Tag: Fatherhood

Ritual Swim

Saturday’s I have a new morning ritual. I go for a swim, then Sox drops Sprout off at the pool for his swim lesson. After the lesson we stop at the cafeteria for a snack before walking home.

Yesterday I managed to swim 600 or 700 m before the lesson. It wasn’t continual, but it was a good workout. The first 300 were the hardest, and I think that I got warmed up and was able to keep going for the rest of my swim. I probably could have done more too, but I think that next time I go I will work on swimming more continually instead of distance.

Anyone have any tips on how to keep track of how much distance you have covered while swimming? I always lose track of it.

Fathers Day Note 2007

Today is Fathers Day, and like last year I am reflecting on the past year with Sprout. My first reaction is where does the time go? Was it really a year already? 2 years ago we learned we were expecting?

Astonishment aside, being a dad is one of the best things I have done in my life. It is incredibly rewarding in the simplest of ways. Watching Sprout learn and grow, helping shape the course of his life, teaching him new games, tricks, jokes, and skills, and participating in his triumphs and achievements. Truth be told, the difficult parts (like refusals to get into seats, or the tantrums of a tired/hungry boy) are something to learn from as well.

I spend hours watching him play (not playing with him). I love to see how he plays, and how his mind works. While horsing around with him I can get him laughing the deepest belly laugh he can muster. His smile and laughter brighten my darkest mood. When I am with Sox and Sprout, I rarely think about work. I love cuddling with him first thing in the morning, and having him curl up into me at night while I sing to him before bed. Meal time with Sprout is always fun too (except when he starts throwing food directly at me).

I love being a dad. I love my wife, my son, and my family. Fathers day is perfect for reflecting on all of this.

Inspiring Moments

Every once in a while I am struck by the fact that I am a dad. I will be minding my own business and I get a warm fuzzy feeling when I think of Sprout.

Today has been full of those feelings.

This morning was a milestone (in my mind) for me. Sprout has been experimenting with walking for a few days now. He has taken a few steps between furniture, and he walked to his mum yesterday. That is pretty cute and inspiring to see him learn so quickly.

Movies and TV portray kids learning to walk quite a bit, and the typical scene is the parent with the arms out, and the child hesitantly letting go of the furniture and taking their first steps to the outstretched arms of the parent.

Sprout did this with me this morning, and this is what is causing me to smile and get warm fuzzies. He was standing holding on to the crib in his room with his blanket hanging from his mouth, while I was sitting in the chair in his room. I held out my hands not really expecting much, but he let go of the crib, stretched out his arms towards me, and walked over to me. 🙂

I was pretty proud of him, and it was such an accomplishment in my mind. He was pleased with himself too. Those are the kinds of moments I live for, those are the kinds of moments I love, and those are the kinds of moments I cherish and want to remember forever.

Experience Dads

I just got back from an interesting experience today.  I had to do some errands this morning, so I took Sprout with me.  I ended up at Mayfair mall, and after finishing my running around, I decided to get a coffee from Starbucks.

As I am heading in to the store, I notice a friend of mine wheeling his son towards the mall. He also had a friend of his, with his daughter.

So, there I am with two other dads, and two other kids, walking around the mall talking dad stuff, and drinking coffee.  I found it very enjoyable, yet something I never would have imagined myself if you had asked me when I was in my 20’s.

Sprout had fun too.  He always likes getting out, and that mall has a lot of sights to see.  I also bought him a few new toys which he seems to love playing with 🙂

Purposely Opening

I had read a while ago (before becoming a dad) that one of the best things about being a dad is getting to play like a kid again.

I must admit (as I am sure a lot of dad will admit) that this is very true. Sprout is getting to a very fun age where he is purposely playing with toys. This of course means I get to play with him. Crawling around on the floor, playing with cars and trains, building forts out of blocks, making funny noises with the mouth, and making funny faces are all things that I get to do while playing with Sprout. Some days it feels very therapeutic to be so silly. You can’t be stressed out or thinking about something serious when you are blowing raspberries or having a tickle fight. It just isn’t possible.

