Over the past four weeks I’ve learned many great things about myself and others. Becoming a parent is an interesting trip into a world you have to witness. I realize in those four weeks there are people who will no longer want to associate with me because all I can seemingly talk about is my daughter. I’m also fully aware this will attract certain readers too. So in my outspoken way I will make sure to do what feels most natural.
When I drive the MINI Cooper, blasting music, for errands… I’m reminded of the childless days. It feels great to have the sunroof open, the music blaring, and not a care in the world. However, when I return home and walk in the front door to my wife and daughter, that too is a very special moment.
I mention this because Daddy Singe has to go back to work on Tuesday. I guarantee a tear will be shed as I drive to work that day. I doubt I will be all that effective in my cubicle. My mind will be on my family. Some folks may not enjoy changing diapers, but I really love it. The past four weeks I’ve changed nearly all of Anna’s diapers as it’s a great chance to bond with her. I’m really pleased how well my wife and I have shared the parenting responsibilities. Not only have I cared for Anna, but I’ve also attempted to aid my wife with her c-section recovery as much as possible. (one way includeds not making her laugh) Now we’ll have to shake things up a bit as she will handle a huge chunk of the parenting while I’m working. A new era in my life is underway.
They say there are major time markers in people’s lives such as post-divorce, loss of a sibling, post girlfriend, pre-marriage, pre-child, etc. I’m certain there are many others “markers” I’ve missed out on, yet this parenthood journey is going to be fun territory. I dreamed about being a parent from a young age and I’ve been an uncle since 1985. Four weeks into this journey, I wouldn’t trade it in for all the sleep in the world. All it takes is a ten second gaze of my daughter in my eyes and I’m on the verge of tears. The power of the child’s stare has to be one of the true joys of parenthood thus far. Also rather magical is watching my wife bond with our daughter. Thirdly it’s also very cool when the child falls asleep on you.
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NON-BABY stuff:
** I’m turning over a new leaf.
** As I was typing this post, two loud thuds were heard. Fuck, that’s freaky shit considering I couldn’t locate the source. My guess, pot lids in our cupboards, Demi Moore, or racoons.
** Crap, I’m all out of ideas after the previous remark so for those of you whining about baby shit, you’re going to have to tough it out or find another blog.
** I got a haircut today from a guy named Danny. I love to bust out wacky terms when directing my hairstylist. Danny didn’t quite understand “make my bangs spikey”. I think he thought I was Kid ‘n Play.
The Continued Life of Monkey Boy 
La premiere!
What did I tell you about talking nappies/diapers and baby poo??
You can make up for it by posting photo of new haircut. Deal?
My son wants his bangs spikey too, but he is to lazy even to brush his hair to beginn with. The love to your child never ends, believe me, I catch myself sometimes looking at my big girl thinking how little she was just yesterday and I’m so proud that everything worked out all rigth so far, cant believe it myself sometimes.
Chicky – well done young lady.
Chicky – you’re very funny. I didn’t talk about baby poop, but you did a great job playing off my profanity. Nicely done. Hmm, a pic of my haircut will appear soon.
Mone – I don’t brush my hair either, I usually kind of mess it up after I put some lovely gel in it. Curls are unruly afterall. I hear they grow up fast.
if you brush your hair does it turn into an afro? If so, I vote for that look!!
I feel ya Egan. It’s an awesome thing and one that we will always cherish. Becoming a parent is like evolving into a new species. Welcome to our side.
Oh, and it’s totally okay to cry several times when you go back to work. I did.
At least he didn’t think you were getting all Biz Markie on him.
What colour is your new leaf?
We go back to work on the same day.
Anna has very beautiful eyes.
I officially gave up my Wii on Saturday … maybe that can be my next update on my blog.
YOur blog has always been about who (and where) you are. RIght now, this is where you are, and it’s a beautiful place, and I am honored to come by and be some part of it.
I’m thoroughly impressed with Sprizee’s Biz Markie reference.
Good luck readjusting to work and this new phase in your family life.
Mez – if I brush out my hair it sure does look like an afro. Sadly it looks like an afro everywhere though, including the side of my head. I like to call it the poof. You want proof of the poof? You got it.
*pixie* – I hear you on the new species thing. I’m not sure which one I will become. Maybe a monkey? Welcome to our side eh? I like it.
*pixie* – cry I will, sad I am to head back to work. I’m going to miss my girls.
Sprizee – oh baby you, you got what I need… Hey, what were you doing up so early?
Airam – my new leaf is yellowish. You bet we go back to work on the same day, at least you get to see your kids. You like Anna’s eyes? I do too. I’m sure you’ll miss the Wii, but you gain major points for the cause.
