2 months in babyland :)
Well, I’d love to say that the start of 2008 got off and running the way I wanted to, but it’s actually been more like what people who’ve had kids before told me - go to 2 comics per week for the next few months. I didn’t want to, but thats where im at, and the past two weeks its been more like one. That’s not good.
A lot of people told me not to discount just how much Jack is going to impact my ability to work. 
Taking this into account, i realized that the biggest thing i needed to do was get myself organized so that i could work more effectively. This was a lot more work than i anticipated. I finally set up my office/studio (i was in kind of a temporary setup here at the house before, where my drawing table and computer were in two different locations), and i’ve been working to clean up a lot of my development and reference material (i’m getting tired of not being able to find things) and work towards a more manageable production sequence.
Most of these efforts have really gone quite well. I feel pretty refreshed about what i’m doing and i’m ready to dive in and write and draw like a ‘professional’ comic artist (AKA ‘madman’)… if only Jack would give his dad more than 20 minutes at a time to do so.
Jack is 2 months old today 
It’s hard to believe that he joined us little over 8 weeks ago… honestly, it feels like its been more like six or seven months. He’s over 8 lb. now and is doing well. For the past few weeks he’s had some very uncomfortable digestive problems that have made him fussy, irritable, and in need of constant comforting. It was keeping him from sleeping for very long, and for the past few weeks one of us has been up at all times for when he needed attention. Thankfully, with some dietary adjustment, he’s doing much better and is starting to feel more peaceful more often, and now and again IS sharing this peace with his parents. Last night he slept through the night for the first time… and so did his Parents.
I have not been posting big apologies for not being able to get on track with the comic the way i need to and planned for 2008, but I am getting there. I appreciate your patience and have been as frustrated the lack of finished product as much as you all have.
It’s only January 9th, i have the whole year ahead of me. I’ll get there.
January 9th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Hey, don’t worry about it.
I’m sure most of the community [myself included] have been fine for the last 7 years [holy crap, I've been reading MT for the last 7 years!] and we’ll be fine for as long as it takes for Jack to settle down.
Good luck,
January 9th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
i dont mind much either, partly ‘us i can tell what you are going through and figured ‘ah well 2 a week is pretty good considering!’, and mostly ‘cus i never get on the web anymore =P
(i have only been reading for 1 year (i did near 1000 pages in one day… i was bored and it was good ^^)
keep it up ^^
January 9th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Kid first, comic second. Do not feel guilty about that. They grow up way too fast. So quit apologizing so much! Real fans will wait on you and understand. The rest can STFU.
January 9th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
hey man, no worries, we are all patient and understanding, really a big congrats goes to you for keeping anything up during the first few months of a baby, let along the holidays and such! hang in there, soon its the “dad can i borrow the car” before you know it!
January 9th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Most if not all of your fans understand that your priorities have changed with baby Jack being at the top of the list now. At least you’re trying to work and keep your schedule even if it’s only a comic or two week now.
Some artists hit a snag and they decide to take a 6-month hiatus with no word or notice. You’ve kept everyone up-to-date and you do what you can. So congrats on 2-months and look forward to reading and hearing more.
January 9th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
hahaha dude being a parent is a giant sleepless adventure ^^ at any rate things are going to quiet down eventually
kids have this thing they do called growing up and though it seems like its gona be a while, try not to blink you’ll find that jack will be fine in no time 
January 9th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Congrats on making it to the 2 month mark. Things will continue to get better, as I’m sure you’ll find out. When he starts to crawl, that will be a whole new round of fun for the three of you, as you desperately try to baby proof the house. You’ve probably heard this already, but lie on your tummy, and see what you can get at. Anything and everything you can find will get chewed, or pulled off shelves and then chewed. Plan for it. We took one of the circular baby gates that loops around, and split it in 1/2, and walled off our living room - with couch and loveseat as an L, a wall on the opposite side, and two chunks of baby gate walling off the rest of the room. It gave our kids a much bigger area to roam around, and they seemed much happier due to that.
