Well, I guess I'm gonna be a dad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JK]

My wife, Tammy (some of you know her as "teacher") came home from the ob/gyn today and said it was fo' sure. I was going to something stupid like "I guess I need to grow up" but, after seeing dad's like McPhail, Honest, Eric Enclan (sorry if I spelled your name wrong), Chris Harness, and all my other friends with rugrats, I think I'm in good company. Now I really gotta bust ass on my merc. Tammy wants me to pick up her and Roman from the hospital in nine months. I might just do it with open headers!!! I'm also looking for some good advice to pass on to tha boy. Got any?

[Travis]

See what happens when you screw around?!!! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Congrats!

No advice to give. Your friends and family and people you don't know will help you out and make things very easy. The only thing you are going to lose is sleep. That's what happened in my house and now Dylan is 2 1/2 and already taking apart toy planes and cars...

Travis

[Nick32vic]

Congratulations.

Advice, try not to force him into cars, when my dad made me help him work on his car i hated doing it cus i didnt know about cars yet but after i got older i started to get more interested then he told me about a guy who had a good deal on a 32 and asked if i wanted to save my money and buy it. Well that just set me off and from then on ,i think, its hard to say, but i think i love cars more than my dad.
Point is, if he will like cars thats awesome but if not be supportive of whatever else he is into(unless its illegal).

Congrats man!

Nick

[2tall2beahotrodder]

Congrats!!!! Good luck. Hope everything turns out good.


rat-

[**DONOTDELETE**]

congrats, the best advice my dad ever gave me was, "if it flies, floats, or fucks..... rent it."

that advice got me pretty far.
Paul

[Fat Hack]

Congrats! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

(Just don't buy him any VDO diapers and you'll be fine! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif)

Any names picked out yet???

[MercMan1951]

My father works at the Ford Wixom assembly plant, in Wixom, MI. They make the Lincolns there. He's been there 34+ years. Damn if he ever could afford what he was producing! The best piece of advice he ever gave me was- "You're not setting a foot in that plant unless you're wearing a shirt and tie!"

Teach him all you can about cars, pass along your interests, but make it clear: it should be a hobby, he should want to persue an education first. Let him find his own interests. Hell, he could be an automotive instructor, nothing wrong with that!

Anything else, and it turns out like the old addage; plumbers have leaky pipes, mechanics have crummy cars, and he'll spend too much time fixing "other people's" rides. My father didn't say anything when I wanted to work in a body shop while going to college. (5+ years!) He knew I wanted to keep the cars as a hobby (by then I figured all this out.) And I found out the hard way - that after a long day of fixing everyone else's problems, the last thing I wanted to do was work on one of my cars!

I thank my father for that now. I have nothing but respect to all the guys out there bustin' their knuckles for a paycheck to support their families by working on cars. That is HARD nasty, thankless work!

Both are a money pit (education or cool cars), but when it comes down to it: "I got a '51 Merc that I'm restoring!" won't get him a job...only YOUR guidance will. Congrats on the kid! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Like someone else on here says: Teach your children well, someday they may have the parts you need.

MercMan

[Levis Classic]

HOT DAMN - Another Hamb'r on the way - congrats - remember keep him away from the rice rockets!!!!

[McGrath]

Congratulations. As for advice for boys, I have no idea. I got three girls, then gave up. I am trying my best to turn the youngest into a boy though... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[JK]

Fat Hack, I was wanting Baron Maxwell von Ketch, but, she had another idea so I gave up on that. I've changed to Roman. I just can't see my kid going to preschool in a motorhead shirt and being called "Bob" or "Joe"! Mercman, I know what you're saying. I am not a mechanic for that exact reason. I've quit telling people that I even own an old car.

[Fat Hack]

Naming a kid can be fun...or the source of squabbles! When I was married, my wife wanted "Travis" for a boy and "Jade" for a girl. I didn't like those choices at all...I wanted "Rosco" for a boy and "Rhonda" for a girl!

Good thing we never had kids...just a bunch of cats!

(I named my cat Tootie...but I wouldn't do that to a KID! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif)

[mytlo56]

Congratulations!

The little guy in the picture here is our ten month old. He makes every single day of my life worth so, so much more.

