Mauldin's nursery is coming along...Of course, it isn't finished yet... not by a long shot; although, of course, we are having fun throwing around ideas of what we want in there...
We are a very ambitious couple... as you might can tell. We found some college pennants, from some not-so-well-known universities, that we thought it would be cool if Mauldin ended up with a scholarship to!
Sometimes we just stand in the room in total awwh because no matter how Laura's belly grows it just doesn't seem real until you see all the little clothes hanging in the closet. Of course, we have the ultrasound picture, but the real-ness just is not there yet. I am sure it is more real for, my wife, Laura, than I because she is the one waking up in the middle of the night due to Mauldin's nocturnal activities....
The nursery is beginning to come together and look like a room for a child, a very neat child, but a child none-the-less. We have been testing out all the toys ourselves lol, just to make sure they are safe of course!
Now we are not experienced parents... this is our first child and as much as we feel ready... this evening taught us we are still clueless when it comes to certain aspects to parenting. We probably will end up having this issue even when Mauldin is here... 
"Hey do you know if it is okay to (insert action regarding a newborn)?"
"Ummm... not sure, go look it up online!"
Yah, cause I know wikipedia is always such a great resource for child rearing.
Honestly though, Laura and I pulled out a blanket and tried to "swaddle" a mickey plush toy... Sorcerer Mickey to be exact. We were hoping his magical abilities would prove to be some help in assisting us in automatically knowing how to swaddle a baby. 
"Are you sure that's right," I said "it looks a little tight to me, you don't want to cut off his circulation!"
"Well, I don't know..." said Laura "you try it! I'm sure you will do it right, Mr. father of the century!"
We are really excited about our pending bundle of joy to join the Skates household... I just hope he doesn't mind having such crazy parents.
"Why did I end up with the parents who didn't know how to swaddle?"
We certainly are going to start making a list of "how do you's" when we see our families over the holidays.
