August 30th, 2018 at 8:39 AM ^
Thank you for this and to everyone who has left some advice.
August 30th, 2018 at 8:40 AM ^
When my son was 3 we were shopping at Meijer. A woman wearing a niqab walked past us and my son turned to me, with a very concerned look on his face, and said very quietly "look Dad, a ninja has arrived".
He thought we were going to have a karate fight in the cereal isle.
August 30th, 2018 at 11:24 AM ^
My kid told me in the grocery store, "Dad, my butt is STINKY!" She hadn't soiled herself or anything, she just wanted me to know. At full volume.
August 30th, 2018 at 8:37 AM ^
I have 3 daughters. Now they are 19,15,13. They were all colicky. FOR MONTHS!!
I was reading a lot of special forces autobiographies and realized that if they could endure training, I could endure sleep deprivation and a baby crying. The days are long but the years are short.
luckily babies are cute. It is their only defense mechanism. You have to be 4 things now. Yourself, a husband, a father, and a child(to your mom and dad). Never will those things be 25% each. At different times of your life the percentages will swing greatly. Just never let anyone of them go to zero.
You will make it
August 30th, 2018 at 8:37 AM ^
Make your wife do everything.
August 30th, 2018 at 9:37 AM ^
Zach, wrong message board.
August 30th, 2018 at 8:51 AM ^
Congratulations! Best advice is spend as much quality time with the child as you can. It'll get easier when it sleeps through the night.
August 30th, 2018 at 8:52 AM ^
I'm not sentimental and I hated the baby stages but doggone it, put down your stupid phone and be present. You're going to blink and they're going to be 8 and heading off to third grade and you're hoping to be standing there wondering what the hell happened. Oldest cliche in the book but it's TRUE.
Get down on the floor with them, take tons of naps together, build all the Legos, go outside and run through the woods, get dirty, do the stupid stuff you really don't want to do because it's worth it if it makes them happy and makes memories. There's only so many years they'll be little and they go by in a flash.
Dang it. No I'm not crying. Shut up.
August 30th, 2018 at 8:53 AM ^
Take your baby to Hooters for the game. It’s even better than a puppy.
August 30th, 2018 at 8:58 AM ^
Congratulations! I just had my first a little less than a month ago. The thing that helped me the most was remembering that no matter how tired and crappy I felt in the first week or two getting used to no sleep, my wife had it 100x worse (especially if breastfeeding) and that gave me the kick in the ass I needed to get up and help as much as I could
Accept help/food/babysitting services whenever someone asks, try to relax, and do what is best for you and your family.
August 30th, 2018 at 8:59 AM ^
I'm surprised so many people are taking this seriously.
There is no way on earth a poster with MichganFan1984's posting history could go 9 months, or the 4 months this account has been active, without dropping a hint that he was expecting a child. The guy starts a thread for every thought that crosses his mind. There is no way he wouldn't have started a thread for "Top 5 Baby Names" or "Top 5 Michigan Themed Nursery Decorations."
He probably just started this thread because so many people think this is another one of WolvDev's burner accounts.
August 30th, 2018 at 9:16 AM ^
He claimed to have a kid who was a student at UM but now says he's a first time dad. I think he's having hard time keeping his lies straight. But yeah, a lot of gullible people on here.
August 30th, 2018 at 12:14 PM ^
I don't typically background check the OP before I reply to a thread; it never occurred to me that a troll would troll with such a benign question. In that case, I rescind my previous advice and offer this:
After you've cured it in salt brine for at least 3 days, rub the baby with a light coat of olive oil, then apply a liberal dose of kosher salt and a large flake pepper- I like 16 mesh. Preheat your smoker to 250-275. Apple, cherry and hickory are all good choices. Look for a done temp of about 170, let it rest to about 120-130, slice it thin on a hearty rye with Swiss, sauerkraut, horseradish and a nice spicy brown mustard.
August 30th, 2018 at 9:21 AM ^
he is a troll
August 30th, 2018 at 9:01 AM ^
My first child turns one month tomorrow. She is incredibly difficult, but I've heard these are some of the hardest times (especially since the interactions are mostly to fulfill her needs). I find meditation and levity make parenthood easier so far. But it will get better and more rewarding. If we want to make the world a better place, then us wolverines have to out-breed buckeyes.
August 30th, 2018 at 9:03 AM ^
Forget sleep... I was lucky that the Wings were still in the Western Conference playoffs when my (then) new kid would wake at 1:30 AM. I could watch the game while feeding him... You, not so much. Maybe some PAC-12 After Dark action, though!!
Enjoy the first few months, because those are the easiest. The kid is immobile - when you put him (her?) down, he will go nowhere. So you can have time to do stuff. When he gets mobile, starts moving around by himself, then you get zero time to step away.
