little howler monkey
 

I know this is totally off any officiating topic but a couple of you asked for an update and I can't resist. My first child - Ella Maria - was born Monday. After spending the week in ICU she was discharged today and Mom and Ella are safe at home.

It is as miraculous as everyone says and it doesn't hurt that she seems like she was born to fit in the crook of my arm. I won't bore you with all the details and a bunch of photos - we all know that other people's newborns look like Buddy Hackett. She is a coach's daughter, however, 1' 8 3/4" (I'm starting in with height right away instead of length) and she can already dribble to both sides. OK, just one:

http://beban.presscore.org/gallery/d...C50141_001.JPG

Conratulations go to the proud Papa.....

Enjoy the heck out of her.

Congratulations

Congratulations! She is absolutely gorgeous.

It seems like yesterday our daughter was born, but yesterday we went and bought her first pair of sneakers. $42 Stride-Rites that she'll grow out of in 3 months :-). She's already 14 months old and I still remember the call I got on the way to a boys varsity game last January when my wife said she was heading to the hospital, but that it would be a while so I should just go work my game (I did and it was a while -- 2 days later-- before our daughter was born).

If you can, take some time off of work and do nothing but enjoy her and take care of Mom.

--Rich

PS - Here's a picture of my daughter 14 months from where you are now. I miss Casey the newborn, but I love watching Casey the toddler. I'll miss her someday, too, while I'm enjoying where she is at the time. I'm in no way trying to hijack your thread, but I remember telling everyone here about Casey's birth and then never really gave an update, so this seemed like a good place.

http://web.mac.com/fronheiser/iWeb/C...s/DSC01877.jpg

Rich, she's cute as a button. Enjoy the heck out of her too while you can.

Congrats bebanovich (and you too Rich),,,she's a doll. Kinda changes your outlook on life, doesn't she! As one whose youngest is now 12, you are making me feel old! Congrats again.

A couple of cuties there. They'll be talking back before you know it. :)

She's a tall baby, ready for the WNBA. According to one of the calculators I have bookmarked, 20 3/4" puts her in the 90th percentile.

Bebe -- Isn't it fabulous? I look back on my successful births, and I see confetti in the air, even though I know that there wasn't any. It's that kind of experience. Enjoy every minute, and groan your way loudly through the sleepless inghts, the long colicky afternoons, the poopy diapers. Even those memories will hold some sweetness later in life. And don't forget to take lots of pictures. Certain "esteemed members" won't want to see them on this board (although lots of us wouldn't mind), but you'll cherish them later, and enjoy having them to share with family and friends.

Congratulations to you and your wife!

Congratulations, Coach! (and you also, Rich!) There is absolutely nothing like your first-born (mine peed on me first time I held him :rolleyes:). He is now expecting his first-born and he just found out it will be first-born(s). Don't know yet if identical or fraternal.

Congratulations bebanovich!! My advice: avoid bottle-feeding - that way you are unable to be the one to feed the baby in the middle of the night!! :D My baby girl turned 17 years old yesterday - the teenage years can be really enjoyable, though awfully bu$y. I hope I have to wait a few years for grandchildren, but look forward that someday...

That will come sooner than you think. It did for me.

Congrats coach!

So she's already following in your (semi) howling footsteps, eh? :)

Mine is 10 and she doesn't want anything to do with a striped shirt and whistle. I keep hinting that one day she might come with me to the new applicants classes, but she won't even give me a "maybe". :(

Congrats and enjoy!

Well, maybe if you stopped using the whistle so much at home.....

Congrats
 

Here's the best advice you'll ever get on raising a kid - don't listen to anyone's advice!

Go with your instincts. If it feels like the right thing to do, it probably is. Humans have been raising kids for a long time, and for the most part, we get it right. :)

Thanks all. Rich that is a doll you have. She seems to know when to un-can the ham for the camera :D.

Only the best for you guys - Arturo Fuente Hemingway. Don't overdo it or your whistle will get weak.

http://www.holts.com/images/cigars/fuentehemingway.jpg

Congratulations Coach. Beautiful child you got there.

I guess you won't have time to "work the refs" anymore. It won't be long before your little girl is trying to figure out "how to work the parents".

LOL.....just kidding.

Seems like having a baby creates champion multi-taskers. Don't be surprised if I'm able to change a diaper with one hand, diagram a play with the other and question a call all at the same time. :D

Be careful what tasks you are mixing.

Ahhh !!

She's so cute !! :D

Congratulations !!

Sounds like it has all the makings (pun intended) of a "$h!tty Play" to me. :D

But you've never seen someone pi$$ed at the ref like this. :D

I hope you didn't get these from Bill Clinton. :eek:

congrats on your miracle!

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:)
Now there's a real KEEPER! Hang on to every minute. Seems like yesterday that mine was that size. He's driving now. It flies by so quickly! Mega Congrats!