Parents say: Getting past "No!"

BABYCENTER.COM -- What to do when they say "No"? This is a cool article with what others have found to work for them. More...

Heaven on Earth

Of all of the women I've loved in my life,
I love my wife the most.
I think the perfect breakfast is eggs over-easy,
And jellied toast.
I think people are the same, no matter what they claim,
Coast to coast.
I know God is alive,
And puts things into line just to let us know.

Like when you're mowin' the yard and you see a glass of water,
Bein' carefully spilled by your little baby daughter.
It's a love like that makes the world go around and around an' around.
With her Mama's blue eyes an' a smile just as sweet,
Yeah, here comes an angel with little bare feet.
It's all right here: if you know where to search,
You'll find a little Heaven on earth.

I think diamond rings an' old blue jeans,
Are worth about the same.
I know dreams come true, 'cause I've got the proof,
In my picture frames.
An' there ain't nothin' better than dancin' together,
In the pouring rain.
Life makes perfect sense,
When you learn it begins with the little things.

Like when you're mowin' the yard and you see a glass of water,
Bein' carefully spilled by your little baby daughter.
It's a love like that makes the world go around and around an' around.
With her Mama's blue eyes an' a smile just as sweet,
Yeah, here comes an angel with little bare feet.
It's all right here: if you know where to search,
You'll find a little Heaven on earth.

Search the skies;
Look beyond the blues an' greys.
There'll be times,
When you'll see God's smilin' face.

Like when you're mowin' the yard and you see a glass of water,
Bein' carefully spilled by your little baby daughter.
Hey, it's love like that makes the world go around and around an' around.
With her Mama's blue eyes an' a smile just as sweet,
Yeah, here comes an angel with grass-stained feet.
It's all right here: if you know where to search,
You'll find a little Heaven right here on earth.

(copyright Trini Triggs / Curb Records)

New Video

New video of Rachel (link above). Although in retrospect, I guess I'm actually pretending to be "The Napster" pretending to be "Handsome Rob." Oh well.

Face of God

When my little girl gets that sleep in her eyes,
And she settles in with her head on my chest,
Why do I feel like my heart's gonna burst?
That I'm willing to die for this angel at rest?

And why am I filled with unshakeable faith,
When I look at that child so fragile and sweet?
There's something eternal I see in her face,
Something much more than her mother and me.

Maybe I'm looking at the face of God.
Makes me think I may be looking at the face of God,
And He's smiling back at me.

Why do I feel like the smallest of things,
When I try to count all the stars in the sky?
When I see the world that we're in at it's worst,
Why do I feel like it'll all be all right?

I can't see the wind as it moves through the trees.
So how do I know that I know that I know,
That somebody out there is speaking to me?
Saying: "I love you and you're not alone."

Maybe I'm looking at the face of God.
Makes me think I may be looking at the face of God,
And He's smiling back at me.

Oh, I know that I know that I know that He's out there.
Somebody’s out there.
When I look at the beauty around me,
And the love that surrounds me.

Maybe I'm looking at the face of God.
Makes me think I may be looking at the face of God,
And He's smiling back at me.
Maybe I'm looking at the face of God.
And He's smiling back at me.

(Billy Ray Cyrus; Face of God; The Other Side; Bob DiPiero/Rivers Rutherford/Tom Shapiro)

Baby on Board

Here's Southwest's guide for travelling with infants and toddlers, in case you're curious. More...

Early Bird

You know when you're sick and you're sleeping in the middle of the day, and then someone is talking to someone in another room as you're returning to conciousness? This morning I felt like that when I awoke at 5 am. I thought someone was talking. I quickly tried to think about that... I didn't hear anything, but what could it have been? Lori was sound asleep. No TV or radio on. Maybe someone outside? But I had the sense that the conversation was one sided. There was no one who could be on the phone, we didn't have an answering machine, what could it have been? I went to the bathroom and on my way back, I heard the talking again. I quietly opened the door to find Rachel, holding a staff meeting or something with her toys. Yes, she woke up earlier than us this morning, and in a really great mood. She may have been cold. But it was so nice seeing her in such a happy mood. Often she's reluctant to wake up at 6:30 even though we've had lights on for 20 minutes prior to that.

Baby

Rachel's grandma gave her her first doll today. She's really concerned about the doll's eyes closing when it is laid on its back, but otherwise, she seems to really love it. Totes it everywhere, puts it in the highchair, tries to feed it. Very cute. Does not seem to have a name for it yet beyond "baby."

Happy Birthday, Mommy!