When you decide to have a baby you’re committing yourself to a concept. Even when the baby arrives your notion of the new family member is at best abstract, and that’s in the event you even have the mental space to think about it in those early months. Recently, I realized the concept I had more than two years ago has completely faded into the shadow of a real live human being with a sense of humor, ability to empathize and challenge, and who I not only love but who I really like being around. Most of the time. I’m told things start getting hard around this point. Hopefully the same rules apply that have already proven true: With each new challenge also comes a new reward. Happy Birthday, buddy. We love you.
by Channing