re: Expecting my first child in April...

Maybe it's just me, but I think about my mortality a lot more than before I had a kid. Not so much fear of death, but fear that I won't be here to take care of my wife and kid. That provider/protector instinct kicks in super hard the instant you see your kid for the first time. Even getting a cold is enough to send me down a path filled with anxiety wondering if this is it and what will my family do without me.

I know that's dark, and I don't mean to scare you, but it's something no one told me about. I know my wife has the same feelings as I do about it. I'm not sure if others feel that, too.

All that said, buckle up and enjoy the ride. The dopamine rush of love never gets old. The first month or two genuinly suck, but then they actually smile at you for the first time and everything in the world is right. I'm only nine months in to the journey and I love it.

Costco is great for formula, diapers, and wipes. Worth the membership for that alone.

Prepare to take a major income hit if the kid is in daycare. Good lawd that's a lot of money. I hope you're already on a list somewhere.