Receiving and purchasing gifts for McKinna is always a fun little adventure.  Though the presents are for her opening them is 3/4’s of the fun.  However, having to return ANYTHING to Babys R Us or Target is a royal pain.  They have the worst return policies we have ever run into.  The latest misadventure came yesterday when Erin and I tried to return a duplicate gift back to Babys R Us (Wolfchase Location).   What should have been a 10 minute task turned into an hour of what exemplifies the lack of corporate efficiency in this country.

We went to the counter and explained the situation: duplicate gift that was purchased online and we didn’t have a gift receipt, but it was on our registry.  First, the lady couldn’t locate the item on our registry and then alluded to the possibility that we wouldn’t be able to return it.  After getting the manager involved he said that the product wasn’t in their inventory database at all even though it was purchased from their company.

Mind boggling.

Finally, after 35 minutes of haggling with four different employees who couldn’t find their way out of a paper bag, they were able to lookup some inventory number and locate our purchase in their system.  Unfortunately, they were going to give us $7 less than what was paid for online because they had marked it as a clearance item.  So we had to argue that point.

At long last we got everything straightened out and took our gift card to purchase the two items that we really wanted which are a M and a W wood letters.  Guess what??? They where sold out of both those letters.  Can you believe it?!

Erin is going back to the other location to see if they have her initials.

What a misadventure!!!!

Throughout my life I have had the privilege of having great wisdom past down to me and now I present these to my daughter.  The U.B. Rules:

1. Things end up how they start out.
2. A man convinced of his will is of the same opinion still.
3. Always live on 50% of your income.
4. Get ready to hurry up and wait.
5. Life is the ultimate teacher.
6. Always strive for an A and the worse you’ll get is a B.
7. Low-fat cheese doesn’t taste the same as regular cheese.
8. Nothing in extremes is good.
9. Choices are what makes life fun.
10. Always be young at heart.
11. If you play with snakes long enough you will get bit.
12. No matter how important or insignificant a person is in your life they will have an impact.
13. Sometimes you have to forget the budget and recover afterwards.

Erin and I can only hope that when McKinna grows up she will have friends as great as ours.  This past Saturday Allison Brownlow, Emily Gray, Katie McKarthy, Blair Phillips, and Ashley Tubs hosted our couples shower.  It was an absolute blast.  Not only because of the wonderful gifts that McKinna received, but just being able to spend some much needed adult time with our friends was priceless.

Things are really coming together with McKinna’s room.  Her room is roughly 90% complete.  The biggest item, the crib, is completely setup and I must admit…it looks GREAT.

Erin and I only have ~5 more weeks before the stork brings our little bundle of joy.  We definitely want her to be healthy, but at the sametime McKinna can’t get here fast enough.

Don’t forget over and check out the new photos.

Of all the pieces of furniture that soon-to-be/new parents receive or purchase, nothing is more iconic for babies than the crib.  Most mom’s look forward to receiving them and most dads dread putting them together.

After a month of Baby’s R Us cancelling the order that my Mom placed (after that charged her of course), having to replace the order, Niki and Stephanie GRACIOUSLY picked up the 100+ pound crib and brought it to our house.

Erin isn’t like most moms…she definitely likes to be involved with putting things together.  So the next day we open the box, laid out all the pieces and started down the dreaded assembly of putting the crib together.  We got 97% of the way through without any problems then the last 3% hit.  We had the side rail to attach and that stubborn thing did not want to corporate.  We finally figured out that the instructions where incorrect.  Step 12 (final) should have been step (10) and vice versa.

None the less we accomplished our task and are VERY happy with seeing McKinna’s bed now snuggled up in its final resting place.  Her room has more furniture than ours.  She is already spoiled and hasn’t even arrived yet.

I guess things end up how they start out.

Without music life would be a mistake.  ~Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

Life would be a mistake if there was no music to experience. (Have you ever been experienced…well…I have).  I have started playing music to McKinna at night to hopefully get her used to the “colors” of sound that await her in the world.  To make sure that she has been exposed to the best possible music, the selections are taken from her daddy’s playlist.  So far she has heard Bob Marley, Frank Sinatra, and Dean Martin.


Upcoming artists will contain Allman Brothers, Credence Clearwater Rivial, Ella Fitzgerald, and Billie Holiday.

Last weekend my Mom, Aunt Linda and Diane McKinna threw Erin and I a WONDERFUL baby shower.  We are so grateful to all of our family and close friends who took the time out to share with us in this occasion.  McKinna received so many wonderful gifts that certainly come in handy.  Everything from high chairs, diapers, portrait gowns, the crib, booties and my personal favorite - Leroy.

The next day Erin put together lots of the furniture and everything looks GREAT!!!!!

If you have pictures from the shower, please forward them to me so that I can post them.

When I was growing up my favorite story was Peter Pan. Over the years I have been to see it at Play House on the Square and any movie that has come out related to Peter Pan I always make it a point to go and see it.   It was a special moment when I was able to read to McKinna for the first time even if it sounded like story time under water.  My your daddy’s words fall over your ears and heart like pixie dust as you fly through the adventures in life.

I have posted the lastest shower pictures on McKinna’s Gallery.  Thank you SOOO much to Greg, Rachael and the rest of my department for throwing us a wonderful shower.

Yesterday marked the 7th month of the pregnancy. I can’t believe how fast it is going by, especially with all the upcoming events. Last week started with our first shower thrown by Greg Jordan and his wife Rachel with the rest of my department. It was very nice and we received many wonderful gifts for McKinna. However, I think the biggest hit of the evening was the crab/English muffin creation provided by my hetero-life mate, Ben McMeen.

Erin and I are slowly adding on to McKinna’s room. (More pictures to be posted shortly.)

Hi Mommy,

So today is the day that you found out that God brought you a little present. (Me!). I just wanted to let you know that I can’t wait to see you and daddy. Before I wrote this Daddy told me a little bit about you. He talked about your incredible beauty, how smart you are (much smarter than he is), and how well you treat him. I wish I could be with you two now, but that time will come soon enough. Until then, please make sure you take your Juice Plus+ so that I am healthy, but most of all, though I may cause you to gain weight or to occasionally feel sick, know that I LOVE you sooo much and think of you as much as you and daddy think of me.

Daddy also told me to remind you that if you or I need anything to let him know and he will get it. We are his two miracles (one more and you can become a Saint).

I love you Mommy very much and will see you soon…

Love,
Baby McWiles

(original written Jan. 17th, 2008)