Game Day Dad

When we were first getting used to having our baby living with us my dad liked to talk about how he could come home and sleep with us jumping up and down on the sofa around him.   He laughed about how he just didn’t care because he was tired and he’d just sleep through it.   I can actually remember that because the man would sleep through anything.    I used to wonder if he was just ignoring us but then he’d snore or roll and it was pretty apparent.  

I was terrified of having a baby feeling like I’d never sleep again.   Every little squeak or rustling that she’d make would have me on my feet and in her room.   If I was in the same room as her I couldn’t sleep.   It was terrible.    Over time things would change and finally it hit a point.   That point looked a little like the following:

We were sleeping

This picture isn’t of that first time.   This is a picture of around the 20th time we fell asleep like this together.   However I can remember the first time it happened.   I was feeding her on the couch and she fell asleep.  I nodded off and my wife touched my shoulder and laughed at me in awe because typically I can’t just fall asleep like that even if I’m alone.   As a parent I imagine we all hit this point where we can sleep together as such.  “Family sleeping” if you will is apparently a natural reaction to having babies.  I think I can safely advise you to get ready for it even if you’re the worst at falling asleep unless perfectly comfortable because I’m that guy.    I can honestly say that since having gotten used to our baby girl I can fall asleep faster than I ever could before.

Further I really enjoy the time together when we fall asleep like such.   It’s soothing to me to hold her and wake up to her being there sleeping.   She also naps longer if one of her parents are holding her which is nice.     It’s a bonding experience that every parent will dread but learn to appreciate with time.

I just got in trouble which brings up this post based on a paragraph I wrote a few months back when we first got our new baby.   This is one of the first things you’ll want to learn or become conscious of when you’re getting ready to having your new baby in the house.

Boys and therefore men are louder than women on average.   Much louder in fact you’ll find the first time your wife looks at you like she wants to stab you due to slamming of a door, loud clicking of a latch, dropping a box on the ground, etc.   At the time of this paragraph our baby is around 2 months old and I’ve probably startled her in this method around 7 times.   Twice I distinctly remember were in the middle of the night due to the long night that follows.   Mind you I’m not saying you must be quiet because lots of babies can sleep through any racket however sudden startling noises that most men make often need to be minded.   Start practicing now!