I Just Love Being a Dad!

Man o man, when the days are good...they're sweeter than Yoo Hoo! Thankfully we have many of these days. Clark is by far the best thing to happen to me since Christy. Sometimes I forget that he's actually mine. My 'son'. "Hey son!" "Alright son." "I can't right now, I'm spending time with my son." Ha! I squeal like a little girl about it. Since Clark came home, May 17, he continues to thrive. He's already outgrown the insert for his car-seat. He fills up his Moses basket. His not-so-little-anymore head surpasses the 'newborn' neck-rest of his bathtub. We've now graduated to the
bigger sized diapers and are introducing a whole new drawer of clothes that were once too big, are fitting just fine.

He cooes and gurgles. Sometimes sounding like an infant Wookie. Aarrrghghlllll. Hm, I think I might try to make that my new ring tone! He loves getting his diaper changed and loves the process of taking on and off his clothes. It just gets him so excited. I've started the habit of humming "Don't Stop Til Ya Get Enough" by Michael Jackson when I perform these tasks. The high pitched beat seems to tickle him.

Today we did some artwork. Check it.


It was trial and error at first. I realized, it was much easier to bring the paint to his feet than his feet to the paint. He seemed to love the sensation of it between his toes. I foresee the future...Clark, age 18, in the Sand Dunes of Colorado, with a huge canvas, painting in the nude.
Or maybe he'll sell pencils...whatever...I'll still love him!


This weekend we had special visitors. Two couples we befriended in the NICU. Meet Julie and Barry, and their TRIPLETS!


That's right, this play date was chock full of baby. As cute as Emmett, Noah, and Hudson were, Christy and I are certainly happy that we only have one. Julie is often on our minds when we experience something challenging with Clark, reminding us that she's probably dealing with the same thing...times three!

That was Friday. On Sunday, Katie and Lynx brought their two cuties, Malik and Kamali.


They were in the NICU before Clark and were much worse off. Poor babies went through multiple surgeries. Katie and Lynx routinely had to dress in a paper gown and rubber gloves just to touch them. Even after they were sent home from the NICU, Malik had to be re-admitted the following week to deal with further complications. But now, they too are home, happy, and family-complete!


Clark was an absolute angel during both visits, especially during a chorus of screaming, teething, triplets. He would only look on with concern. Of course, there are the challenges where all he wants is our attention, to be held, to be fed, changed. He makes these demands obvious. Politely (well, as politely as unabashed screaming can be) that our lives no longer come first. The e-mails can wait. Shower? Maybe tomorrow. That project we wanted to get to...can stand to sit on the shelf for a while. "You need to hold me, bitch!" is the look in his eye. And at first, I'm clenched at being interrupted from my task, but then I pick him up and he instantly soothes...and then I thank him.