Being a new dad it is amazing to me the things that now jump out at me as I'm browsing the internet; things that in my earlier days would have easily passed by without a second glance: deals on diapers, sales on strollers, and bloggers' advice on anything and everything related to parenting.
Here's an interesting take on parenthood I came across from another new dad who seems to take a little more of a tree-hugger tone to life than I do, but in my current quest to lessen my negative impact on the earth and leave behind a more gentle legacy I quite enjoyed his thoughts:
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/10/ode_to_women_and_nature.php

Today

Today there is sickness, today there is war

Today there is hatred, there are hungry & poor

Today in the world we find bitterness & strife

But the glass is half-full, because today brings new life

Today you were sent by God, down from heaven above

To parents ready to share with you no lies, just love

You were conceived with purpose, with meaning, & care

That your joys & your struggles, with us you'd share

We're your Mom & your Dad, through our life now comes yours

May you take it on an adventure through stormy seas & new shores

Grab life with both hands & enjoy every moment you're here

Don't be afraid to fall down, to have questions & fear

Each hurdle & boundary overcome makes you strong

Today may you breath life to live healthy & long

Pretty in pink, my blue Skye came today

Into my arms where forever you'll stay

Skye Harper Croxford

Born Tuesday, November 24, 2009 @ 2:28 pm

7 lbs, 14 oz., 21 in.

Hey baby, your room is ready! After over 4 months of renovations (refinished wood floors, paint, new shelving, new door hardware, new furniture, new lighting, etc.) our nursery and home office are finally complete. Hope the baby recognizes it will occupy the nicest room in our house.

Hopefully this will let our trick-or-treaters know why we're not home to pass out candy.

We had a fun trip up the coast of N. California and Oregon following the Utes football team last week. Nine hotels in nine nights, but we saw some amazing things from the big city and big bridges of San Francisco, to the beautiful vineyards in the hills of Napa & Sonoma, to the scenic coast and beaches on the coast, to the giant redwoods of N. California, and finally to the breathtaking rocky cliffs on the Oregon coast. A great trip that I've wanted to take for years and am glad lived up to and exceeded my expectations.
see our other pictures here

Don't worry if you're scared of the thunder & lightening. Mel will rescue you...just as soon as she gets the courage to come out from under Breck's desk.

Can you believe it? Preston graduated! Now I must join the working world.

A beard is the hair that grows on a person's chin, cheeks, neck, and the area above the upper lip. Typically, only males going through puberty, or post-pubescent males are able to grow beards. When differentiating between upper and lower facial hair, a beard specifically refers to the facial hair on the lower part of a man's chin (excluding the moustache, which refers to hair above the upper lip and around it). The study of beards is called pogonology. In the course of history, men with facial hair have been ascribed various attributes such as wisdom and knowledge, sexual virility, or high social status; and, conversely, filthiness, crudeness, or an eccentric disposition, such as in the case of a tramp, hobo or vagrant. In many cultures beards are associated with nature and outdoorsmen.

Who is that guy?

Anyone for some mutton?

The "friendly" mutton...

Merv the perv...

Forget being an architect, I could easily pass for a cop...
How angelic...

And it came to pass...