Feb 14
When I left home to start a new family with Andrea, I said goodbye to my parents face to face. That was when I saw tears form, for the first time, in the corner of my dad’s eyes . It was a very sentimental moment but I never really understood those tears…until now.
2 nights ago, I shed the same tears…
When Andrea and I picked up Mateo and realized that he was slightly warmer than usual, we panicked and immediately groped for the thermometer. The moment the reading passed 38 degrees Celsius I just froze. It seemed like an eternity waiting for the darn thing to stop changing. And it finally did at 38.6. Panic, fear, and helplessness jumbled into one chaotic emotion. We started texting all of Mateo’s lolos and lolas, his pediatrician, and some doctor friends for help and some answers. An immediate text reply from his doctor instructed us to give him an antipyretic, Tempra drops, every 4 hours till the fever subsides.
After 2 dread-filled hours, Mateo’s temperature went down to normal. He started becoming all grouchy and hungry again. The little rascal went back to bugging us, crying loudly and guzzling incredible amounts of milk. And yet after being all tired and worn down from worrying, all I could do was sob…a father’s tears…the
tears of gratitude…
Feb 14
Its only been a month since our baby Mateo has first seen light, but it already feels like a whole lifetime has passed since that faithful day. Andrea and I have changed so much that nothing now really seems distinctly familiar. From the morning kisses all the way to the goodnight hugs, the routine we learned to live by for more than a year was redone almost overnight.
A baby will change so much in your life - your daily activities, schedules,the food you eat, everything! In fact, Andrea and I have never gone on a date again ever since Mateo came. (Not that we used to go out often) Because no one else would be left in the house to take care of our little one, we eventually decided to remove such luxuries in our lives for now, or at least until our baby has built enough resistance to fight against bacterial and viral agents outside.
I know it sounds a lot like a bunch of complains but that is what’s been happening. When I pictured myself as a dad, I saw the same me with the same exact things, same routines, same freedom and boundaries, except that I have a child. I didn’t exactly picture these changes as part of being a daddy. I guess most would-be-daddies never saw this coming. Sigh! I can’t wait till Mateo is strong enough to go out with us!
Feb 05
Here are 10 lessons that Andrea and I learned when we became new parents:
1.) A 6-hour sleep is a luxury, easily more precious and far rarer than any gem.
2.) Night is indistinguishable from morning especially when you’re baby-sitting. With the exception of the darkness and the absence of a lot of noise, they’re basically the same.
3.) Mixing milk formula every 2 hours with eyes half-closed is a vital skill every parent needs to learn. This allows you to extend sleep for a few minutes.
4.) Not getting soiled when cleaning the baby after pooping or peeing is a dream. No matter how careful you are, you will get soiled.
5.) (for baby boys) The birdie is always armed and dangerous. Never assume it’s not loaded or that you’re already out of range.
6.) There is no such thing as a perfectly patient parent. No matter how long you stretch your patience, the baby will reach your limit.
7.) When you’re parents or your spouse’s parents ask to take care of the child for a little while, allow them. These are crucial opportunities to get the much sought after long hours of sleep.
8.) Babies cry for a reason… hunger, feeling of wetness, gas, irritation, or sometimes just to tick you off
9.) No matter how crappy you feel after a long hard day of work, the baby can take all that crappiness away with a little smile… and give you a whole new kind of crappiness in the evening.
10.) No matter how sucky it sounds being a parent, the baby is all worth it.