Daddy Diaper Duty!

So my wife had a surprise Daddy Diaper Duty(or Doodie as my friend Janet likes to say) Party for me! What exactly is this party I speak of??? Well, it is a baby shower for the daddy-to-be......kind of?!?!? It's hard to explain. People bring diapers, wipes, and other assorted baby cleaning items(with some fun toys and such thrown in so it's not all about the poop!). Shana somehow conspired against me with all my friends, her friends, and her momma. I'm not sure how she did it, but know that she's too sneaky for her own good.....and that it's a good thing I sleep with one eye open(well..actually both..but that's another blog). I had been at Janet's working on grad school stuff, and Shana called to say dinner was ready & to bring Janet along. I thought nothing of this because Janet is very much a part of our family & has joined us for many a meal. So we pull up to the house.....and nothing looks out of the ordinary. I walk up to the door.....and nothing looks out of the ordinary. I open the door....and nothing looks out of the ordinary. However...as I turn to look in the dining room....IT WAS VERY OUT OF THE ORDINARY!!! How that many people packed in that room I'll never know?!?!?! ha ha I walked into the dining room to find gift bags(full of diapers & wipes, a diaper cake, a diaper tool belts, and the most beautiful cake EVER!!!! On it was a daddy turtle and a baby turtle....and it read "Daddy's Little Girl". If the room wasn't full of people...I'm sure a tear or two would have found their way out of me! There was no time for that though. So many fun people to talk to, good food to eat, and art projects to create!!! How could there not be art projects when you have a room full of art teachers!! Shana had bought white onesies & blank bibs for us to work our artsy fartsy magic!! It was so fun to see how people shared a bit of themselves as they created things for Margaret. Sara and her ladybugs....Joel and his apples...Janet and her NO PINK....and so many more WONDERFUL creations!!!!!!! I know that when we're putting our bundle of joy into these outfits....we'll be reminded of how many people love her & us. There is so much comfort & joy in that!!! If you want to know how to throw a Daddy Diaper Duty Party for your husband....e-mail Shana. She'll be able to share much more than I have here!!

Deep Thoughts by Ben Stein

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary, Sunday, 12/18/05.

Here with at this happy time of year, a few confessions from my beating heart:

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees. It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, "Merry Christmas" to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu.

If people want a crèche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period.

I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution, and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship Nick and Jessica and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him?

I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too.

But there are a lot of us who are wondering where Nick and Jessica came from and where the America we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke, it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her "How could God let something like this Happen?" (regarding Katrina)

Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, "I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives.

And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?

In light of recent events...terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found recently) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK.

Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. the Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with "WE REAP WHAT WE SOW."

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Are you laughing?

The "not so" Lean Mean Cleaning Machine

As the weeks wind down until Margie gets here, my cleaning adrenalin has kicked in. These days I feel like I see dirt every where. Today, it bugged me to the point that I couldn't stop counting down the moments until the school bell rang so I could scrub my kitchen. This morning as I was fixing breakfast I noticed that the trays under the eyes of the stove were looking rough. So I pulled them out and attempted to make them sparkly again. But it didn't seem to matter how much scrub free Oxy I poured on them or for that how hard I scrubbed...there was no sparkle to be found. Heck there was nothing but a black mess! That says something. I swear by Dawn Oxy and Scrub Free Oxy. Until today I have never found a stain that Oxy could not wipe away in 10 second or less. Seriously, if you haven't tried it then go now. You will never have to scrub a pot again. Now seeing that in this case Oxy didn't come through, or maybe I should say get through, I did what any determined clean freak would do... I ditched the trays for new ones and sprayed down the rest of the kitchen with Oxy. After several hours and several hundred Clorox wipes, my kitchen is now sparkling clean literally in every nook and cranny. I even cleaned the inside of the candle sitting on the stove. Now I feel one step closer to being ready for Margie to come home ( in 9 weeks or less) and for house guest to come oh and ah over her :) In the mean time, I am planning on occupying my time by doing some heavy duty cleaning in the dinning room!

Life Happens...God is Good!

Life Happens...the bathroom breaks, the furnace catches on fire, the wiring goes bad, people get sick, others mistreat you, the car quits...life happens! In the last few months, it seems that one thing after another has been thrown at us. In dealing with one problem after another you have a choice, you can have a pity party or you can chose to smile. Often in those moments of so called crisis the song "It is Well with My Soul" plays in the background of my mind. I envision a time sitting in the savannas of Tanzania looking up at the Southern Cross surrounded by people with truly nothing yet praising the Lord for every breath. I choose to praise God because he has truly been so good to us. The Creator as provided for every need we have had in ways that we could never imagine. In the midst of turmoil, the Lord has given us peace that we don't have to take care of it because he already has it covered. Our gracious God has shown us mercy when He could have left us to figure it out for ourselves. The Prince of Peace has provided us with a constant source of encouragement through amazing friends speaking Truth into our lives. The last few months have been a journey. But it is only the beginning of the road we are about to travel. As Margie's arrival gets closer and closer, I can't think of a better time for the Lord to remind us that we are in His Loving, Gracious hands. There is no other place I would rather to be...God is good!

My Brain, Baby & Obama

So they say that the mommy will begin having crazy dreams more & more as the day approaches for the baby's arrival...some about the baby/some not, but I'm here to tell you that the daddy goes through the same thing. Two nights ago I dreamed that Margaret was born and had black hair & blue eyes...and was very small(if this happens...it will be extremely odd...seeing that those are not family trait on either side). Last night I had a dream about Obama & his family were staying in a guest house behind our house(we do not have a guest house if you're wondering). I'm not one that remembers my dreams usually...so I'm chalkin' this up to the baby!! Come to think of it...I've been having some cravings & nausea issues this weekend. MAYBE I'M PREGNANT!AHHHHHHHH!

Things you Should Not Say to A Pregnant Woman...

Over the course of the last few months, I have learned that people say the most insensitive things to you when you’re pregnant. Several of my fellow pregos have shared there own appalling stories which has inspired this blog. Just in case you know someone who is extremely hormonal as they await their bundle of joy, here are some things you should NOT say to her…

“Should you really be eating that?”

“The doctors must be wrong! Are you sure there aren’t twins in the there? “

“WOW, you just keep getting bigger and bigger every day. “

“You must be about ready to pop!”
(No, actually I still have a few months to go.)
“OHHHHHHH! “

“How do you walk without falling forward?”

“What did you do this weekend, rob a buffet?”

“You look like your stomach has been possessed by a pumpkin!”

“WOW! if you ain't about five pounds away from a surprise visit from Biggest Loser.”

“You must feel so fat. How can you stand to go out in public?”

“These days you’re looking more like a squash then a banana”

“You’re starting to walk like a walrus.”

“Are you storing up food for winter?”

“Excuse me do you need help finding the plus size department”

"What are you like 11 months pregnant?"

My personal favorite……..

“You look like you swallowed the thanksgiving turkey whole!”

A New Year

Not only is this a new year but it is about to be the beginning of a new chapter in our family. Today, I am at 30 weeks. That means we have 10 weeks or less to go before Margie is here. In the last few weeks, we have been busy cleaning out closets, moving furniture, and decorating the nursery. Every morning I peer into her room thinking that one day very soon I will look in to see her laying their in her crib with a smile on her face saying good morning in her own special way. My arms long to hold her and my heart aches to show her how much I love her. The next 7o days will fly bye. Before we know it we will be bringing home our little girl. Our prayer is that the Lord will safely see her to this side of heaven. Once she is here, we pray that God gives us what we need to raise her as His child.