Keep the comics coming, and keep updating your twitter when you find time. I’m sure if you check your logs, you’ll see that a lot of us do keep coming back to see if there is anything new, even if it’s just one or two lines from you.
Cheers from the currently defrosting frozen north (Ottawa)
Dan.
January 9th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
Fred, I’m very happy to hear Jack is settling down and actually sleeping through the night, sometimes. Also congrats on getting your workspace straightened out, and on admitting, finally, that you’re “like a professional artist”. Really, it’s nothing to be ashamed of.
January 10th, 2008 at 12:27 am
no worries ^^
be happy.
they’re up a lot for quite a while. enjoy your sleepful nights. they’re rare.
(is sleepful even a word?)
January 10th, 2008 at 1:19 am
My great-nephew is six months old and made off like a bandit with 40 Christmas presents. It took three hours to unwrapped them all and his parents are overwhelmed by the generosity.
Any possibility of posting a picture of your workspace? I’m in the process of redoing mine since I got computers, paintings, drawings, ceramics and writings all over the place. Getting a filing cabinet was a big help.
January 10th, 2008 at 4:41 am
Fred,
As an uncle i can understand where you stand, when my nephew (also called jack i swear everyone i know are calling their babies Jack these days) was born 8 weeks premature all focus switched to him even if the comic was only updated every one or 2 weeks we (The community) understand the situation, but remember if your lucky there are aunts and uncles sitting in the wings hopefully locally who wouldn’t mind taking care of jack for a few hours. I can say that cuase as an uncle i love looking after (my) Jack for the past two years of his life and yes enjoy the sleep filled nights but remember every sleepless night means more time with the child you love so much
January 10th, 2008 at 7:44 am
I suppose I can jump on the “hey, no problem” bandwagon. What a lucky sod you are. Not only to have such a loyal, understanding readership who can tell you, “Hey, your kid is more important than the livelihood you engage in to -care- for said kid”, but to have a job where you can get away with giving your clients a little something once a week, or once every few weeks, if that’s what the case may be. Any other job and that would never fly. You’re a lucky man, Fred, don’t squander it.
January 10th, 2008 at 8:42 am
As has already been said… don’t worry about it! You’ve given us this wonderful comic that you let us read for free on the wonderful inter-net. We’re happy for you and your family, and anyone who gives you any grief about taking some time to spend with them is, quite bluntly, an *sshole. I started reading MT several years ago when I saw it linked on ThinkGeek, and I’ve stuck with it through Dom days - if that doesn’t deter me then nothing will! ^_^
January 10th, 2008 at 9:40 am
It’s fine, you got the kid to take care of and that’s a more than understandable time taker. Sides the stuff you’ve been doing here recently i’ve been enjoying considerably. Personally i feel that the delays for Jack are being more than made up for in the stuff you’ve been getting done. Also the work i’m sure you’re doing with the Japan release work and dealing with Megagear over the holidays, you’ve been busy, keep up the good work
January 10th, 2008 at 10:03 am
Don’t worry about it the stuff your going through is more then understandable plus with your work always being of great quality its always worth the wait.:)
January 10th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Congrats on making it to the first sleeping-through-the-night, to the both of you.
January 10th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
We had a Papasan too for our son. He loved it! He’s only 10 mo. but got too big for it, else he’d still be swinging in it.
BTW: Buy a door jumper, it’s JD’s second fav.
January 10th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Hey, don’t feel bad. I had similar problems after I was born (ask my folks; I don’t think they slept at all for weeks at a time.) Like the others said, family comes first. We’ve all had times where we get nothing done and just can’t help it.
January 10th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Like many folk have said… being a parent changes EVERYTHNG. I recall vividly deciding to quit freelancing and take a Staff job to secure a “real” Health Plan when my first son was born. This was 1990…
Not I am back to freelance design and have to enforce the NO COMPUTER GAMING in daddy’s Studio during School hours with my two TEENAGERS…
Egad.
