Jax helping Daddy

This past week we went to the DI and something popped out and caught our eye. Jax bought a power drill for $0.50. He absolutely loves it and carries it everywhere. It is funny because he really know what it was until last night. I bought a towel holder so I had to install it which means I had to use my power drill. Jax came in and helped me put it on the wall. He was enthralled and watched everything I did. I look forward to teaching him and having him help me with stuff around the house. It was definately a proud dad moment.

Jax's first time on a slide

On Monday afternoon Shaileen Jax and I went to a park by our house to spend some time outside. When we got there we realized that Jax had never been on a slide in the past. As you can tell from the pictures and video he loved it. The one thing he did not like was the crunchy grass. We laid him down on it and he freaked out because he did not like the feeling on his neck. As it continues to get warmer we look forward to continuing to go to parks and just being outside.

 

Why it's so rad to be a Dad

I am just finishing the toastmaster program at work which is a public speaking group. I gave my last speech. I really did not prepare much for any of my other speeches but this time I decided that I wanted to do a great job. Why you ask? I gave my speech on why I think it is so cool to be a Dad. If you know me at, being a dad is the best thing in the world to me. I thought I would share my speech. I did not read the speech and these paragraphs are just ideas so it was not written very well. Hopefully I still get my point across. With this speech I was awarded the most improved of the week. Enjoy!

As many of you probably already know I became a new father recently. After several years of many tears and extreme heartbreak in the process of becoming parents my wife and I welcomed our son into this world a little differently than most people do. I was alone in a waiting room of the hospital while my wife was by the side of an incredible woman in the operating room at the University Hospital. If you did not know already we adopted our son Jax. I know several of you are Dad’s already and know what I am talking about already but I wanted to tell you guys why it is so cool to be a Dad.

 

You would never guess this but dinner is actually fun. Before Jax came into our lives my wife and I would prepare our dinner and sit down on the couch and not even speak with each other while we watched a show on the television. Now we have a reason to sit around the dinner table. Even though Jax is only 8 months old we take this time to interact with each other. I never expected this to be so important. As he gets older family time at the dinnertime will become essential. Holy crap, I am starting to sound like my Dad.

 

I think it is pretty funny to see the expressions of some of my co-workers when I get the call from Jax while I am sitting at my desk. Even though I am about 30 miles away from him I still feel way close with him while we talk. The pitch in my voice raises about 17 octaves and the things that come out of my mouth must sound hilarious. Whether that means blowing raspberries laughing into the phone or doing anything I possibly can to get him to laugh. It gives me that much needed laugh with the monotony of work.

 

Being able to watch Jax grow and learn is so rewarding. It makes you feel like you are doing something right. Which with me doesn’t happen all too often. The simple things such as watching him roll over for the first time, then to army crawling, then to full crawling and recently standing up to things all on his own even if that means turning off the TV during an exciting part of the BYU Basketball game.

 

While I am in a deep-deep sleep on weekend mornings one of the most rewarding things is being woken up to the sound of Jax saying Dada in the most playful voice you could ever imagine. It is so neat to think that one of the first things he thinks about in the morning is me because I can easily say that he is the first thing that I think about every day. I love walking into his room because as soon as he sees me he gives the biggest smile because he is so happy to see me. You would think that waking up would be really hard when you are tired. It definitely is not easy getting up earlier than you want to. But it is so true that nothing gets me into a better mood than hanging out with Jax. I knew when I became a parent that I would be tired but that I wouldn’t mind being tired is what surprised me. It is just impossible to be angry at someone so goshdarn cute.

 

Before I was a Dad I used to get home and just veg around the house. Not anymore! Recently we got rid of our cable TV because we just do not watch TV all that much anymore. The reason is because I get to play again. When I am with my son, I get to pretend to fly like superman, push him as high as he will let me in a swing and making faces at him until he is laughing so hard he sometime times starts crying.

 

I am going to warn you before I tell you this next part because I do not want you to imagine what I am about to tell you. It may ruin your day, or better yet life. With Jax I dance with absolutely no judgement. He does not care if I look like an idiot which I certainly do. When I do the same move over and over again like the disco pointing to cover my lack of rthym he could not care less. The funny thing is neither do I. All he wants is to shake around with me. Jax absolutely loves to dance.

 

Even though we adopted Jax everyone says that he looks just like me. The first thing I say is “poor kid, he isn’t that bad looking”. Honestly though, it is like looking in the mirrior for more than one reason. It helps me reminisce back to my childhood days. Remembering those fun times I had running around causing havoc as a child. The fact that he looks a little like me makes it a little more fun because as my parking lots on my head get bigger the cuter and cuter he becomes.

