New Parenting Adventure

Life as a father is a trip my friends, and no matter what you are thinking or prepared for, rest assured that for both better and worse it will be nothing like what you have imagined. That being said, it’s been an amazing ride so far and now, six months into fatherhood, I anxiously await the day my young son is old enough to speak and actually have a conversation with his old man. While right now he mostly just cries, giggles, poops, or eats I know that one day soon he will be coming to be for wisdom and advice and I can only hope that I am up to the task.

While I’m sure I’ll have no problems teaching the little guy about boats, or fishing, or how throw a baseball, I am quite nervous that I might not possess the knowledge needed to raise my boy up right. I often wonder, did my own dad feel this way when my brother and I were newborns? Is this something that’s normal – and therefore something that I would figure out over time?

At the half year mark now, I’m still not quite sure if I have any answers to these questions but I do know that I will somehow make this work. When I look at my baby boy’s eyes I know that my life new meaning and a purpose that did not exist before he was born. I want to do right by him and that alone is motivation enough to make this happen.

This time seven months ago I was just a kid, content with my working life style and happily married to my high school sweetheart. I couldn’t imagine how life could get any better; I mean I had just about everything a man could want: the happy marriage, the high paying job, nice car, etc. In fact, I didn’t realize just how much I was missing until just six months ago, when she was born.

My daughter was born on a beautiful April morning and ever since the sun has shined a little brighter and the birders have sung a little sweeter. Now that she’s around six months old she’s finally crawling around the house and is many ways a little terror (although she is the cutest little terror you have ever seen!), however she has truly changed my life and without a doubt it’s for the better.

I feel that I have more of a purpose now than ever before; I totally realize that in many ways her life is in my hands and all I want to do is work my absolute hardest to make sure I can provide her with everything she needs, wants, or deserves. While I have always heard other people talk about fatherhood, and how it will and can change everything while giving your life a new purpose, I never realized just how right they were until my little girl was born – since then I am not longer me, I’m now “dad” and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I’ve been a father for about six months now and my baby girl has truly changed my life in ways big and small. While I was totally prepared for the midnight crying sessions and the Saturday morning diaper changes I had no idea how close this little bundle of sunshine would bring the rest of her family. It’s almost as if ever since Emma was born both my family and my wife’s have both rallied around the new addition to our mutual family. In fact, it seems like a day doesn’t go by that a grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin, or other extended family member is not oohing and ahhhing over our little bundle of joy and the phone has been ringing off the hook with friends and family members eager to schedule a showing with the little one.
As much fan as it’s been to see all these long lost relations, it has been incredibly overwhelming – and time consuming – especially for a young couple still adjusting to life with their first baby. However, my wife and do think that family is important and, since this is really all about her anyway, we are excited that everyone is taking an interest. In addition, we are hoping that this means we will have an army of baby sitters and potential playmates lined up as Emma gets older – either way, we are grateful that her family is so interested and involved and we can only hope that these bonds stay strong as our little girl grows up.