Chris – you’re such a good guy. I will need all the encouragement during this work/baby transition. Sprizee never fails to amaze me with her knowledge of odd things.
Hmmm, my vote is on Demi More sporting raccoon eyes after falling asleep on a lounge chair sans sunscreen in Bermuda. All because she stayed up too late crocheting mittens, no scratch that… all because she stayed up too late worrying about the state of education in South Carolina.
What was the post about again?
Oh yeah, that cute little person with the long skinny feet, the alert eyes, and the dirty diapers. You are really embracing the good, the bad, and the smelly. Good Choice BTW, they don’t stay this cute and dependent forever. Treat everyday as a gift…I know you do.
Our oldest baby went away to George Washington University on Saturday. In the weeks before I was so busy getting her all of the ‘stuff’ she needed to be ready for school, I was not prepared for the fact that I would cry like a baby saying goodbye to her. Cry I did because it hit me that she would be apart from us for the longest time in her life. She’s three hours away and we are likely to not see her until Thanksgiving. So I get that missing Baby Singe is a huge thing right now. This is the first of many separation events (when she goes to pre-school will be another tear-inducing moment) that you will have in her life. It never gets easier. It just gets different. That’s part of the joy and the pain of being a parent and loving your child.
Oh, and I want to see the spikey bangs, too.
a baby falling asleep on you is a magical feeling. and i’ve only experienced it as an aunt!
it sounds like you are handling your new role with a lot of panache. well done, egan. 🙂
It’s hard to come up with a comment that beats one that includes ‘panache’, -damn you sizzle and your fantastic vocabulary, but I will try.
I’ve been thinking about you this weekend and hoping that it is a great one before heading back to work. I can’t imagine how hard it would be to leave little Miss Squeaker behind, if only for working hours- so I won’t try and pretend that I do. I do know that she’s lucky to have you and that I suspect it will get easier as time goes by. We need to figure out a way you can work from home. I’ve secured my thinking cap.
Hey – when is the triathalon training going to re-start??? Don’t forget to take care of yourself, too.
Patches – you really are concerned about the welfare of South Carolinians. Demi Moore was nowhere to be seen and neither was Bruce Willis. I see why you’re confused about posts, squirrels.
Patches – yeah, I really do enjoy it. Anna is so precious which reminds me I have some photos to upload of her getting a bath last night.
The Scarlett – I guess I have some time until the college separation thing, but I bet it’s so hard to say goodbye.
The Scarlett – for the spikey bangs, think more of what they called the “caesar cut” in the early 90’s. Maybe I need a new style. Think Clooney on ER.
Sizzle – that’s a magical feeling as an aunt too. It’s good you can experience it. Panache is a good word choice… even Brandy approves.
Brandy – thanks for your support. It’s not going to be easy, but I’m happy my wife will be home with her. The tough part will be in February when we put her in daycare.
QT – triathlons are on hold for now. There is one in three weeks I might do, but I’m woefully out of shape. I still have a serious running goal I will hit this year. The part of this post about “turning over a new leaf” relates to the getting back in shape component. Thanks for the reminder. I will play soccer again this week.
You’ve dreamed of being a parent from a young age? Wow. See, you do you have the super daddy gene! I love it when a baby falls asleep in my arms 🙂
Enjoy your holiday at home!
Hairstylists don’t always like it when you go all Kid ‘n’ Play on their asses.
I love it that you are such a dedicated dad already.
I go back to work tomorrow, too. But…yeah…I know. Not the same. You’ll be fine. Remember what I told you.
Don’t worry about the baby-post haters. I love baby posts and that’s all that matters, isn’t it? Oh, it’s not? Oops. My bad.
I had more to say, but I can’t focus. Maybe I’ll have something better to say tomorrow. Have a good Monday, Efo.
Yeah, going back to work will take some adjusting. I totally hear you on the drive time. It allows for a quick trip back to those carefree days. You can just crank the tunes and relax and then enjoy your family when you get home again. Makes sense to me!
I heard your name in the movie Hitch! Only it was pronounced with a french accent so instead of it being EEEEgan it was EHHHHgan (like egg-an). Cool huh?
Hi, Egan!
It’s been awhile since I’ve haunted the internet, just wanted to stop by and say hello. I’m very happy for you and your wife at the birth of your new baby girl! Congratulations! She’s beautiful.
I don’t think I could ever catch up on the posts that have happened in the last four months, so I hope that things have been well and continue to be.
