Sydni Mae

In the swarm of things, I have not had a chance to post. If you have not yet heard, my daughter is here. She came on November 19th, at 8:30 AM. She weighed 7 lbs and 14 oz. She was 21 inches long and had a full head of hair. She is the cutest baby I've ever laid eyes on. My wife and I are truly blessed in having her. The experience was so amazing! It truly is a miracle and words can't really describe it. If you have a child, you know what I mean. And now, I finally know what so many of you have tried to express.

Thank you for your prayers. Mom and baby are completely healthy. Sydni is growing already. I rush home to see her every chance I get. She has found this way of cuddling with me that is the best. I can hold her two feet and little butt in one hand and then she tucks her head und my chin and curls up. She even takes her little hands and grabs at my chest. It is the best thing I have ever experienced. And I get to experience it every night!

I would love for you to meet her. Things are pretty calm around the house and it will be a couple weeks before we go out. But, I can't wait to introduce you to my baby.

Strong & Never Wrong

I know that I often try to appear as strong and never wrong. Now, there is no way I can hide how I am weak and have no clue.

I am 5 days away from being a father (if we hit the due date exact). In these past few weeks, my life has changed so much. I feel emotions that I have never felt before. I find myself praying more than ever and praying for the strangest things. Recently, I have been praying for gentleness and kindness. I know that they are fruit of the Spirit and I should always be praying for them. But somehow, in my monkey brain, I figured I had those two mastered. After all, those are the two we talked about the most while I was in elementary Sunday school class. But boy, do I need those two (okay and the rest too).

I guess what I am saying is that God is softening this heart. I know I take great risk of sounding like a weakling when I say that. I fear that if Pee Wee Herman read this he would be encouraged in the strength of his manhood. Yet, I don't really care to share because it is a place I love to be.

I have not even met this girl yet and I am madly in love with her. I would somehow try to find a way to make the north and the south pole meet if she wanted it. In these moments, I am more in love with my wife than I ever have been. It just grows more each day. I have become chief cook at my house and I abso-freakin'-lutely love it (I made a killer chocolate midnight cake last night). I think I have fixed every thing that needs fixed in our home. I hear that women start to nest, well, I think I have done more of that than Nik. But I have to be ready...

Wow, I thought becoming a father was going to be cool, but I didn't even know the half of it. I am reading a really great book now called, "Becoming a Dad" by Stephen James and David Thomas. It's a Relevant Book (I love Relevant!!! It's the best thing since Cool Whip!). This book has been perfect for me; very pertinent. In the book they talk about how becoming a father starts to clue you in on what it is like for God to be a Father to us. I had never really given that much thought before. I had always seen it from a child's viewpoint. I think this whole experience is more than just a normal thing that happens to lots of married couples. It definitely is an experience that helps me get a peek at the Creator. It shows me more of his nature than I ever have seen.

I say all the above and realize that I am at the edge of what is yet to come. I know there are tears, fears, frustrations, poop, sleepless nights, wailing (both by my child and me), more poop, puke, fevers, (did I mention poop yet), bruises, etc. I know I won't have every answer. I know I won't always be strong. That is why this whole process shows me that it is my Father that I have to rely on. That is the true beauty of what is to come.

Missing: Two Glow Sticks

Last night I answered the doorbell about 5-6 times before heading to a Halloween party. When we left we thought we would stick a couple glow sticks to the side of our Halloween bag and leave it on the porch. This would be a convenient way for kids to have some candy even though we weren't there to divy it out.

What I found out was it was a good way for one kid to have a whole stinkin' bag full of candy and a couple cool glow sticks to boot. I hope he enjoyed them (I say he because no sweet girl would ever conceive such a plot). The next time I see a kid with two glow sticks and no teeth you can bet that I will have some questions for him.

It was a great night of Halloween though. Most fun I have had on that "holiday" in quite a while. (I do remember having a sweet Mr. T mask in grade school. I also remember being Man-At-Arms from Hee-Man; good times) I know it is supposedly of the devil, but what a better time to teach people to be innocent of evil (Rom. 16:19). My new Werewolf mask was so much fun at our spook walk and then again last night. It would make my dad proud. My dad, by the way, used to put on this tremendously scary devil mask and chase us boys under the bed. He was so scary. I would get as far under the bed as I could and he would reach his hand down and grab at my feet. I literally thought my dad dissappered and Satan had come for a visit. It was horrible.