Friday, April 13, 2012

Guys' Night

Before I begin my post for today, I'm going to make three announcements:

1. Tonight I've been busy with babysitting and homework, so I'm pushing back my third installment of my Serial Novel until Sunday night.

2. April 17 marks the three-month anniversary of this blog. It has far surpassed my expectations, so I will be making a special post on Tuesday night where I will answer some questions about me. They can be about who I am, the blog, my writing...anything, really. The only condition is that I need you to post some questions in the comments of this post and I will answer them all on Tuesday. Don't feel like asking a question? Leave a writing prompt instead and I will hit that sometime in the next week or two (time permitting).

3. I am considering making a transition from Blogger to WordPress in the near future. At some point, once I have things in a format I like over there, I will provide a link to the future site and post on both for 2-3 weeks before I make the move for good. Any tips about WordPress are welcome!

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Almost a week ago my fiancee and I decided to bring a child into our home. Her cousin has been rehabilitating from a surgery and there is no telling how soon she'll be able to take care of her three children. Prior to Saturday the extent of our help in all of this was praying for them and visiting a few times during the week. We agreed to watch her six-month old boy, Michael, for a night. It is almost a week later and he is still here.


He is such a happy, smiling boy. It is impossible not to fall in love with him almost immediately. He is a lot of fun to have around in spite of our busy (and unusual) schedules. We've found ways to juggle things adequately enough to continue our activities like normal. But I have to confess that it is tough going from no baby to having one around without much notice or time to mentally (and emotionally) prepare for the task.

A few weeks ago my fiancee signed up to attend a women's function at our church with one of her friends. That meant she would be away all evening, leaving me alone with Michael at home. It has been years since I've watched a baby for any amount of time. Being alone with him for hours tonight was, on some level, a scary thought. But I mustered enough courage to encourage her to go anyway.

So we've enjoyed guys' night tonight. We played on the floor and in his walker. We had Avatar: The Last Airbender playing in the background, which is a fitting cartoon for the guys' night. We've danced and sang and tickled. We've pet the cats (one of them finally warmed up to him enough tonight to let him pet her. She did good, even when he grabbed a handful of fur) and had raspberries blown on his tummy. He had a bath and got ready for bed. He got his nightly dose of Albuterol with the respiration machine. Many nights he screams and fights that. Not tonight.

Tonight he fell asleep during it. He was so tired that he stayed asleep when I set him down in the car seat long enough to make his bottle. He has been sleeping sound for almost two hours no. This was, by far, the easiest night for getting him to sleep.

Maybe we just played too hard and had too much fun for him to stay awake and fight his sleep. We enjoyed getting to bond tonight. I love this baby and now I can't wait for us to have some of our own filling up our house.

Maybe we should have guys' night more often. I think he'd like that. What do you think?

Entering this post in Yeah Write #53 this week. Stop by and check out all the awesome blogs. I'm sure you'll find at least one you like.

37 comments:

  1. how amazing that you guys are helping out like that - - and that you are finding these moments to really connect? awesome. you won't regret it {after you fall into a schedule, sleep...do all the things I'm barely getting back 6 and 4 years in :) } enjoy your time!

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    1. It really is awesome being able to bond with an infant. They are so much fun to have around, even at the expense of a sleep schedule or being able to go to the movies. Something we'll be able to look forward to doing again when we start having children of our own.

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  2. He's adorable and I am sure his mom is thrilled to know that he is in such good hands!

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  3. I'm sure he would love another guys' night out. You'll make a great father someday (whenever you're ready).

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  4. Sounds like a great evening for all of you, glad it went so smoothly!

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  5. Wonderful practice for fatherhood - sounds like you'll thrive in that role some day!

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  6. Sounds like such a sweet night! he's adorable!

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  7. Happy 3 month anniversary! And AWWW - cute baby!!

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  8. Guys nights are awesome.
    My guys are 18 and 15 and I love them dearly, remembering fondly naps we would take on the weekends together. Child Services said is was weird to do that, so we stopped last week.

    WG

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    1. I'll be sure to note that Child Services frowns upon that. They will take it hard, some day, when they are 17 and 14 and realize that on the next birthday we'll have to stop taking naps together on the weekends.

