introductions

Hello -
I'm new to all of this. I have found myself a single father with split custody of three wonderful children, my daughter who will almost be nine, my son who is eight and my son who is three. Feeling a bit overwhelmed in trying to guide the children through all of these changes.
McCracken

Hi everyone!
My Name is Ricky. I have been together with my lovely wife for 3 years I am the proud father of a 2 1/2 year old boy Christopher. I am currently 40 years old and living in Ogdensburg NY. Just moved up here last year from NYC where i was born and raised. I wanted to get away from the big city and have my son grow up in a smaller community setting. My Wife grew up here as a kid. I currently work in the IT dept of a bank. I love Reading (esp. sci-fi and fantasy), Computers, Games and Puzzles of all kinds. Huge Yankees and Jets fan!

Wow.. Thought I would ever see a place for dads. A place where we can say something without the better-half taking their shots at us !! just kidding.....!!!

Anyhow, I'm Dee and been married for 14 years and we have 3 year old girl.

We live in the Los Angeles area.

I just wanted to say that I want to hear from all the other dads on this site and hope to learn from all of you guys !!

Thanks again

Hey all!

My name is Chris (25) and I am in Miami, FL. I married my wife 3 months ago after knowing each other for about 16 years and being best friends for 7. We found out this past weekend that we are expecting and I found this site while looking for information on being a dad. I hope to share good stories and tips...

Hey everybody. I'm a little late with doing this, but I'm trying to get more involved. I'm 28 and I'm married to my high school sweetheart. (Ewwwww!) Together we have 5 going on 6 kids. (5 girls and hopefully the last one will be my son.) My oldest is Kayla. Ive been around her since she was a few months old. She is really my step daughter but I consider her part of my own kids even though she doesn't live with us currently. My second eldest is Katherine-Marie. She is technically my oldest biologically. She is the leader of the pack and She was the only one of my kids that was able to spend a a great amount of time with my mother before she passed. She reminds me a lot of her. Carol-Lynn is number three. I'm told she is like my twin, but I don't see it. Kendyl is my next one. She is big ball of energy. She keeps us on our toes. Candice is the last girl. She is big sweetheart. She hangs around me whenever I'm home. The last of our bunch will be named after me. He will be Lucien the third.

We are originally from Miami, Fl and recently I asked my job for a transfer to Atlanta, Ga. It's a big change of pace, but we all have adjusted very nicely. That's about it for now. Feel free to leave me a message about anything.

I'm humbled to post after so many other great introductions but I will take a swing at it.

I am Rick, a 28 year old Christian husband and father living in Saint Louis, MO. I am a computer software developer / systems analyst, a vegetarian, a wanna-be chef, and horsey to the world's greatest near-3-year old living-room jockey. I live to serve my God, treasure my wife and enjoy every moment God gives me with my daughter. My wife and I are foster parents though we are currently without placement.

Like so many others here, we had our daughter and my wife came home to 100's of websites that would give her advice, accountability, reference, community and perhaps most importantly a sense that she was not the only one going through whatever battles she found herself in; I had Google and a few well-meaning friends. This site has promise to become a valuable tool within our fatherly arsenal but as any content-driven media it will only become as great as we make it.

Hi Everyone. My name is Paul, I'm 33 and an Active Duty Navy guy. Currently over in Afghanistan..but I'll make it home for the holidays this year. I have 2 boys, one that is 6 and one that is 17 months. My wife is a stay at home Mom who has been able to tolerate me for almost 10 years now.

I am a huge Chicago bears, Philadelphia Phillies and Flyers Fan. I am big in to CrossFit and other forms of exercise. I run with my six year old twice a week...great way to spend time together and also helps instill good habits from the get go.

Good to meet everone and look forward to getting to know you all.

Hey Guys!

I'm Matt. A 38 year old freelance writer from Alabama (though originally born and raised in Wash. D.C.).

After years of doctors telling my wife and I we would never conceive, we're due on Dec. 3rd...with a boy! I'm stoked about this new chapter in our lives and looking forward to meeting other fathers.

Likes: Music, Sports, Outdoors, and staying away from the preying eyes of consumerism. Love playing "futbol" with my buddies on FIFA 08. My Xbox tag is MerkSly...hit me up!

Glad to be part of a group "by dads...for dads". Savvy Daddy's unite!

Hello to all! I'm new to the group. I'm 29 years old, just celebrated my 1st Anniversary with my wife and we're expecting our first little one in March. Hopefully, I can learn somethings through this site, because I'm scared of having my own child.

Looking forward to hear from everyone.

