A Different View...

...of life, I think, is completely unavoidable and very necessary once you achieve parenthood.

During my single days, all I really saw was a need for work, Totino's pizzas, XBox and indoor soccer. Occasionally I'd see a cute, young lady and a bit of flirtation would ensue. I'd see the "need" for a Transformer on eBay (Hey, I got Optimus Prime for a good price!) and my checking account would see a good sized hit.

But now I'm a parent, and I see things... differently. How can you not?!

I write this while my little Bud sleeps, all wrapped up and warm, next to me on the couch; totally at peace and totally oblivious to the world around him. Meantime, Dude is just waking up from a nap; ready to take on whatever challenge comes his way with a curious innocence you just have to admire.

Just livin' life:





Bud's hangin' out...

















...while Dude gets his first hair cut! He kept seeing his hair fall into his lap and would wail "Nnneewwwww!"






Lookin' at pics with Momma...










...and readin' with Uncle S









A brand new swing set, known as "Fort Fun" is erected...








...which is sure to bring hours of fun for Dude, Bud and all their little friends!





Oh, sure, there's days of whining, crying, sleepless nights and dirty diapers the size of your head. But there's days of running, tickling and laughing hysterically. And then there's times like now: Bud waking up to be feed by Zippy (before he goes back to sleep...) as Dude and I feed each other goldfish crackers while watching basketball, followed by pillow diving, bouncing on Roxy and building towers with legos. That's just a peek at our life.

They way I see it, I'm OK with that.

A Growing Family...

...makes it through the first week!

It was fun having a whole week off work to help Zippy with the kids. Woah... kids. Plural. That is so weird! Zippy and I practically forgot what it's like to have a newborn in the house again: the sleepless nights, the "loads" of diapers, the oh so fuzzy soft skin, the random flailing and best of all? That newborn smell! *snnnniiiifffff* Aaaahhhh!



One washes the kid...










...while the other snuggles the kid!


The best part of the week was watching Dude meet and interact, as much as one can with a newborn, with Bud. We wonder if Dude has any sort of understanding of what's going on with this small, sleeping and sometimes loud... thing. He has his moments that we expected (wanting up when Zippy's feeding Bud is the most common) would come, but he really doesn't seem fazed by the new addition. So far, that's a question answered for us: Dude is gonna make a great big
brother...
















...until Bud starts moving around and getting into all the toys.

Yaaayyy... share time!

"Everything Changes..."

That's what a friend told me years ago before Zippy and I got married. Was it a warning? Words of advice? Or simply a conversation, or blog, starter? Regardless of what his intention was at the time, I really didn't pay it too much attention. The funny thing is is that I haven't forgotten about those two words since they were said. And lately, I find myself thinking about them more.

I've lived in Utah for 8+ years now. But in the past 5 years I met the woman of my dreams and married her, a few months later we bought a house and adopted Roxy in the same weekend. A little while later we sold our car and bought a new/used one that was the nicest either of us had owned. The "joys" of home ownership then filled our weekends with framing, mudding, painting, weeding, plumbing, mowing, washing, vacuuming, etc. when, eventually, Zippy informed me that "We're pregnant!"

Parenthood.

"Everything changes..."

Perhaps the biggest and most mind numbing ingredient to be poured into our lives to date. On top of the aforementioned, we (and I really mean Zippy...) now read scores of books about mother/fatherhood and breastfeeding and our first pregnancy and *inhale* child proofing and car seats and poopy diapers and so on and so fifth. Then the day came when I looked into Zippy's weary eyes and told her "It's a boy!"

"Everything changes..."

The first child is so nerve wracking. My mind was racing with thoughts and fears about what kind of father I'm gonna be, what kind of mistakes we're gonna make, playtime, bathtime, disciplining him, protecting him, teaching him and loving him. Those last two are the ones that keep rattling around in my head becuase, while I try to convey those thoughts and feelings towards him, he does so towards me in return. Naturally and without hesitation.

That was, was, such a foriegn concept to me. Now I sit here watching Bud sleep in his swing and think to myself that while some fears may still be there, there is no hesitation. Instead, there's a growing sense of confidence. One of which I've never experienced before.

We've been given the task... no, privilege of raising these two precious lives. To shape them, teach them, laugh and cry with them, protect and love them as best we can. How awesome is that?!

"Everything changes..."

Truer words were never spoken.