of uncontrolled giggling. It wasn't like we had really been trying for a kid, but we hadn't exactly been doing anything to prevent it either.

The day after taking the test, Michelle called the doctor and set up an appointment. The results of the home test were good enough for them, so our first scheduled appointment was set for late in the tenth week. Until then, we were on our own.

The reality of the situation didn't really begin to settle in until a week or two later when Michelle began to get a bit queasy. Constant car sickness, as she described it, regardless of when or where. As the physical manifestations began to appear, we also began discussing who to tell and when.

Obviously, we let our parents know within a few days of finding out ourselves. As we shared the news with family members and several close friends, the pregnancy slowly became more and more tangible. Soon, we were reading up on pregnancy, comparing symptoms with those in the books, and trying to figure out what to expect next.

As we've been enjoying a text book first trimester, today quickly rushed forward. We got up early, had a healthy breakfast at the local donut shop, and made our way over to the doctor's office.

I've never been inside an gynecologist's office before, so as I walked through the door, I was a bit anxious about what to expect. I had read a lot of stories of husbands attending every appointment with their wives, so I figured there would be at least a few men tagging along.

I did briefly see one other father tending to his older child in the waiting room while his wife was in the examination room. But otherwise, I was alone in a sea of pregnant women. The nurses and the doctor were both quite pleasant, and it quickly became apparent that they were used to fathers attending exams. As we progressed through a typical exam, I sat off to the side and just quietly observed. Then, as the doctor adjusted the ultrasound equipment, I moved over beside Michelle and got a front row seat.

What was once just a theoretical being causing Michelle occasional discomfort suddenly became real. I've been watching her go through all the symptoms, but seeing the little critter wiggle around on screen as it waved its arms and legs finally made it tangible for me.

Everything checked out just fine and it looks like we're set up for a normal healthy pregnancy. The official due date, January 30, 2001.