Little Chloe

She's only 6 lbs + some. The 0-3 month infant clothes are too big! I guess we'll have to buy premie outfits. Anyway, she's happy and content. All she does is sleep. The calm before the storm...

Chloe Katherine

CHLOE IS HERE!

I could relive this day again! Mystery. Excitement. Surprise. Peace. Joy. Laughter.

She is Chloe Katherine Davis
6 pounds 13 ounces
18 and 3/4"
chubby cheeks
dark wavy hair
Beautiful
Innocent
Blessed

Kudos to St. David's Medical Center in Austin, Texas. I couldn't have asked for friendlier place to be.

Wonder

Fate smiled

And Destiny laughed as she came to my cradle

Know this child will be able

Laughed as my body she lifted

Know this child will be gited

With love, with patience, and with faith, she'll make her way


"Wonder" is one of my favorite songs. I love the uplifting words. When Natalie Merchant first released it, I knew I'd some day dedicate this to my own girlchild as "one of the wonders of God's own creation." And voila!

Having Character vs Being a Character

My dad once said, "You've got to distinguish between the brotherhood and brothers who ARE hoods." (actually, he said it way more than once. gotta get your point across sometimes.) :-)

And another guy said in Pulp Fiction, "Just because you ARE a character doesn't mean you HAVE character." True.

Sitting in church yesterday as we studied Colossians, I ripped a sheet of paper from my notepad and jotted some thoughts about Chloe's character. Just as the Colossians were to put off their junky "grave" clothes and put on their new "grace" clothes, I'd like to see my Chloe mature into a godly woman, living God's grace. Amy and I must lead this. We also need the help of our family, our friends, our church. Influences are important. The stuff I jotted on that pad had to do with what our families can impart to her.

Given their admirable traits, I hope Chloe will be influenced by her ______:

Mommy's hospitality, good humor, and lack of worry.
Grandpa Willie's industrious efficiency, generosity, and sense of humor.
Grandma Phyllis's spiritual discipline of study, prayer, and teaching.
Uncle Brian's ability to have fun and influence his friends for Christ.
Aunt Monica's gentleness with animals.
Great-Grandmother Olivia's wisdom and faith.
Grandpa Jack's never-met-a-stranger friendliness.
Grandma Katherine's cooking and steady spirit.
Uncle David's selfless generosity and good humor.
Aunt Wendy's kindness and servant heart.
And her Daddy's thoughtfulness and creativity.

She will HAVE character!

Baby First!

Wow. Can't believe we'll be a dad/mom in less than 48 hours. Our child will be a child of many firsts. Our First Child. Her Maternal Grandfather's First Grandchild. Her Uncle David's First Niece. Could she be the world's first baby????

I wonder how Amy would react if I were to say that I'd prefer to be called "Father" instead of "Dad". Or better yet, "Fahh-thah". Hmmm, I'll ask her........She gave me a blank stare, then laughed. Not a ha-ha-that's-funny type of laugh. She thinks I'm crazy. Cool.

Dad.

Baby Baby Baby

It's hard to believe that we're approximately 9-10 days away from gazing upon our child for the first time! My mind continuously churns myriad questions, thoughts, hopes, fears, and wonders.

I wonder what talents God has poured into her.
I can't wait to watch her language skills develop.
Will she love Mexican food like Mommy and Daddy?
Will she spew out guacamole, mushrooms, sweet potatoes, and olives like she ought to?
How will her hair and eyes look?
What type(s) of music will suit her tastes?
Can I teach her to dance and love the arts?
She probably can't help but to have a sense of humor like ours.
Will she learn to be a gracious host and great cook like Amy?
At what age will we walk in front of the church and baptize her as she proclaims Christ her own?
Will she be athletic, or bookish, or artistic, extrovert, introvert, silly, clever, brilliant?
From what university will she earn her doctorate?
What character traits will she cause me to develop?

Of course, these aren't the only questions, and there's a bunch that I don't even know to ask yet.
Yet at the end of the day, I'm excited!

Oh...About the Title

Porque he llamado este blog "Life's Amazing. Dance."?
Why have I named this blog "Life's Amazing. Dance."?

1. Life is amazing. We experience so many amazing blessings in our lifetime. Family togetherness. Awe-inspiring creation. The laughter of a friend. Rolling down a grassy knoll. A smile. A genuine hug. Unexpected rewards. Reconciliation. Reunion. Infantile innocence. The light at the end of the tunnel. The calm after the storm and the inner strength acquired.

2. We should dance. Because of all these amazing things that we experience, we should dance! To dance is to engage life fully. "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all thy might" saith Scripture. Create. Serve. Love. Give. Work. Even King David "danced before the Lord with all his might". Rejoice. Celebrate. Give thanks. Have faith. Dance (literally).

So when you hear that funky music, jam on it! When the music slows down, adjust your pace. When the music stinks, keep moving. All the while, God the DJ knows where he's taking you. Let Him. Have faith and keep dancing. "He is able to do more than we could ever ask or imagine." And He does. Amazing.

The Atypical Mouse

I've been a typical person when I'd much rather have been atypical. Full of new year's ambition, I created this nifty blog, then my well-intentioned self ignored it for several weeks. Like other people on Jan 1 who say they want to lose weight, change careers, or stop drinking, but have made no progress by Jan 31, I have done the same with respect to this here bloggy blog.

Typical.

Had I been atypical, you'd be seeing 87 pics, 1000 postings, and a streaming video of "Don't Taze Me, Bro!" Whoever said "The best laid plans of mice and men oft go astray" is half wrong. Men procrastinate. Mice lace up their Nike's and just do it! That's why we kill 'em.