On the Verge

Jonathan Marshall is expected to arrive some time in June and it's getting pretty exciting in our home. The crib is purchased, clothes and toys are beginning to stock up, and we're starting to look at each other and think "Wow, this is really gonna happen!"

Wow.
This is really gonna happen.

Now I love kids and I've always wanted to have a pack or two, but it's not until you start acquiring baby things in the house when you realize the mountain of responsibility that comes with the 'hood. I mean, are we gonna screw our kids up? Will we overparent them so much that they have to be in court-ordered therapy until they're 30? What child development 'experts' do we follow? (Dr. Spock, it turns out, is the sole reason for the 60's drug culture. Who knew?) Will they understand that when Daddy makes fun of them, they shouldn't take it personally? Will Mommy teach them that Daddy can sometimes forget your birthday, but it doesn't that he doesn't love you?

Of course, we ALL get a little misled by our parents. My parents were not perfect and so I want to cut myself a little slack. On the other hand, I did end up pretty screwy... Regardless, as a new parent you're not going to get everything right. I'm going to tell my son to "walk it off" when he needs prompt medical attention. That's how kids grow.

Part of it is that I'm impressed lately on the spiritual aspect of child-rearing. Children get their first impressions of deity from their parents. They are more likely to think that their Heavenly Father is like their earthly one. So how do I discipline in a Christ-like way? Or how do I school my reactions so that my son/daughter knows that they don't need to fear me? My family background doesn't give me much experience in that.

All of this is to say that I'm realizing how much spiritual preparation and consistency I am expecting from myself. And though it will be tough to do, I want my children to know that their daddy loves them enough to commit to these things.

Daddy Time!

ChillyFreeToes is ~4 months pregnant with our first baby. We are so excited! CFT's enthusiasm is a little damped by the fact that she's been constantly nauseous for two months straight. Ugh! But we're getting to experience those amazing firsts for a family: watching the baby bump grow, getting CFT Dairy Queen at 10 pm, the first ultrasound after weeks of anxiety. Last night was the best so far! I felt the baby kick! It was so COOL!

And tonight, CFT is making beef stew for me from scratch! It doesn't get any better!