Day 20 - Work Vs. Family

10:08pm




I really don't have much to say. I haven't really been home lately. Last night I was so tired that I fell asleep without setting my alarm on my phone. So I woke up a little late, and made it to work about fifteen minutes after I was scheduled to start. I have a lot of overtime this week, and it will help to offset the fact that my wife is off of work. But at the same time, I am missing out on a lot of time with our new baby.



Is it worth it?


The question is hard to answer. We could use the extra money, but is it worth missing the first few weeks of her life? I am barely ever home. Just enough to eat and sleep.

This is probably the most time we will be able to spend together, as a family, in a long time. When is the next time my wife will have eight weeks off of work? I only get three weeks total, each year, for vacation time. I think she gets two. So is the extra few hundred dollars worth all this bonding time that we could be having with our new daughter?

The United States needs to give fathers paternity leave. Even if it's for a week or two, that's better than nothing. I, like most dads, need to work while our wives are on maternity leave, because there aren't many Americans that can afford to both take off.

So I will continue to miss out on my daughter's life. I don't really have a choice. It's a shame, really. But what choice is there? Win the lottery? I would have to play for that to happen...

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Day 19 - Have A Newborn? Get To Work!

9:54pm

Worked at a different store today. It was my day off but a newborn needs lots of $$$$. So I decided to go help out and get the overtime. 

I'm exhausted right now. Just got back from Walgreens and Walmart. Little B did great. 

Did I mention yesterday that she has gained one pound and three inches in length? What a little chunker! She's always hungry so I'm not suprised. 

The nice new cake display that was at the new store today. I might have drooled on the glass a bit... Sorry!

Day 18 - How To Get A Newborn Baby To Smile

4:10pm

I think we figured it out. We have seen her smile quite a few times. Though we couldn't really figure out what exactly she was smiling about. Other than a relief-fueled smile after a nice long bowel movement, it's hard to get her to smile on demand. Or a kiss from her dad usually works too, but that might just be coincidence. 

This morning, before going to work, my wife called me into the bedroom to show me that when you rub her face with the silky part of a blanket, she almost always smiles. She loves it. What's funny, is that I used to love the same thing when I was little. I'm going to go ahead and make the assumption that all babies must love this action, so go ahead and try it with yours. If it doesn't work, let me know. Not that I will really care. 

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Day 17 - Sleepy With Her Dad

4:13pm

Working a lot this week. Until 10pm tonight and tomorrow. So my wife has been great by making us breakfast and lunch earlier today so that I could get some rest. Me and little B slept until about noon today, only waking up to eat. 

Day 16 - How Long Until We Can Eat A Normal Dinner Again?

10:06pm



How long until we can eat a normal dinner again?

Brynlee likes to interrupt our mealtimes, as if she knows what she is doing. Like she doesn't want us to eat. It's all about her now. If we are doing something, she wants the attention. She makes sure that she eats first. She is so spoiled.

Tonight, for example.

I brought home a few strip steaks for dinner. My wife started cooking them shortly after I got home. I was watching the first Blackhawks game of the season, with little B. Well, she wasn't really watching, but she was with me. So when dinner was ready, she brought it out in to the living room, so that we could eat while watching the game. Right away Brynlee starts crying for food. So my wife has to let her food sit to feed her.

I get about halfway done with my food, and my wife hasn't even touched hers yet. I get up to use the restroom, during a pause in the game. I hear an "Oh my God!" from the living room, followed shortly by a "Kevin, I need your help!".

I come out to find that Brynlee decided to poop out the top of the back of her diaper. Soaked her onesie, and made a mess of herself. Great! Now we both have to stop eating to get her all cleaned up and redressed. Needless to say, the steaks still tasted good. But yes, everything was cold by the time we were able to eat. This happens regularly I'd say.


We both love her so much. We don't know what we would do without her. It's hard to imagine that we didn't have her before. It's awesome to be a dad. Very tough, especially for mom, but totally worth it.


Can I get a warm steak now, please?





Little B couldn't handle the hockey game, she passed out (for a few minutes, until dinner was done) after the first period.

 

Day 15 - Walking Milk Machine

9:35pm

Today is my day off this week. My only one, because I am going to work some overtime at a different store, on my other day off. We could use the extra income due to my wife being off of work. Looks like she might be off for 8 weeks now instead of the original 6. It's up to her doctor when to release her. 

This baby won't stop eating. What is normal for a two week old? She eats about 4oz every time we feed her. She is looking for food probably four or five times a day. But sometimes she spits some of it up afterwards. It's like her eyes are bigger than her stomach. Her dad seems to have this same problem. (The big eyes part, not spitting up). But she seems to always be hungry. I don't think babies are supposed to eat as much as she does. But then again, she does have a few chins to feed. She's quite the little chunker. 

Today I noticed that she doesn't really like when I hold her. It's either that, or she just favors her mom. Or coincidence that she was uncomfortable or something every time I held her. Today she just didn't want me to have her I guess. She would cry and cry. I had her diaper changed, she was fed, and burped. Still cried. Gave her to her mom and she was fine. 

Now I'm thinking, wait a minute? Does she not like her dad!? How could she not? I feed her all the time! I talk to her and change her. I kiss her. I hold her and comfort her. She better like me! I try to be the best dad I can be, but I think all kids are a little partial to their mothers. After all, mom is a walking milk machine, and I can't offer anything close to that. 

Mom has been a little crabby today. Baby, too. I don't know if the normal monthly women problems are in effect or not yet, this soon after being pregnant. But I like to blame it on that anyways. Maybe she has me trained? When I am in a bad mood, I tend to occupy my time with getting stuff done. This morning I cleaned the house, after being up most of the night with Brynlee so that mom could get some rest. Now it all makes sense.....

Day 14 - Breaking Bad Halloween

6:43pm




We are preparing for the season finale of Breaking Bad. They have been playing the whole series, marathon-style, for the last couple days, leading up to the finale. So these last few episodes have really been tense. Can't wait to see what happens at the end!! So instead of spending time on the blog, I will leave you with a few photos of our Halloween decorations so far...

 

Getting excited for our first trick-or-treaters ever. (This is our first place, for any new readers. And if you are new, why not start from the beginning? Week 10 Day 1) 

Some little baby feet I seen peeking out.