Después de la eterna noche salio el Sol

Y la imagen de tu rostro aparece

En frente de mis ojos por primera vez

Una emoción ponderosa traversa

Por todo mi ser

Me subió a las nubes y a la misma vez

Me hiciste llorar de alegría

Después de verte tantas veces en mis sueños

Finalmente te vi en foto

La cual estudie por horas y días

Estabas como una flor esperando retoñar

Allí en la seguridad de el vientre de tu madre bella.

Tu nariz, de quien es?

Tu boca, la abriste como queriendo decirme algo

Y tus dulces labios, tan preciosos!

Aunque no te conozco,

Te conozco por una eternidad

Por que la sangre mía y de tus antepasados

Corre por nuestras venas.

Click on the Photo if you’d like to; use the back on your browser to get back

Baby’s First Pair of Shoes

This is the outfit that the Baby is supposed to wear on his way home from the Hospital

White Baby Shoes

]]> http://dulzuraenjulio.wordpress.com/2008/04/20/babys-first-shoes/feed/ 1 TacoSam http://dulzuraenjulio.wordpress.com/2008/03/29/the-movement/ http://dulzuraenjulio.wordpress.com/2008/03/29/the-movement/#comments Sun, 30 Mar 2008 04:06:31 +0000 TacoSam http://dulzuraenjulio.wordpress.com/?p=51 ]]>

Happy news! Although Mom2be had been feeling little “butterflies” for the last two weeks, we finally felt the Baby move for the first time today, March 28, 2008, at 11:00 a.m. Mom2be called me over, very excited and told me, “the baby just moved!” I put my hand on the belly, hoping with all my heart that I could also feel the movement. Sure enough, our baby kicked again to let me in on the fun. I immediately put my face to the belly and, in a warm voice, said, “Hi baby! Its Poppa!! Thanks for letting us know your there!! I can’t wait for you to come out and play!! We love you!” About 10 seconds later another kick(!) to confirm that baby had received my message (okay, that last part is my wishful thinking).

Then, I guess baby went back to sleep or whatever he is doing there inside the belly. Needless to say, this little moment of joy made my day, my week, my month, my year!

“The first fact that distinguishes the human species from all others is that we are born too soon. We arrive, incapable of taking care of ourselves for something like fifteen years. Puberty doesn’t come along for twelve years or more, and physical maturity doesn’t arrive until our early twenties. During the greater part of this long arc of life, the individual is in a psychological situation of dependency. We are trained, as children, so that every stimulus, every experience, leads us simply to react, “Who will help me?” We are in a dependent relationship with our parents. Every situation evokes parental images: “What would Mommy and Daddy want me to do?” Freud made a great point of this dependence.”
–Joseph Campbell

I came across this passage and I liked it for various reasons.  I read it and re-read it, trying to grasp it all and decipher it in my mind.  I thought about it for a few days and even discussed it with Mom2be. I have been thinking of concepts such as the one described above during times that I have asked myself, “What is the role of a father?”  and “What kind of father do I want to be?” 

The passage above just solidifies for me a very important concept that I had thought about, but had been unable to put into words so far–the fact that my child will be completely dependent on me and his mother.  As a father, some of my many roles are to be the provider, the guardian of the family, the teacher, the role model (this is a whole other post!).  Being a father is a huge responsibility and I must rise up to the challenge.  The passage also makes it “concrete” to me the fact that a child’s relationship with his or her mother and father is probably the most important factor in the development of the child. I made a mental note to remind myself of that importance everyday–as parents, my wife and I will be the most important factor in the development of our child.

Thinking back to my childhood, I can now recognize how my childhood experiences and my relationship with my parents affected me in my development and even now as an adult.  A while ago I spoke to my father and we discussed marriage and children.  My father, in a candid moment of honesty, admitted to making mistakes with us children and my mom.  I appreciated his honesty for I know there are no perfect parents and no perfect childhood.  Plus, I sincerely believe he did the best that he could with what he knew at the time.  Then he told me a bit of fatherly advice that I choose to remember today, “Yo nunca fui a la escuela.  Hice muchos erores con tu mama y con ustedes.  Yo nunca fui a clases de padres o de matrimonio. Pero ustedes, ustedes no tien excusa porque fueron a la escuela.  Tienen otro nivel de educacion.  No tienen excusa para hacer los mismos erores que yo hice o para no ir a las clases de matrimonio o de padres.  Es tu responsabilidad.”  

And my father was right, I have no excuse.  It is my responsibility to be the best husband and father that I can be.  My child depends on me.

I went on YouTube looking for the original video for this song, but instead I found this wonderful video. I wanted to dedicate this song to my son.

Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)
Song lyrics by John Lennon

Close your eyes,
Have no fear,
The monsters gone,
He’s on the run and your daddy’s here,

Beautiful,
Beautiful, beautiful,
Beautiful Boy,

Before you go to sleep,
Say a little prayer,
Every day in every way,
It’s getting better and better,

Beautiful,
Beautiful, beautiful,
Beautiful Boy,

Out on the ocean sailing away,
I can hardly wait,
To see you to come of age,
But I guess we’ll both,
Just have to be patient,
Yes it’s a long way to go,
But in the meantime,

Before you cross the street,
Take my hand,
Life is just what happens to you,
While your busy making other plans,

Beautiful,
Beautiful, beautiful,
Beautiful Boy,
Darling,
Darling,
Darling Sean.

He put one dab of jelly on the right side of the belly, and one dab of jelly on the left side. Then he put one dab in the middle, slightly lower, followed by a long curvy line underneath to make a “Happy Face” out of the jelly on the belly. With that, Dr. P began the ultrasound exam.

“No doubt about it,” Doctor P proclaimed. “Its going to be boy!” Dr. P pointed at the monitor screen and said, “See that there, that is the left leg, that’s the right leg, and in between, that there is a penis and a scrotum.” And that is how we found out our child is going to be boy.

On the way out, I got into my car and turned on the radio. Where the Streets Have No Name by U2 was playing. It was a very good day.

Many people have asked me “do you want a little boy or a little girl?” I really have no preference.  As long as the baby is healthy, that is all I care. Its like winning the lottery and then someone asks, “do you want the prize in $10 dollar bills or $20 bills?” It doesn’t matter because you still have won the lottery. I would love a little girl. I would also love a little boy.  No matter what, the baby and my wife are going to be the center of my world.

This whole preganancy/baby life event has changed my life in so many positive ways. I hope you, dear reader, experience it one day (if you haven’t already done so). It’s a beautiful thing so far.

Here is the original version of When I Grow Up (To Be a Man) by the Beach Boys. Maybe Chano from the 3rd World House blog can do an analysis of this song just like did for Prince’s I Would Die 4 U. He wrote a very good post about songwriting. I urge you to check it out here.

I love this song for many reasons. It is so simple yet very complex. I love the harmonies. Its like a symphony of voices, all fighting in sync to be heard. I love the sound. I love the falsetto voices. I love the lyrics, especially now with what is happening in my life. The lyrics are sweet, short, and profound. A thought from youth–how will I be when I grow up? What kind of man will I be? What will my kids think of me? And finally, an acknowledgment that time marches on and won’t last forever.

I have asked the same questions of myself. What kind of man did I turn out to be? I am cognizant of the fact that my youth, and my child’s youth, won’t last forever. So I better make the most of it. Thank you Mr. Brian Wilson for your song.