/Side notes: congrats!

Okay. Stick. Fork. You get it. “I’m done.”

(Not sure if you took “Daddy Boot Camp” at Scottsdale Shea, but I did. It rawked the haus. Some tips I learned from that and other trusted sources…)

1. YOU (and your wife) are the expert on your kid. Not even mom, mom-in-law, etc. YOU!

2. Choose 3 people you trust to get advice from (after this comment [grin]). Everyone else just nod politely and say, “uh huh, uh huh, uh huh, okay). Feel free to mentally go over your grocery list during those conversations.

3. SLEEP is your #1 priority. It sounds selfish, but it’s true. If you aren’t well rested you’re less efficient and effective (and cranky). Everything you do for the first 6 months should be about how to get more rest which, in turn, will help you help Momma and baby more. See #5 below.

4. Never reject help. When someone comes over and says, “Is there anything I can do to help?” They might not have been sincere, but say, “Sure…wash these bottles for me, K? Thanks.” (Or whatever needs to be done.) You’ll find out who your true friends are.

5. Overnight feedings: Here’s what we did…

a. Got an Igloo Playmate and put enough Mother’s Milk/Formula for all our daughter’s feedings +1 (just in case) packed with blue ice. Place beside the bed.

b. Filled a large Thermos with boiling hot water. Place beside the bed.

c. Got a large cup — large enough to hold some (hot) water and a bottle inside it. You guessed it…place beside the bed.

When it was time for an overnight feeding, all I had to do was lean over, pour some hot water from the Thermos into the large cup, grab a bottle from the Igloo and plop it in the hot water and let it float. Wait for about 2 minutes, which should be sufficient for 3-to-4 oz. of milk.

It made life so much easier than having to get up, find stuff, microwave or heat stuff and do other stuff, plus stubbing toes or other eye-opening overnight events. Ouch.

Oh, and you’ll have to remind Mom that she’s your baby too. She wants to trust her God-given motherly instincts, which she should. But God gave you some daddy instincts as well. You’ll say, “I think she’s hungry.” Mom will say, “Naw. Just fussy.” Go with your gut. She’s probably hungry, and it doesn’t hurt to try.

Yeah, sometimes they just cry “because.” That never really fit into my “logic” of how things should be. “Why are you crying?! You’re dry! You’re fed! You’re happy! BE HAPPY!”

Enjoy the moments and have fUnN!¡!¡!

I wish you and your 50% larger [population, not mass ] family the best of luck!