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  9. Such a lovely little guy! Your fiancee's cousin is lucky to have people she can trust to care for her child. Congrats on being awesome!

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  10. He's so cute. Kudos to you two for helping out in such a sacrificial way.

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    1. While it may be sacrificial in some ways, I find that in others it is quite the blessing. Which is something that all parents learn.

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  11. Sounds like you two boys had fun!

    As for the WP transition... talk to Erica - she and her partners are great!

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  12. Sounds like the perfect guys' night! It's so generous and kind of you to help your cousin and open your home to that little guy. And it sounds like he's giving right back to you. Enjoy your temporary baby!

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    1. It was a perfect guys' night, and I hope we get to have some more before he goes back. He is such a happy child ever since he came into our home. It will be hard to see him go.

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  13. Very cool of you two to take him in and help out like that. And I must say, he has a great name (I'm a Michael, too). I am very much looking forward to babysitting my new niece and nephew.

    I was encouraged to switch over to Wordpress, and I created a blog there, but ended up really hating it and just kept all my stuff at the familiar and cozy womb of Blogger.

    This is my first visit to your blog, but I'd like to ask a question if that's alright:

    What was your original reason for starting a blog? Have you always been interested in writing/sharing your life, or was it something encouraged by others. And would you say that now, three months later, that your motivation for blogging has stayed the same or has it changed?

    Anyway, nice post. Nothing against the women, but it is always nice to find another decent blog by a dude.

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    1. My younger brother is named Michael, too. It is a good name, although I don't think I'll name any of my future children Michael.

      Thanks for the questions. I enjoyed answering them on tonight's post.

      And yes, it is always nice finding a decent dude blog. It seems they are a rare breed of blog.

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  14. Nice post. I think that little guy will have an adjustment when he heads on home as you have obviously taken excellent care of him. He'll miss you.

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    1. I know we'll miss him a lot when he does go back. Every day we get attached to him a little more.

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  15. This is such a sweet story. You are both so wonderful for taking care of him.

    As for the blog questions:

    What were your biggest concerns when you first got started?
    What is drawing you to WordPress? (This is me being selfish. I'm curious if it would be a better fit for my blog, but I think they charge to use your own domain, which put me off.)

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    1. Thanks for the compliment! I'm glad you enjoyed the story. Thank you as well for the questions. I answered them on tonight's blog post.

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  16. Love that you can see a new definition to "guys night," and that is one sweet lil baby.

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  17. this made me smile... it's amazing how one little boy can completely change your outlook on life. or, at least, one did mine. :)

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  18. It's great to share responsibilities... how true that parents will do anything the best for their children :)

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  19. I love it that you guys are helping out. I couldn't imagine being in the position to need that, but I would sure want loving, fun, kind people like you to be in on the deal. What a cute little guy he is!

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  20. What a beautiful baby! You and your lady rock for giving him a safe, fun place to be while his mother can't do so. You may not write as much while he's there, but when he's gone you'll be left with a wealth of material!

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  21. That is such a commitment to take a 6mos old into your home - what a great help that must be to his mother. She is lucky to have you guys. I see at least a few more Guys Nights in your future ;)

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  22. I really love this post and that you and your fiancee are so open and willing to provide a safe and loving home to this little boy while his mom is recovering. The boys night sounds so awesome! This warmed my heart, you're going to be a great dad :)

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  23. Wow. A baby overnight. He is beautiful. Good luck and now you'll know what's really like to have a baby before you decide to have one of your own.

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  24. How great that you're helping with the baby - and enjoying it!

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  25. This post took me back to the first night that we had our oldest son. He came to us as a 4 week old foster baby. We had an hour notice before a social worker dropped him off at our doorstep and said "Good luck." Uhhhhh. I swear we stood there staring at him for a good 10 minutes trying to figure out what to do next. Haha! Great post! That's an awesome thing you're doing for your fiance's cousin.

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  26. This is so sweet. I think guy's nights are the best and encourage my hubs and two year old son to do them often. You will make a great Dad one day.

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  27. What a great guy you are to take on a baby like this! Good job!

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  28. You all have some generous hearts. Kudos to what you are doing. Sounds like the best guys night ever. ;) Ellen

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  29. This post is precious. What wonderful people you are to help out like that! This really made me smile. I hope you get more guys nights out, too!

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