My wife is 39 weeks pregnant and I got a phone call at the office from her. I was all ready to leave the office then she told me my 2 yr old daughter pooped in the toilet for the first time. I was so overjoyed and wanted to tell the whole office this had happened at home! But I don't think it was appropriate especially it was treat day at the office.

Glad to see all the dads here!

Like others, I found the site through Facebook. My boss actually forwarded it to me. Last year I made a half-hearted attempt at starting my own dad-centric website called The New Daddy. I hope to still find my place in the daddy-sphere and put the domain name to good use. Then I found another dad site that just didn't do it for me. Now I'm here. :)

I've been a dad since February of 2007. My little girl (Rory) has been fully of energy since she arrived. Maybe her defining moment so far was running back and forth through the living room yelling "aaaaah!" in one direction and blowing raspberries in the other. My wife and I both admit that at first it was the most difficult thing we've ever done. Rory was colicky for at least a good 6 months. But it was worth it and we can barely even remember what that time was like.

Now-obligatory random section: I love music and own somewhere around 1000 CDs. Some favorites: Pearl Jam, Fountains of Wayne, Michael Franti & Spearhead, lots and lots more. Into computers since we got our first 286, online since I figured out how to use ProComm+. I'm probably an internet addict. Love to laugh, cook out with friends or family, go to the toy store, play silly games. Guitar Hero and Rock Band take up some time. Breakfast, the park, camp, the ocean. Watching Rory discover everything and trying to decipher what she's saying.

My name is Joshua 27 married and I'm a father of one baby boy 11 months old. He's amazing and I can't wait to get off work every day to go get him from daycare. He can already play catch with blow up balls, and is actually really good. I didn't think an 11 month old could actually catch a ball... I look forward to surprises every day.
I like most guys like to watch sports. I'm not one of those freaks that get upset when they don't get to see every game though. hahaha... even though i like to watch baseball a lot.
I'm more of a music guy. I've been in quite a few bands. Playing guitar is my passion or release. Mason loves music and likes to bang on things all the time. I think he's going to be a drummer. ha! I have Mason on a really good pattern. He sleeps every night in his own bed from 9:30 till 6:45. Has pretty much since he was three months old.
I work in television and am finishing up my masters degree. After that I'm thinking of getting a doctorate degree with my thesis being about TV and its effects on kids. To my astonishment there hasn't been any study's done on "content" of TV watched by kids and its effects on them. Only amount of tv that they watch.

Yadda yadda... I’m glad to be here!!!

Joshua

Howdy everybody,
My name is Anthony, new to this site. like other dads, my wife has a Cafemom account and i felt left out. I am a father of a wonderful two year old son. Dakota and my wife is about 15 weeks along. We are hoping for a girl this time. I am an Air Force veteran, medically retired after only 4 years. I have been out for a little over a few months. I just want to talk to other dads and just maybe get into some social circle online. Thanks.

Adam, 25, here. My wife and I live in Lexington, KY and work for UK. Our daughter, Claire, is eight months old and I've loved each and every month so far. She's a chubby-cheeked, fat-thighed bundle of personality and I never imagined loving a child so much before she came along.

Like the majority of the posters here, my wife got all the website love from BabyCenter and the like and I've been looking for something like this for a while now. And also like many others, the Facebook ad brought me over. Been pretty impressed so far with the articles and the posts by fellow dads.

Lookin' forward to sharing the experience with you fellas...

I'm Tim, 29, and live in rural New Hampshire w/my wife and 2 wonderful daughters -- one just turned 2 and the other one is 1 month old! My wife and I both work, but I work nights and she's a daytimer, so our work schedule allows for both of us to be pretty involved w/the kids.

I'm still getting to know our second daughter (A) -- my first daughter (L) and I have a great relationship and I'm loving being her daddy more every day. My other passions include the Red Sox, gardening, cooking, and the outdoors. We recently bought a house so yardwork and home repairs should also be added to my list of interests. Music (indie-rock & more) is also central to my life!

The internet has been kind to mommies online, but not so much to the dads. I'm on facebook, twitter, etc etc so this is just another avenue for my online life. I look forward to hopefully using this website more and more!

I'm early 30's (33 I think, I can't ever remember, and the math is too hard). We live in Richmond, VA. We have a 13 month old son who was born on my birthday, May 1st. He is so joyous. He laughs all the time, except when he is sick. He's had recurrent urinary tract infections, and the doctors can't figure out what to do. But, we're working on that.

My wife and I work in a program that used a thing called the Teaching-Family Model to work with kids. We've been doing it for 7 years, living with teenagers in a home provided to us by the program, teaching social skills and preparing them for life. It is a lot like foster care, but with a lot more support (and more kids). It is a 24/7 job. We've been married for 10 years. It is wonderful to work together as partners.

