Lessons Learned Part 2

Another week and more lessons learned for a new dad. We had our two week check up today and the little porker has put on 11 ounces in the last week. That is crazy! This kid is obviously getting enough milk, and perhaps even an occasional McDonalds run while mom and I are asleep. Let's not waste time getting to more of this hot learning action.

Respect the feeding schedule.- When I have gone to visit family and friends who had recently had children I would call ahead and tell them when I would be there. Then I would try to get there fairly close to that time. Never again.

Now that I am a dad, and I have a wife that is trying to feed a kid on a schedule I am crazy protective of my wife and our child's feeding schedule. You only have a short precious time between feedings, and you can typically plan that time around when visitors are coming.

But then some wiseass shows up 15 minutes early and mom is feeding, or shows up 45 minutes late and the whole feeding schedule is screwed. Never again will I screw with new parents like that. If I do, I will make sure I have a casserole or hot dish to make up for it. There is nothing like easily prepared food to buy back a new parents favor.

I talked to my buddy Fid about this. Him and his wife Niki just had a little girl recently and we discussed the righteous anger we can develop over a 15 minute swing in schedule. 3 weeks ago I would hav never thought of it. Crazy how things change.

There is nothing like the first time your child smiles at you.- It's heartwarming. The other night Cruz looked up at Ash and I and smiled huge. It was adorable and made us feel great. Then he went cross eyed and stared at some random point on the wall while he peed himself. But I am pretty sure we had a moment first.