Hurricane Sandy Archives – I'm Not Grandpa

Time has a way of sneaking up on you. I have a hard time believing I’ve been a parent for over year and a half. Spending time with friends recently reminded me how much my life’s changed in that time. I love my son and being a dad, but it’s a lot of work.

This list is a public service to anyone thinking about starting a family. Take a good look, this is required reading. I invite any parent to add anything I missed or to share what lies ahead.

1. Did your better half’s pregnancy hormones make you look forward to your next prostate exam?
2. Did picking a baby name remind you of Congress trying to agree on immigration reform?
3. Let’s work on the nursery means she plans layout and design and you move furniture back and forth again, and again, and again.
4. Are your wife’s friends using possessive terms like our baby?
5. Are you calling them up at 3am because our baby was screaming like a banshee?
6. Did you carry your newborn son around like Mufasa carrying Simba at the beginning of the Lion King?
7. Did you show the baby to everyone on the maternity ward, including security guards and the maintenance staff?
8. Was putting the baby in your father’s arms for the first time the best gift you ever gave him?
  Dad holding Cristian. He was the best gift I could have given him.
9. Did it take you at least 45 minutes to figure out how to install the car seat correctly?
10. Did you put the baby’s car seat into the car gently like you were handing a carton of eggs?
11. Was driving your wife and child home from the hospital the slowest you’ve driven since you took your road test for your driver’s license.
12. Was your first night home alone with your baby the scariest night of your life?
13. Did the first few days of childcare make you feel like a sequestered juror on a high-profile trial?
14. Friends and family will want to see the baby. This isn’t a bad thing.
15. Remember when friends ask what can I bring, think big. It’s a limited offer so think surf and turf not chicken nuggets.
16. I’ve spent many a sleepless night wonder at the logic of giving a baby with a well-functioning digestive system prunes.
17. How long did it take to you to learn, babies will pee on you?
18. Have the words onesie, boppy and binky become part of your vocabulary?
19. Do the words Butt Paste make you giggle?
20. I’m convinced anyone advising sleep when the baby sleeps, never took care of a baby.
21. Things are easier if you know a good Baby Whisperer
22. You will be required to take your child on a Baby Tour for the benefit of family members who couldn’t make it to your home.
23. The dog or cat who was your child before the baby was born will go back to being a dog or cat. Sorry Chico.
24. Don’t expect to sleep through the night for a few years.
25. Why are the baby wipes and diapers always at the bottom of the diaper bag?
26. Few things in life change your mood faster than a diaper blowout.
27. Are you the only Dad in Mommy and Me class?
28. Am I the only Dad whose nipples were sore after Mommy and Me class?
29. Mommy and Me class will make you channel your parents.
30. Do you wonder who is more annoying Daniel Tiger or Caillou?
31. Competitive parents suck.
32. Don’t be too anxious for the baby to start walking. Trust me.
33. It’s okay to look silly in front of the baby.
34. Your home will look like the Jersey Shore after Hurricane Sandy.
35. Does Netflix and Chill mean you actually sit on the couch and watch a movie?
36. How long did it take you to learn there are no quick trips to pick up anything for the baby?
37. If you think babies don’t throw tantrums until they are two-years old, I have a surprise for you.
38. Is getting your toddler to sleep a Darwinian Survival of the Fittest?
39. Have you thought of putting a Fitbit on your toddler to see how many steps he takes in a day?
40. Do you compare notes with other parents on the strangest places you’ve found poop and puke?
41. Do you remember when being awakened at 3am meant you were getting lucky, now you hope the baby rolls over and goes to sleep once you’ve given him a bottle.
42. Are your iPhone and iPad high-tech pacifiers.
43. Have you told people, “Don’t let his smile fool you?”
44. Do you flood social media sites with pictures of your child?
45. Have your family and friends planned an intervention because of posting too many baby pictures?
46. Have you chased a twenty-something working in GNC around the store with your screaming child to reinforce the importance of birth control?
47. Do you think sitting in cramped airplane seat with a screaming toddler in your lap should be used as a fraternity-hazing ritual?
48. Your child will soon crawl in and out of his crib with ninja-like efficiency.
49. When you are singing Elmo’s Greatest Hits or humming the Pepa Pig theme, it’s time for a night out.
50. Everyone is an expert. You will get lots of unsolicited advice from all sides. Get used to it.

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Esther and I BC - Before Cristian — Esther and I BC – Before Cristian

Parenthood is a life-changing experience, I love being a Dad. That said any parent, or more specifically this parent is letting you know your life is going to change because you WILL make sacrifices along the way. I knew this coming in—at least I thought I did.

If you are thinking about starting a family this is a must read—it will give you some insight on what lies ahead.

Pregnancy – You want a sneak peek on parenthood, pregnancy is a good place to start. There’s weight gain, sleepless nights and moodiness—and that was just me. Prepare for a rollercoaster ride of Lamaze Classes, baby registries, and unsolicited advice from all sides. I don’t know what was rougher dealing with my better half’s hormones or agreeing on the baby’s name. Don’t worry about the sleep deprivation—you’ll catch up once the baby’s born.

New Baby/Clueless Parents – The first days are a blur of, baby bottles, dirty diapers, and caffeine (mine not the baby’s). Bonus points if you survive without getting peed on. After a week of this your friends and family will want to see the baby. Hopefully they will do more than post selfies with your child on Instagram. Helpful hint, don’t be shy when someone asks, “What can I bring.” It’s a limited-time offer so forget the chicken nuggets and go for the big ticket items like surf and turf.

The Baby Tour – Once the baby’s older you’ll be required to take him on tour. This is done for the relatives who couldn’t make it to your home or were afraid of the cranky old man, otherwise known as me. Packing the car with the baby bag, separate clothes bag, laundry bag, (all stuffed with individually packed zip lock bags), stroller, playpen, and hopefully the baby is time consuming. I’m an experienced logistics guy who coordinated corporate events in every major convention center and hotel in North America, it was less stressful than loading the car for a twitchy mommy wanting to show off her pride and joy.

Air Travel – Is the Baby Tour on steroids. Imagine packing everything listed above in addition to your own luggage and spending at least three hours in a cramped airline seat with a squirming toddler in your lap. Sure the baby flies free but would it hurt the airlines to throw in a few free drinks? When things get rough go to the parents’ secret weapon–Benadryl. Travelling with a baby makes you long for the days when you travelled with just one backpack.

Before, the toys are neatly stacked while the baby sleeps.

House Looks Like a Natural Disaster – Do you like an orderly home? Does your bathroom have cute little soaps and towels only guests are allowed to use? Does your living room come straight from the pages of Better Homes and Gardens? Toddlers change that in a hurry. Once they start walking you’re immaculate home will look like the Jersey Shore after Hurricane Sandy. If you’re lucky you may qualify for a FEMA reimbursement.

After - The baby wakes up. Imagine what the rest of the house looks like. — After – The baby wakes up. Imagine what the rest of the house looks like.

Sleeping the Night – Scratch this one off the list for a few years, there’s no rhyme or reason to a baby’s sleep patterns, don’t try to understand it, just manage it–like a pregnant woman’s hormonal outbursts. Haven’t you been reading this blog? If you’re lucky the baby only wakes up once a night. Of course teething can change that quickly. Don’t worry, you’ll learn to function on four-hours sleep.

Lazy Sunday Mornings – Sunday mornings used to be about selfish pleasures, a morning run, an IHOP breakfast or lying in bed with Esther reading the Sunday paper. A baby changes this and those simple pleasures become luxuries. Sunday mornings are now about watching PBS Kids and chasing the baby around the living room.