Dear Ethan, year 0, month 8

Posted on Thu 08/24/06 in Fatherhood

(click the above image to enlarge)

Dear Ethan,

Here comes your first lesson on procrastination. So, in case you are old enough to have noticed, your month seven letter is gone like the wind. It came and went and mom and dad… well, let’s just say that we took a little vacation. OK… honestly, we simply procrastinated and without a boss or teacher to issue a grade, we dropped the ball… missed our mark… didn’t get it done.

With that said and your ninth month a week underway, there is no time left to procrastinate. You’re eight months old. The last two months have turned you from a baby to a boy. You recognize people, and you greet them with smiles and a polished vocals display. You love to meet new people and show them your (still) toothless, (and ever increasingly) cute grin. Although you have no teeth yet, your gums are very white and ready to erupt like a volcano.

You’ve been learning to take steps and can nearly pull yourself up. You still don’t like to crawl, unless it is to reach an escaping cylinder-shaped piece from your shape box. You are fascinated by everything now, especially: fans, mirrors, animals, balloons and water. In the shower, you beg for the detached shower head and stick your tongue out to taste the tickling water. You’re also trying to figure out where the drain leads to. Today I witnessed your speed in the walker, as you followed behind me while I walked the room. I even saw you walk(er) over to the TV and hit the power button. Amazing.

And with all of this excitement comes epiphany. Your mom and I have often wondered why people who have a single child had decided to only have one. We realize that some people were unable to bear more, but the others… why only one? We now know that it is for the same reason that most people only have one job: IT’S A LOT OF FRIGGIN WORK!!! It is tiresome, frustrating and exhausting at times. Some days, you want to play, play, drool, munch, play, cry, munch, cry, cry… and fight with all you’ve to stay awake. We check the first lines of defense: poop in the diaper? hungry? need to burp? go outside? oralgel? something cold to much on? play with toys? do walking drills? go to the mall? take a drive? take a nap? Sometimes none of these satisfy. You just want to be held and to cry. It is heartbreaking. What to do. Note: The last two four days have been like this.

Luckily, most of the time you are a pure joy! This weekend, we visited some of mom’s family in Central Florida and stayed at the beach for a few nights. You were all giggles and fun for all grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins and Gidget (Granny’s dog). Some of them were seeing you for the first time, and they simply fell in love. Staying at the beach was very entertaining for mom and me. When she rolled you out onto our beachside balcony, your mouth dropped open. She fed you pureed peas and carrots (which aren’t your favorites) and you hardly blinked an eye. The waves and ocean sound seem to please your soul. When I took you down to the water, you got so excited when the waves fizzled out at your feet. The floor seemed to move as your feet sank into the sand. Mouth and eyes open. You stared, bewildered. It was nice see your love for the ocean, as I share that feeling.

Like the cliché, a picture is worth a thousand words. These pictures of you are of a boy, not a baby. Mom and I are proud to show you off to anyone and everyone. We are looking forward to helping you to embrace our world.

All my love,
Dad