I love this picture.
This is excitement incarnate- the effect of watching your cousins doing cannonball after cannonball into the pool. Cheering them on with such genuine emotion. I love it.

I see this face a lot- well maybe not exactly this face- but ones very similar. I see it when I come up the alley through the front door, after work. I get it in the morning when I come in to his room, and opening the cardoor to let him out. He gets so excited- excited by the possibility of what’s about to happen- whether it’s the playground or the supermarket- it doesn’t matter. The funny thing is that- now I feel that too (well most of the time). I am excited to see the things he sees- It’s the wandering ants again or remembering how the  triangle block “REALLY” can tighten the bolts on your wagon, and that every construction sight really does look like an episode of Bob the Builder. Being a first time dad (almost second), these magic moments are the reward for sitting in gridlock traffic or designing for “the man”. For this, I thank my LittleMan- for the “powers” he grants me to do my job, strive to be successful, and most importantly- the permission to be a kid again.

Happy Father’s Day to all the Daddies out there and  BIG Shout-outs to all the Dads I know: Aaron H, Joe C, Joe S, Michael K, John M, Sean H, Todd S, Mike D (almost), Noah D, Will B… +

We all love to talk about the firsts. The first smile. The first steps. The first taste of real food. That first solid poop… (well maybe that was just me) -anyway I think you get me. This is a “first” you dread.

This all started with the first frightened mama phone call, which quickly turned to the first feeling of- “$#@! I’m at work and 40+ minutes from home from them” and on to our first family emergency.

Yes, it finally happened- My LittleMan fell down the stairs - wood stairs- 12 of them to be exact. My wife almost caught him, but his little foot slipped off the stair and he fell from top to bottom. From her angle there was just no way he wasn’t hurt so she called 911and then called me. I could tell she was very upset- she told me what had happened and what was happening- and all I could do was- nothing… Try to console over the phone- the obligatory “everything’s going to be alright-” even though she knew better than me.

All I knew was that he was heading to the hospital in an ambulance and I needed to catch up.
I left work. Miraculously turned a 40 minute trip into 25- and I was standing in the ER waiting room looking at one very happy little boy climbing all over miniature tables and chairs with multiple GIANT lumps on his head, and one very relieved- very worn out- looking mama. Confused, but glowing with relief -I hugged that LittleMan. He proceeded to squirm away, took a couple of running steps then fell to the ground, but then sat up and brushed his hands off. (incidentally always on his head- it’s really pretty funny) He was fine…

There were more firsts to be had- like the head x-rays or the hospital snacks; but fortunately that’s pretty much where the firsts ended. We walked out all together feeling very lucky, feeling relief at the thoroughness of the hospital staff and the examination. But also feeling as if we had been inducted into a special club that you never wanted to be a part of- but feeling a bit more ready for the next time.