Lessons of Parenthood

As the days go by, Joy is constantly teaching us things about parenthood that you just don't find in those What to Expect books. For example:

Lesson #1: Don't try to use your baby as an alarm clock

Based on Joy's typical feeding schedule, Kimberly assumed our daughter would wake us up in plenty of time for everyone to eat, get dressed, and head off to church right on time last Sunday. Alas, little Joy was loath to leave baby dreamland . . .

. . . so she (and, consequentally, her exhausted parents) didn't wake up until fifteen minutes after the meeting started. Fortunately, a Spanish singles congregation meets in our building at 1:00pm. While we were there, another new dad we know came in and sat behind us. His young alarm clock was malfunctioning, too--it kept going off every hour the night before, so when the usual time for church rolled around, he and mom were just too worn out.

Lesson #2: Baby facial expressions are a hoot

Sure, the experts and all our relatives insist that every expression a newborn makes is "just gas," but that doesn't keep us from grinning and cooing every time the corners of Joy's mouth turn up. It is also hard to resist the temptation to add dialogue to her little expressions, like:

"Yikes! The poltegeist is back!"

or

''Man, these pacifier things are so overrated."

Lesson #3: Baby feet are really cute

OK, I already knew this fact before I became a parent, but my interaction with Joy continually reinforces it.