I love stories of baby singe! This is your life now, it only makes sense that your blog will reflect it 🙂
rofl – you could sooo join a 70s tribute funk band with that ‘fro 😛
you totally went there with the kid n’ play, didnt you? i flippin love it. almost as much as i love that you went to a hairstylist named danny. i was just saying to my girlfriend the other day that i have to get me a male hairstylist. i think women hairstylist are overrated and something tells me i’d connect better with a male as far as the hair thing goes. just a hunch.
wow, lots to talk about hair and i should probably stop.
sounds like this daddy thing is suiting you very well my friend. 🙂 best of luck today going back to the freakin grind.
i hope i find bruce willis in my kitchen. mmmm.
airam, i just watched hitch the other day too. i love love love kevin what’s his name.
I’ve been short on sleep for the past 13 months now and I still won’t trade the time with my son for it. Parenthood sure is tiring but full of fun surprises.
My very favorite thing was when my babies feel asleep on me and we got to snuggle. With the twins, I felt a little cheated since I couldn’t usually just enjoy it because there was another baby waiting for me.
My son is 3 and fell asleep on my the other day at a family party. It was the best thing ever, and something I didn’t expect to be lucky enough to experience again with any of my own kids. Sometimes it pays to overtire your kids I guess.
Your daughter is beautiful!
I have to echo somebody’s comment’s above : Anna’s eyes are gorgeous! Almost Anime in their size and shape. I bet you get lost in them all the time!
I remember when I had to go back to work I cried, yes. And I was mad at my baby daddy. I blamed him. Yes, irrational.
It’s a whole new world out there, young man. There will come a day where you will scarcely remember what it was like to sleep in on the weekends and read the paper in bed. As your daughter gets older it’s even more satisfying when she will truly acknowledge you and the mere sight of you will make her whole face light up. The best (and worst) is yet to come but it’s all part of the journey.
Oh, I forgot…once I asked the hair cut guy to give my son spikey bangs. He apparently misunderstood that to mean “buzz my sons entire head”. Luckily hair grows. I now cut my boys hair myself, but will stop as soon as they ask me to.
Yay! You’ll be on IM again!
Sorry Anna.
I hope that everyone at work was VERY gentle with you today, and that they will continue to be so for a few days. This is a very delicate time for you and you might have to punch someone if they don’t treat you right.
What kind of leaf?
Way to tease about a haircut and then not show us pictures. Not that I’ve been a fountain of pictures, myself.
Egan, your blog rocks because you write about what you are passionate about. It used to be your wife and triathlons, now it’s your wife and your daughter. People change, people grow, and you have joined a very special group of people!
Was that too sappy?
Eunice, that is a very keen observation. I concur.
Wow, if the time has flown for me I cannot imagine how it has gone for you. Four weeks. Hope the first day back goes/went okay.
By the way, you could only talk about your family for the rest of your blogging days and I’d still read. It’s good stuff.
I’ve been gone tooooo long. Congrats on the baby Egan!! How awesome. It’s amazing how in a wink of an eye, your whole life can change 🙂 Cheers my friend–I’m glad I ventured back your way!
back to work, young man! all will be well in the kingdom while you’re gone, but things will be substantially better when you come home!
I’m just now catching up on blogs. You know, Egan, the preoccupation with your child will fade, but it’s normal and good to be obsessed when they are little and to think they are the most magical things in the world. It’s nature’s way of keeping us from tossing our babies to the wolves when they won’t stop crying at 3 am. So enjoy it, and write about it as much as you want to. (And, good grief, what a cute picture in the previous post!)
CS: “The preoccupation with your child will fade”
Really? My son is almost 13..I’m still entirely preoccupied and crazy.
LOL
Michelle – yeah, I used to climb trees in my youth and ponder married life and kids. I think that was right about the time my dad left the house.
Churlita – thanks for the “dedicated” compliment. I try. Hairstylists at cheap salons can’t be too picky.
Amanda – thanks for the support. Now I think it’s time I lend a hand your way.
Delton – I’m glad the car ride thing doesn’t sound too far out. It’s a brief, yet welcome, retreat. I love my iPod.
Airam – ha, that’s funny you mention that. Today I said my name somewhere and the woman responded “like Egon in Ghostbusters?”. I sort of nodded. There was an Egan on an ABC show that was short lived on ABC last year. Sad when blog can outlast a tv show.
Candy – no need to catch up on the posts. We had a baby and that’s about all that’s been going on here over the past 8 months. Mix in some other stuff here and there. Thanks for stopping by.
Celeste – I know, I think there was a bit of a misunderstanding with one person. Yet there are others that have said they won’t read because of the baby stuff. Lame, but their loss.
Mez – I’m so glad you approve. Your opinion is important to me. Mad props to teachers.