 

My number 1 reason it is cool being a Dad though is you finally know how your own dad feels about you. Regardless how your childhood went the moment you go from being just a regular guy to a dad you “get it”. You finally understand what it is like to love something more than life itself!

Jax learning how to pull him self up

Jax has been trying to learn how to pull him self up to a standing position. Is has been really fun seeing him progress and become the little man that he has become. As you can tell he absolutely loves the camera and is constantly smiling.

Dad and Jax alone time

This past Wednesday Shaileen started back to work so we meet in the parking lot everyday and switch Jax cars and kiss and she starts working almost immediately when I get off. It was tough for Shaileen to go back but the cool thing is I get to spend 8 hours a day with Jax alone several days a week. There are not too many Dad's that get that opportunity I don't think. I am trying to take this opportunity with being with him and cherish every second. Even though sometimes I think Jax is crying just for Mom. :) 

Today Shaileen came in about 30 minutes early and got the ok to just bring Jax and have him with her while she worked until I got off work to take him. Both Shaileen, myself and Grandpa Evan work there. We may as well get him started early because in about 18 years he will probably start working there as well. 

Jax sat in the Bumbo surprisingly for a while while I folded some laundry. I would have never guessed that he would have sat that well. I think it is because he is so short that the middle of his neck sits at the top of the Bumbo still.

Two day ago this is how he fell asleep on me. How cute is this. 

Today he threw up all over his clothes so I had him sit naked all night. This photo makes him look like such a chub-a-lub

As you can tell, I am one proud Dad. Can ya blame me?

Daily nap with my boy

Right now I am working early in the morning. I have to be there at 6am and it is a half hour commute. This means I have to get up real early to make it in. I am usually pretty awake in the mornings but after my drive home I am real tired usually. Jax and I have made a little routine to take a nap together almost everyday. He is so little that I lay him on my chest and lay back in the recliner for 30 or so minutes. The best part is he sleeps just as hard as I do and when I wake up he usually wakes up too. 

The last time as only husband and wife

Shaileen and I showed up to the University of Utah hospital around 6:30 pm and were extremely excited because we were going to be meeting Jax very soon. It was weird to think about how these were our last minutes as just husband and wife with no children. When we would see each other next we would be a Mom and a Dad. We were both sitting down stairs in the waiting room waiting for Sarrina to call us upstairs and all of a sudden Shaileen got a text from Sarrina asking if Shaileen would be willing to be in the C-Section with her and hold her hand. Immediatly Shaileen replied to her saying that she would feel honored. We walked up stairs as fast as we could. The doctors were just giving Sarrina the epidural so they had Shaileen get the scrubs on and then I went off to the waiting room. Before we left each other we kissed and said next time we see each other we are going to be a Mom and a Dad.

 Doesnt Shaileen just look sexy!

 

HAYRIDE AND GESTURES

I think we started a new Cline family tradition last night. A guy my dad works with asked him if our family would like to go on a hayride to Christmas St in Taylorsville so we got together as a family and went over. We of course took hot chocolate and some of Hilarie's famous rice krispy treat bears, and some cookies and had a great time. After we went back to my parents house to warm up and we had to play our holiday favorite, Gestures! It had been several years since we had played Gestures but brought back some great memories. Especially the one where Grandpa Earl got the word nipple and pretty much took off his shirt. I can't believe it has been a year almost since his passing. I miss him every day. Thanks for the great time Mom and Dad. We look forward to coming over tonight for more fun!

Sawyer I want to tell you a few things...

I sit here at almost 2 am this morning wide awake not able to sleep out of excitement/nervousness. All I can think of is that Sawyer is with his Father in Heaven right now. He is absolutely perfect and is going to be brought into this world shortly and is going to be entrusted with us as his parents by both J and Heavenly Father. What a responsibility this is. Am I going to be able to keep up my end of the deal? I hope and pray that I will have the strength and ability to be the father that my father has been and is to Me. I decided long ago that is what I need to strive to be like My Dad! Sawyer, you are coming into this world in just a few short hours. You are such a special little guy. I want you to know how excited not only Mom and me are to see you but birth mommy J is an incredible person that loves you more than anything and wants to give you the best she can. I want you to know that she has never not wanted you. She loves you so much that she wants you to have both a Mom and Dad that love each other very much and love you just the same. Always know that she loves you because we have gotten to know her very well and she certainly does. (even when you are rollin around in her tummy like a bowling ball)! We are so excited to see you! Please be patient with Me because I am going to need some time getting used to being a Dad. :) I love you!