Mercy's World

Dad's Birthday Gift

I received some very nice birthday cards and gifts today.  A much needed new wallet, some winning lottery tickets and gift cards were among the swag. As nice as these all were I must say that the absolute best gift, something I have been looking forward to for several months now came from my daughter. We were playing near and far where I made her run away from me and then back to me. After a couple of times she really liked it and gave me her very first giggle. I kept doing it and got about four giggles out of her. It's hard to describe why but it made me so happy. In the past I was somewhat apprehensive about fatherhood but moments like this really throw all your doubt out the window.

Single White Babe...y

Name: Mercy Elizabeth

Age: Almost 4 months

Favorite color: Pink

Hobbies and interests: Sucking on my hands, taking naps in the swing, babbling, being happy in the morning, going for rides in daddy's baby carrier, smiling at mommy, nursing incessantly

Everybody Duck!

As you can see Mercy has been working the delts and biceps extensively. Can you see the look of fear in the yellow ducky's eyes? She does have German ancestry on my side so I have taken to calling her Der Poopenstein. Ya, das est gud der poopenstein! We ran into a friend from church at the uptown wednesday night festival who prayed for us as a family.  His prayer was a big reminder that we have the charge of raising her to understand the things of the Lord. She did extremely well walking around the festival.  I carried her in the strap on carrier which seemed to keep her content more than the stroller.  It was really fun to be so festive together as a family with a happy child. Whenever I walk around with her everyone looks at us. When I say "us" of course I mean her. I can't blame them.

How to Dress a Baby

I found out it works better to put the collar on from the back of the neck first otherwise you get astronaut baby. I decided to walk her to church in the stroller this morning which worked fine for about half of the trip and then I had to take her out and carry her to keep her from fussing. I made it with a little extra effort and handed her off to the nursery ladies but I missed playing the first song. Sorry worship band but baby Mercy had other ideas.

Mercy has some of her best vocal practice during tummy time and when she is crying.  We're still waiting for her first giggle. We commented again today that the happy times make it all worth it.

Pink Lady

Our neighbor remarked yesterday that Mercy is a changed baby. This is one of the neighbors that already has grown children and has taken Mercy during some of her earlier crying fits to try and put her to sleep. She is definitely growing up. Yesterday towards the end of her ride in the stroller around the block she was putting all her effort in to trying to sit up on her own. I couldn't help but flash forward to her moving around on her own and playing with toys and moving away to college.  Okay maybe not that far forward.

Goo Goo Gaa Gaa

There was a time when we considered naming our baby Goo Goo Gaa Gaa since we named our cat Mew. It must run in the family. I heard through the rumor mill that I was almost named Geronimo. I may have been named Christopher but I think there is some Geronimo in me for sure. Here is one of Mercy's latest beauty shots.  We thought she might grow up to be a model but I fear she will have my ominous mono-brow. Maybe not.  She sure does kill us everyday with the looks she gives us (that's a good thing).