Advice:

1. When your baby is born don't expect to be totally enamored by him or her. It comes w/ time. Granted, you'll love the baby from day one, but you won't have that instant connection your wife will have. Just wait though, one day you're sitting there and bam! That little person goes from being "that little person" to being the most amazing force in your life.

2. If there is any possible way you can take a bunch of time off to spend w/ your wife and the new baby, do it. The baby won't remember it, but you will. And by God, I guarantee your wife will remember it!

3. Do everything in your power to help your wife after she has the baby. No matter how tired or grumpy you feel, no matter how bad you want to work on your Merc...help your wife. She has just gone through a hell you and I could never imagine.

4. Man, get ready to see some of the craziest shit you have ever seen in your life in that delivery room.

Best of luck and I want to see pic.'s when the little one arrives.

[Deuce Rails]

Congrats!

If us other fathers can do it, you can too.

Bust ass on your Merc, cuz you won't have the time later. And when you pick them up at the hospital, try to have an approved baby seat with you. Federal law requires it, but they didn't look to closely in our case (four months ago!).

Enjoy it!

--Matt

[BELLM]

32 yrs ago my son was born. The things I remember most are the fact that his mother was in labor 24 hrs and how much my feet hurt the first few weeks they were home from the hospital. Get you some really comfortable shoes, wear them, and if your mother or mother in law offers to come over & help out first few days baby & mom are home. let her!!! Congratulations! Awsome responsibility & greatest joy you will ever have in your life!! Except grandkids.

[fab32]

Brings back memories. I remember my 1st (a boy,Patrick). That was 36 yrs. ago. A girl 2yrs later. Now 7 grandkids. Its the most rewarding thing that will ever happen to you (besides the woman you married). Spend as much time as you possibly can with him, before you know it he's grown and making a life for himself. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Frank

[Hot Rod To Hell]

My daughter is 12 days old today, so she'll have a little bit of a head start, but when yer boy gets his license the race is on (but they have to drive their own vehicles!). Hate to break it to ya, but my little girl's gonna win! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[JK]

I hate ta tell ya this, my boy ain't losin' ta no gurl!

[warpigg]

good job... we were pullin for ya... Mrs. warpigg just got into midwifery school, so i don't know if she'll be available for the delivery, but she'll still be teaching her child birth classes.

[67Imp.Wagon]

Congrats JK. They definately change your life. Projects definately take the back burner for a while but I figure its worth it. Since you'll be inside more you'll spend more time on the Hamb trying to get your car fix.

They do grow quick so don't miss out on the little things. My boy is already 5 and it seems like he was just born. My girl is almost 1 and this year has flown buy with little being done on the cars. Its early to tell, but I think it's gonna be my little girl rideing shotgun in the future to the car events. She's growing quick and I am starting to get back out in the garage a little more but its mostly late at night. Oh well you do what you gotta do. Congrats again.

If you need to get rid of that Frankestein shooting the finger(Thats a bad influence on kids) I'll give it a home. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[Hot Rod To Hell]

We'll see about that JK! What's the proposed date for the 2020 HAMB Drags guys? My 6 yr old daughters first real word (other than baby noises that kinda sound like words) was "tachometer" http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif I SWEAR!!!

[Roothawg]

The scary part is that you are able to reproduce...... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

[shifts]

Congrats JK 3 kids here ,tho my youngest is 32 now. My youngest daughter turned out to be a gearhead & my son runs my shop.Best thing you can do for yor kids is love the mother. Dave

[hotrodladycrusr]

Congrats, thats great news!

[Smokin Joe]

Grandkids are better. Feed 'em sugar to wind 'em up, then give them a sugar daddy or chocolate bar just as you put them in the parent's (Your Kid's) car to go home.
Revenge is a dish best served cold... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I don't have grandkids, but I do this to my neices and their kids all the time... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

It's great when you hear..."Jeezus, did I destroy shit like that when I was a kid?" for the first time! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

2 year olds make great nut and bolt washers. Just don't let your wife find out you've got them in the garage!

Start them out on a 1/2-9/16 closed end wrench as a teething ring. They may get their fingers stuck in the smaller sizes and the weight will build strength while hopefully being too heavy for the kid to throw with any force at the TV and windows. Save the pointy screwdrivers till they're at least 3 and have some coordination. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[El Caballo]

You were poking fun and she took you serious...

Cut that cord like a man...