Featured Sponsor: ducduc

Designed to balance serenity and creativity, ducduc crib sets incorporate clean lines for serenity, and bold colors and patterns for creativity. Custom-woven, natural fabrics provide soft comfort and style. Each 4-piece crib set includes a reversible bumper, skirt, and two crib sheets. All pieces are made from 300 thread count cotton with a sateen finish to ensure the softest sleeping experience for your child. Bumpers are solid with contrast piping detail and can be used on both sides. Sheets can be mixed and matched across different bumper colors as desired. Why should parents check their tastes and sensibilities at their child's bedroom door?

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Bellybar Nutrition Tip

Sometimes Dads are the forgotten partners throughout the nine months of pregnancy—but don't worry guys, we know how much you want to be a part of the process! Bellybars are for before, during and after pregnancy—but we don't say whose pregnancy... Men can eat them too! Berry Nutty Cravings is a hit with the guys—we guess it's due to the blue packaging. But if your guy can get past the pink packaging, Baby Needs Chocolate is a hit! Grab one for him too next time you pick up a Bellybar— he'll love it. We guarantee it.

Click here to buy Bellybars from BabyCenter.com

Visit NutraBella's Web Site

Advice to Dads: Be Here Now

Let experienced dad and aspiring guru C.W. Nevius guide you in the ways of wu wei, better known as going with the flow. Here's his advice for dads who might be missing out on some of the best moments of parenting.

Here's a familiar image. A father is sitting in his favorite chair, watching the game on TV. A small child is tugging at his arm.

"Dad? Hey, Dad?" he says. "Watch this. Look."

What the future Wimbledon tennis champion doesn't realize, of course, is that the ball is on the 23, the clock is winding down, and if the offense doesn't get a first down on this play the whole game will be over. Are you watching your child? Sure. Sort of.

So when she says, "Did you see it, Dad?" and you look over and realize you missed it, you probably feel a stab of remorse, wondering if you are a bad dad.

You are. Just like the rest of us.

There's a famous story about two Zen monks who are raving about their respective teachers. One says his teacher is remarkable. He can write in the air on one side of the river and the letters appear on a page on the other side.

The other says his teacher is even greater. "When he eats he does nothing but eat. When he drinks he does nothing but drink. When he sleeps he does nothing but sleep."

Hearing this, the first monk bows to the greater feat. And he's right. It isn't easy. But it is worth pursuing.

Be here now.

From: Crouching Father, Hidden Toddler

Read more from Crouching Father, Hidden Toddler

Win These Prizes

This week, we're giving away the following prizes. If you haven't=20 entered our sweepstakes, do it already!

(NOTE: If you've already entered, you're automatically eligible for every bimonthly giveaway.)

Choice of crib bedding from ducduc. Retail value: $350.

Subscription to FitPregnancy magazine. Retail value: $12.97.

DVD box set from Laugh and Learn. Retail value: $90.

Crouching Father, Hidden Toddler from Chronicle Books. Retail value: $9.95.

A box of 12 Bellybars. Retail value $30.

Couvade

Couvade is defined as the male experience of pregnancy, and the male rituals performed around the time of childbirth. Symptoms include:

• Dressing in wife's clothing
• Food cravings
• Nausea and vomiting
• Weight gain
• Diarrhea
• Moving of the home
• Indigestion
• Muscle tremors
• Abdominal pain
• Bloating
• Anorexia
• Colic

From: Crib Notes