The Happiest Valentine's Day

Kailyn Ann Maxwell

Day 63:

Today was a wonderful, wonderful day, Conor... It was bigger than anything we could have ever imagined! Not only were Mommy and me celebrating your first Valentine's Day, with Mommy being so smitten to be your very first, and always and forever her number one Valentine, but today became momentous on a number of levels!

First, at 2:38am this morning, Tuesday February 14th, 2012, we welcomed your little cousin, Kailyn Ann Maxwell, to the world! That's right Son, my Sister, your Aunt Tracy, gave birth to a healthy baby girl this morning! Kailyn came into the world at 20 1/4 inches, weighing 7 lbs, 7 oz. Perfectly healthy and with a full head of hair! We're so happy, Conor... Our family keeps growing and growing. It's so exciting!

Then, as if that wasn't enough, your Uncle Justin asked your now soon to be Aunt Marti for her hand in marriage! And he gave her a SPECTACULAR ring, Boy'O! It's absolutely beautiful!! Of course Aunt Marti said yes! So, so, so very exciting...

On top of it all, today is your 2 month anniversary, Son! You're exactly two months old! It's the little things, Son... That's for sure.

Mommy and me finished off the day with Grandma MeMeow and Grandpa K9 at our favorite local Italian bistro, cheering you and the love you bring, Son. A bottle of wine, some great food and fine company. Quite a day for the Lion Heart. The Lion Heart of Love.

St. Valentine broke the mold when he met you, Conor... He must have. Because I never knew I could love someone as much as I do you, Boy.

Goodnight Son,
-Dad

Cantankerous Conor...

Day 62:

Another pediatric appointment today, Son, and the results are telling! Mommy and Grandma MeMeow took you to the Doctor and you're officially 19 inches long and 7 lbs! Okay, 6 lbs 14.6 oz... Not quite 7 lb., but as your Uncle Paul likes to say, I'm rounding to my favor. Still, you're on the right path. In fact, Mommy was proud to report that you're on the growth scale! It so happens that you're at 0.06% on the growth scale, which obviously isn't much, but you're on the scale! It's a step!!

You also got a couple rounds of immunizations though, and that's made you both sore and fussy... Mommy was warned, so to intercede perhaps a little Tylenol? Seems to be working okay, but you're a bit more cantankerous today than usual... While still being a joy.

The news wasn't all good though, Son. It seems you have what's called an inguinal hernia, Boy'O; Common amongst preemie boys. And though common, the most effective and fastest cure is surgery. As a result, Mommy is taking you to see a Pediatric Surgeon on Wednesday to get the final prognosis.

As it was explained by your Pediatrician, Dr. Banta, seems the surgery will most likely be "outpatient", meaning you'll be in and out of the hospital with very minimal stay. And while it all seems routine the very idea of having my 2 month old Son undergoing surgery is unsettling to say the least. But at the end of the day, you're Conor the Lion Heart; Conor an Chroí Lion...

You'll be in so many people's thoughts and prayers, Boy'O, that I'm sure you'll come through this smelling like a rose... Leaving out what's in your diaper, anyhow.

Love you, Son.
-Dad

Oh no, Son... Daddy got Sick...

Day 61:

Since 4:30am this morning I've been down for the count, Son. I got some kinda bug thats' resulted in a 101 degree fever, cold chills, a head-ache, and some other unmentionable side effects...

To be sure, I can take the illness. A little bug never beat me before and it's not going to beat me now; I'm the Father of the Lion-Heart after all! But in order to keep you well I've not been allowed within 20 feet of you all day. That's harder to take than any illness, I promise you...

So here I sit in bed, in the same place I've been for almost 20 hours, wishing so badly to see you but understanding the reason why I can't... It's a drag. So tonight's post is short, Boy'O. When you spend the entire day in bed recovering from an illness, I suppose there's not much to talk about. Still, I've made a commitment to you and I intend to keep it... I'm going to write to you every day for a year, no matter what. Bug or no bug.

I love you, Son. Stay healthy and I'll hold you as soon as I get well.
-Dad

Down on the Range - Down to Old Town

Day 60:

Today was a day spent on all corners of Fairfax County, Son. Me and the boys went out to do a little shooting, and Mommy, Grandma MeMeow, and Aunt Mag took you with them to Old Town Alexandria to seek out a good Irish Christening gown for the Baptism of the Lion Heart.
Everyone had a great time...

Myself, Uncle Paul, and our good friend Rob (or "Roooooooob" as he's known in some circles) had been trying to get out to the range for quite a while now. Both of their interests lie in understanding what's the best gun for them as neither Uncle Paul or Roooooooob own a firearm as yet, while my interests are to fine tune my targeting ability with my own gun; a Smith and Wesson .40 Caliber Sigma I picked up about a year ago. Your Grandpa K9, an expert marksman in his own right, and your Uncle Mike also came along to enjoy a little range time. Interestingly enough I purchased the piece prior to having you in our lives. I believe this to be a very good thing...

