Tag: First Time Dad

Happy One Month Birthday

Renee Barton3 Comments

We have a four week old baby. Yup, we have managed to navigate our way through parenthood for one whole month. And fairly successfully I would say.

Most say by the six week mark we will finally emerge from the haze that is life with a newborn. That sounds about right too as I don’t quite think we are there yet. However we have started to find a rhythm and even on the most difficult days there is still so much to be joyful about. Jesse is starting to smile a lot so that is all that we need to brighten our day and lift our spirits.

He is also starting to spend more time awake. Instead of just feeding and sleeping we now have a sprightly and curious bub for several hours a day. So we have been finding ways we can interact with him and help him develop.

You’ll find us giving Jesse a blow by blow of everything we are doing from changing his nappy and clothes to a running commentary of the Brisbane Broncos game.

And today we have pulled out his new play mat and a multitude of rattles and toys (all which were gifts from family and friends) so that we can start some play time with him.

I have no idea whether it is too early for all of that, but he already seemed to really like the shiny colours and interesting noises of the toys hanging across his carrier. And then it all must have got too much for him because he soon fell fast asleep. A win-win I suppose.

One Month Old Photo

I was hoping not to be one of those parents that wishes their child doesn’t grow up and instead just relish in every stage and every age. But even four weeks in I am starting to have those thoughts. He has already changed so much since he was born and pretty soon he will be too big for his 00000 clothes.

A reminder that no matter how monotonous or challenging some days may feel, this too shall pass. So drink it all in and cherish all the beautiful moments. And the tough ones too.

Mission: Leave the House for the Day

Kaine Barton1 Comment

DATE: Friday, 19 June 2015

TIME: 10:30am

THE MISSION: Leave the house (successfully) for the whole day with Jesse.

MISSION OUTCOME: SUCCESS!!!!

That was literally how it felt on Friday. It felt like we were planning a highly important military operation that needed to be carried out with precision and accuracy (yes I know those mean the same thing). Like it was almost going to be the difference between life and death if we got the planning, execution or any tiny detail of ‘Operation Escape the House for the Day’ wrong.

But… We survived.

What did we do? Well, we escaped to where every other expectant or new mothers, fathers and grandparents were going to be. At the Brisbane Pregnancy, Babies and Children’s Expo.

We packed the nappy bag, bundled Jesse into his carrier and loaded the car in preparation for the day trip to baby central (the Expo). As we drove out of the garage and down the driveway, I turned to Renee and said “Are you sure we have everything?”

“YES! It’ll be fine.” She responded.

Ok great, so I should just ignore this feeling of dread that’s washing over me in waves right now?

We pull into the carpark of the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre and find a car space relatively easily. We grab Jesse and his carrier, load the pram up and start toward the Expo.

As we poke our heads through the doors, all I can see is prams, babies and pregnant women everywhere. There is no order, there is no structure, there’s just prams and kids and people going in every direction. Its absolute chaos, like sperm swimming around trying to find their way to the ultimate prize, which is ironic considering that’s how everyone in the hall got into this mess in the first place.

First port of call, food for us. The café is down the back of the hall. Ok let’s do this.

WATCH OUT FOR THAT PRAM!

Stop, rogue child.

Quick, let’s make a break, there’s no one in front.

No wait, another pram, hard right… HARD RIGHT!

Ok, let’s try left.

Nope, left is no good. I repeat, left is no good.

We need to make a U turn. Checking left, checking right, GO.

Ok, we made it!

Expo Shot

After refuelling, we were ready play dodgem cars with the other prams and headed out to look at the stalls. Who knew babies needed so much stuff! Or do they?

There were the typical stalls you would expect to see at a pregnancy and baby expo like newborn photographers, prams and prams and more prams and popular brands like Curash, S-26 and Phillips Avent. There was also this great stall full of Rugby League onesies including a Brisbane Broncos and Queensland Marrons onesies. We managed to resist the temptation.

However, what really caught our attention was all the weird gadgets, contraptions and furniture on offer. Like the stall offering a devise for parents to suck snot out of their babies noses. Or the stall that had the ‘Baby Shoosher’, which was essentially a plastic speaker that repeatedly played a ‘ssssshhhhhh’ sound over and over again. How much is it? REALLY?

