Damn the second point is so TRUE. I remember my wife hated getting up to the baby at night, and I loved it. It just felt so natural, as if getting up at night for the baby made me the ultimate father. As I don't feel so "ultimate" at the usual day to day, feeling so on a daily (well, nightly) basis is pretty good.
Smooch that belly! Nothing better than baby kissing. Good luck with the workload. The end of the semester will be here before you know it. Just don’t skimp on your conversations with Bob Wright! We must not have you making the lot of us miserable by your absence.
She's a sweetheart! I was riveted by the novel Flesh. I'm so I curious about your take on Istvan's psychology. To me I imagine that he embodies the character of many young men today. Hey when you get a minute can you pronounce Szalay?
Depending on where you've got to in your binge, and how much you can keep your eyes open when not on Zoe watch, if you haven't read it yet then I think Spring is the best of Szalay's novels. Highly recommend elevating to the top of the pile, with the caveat that it might help a lot to be English when reading it. (Flesh I actually found something of a disappointment, but probably because I hold his earlier work in such high regard.)
Paul, Congratulations! Let me offer you my unsolicited advice I offer to all new/about to be new Dads.
We parents lied. Having a baby is not all bunnies, fluffy clouds and cuddles. In fact, those first few months can be really dark and scary. Your spouse loves this little thing so much; her body hurts and is different; you may feel estranged; your role is primarily logistics, food service and janitorial; the baby doesn't like you all that much b/c you aren't Mom. Shit can get hard and you may wonder "WTF is wrong with me?".
You wouldn't be the first.
At around 3-3.5 months, the baby starts to realize there is this other non_Mom human who makes funny faces, funny sounds and is generally all-right. You'll get smiles, laughs and giggles.
It does get better, but it can get really challenging too.
I love this. I'm with your wife on the reason for the difference in your response to Zoe versus your sons. :) Bill Talbott once remarked to me that he thought parents suffered more as the result of having their child but that somehow, they didn't mind the suffering--a quasi-paradoxical description of the situation that seems exactly right to me.
This is so sweet! It reminds me of "The Sweet Spot" -- your sleepless nights are spent for a meaningful cause, taking care of your newborn baby whom you love. At the end of the day that's definitely happiness.
I hope you take care of yourself too so that we can read more of your writing in the long run!
Damn the second point is so TRUE. I remember my wife hated getting up to the baby at night, and I loved it. It just felt so natural, as if getting up at night for the baby made me the ultimate father. As I don't feel so "ultimate" at the usual day to day, feeling so on a daily (well, nightly) basis is pretty good.
I wonder how much your insomnia was caused by your belief that you have insomnia.
Paul, I am two weeks in with my Felix. The three apply exactly to me. On the third, I don’t know: it’s my first one and I sort of an older guy, 38.
Smitten Potato.
Smooch that belly! Nothing better than baby kissing. Good luck with the workload. The end of the semester will be here before you know it. Just don’t skimp on your conversations with Bob Wright! We must not have you making the lot of us miserable by your absence.
She's a sweetheart! I was riveted by the novel Flesh. I'm so I curious about your take on Istvan's psychology. To me I imagine that he embodies the character of many young men today. Hey when you get a minute can you pronounce Szalay?
Depending on where you've got to in your binge, and how much you can keep your eyes open when not on Zoe watch, if you haven't read it yet then I think Spring is the best of Szalay's novels. Highly recommend elevating to the top of the pile, with the caveat that it might help a lot to be English when reading it. (Flesh I actually found something of a disappointment, but probably because I hold his earlier work in such high regard.)
Paul, Congratulations! Let me offer you my unsolicited advice I offer to all new/about to be new Dads.
We parents lied. Having a baby is not all bunnies, fluffy clouds and cuddles. In fact, those first few months can be really dark and scary. Your spouse loves this little thing so much; her body hurts and is different; you may feel estranged; your role is primarily logistics, food service and janitorial; the baby doesn't like you all that much b/c you aren't Mom. Shit can get hard and you may wonder "WTF is wrong with me?".
You wouldn't be the first.
At around 3-3.5 months, the baby starts to realize there is this other non_Mom human who makes funny faces, funny sounds and is generally all-right. You'll get smiles, laughs and giggles.
It does get better, but it can get really challenging too.
Congrats!!
I'm not a dad, but hope to be one day and have always dreaded the insomnia. But this post gives me hope
I love this. I'm with your wife on the reason for the difference in your response to Zoe versus your sons. :) Bill Talbott once remarked to me that he thought parents suffered more as the result of having their child but that somehow, they didn't mind the suffering--a quasi-paradoxical description of the situation that seems exactly right to me.
We will need a Just Babies followup We will need a Just Babies follow-up.
Congratulations. What a lucky and fabulous chance to parent again and still. I am smiling for you.
This is so sweet! It reminds me of "The Sweet Spot" -- your sleepless nights are spent for a meaningful cause, taking care of your newborn baby whom you love. At the end of the day that's definitely happiness.
I hope you take care of yourself too so that we can read more of your writing in the long run!