Now that we are half-a-year into this adventure, I think I’m finally ready to admit something. Time always seems to be the one thing I can’t get enough of. Coincidentally, it’s also something that won’t go by fast enough.
From the beginning, time was the IncrediDad’s arch enemy. It didn’t seem like there was enough time to prepare ourselves for the major lifestyle change our bundle of joy was about to bring. On the other hand, I remember days where I wanted to shout at Bex’s belly, “Hurry up and get out of there already!”. Time eventually caught up with us though and Boy Wonder was born.
Of course Boy Wonder’s birth was another prime example of this time dilemma. From the moment Bex told me she was in labor, it seemed like there wasn’t enough time to get her to the hospital. Once we were there, we waited hours and hours for Boy wonder to finally make his appearance. I remember the nurse actually told me to take a nap. If I had known that was the last nap someone would ever tell me to take, I would have savored it’s sweetness.
Once we brought him home, time seemed to go in the other direction. 4 a.m. seemed to last forever. He would wake up crying his eyes out. Bex would give him the boob, and it calmed him down for a minute. Then the crying would start all over again. Wet diaper. So I’d change it and take him out to the rocking chair. By this time, he was wide awake and giggling at me. I remember longingly looking back at my former bed knowing I wouldn’t be returning to it’s warm blankets until the next night. I’m writing this at 4:30 in the morning. That should tell you that not much has changed since then.
Time can’t seem to make up it’s mind though. Some parts of the day, like 4 a.m. or the hour before Bex comes home from work seem to drag on forever. But our play dates at the park, story time, date night, those all go by way too quickly.
As soon as the bump starts to show, it’s time for strangers to start give you parenting advice, “Eat this, it’s good for the baby.” “Should she be lifting that?”. Then when the baby comes, “Is that too tight?” “He looks cold”. You know what I wish they would have said?
“Enjoy each and every minute of this.”