The whole thing is exhausting, frustrating, gleeful, and exhausting. Enjoy every minute of it...
August 30th, 2018 at 9:04 AM ^
Just remember to get your ass out of bed. You don't want to do it. You won't want to do it. Do it.
August 30th, 2018 at 9:05 AM ^
My advice: quit posting pointless threads on MGoBlog and focus on the kid.
August 30th, 2018 at 11:27 AM ^
Newborn babies sleep like 16 hours a day, and half that is in naps of 30-60 minutes. Your kid isn't going to turn out any different if you read MGoBlog while she's sleeping on your lap than if you just stare at her like some kind of maniac.
August 30th, 2018 at 9:08 AM ^
Learn how to properly prepare formula while opening up a beer. Make sure you don’t mix them up by giving your kid the beer.
August 30th, 2018 at 9:09 AM ^
With both kids, I simply set myself up to be able to enjoy the game and take on all things baby at the same time. It might mean your living room will not look quite the same after you make the needed adjustments, but you'll be able to catch games and take care of kids if you do it right.
August 30th, 2018 at 9:10 AM ^
Congrats. Don’t stress the small stuff and make time for yourself and wife.
August 30th, 2018 at 9:11 AM ^
throw money at the problem. move your budget around and find ways to hire a babysitter/nanny for a few hours at a time. get a house cleaner or lawn service.
don't sleep train before 6 months or so. but then do the cry it out method and don't look back.
August 30th, 2018 at 9:13 AM ^
One bit of advice if you can afford it : get a babysitter for the same night every week. Don't think about if you have special plans or how much the effective cost of the movie is, just get out of the house, spend time with your wife and let someone else put the kids to bed. It may seem unnecessary & experisive but a happy marriage is the most important thing you can do for a kid. Divorce is way more expensive!
It's how I ended up with 4 kids.
August 30th, 2018 at 9:14 AM ^
My granddaughter's uniform for Saturday.
GO BLUE!
August 30th, 2018 at 9:15 AM ^
Congrats man! I’ll be there soon! My wife and I are at the hospital today delivering our first child, a baby girl. Labor is not like the movies (big surprise right). It’s a lot of hurry up and wait. I’ve finished reading a book, started reading another book, checked mgoblog for mgo-updates, provided family with mgobaby updates, all while catering to my wife’s every need. If everything goes smooth, we’ll be home in time for kickoff on Saturday evening and the baby will be decked out in Michigan gear for her first ever Michigan Football Saturday!
August 30th, 2018 at 9:22 AM ^
trolling for baby names now also?
August 30th, 2018 at 11:28 AM ^
I recommend "Mineral King." Or "Mineral Queen," depending on gender.
August 30th, 2018 at 9:22 AM ^
Congrats! (good luck)
and ball security, ball security, ball security.
Plus darkness and headphones for your TV.
August 30th, 2018 at 9:24 AM ^
it is what it is! find sleep when you can put the kid in M gear and watch college football! I have another girl due sept 12 so ill be in your shoes shortly again! Go Blue
August 30th, 2018 at 9:27 AM ^
don't forget to take time for yourself, too. it's really easy to get sucked into the 24-hour cycle of work/sleep/childcare and find yourself looking around 3 years later wondering who your friends are and why you haven't been out to do your hobby thing in 3 years.
It's actually better if you do get some time for yourself sometimes. The guilt will be strong for a while but don't believe it.
August 30th, 2018 at 9:31 AM ^
You’ll do great! Trust your instincts.
August 30th, 2018 at 9:36 AM ^
Slow down. Enjoy it. Babies are pretty simple - they just sit there, and the only things they need are food, sleep, and diaper changes. You probably feel like you have no idea what you're doing, but you'll have time to figure it out.
My first child was born in September (actually, she was born during the second quarter of the 2010 Bowling Green - Michigan game), and we spent many a Saturday and Sunday afternoon on the couch watching football. So congrats on having perfect timing!
August 30th, 2018 at 9:48 AM ^
“Go Blue” - great first words...
August 30th, 2018 at 9:51 AM ^
I asked my wife if she could possibly coax the little guy out during the Michigan bye week... she was not amused.
August 30th, 2018 at 9:55 AM ^
Just chill out and don't be in a hurry. When it's your watch with the baby, you're not getting anything done anyway.
Here's a useful mantra: "I do the carrying, you do the crying. I do the carrying, you do the crying. I do the carrying, you do the crying." The baby's still screaming either way, but it feels like they're listening to you and you've become a team. It's all very Zen. Also, yes, as said upthread, put the baby down and walk away when you feel yourself getting frustrated. No baby has ever died (probably) from being set down for a couple of minutes while dad takes a break so as not to kill the thing. In due time, the kid will get awesome. You'll see.
