The Late Shift

In one of the few baby books for dads, the author suggests you work out a deal with your wife where she gets up with the baby and you sleep all night. I'm not sure who he married... but this ain't happening in my house and probably not in yours.

It doesn't matter that you have to work, it doesn't matter that you can't actually help the baby in most cases (daddy just doesn't have the goods), what matters is keep your wife from going crazy. Sometimes I think, Melissa just wants me to get up so she doesn't feel alone.

I'm not going to lie... getting up with the expectation of being functional isn't easy. You find yourself doing crazy things, rationalizing with the baby (come on, just a few more hours of sleep), even bribing him (I already owe Dominic four or five trips to Disneyland). On the flip side, I've learned you can get a lot of DVR time when you get up at 4 a.m. and even a few rounds of video games (I've mastered holding him and the controller at the same time).

Besides... when you're rocking the baby at 2 a.m. and he gives you a big toothless grin... it's all worthwhile.