As for the peaceful moments, you will have lots of them. A lot will depend on the kind of baby you have. One book that helped us in the practical aspects of caring for a baby was “Secrets of the Baby Whisperer.” Thought I don’t agree with everything she says, there is a lot of good practical advice, including how to interpret the baby’s cries, which we found very helpful. I may have recommended this book before on another comment. As I typed it, I realized that I had already given you a few titles of books we like.

I am reading “Shepherding a Child’s Heart” and I have to say it is revolutionary to me as a way to raise children. I highly recommend it. However, I have yet to put it into practice as our kids are still so young. But it definitely has gotten me thinking about how to bring the gospel into day to day life in training my kids.

As for having a boy, YIPPEE! Our first is a boy and we thought we wanted a girl, but when our little guy arrived, we were just so thrilled with him (still are). And now we have our girl too! Many heartfelt congratulations to you and Mrs. Happy.

I don’t know, though. While kids really aren’t my thing…I think that in the long run, the good, warm and fuzzy parts stick with you longer than the diapers, projectile vomiting, and finding cookies smushed all over the couch.

Our last baby was born in a birthing center, and they had my husband take off his shirt and hold the brand new baby on his bare chest to warm up, instead of putting him into a little warming chamber. It was very earthy and tactile and wonderful. My husband actually pulled out both of our sons, after the midwives had delivered the head and shoulders. He still can’t believe he had this privilege.

Birth and babyhood are a wonderful gift from God, but they go so fast. While you need to do a lot of preparation for birth and a baby, you need even more to prepare for the “whole person” who is coming to live on this earth. Two books I wish I had read before I had my children are, “Shepherding Your Child’s Heart,” by Ted Tripp, and “Age of Opportunity,” by Paul David Tripp (about raising teenagers). The reason it’s good to read these books early it that they have a lot to do with getting your own heart and life into submission to the Lord before you try to teach a child how to live. Not that you seem to have a long way to go, but none of us are perfect, and yet we want so badly to be perfect as we strive to parent these incredible gifts God gives us.

Congratulations on the news you are having a son!