My hands and my heart have been so full these last two weeks as we’ve been adjusting to life as a family of five! We welcomed our third child, Gilana Brielle, on September 20th. Gilana means “joy” and Brielle (a diminutive of Gabrielle) means “strength of God” or “heroine of God.” She weighed 7 lbs. 15 oz. and was 19 in. long. Her … [Read more...] about Our Hearts Are So Full!
babies
17 Ways Dads Can Bond with Their Newborns
We place so much emphasis on moms bonding with their newborns that we sometimes overlook dads. We forget that dads can and should be bonding with their newborns, too! Thankfully, there are lots of simple ways that dads can interact and connect with their newborns. Here are 17 of those ways. (Click on the image to view and download a … [Read more...] about 17 Ways Dads Can Bond with Their Newborns
Dozens of Ways Dads Can Support Moms During Labor
My husband has numerous talents that come naturally to him. He sings really well. He’s great with computers and other electronic devices. He’s absolutely amazing with directions and remembering how to get places. However, being supportive of me when I’m in labor doesn’t come as naturally to him. I think this is the case with many men. … [Read more...] about Dozens of Ways Dads Can Support Moms During Labor
7 Surprising Items to Include in Your Hospital Bag When Having a Baby
I’ve seen dozens of checklists for what to take with you to the hospital when you head in to have a baby. I feel like if you’ve seen one of these, you’ve seen them all. I’ll soon be giving birth to my third baby, so I don’t really need someone else’s checklist when packing my bag. I know what I’ll need! Interestingly, there are a few … [Read more...] about 7 Surprising Items to Include in Your Hospital Bag When Having a Baby
5 Common (But Often Overlooked) Safety Threats in the Home
Most of us feel that our homes are havens. We feel safe and secure from the chaos and dangers of the world around us when we are at home. Unfortunately, we may not be as safe as we think we are because we face a number of safety threats while in our homes. We overlook a lot of these because they aren’t obvious. What are these safety … [Read more...] about 5 Common (But Often Overlooked) Safety Threats in the Home
Why Kids Desperately Need Outdoor Play
I have a love-hate relationship with outdoor play for my kids. I love it because they get to run around, climb, and get fresh air. It’s challenging, though, because sometimes it seems like it takes forever to apply sunscreen and get their shoes on, not to mention that here on the Texas Gulf Coast we have a lot of bugs (mosquitoes, fire ants, … [Read more...] about Why Kids Desperately Need Outdoor Play
17 Bible Verses to Encourage Dads
Five weeks ago I shared 16 Bible verses to encourage moms. That week we were celebrating and encouraging moms for Mother’s Day. This week we’re celebrating and encouraging dads for Father’s Day, so I’m sharing Bible verses to encourage dads. The words of Scripture are a powerful way to provide encouragement. As you can imagine, the … [Read more...] about 17 Bible Verses to Encourage Dads
Grandparenting is Great Because of Perspective
I’m honored that today’s post is a guest contribution from my father, Roland Thiel. He wrote this piece a few years ago to express why he loves being a grandfather. Though he never intended for it to be a blog post, he sent it to me a few weeks ago and asked if I would like to share it here. I think many of you will appreciate it, especially … [Read more...] about Grandparenting is Great Because of Perspective
