Welcome to this blog which will chronicle my journey as a new father. My first child, Clara Grace was born on January 25th, 2010 at 5:17pm. She weighted 8lbs, 7oz and was 21 inches long. She literally came into this world in a shit-storm as she had meconium aspiration which caused her to be intubated. She had to be on a feeding tube and could not come home for a week until she starting eating well on her own. On top of that, she was taken by an emergency c-section because she crimped her cord when she moved into the birthing canal.





The two scariest hours of my life was watching my wife lay on an operating table while surgeons said things like "crash cart" and "hold on" and then to not hear my baby cry when she was born. I was whisked away to the Special Care Nursery while my wife went to recovery where I saw them put Clara under an oxygen hood after they extubated her.

Fortunately, the great staff at Christ hospital took great care of Clara and made it clear to me that this things happen and that despite that Clara will end up being fine. Sure enough, a week later, Clara is doing great and like any other regular newborn. But, man when your wife is laid open and your baby isn't breathing on her own -- it takes an emotional toll!

That's the brief version of Clara's entrance into this world. Of course, I have like a million stories that I have found funny about Clara. But this video below has been one of our funnier moments. This is me giving Clara her first lecture - the muffled sound in the back is Val laughing (not crying as others have thought).

Daddy loves you little Sockhand! Stay tuned for the further misadventures of a new Dad...