Being parents means, creating a safe, nurturing and loving environment at home. This is not just for the first week or month till the excitement has worn off and the number of dirty dishes, laundry is piling up.

Parenthood is a lifestyle change. You look after your newborn, then your toddler, then your adolescent and the young adult.

You have to love your child with no strings attached. There are no ifs and buts. Fallacies are a part of life. Take them in your stride. These are decisions that will affect your child for the rest of his or in our case, her life. Make wise decisions. It may take you a few seconds longer to come up with that thought, but those seconds are what make parenthood so much more fulfilling.

Having a baby at home is like being at a theme park. Sometimes a rollercoaster of emotions and other times a walk in the park. It's almost always messy. But its, oh, so much fun!

Did you know that almost all parents worry about the same things? Is my baby getting enough food and enough sleep. Did I burp my baby? Is this supposed to be colic? We are new at this. It's ok to stuble. Get up and give it another one of your best shots. The blame game is no fun at all.

The first few weeks with your newborn are undescribable. Yes, I'm writing about it, but there are much deeper feelings that I cannot even fathom. When she yawns, or stretches or even squeezes out a little wet fart. It's all magical. Enjoy the carpet ride.

Tricia and her mom are creative in ways I cannot express myself. Trish started a picture journal of our pregnancy in the fourth week and we have a picture of her belly growing with little Evelyn in so many situations, in so many countries, with so many friends. Her mom, has already made a scrapbook with the start of the labor, the birth and the first few moments that Eve was in our arms. This scrapbook is for Evelyn's greatgranny, whose name is also Evelyn.

Make sure you keep a journal and take pictures. Be certain to write a few lines about what your were feeling every now and then. This would be oen the best things that the mom and dad can read when they have a quiet moment and reflect upon all that time spent together.