Monday, June 16, 2008

The Day He Deserved

Yesterday was JP's first father's day and we made it a good one. He got to sleep in until 9 AM because his loving wife took his noisy son on an early morning trip to Wal-Mart. Later there was a family trip to Lowe's where Landon picked out a nice charcoal grill, which his daddy used to cook his special Father's Day N.Y. Strip steaks that night. JP also got to share a father-son power tool bonding moment with Landon while he installed the beautiful knobs I picked out for the kitchen (we have 29 cabinet doors, lucky guy).



We spent a lazy afternoon on our back porch, with JP cursing his new grill for arriving in 1000 pieces, and Landon escaping from his froggy pool and crawling bare-bummed all over the deck.



I don't think he could have asked for any better gift than being back in Texas (or "The Holy Land" as he recently dubbed it), living in his own house (and not a small apartment in a "people weren't meant to live this way" crowded city), and working "with his hands" out in his yard. And he deserves all the things that make him so happy (even if they make me roll my eyes). His first year as a father has been a rough one. In addition to all of Landon's general medical difficulties and refusal to sleep, JP's fathering was scrutinized and criticized by strangers and loved ones. I can't imagine how hard it was to be fingered as the intentional cause of your son's trauma, but very much to his credit, he has never let that interfere with the hands-on relationship he has with Landon.

I saw him transition from loving husband to father the night they placed a tiny Landon on his chest in the NICU and we watched in awe as our son's breathing dropped under 100 breaths a minute for the first time since birth. He looked up at me, and in words that remind me both of how young and excited we were, he said, "this is so cool." I love watching him now as he spends his days playing and taking care of Landon while I study for the Bar. Right now I can hear hear the words to "He's Got the Whole World" floating down the stairs, I know he's holding Landon to his chest, swaying and walking him to sleep. I have so many images of him as a father that will never leave my mind. I'm glad we were able to give him the Father's Day he deserves.

13 comments:

  1. That sounds like a great day! I love that photo of Landon and JP and the drill. The look on Landon's face is precious-"Squee, my first power tool!"

    I think you should caption that "A Father's Proudest Moment."

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  2. So sweet! I love all your posts with the "love and marriage" tag ... it's so great to hear how important JP is to you because I think a lot of women lawyers with kids often let their husbands take third place in their lives, but you seem to have a great marriage and friendship with him. It sounds like this year will be a much better year for JP and the whole family!

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  3. That was beautiful to read~ Thanks!

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  4. Congrats to JP for a wonderful father's day! Landon looks so mischievous crawling out of the pool - too cute!

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  5. I'm so happy for you guys to be somewhere so much more hospitable and comfortable. I can't wait until I get to move into a house, too . . *sighs wistfully*

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  6. Aw, that was beautiful. Priceless pictures!

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  7. Power tools are so much fun! AJU5 likes the sound of them most of the time (and it is about daily she gets to hear them).

    I am glad you had a great Father's Day. Maybe living in Texas will make all of the bad issues from Chicago go away!?!

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  8. First father's days are the best. JP definitely deserved a wonderful day!

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  9. Very sweet. I know all about those escape attempts although I am not brave enough to put him in water without a swim diaper. We have had a few "incidents" in the tub that may have scarred me for life.

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  10. Happy Father's Day, JP!

    and how brave are you to have a bare-bottomed baby in that pool? LOL! I'm afraid of resurrecting the pool scene in Caddyshack....

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  11. Happy father's Day JP! He is absolutely right - it is pretty damn cool. And to you, congratulations on your J.D.!!! What a great week - and love that little naked bum!

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  12. That's a nifty pool; must get one for my son. New reader here - how old is Landon?

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  13. Hi Allstarme78 and welcome! He was exactly 11 months in that picture (born July 15, 4 weeks early).

    The pool is from Wal-Mart, a $14.98 steal. Landon loves it, especially the sprinkler effect.

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