The sensation of fatherly elation at the early hours of the morning has shriveled, discolored, and fallen by the wayside like the leaves outside, or like the umbilical cord on my newborn daughter's belly.

Survey says it is the number one phrase of advice handed down to new parents, "Enjoy your sleep while you can." But how can the unsuspecting new parent even comprehend this? We certainly couldn't fathom our life constantly interrupted for the need of 2-3 ounces of liquid every couple of hours. (one exception is for the fraters during rush week).

Even as veteran parents, the constant recommendations give to us by young and old was to enjoy our sleep. With a two year old, we have not slept a solid eight hours for quite some time. One or both of us have always had to get up at least once a night to re-tuck our potty-trained girl back into her cozy bed. So I thought, "Sleep? Scoff! I can handle a new little critter just like I can handle this current situation."

Maybe it is the three years of age I have gained since Emma first blessed us. Maybe I have grown to appreciate solid sleep finally. Maybe this baby has a much higher pitched howl than Emma ever did. Whichever you may choose, I have to admit that Ellie is kicking my butt on the sleep deprivation circuit.

And to make matters worse, she has her mother's uncanny ability to know the fluid level on my bladder. Ever since I have fallen in love with Abbie, she has consistently called me whenever I am using the water waste receptacles. I could be sitting at my desk at work all day long waiting for her voice to travel across the phone line. As soon as I get up to relieve myself, she calls and is forced to leave me a message.

Ellie, on the other hand, calls me in another, ear-piercing way, and at ungodly hours of the day so that all in the house can be shaken from their dreamy slumbers and made aware that I am not on duty, but instead, doing my duty.

It seems that the worse I have to go, the louder and more impatient she gets. And it is nearly impossible to sit calmly at 3:42 a.m. soothing your two week old back into unconsciousness while pinching it off.

It does come in handy, however, for bouncing her tiny body just enough to get all the burps up.