Here it is, the Dad Blog.  You’ll find that my writing style is a little more, shall we say, direct and efficient.  OK, my entire life is direct and efficient.  Unfortunately, you’ll find this out as you get older and realize that your mom and dad are completely insane for so many different reasons.  I promise it’s insane in a good way.  At least that’s what we tell ourselves to justify it, and keep doing it!   Anyway, I am breaking up this submission into a few different parts.  However, they will be in order, and you might run into bullet points.  I love bullet points.  They are, um, direct, and efficient. 

Discovery

The night before your mom told me about you, I was up until 2am playing Star Wars Battlefront.  Now, I wasn’t playing by myself.  I was playing online with my friends..SO, it’s really not THAT pathetic.  It was a good night, I moved up a few ranks, learned some new tricks, a very solid effort overall.  As I was shutting down for the night, I thought, “Wow, I’m 40 years old, playing video games in the basement until 2am.  I might never grow up!!”  Then, the next morning changed everything.

I woke up to your mom in tears.  Did somebody die?  Was someone in an accident?  Did she make a mess in the kitchen (again)?  Then I calmly asked, “Are you pregnant?”  After a few nice words, “OK, well listen, I’m still sleepy, let’s talk later.”  After a little more sleep, I composed myself, and had a variety of thoughts / emotions;

·         Excitement

·         Fear

·         Happiness

·         Fear

·         Anxious

·         Fear

So at first glance, that doesn’t look too great, huh?  The fear wasn’t a bad thing.  It’s just the way I’m programmed.  I immediately started thinking of all the things we had to do.  I overwhelmed myself.  However, I brought everything back down to zero.  Grounded my spinning head, and do what I needed to do.  Realize I can’t prepare for everything, take things day by day, and appreciate the moment.  I like things organized, planned, well thought out, and then execute the plan flawlessly.  However, raising a child cannot be encompassed in a project plan or spreadsheet (even though I’ll try, and I strongly encourage you to do the same.  Spreadsheets are awesome!!).  My usual way of approaching a new opportunity in life didn’t apply.  I was going to have to change.  Wow, I admitted it. 

The Short Term Plan

OK, so I did come up with a plan, but it’s in my large round head.  From the point of discovery until you’re born, my plan is to provide your mom as much support as I can possibly offer.  Whatever she needs, I am going to give it to her.  Don’t get me wrong, there are, and will be, times I’m a pain in the ass, but it’s how your mom and I work.  We challenge each other, and that makes us better.  We’re a team, and while we may disagree, our goal is to ensure we are aligned, taking steps forward, not back, and making each other better people.  I think you’ll see this as you get older.  Oh, and guess what, whether you like it or not, you’re on the team now too! 

The Long Term Plan

This is easy.  Once you’re born, we take Short Term Plan, and expand it to include you.  So now I’m pouring everything I have into you and your mom.  That doesn’t scare me at all.  It’s an incredibly simple thought, but I am totally at ease with it.  Wait a minute.  Time out.  How did that happen?  Where’s the major league gaming dude that bulleted out “fear” 3 separate times about 2 minutes ago?  Well, I direct you to the end of paragraph 4 where I indicated I was going to change.  Yes, things happen quickly around here, things are only going to be faster from now on. 

Executing the Plans

OK, so I’ve made some very broad statements to this point.  As you read in mom’s blog, I can only handle so much, and times like these, I like to take things step by step.  Well, this is where that whole team-thing I mentioned earlier becomes very important.  Your mom can get too detail oriented.  She obsesses over every little aspect in EVERYTHING she does.  She is a perfectionist.  However, everything she does is incredible.  Over the years, I’ve been able to balance that out at times (I say “at times” because she’s a tough one).  And guess what?  When I need to be brought down to Earth, and deal with the grittiest of details, she does it, most of the time (Do not under-estimate her persistence and determination).