Great Thing, Not Such a Small Package

One minute I blinked my eyes and some big boy had taken the place of my little baby. I remember when my wife and I brought my son home. He weighed less than 5 pounds and could rest on my forearm; now he weighs more than triple that and sprawls longer than my torso. That little, helpless baby is gone and in his place is a big, hungry, heavy, sometimes-rowdy, always-cool little dude.

When he was born, my friends who already had kids warned me that the days of having a cute, little fragile baby would be short-lived; they suggested I do all I can to cherish this too-short window. But what new parent ever has time or energy to fully take advantage? I was overwhelmed with trying not to injure, maim, or kill my baby while learning as much as I could on how to be a good parent—and trying to find a rhythm in all of it while marching forth woefully under-rested.

That's not to say I didn't have moments with my newborn that I will never forget. Is there a better feeling in the world than laying on the couch with a little baby napping on your chest and some nice tunes playing in the background? I've tried many, many ways to try and reach that level of relaxed contentment and all have fallen well short.

Now, it is onward, upward, and outward with my big little boy (or is it little big boy?). I'm open-eyed and enthusiastic to find new levels of contentment, happiness, and pride in my growing son. Of course, I'm also a little better prepared for all of the work and responsibility that being a good parent entails. Although I do still spend a good deal of worry and energy making sure my boy is uninjured, un-maimed, and un-killed.