Tom’s reaction to baby R

On the same morning when I did the home pregnancy test, I got an email from him, stating that we should talk at least once a day (because we didn’t talk the previous night). So I said ok, in fact, I have something I need to tell him, but not over email, so we can talk later that evening. I said it will affect both of us. And email doesn’t seem to be appropriate for this case.

His reply back to me was to tell him now. But I was in a conference, so I said I would call him at my next break.

At the next break, I called him and said “Are you ready for the news?”

And he said yes. I asked if he is sitting down. He said he is actually on his way out to lunch with his colleague and said “I think I know what you are going to say.”

I said, “Then tell me!” but he wouldn’t say anything.

I then said, “I think I am pregnant.”

He chuckled and said, “That is what I thought”.

I said, “How do you know?”

He said, “I just know, from the way you pre-stated the news.” After a pause, “Wow, that is big news.” Then he had to leave.

Later in the evening, after work, he called me.

First thing he said, “OMG, OMG, OMG!!!”

I said, “Yes.”

He said, “How do you know?”

I said, “I am two weeks late, so I figure taking the test just set peace for me, as I am normally irregular anyway. But I did it twice and both results came back positive.”

Then here come the list of questions and the comments:

• Wow, how old do you think it is?
• Do you know when it was conceived?
• Do you know if it is a girl or a boy?
• How long are you going to be off from work?
• OMG, OMG, OMG
• You know the kid is going to be 15 when I am 65.
• Wow, I still have it, I am not shooting blank.
• When would you know if it is a boy or a girl?
• If it is a boy, that means the name “Rudenko” will carry on.
• If it is a boy, I am naming him Tommy Rude Jr. (Tommy Rude was his name when he was in the band)
• If it is a girl, she is taking my mom’s name. Just kidding.
• When are you getting that Phillipino nanny you told me about? Oh, we need all the help we can get.
• How do we handle the 3-hour feeding and the diaper change?
• No diaper change for me, ok, maybe just once so I can claim I have done it.
• OMG, OMG, OMG
• If it is a boy, I can play ball with him, take him fishing, teach him piano. You know I am very athletic when I was young.
• Hmm, I better get in shape to play with the kid.

This goes on for a while. I would say the guy is in shock.

The next morning he called again, first thing out of him is “OMG, OMG, OMG!!!”

So that is his reaction.