Maddy!

[My suggestions as a new dad are just my opinion!  And it relates to MY situation.  I have no expertise except for the training I am getting now! -(other peoples babies do not count as experience for your own)-]

I first want to explain the last part of my disclaimer: other peoples babies do not count as experience for your own. What I mean by that is:  I have babysat/watched other babies from friends and family, changed diapers, fed, etcetera…but its different when its your own.  Yes, that cliche is true.  But you can still learn from other people and their babies like my next tip/opinion.  I learned this experience from one picture posted on facebook by friends & new parents Reuben & Chaylah.  Their daughter Maddy was born before our son Tytus so I had fun watching their facebook status and pictures posted knowing I was ‘next’.

One picture would do it, but they posted 3 pictures titled “Tales of Puke” in which we find Reuben with a ‘Bulls-eye’ or Dad’s eye full of a ‘feeding’. Yep, ewe, gross.  I prefer to call this ‘Tossing Cookies”.

From the picture I see that I may want to rethink holding Tytus over my face if playing on the ground, sitting straight up and/or standing .  Our (not mine anymore) tendency is to hold our child over us when we are playing with him or maybe jiggling him to a tune or some noises.

What I understand from my own son is that no matter how well you burp him, the amount you feed him, and/or how long its been since his last feeding…he can still toss his cookies at any time.  Most babies (I have experienced) are like this.  It can be from excitement, over-stimulation, too much jostling (like tossing your kid in the air or tickling) and just plain gas.  Fortunately for us, Tytus rarely ever tosses his cookies but its nice to be prepared.

You have been warned!  Thanks for the laughs and the lesson Reuben & Chaylah!

[In my first installment of my suggestions as a new dad its just my opinion!  And it relates to MY situation.  I have no expertise except for the training I am getting now! -(other peoples babies do not count as experience for your own)-]

First thing in the morning when I wake up, do I hear the baby crying? No? Well then I start the coffee and jump in the shower before anything changes!

This especially applies if YOU are the current Mr. MOM…But it doesn’t matter whether your wife, babysitter, or nanny is there because they will probably have some things they will need you to do if you are going to be sticking around once the baby does awake, or start crying because he/she will NEED someone’s full attention!

If your not a coffee person you probably will be soon.  If not, get the shower first!

Its nice to be refreshed with a little caffeine in you when you get the ‘do list’.  Daddy do this, daddy do that…

John Eldridge uses theology, stories, and life experiences (you don’t need to be an outdoors man to relate) to explain that men need to be ‘Wild at Heart’ AND to give men the permission to do so!

It started good, got a little repetitive with examples and anecdotes towards the middle, but finished up nicely.

I recommend the book whether you like his theology or not.  This book gives a good go at putting masculinity back in being a Christian man.  Wild at Heart is not in the traditional ‘self help’ writing, but really encourages us not to be so passive and wishy-washy in this day and age of Christian men being ‘tolerant’ of so much.  Most churches have reduced mans goal to being a ‘really nice guy’… that doesn’t really sound like the men in this verse, does it?

Mt 11:12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. (NIV)

Revised and updated?  Not sure it added much to the book but I suppose its nice to have extras when its getting an anniversary reprint.  I find the Daily Prayer in the back repetitive and long.

[Disclosure: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com http://BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.]

Francis points out both his own downfalls and weaknesses while also challenging ours expressing it passionately in his writing.  When Francis talks about the everyday things we start filling our lives up with and how we shut out the Holy Spirit and give God our ‘leftovers’ it personally made me feel like saying OUCH!

There are examples in the book of how our love is doing, or not doing justice to our relationship with God and others.  Some may even be considered extreme or provoke a sense of being defensive in the way we live our own lives.

I wanted to get a better ‘feel’ for this author because sometimes they bring up ‘good points’ but are not necessarily believable by the people who present them.  I went online and found some audio & video podcasts from the church he pastors (and started) Cornerstone, in Simi Valley.  I still love listening to his sermons.

