Natalie Jean Arrives!

On Christmas eve, my wife and I welcomed our first child, Natalie Jean Miller! She was born healthy and happy and so far has a big personality and a never ending appetite.

I wrote earlier about preparing for parenthood and the impact it has on families. This fact hit home particularly hard the other weekend when during a football party, I went with a friend to the store, he bought a case of beer and I bought a case of diapers. My purchase was more expensive. Even more unfortunate was that this was a bi-weekly trip for me, I am not sure about my friend.

Diapers were only the first part, after subsequent trips to Babies 'R Us, we had spent enough money to clothe and carry an entire village of kids. This was our reality check. Kids are expensive thats for sure. This link below from the University of Minnesota tells me little Natalie is going to cost me about $750 per month. A quick approximation based on their numbers tell me she is going to cost $209,139 (current value) through the age of 18. Yikes...

And to think, my wife wants more kids....

One smile from Natalie and it is all worth it. Maybe we just need to expand our monthly baby budget!

http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/businessmanagement/DF5899.html