Friends...Not the TV Show

So, some time ago I wrote a post that I titled "It Takes a Village." In the post I talked about both of my sisters.

Kaitlyn, who is going off to Alabama in August for school, and Karissa, who lives in DC with her family and is soon moving to Chicago. I talked about how grateful I am for technology because it allows them to still play a crucial role in the development of our little baby.

What I failed to mention was how important of a role all of our friends will play and how grateful I am for EVERY friendship that I have and how I know that each of them have molded me into the type of parent I will be--mostly good, I think. :)

This video, by The Flight of the Conchords, describes friendship perfectly. In fact, it's because of one of my very best friends, Mr. William Tyson Camp, that I even started listening to the Flight of the Conchords. See, an impact already. Well done, Tyson. (I could go on about Tyson for hours, because I love him. But I don't want to inflate his ego).

The truth is, if my child can have friends like Annie and I have then they will be just fine. If my child can surround him/herself with the type of people that I have in my life, then I know they will be just fine.

This last week has been great. I've had the chance to catch up with a couple of my best friends who live outside of Utah (Devin and Beetle). Each of them have had a major impact on me. They each have two children and, even though it's been from a distance, I've learned so much from them and I know that they will be vital in my child's life.

Tonight, I got a call from another friend, Logan. I haven't talked to him forever, but we chatted like we talk all the time. It's nice to have that type of consistent friendship.

I had lunch with my friend Shawn today. I haven't had the chance to chat with him in years, and we picked up right where we left off.

Marie Josephson Stott has been a friend of mine forever and it's been so cool to now call her girls some of my best friends.

The list goes on and on and on. So many great people.

I run into and briefly talk with so many friends from the past that continue to be friends today and that's a really neat thing.

The last three years have given me the opportunity to develop friendships with some very neat women--the women of the Americas Events Team cubicle space--or work, as I call it. They have impacted my life so much and I'm extremely grateful for everything I've learned from them. I truly believe I will be a better parent because of my association with them and I truly believe that my child will be impacted by their friendship as well. It's nice to have co-workers that you know will continue to be great friends and will be involved in your life even if the co-worker label is lifted.

Even as work friends have moved on with their lives and their beautiful families (Mrs. Crowther and the gang) it's been so cool to have that friendship last. It's been incredible to see what our friends have done for us and our baby. Blankets, bath toys, gift cards...all so very much appreciated.

And to think, I didn't even know some of my closest friends a few years ago.

Annie's work friends have been wonderful as well. In fact, tonight, Annie made cupcakes and I asked her why she made those. And, of course, she said they were having a party at work. They have parties at the Pleasant Grove Zions Bank non-stop. But I know that Annie appreciates those friendships and I know that she wants her friends from work to be around even if the co-worker label is lifted. And that's a pretty neat thing.

I am excited for all of our friends to meet a new Flanagan friend. I'm excited for The News to meet so many wonderful people.

I should probably get The News a Facebook page right away...

Annie and the Crimedog

I remember the trade like it was yesterday.

The year was 1993 and the Atlanta Braves traded away two prospects and a second-year player to the San Diego Padres for Fred McGriff--or as he would come to be known The Crimedog.

Aside from both of us being left-handed and both of us playing first base for our respective Braves teams, McGriff and I had nothing in common. I lived in Utah--a state I'm not sure he's been to even now--and he was in the midst of a great MLB career.

But Fred instantly became my hero. I patterned my playing style after his. I wore his number (#27) and I after he left the Braves and changed numbers (#29), I followed suit and changed my number (it should be noted that Fred only wore #27 with the Braves because a certain John Smoltz wore #29 in Atlanta and Fred wasn't about to take that, but Fred wore #29 with every other team he played for in his career).

To this day, I consider Fred McGriff my baseball hero. In fact, I've often said that if I could meet any professional athlete, living or dead, I would still choose Fred McGriff.

But Fred's status as my hero has dimmed. My respect for my parents has been documented and they are clearly heroes of mine. My documentation (both written and mentally) of many of my friends as parents has made them heroes in my eyes. My sisters are heroes of mine. My in-laws are heroes of mine.

And all of them have gradually moved Fred further down the list.

While I've always considered Annie a hero of sorts, it's been these last 38 weeks that I've realized just what type of hero she is.

It's when I wrap her swollen feet with ice packs and help her elevate her feet that I realize that she's my ultimate hero. It's when I see her grimace because The News just Bruce Lee'd her in the ribs, and then I watch her smile as she realizes that The News just Bruce Lee'd her in the ribs, that I realize she's my ultimate hero.

It's when I know she wants nothing more than to lay on her stomach but she lays on her side for the 38th consecutive week that I realize she's my ultimate hero.

It's lately, when the beginnings of contractions wake her up early in the morning, that I realize she's my ultimate hero.

No one makes more of a sacrifice than mothers. No one experiences more discomfort and just down right crudiness than mothers.