My initial effort in purchasing the pistol was to carry it at the Circle L Farm in Highland County, VA (I can't wait to get you to the farm, Boy'O! It's one of my very favorite places on Earth!) All kinds of varmints you can dispatch with a small firearm down there. But now that you're in my life I'm quite thankful to have it. There's an old adage, Conor... "It's better to have it and not need it then to need it and not have it." And when it comes to protecting my family, that's certainly the truth. And to be sure Son, as soon as you're able to fully comprehend what I'm saying while also understanding what a handgun is and what it's capable of, you will be the recipient of a very strict education in so far as being anywhere near a firearm, and you will NEVER handle a gun unless I'm standing two feet away from you.

Never the less, like all things, in order to be effective with any tool you must practice with it and that's what the range is for. We all took turns firing on paper targets in a controlled environment, and about 100 rounds later I was dialed in on my target. It's a satisfying feeling on many levels, Conor. And I don't necessarily mean that in the sense of honing my accuracy with handgun, but the more you work at something the better you become in doing it, no matter what it is. That satisfaction of knowing I'm getting better while contented with the knowledge that I have yet another tool available to defend my family in the event of any emergency, is priceless. And you should get used to hearing this, Son. Because I will be harping on it more and more.

Anyhow, it was a good day at the range with wonderful friends and family. You had a fine time running around with the gals (you're just a smidgen to young to be at the range with us yet, Boy'O), and so I believe everybody wins. A good day indeed. For all of us.

I'm wiped out, Conor an Chroí Lion. Time to hit the rack. And as I do every night, I'll dream of keeping you safe, Son...

I love you, Conor.
-Dad

The Parade of Adoring Family

Day 59:

"An ounce of blood is worth more than a pound of friendship." ~Spanish Proverb

This is truth, Conor. In your life you will have a great many friends, and a few of those may even stick around when times get hard; and times will inevitably get hard. And sure, some friends will be exceptional, and you will know they will be there for you no matter what. I have those friends. Guys I've known for better than 20 years to date, and they're as reliable as anything you can possibly imagine. But without question the greatest constant in your life will be your family - even when you think you friends mean more... And you will...

Family is quirky. Family is funny. Family is opinionated. Family is judgmental. Family aggravating. Family is trustworthy. Family is dependable. Family is unwavering. Family is Love.

I don't mean to preach, Son. To be sure I've put other things in my life ahead of my family, as has every member of my family to me and to one another, and yours too. But I know - I KNOW - that when it comes down to it... When there's no where else to turn. When times get their darkest, it's family that will pick you up. It's family that will carry you. It's family that will love you.

I say all of this in the joy it brings me to see those who love you, and Mommy and me, travel from far and wide to see you, Son. Your family knows intimately the legend of the Lion Heart. They believe in you, Conor an Chroí Lion. They bring you gifts and they adore you, truly. It gives me great comfort to know, no matter how far and wide my family is spread, and no matter how far and wide Mommy's family lives from us, we could call on any of them any time and they would do whatever it takes to ensure your safety, health, and well-being.

Today your Great Aunt Maggie and Uncle Mike came to town from New Jersey. They brought you books and toys. And they brought you love. And again, it makes me so confident and so proud to know that no matter what, your family near and far will be there for you... And all that's expected of you in this life is to be there for them, too. If they should ever need you, you'll be there.

They all love you, Son. And I love you. Always.
-Dad

Getting Out and About

Day 58:

Today was a busy day of the Lion Heart... Of course, I was back to work again today and Mommy was on her own to get a thing or two done... These meaningless little errands we would normally run, either together or individually, were so thoughtless before. Now we're learning, as have every first time parent before us, those quick errands aren't so quick anymore... Getting you out of the house is an effort in and of itself when you're running solo... At least until it's more common.q Now-a-days you can stress yourself out thinking about all the things you need to get before leaving they house, buckling you in to your car seat - all of it... And today was Mommy's first attempt to do all of this with you and run out to the grocery store... Surprisingly, Mommy not only had an easy time of it, but she really enjoyed it!

But that was just the start of the day... Later in the afternoon, low and behold guess who showed up? Your Grandpa K9 and Me-Meow! And tomorrow your Aunt Mag and Uncle Mike will be here... We're just getting warmed up, Son! Gonna be a fun weekend of family... Grandma MeMeow and Grandpa K9, Aunt Mag and Uncle Mike... They're all gonna be passing you around like a football! Gonna be such fun...

Goodnight Conor. I love you, Boy'O...
-Dad

The Longest Day

Day 57:

As mentioned in yesterday's post, Conor, I was back to work today... And that means I was up and at 'em at 6:30am after getting you to sleep only 5 hours prior. The first day at a new job is filled with a number of different emotions. Curiosity, nervousness, high expectations, stress... All those things combined gave me the opportunity to be sharp early on. Adrenaline kinda takes over and immediately makes up for the lack of sleep - for a time. That eventually wears out and when it does, BLAM!!! I crashed... And then, as if it weren't enough to go through getting set up, filling out paperwork, and 5 hours locked in a conference room for training, we went out to dinner!

In all I was away from you for 15 hours today - which is WAY to long to be away from you!! Mommy helped to keep me going though... She sent me a number of pictures of you throughout the day so I've used those for today's post. Hope you don't mind the short entry, Boy'O. I realize the Lion Heart would power through, but the old Lion needs to get his sleep tonight.

I love you, Son. And I miss you so...
-Dad