Then there were the stalls with furniture for babies that looked like it had come straight of the set of ‘The Jetsons’. I don’t think interior decorating has quite embraced the space age look just yet.

Before anyone gets upset and claims that the Baby Shoosher is the greatest thing since sliced bread, I have written this in jest. By all accounts the stall offering the Baby Shoosher did claim it had an 80% success rate, although I’m sure parents making the ‘ssssshhhhh’ sounds themselves would have a similar effect.

At the end of the day, we did manage to escape the Expo unscathed without spending too much money. The only purchase we made on the day was a nappy (diaper) disposal bin for Jesse’s nursery. Some of you might claim that this is also not really needed, and you’re probably right. But we like it for the convenience factor.

It actually was a pretty great day and the perfect way to spend our first full day out of the house. Mixing with other parents and expectant mothers.

I have a feeling that I will probably be less stressed the next time we prepare for a full day out of the house.

Photo Friday: Pregnancy Time-lapse

Kaine Barton2 Comments

Our Photo Friday is a bit different today. Instead of sharing a photo, you are getting a video of photos.

Throughout our first pregnancy, we decided to take photos with the hope of putting together a pregnancy time-lapse. And now that our little Jesse is finally here, we were able to finish the photo series and edit the final product together.

There isn’t any gimmicks in this time-lapse (like pumping the pregnant belly up with a bicycle pump, which we have seen in a similar video), but it turned out just how we imagined.

So here it is for you to enjoy, our pregnancy time-lapse, which is a record of the progression of our first pregnancy.

You Are Really Here

Kaine BartonLeave a comment

Last night was the first night that I found myself looking at our little Jesse and thinking, you are really here.

There you are, a little human.

A little person that I am now responsible for.

This can’t be real can it?

But it is real. You are really here. I am responsible for you. And you know what, I am still as happy and excited as the day we first met you.

This may only be a short blog post, but it was something that really struck me last night. That uneasy, OMG, what have I got myself into feeling.

But today, I am feeling as content as ever.

Just Call Me Dad

Kaine Barton1 Comment

So I’ve been thinking all day about what I should write for this post… And I’ve still come up blank. I mean, because there is just so much to say, it makes it really hard to try and translate it to one simple blog post.

Jesse Jack Barton was born just over one week ago and it seems like so much (and also so little) has happened since he graced us with his presence.

It really has been a week of roller-coaster emotions, lack of sleep and absolute joy. It’s been exhausting and yet exhilarating. I sometimes feel like I still need to pinch myself to make sure this is all happening. I am now a parent. A dad. Responsible for someone other than myself. Today, we even used the parents with prams dedicated car space at our local shops for the first time. I must admit, that was pretty cool.

So what exactly has happened this week then? Well, like I said, not a lot but at the same time, everything. The experience of being new dad is nothing like what I thought it would be. But that said, I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world.

Just Call Me Dad

I also have a new found respect for not only Renee, but all mothers around the world. The job that they take on when a child is brought into the world is not one to be taken lightly. I have a new appreciation for the term ‘Super Mum’, because that’s exactly what Renee is.

So why has it been a roller-coaster of a week? Well, here are some quick points that sum up my journey as a new dad so far:

  • Changing endless nappies including the dreaded ‘milk’ nappy… That was an experience.
  • Feeling absolutely and utterly exhausted after worrying that there were a couple of things wrong with Jesse. His belly button (when the cord fell off) looked bad, he had a weepy eye and he dropped in weight again. All which now appear to be fine.
  • Waking up every couple of hours during the night when it’s feeding time yet again. I have so much respect for Renee who takes on most of the responsibility of feeding during the night.
  • Feeling content as I sit on the couch and look at Jesse for what feels like hours while he sleeps.
  • Feeling absolute joy and overwhelming love every time I cuddle and snuggle with Jesse every day.

One of the question that was asked of us a little while ago when we were waiting to meet our little Jesse, was ‘Who is rocking this parent thing that we can go to for advice?’

Well, I like to think that we are absolutely rocking the hell out of this parenting gig… We are still learning. We are still making mistakes. And we will continue to learn and make mistakes. But I think we are doing an absolutely amazing job. And I think that definitely qualifies us for rocking this parenting gig.

As I said before, I wouldn’t change being a new dad for anything in the world, and I can’t wait to see what challenges and memories it brings in the future.

Being a parent… Love it!!!