Listen to thisShe has always been a Daddy’s girl – she even came to us early just so she could see my face. While Mom was in recovery, Emilie and I went upstairs to make a pact. She agreed that she would be a good girl and not wake Daddy up before his morning shift work ... and I agreed to hold that fragile little package any time she wanted.
She kept that part of the bargain ... until the first night. Even the nurses offered to take her for a walk so her complaining wouldn’t wake up the entire neighbourhood.
“Waa, waa, waa” went the baby. “Husha, husha, hush” went the nurse. “Here, here, here” went the Mommy. The situation coulda bin worse.
She settled down as soon as she learned to eat. Needless to say, the concerns were there from Mom, Dad and professionals. Personally, I think it was a ploy by Emilie to get attention. It worked.
After the first few nights, Emilie really did keep her part of the bargain. She slept through the night by the second week. OK – so Mom insisted on keeping her in our room and often right in our bed (you should read here that Dad wouldn’t sleep while Emilie was in the big bed as he was too freaked out about the medical and health possibilities).
As I would slowly doze off I would hear a light little “waaa” or a change in her breathing patterns and *snap* I was back awake and fully alert. Ah, the wonders of the new fatherhood. Mom and Emilie were able to get lots of naps while I was at work so they were fine. Me ... uh ... yeah I was fine also.
So time goes by and up she grows ... 51 cm, 56 cm, 61 cm ...
And out she grows 6lbs 13, 8 lbs 16, 14 lbs ...
And then came Christmas. Have you ever noticed how many visitors appear once a little one arrives on the scene? We have had exactly one 1 week alone as a family since November. And the photos! Baby and Mom, Baby alone, Baby smiling, Baby sitting, Baby crying, Baby feeding .... and that’s just me! We have personally kept the one hour photo shop in business – if only I had bought shares in Kodak, Fujifilm and one hour photo six months ago ...
Oh, and the mail changes. There is no longer mail for Mom or Dad. Just packages for Emilie, cards for Emilie and phone calls asking how Emilie is doing. We didn’t want to miss out so we even created a web page for Emilie.
WAAA, WAAA***AAA waa waa waa WAAAAAA
Pardon the interruption. That’s five month old Emilie-speak for “please pick me up Daddy”... or is it I’m hungry/wet/tired. I need a change. I want my Mommy? Well I know it must be Emilie-speak for something.
This first five months have been – ah fun is probably the word.
Ask me again in a month.
