Baby + Time Management

[Diognes56]

Not widely known yet, but my wife and I are expecting our first child, a little girl, in about a month. Both are doing well and we are both very excited to meet our little Chloe.

The last few months have been nonstop projects. In the house, in the garage, moving this, and selling that, it has been pretty crazy. All necessary in one way or another, but with most of them coming close to completion I am itching to do one (or two) major "un"necessary project(s) before the baby arrives. Once my hardware arrives, I plan on tackling my full floor pan and if time permits building the jig for my frame work. Thinking about that got me to thinking about:

1. Why do baby girl clothes have to be so frilly and why is it practically impossible to find girl clothes and toys that are even remotely car related (and I am not talking about Barbie's first Prius either)?

2. What ear plugs do you guys recommend for high pitched noises? I am specifically worried about the noises emitted by women when they see a new baby!

And most importantly......

3. Any suggestions on how to make time for garage time? I want to enjoy our daughter when she arrives but I also would like to make progress on my car. Slow progress is fine, that wouldn't be any different than it is now. I have heard many stories about projects going into hibernation (or sold) for months and even years once a baby is born. Some say that is just the way it is. Should I just expect that garage time will not be in the cards for a few months?

Thanks

[Rybar]

Should I just expect that garage time will not be in the cards for a few months?

First of all congrats, and to answer this question 100% YES.

Your wife will need a break too and that's where you or grandparents may step in. We had twin daughters last year. Most if any spare time has been thrown out the window, and any that you get you will probably want to catch up some sleep or just chill out on the couch. Just now (10 months) I am starting to find little bits of time to do things outside of work and looking after them.

I guess it also depends on how fussy your baby is and how her sleep schedule is. And it will depend on how cool your wife is with you wrenching on the car rather than looking after the kid (this will get better later once she sleep's on a more regular schedule)

Secondly, once you have your own kid your thoughts and priorities will change. You will want to spend more time looking after her and interacting with her and watching her learn and grow. It is the coolest thing I can't even explain until you go through it.

And don't worry about the car toys, I wanted a boy as well to share my guy interests like cars and fishing. But girls are awesome too. All my friends tell me they will love doing whatever dad does. And she will adore you.

Good luck and congrats again, fantastic news. :thumbsup:

[strtcar]

Congrats, kids are great, but they do take away from garage time. When we found out my wife was pregnant I didn't take my car apart that winter, I normally find things to do over the winter but that winter I made sure I left it 100% drivable for fear that I wouldn't have time to get it back together. Well.....turns out I've done that last two winters in a row and ended up buying a project car so my "finshed" car could be driven when i get the time. It's hard balancing time with family, work, and hobbies. If I get a hour every few days in the garage I'm happy. Good Luck.

[CraigMorrison]

Should I just expect that garage time will not be in the cards for a few years?

Thanks

Congrats! My wife and I had our son, Alexander nearly two years ago. It's been fun. I did however fix your question for you. :lol:

[4mm]

Congratulations! Rybar explained it very well IMO. My wife just gave birth to our fourth daughter three weeks ago. At my age it certainly isn't easy but if I can manage, you sure can too. I still find time to do the stuff I need to do, just not as quicky.

I love all my girls, and they are into cars just as I am, so don't worry. :thumbsup:

[JayR]

The kid thing figures itself out unless you're a deadbeat. The three of you just literally figure each other out. You will soon find your wife's and your daughter's thresholds and if all 3 of you can bend just a little as time goes by, it will get easy. Some kids are perfectly content to hang out in a playpen in the garage watching you work on the car and some kids like my daughter just need to be held the entire first year of her life. OMG.... But don't despair, much less shake her because even if she's difficult, it gets easier and funner everyday.

As for car toys, they're uni-sex like Crayons as far as I'm concerned and my daughter has the biggest Hot Wheels collection in her class and helps me work on the car and loves to cruise in it. She also has a bunch of American Girl dolls for the girlie girl inside all of them and she races BMX with me because that's how she grew up and is what she knows. Just be a positive influence and a good Dad and they'll be into whatever you're into as long as you don't force it down their necks whether girl or boy.

Good luck!

[*rayman*]

We're in the same boat, and expecting our daughter in 3 months time. Projects have been put on hold and into storage while we build a new house.

I've found / bought some cool stuff already.

Jegs onesie
http://www.jegs.com/p/JEGS/JEGS-Onesie/1224563/10002/-1

Summit Racing onesie
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-P81011/

Recaro baby seat
http://www.recarochildseat.com/

Mr horsepower onesie
http://www.vintageride.net/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=215

I told my fiancee that i'd love to bring our daughter home from the hospital in the 68 Camaro, she was all for it.

[boonedog]

Have one 2 years old and another one due in september he is one of the coolest things to happen in my life but time and money are alot shorter.... Well worth it just dont expect to much time to get much done.

[ErikLS2]

I will set my alarm on weekends and get up and work on my car a couple hours then. It doesn't interfere with family too much and if I can get up that early to go to work I can sure do it to work on something fun.

Good luck and congratulations. Wait until you have 2, 1 is a breeze :lol:

[tones2SS]

I have no advice to you as I don't have a child yet, but do want to say congrats!!:cheers:

[Ricochet]

First of all congrats, and to answer this question 100% YES.

Your wife will need a break too and that's where you or grandparents may step in. We had twin daughters last year. Most if any spare time has been thrown out the window, and any that you get you will probably want to catch up some sleep or just chill out on the couch. Just now (10 months) I am starting to find little bits of time to do things outside of work and looking after them.

I guess it also depends on how fussy your baby is and how her sleep schedule is. And it will depend on how cool your wife is with you wrenching on the car rather than looking after the kid (this will get better later once she sleep's on a more regular schedule)

Secondly, once you have your own kid your thoughts and priorities will change. You will want to spend more time looking after her and interacting with her and watching her learn and grow. It is the coolest thing I can't even explain until you go through it.

And don't worry about the car toys, I wanted a boy as well to share my guy interests like cars and fishing. But girls are awesome too. All my friends tell me they will love doing whatever dad does. And she will adore you.

Good luck and congrats again, fantastic news. :thumbsup:

Very well said! I can say now that after 2 boys, 6 & 3, my prioroties changed in a big way. The car has been on the back burner and should have been done years ago. Although still moving forward at a snails pace - I know it will get done. But you know what, I would not change a thing! The time you spend with your kids is something you will never get back. Don't worry though, you will find time to work it in your schedule. It's just that priorties will change! We all adjust accordingly. At first though for me, there was nothing more I wanted to do than spend time with our first (not that our second got short changed..:lol: ) It's simply amazing and nothing I can say can truly explain it. It's just something you feel. Congrats again!!

[Diognes56]

Thanks for the congrats, tips, and stories everybody. I really appreciate and enjoyed them all.
I am sure garage time will work itself eventually. Right now I am in get things done mode, so I keep thinking about how to get stuff done, and that is about as much I can do for now. I am excited to meet her, she already seems to like to play hide and seek with me, and to take her to car shows and tell her about them. I want to make one of those pedal car / stroller cars for her first Good-Guys Columbus :D .

Thanks again.

David