Let's check back on their "domestic bliss" in 6, 12 and 24 months. What are the odds they are still together, and she's not back on drugs or in rehab?

Anon...that would be their CHOICE, isn't it?

Sad news: Harvey Korman has died. One of the funniest people in the world.

I love her!!!! I gained more respect to her when she gave to needy mothers in LA!!!! She has a heart of gold!

Harlow is beautiful!

Fatherhood also changes a person radically. And that's why I discount books on parenting that are written by people who have never been a parent. It impossible to explain, it just changes you, for the better, IMO.

"I do wish these 2 would get married already. "

Why.

Is she YOUR daughter?

Why do you care?

What impact would it have on YOU either way?

What business is it of anyone other than the two of them if they're married or not?

Do you REALLY think given today's divorce and infidelity rates that it would make a difference in the chances of them staying together?

I will never ever ever understand why you, and millions of other people, are so flipping fascinated with what famous people are doing in their personal lives.

Nicloe is so beautiful!!

"And that's why I discount books on parenting that are written by people who have never been a parent. "

Hahaha, Doyle, I agree completely. I'm always baffled by that. I worked in the infant room of a daycare for 5 years (high school and college), and the new moms (I had 6 weeks olds through 14 month olds in my room) would come in with these theories about when their baby should be held/fed/put down for a nap/etc - and getting ALL stressed out when things weren't going "by the book" - literally. So I'd get curious and check out the books they mentioned, and a lot of them described infant care like a car manual. From supposed "experts", who clearly had never dealt with their own infants - either because they didn't have any, or because the nanny dealt with all the non-fun stuff.

"Why.

Is she YOUR daughter?

Why do you care?

What impact would it have on YOU either way?

What business is it of anyone other than the two of them if they're married or not?

Do you REALLY think given today's divorce and infidelity rates that it would make a difference in the chances of them staying together?"

Amanda, it's not about Jill; it's about them. As a Christian, Jill loves everyone. Love is not a feeling or an emotion. It is an act of the will which desires the highest and best good for someone. What is the highest and best good? Heaven, the beatific vision, being united with God for all eternity. Heaven is more difficult to attain when one is not obeying God's commands, so Jill is just expressing her concern for their immortal souls. You may not agree that her particular concern is warranted, but that is where she is coming from, at least that's one angle (i'm suer there are others.) God love you.

Amanda 10:33: If it were your daughter, wouldn't you want her to be married?

Who has written a parenting book without being a parent? Sounds silly... I do think a lot of parenting books are stupid, because they forget to tell new parents to use common sense. I hated those "What to Expect When You're Expecting" books. They scared the heck out of me. TOO MUCH information!

As far as celebrities go, I don't care much what they are doing. There lives do make an interesting study on one segment of society, though.

SoMG, right on - farewell, Harvey.

Also, at least Nicole helped needy mothers. Most celebs only think about themselves.

Amanda, are you for or against gay marriage?
If you are for gay marriage, then you obviously believe the act of marriage is meaningful and significant, that a legal joining recognized by the state as well as the world at large is somehow better than a mere relationship or a civil union.

I will never ever ever understand why you, and other people, are so flipping fascinated with what opinions people are writing in their personal blogs.

"Amanda 10:33: If it were your daughter, wouldn't you want her to be married?"

Nope. I'm Nicole's age. Half the people I know who got married young are already divorced. My dad's first wife left him, and even though she was a druggie and took awful care of my brother -he still had to pay her half his paycheck a month so she could go buy pot with it. She then had a live-in boyfriend, who she avoided marrying so she could keep getting money from my dad. Committing to a relationship these days has nothing whatsoever to do with the ceremony and the paper - and everything to do with the people involved. We like to hold on to traditions of course, but its not like it means anything. Commitment doesn't become more or less of a real thing just because you get married, when its just as easy to cheat and/or get divorced.

"Who has written a parenting book without being a parent?"

Psychologists and doctors who think they know everything about everything because they went to school longer than most of us did. When it comes to strictly medical things like surgery and disease, thats one thing - but parenting is a lot more abstract. And pretending like you can write a manual for it is just silly.

"Amanda, are you for or against gay marriage?
If you are for gay marriage, then you obviously believe the act of marriage is meaningful and significant, that a legal joining recognized by the state as well as the world at large is somehow better than a mere relationship or a civil union. "

I am very much for gay marriage, and straight marriage, and just as much for people not getting married. Because the overwhelming theme to all of it is - ITS NONE OF MY BUSINESS what other people want to do with their lives when it has absolutely ZERO effect on me or anyone I care about, and is not causing harm to anyone.

