the worried father

your first big date

2009-09-04T22:56:00.004-04:00

So, tonight you had your first big grown-up outing. We went with our next door neighbors, Danny and Kim, to Sol, a local outdoor restaurant. We had been chatting with Kim and Danny about how well I have been handling the diaper changes and spit up and about how proud I was. A former intern from Working Class strolls up and we start catching up, and no sooner do you decide to void your bowels. This wouldn't have been much of an issue had your diaper functioned properly.

It was sort of like when you drop a Mentos into a 2-liter bottle of Diet Coke, and the look of relief on your face was that of pure bliss.

I now know the beginnings of Fatherhood.

hello world

2009-08-17T09:33:00.003-04:00

after 14 some-odd hours of labor, you finally decided to hop on out... and hop, you did! as soon as your head came out, the rest of you followed at lightning speed. we love you so much and we're so glad to have finally met you, conor reid o'bryan.

onesie gifts

2009-08-11T19:56:00.004-04:00

we're on countdown now! your room is ready for you and i'm not sure how much more your mom's belly can stretch.

the good news is that some of my students (kat and wei wei) got together and made you some cute onesies. you're going to be such a hit with the ladies, young man.

belly pictures

2009-07-29T21:45:00.006-04:00

so, i took some pictures of you in your mom's belly. you've been kicking up a storm lately, little man. apparently, you like my music quite a bit. just a few more weeks and you're finally here. i'm so excited about hanging out with you. thank God you're almost here.

to quiet down your aunt jess...

2009-07-24T18:51:00.007-04:00

well, we are almost sure that your name will be conor reid, but we really have to meet you first to be sure.

your aunt jess has been on me about posting, but we've been so busy working on your new room. your mom just video'd it and here it is below.

we're just so excited about you getting here. only a month to go too.

oh, and check out your super awesome orange and black hoodie that's hanging above your changing table. i picked it out for you. you're welcome.

new things in life

2009-06-16T16:13:00.006-04:00

we've been getting all kinds of fun things for you lately. your bed is already put together and your carseat and stroller are here too. now, all you have to do is stop kicking your mom in the ribs.... oh and come out and play too.

we're registered for all your cool stuff at babies 'r us and target.

the beach

2009-06-02T08:02:00.003-04:00

yesterday, your mom and i got to go to the beach. we just napped and hung out for a few hours. you're getting so big, as you can clearly see from these pics of you incubating. it's going to be a hot summer for your poor mom.

baby einstein and his counterparts

2009-05-29T07:16:00.005-04:00

so, your mom and i have been wondering just how much tv and video games would be too much for you. we know we don't want very much for you in the first place. books are the way to go. we'll read to you and eventually have you read to us. sci fi? yes please. your first book report could potentially be ender's game. your mom probably wants it to be harry potter, but we both know better, don't we?

there will be so much music in the house too. we'll have the standards, of course: weezer, led zepplin, van halen, etc. but we'll also be sure you get a fair amount of all genres. you may love hip-hop or country or just dig on 18th century russian classical. we'll even allow some plain ol' top forty now and again. we just want you to enjoy the art that others have made before you.

oh and by the way, that voice you keep hearing up next to the wall of your current residence is mine. you seem to either be happy about it and start kicking like crazy or you're annoyed that some jackass is constantly waking you up and telling you about his day. yeah, i'm that jackass. you might want to get used to that voice because your daddy talks a lot.

life moves so fast

2009-05-26T14:30:00.007-04:00

hey little buddy. so we've learned that you are a boy. we're so excited about you. more so than ever. your mom and i have been registering for all sorts of fun things (and not so fun things) for all of us to use. (from what i hear, the diaper genie will be a lifesaver.) i'm still taking pictures of your mom as you can see. we actually have some pics of you in the belly too, but i broke the scanner somehow and still haven't been able to figure it out.

i'm sure you're not too worried about it though. you've been too busy kicking your mom. sometimes when i talk to you, i can actually feel you kicking the side of my head. pretty strong legs you got there, kiddo.

so, it's the beginning of summer right now and it is so hot and muggy. you'll love this time of year because you'll get to get all dirty and play in the yard. your grandparents have already started buying you all sorts of cool things to play with. unfortunately, your grandma dizzy thinks you'd be cuter as a little foppish boy. don't worry. we'll dress you up, take the photos and burn any physical remains of the nauseatingly queer clothing she has purchased for you.

you are a boy

2009-04-27T20:00:00.001-04:00

pictures are coming soon! we're so excited about you. we might even have a name already.

so far... further.

