Single fathers the newest version of the modern family?

Its amazing to me how many doors have opened since I started this quest.

ABC News' Nightline producers have been in contact with me to discuss being included in their Modern Family series which puts the spotlight on the different shapes American families are taking in the modern era. I really didn't think of myself as being in an unusual class of people or expectant parents, but I guess I am.   They are interested in doing a spot on single men (gay or straight) who have decided to have children without a significant other.  Its not like I intend on being single forever, but deciding to do this on my own seemed a bit easier with the mentors I have mentioned previously coming across my path.   I really didn't give the fact that I happened to be single right now a second thought.  

The producer from Nightline asked me why I was doing this on my own, and the first part of my answer was that I have always wanted to be a young dad (even when i was a kid myself I knew I wanted to have children), and obviously since that didn't happen, I have been extremely conscious of my own clock ticking -- meaning that I am keenly aware that despite feeling very young, I recognize the logistical realities - I am already going to be in my early sixties by the time my kiddos graduate from high school, and I want to be able to enjoy them and travel with them when they are young adults.   

The ABC producer told me that to a person, every guy (gay or straight) said something along the same lines in response to that question.   The thought that there is a group of single guys out there who all had the same desire to be fathers and to do it despite the hurdles was pretty amazing and very heart-warming.   

It will be interesting to see where this process goes....:-)

Two Heartbeats

About a week and a half ago at the 7 week ultrasound, the radiologist saw "something" on the second baby  "which may or may not be anything."  A clot?  The beginning of the end for the second twin?  I chose to ignore the speculation of bad news until confirmed, and instead, focused on the confirmed good news -- both twins had strong heart beats.   


Sure enough, as of the 8 week ultrasound last week, both twins are doing incredibly well, and whatever was showing up on the ultrasound the week before is now gone.  


With things going so well, I jumped into some reality -- some of it fun and some of it morbid.  Life insurance, guardian appointment, will and trust are underway and nearly finished.  I never thought about my own mortality as much as I have knowing that I will soon be a single father with no partner (at least for now) ready and willing to take up the parenting duties if something should happen to me.  


I also never thought I would get such a rush from shopping for baby clothes, looking for strollers or mobiles!   The cutest baby clothes are at Janie and Jack, and I admit I've already gone a little crazy there.  


To be honest, I'm still in surrealzone -- so bizarre and crazy to think that I will have a son and a daughter in seven months, and how ironic that I went to the U of Michigan and my children will come into this world as buckeyes -- I may have to do a sage rub in their room once I get them home from Ohio!  


Oh...and I'm picking out names.  The first names are done -- Ronan and Malena Hunter will be here before we know it, and their full names are going to have to be something out of the ordinary.