Conference moira::parenting_v3

    
    Cathy:
    
    My husband is a pilot, too, and we were told to expect a "son".  I
    didn't have any trouble finding lots of little stretch suits, outfits,
    bibs, socks, etc. for "little boys" with airplanes on them  (by the
    way, we got a "girl" and she wore trains, planes and lots of blue
    during the first six months! ... and, in fact, still does).  
    One of the cutest things she got (and I'm keeping it for when 
    she grows up) is a tshirt which says "Daddy's Co-Pilot" (since 
    I received the call that our adopted daughter would be arriving 
    in "weeks", WHILE Jim was at the Oshkosh Airshow in Wisconsin, so
    he brought the shirt back with him -- in fact, two shirts).
    
    You can get a lot of these cutsy things from The Pilot Shop (Norwood
    Airport) ... call for a catalog ... and Sporty's ... and sometimes in
    the typical stores (ChildWorld, Bradlee's, Calvert's, Rachelle's, Toys
    R Us ...).  Let me know if you need the numbers and write me off line
    if you want to expedite matters and I'll send Jim's catalogs to you via
    Interoffice Mail.
    
    Last Christmas, at 3 months, JA got tons of airplane toys (from
    relatives!!!!).  One particular one she just loved was a Fisher Price
    pop-up plane ... pull it along and little wooden beads (I think) pop up
    and rattle against the clear plastic dome.   I've also seen the
    airplane mobiles and crib layettes in Baby Specialty stores.
    
    Of course, I'm assuming you're from Massachusetts (or thereabouts) ...
    as the Norwood Airport is in southern Massachusetts.
    
    Congratulations!!!!!
    
    Dottie                            
    
    I also got Jim a book -- Bill Cosby on Parenthood (it comes with a #1
    Dad card, too).  It was need, but the VHS tape is more hysterical!
    
    The great thing about having a Daddy for a pilot, hockey player, etc.
    is the fact that both boys and girls can were co-pilot tshirts,
    basebasll caps, airplane stretchsuits ... but it's tough to put a boy
    in a pink dress!

    How about a "Daddy to be" hat or t-shirt.  I've seen them at baby
    stores and in the back of baby type magazines.  The word "be" is
    replaced with a bummble bee, so they're pretty cute.  They also
    have "Mommy to be" ones too.
    
    A book on parenting or a subscription to "Parenting" magazine might
    be a nice idea.
    
    Lori B.
    

    First off, Cathy, CONGRATULATIONS on your pregnancy!   It is so
    exciting to see infertility resolved!!   
    
    A couple of things for you .... there is a book called "The Father's
    Almanac"  (don't know the author) that has all sorts of ideas for
    things dads can make for their kids, games they can play...it's hard
    to explain but it really seemed in tune with my husband's mind and
    interests.  Available at Waldenbooks.
    
    As far as the airplane goes, there is always the Fisher-Price airplane
    - but it isn't stuffed.  The closest thing that we've seen (well, 
    actually HAVE) is a stuffed velour rattle shaped like an airplane
    made by kinderGUND.  We got it at Raschel's in Westboro, MA.
    
    You might also consider getting him a baby backpack/snugglie (or two?
    :-)).   Most men I know - particularly the outdoors type - seem to
    think these are a great invention!
    
    Best of luck,
    Carol

Cathy, I'd throw in a copy of Bill Cosby's "Fatherhood" (I think that's
what it's called...)  It's really cute.

You might also want to include some "non-baby-related" things like a gift
certificate for a massage or dinner at his favorite restaurant or a few
of his favorite food things.  He might also need to be recognized for 
still being your husband, separate from being the father of your child.

    Assuming you're in the NE area -- in the plaza of the Nashua Mall
    there's a store called the Elephant's Trunk that has lots of kids'
    toys and other items.  A friend got David a  cute inflatable
    airplanes that had little soap bears to ride in the pilot's seat. 
    It's a bath toy, obviously, but David loved to hold it while he
    was being changed.  And being inflatable, we could take the air
    out and roll it into a little wad in his diaper bag to have along
    on trips.
    
    --bonnie

	I word of warning on the Father's Almanac (or any Parenting book for 
that matter).  I'd read through it a  bit to see if it fits your parenting
/living style.  Gary got a copy of the Father's Almanac and was very 
dissapointed with it.  I have not read it, but I think Gary's objection was 
that it was for "traditional"* fathers.  The viewpoint is the one that says, 
if the mother is with the child, she is taking care of the child.  But if 
the father is with the child, he's "babysitting". (Gary's a very involved 
father.  Goes to all the doctor's appointments.  Changes more diapers than I do.
Took a three month leave of absence to stay home with Katie when I came back 
to work. And so on.)

