First Party [BabyDaddy Day 12]

I love parties, and Obadiah should too--he was born on a Friday. Amreitha and I went to a birthday party for the first time with Obi today.

Growing up, my family hosted Sri Lankan parties all the time. These parties always included grandparents, parents, young adults, teenagers, children and little babies. We hung out for hours with no agenda, no games, no plan and it usually ended up in a sleepover. All we did was talk around a coffee table. Kids ran around, babies cried and nobody minded. 

This isn't the culture for most parties I go to now and days. People get babysitters. People don't want to bother others with their crying kids. 

Obadiah got a little fussy and cried some. It's a new dynamic juggling conversations, passing around my child, and making sure he's not giving anyone trouble. Overall though, I loved having him at the party. I don't want us to be isolated because we have a kid and we are in a different season of life. Plus, I want people to have a relationship with Obi. I'm a little afraid people will stop inviting us to hang out because of the child inconvenience--I wouldn't blame them. 

Until people outright start asking us not to bring him, I'm planning on partying with Obi. 

Baby Mama [BabyDaddy Day 11]

Obadiah is the first biological family member my wife has ever met. 

She was adopted from India by a Mennonite family in Kansas. Something her, also adopted, sister is in the process of doing right now.

Seeing Amreitha through the process of giving birth and nurturing this child is an unexpected blessing. Not only did I finally get to see her with biological family, I got to see another aspect of her unlimited supply of love. 

A week after our due date, we decided to induce labor. 24 hours later, with no progress, no food and no sleep, we made the decision to have a c-section surgery. Taking our son home 4 days after entering the hospital felt great, but we were exhausted. 

During that first 10 days home, we not only took care of a newborn, but had many sicknesses: 

• Recovery from the c-section with several relapses
• Urinary tract infections
• Strep Throat
• Wisdom tooth infection
• Gum Infection
• Pain Killer Reactions
• Allergies to Antibiotics

This combined list of of pain we both endured, made this last month so difficult. 

But I'm saying all this to setup the fact that Amreitha has been amazing through all of it. I've seen her love and love and love. I've seen her operate in such selflessness hour after hour. It's inspiring. In the sickness and exhaustion, she's given Obadiah all the kisses, nurturing and attention any kid would ever want. When I was bed ridden for almost 4 days, taking off work, she even took care of me. I love my wife and love watching her love Obadiah. 

Obadiah is lucky to have Amreitha as his mother. 

Sleep Deprived [BabyDaddy Day 10]

"The first four months are the worst" is what everyone says. We just finished month one and so far they are right. 

I cherish the last month, but do not want to relive it. 

This morning, Amreitha and I celebrated because we got 4 hours of minimally interrupted sleep. The night before, Obadiah woke up every 1.5 hours to eat, be changed, and be soothed. In other words, torture us. 

Humans should not celebrate sleeping 4 hours in a row. I'm a 9 hours of sleep kind of guy. I've missed dates, finals, and road trips because of accidentally sleeping in.

In Tulsa, back in 2009, I joined a church plant called All Nations Fellowship and played drums for them. One Sunday, I literally fell asleep while playing drums. I woke up to the sound of my stick hitting the tile floor and the congregation looking at me with shame.

I like sleep. My son, however, doesn't care about that at all. He selfishly wakes us up. Amreitha is doing most of the night stuff, but I'm still completely exhausted and sleep deprived. 

Thanks, son. When you're a little older, I'm not going to let you sleep.

Readers, if you can sleep, do so.

How do people survive without it?

Don't Die [BabyDaddy Day 9]

Everything we decide to do for Obadiah will result in his death according to the internet. 

Johnson and Johnson products? Cancer.

Fisher Price's Rock and Play? Permanent back disfigurement. 

Sleep him on his stomach? Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Play guitar in drop d around him? Dead.  

According to everything I'm learning, I'm shocked Obadiah is alive. Thankfully, my family has a long history of keeping babies alive, leading all the way up to Obi and me. 

It's hard to discern whether or not to take a concern seriously or not.

We just do the research we can, make a decision and appreciate the fact he looks so cute in his new asbestus hoodie. 

#prayforObi

He's cute [BabyDaddy Day 8]

Amreitha and I were just talking about how cute Obi is. He's so cute, we feel guilty for being frustrated with him when he is inconsolable at night. 

Because he's my child, I feel biased on his cuteness factor. Do parents ever acknowledge they have an ugly child? And if Obi was ugly, who would actually tell me?  

Have you ever told parents they had an ugly baby? 

That said, I legitimately believe my kid is cute. People have also told me this, but it's hard to believe anyone because they have to say he is cute.  

I have thought certain babies are ugly. I do not think this about my child. Is that only because he's mine? 

He's Really Small [BabyDaddy Day 7]

Obadiah is really small. 

When parents meet him, they say, "I forgot how small my kid used to be."

Amreitha is 4 foot 10. Our child is in the top 10% for height. He's probably going to be super tall for a Sri Lankan, like 6 foot 3 inches. Not sure where he gets this height.

He's so small I can carry him with one hand. He's so small I can palm his whole head. He's so small that I'm afraid he's going to choke to death on some of the longer pieces of clothing we bought for him. 

Even though he's small, he's in the top 10% for height. 

I have an easier time imagining him as a 5 year old human than a giant 10 month old baby. Have you seen those things? They are huge. 

I like him small. 

Anything I can do to capitalize on how small he is?