The book has an additional website called http://www.crazylovebook.com/ that has introduction videos to each chapter and other ‘enhancements’ that go with the book.

$8.99 on Amazon.com, good price in my opinion!

First, I didn’t read this book trying not to be offended or defending my life by feeling judged by what Shane wrote…I also did not look for a political agenda, or to pick apart his thinking.  A lot of other reviews did.

I read this book to enjoy and learn, hopefully both.

I love the way Shane lives his life according to what he feels Christianity and Jesus is perceived from his viewpoint. I certainly did not agree with everything…and even so, I would have still enjoyed the stories.

Its not a biography (so to speak) but tells a lot of his life, thoughts, and ideas…his struggles with ‘church’ in general. Working with Mother Teresa, Families in Iraq that are just as terrorized from war and terrorism as we are…my review is not to recount the whole book to you but tell you that I think this book is good and worth buying.

I guess if you are not one for religion, or Christianity…then maybe you will not enjoy it…but then again maybe it will speak to those of you who are trying to find Christians that aren’t the ones that are only Christian in name, social culture, or that’s what you are because your parents were.

Here are a few additional motivations for buying the book besides the great read:

1. It costs about what? 10 or 12 dollars on Amazon.com
2. The sales do not go to him, they are distributed to several other organizations/charities that do great things to help people.

8:4 When a great multitude came together, and people from every city were coming to him, he spoke by a parable.

8:5 “The farmer went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, some fell along the road, and it was trampled under foot, and the birds of the sky devoured it.

8:6 Other seed fell on the rock, and as soon as it grew, it withered away, because it had no moisture.

8:7 Other fell amid the thorns, and the thorns grew with it, and choked it.

8:8 Other fell into the good ground, and grew, and brought forth fruit one hundred times.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

8:9 Then his disciples asked him, “What does this parable mean?”

8:10 He said, “To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God, but to the rest in parables; that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’

Its interesting that crowds of people came to hear Jesus speak but instead of making it easier for them to understand he spoke in parables.  I believe he did this to make sure the people that would hear and believe were really open and willing to hear what Jesus had to say and believed Him to be from God.

This is a stark contrast to churches today trying everything they can to make the Gospel more palatable, or should we say, more acceptable and easy to swallow so it doesn’t scare or frustrate people.

Pretty interesting comparison wouldn’t you say?  Jesus made it harder, we water it down and try to make it easier…afraid that people will not accept the Gospel.

On another note/quote…

“Christians are like nails, the harder you hit them the deeper they go”.  This is also not my quote…but I like it considering the ‘deeper’ is in Christ.

For the 50+ of you who are subscribed to this blog it will probably remind you that YOU ARE subscribed! HA!

I am reading more often again and will start another focus on some book reviews coming up, I have partnered with a few publisher house clubs to review books (good or bad) in exchange for the book itself.

So maybe if its not against ‘the rules’ I may from time to time offer the book itself as a giveaway after I read it…though I realize if I didn’t like it that much you may not want it!  But we’ll see how it goes.  Check our Facebook (available on contact page) links to see pics of the new baby, Tytus Nathaniel and/or to get in contact with us.

Looking forward to keeping in touch again!

We went to the Hospital on Monday March 1st for induction.  We left with our baby boy on Friday.  He has been healthy, eating well, sleeping well…and yes, all those other bodily functions (pooping & peeing well)!

Of course we are biased because we are his parents but right now we can’t believe how ‘stinkin’ cute he is (as Stephanie would say)!

Yesterday we went to our ‘Newborn Club’ appointment and his weight HAD NOT dropped the usual 10% after birth, so apparently he is keeping his weight up!

Who knew my culinary skills would come in handy for swaddling, I wrap him up tight like a burrito!

[we are sorry blog posts come so infrequent now, but we are new parents and that keeps us busy...plus you can come see us and catch us online on facebook, where we have more pictures of Tytus and you may find us online for 'chat' in between naps , diaper changes, and feedings!]

http://www.facebook.com/tyronebcookin

http://www.facebook.com/stephanie.w.barton