Eliette Jane

This post is a bit different, but in a way it reinforces the main point of this blog. Iv’e got two points to make.

1. I’ve quite recently become a father. Abbey and I had our first child on August 21 at 7:11 pm. Our daughter was born weighing 6 lbs. 12 oz. at a length of 21.5 inches. We named her Eliette Jane Sachs. I’m posting some pictures of her to introduce her to friends and family.

2. In my life, I’d like to think I’ve seen a good bit of this country and many of the natural wonders of nature, but childbirth is probably the most intense scene I’ve ever witnessed. It ranks just above standing at the rim of the Grand Canyon and proposing to Abbey before the great Denali. After months of anticipation, suddenly she was there. Excitement and adrenalin pumped through my body. I felt instantaneous profound joy and love for this child.
One month later, we are settling in to parenthood, and the fear begins to set in. The instinctual urge to protect her and provide her with the best life possible. I know all of this may seem cliche, and probably very foreign especially to those who do not have children. Believe me I was the same way (and I still am with other people’s kids).

My point is that my perspective has intensified. This world abounds with natural wonders, a treasure-trove of simple pleasures which we should introduce our young children to. Spending time with them in discovering the wonders of nature is important in the fast-paced life of today. The culture in the Midwest seems more content to eat, watch TV, and work, rather than embracing the outdoors. I want my daughter to grow up camping, fishing, hiking, and playing outside. I don’t want her to be glued to the TV and/or video game screen.
In a State with only one National Park and an ever-increasing rate of development, open space and wilderness is scarce. I don’t want to have to drive 1 or 2 states away to find a campsite that is a bit more remote and natural than a KOA cover in trailers and smothered in exhaust fumes and stale Pabst Blue Ribbon.

I want my daughter to grow up fishing in a stream for bass with no one around for miles, but me and her mother. I want to camp at the Colordao Rivers edge at the base of the Grand Canyon. I want her to see a sunset from a mountaintop.

My greatest fear is no longer boredom and stagnation in my current geographic location, it is for my daughters well-being. My greatest fear is that her soul will be crushed at far too early an age if I can’t liberate her from this Midwestern culture of eating and drinking and watching life from a couch. My greatest fear is her growing up in Toledo.

That said, the following pics posted are of my child from her birth to last week.