Brookem – you bet I went there with the Kid ‘n Play reference. My hair isn’t quite like his, but given enough product, it could be. I bet you wouldn’t like Danny so much. He loves to move my head without saying so and his scalp massages could use some work. Back to the grind is right. You know Bruce doesn’t have a good head of hair.
Brookem – does Kevin have a good head of hair?
Amanda – hello and welcome to my blog. I’m so glad to hear you wouldn’t change this first year for anything. I’m learning why a parent says such crazy sounding things. Tonight our daughter was so interactive and cute. It was very fun.
Tori – I know it means a lot to you for your kids to show affection. I think it does to any parent so it must have been nice for your son to sleep on you. So cool. It truly is a great feeling. Hats off to anyone who raises multiples.
Golden – yeah, it did create some tears on the drive to work. The nice thing is it only takes me 10 minutes to get home if I want to visit for lunch. Her eyes are like anime eh? Huh. She’s really alert. There are times when she’ll stare at me for a couple minutes without blinking.
Farmgirl19 – I know how I responded to my dad when he showed up so I can imagine how it will work with her. There’s so much ahead for me to learn about the world via her eyes. I’m in for a ride.
Tori – spikey bangs got them a buzz cut? Okay, do me a favor, if your kids don’t ask you to stop cutting their hair by 2nd or 3rd grade, take them to a salon anyways. My dad used to cut my hair while in grade school. and it was pure torture.
Scarlet Hip – that’s funny about IM. Yeah, I will be on… maybe a bit less though. Anna takes a bit of priority.
Meno – they were very kind today and I didn’t have to repeat the birth story more than a few times. Not bad I say. I even had a present waiting for Anna when I arrived.
Tall Chick – maple leaf… those are quite colourful. You want a picture of my hair? Let’s wait a week when it looks a bit better. Grow hair grow!
Eunice – that was a really sincere and kind compliment. Thank you very much for saying so. Now, are you a tad bit biased about this so called “special group of people”?
Eunice – no, not too sappy at all. It was really nice to hear.
Sprizee – I promise I didn’t pay her to say such kind things.
sounds will bug you forever…when the kids are home…especially the first time grammy and grampy take anna for a visit…you will wonder why you don’t hear her breathing…it’s crazy…never the same…and vastly more rewarding than life ever was before.
Justrun – thanks for the nice compliment about my blog topics. The four weeks away from work, notice I didn’t say “off”, did fly by. It went better than I expected though.
Christine – thanks for coming back. Yep, I’m a dad now and it’s still hard for me to believe.
Liv – you make it sound like we live in a zoo. It was really nice to come home today, but I did miss the women of the house.
CS – the preoccupation will fade? Really? I find that to be a bit sad. I mean when they become 18 and go off to college.. I get that. We can agree on this, Anna is very cute.
Golden – as you can see by my comment above, I’m a bit skeptical about this.
Cindra – ha, that’s very funny. Here I am listening to baby sleeping as I”m in the basement blogging via the monitor. The new sounds of life are fun. I love it all.
You watch Moronic TV?
Maple leaves are pretty.
Maple Leafs are hot.^_^
It’s funny because I remember how much I used to love just putting my daughter in my lap and staring at her and it was the best feeling in the world. Now that seems boring… and I’m not putting down your love of it, I was the same way. But now that she’s 15 months it’s just amazing how the things she does now make me feel the same way you feel when you stare into her eyes. In 14 months she’ll be saying daddy and hi and bye and running to give you hugs and kisses and blowing you kisses goodbye and doing so many things that will make going to work everyday just as hard as I’m sure it was yesterday.
The preoccupation just changes colors as they grow and change. It evolves as they do, but I can honestly say, for me, I am completely and fully preoccupied with this young man that lives with me and occassionally has stinky socks. And burps.. and farts.
Tall Chick – yes, I watch moronic tv when home from work. See what you pro breastfreeding people have done to my life/wife. You see what happens!
Tim – what are you trying to do to me, make me work from home? Tempting.
Golden – I hear you on this one. It’s refreshing to know it doesn’t end in the teenage years. If the first three months are the “roughest” then I’m in for some fun times. It’s honestly been a bit rough, but all in all.. fairly manageable. My wife might answer that differently though since she’s the one with lactating boobs.
Me? Biased? Never. 😉
Eunice – fine, that’s like me saying Seattle sucks… it isn’t going to happen.
((smiling))
You mean you watch while you’re nursing?
Oh. It’s so heart-warming to read this about a dad in love with his wife and child.
I think my son knew what his dad was up to. I think that’s why everytime Dad changed diapers, a fountain of pee would fly in the air and hit him in the face. It never happened to me. Not even once.