	One of the best gifts Gary got while "we" were pregnant was a tee-shirt.
It had a guy with sitting in front of a TV with a baby on his lap with the 
bottle headed toward the wrong end of the baby.  It's caption was "Mr.New Dad" 
(There's apparently a whole series of "Mr Whatever" shirts.)

Tracey

    I really like the Father's Almanac for the activities and ideas for any
    parent.  
    
    I hadn't noticed the references to fathers "babysitting" their own
    kids, but that would bother me too.

    _Babies_and_Other_Hazards_of_Sex_ by Dave Barry.  A *must read*!
    
    Leslie

    There are several other books for expectant fathers also.  I'll see if
    I can find the ones Paul had and post the titles here.
    
    What about one of those "nursing bibs"?  I can't remember the real
    product name, but they're bibs with two pockets in which you invert
    baby bottles so the dad can "breastfeed."  That way (if you're planning
    to nurse), you can each feed one child!  Even if you don't use it, it
    makes a great joke/conversation piece.
    
    -Tracy

"Becoming a Father", William Sears

    	I bought a airplane mobile for a pilot friend of mine when his son
    was born, I found it in one of the hobby stores.  Dad and son loved
    it!!

    There's a book called "Expectant Fatherhood" that I got in paperback for
    my husband when I was pregnant with my first.  It was great!  Sort of
    an "understanding pregnancy" book, but for him (like what he should
    expect from you)  Craig found out a lot of the things he felt about the
    whole pregnancy/family thing were normal, so he was able to calm down.
    
    I made the "breastfeeder bib" for Craig using a tee shirt, and attached
    'pockets' with a hole in the bottom for the inverted bottles.  He got a
    real kick out of it...even used it!
    
    Playschool has an outfit that has a "I like daddy best because" poem on
    the front.  And there is a mug out that has DADDY across the front.
    
    I second the Dave Barry "Babies and other hazards of Sex"!
    
    Laura

    I saw a Plate the shape of an airplane in Toys-R-Us that had different
    sections for foods.  I've seen it on one of the commercials for some
    kind of carpeting, where the kid is shown making the plane "FLY" off
    the highchair onto the floor.  Kind of funny.
    

    [ if this hasn't been listed already...]
    
    There is also a spoon shaped like a plane - comes in bright colors. 
    You can find these with baby gadgets in big toy/childrens stores.

    Congratulations on twins!  I had twins last March, and it's a gas (no
    pun intended). :-)
    
    I second the mobile recommendation.  We have two mobiles: one musical
    mobile for the crib and one handmade decorative mobile suspended from
    the ceiling.  The kids are fascinated by both; they love them.
    
    About books:  Having twins is similar but significantly different from 
    having one baby.  If you are interested in giving or having a book, may
    I recommend "The Joy of Twins" by Pamela Novotny.  It is the best twins
    book we have.  (I *STRONGLY* recommend staying away from "Having Twins"
    by Elizabeth Noble.  It is a well known book, but I found it
    *EXTREMELY* depressing and no more informative than Joy of Twins.)
    
    BTW If you are interested in talking with another mother of twins -- or
    a father of twins -- call me or send mail.  I'd be happy to talk with
    you.
    
    Diana Goldfarb
    CUPTAY::GOLDFARB
    227-4392
     

    How about earplugs?!?!.......but seriously folks, my weekend coffee
    always tastes a little better when I'm drinking out of my Daddy mug.:')
    
    
    Peace,
    
    Mike

    Beegotten Creations is the name of the company which has the items
    with the bumble bees on them.  I got my husband a T-Shirt and a
    coffee mug from them and because we are also expecting twins they
    put two bees on his.
    
    About the stuffed airplane, try any "Airport" pilots or gift shop.
    Since both my husband and I are pilots we love to look for stuff
    with airplane type themes.
    
    In reference to books, this ones not really for your husband but
    one of the best I,ve read so far is "Breastfeeding and Mothering
    Multiples" by the La Leche League.  Due to its authors this book
    is heavy into the why you should breastfeed even with multiples
    but it also deals with lots of other things and only cost $6.95.