I fully expected you’d clobbered down to 1-2 comics a week for a WHILE yet… hang in there. Enjoy the little man while you can..
Kurt (”Samuraiartguy”)
Nanuet, NY
January 11th, 2008 at 7:48 am
Yeah, don’t let any emo kids whining about comic updates ever get in the way of what is the really thing to cherish and work on. Your son. Good luck!
January 11th, 2008 at 11:12 am
Well, duh! You’re a daddy-day-care! How you even manage to get ANY work done while taking care of the baby is amazing! I think it’s great that you get the chance to bond with your son as you do - many fathers must envy you! And when we do get a new comic, it just makes it that more special and appreciated! By the way, I actually like Dom’s comics - he has a wicked and sick sense of humor - love it! I’ve only been following MT for less than a year, but am completely hooked. Your work is awesome! Best of everything to you all!
January 11th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Jack is sleeping through the night already? You’re a lucky parent. ^_^ Our first didn’t start sleeping through the night until 4 months, the second didn’t sleep through until 8 months, and the third didn’t sleep through until 16 months.
As for productivity, I think your best chance will be when Jack goes to sleep, assuming you don’t go to sleep as well.
January 11th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Seconding what Initial B said — if you’re getting even close to “through the night” at 2 months, you’re lucky! We didn’t get more than four or five hours sleep until quite a bit later. (on the other hand, times spent staying up keeping an eye on Oliver let me get a lot of DVD watching done)
Oh, and like other people have said — make the most of it now, they grow so fast. Now they’re gone, I miss the times when Oliver’d fall asleep on me..
January 11th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
I don’t think many people really should care about their precious comic when we get to hear about your precious son! I LOVE reading more about the family. Like Greg said. Kid first. Comic second. (or third or fourth or whatever)
Hang in there! You have all our support!
(Aside: I just realized how this is similar to the Kimiko bloggers. ^^; )
January 11th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
Heh- I’ve been a mom for a whole year and a half now.. And abut to pop my second son! -gasp- Let me promise you.. as an Artist and a stay at home mom.. It only gets more fun.
-nods-
Soon your little one will be grabbing for your supplies.. putting your pens and pencils in various places such as glasses, power strips and such like that (Or rather trying)
Good luck!
January 12th, 2008 at 11:11 am
me lil bro is 6 and 1/2 months. your problems will pass soon and then you will have ta deal with newer “baby entaining him self by breaking things whenever he can reach it then laughing” problems. soooooo good luck man! kids first then comic. dont let anyone tell you other wise!
January 12th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
I’m glad to hear that Jack is finally getting settled. A baby is just like many things in life; people tell you how hard it’s going to be, but you don’t believe them until it actually happens to you. Anyway, I hope it does get a little easier for you as you get into the swing of things. All of your fans understand that you’ve had to rearrange your priorities a bit, so don’t sweat it.
January 14th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Happy two months! Just think; he’s almost big enough for the baby bouncer! He’ll be able to entertain himself for as much as 15 minutes at a time.
Our 2-month-old has slept through the night a couple times now, but 2 or 3 am is still the norm for me. It was never this bad with the first one…
January 15th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
V.V hmm wow.. Lets see where to start..
First off congrats on the baby. When i started reading megatokyo you just got married. ^^ I wish the baby good health. v.v specially when the baby starts teething.
Make sure mommy if ok too. I feel awkward if i type random stuff here so .. yea imma go play games and .. ’study” . Hope to see you back and updating again. Take your time tho.
January 16th, 2008 at 2:06 am
im not sure why you think you owe us something. us- being readers of any all kinds. you apologise for ‘missing’ a comic here or there. i dont know why you seem the least bit distraught about it. i dont think any of us will/should complain or think less of a great artist like yourself. we should be thanking you.
even though we crave MT at times- its like a gift (please excuse the odd phrasing) to readers who take no pains in repaying you for the art you create that we enjoy.
subtext: breathe deep
January 16th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
I’m a dad too — 18 month-old boy and another kid due in three months. The first six to nine months were *hard* — he didn’t sleep through the night ’til nine months old, and in the meantime it really, really messes you up. The lack of sleep, interrupted sleep, constant stress and just trying not to drop the kid (:-) is hard.
