I think about starting a lot of blogs.  And they never really take off.  Case in point: "Dr. Travis Loses Weight"  Yeah, I didn't make it on that marathon. I didn't get very far in the prep work either.  But times, they are a-changin'.  
Many of you may know, and for those who don't, you may want to sit down for this, I am 30 years old.  It is a hard one to stomach, trust me, I know.  In my first 30 years, I have been focused mostly on education (for 22 of those 30 years) and getting me to a place that I am comfortable.  In the process, I have met and married the love of my life, Chad.  He is a fantastic man. We have been together for over 5 years.  We have traveled the country and navigated the nightmare of post-secondary education together.  Now that we are settled in California, and now that we have amassed enough animals to fill a small-to-medium petting zoo (two dogs and two cats), we decided that perhaps these were signs of our nesting nature coming out.  Someone decided, long, long ago, that "first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the baby in the baby carriage."  If you would have asked me even 3 years ago about that baby, I would have laughed and told you that it wasn't going to happen for a LONG time.  I was always able to make excuses.  I had to get an education, I needed to get a stable job, I needed to have like 10 years savings in the bank before I could begin to consider a child.  Yeah, then the 30s hit.  And Chad hit (not me, I promise he never hits me).
I think that we are very fortunate in that we cannot just get "knocked up" and wind up on a show like 16 and Pregnant.  I think it allows us to be incredibly deliberate about the baby making process.  And, it doesn't have to involve special ovulation calendars, pills, rhythms, and egg timers (I don't know, I saw it on an episode of Roseanne.)  We can deliberately plan, perhaps more than most straight couples, just when we should have a baby.  I am glad for that. I am definitely someone who prides himself on having it all figured out. I can organize and plan like a crazy man.  Now, I am not delusional. I know that once the baby arrives, there is absolutely no way to be as anal about timing and structure as I want to be.  But, you know, I am okay with that.  Everyone has to give up something from time to time.  
So, we are beginning our journey to fatherhood.  We have been in talks for quite awhile.  It has been a decision that has been on our minds for a long time and it is now coming to a point where we cannot deny it any longer.  We want a child.  I have the baby fever like crazy.  
At the end of this month, we are going to officially begin the process with an agency in Los Angeles - The Independent Adoption Center.  We are going to participate in their "weekend intensive" program. I am not sure what all is involved, but I am praying to little baby Jesus that it does not involve a physical boot camp at 5 am with some buff trainer screaming to stop making a mountain with my butt and get my nose to the ground.  Certainly that would not be part of the process, right? 
Essentially, we pay a boatload o' money and make ourselves as marketable to birthmothers as humanly possible.  Basically, we will be swathing on the foundation and the hair gel and dust off our finest digs and pose in a million uncomfortable positions for pictures and perhaps "borrow" some neighbor children for candid shots, in hopes of impressing someone enough to say, "hey, come get my baby."  Or, we can be ourselves and breathe, and know that the right woman is out there, and she is preparing her heart and waiting to see our faces and know that we are the ones that she can trust.  Honestly, I am going for the second option.  
I wanted to create this blog because this is a really BIG deal for us.  Its a big deal for any couple to decide to procreate and bring a child into this world (and then inevitably in about 10 or so years threaten to take that same child out of this world).  Those of you who read this are our friends and our family.  As with any couple, child raising is not done independently.  It takes a lot of hands and hearts.  We need your support and your encouragement.  I have always known that writing is a huge way I express myself.  I can be bold and share my thoughts and feelings using the power of a pen (or a keyboard).  I want you all to be part of our journey.  
I want this blog to be humorous, real, and authentic.  I hope you enjoy this blog. I invite you to comment and share your pearls of wisdom (especially all of the parents out there).  
I am going to post as much as I can to keep the journey alive. Who knows, when the baby is crying at all hours of the night, it may be the time a post hits the interwebs.  I am sure my own mother will secretly revel in my sleepless nights after she suffered through nearly a year and a half of colic.  Payback is a bitch I guess.  


Travis