I discovered my son is the smartest, strongest and most capable kid every (totally unbiased) and other highlights

I have always laughed about the stories one tells of an infant. "he lifted his head," or some other activity that would be small is considered a miracle. Having said that, I now realize how biased one can be and that when you are a parent so much about what your child is and does is observed through rose coloured glasses that change the tint and make everything brighter.

People asked me about how things have changed now that I am a father...I never know how to answer that. I am still me, but I just have this knew person in my heart. I love him more than anything and I would throw myself in front of a bus if it meant saving him. Azariah has been observed over a microscope for the past 3 weeks and Doris and I have watched every single little thing he has done with great shock and amazement. It is baffling what a new child does to the people in your life and how all of a sudden everyone has a vested interest in this beautiful tiny bundle (cant say I blame them).

The relationship between husband and wife doesnt really change as much as it adds a new element. You want to be amazing all the time as a parent and when you see your partner success where you would fail you think how much better the partner is at being a parent than you. Doris can calm Azariah at the drop of a hat, and I apparently can bath my son like theirs no tomorrow.

Another highlight was visiting his Oma and his grandma's house. Two women who are very excited to have Azariah in their life. I take a great deal of comfort in knowing my son has these two women who have such a vested interest in his success and overall well-being.

Finally, we visited two of my best friends. They have had their children grow up before me. Delightful little glowing stars that have lit up my universe for many years. It was wonderful to spend time with such a lovely tender group of people and to introduce them to my son. As life becomes fuller, the beauty of God's life and light becomes more and more evident to me. I count the grace of God to me and those I love this season and am blessed that he has shown his love and compassion to me and those I care about in such a plane way.

Profiles in House Guests

I wanted to profile some of the people who have and will be an influence in my child's life. It is my belief that we need help to raise him, not because we are needy, but because a healthy child has many different people to provide them different perspectives. I was blessed to have uncles, aunts, cousins, friends, and mentors who provided this function and it is my deepest wish that my child would have these same blessings.

Willy Thiessen

Willy is my wife's oldest brother. My wife's family is intense. They are all opinionated and passionate and more than anything they are intense. Willy has the distinction of being the oldest in a family of mostly boys. Naturally being the oldest he has the personality of an oldest child; very strong. In addition to this he is a construction worker by his trade which adds to his strong persona. Willy has kids, but I only got to know them quite a bit later. Willy came to visit us in the hospital and at our house. I was struck by how tenderly he looked at my son. How he smiled and played with him. It was a blessing to see him be so interested in my son. I hope he and my son can know each other. I hope Uncle Willy can take him fishing and hunting. Willy is a great guy and I hope my son can be a blessing to him as well.

Khrista Vogt (honorary guest)

My sister. Also the oldest, also passionate and also intense. She is in my heart because I know what it must be like. My sister lives in Alberta and has lived there for the better part of the last 20 years. When my nephew was born she lived there and my nephew has grown up far from my reach. I only got to see him on a couple of occasions. I did my best to pray for him and let him know I cared, but it just isnt the same. Being an uncle is special and an honor I didnt take lightly. I know my sister doesn't take it lightly either. I know she thinks about us and wants to be near us as I have wanted to be with them. Paul wrote of a thorn in the flesh and I suppose our family has always known about their thorns. One of thorns has been the knowledge that my nephew is growing up without me and I would imagine my sister has a thorn. Despite this fact I have always held her son in my heart as I know she holds mine. I know that no one will treasure him in quite the way my sister will. My sister is a wonderful person and I hope Azariah gets all excited when he finds out aunty Khrista and Cole are coming to visit. I hope he will be a blessing to her as well.

Aim it down and other life lessons having an infant son teaches you

Azariah is 12 days old. Seems like its been a really long twelve days. I sincerely thought that things would go faster when we got him home, but its just the opposite. They move very slowly. I think part of the reason is that we observe him so intently. Both Doris and I feel like someone is going to burst into the room and go "great job guys, fabulous, now lets take this baby back to its real parents." I have been struck at how different the experience of parenting is than I imagined. I suppose all I had to go on was what I saw on tv and the war stories people would tell me. In the hospital the medical people would tell you, "every pregnancy is different," and when I asked them if that was medical code for "I have no idea" they would generally agree with that statement. Even after you get out you are told that every baby is different. This experience has reaffirmed my joy in faith because I think with such mysteries that even science shakes it head at, how can we really believe that its all at random. I just cant believe there is no purpose in the things in our life happening the way they are.

On a lighter note, my son has shown me who is boss. I cannot wake him if he is determined to sleep. I can push, poke and do my best. He just complains and then goes right back to sleeping. I have also observed the need that when changing a boys diaper, placement of his genitals is crucial to not have a surprise later. Its also true what they say that the poop and pee of your child is not as bad.

I have observed my wife in this experience and I also must say the job of a woman is quite something. Men I think grow up putting legos together and as they get bigger so do the blocks, but its still just lego to most men. It all fits together. Women have to deal with a great deal more then lego...either that or their lego pieces are all crazy shapes that dont fit together....not really sure....gonna go play with my he-man