I may personally think marriage is meaningful and important, obviously Nicole Ricci doesn't. So be it. If she's happy, what business is it of anyone else to be saying "I wish they'd get married already"?

Anon...

a "personal blog"???

I think, and hope, that Jill would beg to differ.

She writes it with the intention that other people will read it and care about what she has to say. Nicole Ricci did not have a baby with the intention that other people will need to know about it or care whether or not she's married.

I meant "personal blog" they same way you referred to celebrities' "personal lives." Celebrities put their lives our for public diplay - it's our choice to read or not read about them. Nicole Richie granted an interview to Harper's to increase her publicity, along with pictures of her newborn. It was her choice, but not every celebrity does this to his or her kids. Jon Bon Jovi is one who fiercely guards his children's privacy.

So we agree that marriage is meaningful - great! Are you aware that "children living with cohabitors are more likely to be poor, food insecure, and read to infrequently and to exhibit behavioral problems than are children living with married couples". http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/custom/portlets/recordDetails/detailmini.jsp?_nfpb=true&_&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=ED468850&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=no&accno=ED468850
Kids tend to do better when they are living with their married parents. Yes, of course there are exceptions. But I honestly don't understand why you, who obviously values marriage, would criticize those who wish the parents of this child would provide the very best home for her - drug free, drama free, and two married parents?

As an African Ameican, I have seen first hand what sexual immorality, out of wedlock births (which until the 1970's was 20% in the A.A. community and now is almost 70%), hooking up, shacking up and all the baby daddys have done to destroy the A.A family. Those of you who think that marriage doesn't make a difference should read the book Why Marriage Matters by Glenn T. Stanton compiling the research about what marriage means to men, women, children, society, the consequences of so-called "sexual freedom", cohabitation and divorce. Married people are happier, physically and mentally healthier and wealthier when you control for education, socioeconomic, even racial and other factors. Also read Uncle Sam's Plantation and White Ghetto by Star Parker desribing what sexual immorality has done to black and white families alike. Don't tell me how it is no one's business what lifestyle people choose, in the A.A. community we are living all the nightmares of the sexual revolution because we chose to believe the lies. Did anyone see an article in the Chicago Tribune reported May 28th, A Birth Control Survey, PP's Guttmacher Institute says "Half if all Americans are the result of failed birth control"?

Anon - this is from your link:

Between 1997-99, the wellbeing of children living with both their unmarried biological parents improved relative to children in general. This was not the case for children living with one parent and that parent's unmarried partner who was not the child's parent. The changing characteristics of cohabiting parents accounted for about one-third of the decline in poverty among children living with unmarried parents.

"Married people are happier, physically and mentally healthier and wealthier when you control for education, socioeconomic, even racial and other factors. "

Ohter factors.... like the fact that 60% of marriages end in divorce, or the fact that 1 in 5 American men admit to cheating on their wives?

Cheating...those men and women are so glad we have abortion.

These photos are priceless!

I'm old enough to have been a big fan of Lionel.

His POSTERITY is a beautiful legacy.

You need to read the book to understand why the divorce rate is related to sexual immorality, cohabitation etc. It's ok Amanda I would not expect you to admit that cramping your style for sexual freedom has reaped horrible consequences for this country and especially my A.A. community. I don't need to convince you or anyone else, my community is living the nightmare of sexual irresponsiblity and aborting our babies at unprecedented rates. Read Star Parker so you can really get angry, she is a self-professed former welfare queen, had several abortions, whose life was totally turned around by God's grace and salvation in Christ. I will pray for you and all the pro-aborts out there.

Thank you for your input, Anon. I'm sure you've probably been to the site blackgenicide.com. Very sad indeed!!

Yes Heather, I have seen the website. What a horrible commentary on what "sexual freedom" has brought us. The right to kill our unborn, the answer to Margaret Sanger's dreams of getting rid of the "unfit". Wouldn't she be proud? It makes me want to cry and then throw up.

out of wedlock births (which until the 1970's was 20% in the A.A. community and now is almost 70%)

That's very hard for me to believe. The 70% is right, I think - last I saw was for 2004 (I believe and it was 71%, the figure having been very steady for quite a few years).

I think the figure for the 1970s was much higher, however.

I love the photos too! So sweet!

Amazing photos! God's grace and transforming power is clearly evident.

Doug @ 10:57 AM SoMG, right on - farewell, Harvey.

