Quoc B.
Team Manager for TELUS

1.  How did you meet your partner/wife? 

I met Aurea at her friends bday party at Red Robin's on Broadway that no longer exist. I ate all the strawberries on her friends bday cake. Ahahaha

2. What was your first feeling & thought when you found out that your partner was pregnant? 

Excited! I'm finally gonna have a little mini-me. My own real life action figure.

3. What was your reaction when you found out the gender of your child? 

Boy or girl didn't matter. Boy and he can play hockey with dad. Girl and she can go golfing.

4. How did you come up with your child(ren) name(s)? 

I wanted something English and easy to say. Make her life easier when she applies for jobs and new people that have to learn her name. I also wanted a name that none of our friends had. Something different and rare for a middle name too.

5. How did you prepare yourself to become a father? 

I've had experiences with nieces so I wasn't worried. Plus I've seen my wife take care of her nieces so I know she'd be a good mother. We also have our parents to help out so there wasn't much to prepare.

6. How do you balance your work and family life? 

Working Sat and Sun plus the late shifts Mon - Wed ensured that we didn't put our kid in daycare. Had to give up the weekend golfing and hockey. Sorry Stan, you gonna have to be number 1 goalie.

7. If you had a super power, what would it be? 

I'd like to be able to change a diaper in 5 seconds. If your not quick, your kid starts rolling and next thing you know, poo poo and pee pee on the all over

8. Word of advice to other fathers to be:

Take lots of pictures with you and the kid. When they sleep in your arms, when they laugh and smile, when they start walking. Lots and lots of pics.

JIMMY

Naval Combat & Intelligence - NCIOP at Royal Canadian Navy

1. What was your first feeling & thought when you found out that your wife was pregnant?

I remember that night vividly as I just finished basic training and came back to Vancouver to meet my friends. We were going to Hapa that night for some drinks, and I remember Michelle was already feeling naucious and pukey at the time so we decided to pick up a pregnancy test at a shoppers drug mart before she decides to order a drink. All her girlfriends were there at the time and I knew right away when she came out from the washroom with a glow in her eye. That moment I knew my life was about to change. I can't remember the rest because I got really drunk that night with the boys. :D

2. What was your reaction when you found out the gender of your child?

My reaction was a huge shock because both Michelle and I were anticipating a boy. I remember receiving the call in the middle of lunch at Nelle's Block. Michelle had just left the doctor's office and called me right away. I'm not going to lie it was freightening. All these thoughts going through my head on how to deal with a daughter. All those fears that a father could have when your little girls comes to age and when she starts dating boys etc etc. I was so scared and didnt know what to think. Maddy is over a year and half now, and I wouldnt want it any other way. She's the most beautiful thing thats ever happened to me. She's the best gift my wife has ever given me, I feel like my life has a whole other meaning now.

3. How did you think of your child's name?

I didn't, Michelle did :P

4. How did you prepare yourself in becoming a first time father?

There's actually not much you can really prepare, but just be mentally ready to make certain sacrifices. I've also did a few reading on some articles from various websites, but at the end, its how you make your experiences. Other people may have their own opinion on how to handle certain things but finding your own way is the most important. There's also a really cool app called Babycenter.ca and some really cool tips on there. I highly recommend it.

5. How are you preparing yourself for your second child this time around?

I think im just going with the flow. In terms of preparation, I think I will be taking some time off from work this time. During Maddy's birth I still worked so that Michelle was able to take a full year off.

6. How do you manage your busy work schedule with your family especially travelling abroad?

That is a really tough one. I have to give all the credit to Michelle and also my family. I'm lucky that im stationed in Victoria so family is only an hour and half ferry ride away. Whenever I'm sailing, I can only contact Michelle through email and when I get to a foreign port or next port of call, I try to Skype with her and Maddy as much as I could. Its really hard though, at sea sometimes I have no time to check email or internet would be laggy so I only have pictures on Michelle and Maddy on my phone to keep me going. Its a gentle reminder on why I'm doing all this. 

7. Word of advice to other fathers to be:

Be patient to your pregnant wife and just try and be understanding as much as possible. Try not to be selfish, or have the mentality that "YOU" are bringing home the bread and butter because sometimes its not just about you. Money can always be made, but wounds are harder to heal and they may never heal over time so be appreciative of your pregnant wife as she is sacrificing just as much, if not more than you think. She made the choice to be with you and she will be giving up a year of her life, her work, her looks, her drinks and social life, eating her favourite seafood, just so she can help YOU carry on your legacy. So yes be loving and be appreciative of your future child's mother to be. Remember, a happy wife equals a happy life. :)

I
British Columbia Land Surveyor

1. How did you meet your wife? 
Through friends at an event.

2. What was your first feeling & thought when you found out that your partner was pregnant? 
Excitement and nervousness at the same time because it is a large commitment and responsibility.

3. What was your reaction when you found out the gender of your child? 
Indifferent -- boy or girl, either way as long as the baby is healthy.

4. How did you come up with your child(ren) name(s)? 
Baby Name Wizard (it's a book)

5. How did you prepare yourself to become a father? 
Conversations with my wife, and reading Be Prepared: A Practical Handbook for New Dads

6. How do you balance your work and family life? 
Same way I always have -- go to work, put in your hours, and leave work at work.  

7. If you had a super power, what would it be? 
??? Is this in the wrong questionaire?? LOL. No clue.

8. Word of advice to other fathers to be: 
Don't doubt yourself - you and your wife will be the best parents your child will have. Go with your gut instinct when it comes to what you feel is best for your child.

Anonymous
Assistant Director-Film Industry

1. How did you meet your partner/wife?

We met at work

2. What was your first feeling & thought when you found out that your partner was pregnant?

I found out via a picture text from my wife.  I remember having a miserable day at work up until that point.  As soon as I saw the photo an instant, permanent smile came on my face.  I guess overjoyed would be the best work to describe how I felt.

3. What was your reaction when you found out the gender of your child?

We do not know the gender as we are keeping it a surprise.

4. How did you come up with your child(ren) name(s)?

Since we are keeping the sex a surprise, we’ve come up with names for both genders.  If it is a boy, following tradition from my family where the Son is named after both Grandfathers.  If it is a Girl, we are naming after my wife’s Grandmother (as it is quite a unique name) and what the size of our child was in the womb when we found out.

5. How did you prepare yourself to become a father?

Aside from arranging to purchase all the gear and clothing associated with have your first child (which is a lot more than what most people think), I’ve been preparing by thinking about what kind of father I would like to be to my children by taking the good and bad experiences from my own childhood and folding that into what type of father I would like to be.  I guess we’ll see how that turns out, as a lot of people say that you pretty much end up being your parents (*Gulp*).

6. How do you balance your work and family life?

This is where I credit my wife as I work long, strange hours for extended periods of time.  Have an understanding partner with excellent communication helps my family life a great deal and alleviates a lot of stress and burden for me, thus allowing me to find great balance.

7. If you had a super power, what would it be?

I would say super intelligence.  Because then you can figure out/build the rest.

8. Word of advice to other fathers to be:

Don’t stress about trying to get everything perfect, you never will.  Be the best Dad you can be and everything will fall into place.