Da Havs

Donna has pretty much kept up with the Tale of Ryan, so thought I’d just pipe in a bit. When we first got here, it still felt pretty surreal. Our first meeting actually reinforced that feeling for me, strangely, because he was just so perfect – happy, healthy and so mild-mannered. I thought it would “get real” probably at 37000 feet over the Pacific with 4000 miles to go to Minneapolis as he cried his head off. Meeting him the second time, at Mrs. Cho’s house, brought a big dose of realism. Not sure what it was specifically, but I felt like it was up to 70% real then.

It’s about 95% real for me now. Actually having him, feeding him, holding him, trying to interpret his moods and expressions, and yes, being unable to console him during his crying fit on the way home last night when he was exhausted and just wanted to lay down, have brought the reality of fatherhood to the front-and-center of my heart and mind. I think the last 5% is waiting for me at home. This may be the most homesick I have ever been… in fact, I don’t know that I really have felt this way before. I’m just ready to get HOME with my family, close the Prologue in the Tale of Ryan, and start Chapter One.

On the fun side of things, I can’t decide what sport(s) he is going to play when he grows up! He is so big and strong, I started to reconsider my views on letting him play (American) football. He rolls over with ease and has a strong grip, so maybe wrestling. If you hold him up, he kicks powerfully with his legs and bounces up and down – clearly, his vertical leap will surpass Daddy’s before too long, so he may be an outside hitter in the making.

We’ve done a fair bit of gaming so far. Peekaboo is a decent standby, he seems to enjoy it and smiles easily, but not enough to laugh and it only works for a minute, so I’ll have to rate it a 7. Whee Into the Air (holding him up and thrusting him up above your head) is excellent – easy to maintain eye contact, he smiles and almost laughs regularly, and can play it at length. Unfortunately, it wears out my arms and the drool hazard is formidable; still, it rates an 8. Stupid Googly Face is another 7, but I can do that one all day, so I might bump it up a notch with repeated plays.

Well, the family is hollering for me to come eat lunch, so I better git. Later!