A little over a week after my 21st birthday, The Boy was born. I was about as unprepared for this event as a person could be. I was there for the entire process, and while perhaps a little woozy, I dealt with it fairly well. The part for which I wasn’t ready was parenthood itself. I was a wreck, and I’m not sure I ever completely got over it.
But this time was different. I wasn’t just ready; I was getting impatient. I needed to see what she looked like, sounded like, and smelled like. Now that she’s here, I couldn’t be happier. I’m completely smitten with this little girl. I’m not one to spoil, well, anyone, but I can’t help it with this one. I’ll do my best to make sure I don’t overdo it, but I make no promises.
Sleep, which was so difficult to achieve literally for years, is easy now. Those who know me realize just how amazing that is. Gone are the days of avoiding caffeine after noon. I can sleep at night.
I know that I’ve learned a lot in the past 13 years, and that I’ll do a better job now than I did at age 21. In a way I feel badly about that, but it can’t be helped. Also, in 10-12 years, I’m going to be the scariest entity in the lives of many junior high boys.
So I’ve got that going for me, which is nice.


This sounds like bliss. Congratulations!