Wow - I actually have something in common with you two.
I remember laughing so hard I could barely breathe - I had to leave the room.

You know, of course, this dates us.

@Chris Aresnault: Not necessarily- I know who Harvey Korman is. I'm 20 and I

"It's HEDLEY!"

Who is Harvey Korman?

Amanda - did you note the table 1 on page 4 of the article? Comparing the well-being of children of cohabitating parents vs. married parents, children perform better on all variables when they live with their married parents as opposed to non-married parents.

I understand your cynicism regarding marriage. The last generation has treated it like it's a joke. I had a friend who had been married four times. I had a coworker who married her third husband, she was his fifth wife. Yet they said "til death do us part" with straight faces. Another coworker - two divorces before she turned 32. But it's not supposed to be that way. Cohabitating, divorce, adultery - none of this is good for kids.

I wish little Harlow all the best in life - not money, or fame, but two married parents who are faithful to her and to each other. Is that such a bad wish?

Lionel Ritchie looks like a proud grandfather.

And I like a few of his songs. "Hello" and "All Night Long" are most familiar to me. I think "Hello" was used on a Disney Video special where they played music videos to various pieces of Disney animation.

I love Lionel!

Anonymous, that's a great wish!

Amanda,

Do you realize that in the same breath you blasted people that don't have kids for writing books about raising kids, and then turned around and blasted marriage, but you're not married? Ironic, no?

Sorry to hear about Harvey. (although I preferred Tim Conway)...the guy was a riot. The whole Carol Burnett show was a riot, actually.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9T8i4FkNVo

The stats I gave in post 12:27 are correct regarding A.A. out of wedlock birth rates have risen from 20% in the mid-1960s to 70% by 1996.Source CDC Nat'l Center for Health Stats, Div. of Vital Stats. 1940-1996, now stats are about 68-69%. Some pro-aborts think we have always lived this immoral lifestyle, it fits the sterotype about A.A. men, women and teens but we did not totally buy into this Godless, immoral, liberal idealogy until after the sexual revolution, the welfare state mentality took over and until we begin to worship at the altar of the Democratic party's platform of "anything goes except what God says". Now we wonder why we deal with increasing poverty in ghettos, gangs, drugs, the STD epidemic, unprecedented numbers of abortions, etc. The reason is when you take God, husbands and fathers out of our community(or any community) you get anarchy and chaos. Until we return to faith, marriage and family we will continue to self-destruct. It's not politically correct to deal with the real problem, just put a band-aid on the cancer. Read the books I suggested if you want to know more.

Oh man, they made the cutest babeh! I love seeing pics of their little one. I just want to pinchher little cheekies.

Clearly Nicole is not anti choice. Her foundation exists under the umbrella of the Tides Foundation.
"In order to achieve social and economic justice in this country, women and girls need quality, affordable health care; the right to bear and parent children; access to safe and legal abortions; a commitment to end domestic violence; and the removal of environmental health threats, just to name a few critical issues. The Tides Reproductive Justice Fund (RJF) addresses these issues head-on."

Anonymous, great post! How true. That goes for all races. It's so tragic that I am meeting more and more A.A. women who have had abortions. I recently met an A.A. woman who aborted at 6 months into her pregnancy. She is pregnant at present. She already has a son. She is keeping this baby.

You know, of course, this dates us.

Ha! No doubt, Chris. There is one time I remember, from watching the Carol Burnett show, she and Harvey were going back and forth in a skit, and it was just damn funny.

She couldn't keep a straight face, and that made Harvey start laughing and the whole cast broke up. We were rolling on the floor.

She couldn't keep a straight face, and that made Harvey start laughing and the whole cast broke up. We were rolling on the floor.

Posted by: Doug at May 31, 2008 11:55 PM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Would that be the "siamese elephants "hnorgie" thing?
I can't even think about that one without laughing...

Good. We can all be old together and love The Carol Burnett show!! I love that Harvey could hardly keep a straight face with Tim Conway. Good stuff!

Sorry to hear about Harvey. (although I preferred Tim Conway)...the guy was a riot. The whole Carol Burnett show was a riot, actually.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9T8i4FkNVo

Posted by: mk at May 30, 2008 8:00 PM

Very funny!! I liked Tim Conway too!

Tim Conway is a god.

He often tried his best to make Harvey Korman crack up during a skit.

Doug, He's a what? I didn't know you believed..... :)

Janet, I believe it's a good figure of speech.

Geez, that looks like it was deadpan or testy, and it wasn't, just uh.....