Fatherhood

I have watched Patrick grow ... in so many ways. He is a loving child who makes friends wherever he goes. Only recently has he shown any inclination to be shy. He is curious ... even more so when he knows he has seen his mother or father do something (cooking on the stove, working with knives, ...). He loves to help ... wiping down a table or sweeping the floor (it's actually not much help, but we all love it). And, best of all (I think), he always makes us laugh ... at him and at ourselves (and our expectations). Children: Make Friends Fast ... no worries about rejection or relationships. Do Not Hold Grudges ... don't stay mad or gossip; when it's over, it is over. Are Eternally Curious ... constantly trying new things and asking questions. Are Confident ... strong self-esteem; willing to do more. Play ... for the sake of playing. Nothing more. Show Their Feelings ... the good, the bad, and the ugly. Like Getting Dirty Are Uninhibited ... in every sense of th...

Last night was awesome ... Patrick was an awesome little helper. I was assembling a bookshelf that took several screws on the outer edges. He plodded into the kitchen where I was working and saw me working with a ratcheting screwdriver. He then proceeded to sit on my lap and help me screw in the screws. It was so cute that Jen turned on the video camera and got some awesome movies. Then, as I was attaching the back, he wanted to help again ... with the complexity of the processes, Jen took him downstairs to help her with the laundry. Later, as I stood the bookshelf up, he came over and helped me insert the metal dowels and put the shelves in place. And to top of the bookshelf process, he pushed on one side as I dragged it into place. We then had dinner and Patrick jumped in with his own broom as Jen cleaned the floor afterward. He even managed to sweep toward the dust pan, although not a lot of what he did made it in. Later, Jen was cleaning some spilled cereal (originally ...