August 30th, 2018 at 9:56 AM ^
I'm taking my son (5 years old) to the game in South Bend on Saturday. Is there a specific time the player/coaches enter the stadium? I would love for my son to see that.
August 30th, 2018 at 11:01 AM ^
Numerous times before the game starts.
August 30th, 2018 at 10:02 AM ^
MAZEL TOV
Just love the child, my dude.
Idea: Create a gmail account for the kid and send quick notes, stories, and pictures to it... give the account and password as an 18th bday present.
August 30th, 2018 at 10:06 AM ^
I’ll be a first time MGoDad in mid-December. Hopefully my then new daughter will have a big ten championship onsie.
August 30th, 2018 at 10:09 AM ^
Congratulations! I think you'll be learning to moderate your cheering, lest you "wake the baby".
August 30th, 2018 at 10:32 AM ^
Congrats. Sometimes it will feel like each day is 48 hours long and then before you know it, 5 years will have passed, so try to find the joy of the situation, even in the tough times.
In my opinion, being a good parent isn't difficult but it can be hard. It requires being present for your kids as much as you can, often times forgoing something you'd rather be doing. Sometimes I feel like my ass is cemented to the couch, but once I get up and get moving for my kid, it's a decision I never regret.
As for advice, talk/read to the kid as much as you can and try to avoid the baby talk. When my son was an infant, I told him every story I could think of. I just wanted him to hear as many words as possible in that first year.
August 30th, 2018 at 11:00 AM ^
Don't have kids.
August 30th, 2018 at 11:02 AM ^
You can try to sleep as much as you can. But if you're like I am, you don't sleep, you wait.
I wait for the next moment one of my boys(6 and 3) needs me. Play with them as much as you can.
I'll be honest though, they both kind of sucked when they were babies. The first one cried all the time, and the 2nd one would not even let me hold him for the longest time. He would just look at me and ball with the biggest tears I've ever seen. It did not make me love them any less. You just have to suffer through it. Wife honestly took care of the hard part. She's a saint. Now, they are my best buds. Daddy started to be way cooler than Mommy at about 12-18 months(Mommy gets mad about this, so we buy her presents a lot). Now we gear up on fall Saturdays, and they learn all of Daddy's football words that they are not allowed to repeat.
EDIT: My avatar is the first boy watching his first game. It was a touchdown and daddy was yelling. Denard Robinson in 2012. The first touchdown he scored in the Air Force game. Never schedule Air Force.
Good luck and go blue!!!
August 30th, 2018 at 11:49 AM ^
My daughter (my first) was born nearly 17 months ago and I cannot believe how fast time has gone by. The baby days were a blur - she's now a ball of energy that does stuff everyday that surprises me.
It has changed how I view my job, my marriage, and my life. It's been stressful at times, but overall, what an awesome experience so far. I cannot wait to see how she continues to grow and develop.
Buckle up, get ready, and enjoy the ride... and congrats!
August 30th, 2018 at 1:14 PM ^
My daughter is 7 months now, and every day I think I’m going to gain my energy back. I’ve come to realize this is my new normal. I have to get used to the fact that she has more energy now and I will have less.
August 30th, 2018 at 1:24 PM ^
Congrats man. My daughter is 1 and a half, and there is nothing more rewarding than coming home to your child after a long day and visibly and verbally thrilled to death that you're home. It can be exactly what you needed to get through the rest of the day. The early months are the hardest for dads, especially with an ever-growing connection between you and your baby. But man.. it's great. Soak up each day like it's your last.
August 30th, 2018 at 1:48 PM ^
All kids are different, so take advice with a grain of salt.
My 2 cents. Getting kids enough sleep is very important and very difficult.
your kid will be a lot like you. That is a warning coming from experience.
August 30th, 2018 at 1:52 PM ^
#1: It gets easier and easier.
#2. Be proactive, not reactive. In other words, not "I wonder why my baby is crying. Maybe he's hungry, tired or wet." Do this instead without waiting: feed, nap, change, feed, nap, change. We realized that with kid #2 and it went a lot easier.
#3. Do the 5 S's.
#4. For Michigan football: your DVR is your friend. Get used to watching parts of games at different times. That's OK.
#5. Trust yourself.
August 30th, 2018 at 3:10 PM ^
My man...
My little dude is 2 months old and just today I rec'd his M onsesie. I cannot WAIT to try to keep him from crying while watching the game on Saturday night.
I had a period of time about 2 weeks in where I felt like I was going to die. It passes... they get into a little better rhythm and then they start smiling and laughing at you and it's just a blast.
Congratulations!!!!!!!