Come visit me in Ontario! I'll babysit him for free!!! I love kids, and if I continue babysitting like I do, I won't be AS tempted to have kids of my own too early. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE come visit me in August!!!! Pretty Please!!!

I get that reaction from a lot of Americans......

yes, I get Paternity leave. We have a total of a year that Cathy and I can take off, split anyway we want. The pay is unemployment insurance wages so it is 60% of your salary capped at about 35K.

This will be weird for me as I have not been "off" work for three months since I was 15 years old. I have always had a job, something more than one when I was younger.

Although I am sure William will be a full time job, it is gonna be a little strange.

that's just neat. I wonder if they do that here in Holland...
Well, enjoy your time with William!

...the Mr Mom thing when our youngest was born, myself. Tammy was working waaaaaay out of town and making really good money sooooo... I took six months, worked on some art work and writing stuff on the side, and was quite the Domestic Diva...

Definitely odd but, if I could afford to do it again, I'd sign up today.

I don't think I would want my boyfriend to take leave of his job just to spend the time with a kid if we have one in the future. He makes amazing money where he works.

Sounds somewhat similar to what we have in Finland, Al. Except tha t we can't split the time as we please. All dads get 3 weeks of paternity leave and government pays 60% of the regular pay during that time. Some companies actually make up the difference... mine not surprisingly doesn't.

The mom gets 6 months of full pay (or pretty close at least, can't remember the details) and then the next 6 months 70% salary... or so. Must check the details. A dad can elect to "nick" the last two weeks of the maternity leave to get a full month of additional paternity leave with the gov paying 60% of his salary. The mom gets no pay during that time.

I didn't choose to take the "dad's month" since my pay is naturally way much better than the unemployment money Tiina could've made. Would've been nice to stay at home another month though.

After the first year, the mom can get some compensation from the government, but it's nearly nothing. Still Tiina wishes to stay at home with Saara at least another 6 months or even another year. And that's just fine by me. I don't make big moneys (even by Finnish standards) compared to US or UK, but we'll survive.

I spend enough time with other people's children. They're all older, though, since its swimming lessons that I do. Even though I begin my epic life adventures (starting with an epic cake) on Monday, theres no thoughts about kids here.

I have noticed, after recently seeing my newborn counsin again, that he bears a striking resemblance to William, in just about every possible way. They were also born a week apart. Perhaps some cosmic gemini force at work? Perhaps Will was supposed to have a twin, except he got lost and a week later wound up in Florida?

I love the last pic...the "Look at me an' my bad self drivin' this here lady-catchin' car!" pose.

Love the new pics, man. Emily had that very same car when she was a squirt.

You guys need to stop with the cute baby pictures, and the baby announcements. Every time I come in here it gets harder and harder for me to say no to the husband about having one of our own. Although it is tempting to put a cute pet thread up here just to compete... I have some really cute kitties... lol...

But really, adorable baby
M.

The stache.
Thats really why I look at these threads.
Someday I aspire to have a tiny car of my own. Then Ill post a "Grugg Pictures" thread and youll all oooh and aaah over how cute I look in my tiny car.


Internet cafe has horrible connection. Took 5min to load those pictures.

Grügg.

(LOOK LOOK IM EUROPEAN)

In that first new pic on this page you look wiped ahhh the joys of being loved. But he looks happy as does Van in some ways I envy you two (Not enough to have another one mind you) but happy for you both all the same.
Keep the pics coming...............


PS: Change the "Momma's knight" back

TOO CUTE!

What a handsome lil' Viking!