Behind, As Usual

Yeah, yeah, it has been over a week since I posted. Life is busy, y'all. We went to the beach last weekend, and this weekend I have a bachelorette party, a bridal shower, and a baptism to attend, as well as just everyday stuff. But! I am feeling refreshed, as Charles slept a solid six hours last night, more if you count from when we put him to bed (which was, like, 8:30, but he woke up to fuss and get a binky back in his mouth a few times between 9 and 11:30). Buster, however, woke up at 1:30, and we interpreted his bark as a warning that the neighbors were home (save the women and children!), but which was, in fact, a warning that he was about to sick up if we didn't let him outside. Which we didn't. And he did. So that was a fun surprise this morning.

Anyhow, what I really wanted to do today was belatedly celebrate Tony over the internets, forever* immortalizing him on this blog. You know, because it was Dad's Day on Sunday, the majority of which we spent driving and listening to an audiobook. Oh, and if I might give an interlude, there's a funny story about that drive: About Olympia, I moved to the backseat of the car to entertain Charles, who refused to continue sleeping and was not placated by they sight of the dog in the backseat with him (Buster wasn't really doing anything. He's not so much about car antics and acting like a circus monkey to entertain the kid, that dog). So Buster moved up front with Tony. Where he was totally concerned that I was now in the backseat. On the way down to the beach, Tony had spent considerable time entertaining Charles whilst sitting in the backseat, Buster at my side riding shotgun, but now, with Mom in the backseat, this was just uncool. So Buster joined us in the backseat. For a good portion of the drive, Tony played chauffeur to not just me and Charles, but the dog as well. I don't think there's any question whose dog Buster is.

Hmm, that story didn't exactly serve to highlight how much we all love and appreciate Tony, so I'll tell some others: Tony routinely changes diapers in the middle of the night. He bathes and reads a story (sometimes three) to Charles every night. He soothes Charles about half the time that he's fussy. He feeds Charles. He does laundry. He mopped the floor the other day. He works hard at his job everyday so that I only have to work part-time. He volunteers his time with the likes of Habitat for Humanity. He decided the other day that he wanted dual monitors for our home computer, and managed to convince his office to pay for the upgrade as well as the monitors. He tells me I look sexy and grabs my butt (even though it is a bit more squishy than it used to be). He indulges me when I tell him that I want to paint the kitchen again.

New colors for 2009~ La Fonda Antique Red and Oatlands Subtle Taupe, both of which go very well with the abundance of honey-colored wood in our home since the remodel last year.

Honestly, I don't know a whole lot of other fathers, especially in my reference group (friends and family with kids the same age) who are as participatory as Tony. He never shies away from a dirty job and has been a committed father since the day we found out we were going to be parents. And I am so thankful, because my life, and Charles' life, are better for it. I honestly feel badly for women whose husbands refuse to learn how to soothe their crying babies, can't adequately change a diaper, and won't invest the time to learn everything about their child and everything wonderful about being a father.

And, of course, I can't leave off a post about dads without mentioning how much I love my own daddy, who, at this moment, is recovering from general anaesthesia after having a guide put in some unmentionable part of his body to assist in the radical radiation therapy (hah! Radical... get it?) he will undergo later this afternoon to kill his prostate cancer. It sounds rather horrendous, what with multiple catheters and irradiated probes and several rounds of this surgicalish procedure over the next 24 hours, and then again next week, but with any luck, he'll live to see his great-grandchildren, even if he does glow a little bit. One thing that has always been amazing about my dad is that he has talked to me like I was an adult for a very long time. We used to take long car trips and talk the whole way about politics, business, and other weighty subjects. I learned a lot from him and he never talked down to me, a practice I hope to maintain with my own children.

So! Happy belated Father's Day, dads in my life. I love you both so much, and I can't imagine my life without you. Thank you, with all my heart.

*Forever being how long the internet lasts... which might not actually be, you know, forever. On a related note, does anyone out there know how to back up a blog to a disc? So I have a nice, hard copy of the most accurate pregnancy/baby record that exists, since it was done in real time? Andy? I'm counting on you, friend.