Today marks the last day of the greatest vacation I have ever known. I did not travel to a tropical island or ride roller coasters at the world’ s greatest theme park. I did not gamble the night away or meet celebrities in sunny Hollywood. What I did do was stay at home for three weeks with my wife and our beautiful new son. While we only left the house for a few doctor visits and a crazy trip to our local Christmas tree lot, it has truly been the greatest three weeks I have spent on this Earth. No future vacation will ever top it.
Meals served. Hugs exchanged. Laughs had. Joy all around! Needless to say, this vacation had it all.
The holidays came early to our household and we are truly blessed. In the middle of it all was baby boy. He was the rock star of the affair. Every person who held him did not get to hold him long enough. Every person who fed him wished they could do it one more time. From Face-timing with Great Grandparents and Uncles far away to sharing our sweet baby boy with family and friends, the entire experience left us transfixed with joy. As this vacation’s last week draws to a close, new attractions include little boy now lifting his head during tummy time, looking up in wonder at hanging sea animals and resting comfortably in new holiday themed outfits.
In truth, a once in a lifetime life has begun. Baby boy is happening 24-7. Front row tickets to this ongoing event are free. All you have to do is visit our house and little Sweet Cheeks. If you stopped by over the last three weeks then you helped get this event off to an extraordinary start. You all were a part of a truly special extended holiday.
As I look back on that holiday, the wildest ride of the last three weeks occurred aboard the changing table. This roller coaster included sprays to the face and scrambles for un-stuffed cloth diapers. The most hilarious moment came when a baby boy blowout shot not once, but twice across the table bow mid-change. Fortunately, my wife and I survived and got on the ride again 3 hours later. We even invited others to take part in the ride if they were game! While the changing table no longer offers the thrills and spills of the first couple of go-rounds, it can still get dicey when we least expect it.
As we prepare to put the finishing touches on our Christmas tree, my heart is heavy because tomorrow marks my return to work. Before my son was born I worried about deadlines, pleasing higher-ups and being left out of the loop once I went on paternity leave. Those life concerns are now taking a back seat. As I head back to work my sole focus is on the well-being of my wife and baby boy. I will soak up these last hours of joy knowing we will share many more moments together. We have plenty more books to read, rattles to rattle and night-time lullabies to sing. I look forward to those moments but nothing will be quite like the uninterrupted bliss of these first three weeks.
I’ve got iTunes radio set to the Rockin’ Holiday station. I’ve got baby boy in my arms. We are reaching for our first ornament to hang together and I’m looking back at my wife in awe. Here’s to family, friends and the best vacation of my life!