Leo Eve

By K.J. Cardinal

The wait has been somewhat unbearable, but Leo Eve has finally arrived. Angie is scheduled to get induced tomorrow!

I can't entirely explain all the thoughts and emotions that have come over me in the last few hours, but I may always refer to June 27 as Leo Eve because it's the night before the most highly anticipated moment of my life. My son will be born tomorrow.

Just typing that brings tears to my eyes. And, while I try to keep things light on this blog, I can't help myself tonight. Let me say that again, my son will be born tomorrow.

Leo. Michael. Cardinal. Three of the most important words that Angie and I have ever uttered. [Pass the Kleenex, please, this is gonna get messy]

Some people have dreamed their entire lives of being rich or traveling the world or winning the lottery. Not me. I have always wanted to have a son. I have always felt this unspoken pressure that I've put upon myself to have a boy. To carry on the Cardinal name. More importantly, to carry on the Leo Cardinal name.

A father-son bond is something that I cherish and take more serious than anyone I know. And now having the chance to have a son, carry on the family name and honor my grandfather in the process is simply amazing.

In the midst of this blog post, I had to call my dad. I was a blubbering mess, but I just had to call him. I can't even get into it now because I'll flood our newly finished basement with my tears, but I just love and respect that guy more than I ever thought was humanly possible.

Anyway, the fact that we KNOW Angie is getting induced tomorrow ratchets up the anticipation about 200 notches too.

The birth of Anna was something I'll never forget. An absolutely beautiful (and shocking) "first" in my life. But, prior to her birth, we had no idea when she was coming. It was a surprise. I never had to try to go to sleep at night knowing the next day that I'd be a Dad.

What a difference in emotions, experiences and feelings. I'm like a kid on Christmas Eve, or in this case, Leo Eve, with the world's greatest present awaiting.

My son will be born tomorrow.