Post a picture of your baby with your mando

[John Zimm]

Okay, I'm a new Dad, and I couldn't resist posting this picture. The little guy is little Danny, my son who was born on Friday, May 20. I am surprised how big the mandolin looks next to the little guy.

It's funny, until Friday I used to love to play the mandolin all evening. Now, I'd rather just sit and read to Danny.

-John.

[Flowerpot]

Nice, and congrats! My "babies" turned 3 last week; I may have to get them to pose with two of my mandolins.

So why can't you play the mandolin and sing to Danny all evening? I did a LOT of mandolin playing for the kids when they were pre-crawling age, and singing too, and they always responded to it. Now they dance, and tell me to play faster! And they prefer the sound of the mandolin over the guitar, fiddle, etc., probably because they were exposed to it from the day we brought them home from the hospital (and in-utero, actually).

[Chris Baird]

Here is my son Aidan. He taught me all eight of the chords that I know. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[kvk]

Not exactly a mando, just the case. I get the impression he's trying to send the message "put the mando away and play with me." http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif
http://users.rcn.com/kvk/mak/IMGP0372a.JPG

[ronlane3]

Congrats, It is the best time of my life. (Became a father about a year ago). She's teaching me a new chord here.

[David Horovitz]

I already posted this one a while ago. My daughter was 4 weeks old when I took this one evening last year. So far, she's still "into" my music.

[ira]

great shots! thanks for sharing.

[Mandoborg]

Congratulations John !!! You read my mind as i thought about starting this very topic a few months ago !!! I've been gone from the board for quite some time as 2005 has blessed my wife and I with a new home and our first baby ! This is Dylan Maxwell born on March 4th ! I understand exactly what you mean about spending time with your son now ! I've built a beautiful new shop in the basement our house and to be totally honest, i'm soo much more into just being with this little guy right now ! Blessed that building is only a side job, albeit a nice one, so i don't really HAVE to be in the shop everyday so i spend so much time reading , talking with, and playing music for him !! Congratulations, being a first time Dad, i can't imagine ANYTHING that can top this feeling!! Not even finding a dozen uncirculated mint Loars http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif


PS SWADDLE that baby TIGHT !! It's amazing how tight they like to be wrapped up !! I fully expected Dylan to shoot out of there like a watermelon seed !!

Congratulations to you and your family........ and all the other Dads that posted here !!!!

LIFE IS GOOD !!!

[DKinAZ]

Here's my little man. He's now 18 months. The time flies by so enjoy it!!

[Philip Halcomb]

This is Emanuel here, I think he's trying to decide if the mando is a drum or something else...

[arbarnhart]

My triplets are about to turn 5:

http://home.nc.rr.com/abhobby/images/bando3.JPG

and while this one isn't as musically related (but we had a string instrument back in the cabin), here is my 9 year old with my ugly mug in the background:

http://home.nc.rr.com/abhobby/images/dinner-dani-dad.jpg

and don't bother trying to tell me that they aren't my babies anymore. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[legendarytones]

Kudos to all you new dads, you now own the greatest gift from God.

[csstanley]

Hey this is pre-mando days. I was sitting with the geetar and the boy wanted his so he could play with me.

I told him to hold that pose.

And PLEASE, just over look the pink passy. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v610/csstanley/IM000339_editedA.jpg

[John Zimm]

All of these pictures are great. Thanks for sharing everyone. I didn't know what the reponse to this topic would be like-it is great to see other proud dads who also love the mandolin. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif Children are really a gift from God. I've been a Dad only one week now and I can't imagine my life without the little bugger.

I played some mandolin for Danny yesterday and found that he seems to enjoy bluegrass rather than classical. It is hard to tell with a new baby since you never know if they are smiling or just have gas, but he seemed to enjoy Sailors Horpipe a lot, while when I started to play Bach he began to cry. Maybe it was my poor playing.

-John.

[John Zimm]

PS SWADDLE that baby TIGHT !! It's amazing how tight they like to be wrapped up !! I fully expected Dylan to shoot out of there like a watermelon seed !!

That's so funny-last night I swaddled Danny good and proper and kept running back to the crib to make sure he could still breath. He slept almost 4 hours straight though, so I guess he liked it.

-John.

[manjitsu]

Okay, my turn to add to this thread... Grayson Daniel Rorrer, born August 10 2005. Hopefully will develop into a much better mandolin player than I!

Chris Rorrer

[manjitsu]

...hey, where'd my mandolin go?

-Chris

[levin4now]

I'm sure they get tired of hearing this question: "Is that a big mandolin or are you really small?"

[Harrmob]

Christmas times a comin, Christmas times a comin....

[batman]

Taylor(tater)Batten in Compton #atire. Don

[mrmando]

I took my mandolin to the hospital and serenaded young Sebastian the day after he was born. He looked better than I did that day, and he still does.

[dixiecreek]

this is the best topic EVER. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[LilCreekster]

I agree, Hannah!! What a bunch of dolls!!!

Hard to believe in 8 weeks or so I'll have my own to add to the bunch (we need a few proud mom pics I think hehe) Practicing is getting tough around this belly, I'm hoping the baby likes mandolin playing a bit so I can serenade him a bit and squeeze some practice time in hahaha.

Thanks everyone who shared their darling pics... could be the future of mandolin cafe we're lookin at ;)

[craigmurray]

Here is a photo of my son Pendleton Murray sporting a shirt with our friend Andrew Collins' logo on it. Pen is 8 months old now and doing great. #He had a rocky start in life, as he was 2.5 months premature, and spent the first 3 months of his life in hospitals in the Toronto area. During this time Andrew was recording his new album "Little Widgets", and wrote and recorded a song for Pen. #You can give it a listen here (http://cdbaby.com/cd/andrew2), it is track 3. #Thanks to Andrew for such a nice tribute

[Mike Beatty]

Here's a pic of my mando lovin' 6 month old Clover Addison

[Keith Miller]

enjoy them while they are young, they grow up FAR too fast http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif
keith

[joec]

Me and Juni cross-training for mando picking on her great-grandfather's tenor banjo. #This instrument has survived several generations worth of babys' attention, and I've found it very helpful for mando because it forces you to stretch, shift and play in higher positions than you might on the mando. #


Joe C.

Joseph Campanella Cleary
Campanella Strings (http://www.campanellastrings.com)

[good_ol_al_61]

Braggin' Time!

Here's my grandson, 4 months old singing high harmony with me on "Roly Poly" bluegrass style! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[F5G WIZ]

Here is my Little Myla jammin on some Raw Hide!

[Markelberry]

BEAUTIFUL!!!! LIFE HAS BEEN GOOD TO TO ALL OF US.

[jim simpson]

Here's my son Drew, who is now 18. You can probably guess what he plays.