In typical Flick blogging tradition, I started typing some thoughts up at her actual year mark. Mackenzie turned 14 months this past week. Seems to be fairly standard operating procedure around here these days - time freaking flies.
When you enter a serious relationship (in my case, this one that led to rings, a mortgage, and a baby), you broaden your primary focus in life to include that other person. They become a deciding factor in everything - where you live, what you do professionally, how you spend your time, where your money goes. You grow up together. However, that person is a fully grown and (hopefully) mature adult. They can take care of themselves, even without you in the picture. When we decided it was time to start having kids, a similar type of transformation took place, but in a much grander magnitude. Growing up started that instant, a person's life depended on it.
I remember the day that Sarah took her first positive pregnancy test. Feelings of pure elation were met with worries, concerns, and fear of the unknown. Babies have always been a part of my life and I have always wanted to have kids, even when I couldn't even buy a date in high school. I am six years older than my brother. I am one of the oldest of my 50+ first cousins. I babysat little kids in my neighborhood. Yet, none of these little peeps were ultimately my responsibility. Yeah, I changed a diaper here and there. Yeah, I made sure they were eating and sleeping under my watch. Not the same. It was up to Sarah and I to make sure this little child was fed, healthy, happy, growing, and learning. HOLY SHIT.
When Mackenzie came over to this side, it was one of the most memorable, stressful, confusing, and fantastic days I have ever had in my life. It was the perfect combination of chaos and order - what I perceived as absolute chaos in the hospital was an efficient, organized staff. People were flying in and out of our room, doing their piece of the birth puzzle. After all the insanity, I got to meet my little girl for the first time. She was small and wrinkled and wiggly and perfect. Not gonna lie - I cried. How could you not? I knew that my life as I had known it to that point was no longer. I was a dad.
Since that day, she has done what all little kids do - she has grown into a little person, full of personality, activity, and fun. In the last few months, we have seen the little flower start to open up. She is mobile and talking, two things that blatantly reveal characteristics of who Mackenzie is becoming. She is fearless, leaning way too far (my estimation) over the edge of the bed to swat at the dogs. She is happy, only crying or getting upset when she is getting overly tired or hungry. She is chatty and loud, which she definitely did not learn from her father. She is smart, as her vocabulary is outstanding and expanding. She is cuddly, as her favorite spot is nestled in up against her mommy. She is energetic, as we can't keep her contained in one area. She is a stick of dynamite, we call her the human wrecking ball. No amount of cleanliness is safe within her sphere of influence. As Grandpa Mustache has learned, if you build a tower of cups, she will knock them down. She is my little girl.
Time since June 18th of last year has refused to maintain its prior methodical pace. It could be that the notion of time quickens with each passing year. It could be that my work life has been very busy since last summer. It could be that my formerly-free hours are now occupied with other commitments. Regardless the reason, this past year plus has been breathtakingly fast and wonderfully enjoyable. I can't wait to see what the next year has in store.
Mike
When you enter a serious relationship (in my case, this one that led to rings, a mortgage, and a baby), you broaden your primary focus in life to include that other person. They become a deciding factor in everything - where you live, what you do professionally, how you spend your time, where your money goes. You grow up together. However, that person is a fully grown and (hopefully) mature adult. They can take care of themselves, even without you in the picture. When we decided it was time to start having kids, a similar type of transformation took place, but in a much grander magnitude. Growing up started that instant, a person's life depended on it.
I remember the day that Sarah took her first positive pregnancy test. Feelings of pure elation were met with worries, concerns, and fear of the unknown. Babies have always been a part of my life and I have always wanted to have kids, even when I couldn't even buy a date in high school. I am six years older than my brother. I am one of the oldest of my 50+ first cousins. I babysat little kids in my neighborhood. Yet, none of these little peeps were ultimately my responsibility. Yeah, I changed a diaper here and there. Yeah, I made sure they were eating and sleeping under my watch. Not the same. It was up to Sarah and I to make sure this little child was fed, healthy, happy, growing, and learning. HOLY SHIT.
When Mackenzie came over to this side, it was one of the most memorable, stressful, confusing, and fantastic days I have ever had in my life. It was the perfect combination of chaos and order - what I perceived as absolute chaos in the hospital was an efficient, organized staff. People were flying in and out of our room, doing their piece of the birth puzzle. After all the insanity, I got to meet my little girl for the first time. She was small and wrinkled and wiggly and perfect. Not gonna lie - I cried. How could you not? I knew that my life as I had known it to that point was no longer. I was a dad.
Since that day, she has done what all little kids do - she has grown into a little person, full of personality, activity, and fun. In the last few months, we have seen the little flower start to open up. She is mobile and talking, two things that blatantly reveal characteristics of who Mackenzie is becoming. She is fearless, leaning way too far (my estimation) over the edge of the bed to swat at the dogs. She is happy, only crying or getting upset when she is getting overly tired or hungry. She is chatty and loud, which she definitely did not learn from her father. She is smart, as her vocabulary is outstanding and expanding. She is cuddly, as her favorite spot is nestled in up against her mommy. She is energetic, as we can't keep her contained in one area. She is a stick of dynamite, we call her the human wrecking ball. No amount of cleanliness is safe within her sphere of influence. As Grandpa Mustache has learned, if you build a tower of cups, she will knock them down. She is my little girl.
Time since June 18th of last year has refused to maintain its prior methodical pace. It could be that the notion of time quickens with each passing year. It could be that my work life has been very busy since last summer. It could be that my formerly-free hours are now occupied with other commitments. Regardless the reason, this past year plus has been breathtakingly fast and wonderfully enjoyable. I can't wait to see what the next year has in store.
Mike
