On September 4th 2014 at 11:48 a.m. I became a father.
Alana Rosemary Pearman
6 lbs 6 ounces 19 inches long
Alana is 7 weeks old now. Let me tell you, the cuteness grows exponentially. My wife and I love her more every day. In fact, outside of changing diapers and feeding, we stare at her and smile all day long. And when she's asleep, and the lights go out, the iPhones flicker bright with our images of the day.
Beyond the unparalleled happiness that follows the birth of a child, there is a clarity that follows. The heart quiets the mind as you give into complete love. The task is clear and simple: love her, nurture her, create a home, and give her the best tools in life to be happy and prosper. You lose the desire to be retrospective because the future lies against your chest, as you hold her, and her little heart reminds you to be present and to enjoy the moment.
Today I was asked how it feels to be a father. My response was brief:
Today I was asked how it feels to be a father. My response was brief:
"Life is more simple. Time is more precious. Family is most important."
So what happens to my fitness career and my active lifestyle? Many friends commented to me that my life will never be the same. They were right. I am a father now. But that responsibility doesn't have to overshadow or diminish my passion to move, be active, and healthy.
The day after my wife and I brought Alana home we headed out for a hike. We love the Presidio in San Francisco. Huge eucalyptus trees shade you and fill the air with the cleanest, minty-wood smell. With Alana wrapped to our chest we walked holding hands, smiling into the broken sunlight, as we began our new journey as a family.
My wife and I are very fortunate. We now work in the same space. A wonderfully clean, large, modern gym called Studiomix. Few parents have the luxury to create a schedule at work were they can easily pass their baby back and forth. This freedom at work helps us balance our priorities and become a stronger team.
Alana's integration into our lives has been so much fun. We've taken the approach of "she's coming with". As my wife has healed from delivery we've slowly jumped back into our active lifestyles. The only change is the +1 --our lil' miss Alana Rosemary. Have I mentioned she is THE CUTEST!
So there you have it. I am a father. I am a husband. I am a trainer. And I am full of joy and love. I've never been happier. Now I can share my passions with my daughter. And Alana can step into a future I'll never touch.
The day after my wife and I brought Alana home we headed out for a hike. We love the Presidio in San Francisco. Huge eucalyptus trees shade you and fill the air with the cleanest, minty-wood smell. With Alana wrapped to our chest we walked holding hands, smiling into the broken sunlight, as we began our new journey as a family.
Alana's integration into our lives has been so much fun. We've taken the approach of "she's coming with". As my wife has healed from delivery we've slowly jumped back into our active lifestyles. The only change is the +1 --our lil' miss Alana Rosemary. Have I mentioned she is THE CUTEST!
So there you have it. I am a father. I am a husband. I am a trainer. And I am full of joy and love. I've never been happier. Now I can share my passions with my daughter. And Alana can step into a future I'll never touch.
