The Return

I know, I know...I've been slacking in my duties around here.

But that's because I've been busy with my son.

Nenie IV arrived at 8:33am on February 18th.  At birth he weighed 8lbs, 11oz. and was 22in long. 

Yeah, big kid.

Tico (as he heretofore will be referred to) is doing well.  Nena and I are...getting by.

A few thoughts.

1) I'm really glad that I didn't have children until now.  I don't know that I would have dealt very well with the last few weeks at 25 or 20 or 15.  I know there are other people who have done an amazing job, I just know that I wouldn't have been one of them.

2) This whole thing is really fun, but not what I expected.  For the first few days I kept expecting this life-altering realization to come.  And it didn't.  Tico is here, that's the reality of it I accepted it and now I try and make it work.  I know this sounds hella negative, and it's not meant that way.  It's just that like with most things, the advertising doesn't match the experience.  Parenthood isn't a sudden epiphany, it's the slow process of discovering which way is up. 

3) Mothers and fathers relate to things differently.  Yeah, I know, duh.  But seeing the stark differences between the way Nena and I relate to Tico is really interesting.  At first, I think Nena believed that I didn't love Tico.  The reality is that mothers and fathers express their love differently.  Nena needs to hold Tico at all times.  I'm happy to sit and watch because I get to see my wife and son enjoy each other's company and that makes me happy beyond belief.

OK, more to come with the years.  But, I had to start somewhere.