Recent Hipstamatic: 12/7/10

Recent Hipstamatic: 10/5/10

Idle Hands

For the past 4 day's I've been having a bit of difficulty figuring out what to do with myself.

My usual daily life if structured around the routine and responsibility of chasing around a certain 3(almost 4!) year old that Christine and I spawned.

This is not a complaint mind you, I love being a Dad and it's inherent responsibilities. I love the sense of purpose and the knowledge that I am needed and important to another person, more-so the person I care most about.

That person has been on a trip with her Grandparents for the past 4 days(they return later today).

At first I was a bit hesitant about giving the OK for her to take the trip, knowing how it would be hard for both Christine and I to be without our little bundle of "Oops" for that long.

Never before have we been apart from her for more than a day or two.

Then we remember that as parents we must make sacrifices for the good of our Daughter and that she would likely have a lot of fun adventuring around with her Grandparents. A few lonely days we can handle, if only to let her have some fun.

I can hear the other parents out there saying "Quit bitching! You get 4 days off! You get to be independent and spontaneous and lazy for 4 whole days and all you do is complain! Her little vacation is also YOUR little vacation!"

It's true.

I must admit it has been an enjoyable few days of rewinded life. When your concerns were not the bladder status of a wild child or whether or not she has eaten enough today.

Days when the really pressing issues of your life were what movie to go see and what restaurant would provide optimum sustenance and satisfaction.

Because dammit, I'm an adult who is out there in the world and I should be allowed to do whatever I want and get whatever I want!

If I am suddenly overcome with the need to fill my fridge with booze, pudding, and pizza for the purposes of staying up all night being crazy, playing video games, watching movies, and gabbing on with my hip single friends about the injustices of the world, all the while without a care to what I need to do tomorrow, well then I should be able to right?

Meh, I guess so.

Funny thing, I really don't have much desire to do those things anymore.

I don't really know what changed, or what made the change. Could it be becoming a parent or did it just happen on it's own independently? Were I not a parent, would I just be a slightly older, slightly scruffier version of the 25 year old me?

One way or the other, I most certainly have changed.

That word "change"... I imagine that for most people it often brings a fearful twist in your gut, or the sadness of thinking you've lost something you had or were.

This is not the case for me.

Whatever the reason for my "change" I am actually quite glad to have made the turn. These days when I look around at other people who's lives don't revolve around the care of a child I don't envy them. I don't pity them, but I don't desire their "freedom".

These past 4 days I have had every opportunity to go be that 25 year old again, but I just couldn't work up any motivation.

Christine and I haven't waisted our time mind you.

Yesterday we drove up to the Salt Flats to take pictures, and because we were free for the night and were in close proximity to it, we ended up at a Casino in Wendover where we gambled away $20 on penny slots(I know, how lame are we? That's how we roll) and ate crappy Casino food.

It was a grand time all around.

Anyway...

All the while, as our 4 day "vacation" has carried on, I have had a lot of time to think about and observe my thoughts and feelings on being a parent. The main overarching theme that continues to come forth is that it was the very best oops/decision we ever made.

I honestly have a hard time remembering what we did for fun before our Daughter came along.

There are indeed certain sacrifices that come with being a parent but the thing's we have gained far out way any freedoms we may have lost.

Uh oh, I smell a sappy "love my Daughter" ending coming on.

If you haven't picked it up yet, the main point to this post is that we really love and miss our Daughter, even though she can be a little pain in the ass sometimes.
She is our little pain in the ass. And we like it rough.

Whoa, that might not have come out quite how I meant it too. Let me simplify.

We miss you terribly Colette. Both your Mom and I eagerly await your return this afternoon.

P.S. Don't be too freaked out when you see what our idle hands did to our respective hairdos. I cut my mop off and your Mom shaved the side of her head(pictured below). Yeah, idle hands. <

Recent Hipstamatic: 7/8/10

For the past week I've been unable(for reasons unknown) to get my Hipstamatic photos off my iPhone.
Finally today I was able to get them(through means too uninteresting to mention).
Anyhoo... For these reasons this post has quite a few photos and is a few days late.
Sorry about that, my bad.
Enjoy!