Exactly 168 hours ago, I heard a small cry. So I'm a father now - that's pretty cool. I've been starry eyed, enough to rekindle the awe of other fathers in their "choke the child" stage of parenthood, so I thought it would be good to write down a few reminder notes when those accursed teenage years get here. Also, while we aren't the first to bring life into this world, it does not mean our baby hasn't fascinated my engineering brain. Here are some things I've noticed:
- You can plan a pretty picnic but you can't predict the weather. Four years later, the only thing we checked off our natural birth plan was me cutting the cord - but I won't complain as God took care of my ladies through it all - we are truly, and undeniably blessed.
- Watching my daughter being born was the craziest, most surreal, exciting, scary, relieving, indescribable thing I've ever experienced, bar none. I still don't have right words, or any words to effectively articulate what I felt at that moment. Even now I'm struggling how to express the journey, and I'm generally verbose to a fault.
- I've been told I will just stare at her. I do - she makes a million faces that I can't keep up with. I was also told there's a lot of blood. There's a lot of blood. A lot. Of blood. Bring greens for the girl.
- My wife is simply amazing. I can't believe how she is still able to smile & love on us almost endlessly after putting her body through so much trauma - she is indeed a super woman. Seriously, bring her red meat & herbs, stat.
- My family and friends are awesome too - they've shown us support, loved us, prayed for us, laughed with us, cleaned for us the things we couldn't, fed us food we were too tired to make, blessed us with all kinds of goodies we didn't know we needed for baby, surprised us with kindness, chatted us with encouraging words, and made the trek out to see us and our little girl - I couldn't ask for better people to be around. Big hugs and fist bumps all around, thank you, we appreciate it, thank you, we love you… Don't be a stranger, the new one doesn't spew projectiles… yet!
- Last weekend I was out crazy late with good friends, eating, drinking, & having a great time. One week later, I'm up crazy late changing diapers & helping my girl feed my little girl while the night life goes on. And, somehow, I wouldn't want it any other way. I loved those wild nights, but I'm ready for something new - I'll be back out later.
- I'm looking forward to spending time together again with my wife as we reconnect and figure out how to transition from 2 dinks to a family of 3, and now can actually go places and engage in activities without the pregnancy limitation - roller coasters & steak cooked medium, we've missed you.
- Speaking of, going to the hospital (in a panic I might add) with 2 people, and returning home with 3 is so weird. That first drive with the little one I didn't touch my phone, checked the rear and side view mirrors a hundred times, yelled at kids texting, and avoided every pot hole while going the speed limit - holy cow I AM an adult.
- We've not yet turned into a "LOOK AT MY KID!" couple, but the little girl makes the momma girl use her camera a LOT more. Gotta get around to posting some of the pics at some point… later. We think she's pretty sweet, but we're obviously biased.
- I want to go home and see both girls as soon as possible. I pass the gaming store, sushi joint & bourbon bar to get to them ASAP. I guess I need to finish the basement to construct my own sushi & bourbon bar at home, and buy a cocktail Ms. Pac-Man arcade unit to be served on (or be used as a changing table).
- Babies are made of God rubber - my wife & I pass around our bundle like a tablet, yet others are so afraid, and handle her so delicately. She's not going to break, I saw where she emerged from, she's fine, resilient even.
- I can already see mommy & daddy's personality in the little girl. She only cries when she hungry yet eats slowly (daddy) & sleeps like a rock yet is hungry constantly (mommy). She's also very laid back, not crying or fussing hardly ever (mom & dad). And magically, nursing means her diapers don't stink and she doesn't spit up - God, when designing, knows what He's doing apparently. I'm enjoying this while I can, and hope this doesn't turn into foreshadowed irony.
- The little girl, like her parents, loves Asian culture. So much, that her sleep & awake schedule veers toward Japan Standard Time. Great for my friends overseas!
- Long, juicy, drawn out, spiccato farts… are hilarious, especially from a person who's height is measured in inches.
- Napping with a newborn is frightening - checking on them, making sure you don't move too much, nightmares of them falling… I'm told I'll get used to it, and here's hoping. She makes the cutest sounds in her sleep though, totally worth it.
- Don't laugh when your spouse is the victim of a diaper mishap - you're next. Trust me. I will mock no more.
- When I'm up every 3 or 4 hours at night, instead of staring at a screen, I'm (selflessly thank you very much) nurturing a life - probably need to start using Google Reader though, tech & TV game news will not stop on account of me.
I'm awake all throughout the night. I'm changing diapers. I'm not able to do the things I used to freely do. I should be resentful. But when I look at my little girl, I just want to do anything for her - she melts any sleep deprivation or frustration I may have had, every time. It's like my tech & gaming passion - I'm the guy who camped 24 hours at Walmart in the middle of nowhere for a PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii… for other people. I'm the guy who stays up all hours of the night hacking Mac OS X on ThinkPads, Siri on iPads, installing leaked roms on my Android phone, or just reading & writing. That passion is somehow now trumped by someone who little hands squeezes my finger when she sleeps, yet leaves presents for me after she eats. Unbelievable. I will never lose my geeky passion, but I've now something I want to invest even more into. She has done something I've struggled doing myself - inspire me to do more, and be better. And I will be, for her, my baby princess. And my momma princess.
Side note: Gotta find a better charging and storage solution, open to suggestions.
