Yep...great thread....mine are 26 and 27 now.
+1 on all the baby stuff, and especially with letting the grandparents, aunts and uncles be involved, that's what family is all about, and "you" (all you new daddies) and "mom" will definitely need the time off for yourselves. Add at least a half hour of "getting ready" time in front of anything you plan on doing, if it involves hauling the kids with you, and expect that, as soon as everything is ready to go and you're about to pull out of the driveway, yer gonna have to change a diaper. Discuss your "parenting style" way before you actually need to be "parenting", don't argue in front of the kids, especially concerning "parenting issues", and that includes "heated debates" or "stimulated discussions", if you feel a fight coming on, try to walk away and discuss it calmly later, or at least away from where the kids are. No one really "wins" an argument. Put your pride aside and respect each other, not only listen to each other, but strive for understanding as well. Make sure you and her are alright, because when the kids are grown and gone, all you'll have left is each other, and if you lose that, it's no fun spending the rest of your life with someone you don't like anymore. Grow together, or you'll grow apart. And don't forget..the kids are watching you all the time, they learn from everything they see, good and bad, even before they start to talk. Show your kids you and mom respect each other and your kids will be respectful. Disrespect each other and your kids will be disrespectful. You'll also get a whole new perspective on your own parents. Saltines and raisins ROCK for car snacks..