Bath Time...

Today we've graduated. The belly button fell off last week and we've been able to give Anna baths in the baby tub. So far it's been all Carrie as she's done them when I've been at work, but tonight I got my shot.

A short instructional from Carrie and I've got the bath situated and water running. Now I seem to recall purchasing some sort of water temperature tester during the baby supply stockpiling and it seems like this would be where that comes into play. Ah, yes the rubber duck with a hot censor on the bottom, here it is and away we go.

I draw a lukewarm bath thinking that they probably don't want it too hot and this is the safest. Stick my hand in, no problem...feels perfect. Better check with the rubber duck hot water censor though before proceeding. Drop in the duck wait a minute and turn it over...HOT!!! Really? I ask myself, but yield my own common sense to the power of the duck.

Well all is ok because Carrie is currently feeding Anna so it will have time to cool. A few minutes later, drop in the duck...HOT!!! I ask myself if something is wrong as it now almost feels like a swimming pool on a hot summer day, not cold but far from hot. Again I yield to the power of the duck and decide I'll add some cold water to the equation.

Cold water added, a few more minutes of cooling and this bath is pretty much room temperature. Curiosity get's the best of me and I drop the duck in the water...HOT!!! Now what the hell is this, do they want me to give my daughter a bath in a pitcher of ice water. I pull the duck out contemplate turning it into a dog chew toy and vent my frustration. Now I'm simply holding this rubber duck temperature censor in the air dry as can be and it's still telling me...HOT!!!

Fortunately Carrie got involved we ended up with a good bath and all is again well with Anna and bathtime, but I have learned my lesson. I will either be investing in a more sensitive hot water temperature measurement tool or using my own common sense, but I will never again yield power to "the duck."

I will however be keeping the duck around for future bath time play...while this thing may not serve it's purpose, it does look fun.

All Nighter

I'm not sure if Anna was trying to party like a rockstar for the 4th of July or what but on her first official holiday with us, we or I should say mostly Carrie pulled an all nighter last night. The shocking thing is Anna has still yet to sleep more than a couple hours as of Sunday evening at 7pm.

Now I knew having a daughter that someday, probably in the teen years, I would spend some sleepless nights and days in a battle of will power but I had no idea it would begin ten days in.

I should give her a little credit because Anna's hours spent awake are not all crying and screaming. There has been quite a bit of staring off into space, looking at her hands and even watching the epic Wimbledon Final with her dad.

I'm starting to think that this lamaze guy who helps women relax during childbirth should have a followup class for helping first time fathers relax during child raising.

3 aha moments...

In the hospital you go through two phases when having a child. Step one is the whole labor and delivery portion. Next is the move into the newborn area spending a couple of days and nights being taught how not to screw things up too badly by a group of nurses at your beckon call.

Looking back I think I would pay extra to have this service for an extended period of time. After two days in a hospital I was desperate to get out but it's still a tad bit intimidating to leave. Problem is, how else are you going to learn if you don't dive in head first...right? I must admit though, the ability to send Anna off to the nursery when she was crying so we could sleep was quite a deal.

Three moments from the hospital stick with me and while none are really huge stories on their own they were thoughts that ran through my head and account for a few of my first aha moments of parenthood.

First things first, admissions...up to room 317 and the door shuts behind me. This is it, no turning back and for the first time I think I'm really nervous. I hate hospitals, not a big fan of blood or others in pain. Whether I like it or not though I'm here for the duration and being it's only 730am it could be awhile.

Obviously all goes well, Anna joins us in the world and Carrie holds her. Now it's my turn to hold our new little girl. Now here's the thing, being a first time father and one without much experience with newborns I was already lacking in the confidence department. Looking to boost said confidence I take Anna from the nurse and find myself smiling ear to ear. Here's where I plummet back to earth. Not sure what I did or if it was just the look on my face but the nurse says to me, "You haven't been around a lot of newborns have you." What? are you kidding me...I was just boosting my self esteem lady and now you've brought back all those nerves from before. Aha moment number one...I have no clue what I'm doing.

Up next they move us to the other room and my wife, my daughter and I settle in for our first night as a family. Well, sort of...Carrie needs some sleep, I need some sleep and everyone recommends we get sleep. Anna, sorry I love ya but it's off to the nursery tonight. Well about three AM in true Kemp fashion I wake myself up with the sudden realization that I'm going to have to pay for a wedding someday....ouch. Carrie laughs at my concern, my blood pressure rises a bit I'm sure and it's back to those few precious hours of sleep remaining. A-Ha moment number two...I have a daughter and all the stress that goes with that.

Next morning bright and early is Anna's first bath. She comes in, Carrie feeds her and we are then escorted to the nursery so we can watch the fun happen. My first hint of what was in store followed. Upon walking into the nursery Anna begins to cry and all the nurses laugh and say "Anna's back." This is hint number one that you have a fussy baby. We complete the bath, Anna is dried off, situated and still won't stop crying. No big deal, this is normal...until I look around and the other 6 newborns in the room are all fast asleep calmly living out there new found lives. Hmmm? My baby doesn't seem to do that much, again in denial I think this is nothing to worry. Wrong, this was hint number two that we had a fussy baby. Aha moment number 3...I don't think she's going to make this easy on me.

So there you have it...my three aha moments from our time in the hospital and while I'm sure I'll make it through, I'm still dealing with the shock of having a brand new baby girl in the family. Good news is she sure does bring plenty of smiles to my face and that is a very good thing.

A Marathon, Not a Sprint...

Well we're a little over a week in and so far we've survived. Anna is doing great although she seems to have it out for us and our regular sleep schedule of the past. You hear mixed reviews from other new parents, some say sleep comes fairly easy and others say there is no sleep. I think we'd tend to find ourselves closer to the side of the sleepless in week one but it's all worth it and Anna is a funny one.

A big thank you to the grandma's and grandpa's that have been here to help early and those that are still on the way. Also to those who've extended there well wishes through calls, cards and thoughts over the past week, thank you.

As far as the business at hand of being a parent and father, there are inevitably some entertaining stories that I'd like to get on paper in the near future and have thus modified the name of the blog for a continuing look at our next phase of parenthood. While we certainly experienced changes in those 9 months of pregnancy, it's clear that those pale in comparison to those of truly raising a child. Not sure anything can fully prepare you for this but here we go and it's time to enjoy the ride.