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In the first of a two part series, Sun columnist Bryant Trew describes his thoughts and feelings leading up to his wife's first pregnancy — and what it was like to find out that he would be expecting not one but two new arrivals.

Finding out that my wife was pregnant was much like watching an episode of Law and Order. As each new clue came in that something was going on, you could hear that sound effect go off in your head.

Instead of playing more and more like Venus Williams, this particular Sunday she was swinging at the ball much like you'd see an animal use its tail to lazily swat a pesky fly on a hot summer day.

On our return home she takes an afternoon 'nap' that lasts maybe five hours. That evening she looked a little pale in the face, which left me no option but to request confirmation that she was a few days late.

Out of fear of disappointment we declared that we wouldn't get too excited just yet, but the EPT test we took the next day painted the dumbest smiles two adults could probably have on their faces.

Then, about two days later we sat at the medical lab waiting out our 15 minutes to get the results of our test. Having been advised that it took less time than usual to conclude that we were unquestionably pregnant, we instinctively kissed.

But, it was the long embrace that followed that best reflected our feelings about the news we had heard. You could almost hear Benjamin Bratt providing an opening narration: "Bryant and Laquita have been married for ten years. 24 hours ago they were at a crossroads. Now they are charging down the path to parenthood. This is their pregnancy. This is their story."

Little did we know that there was yet another surprise in waiting. The test results came back fast for the last reason we could possibly imagine.

I completely fell apart when our OBGYN told us that we were ready for our first ultrasound. I had no idea that we could have it that early, but what really struck me was that I was about to see my kid for the first time. This wasn't merely a concept or an idea. I was actually going to see my kid, and all I could do was cry, I guess from the pressure. The gravity was immense. We have a very special friend who works at KEMH, and we would not have had any other person do our first ultrasound.

As she took her first swipe across my wife's belly she hollered something along the lines of: "You all are going to make me have a heart attack!"

I stood there frozen as the tears started to run down my cheek. Judging by her manner of speech, I knew exactly what she was about to announce. My wife on the other hand starts to cry, somewhat hysterically, because she thinks something is wrong.

Not quite, you might say. My mother's first one-word response perhaps said it best, though that particular phrase is unsuitable for publication. Her second response was: "Serves you right for waiting ten years to have a baby!"

There we were in the ultrasound room, my wife and I completely wonderstruck at the fact that we weren't expecting one child, but two.

Trust me when I tell you that seeing two blobs transform into heads, legs and arms is something to behold. Hearing those hearts beat at 156 beats per minute is nothing short of hypnotic.

But when you look at that monitor and see the bone structure of your child's face, that's when it really starts to sink in. When you see them move around inside of your wife's growing belly, that's when you really understand that you've created another human who has the potential to do a whole lot of good or a whole lot of bad in the world. In other words, this child is going to need you to care for them and show them how to think for themselves.

What next then? Exactly what is a father-to-be supposed to do leading up to the birth of twins? For starters, don't miss out on all of the wonder of procreation and childbirth. Take the chance to take your relationship to the next level by getting completely involved in your wife's experience.

Do whatever it takes to be supportive, and prepare your heart, mind and wallet, for what is about to happen. Don't forget to have fun either but, at the least understand that being a father starts long before your children are born.

If you get that, then one early morning you can call your in-laws with less reservation, fear or regret, and calmly say into the phone: "It's happening now. You need to get down to King Edward right away."

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