And like everyone else has said: tht time really, really goes fast (I think it’s the memory loss from lack of sleep), and the kid comes first. I love your comic, but priorities are priorities for both of us.
January 17th, 2008 at 12:09 am
I’ve been meaning to tell you about another webcomic I read called Anywhere But Here. The guy who does it also has a baby boy. I am not really sure how he updates his comic everyday with the baby, but he does. I suppose, Fred you could ask around the other webcomic artists who have kids, how they keep going.
But from what everyone else is posting, I am also going to add that I don’t care when you post or even if it’s on time. As long as you finish your projects. Also, keeping your baby healthy and entertained, is what should come first.
January 18th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Dont worry about it you be ok once the routine has been settled my sister had a baby so i feel your pain he kept me up for 3 and a half years of his life but once routine which will be required(which we found out….)
at some point trust me he’ll be fine good luck
January 18th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Hi, Fred, Mason here.
This is my first time posting on such a well-known webcomic site. I’ve only been introduced to Megatokyo last year by my friend in college, but I have been a long-since-standing fan of your work. I feel I speak for many other new comers to the Megatokyo website when I say that your priorities with Jack are what matter most. We should be the ones thanking you for splitting your time and effort on our behalf. You go and spend plenty with your new addition to the family. Congrats to both you and Seraphim! Don’t forget to enjoy every moment given to you. Cherish them.
January 19th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Congrats on the 2 months! Best wishes and beware - you’re about to think you found a pattern - don’t be fooled, Jack will notice and adjust! They’re stealthy little buggers.
January 19th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Take all the time you need.I am sure all of your fans understand that you are doing all you can.Just sit back, relax, and enjoy that baby.
January 21st, 2008 at 6:47 pm
There is absolutely no way any true Megatokyo fans would want you to do any more than your best - and with a young baby sometimes that will be not too much…..but we totally understand. Hopefully I’ll be able to buy another couple of books to help support you guys.
Anyway, congratulations and best of all luck to you three!
March 9th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
Awww! (^^) Just don’t let Jack near Largo, teehee!
Congratulations!
March 14th, 2008 at 8:33 am
Heh, a little late on this comment, but, ya know, I’m kinda kept busy, too, plus, being my first post with the new system…^_^;;
Children are the bounty and true treasure of life, and if someone wants you to focus more on a comic rather than your own flesh and blood, well, they can just rightly show themselves out the metaphorical door. Your comic is your livelihood, yes, but it DOES NOT run your life. Your child comes first, man. I mean, anyone who is truly dedicated to Megatokyo will continue to come in every update day (like I’ve been doing), and not quit on your when you haven’t updated. We all understand that you and Sarah are happy, though run ragged, by your son.
In support of your cause, I’ve already bought the first 5 volumes. I have the entire collection thus far, and with the addition to your family, I will be supporting you even more now. I am dedicated. Now, the question for all the MT fans out there is this: Are you willing to dedicate?
Gratz on you, Fred, Sarah, and Jack. Kudos. We all salute you.
March 21st, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Well considering I figured it would happen, having 4 kids myself. I don’t mind! ^_^ Glad to hear Jack is feeling better! it’s always great, but also scary the first few times they sleep through the night eh? Or at least, I always worried.
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Ah! No this is unacceptable, you should be ashamed making us wait so long! >.> Haha! Yeah right
Congrats on your fatherhood, live it up dude. However it’s just getting started, I’ve a new son myself he’s 14 months now…. and I still have no time to do anything! I keep waiting for the day I get my break to were I can simply breath.. But its so great I wouldn’t give it up for anything in the world! Good luck with everything and I look forward to reading more!
May 1st, 2008 at 6:21 am
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article 2 months in babyland :), but I guess I just need to check some more resources regarding this, because it sounds interesting.