FATHER ’ S DAY
“ I started thinking about Christmas , playing Santa Claus , learning how to hold a baby again , changing diapers , feedings , lack of sleep ; it was kinda intimidating . But it was also like riding a bike again : you knew how to do it and you knew you were going to be able to do it . But you just didn ’ t want to just jump in there at full go ; you wanted to be cautious .”
John Douglass
sonogram .
Because of Angie ’ s age and medical issues , they made an appointment with a specialist in Jackson ; the appointment was three weeks after the ultrasound . The couple decided not to tell anyone about the pregnancy until they received results from the specialist . The report was good .
You ’ re what ???
On the way home from the appointment with the specialist , John and Angie decided to call their children to tell them the news . Both were happy , however their daughter Reagan did have a few questions .
“ Our daughter literally asked us if we were insane ,” John said , laughing . “ Then she asked , ‘ Do you realize how old you are ?’”
John said both their parents were shocked , then ecstatic , then excited about the news of becoming grandparents again .
The news stunned many of their friends upon hearing , but they immediately began to shower the couple with love and support .
“ It blew their minds at first … There were a lot of ‘ Oh , my gosh !’,” John said . “ But then everybody was like , ‘ This is really cool having a another baby in the group , another baby in the family !’”
Reality kicks in
After the shock of the pregnancy , good report from the specialist and positive responses from family and friends wore off , reality started to kick in .
“ I started thinking about Christmas , playing Santa Claus , learning how to hold a baby again , changing diapers , feedings , lack of sleep ; it was kinda intimidating ,” John said . “ But it was also like riding a bike again : you knew how to do it and you knew you were going to be able to do it . But you just didn ’ t want to just jump in there at full go , you wanted to be cautious .”
The couple had given away all of their baby furniture ( i . e . baby bed , carrier , changing table , high chair , etc .) But family and friends made sure they had everything they needed — including a few modern gadgets .
“ From making bottles and formula , the technology makes it so much easier . For instance , they have what I call a Baby Keurig to make the bottles . It ’ s a little machine that you put the formula and water in , stick the bottle under there , push a button and it makes the bottle for you like a cup of coffee ,” John said . “ We have a bassinet that swings back and forth , things that go up and down . But there ’ s still things that haven ’ t changed . You ’ ve still got to change the diaper , feed him , burp him , put him to sleep .”
Parenting was another consideration . Not only are John and Angie older , times have changed since rearing their older children .
“ I used to say , ‘ I ’ m not growing up in this day and time with my kids ,’” John said . “ I was thankful I ’ d gotten my kids not completely ‘ grown and gone ,’ but fairly well-rounded young adults doing their things . But with all the social media and ‘ When do they get a cell phone ?’ ‘ When do you introduce them to Facebook ?’ That ’ s something we ’ re just going to have to figure out as we go along .
“ I ’ m sure it ’ ll be a learning curve for us , but you have to do what you have to do ,” John said . “ It ’ s our responsibility to raise him in a way that he ’ s productive , responsible , accountable for what he does . We ’ re going to do everything in our power to make sure he ’ s taught those lessons in the right way .”
March 16 , 2022
Ironically , everything with the pregnancy centered around the number 3 . True to form , Jake Burns Douglass arrived March 16 — three weeks early — at 8.8 pounds and 20 1 / 2 inches . Mom is doing great and Dad couldn ’ t be prouder .
“ It ’ s been really great … Some sleepless nights or nights when you don ’ t get as much sleep as you would like , but we couldn ’ t be happier ,” John said . “ We ’ re trying to get him on some type of sleep schedule ; we ’ ll work it out .”
Submitted photo Big brother and sister Walker and Reagan Douglass proudly show off their sibling shirts . www . meridianstar . com
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