Saska(tchewan) Dads Day Photo Contest Entries

Here they are, some of the great dads in Saskatchewan. Contest closes 15 June at midnight. 

"I think this photo speaks for itself why my husband is the best!"

Jason is a great dad. Always patient with the kids and works super hard to give us a great house and healthy food

Tyson is a journeyman carpenter who works extra hard so I can stay home with the kids. He works long hours but he second he gets home it's nothing but hugs and kisses for his boys. Our 2 year old looks up to him and copy's his every move its so precious to see the love he has for his daddy 

Taron - While I will be the first to admit that my Dad is a pretty awesome man, I would like to submit a second photo of myself with my new baby girl.

Having an amazing Father figure is something I am very thankful and being able to in turn be a Father myself makes it 1000 times better!

Brennan is a great dad because he is always ready to do what is needed. Whether it is a diaper change or bouncing our baby when she is grumpy, he does it with a smile.

This is one of my favorite pics of my husband Stephen learning that changing a diaper needs to be done quickly! 
He took his time and got peed on and then to make the situation worse...he got torpedo pooped on!
I of course offered no comfort but decided to grab the camera!
P.s. He did get better (and quicker) at changing diapers!

Craig is a great father because he is supportive, kind, understanding and patient with me and our son Cooper. This is Craig's first Father's Day. I can't wait to celebrate Craig and his amazing transformation into fatherhood.

Although my husband is a fantastic father to all of his children, this is the most heart warming photo I have ever seen of him. This is him with our youngest who was born at the beginning of May. While pregnant with this little guy in the photo he showed me how amazing of a man he is and has become. While I was sick with 6 months of morning sickness he was attentive and loving with our other kids as well as being strong and supportive to me. When I chose to explore birthing options he at first did not understand but took it upon himself to learn and he became the biggest supporter of me throughout the rest of the pregnancy and my labor. I could not have done it without him.

Although he has a super skill of sleeping through baby cries when I need help he is more then willing to rock kids to sleep, change diapers, build forts, teach the kids to fish, make breakfast and help in any way he can.

This is my amazing husband Tyler. Not only is he an amazing husband but he is the most loving, fun, and caring father I know. The bond that Tyler and Nash have is remarkable. Tyler spends hours playing tag, pick-a-boo, and even will sing just to share a smile and laugh with Nash. Tyler certainly puts Nash before anything Else in the world. He continues to amaze me everyday.

Zone defense

With Roughrider training camp underway in the Bridge City, I thought it was timely to write this. When I teach my monthly dads prenatal class, I sometimes use sports analogies, among others, to make some points or to provide clarity. As I think about it, raising kids is one of the most exciting games you could ever play. A dad gets to be a coach and a player in the lives of his kids, and some of my favorite times with O and E are when we are playing in the park or when I am a horse and O is the farmer. We get to learn every day from the kids and have to figure out new plays when our old ones get figured out or just don't work anymore. J and I have mastered man-to-man defense with O and E, but this November, the month of the 101st Grey Cup, we will need to review our defensive skills and master zone defense as we welcome baby #3. My team is growing, and I couldn't be happier. O is quite excited for the little arrival and Miss E, well I know she'll love being a big sister. 

Here is how we told our families:

Happy Monday everyone! Have a good week.

~ B

Saska(tchewan) Dads Day Photo Contest

Alright, in honour of Father's day it's time to look around the province and find out why the dad in your life is the best with our Saskatchewan Dad's Day Photo contest. Email (bootcamp4newdadssk@gmail.com) your favourite photo of the dad in your life with his kids and tell me why he is such a great dad. Photo's will be uploaded to this page and to Boot Camp for New Dads SK on Facebook for the province to see all of the great dads in our great province. By providing your photo, you are consenting to its use for promotion of the contest and publishing through the mediums above. A random draw will be made on Father's Day from all submissions for a prize. Good luck!

In fatherhood,
Blair

My  kids and I, Dads Day 2012

SK Father Involvement Network

I'm really excited for this new project I am embarking on (with a great group of "advisors", I might add). We are heading on a journey of starting Saskatchewan's own Father Involvement Network. What is it? Who will we serve? Well, I hope to answer those questions right shortly once I write up my report from our first meeting this past Friday.

Stay tuned here for updates as they come in.

In fatherhood,
Blair

So what is Boot Camp for New Dads?