But, she has just taken a promotion, which is going to put me out of a job (since we work as a couple). That is fine with me. I am going to be a full-time dad. The agency is working to find a work-from-home position in the next 6 months or so. I am just looking forward to the time with our son. We will still live on our program's campus, so mom/wife will still be very close and we will get to see her at lunch time. No commute.

Random stuff: whitewater kayaking (it is wonderful in Richmond, right through downtown), cooking, laundry (oh, the laundry...I forgot to switch it over...now I'm back...), we do cloth diapers (BumGenius-- they are great!!), I have a Master's degree in Social Work and used to be a family therapist, woodworking (when I have time), long walks on the beach, Barry White on the stereo, cuddling by the fire, is anyone still reading this??

Nice to be here. I am glad this board exists.

-John

My name is Jared, and I found the site through my facebook endeavors. I'm 32, I've been a husband for five years and a dad for 19 months. It' the coolest thing I've ever done. My little guy changed everything for me, and I haven't looked back once.

I'm a full-time church music guy, and my wife is a WAHM. My handle here is "compostdad", because any day now I'm getting a composter in the mail and I'm ridiculously excited about being kinder to the landfills and storing some trash in my backyard...?

I like to stay somewhat fit by working out, eating right all day, then having cookies at night. (this isn't working) I'm a huge fan of Guinness, and other fine beers. Discgolf is a passion I hope to share with my boy someday. I just recently started a blog at www.randomjared.blogspot.com so that is new for me.

Anyway, this is a great forum so far and I'm glad to among dads that are excited about "dad'hood like I am.

Hello everyone, my name is Steven my family and I currently live in northern Virginia but I am in the Navy and will soon be taking a transfer to San Diego. I have been married to my beautiful wife Genea since St. Paddy’s Day 2007 and in November of 2007 my son Gabriel was born. I am still an new dad and due to the fact that I had to leave on another Navy deployment my wife has been the one raising my son while I am gone. I look forward to the day that I get to be back with both of them. Thanks to technology I have been able to see both through pictures and movies the vast changes my son/wife have gone trough so I don’t feel as if I missed that much but I still feel a little like an outsider looking in. Well enough about me I am really enjoying all of the posts and information on this site and hearing from the more experienced Dads out there.

My name is Erik, I live in Southeastern PA and I have a beautiful 13 month old little girl. I have been married since July 2006. My wife and I are working parents and on top of that we both coach youth club sports, so our time is tight. We enjoy all the special times together more and more as she is growing up so fast.

Random stuff about me:
I have a crazy passion for the Philadelphia Eagles. I currently coach and work as an assistant director of a Junior National Girls Volleybal Club. I enjoy playing the game as much as I do coaching. I have been playing for about 16 years. I enjoy fixing up our new house we just built and look forward to developing a great relationship with my family.

I'm Jonathan, 31 - married since 2001 (you work out the math) - 2 kids, 3.5 and 1.5, both girls. I am a lawyer, work for a small firm in Indiana.

My wife is recently a SAHM, having been laid-off from her tech job. We're trying to figure out how to make ends meet, but I am optimistic. O

We lived in Virginia until 2005 when I graduated from law school. I grew up on the coast of N.C. and went to William & Mary for undergrad, and Catholic U. for law. Let's see...I like law, philosophy, theology, reading in general, chess, single-malts (when the wife lets me buy them), talking, my girls, cooking (especially Indian). I am a Catholic, and a convert, so that is always near and dear to my heart.

Good board to find, good site to find, look forwards to chatting with y'all!

--Jonathan

Hey guys! I'm Bob, I have 3 boys ages 7, 5 and 3, plus my wife is pregnant with our 4th child, who is scheduled to come into the world via C-section on May 20 (12 days away). I'll let you know then whether I have 4 boys or 3 boys & a girl.

I'll be 35 on May 30, been married to my wonderful wife for 9 years come November. Having children hasn't been easy, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. I find it mind-boggling how much I love my wife & children....it's just amazing. They are the most wonderful gifts. There's nothing like coming home to the yells of "DADDY!!" and having them all come running to give hugs.

We live in the Hudson Valley in NY, about 100 miles north of NYC. I work full time as a CAD Operator (AutoCAD), my wife stays at home with the kids (lucky us). She's a fantastic mother, wife & cook :)

random stuff: I'm a freelance web developer (http://4inchorange.com) by night. I love NHL hockey (Go Canucks!....next year) & most other sports. Used to be an avid mountain biker, having kids & being married slowed that down a lot. My wife & I are vegetarians, the kids are not. I love heavy metal, was a bass player in a hardcore band in high school, I also play guitar. Last band I saw in concert: Slayer...go figure, I'm Catholic.