Having Sprout around is also really helping me relive my childhood. Every day I am remembering something I did as a kid, or something I didn’t do. It is pretty eye opening to me. I keep thinking about things I want Sprout to experience as he grows up. Camping, riding bikes, swimming, playing sports, family vacations, Christmas time. The list goes on. I want the world for him. Some things I just can’t wait for. Helping Sprout with homework, taking him to practice (for whatever sport he wants), going to ride bikes together. Dad things. I love spending time with him now, and can’t wait to spend more time with him in the future. I think that means I like being a dad.

Sox and Sprout have both been such amazing life changing events. Every day I feel lucky to have them, and to be around them. Thanks you two.

Sudoku Christmas

Christmas was really fun this year.  With Sprout around Sox and I wanted to spend Christmas morning at our home, so that is what we did.  Waking up at 6 am due to Sprout noises meant we got an early start to the day, but that was OK with us.

We opened a the gifts we had gotten Sprout’s and he eagerly played with them while we ate breakfast.  When it was time for his nap, we jumped into the car and headed up to Nanaimo for Christmas with Gramma and Auntie C.  More presents, and more yummy breakfast. Sprout got a wonderful Tigger plane that he played and played and played with.  Actually, Sprout got quite a few wonderful gifts.

Boxing day was leisurely and relaxed.  Yoshi got a walk on the beach, Sprout played with his toys, and Sox and I did Sudoku puzzles.

The morning of the 27th started off very stormy.  Our original plan was to stay until after dinner and drive home while it was dark.  We changed the plan due to the weather since I didn’t want to drive while it was stormy.  We left around lunch time which worked well for Sprout, but by that time the storm has dissipated.  Oops.

Back at home we recuperated for a couple days, then headed over to Vancouver for a couple more days to visit with Sox’s family.  All her brothers and sister were in town, plus all their significant others, their children, and their dogs.  It was quite a full house (7 adults, 4 children, 3 dogs, and 1 cat).

I came home on the 31st with Yoshi while Sox continued on to Powell River with her sister to see their dad.  New Years Eve was pretty quiet for me, and I didn’t do anything except watch a bit (lot) of TV.  At midnight I said Happy New Year to Yoshi then went to bed. I could hear fireworks outside, and of course this drove Yoshi scared and silly.  A half hour later I kicked him out of the bedroom and he went to bed.

Today I woke up feeling sick, but then went for a bike ride.  I got cleaned up after the ride and have basically lounged the rest of the day. Tomorrow I return to work, and Sox and Sprout return home some time (hence why I didn’t go with them).

I hope to get some pics of all this up some time soon.

Several people have asked me about Sprout’s first Christmas and how much fun it was. My answer is that his first Christmas was very fun.  He seemed to love his new toys that he got, and played with all of them quite a bit. He also got lots of cute clothing.  The flip side was that I very much enjoyed his first Christmas. It was fun to watch him play and get excited about his toys, and really was a hint of years to come.  Stories of Santa coming to leave presents, reindeer on the roof, leaving cookies for Santa and treats for Rudolph, stuffed stockings, and excitement/anticipation for presents.  I think that Christmas next year will be quite different from this year, and quite fun since he will be old enough to open his own presents (and maybe a few of mine too).

Swimming Squeals

I had an interesting experience tonight. Tonight was Sprouts first swimming lesson. Really it is just a class to get him used to being in the water, but they call it a swimming lesson. I turned out to be the only dad in the class. That was the weird part.

Sprout seemed to enjoy it, and made some happy noises and squeals every now and then. We played a few different games, and sang a few songs. The next few classses will be more fun now that I know what to expect.

Sox and I were going to switch off for each class, but that was before I withdrew from the Creative Photography course, and before I learned that each class they will be teaching something different. I don’t want to have to learn from Sox what happened, so it seems best that I be the one doing this rounds of lessons.