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First-time dad gets Fathers Day treat
By Amy Stanley
Daily News staff writer
The maternity ward at Beloit Memorial Hospital was busy Thursday, welcoming a handful of new arrivals by lunchtime. But down one hall, things were a little calmer, as one first-time father prepared to take his newborn daughter home, his perfect gift for Father's Day.
Kenny and Melissa Servant welcomed Adrina Renae into the world on Monday. When his baby girl was born, Kenny said he didn't immediately realize how special this Father's Day on Sunday would be.
"I knew the due date and never even thought of how close Father's Day was," he said.
The learning curve for new parents can be steep, especially for first-time daddies who might find they're scared of their new bundles of joy, said Kim Jensen, R.N., who came to check in on the Servants as they prepared to take Adrina home. Most new dads gingerly approach fatherhood - afraid to touch, much less hold, their babies, she said.
"Most men are really scared," Jensen said. "We keep helping them and reassuring them - walking them through the steps. It's a lot of demonstration."
The list of daddy detail includes learning how to bathe, feed, burp, dress and diaper the babies. Jensen said the lessons start immediately following birth when fathers lend a hand with their babies' first baths. Bonding time for Kenny and Adrina began right away after Melissa was taken to surgery following 17 hours of labor and complications from delivery.
"Some men pick up right away like he did. He's been doing it," Jensen said of Kenny's care for Adrina.
"To me, how could you not want to?" he said. "They had me bathing her the first night."
Kenny was surprised at how quickly his father's instinct and protectiveness of his daughter took over. When his baby was given vitamin shots after she was born, he couldn't stand to hear her cry.
"The father in me kicked in. My heart just dropped," he said.
Friends have told him when your child wakes you up, you don't mind.
"I know that feeling now. I'm ready for the challenge. She's a doll," he said, looking at his sleeping daughter, dressed in a pale yellow sleeper.
Kenny said he spent plenty of time reading all the books, and watching baby shows on the Discovery Channel and The Learning Channel to prepare for Adrina's birth. The nursery's ready, diapers have been stockpiled and Thursday he successfully got that car seat fastened into place after cleaning the house for his daughter's arrival.
The most difficult task, he found, was choosing her pretty name, inspired by a woman Melissa met while working as a certified nursing assistant.
Though they didn't immediately realize Adrina's birth was so close to Father's Day, they did calculate she was born four years and two months to the day of their first date. Melissa said she and Kenny have adjusted to becoming parents together.
"It's a nervous process. We worked with each other. We helped prepare each other," she said.
Kenny said becoming a father has been more than anything he imagined, despite all the words of preparation from friends and family.
"If everything up until now hadn't made me a man, this does. And I'm looking forward to it," Kenny said, remembering his own father who passed away at 36, his own age. "Now it's weird for me to be 36 and start my family. I'm picking up where he left off."
While Melissa is looking forward to a more immediate future with her new daughter, like school field trips, Kenny's already thinking about prom dresses and wedding marches.
"I think every dad wants to be the best dad," Kenny said. "As soon as she was here, I know I'm changing each day."
Melissa said she and Adrina will likely spend "quality time with dad" for Father's Day, joined by the couple's American Bulldog, Saxon.
"She's going to be a daddy's girl," Melissa said. "I definitely could not ask for better; I try to thank him every day. He's taking care of me and her.
"Maybe on Sunday we'll let you go golfing," she told her husband, as tiny Adrina only yawned.
Kenny and Melissa Servant welcomed Adrina Renae into the world on Monday. When his baby girl was born, Kenny said he didn't immediately realize how special this Father's Day on Sunday would be.
"I knew the due date and never even thought of how close Father's Day was," he said.
The learning curve for new parents can be steep, especially for first-time daddies who might find they're scared of their new bundles of joy, said Kim Jensen, R.N., who came to check in on the Servants as they prepared to take Adrina home. Most new dads gingerly approach fatherhood - afraid to touch, much less hold, their babies, she said.
"Most men are really scared," Jensen said. "We keep helping them and reassuring them - walking them through the steps. It's a lot of demonstration."
The list of daddy detail includes learning how to bathe, feed, burp, dress and diaper the babies. Jensen said the lessons start immediately following birth when fathers lend a hand with their babies' first baths. Bonding time for Kenny and Adrina began right away after Melissa was taken to surgery following 17 hours of labor and complications from delivery.
"Some men pick up right away like he did. He's been doing it," Jensen said of Kenny's care for Adrina.
"To me, how could you not want to?" he said. "They had me bathing her the first night."
Kenny was surprised at how quickly his father's instinct and protectiveness of his daughter took over. When his baby was given vitamin shots after she was born, he couldn't stand to hear her cry.
"The father in me kicked in. My heart just dropped," he said.
Friends have told him when your child wakes you up, you don't mind.
"I know that feeling now. I'm ready for the challenge. She's a doll," he said, looking at his sleeping daughter, dressed in a pale yellow sleeper.
Kenny said he spent plenty of time reading all the books, and watching baby shows on the Discovery Channel and The Learning Channel to prepare for Adrina's birth. The nursery's ready, diapers have been stockpiled and Thursday he successfully got that car seat fastened into place after cleaning the house for his daughter's arrival.
The most difficult task, he found, was choosing her pretty name, inspired by a woman Melissa met while working as a certified nursing assistant.
Though they didn't immediately realize Adrina's birth was so close to Father's Day, they did calculate she was born four years and two months to the day of their first date. Melissa said she and Kenny have adjusted to becoming parents together.
"It's a nervous process. We worked with each other. We helped prepare each other," she said.
Kenny said becoming a father has been more than anything he imagined, despite all the words of preparation from friends and family.
"If everything up until now hadn't made me a man, this does. And I'm looking forward to it," Kenny said, remembering his own father who passed away at 36, his own age. "Now it's weird for me to be 36 and start my family. I'm picking up where he left off."
While Melissa is looking forward to a more immediate future with her new daughter, like school field trips, Kenny's already thinking about prom dresses and wedding marches.
"I think every dad wants to be the best dad," Kenny said. "As soon as she was here, I know I'm changing each day."
Melissa said she and Adrina will likely spend "quality time with dad" for Father's Day, joined by the couple's American Bulldog, Saxon.
"She's going to be a daddy's girl," Melissa said. "I definitely could not ask for better; I try to thank him every day. He's taking care of me and her.
"Maybe on Sunday we'll let you go golfing," she told her husband, as tiny Adrina only yawned.
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