I've Got The Cutest Daughter In The World

I know I've been showing a lot of videos lately, but that is all Visual, right? Anyways, tonight during the sound check for CP Youth's worship set, Jadyn wanted her own microphone to check along with Mommy, so I hooked one up and caught this video on my Palm Treo (hence the low quality). Enjoy!

Our Future Rock Star

We bring Jadyn in during worship so she can listen to the worship. She loves watching mommy and daddy lead and sing. Today, after service, Jadyn hopped on stage, took a microphone and started singing (screaming) "Happy Day" by Tim Hughes.



We've been doing that song in church and it obviously stuck. It was a cool experience for me to see my passions become her passions....

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Sent from my Treo smartphone

Why Wouldn't I Be Watching Basketball Right Now?

That's why....Jade wants to watch herself in the mirror....

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Sent from my Treo smartphone

It's A Boy!!!

There was no screwing around with this little guy. Within the first 30 seconds of the ultrasound, he decided to declare his manhood to the world. What a proud moment for Daddy!

A Concerned Little Girl

Jade was worried about her mommy....she continually asked the lady if she was "fixing mommy"....

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sent from my wireless handheld device

My Daughter The Negotiator

Andrea went out to eat with a friend last night, so I was in charge of putting Jade to bed. Here is exactly how Jadyn tried to negotiate her way out of it.

Me - Time for bed Babe
Jade - I wanna watch Mickey
Me - Sorry babe, we need to go to bed
Jade - I wanna watch Little Einsteins
Me - Jade, I said we need to go to bed
Jade - Wanna watch FOOTBALL, Dad?

Aren't kids hilarious?!?

Fear For The First Time

Well, tonight was our first trip to the Emergency room. Jadyn was running around the house, like she always does, laughing the entire way. Only this time, she slipped and nailed her head on the corner of her toy box. My heart dropped when I heard it and as Andrea picked her up, we both gasped as the blood ran down her face and the tears started to form. Both of us knew this was worthy of an emergency room visit. We have had accidents before, but nothing like this.

I dropped Andrea and Jadyn off at the emergency room entrance and then went to park. As I walked in, Andrea tells me that there are 7 people ahead of us. I thought to myself, surely they'll bump us up the list - after all its late and we've got a 2 year old with a bloody forehead -- right? WRONG - 4 hours later we are finally meeting with the Dr. who tells us she needs stitches (uhh...yeah...we kinda knew that.....).

They rigged her up so she couldn't move, but Andrea and I had to hold her down. This was difficult for both Andrea and I - but especially me. After all, I'm her dad - I'm supposed to protect her. Try explainin to a 2 year old girl that even though she is wrapped up like a mummy, and needles are piercing her skin, that this is for the best - it will all be better. There was no way for Andrea and I to do that. They covered up her eyes, probably so she couldn't see that they were doing anything to her as she was numb, but she could still tell that something was going on and cried out for both Mommy and Daddy. In one particular moment, when the cover of her eyes slipped a little bit, we locked eyes and I could see the extreme and utter fear in her eyes. It was almost unbearable. Andrea and I continued to talk to her so she knew we were there she eventually calmed down. She is a VERY strong girl and made her Daddy proud with the way she handled it all.

I know most parents make at least ONE visit to the Emergency room with their kids, but I hope I never have to do that again. Fear is a powerful phenomenon for most adults - I can't imagine what was going on in her mind as she was experiencing true fear for the first time.

Powerful Words

I just put Jadyn down for bed tonight. I read a few books, tickled her a little bit just to hear her laugh, and then told her that "it's time for bed, babe." She then says "OK" in the sweetest voice you've ever heard and proceeds to snuggle up next to me. I noticed that she didn't have her socks on so I told her that I was going to grab some socks, to which she replied, in the same sweet voice, "OK." As I finished putting on her last sock, I told her that Daddy was going to leave so she could go to sleep - again another "OK." I leaned in to give her a kiss goodnight and tell her I love you but instead, she said it first and then leaned in to give ME a kiss. There is something so completely pure about a child stating those words. There is no societal blur of the word, no false promises or empty offers - just pure, love. Some pretty powerful words from a pretty powerful little girl.

Knocked Up....Again

Andrea and I are now officially letting everyone know that #2 is on the way. It's funny how different all the same "stages" of pregnancy are. Don't get me wrong, we are EXTREMELY excited, but we've done this before, so it doesn't have the same "new car scent" as it did the first time around.

For one, and an obvious one at that, we now have Jadyn. I often wonder, as an oldest child myself, what kind of oldest child she will be. How will she handle having to share mommy? What about the "big sis" role she must now play and all the the added responsibilities that come with that?

Additionally, Andrea and I are now 5 years into our marriage and work as a team much better than we did a few years ago. We no longer have the added stresses of finding a new home or starting a full time job right out of a college - or even the stress of moving to a single income. We are more settled and comfortable with where we are in life.

Finally, I'm a Dad already. Sure, I was a "dad" during the first pregnancy, but not in the same way that I am now. Having Jadyn has changed my whole perspective on life, my approach to this pregnancy and the new life that is about to hit our world.

Let's just hope its a boy so we can even out the gender ratio in our house - I already feel terribly outnumbered.

I'm Now That Parent - End of Disney Day One

Tonight ended like most nights back home. Andrea and Jadyn fell asleep long before I even became tired. However, the difference was that tonight, I realized something on the way home from dinner....

Jadyn had a VERY long day. Up at 6:30 am, no nap and a lot of sitting didn't help either. On the bus ride back from dinner, Jadyn started screaming/yelling/crying for no real reason other than the fact that she was very, very, very tired. In fact, take out the 10 minute ride from hell and Jadyn behaved beautifully. She was the sweetest little girl and EVERYONE around us noticed.

Sidenote - Jadyn screamed "I love you" to the Disney employee that greeted us at the airport as we walked to our shuttle ride - weird huh? She did it to our waitress tonight too...

Anyways, as Jadyn is causing the whole bus to jam bamboo under their fingernails and pull their hair out, I realized that I am now that parent that I had always looked at and thought "poor guy - can't control his misbehaved kid....sucks to be him." All the while thinking, at the same time of course, "SHUT THAT KID UP!" What a change in perspective. Jade was tired, had a long day, and more importantly, is just a 2 year old. I wanted to stand up and yell "she's just a kid, cut her some slack" to everyone that had the "SHUT THAT KID UP" look on their face, but I didn't because half of them still wouldn't get it.

Andrea was awesome with her. I don't know how she can have a screaming child squirm on her lap for 10 minutes without loosing her cool. She is a great mom (probably a better wife for putting up with me the past 5 years). I, on the other hand, wanted to jump out the window.

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Sent from my Treo smartphone

Boarding The Magical Express

We are here and waiting to board the magical express.

Ask me what is the most common expression I've heard all day.... "Look at those curls!" It is true what they say - kids are chick magnets. Only what they don't tell you is that by "chicks" they really mean grandmas and middle-aged women.
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Sent from my Treo smartphone