See you around

Hey all,
Just wanted to continue the thread and say hi. My name is Chris, porkchopexpress is a handle I have used online since the online mods of the PC game Doom back in the early 90's. And yes I am a big John Carpenter fan. Been on this planet for 34 years and I have lived in Chicago my whole life. My lovely wife and I have been married for almost 5 years. We do not have any children yet, but I have hopes that in this forum someone may have already experienced some of the same issues we are facing and I can learn from everyone. I suppose there is always something to be said for wanting to be prepared.

Few things about me:
I am interested in cars and motorcycles, through much trial and error I have become rather handy around the house, I play a fair amount of video games, and really enjoy watching movies.

I am new as well. I am the father of a tough 8 month old, Miles. I am lucky enough to be a stay at home dad while I work at starting my CPR/AED training business.

My days consist of feeding, changing a diper, playing, puting him down for a nap and then trying to work for two hours before I have to start from the begining again.

I am so excited to find this site because just as Pete was saying my wife has been talking to moms on Cafemoms and several other sites since the day she became pregnant.

I like to sit outside and stare in the distance and relax a good beer and cigar often help me with this. And I love taking walks with my wife and boy.

Hi everyone! My name is Brian, but lots of people call me "BEB" (pronunced "beeb") which are my initials.

I am 36, been married for 15 years this July, and have one 22 month old boy, and twins on the way (due in September).

I love being a father, and I consider the day my son was born to be the best day in my life. It was truly amazing and humbling to look into my son's eyes for the first time, and hold him, etc. I try to play as active role as a father as I can. I am lucky as I get to work F/T from home, which means I can spent lots of time with my son. Sometimes just spending a few minutes with him in the middle of stressful day at work is all I need to cheer me up and give me perspective on what really matters.

random stuff about me:

• I love movies, especially "art films" and good sci-fi. I saw Star Wars IV the opening week back in 1978, and it changed my life
• I am a huge fan of the new "Battlestar Galactica" show
• I love music (from nearly all genres) and have over 1000 CDs and over 15,000 songs on my (now dead) Ipod.
• I play some guitar (see me attempt one of my favorite Neutral Milk Hotel songs here on YouTube).
• I was a skateboard punk rock nerd in high school, and played lots of Dungeons and Dragons as well as video games (Tempest, Ms. Pac Man, Joust, Battlezone were some 80's arcade faves)
• I am interested in technology, philosophy, altered states of consciousness, and talking about stuff
• I love to play Hold 'Em and Omaha poker
• I am a fairly avid photo-bug, and have been shooting pictures since I was 16. See some of my stuff here.
• I have recently gotten back into video games after a 6+ year hiatus. I got a Playstation 3 recently, and have been blown away by the level of detail in modern games. My faves so far are MotorStorm, Skate, and Warhawk (if any of you have a PS3 add me as a friend, my PSN name is "bebfoo") I look forward to playing games with my kids someday!

hey, rich here...well, my first son was born 01/20/2008. Cullen Richard O'Hearn (we're a little irish). So far i think my wife and i have been doing a pretty good job. she's a stay at home mom, i work. a lot. but i love my job, wife, and son, so i can't complain.

LIKES: BoSox, Disc Golf, & Blues Music.
DISLIKES: uh...i guess pop music.

that's all, good to be here. glad to meet everyone.

hi, i'm chibucks, i've got a beautiful 6 week old daughter that also shares the same birthday as me. i love being a dad even if it means typing one handed (which i'm doing right now... hence the lack of capital letters), getting no sleep, & changing diapers every 2 hours. :-)

i like the random stuff thing as well... i'm a big osu buckeye fan... so the last couple of years have been great, but disappointing at the end... i enjoy staying active - basketball, volleyball, and i try to golf... but i doubt i'll have a lot of time anymore for these things. i've been involved in a faith-based volunteer program mentoring inner-city highschool kids, which has been challenging, but completely rewarding as well... love video games, which helps you stay awake for those late night feedings...

that's all, my one hand is tired. :-)

hey eric, thanks for getting these intros going.

I'm Tony, I've got a two-year-old son who loves bouncing balls (and somehow doesn't mind that they keep hitting him in the face). I've always been one to love kids and I knew I'd love being a dad, but not THIS much. What an adventure already!

random stuff about me: I'm a big fan of the Red Sox, good food of any kind, learning (yeah, kinda dorky), blogs/writing, twitter, waiterrant.net, cheesy music, Relevant Magazine, John Piper writings, NPR, ESPN, Fast Company, bubble tea, the Hokies, and being a kid at heart.

looking forward to getting to know ya'll going through the same journey...