2009-04-02T09:38:00.003-04:00

the camera had been acting up, so i wasn't able to post the last 3 weeks of mommy's belly.

so far

2009-03-29T14:01:00.002-04:00

So, here's Mom's belly over the course of the last few weeks.

st. patrick

2009-03-17T22:55:00.005-04:00

Today was St. Patrick's Day. I asked your mom to marry me on St. Patrick's Day 6 years ago. Today, though, we went downtown and enjoyed the parade with some friends. The McKay's were there. Here's a picture of baby Kate with your mom and me.

tv

2009-03-09T11:37:00.002-04:00

So here's the clencher, kiddo: I love tv. I love all media. Unfortunately, (if I get my way) you don't get to have tv for the first bit of your life. It's just too much stimulation for that new brain of yours. I want to read you books and play with Play-doh. We'll get to the tv later. Promise.

And when we do, we'll get to geek out and watch Jeopardy together. I can't wait to Trebek with you.

Lovely day

2009-03-04T12:31:00.004-05:00

It's just so gorgeous out right now. This time next year, we'll get to go to the park. Now, you won't get to hit the slide just yet, but we can just sit and chill. We'll take in the sights. Watch the fixed-gear bicycles go by and roll around in the grass. I'll get you a really great hat and a scarf too.

Can't wait to hang out with you.

Perfection

2009-03-02T08:42:00.004-05:00

Hey kiddo,
I hope you will quickly realize that although I'm really critical of myself, that you don't have to be. I just want you to be safe and happy. My mom, your grandma, told me pretty quickly that I could grow up to be whatever I wanted but only if it made me happy. So, for the longest time, I wanted to be a ditch digger; not a person who digs ditches, but the actual piece of yellow heavy machinery that you'll soon see on the side of the road digging ditches. Your grandma wasn't sure if that would happen, but if it made me happy, then so be it. The same thing applies for you, little one.

Sure, if you are good at math or music, but really enjoy sports or literature, I'm still going to guide you to become more well-rounded. However, your mom and I want you to pursue whatever it is that you are passionate about.

We love you and can't wait to meet you.

ps- This is a picture of your Mom at about 11 weeks. She's cute.

Weather and parties and Maeby the dog

2009-03-01T07:16:00.006-05:00

There's been talk of snow today. The first day of March. It's a little unlikely, but it'd be pretty cool if it did. I wonder if you'll like hot weather like me or if you'll be more into the cold? My guess is, if you're hot natured like me, that you'll much rather the heat. So freeing to wear less and just let the sweat flow.

The sky is full of lightning as I type this (so beautiful) and your future dog, Maeby, is terrified. You'll like her. She's sweet and completely awkward, just like your mom and I. Thunder is clapping over and over, and she's curled into a tight little ball (which is no small feat for a big ol' dog like her). She'll probably knock you down as you're first learning to walk, because she'll think you're ready to play like she does. She just doesn't get it most of the time. She's elegant, but silly.

Your mom threw me a surprise birthday party last night. It was fun. My first ever surprise party. A few of your future friends were there too. Baby Kate and baby Isaiah slept through most of it, but they'll be old enough to hang out with you after you're born.

I'm sure they can't wait to meet you.

Sports & such

2009-02-28T08:27:00.002-05:00

Little one, I can't help but think about whether you'll be into sports. If so, that's where your mom will be the big help. (She's a coach, you know.) You see, the only way I would ever get into organized sports is if I were watching you play. Not sure if that's because I knew too many jocks during high school or what, but I'm just not that into it.

If so, are you going to be into team sports? Or are you more of a golf kid? Or are you just going to read lots of books?

I love you, and I can't wait to meet you.

Who will you become?

2009-02-27T06:45:00.002-05:00

I wonder so often about what you will be like. What you will sound like when you talk? What sort of music will you like? WIll you be left-handed like me or right-handed like your mom?

You have a lot of people very excited right now. They can't wait to meet you.

Your picture

2009-02-26T14:30:00.005-05:00

Say cheese, little one.

So you're going to be born...

2009-02-26T09:34:00.000-05:00

So, you're going to be born. Wow. Here's the deal: I'm going to be your dad, and although I'm pretty sure we're all going to turn out alright with all of this, I can't help but have moments of total freak-out. I mean, I've never actually done anything like this. I've still got tons of bad habits: I swear too much, I eat the wrong things and don't work out near enough, and like the title of this blog, I worry way too much.

One thing's for sure though, I can't wait to meet you.