I know Annie would do this pregnancy for 9 years if she had to--and that's a real hero.

Someday, our baby will have a hero of its own. It may be an athlete, an actor, a musician, or even its dad.

But there will be a day later in its life when it realizes that its real hero is its mother. My goal is to help The News realize its real hero early in life.

I've seen Annie play one game of softball in her life--a coed disaster of a game several years ago. While she gave it a great effort, she would be the first to admit that when it comes to baseball, she's no Fred McGriff.

But when it comes to being my hero, Fred is no Annie.

38 Week Update

I can't believe that I just wrote that blog post title.

38 weeks down and just two weeks to go until the due date! We are so excited around our house and our families are stoked as well. This is certainly the most anticipated and exciting event I have ever been a part of in my life--and that's including the Braves winning the 1995 World Series, which I played a vital role in.

This picture shows what our baby may look like at this point and not a day goes by where I don't get to feel the baby move. We can feel so much movement and so much of the baby as it squirms around in its cozy, temporary home.

Lately I've been thinking a lot about all the things that are seemingly uncertain in my life.

What do I want to be when I "grow up"? How do I want to be remembered? What type of impact will I leave? Where will my career path lead my family and I?

So much uncertainty and it can be so overwhelming.

But in the midst of all the uncertainty comes a tiny assurance that everything is just fine. When drowning in uncertainty of the future, I feel the certain movements of my baby. I feel the certain life that we've created. I feel the certain, unconditional love for a human that I've never met as a physical father.

When the uncertainty drowns out opportunities and attitudes, there is a certain mini-Flan bringing me a certain joy.

While I don't know what the future holds and while I'm sure there will be much more uncertainty to follow.

I know this for certain: I will have my very own little family to stand next to me and face anything that comes our way.

If the time I get to spend with my baby after he/she is born is anything like the wonderful time I've been able to spend these first 38 weeks, then I will consider myself extremely blessed.

Dear You

Editors Note: My sister, Karissa, has been writing her girls letters on her blog since they were both newborns. I've always enjoyed reading what she writes to them. After the first two pregnancies we had, I started wondering about our child/children and started writing some letters in a series I called 'Letters to You.' 


Now that we are only four weeks away from the birth of our little baby, I wanted to start writing the letters again--only this time with a baby in my mind and no wondering. I hope I can be the type of parent Karissa and Brady are. 


Dear You,

It's five in the morning right now and I am sitting in your room. Something tells me that we'll be sharing a lot of these early morning moments in your room--and I've never looked forward to something more.

I'm scared right now. Not scared of you or scared of the responsibility of being a parent. It's a good scared. It's the kind of scared that causes reflection and causes one to be up early in the morning sitting next to a crib. It's the kind of scared that makes you smile. It's the kind of scared I have been waiting years for. It's the kind of scared I don't ever want to end.

I haven't had these type of scared feelings since the day I left for my LDS mission--only this mission, the one I am embarking on with your mom and you, is for a lot longer than two years. This mission has long-lasting affects on all of us. But these scared feelings are much stronger than those, and I suspect the payoff will be much greater.

There are so many people that are so excited to finally meet you. You've been a wanted person for a very long time. I can't wait to introduce you to all of your family and friends. I can't wait for you meet all the important people in our lives.

I hope you are a forgiving person. I hope you understand that Mom and I will be trying our very hardest to make sure you have everything you need. But I hope you are able to understand that we're learning too.  So, please don't be mad at me if the water or formula is too hot sometimes. Please don't be upset with me if I don't actually "get it all" when changing your diaper. Don't laugh when I put the diaper on backwards (ok, you can laugh at that, in fact, I prefer you laugh rather than cry). I apologize in advance for yanking your arm around trying to get it in those onsies. Don't hate me for bumping your head.

Of all the things that scare me about caring for you, cutting your finger and toe nails seem to be the most frightening, so please don't get too mad if I accidentally cut your tiny finger during that process.

I'm not trying to hurt you, I promise.

I think of how scared I am and it only makes me wonder how scared you might be. You have four weeks to go and then you will begin your journey. Your mom is so tough and she has been such a trooper--you owe her everything, please always remember that.

As if what I told you I'm going to mess up isn't scary enough, there's going to be a lot of things that scare you throughout your life. I promise that I will be there when those things scare you. No matter what, I will be there. There will probably be times when you don't want me to be there. You won't think I'm there, but I will be there.

If you are getting some last minute advice from the support group that I'm convinced God gives all new babies, listen closely. Earth life isn't the only place that has people that love you and want to help you. So, listen to anyone who may be preparing you for your new adventure in the next four weeks. I don't know how that might work, but I think it does, so listen.

We love you so much and we can't wait to meet you. In four short weeks, we all set out on a journey together. I hope it's the first of many things we do together.

-Dad-

p.s. that creature crawling around annoying everyone is Sandy. If you ignore her long enough, she will go away. :)