*Smack your child every day. If you don't know why - he does.

Lincoln Rainn was born on April 13th, 2009. At 5:13pm. After he was born we moved to our nursing room in the hospital, room 2813. A very fitting replication of the two digit number that usually causes a raised eyebrow among the massess.

I recorded the first sound he every made on a digital recorder.



Think of that. To me, that is just crazy. I have the absolute first vocal sound that my son made recorded. To the uninitiated (meaning no children) that most likely means less than nothing. Of course, that would mean less than nothing to anyone who isn't sentimental in the least.

I am extremely sentimental. I keep things that I respond to emotionally, usually linked to a memory. In this recording I have a perfect sound, a real sound, that reminds me of the exact moment that Lincoln let me know he was alive and well.........with a scream.

It has only been six weeks and already Lincoln has grown. Gaining weight, gaining awareness and gaining everyone's attention. His big blue eyes are constantly wondering when he is awake, looking for the next bright object to stare at. At times, he will make eye contact, and then the biggest smile forms on his little face. It gives you a feeling in your chest that nothing else in the world will ever be able to duplicate. I promise you that.

**Don't worry that your children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you.

Your children just know when you are around, and the feeling when you hold them envelopes both of you in a reciprocal of relaxation and calm. They know your smell, and they know your voice. They know what they like about you versus what they like about the other parent. They like to be held differently, patted differently and rocked differently.

Suprisingly, they know all of this when they don't even know how to control their arms and legs yet. It's a feeling. A bond.

Our other two kids have adjusted very well to having him around. They love holding him. They love singing to him, especially when he cries. Although.....it could be the singing that is causing the crying, but does it really matter?

Now it is just a matter of getting all three of them to adult hood and survive. Lincoln's eventual first birthday will be our last hurah in the land of babies. From there we plan to send them to good schools to learn valuble and hard lessons. We plan to stick by all three of them as they go through their respective ups and downs; as a family and as individuals. I want to be close to all three of them. Not in the way that I pretend that it is possible to be forever young and their absolute best friend. I'll leave that to the pundits of eternal youth. Instead, I plan to be in the position where my kids trust me. Trust me as a parent, trust me as a friend, and trust me to be honest with my opinion. I think that is fair. Moreso I feel it is achieved easier than people think.

Family commitements don't always seem to mean the same thing to everyone anymore; And if your not careful, that seems to get passed right down to the kids. I feel that there is more responsiblility owed than that.

I plan to live long enough to see the results of all our efforts.

*Joey Adams
**Robert Fulghum