First Year Letter From Daddy

Daddy Says: Hey Dude (I call you "dude" most of the time. Or "duder" or "dudarino" or "duderpants" for that matter), I can't believe it's been a year. A YEAR!!! It seems like just last week when mommy called and told me her water broke and we were off to the hospital. It seems like last week when I drove like hell to get to us to the hospital and a week ago that I drove us home from the hospital as cautiously as Jerry sneaking away from Tom with some stolen cheese (you'll learn). It seems like just last week that we used to swaddle (you likely won't know what that term is until you have your own offspring..so, hopefully not for many a year) you up like a little psychopath in a restraining jacket. Except we didn't swaddle you because you were a psychopath, we swaddled you because that's how 0-3 month old babies like to live. Reminds them of being in their mommy's tummy. It seems like a week ago that we were cheering when you'd drink 2 ounces of milk (and trust me, we all know how you eat now!!!). It seems like just last week when you'd wake up every two hours screaming for more milk. It seems like a week ago that we used to spy on you after you'd finally go to sleep at night. It seems like a week ago that you first smiled (although it was a drunken milk smile). It seems like a week ago that you started eating real food. It seems like a week ago that you first said, "ball". It seems like a week ago when you first learned to wave "hello" and "bye-bye". It seems like a week ago when you learned how to do the "touchdown" sign. Seriously, you learned that sign before you learned how to do the "so big" thing that most kids learn. Nope, you didn't learn "so big" you learned "touchdown". Daddy loves you for that!!! Hey, your initials are T.D afterall. It seems like a week ago when you first rolled over. It seems like a week ago when you first learned to crawl. It seems like a week ago when you first learned to walk. Oh yeah, it was about a week ago when you learned to walk. It's hillarious, because you walk with your hands way up in the air - again, like you're doing the touchdown sign. Dude, this year has gone by so fast for me and mommy. It's been such a joy and I can honestly say that because people will tell you how much joy children bring to your lives and you have no idea until you actually have one. You have made me laugh more than I've ever laughed and cry more than I've ever cried. You've made me love mommy more. You've made me think of me less, not less of me, just me less. Your smile puts an even bigger smile on my face and your laugh makes me laugh out loud every time. What a year it's been, buddy. Thank you for all the joy you've brought to my life. I can only hope that I bring that much back to you. Love you buddy! Happy 1st birthday!!! Daddy.

Interview with a Daddy

In honor of Father's Day, an interview with one of the greatest Dads I know....Tyson's daddy!

Daddy Says:

1-What is your favorite part of being a Daddy?

My favorite part of being a Daddy is knowing that Tyson is a creation of our love and knowing that we will shower him with unconditional love forever.

2-How has your life changed since becoming a Daddy?

No longer do I measure success in how well I'm doing in my own life-I now measure success by how good of a job I can do in raising Tyson to be a quality person.

3-What surprises you about being a Daddy?

That I totally forgot what I did with my time before I became a Daddy. And that becoming a parent with my wife has allowed us to get even closer to each other in ways that are beyond what we had before Tyson.

4-What would you teach other new Daddies?

I would teach them that you and your wife had better have a solid relationship before having a child. No longer do you simply make concessions based on the two of you, you now have to put the child before any decision you and your wife will make. I would also tell them that although it is hard at times, you will find rewards in things that you've never thought of before, like the first time you child rolls over, smiles, laughs, babbles, puts pressure on their feet, or sits up on their own. It's all worth more than words can describe.

Tyson you have the most amazing, loving, and playful Daddy. I hope one day you look up to him as much as I look up to my Daddy.

Happy Father's Day to Tyson's Daddy, my Daddy, and all of the other Daddies out there!

Are You Ducking Kidding Me?

Daddy Says (in partial third person because it’s waaaay more fun):

Tyson, as you're bound to find out sooner rather than later, your Mommy is, shall we say, a little bit anal retentive. In fact, these overly meticulous traits possessed by Mommy seem to have increased ten-fold since we learned the union of Daddy's sperm and Mommy's ovum would, indeed, lead to your birth.

Case in point. T’was a wonderfully sunny, Saturday morning, roughly three months (THREE MONTHS!!!!!!) before you were even due to be hatched. Daddy waltzed into "his" shower, only to find; not one, not two, not three, not even four, or five, not f****ing six, but seven, yes, seven rubber duckies precisely placed on the shelves where Daddy once put all of his shaving supplies. "Honey,” Daddy yelled to Mommy, "Is there something I should know about, like, did we have a kid two years ago that I'm somehow unaware of?" “No,” Mommy replied in her delightfully innocent voice, “I’m just getting ready for when Tyson is born.” Seriously, ‘getting ready for when Tyson is born’. You were still three months from showing us your cute little face and Mommy was placing rubber duckies in the f***ing bath tub! Ughhhh.

Tyson, just so you know though, Daddy is not as sour about this as he may sound. In fact, Daddy totally knew Mommy was anal retentive before he married her. The fact that she had the wedding completely planned three months (THREE MONTHS!!!!!!) before Daddy popped the question should have given him a clue. And, he even loves her for it! Also, just so you know, the only thing Daddy could do was smile when he saw the seven rubber duckies in “his” shower : )