[zarf]

Don't worry about it. Get some sleep now cause you'll never get it again.

Invest in some valium.

[Support Free Republic]

Click!

[Iris7]

Don't listen to all the BS that will be thrown at you. You and your wife have done the most important thing you have ever done. Money is nothing, nothing, in comparison. Wait and see. I do not exaggerate. Do this with honor, and you are worthy of respect from the best there are.

[wireplay]

Congratulations! You are now responsible for training your replacement. You have no idea what you are capable of doing that you may have found 'icky' before. Empathy, strength, wisdom, compassion, love...all will be taken to a level you have no idea exists.

No love exists like that of a child to their parents. Drink it up cause it is a pure as the driven snow.

Oh yeah, the sleep thing is correct. People aren't joking.

[bolobaby]

Oh God... you wife tested positive for BABY? I hear that sticks with you for 18-22 years. After that, you are prone to have recurrences at unexpected and inopportune times.

The initial phase is usually coupled with some swelling and nausea. It takes NINE MONTHS for the swelling to go down. Then you enter a long period of sleeplessness.

Research shows that they really flare up after 13 years or so and can stay inflamed like that for YEARS.

I also saw a stduy that said 75-90% of sub-Saharan African women are expected to test positive for baby at some point over the next ten years. It's an epidemic!

* * * * *

God bless you, your wife, and your new child.

[Iris7]

Keep Right and Wrong separate in your mind and heart. Be straight. Do your best to not be mean. Your kids will want to respect you. Do whatever it takes to deserve their respect. You will err. You will have hard, very hard, times. Do what it takes. May the Lord God Bless you and your family.

[Becki]

Congratulations to you both!

May God give you wisdom, faith, and PATIENCE!!

< wicked grin >

Becki

[mindspy]

It will be trying when he/she is little, but enjoy every second of it. Don't wish for him/her to grow up. I mean wish they grow up but not fast. You'll know what I mean after he/she has grown.

[suzyq5558]

sleep ,my man sleep:) having had twins at 35 i cherish sleep more than any other lesiure activity. naps are the best thing created! congrats and have fun children are the best.

[Iris7]

With your handle, you sound like an old swab. One myself. The Naval Service is ancient and most honorable.

Get ready for some long watches.

There is nothing in this life more important than Duty. Good job, lad.

[Nam Vet]

CONGRATS !!!!!!!!

GOD bless your Wife, you and that darling on the way. I have 4, and no matter HOW poor they keep me, they are the greatest treasures of my life. Enjoy each and every second.

Nam Vet

[wideminded]

1. The fact that you care means things will probably turn out pretty well.

2. In connection with becoming a good person, kids seem to follow your example more than anything you can tell them.

3. "One doesn't live long enough to learn how to be a good parent." - Norbert Wiener

4. You can't be as scared as me. I will be a parent of a newborn again in about two months, and at a fairly advanced age. My first child was born in the first year of the Reagan administration.

[Prime Choice]

Congratulations! And remember: parenting is the most important job in the world...and it will always be left to amateurs. : )

I suspect many will give you lots of advice during this time, so I'll keep mine brief: give your wife *lots* of backrubs and footrubs as the pregnancy progresses. This alone, while apparently a selfless act, it's not entirely so.

Why? Well, when Mommy's happy, Daddy's happy. : )

[Mo1]

Not to worry .. you and your wife will do just fine raising your little one

Personally, I think one of the hardest thing as a parent is not laughing when kids say things

You'll find this out soon

Congrats on the Great News !!

[Humidston]

Congratulations!! Go out and buy all the Dr. James Dobson books you can afford. Read them and study them carefully and APPLY his principles.

Be a patient, loving, FIRM, communicative parent. And remember, the first 5-7 years will establish your authority over your children for the rest of their lives.

Never let them take control because if you do, you won't get it back unless there's a Huge battle! Love them up and cover their little faces with sloppy kisses. I envy you. Mine are all grown now, but I'd love to start all over - just because it's so fun and so challenging!

It's the greatest journey in the world!

[Smedley]

A co-worker once told me three years ago "Children are your miracles". Now the father of a two-year old, I agree whole-heartedly.

Still, my first two years of parenting are easier than my first two years of Law School, but i suspect that the job will get harder.

congrats

[dwd1]

Take your child to church and never let them forget how much you love them... Everything else takes care of itself...

[lainde]

How wonderful for you! Don't worry...It's on the job training (The best kind).

[vikingchick]

Best wishes!

[radiohead]

I wish you and your wife well. Since people are giving advice, I have 2 comments:

1. Forgive your wife her moods. She can't help it and she doesn't mean to be a pain in the rear.

2. It's alright to apologize to your child when you've made a mistake. We're all human, even parents.

Welcome to the real world.