I get this question a lot. People who know me and know what my passion in life is and what I do on evenings and weekends ask, "so what is boot camp for new dads". I explain it as the best opportunity an expectant father has to discover what it is like to be a father, and to see fatherhood up close and personal. While that may be a tad cliché, it is true. At Boot Camp for New Dads SK, we have two groups of dads the expectant fathers (a.k.a. rookies) and the new or fairly new dads (a.k.a. the veterans), and their babies! While I facilitate and steer the discussion, the veteran dads are called on to give their experiences with each discussion topic and the rookies can ask any questions. During the second hour of the 3-hour program, we break into mini groups and the rookies rotate around the veteran dads and babies to ask questions, talk and see fatherhood! This is my favorite part and I enjoy walking around the room, listening in to the different discussions. I always tell the rookies to ask the same question to each veteran and they will not get the same answer twice! As long as I have been doing boot camp, they have never got the same answer. Just like each birth is different for every couple, so too is the fatherhood journey for each dad! The last hour is more discussion and fun! Check out this promo video from Boot Camp for New Dads HQ:

Share this with every expectant dad you know! I look forward to working with them and all the fathers that I see. For registration dates and times, check out the Boot Camp for New Dads SK page on the side of the saskadad site. 

In fatherhood,
Blair

(Saska)tchewan Dad

Okay, so I think I can honestly say I have a lot of learning to do with this blogging thing! I came across a post the other day that talked about blogging and how time consuming it can be if not done right. This couldn't be more true in my case, and I apologize for that. I really want to gain a following, but I know that I cannot do that if I do not update regularly, at least once a week. I also want to do my best to make my blog entertaining, to chronicle my fun adventures as a dad in (presently sub-arctic) Saskatchewan, Canada. 

I've got lots of ideas in my head and on paper (somewhere) for this blog and want to make it a useful resource for Saskatchewan dads, and eventually gather a following across Canada, and maybe even take a trip down south. The daddy blogger is new to a lot of people, but I really enjoy following them and will enjoy even more writing about my time as a dad. The page is called (Saska)tchewan Dad and I hope to provide some fun information for dads and moms about all things fatherhood, using personal stories and anecdotes for whatever I write about. I will likely cover some more sensitive issues that may generate some discussion, and by writing about them, I feel that they need to be talked about in a fair way so that all sides of an issue are heard. If you have any ideas for a topic, please let me know and I will do what I can to write about it. One day, I hope to have an interactive website, where 

Over time, I will include product reviews on the page of a variety of baby and child products. The reviews will be based on my personal opinion however and will be added to perhaps aid you in your decision when you are overwhelmed with everything that is out there for new parents.

Finally, for those of you who don't know, I am also privileged to be a part of the Birth Rhythms team as the Program Coordinator and Coach of Boot Camp for New Dads SK, a unique and interactive prenatal program just for expectant fathers. Check out the Boot Camp for New Dads SK page on this site for information on the program and for registration links!

Keep following, share the page and I look forward to writing about Fatherhood for the families of this great province!

In fatherhood,

Blair

#DADuary 2013 A

Wow! Still really late in my publishing for DADuary 2013. Life is really busy these days, and I wouldn't change it for anything! I write these up in advance (well, except for my usual intros) and then it apparently takes me some time to actually get on her to post them. Anyway, continuing with DADuary 2013, here is my week 3 post. I'm going to try and post week 4 on Saturday, hold me to it!

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R
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A. Adventure out with the wife and/or family I chose the wife on this one, it had been some time since we have gone out alone.

I write this after a wonderful "date-day" with my lovely wife. After teaching Bootcamp for New Dads this morning, I zoomed home to get some time in with my kids, while excitedly readying myself for our upcoming date. Thanks to my parents for spending the afternoon and part of the evening with the kids!

J and I decided to take in a movie and after taking a look through the listings at Galaxy downtown, we chose Les Misérables. Without going into a formal review (which I plan to do), I will say this production was brilliant. While it was a little long, and some of the singing was questionable, the story felt so real and the acting and singing was phenomenal. Kudos to the director and the cast on this one! We left the theatre still thinking and talking about the tear-jerker of a movie, and deciding we would like to purchase the DVD.

After our movie, we headed over to our favourite all-you-can eat Sushi place downtown, and finished off the evening with our favourite food and some quality time together. When we go out, we do our best to not talk about the kids, but talk about each other. Those of you with kids of your own, know that this can be a challenge, and for the most part we were successful!

I know that J and I will be doing more of these "adventures" in the near-future. Not only are they a lot of fun, but it is really important for two parents to remember that they need to take care of each other as much as their kids, so finding time for one-another is key.

Happy DADuary everyone,
B