- I just listened to the fantastic “But Why” podcast episode: “How Are Babies Made?” Listing this here partly because it’s worth re-sharing, and partly because I want to come back to it later to answer more questions. Simple and inclusive answers to the baby-making questions from kids.
- And once the baby is here… “the Myth of the Instant Family.” I love any and all attempts to capture the emotional complexity of motherhood, particularly in those vulnerable first days with your baby. This sentiment could have been plucked from my own brain:
“What I really wanted to write on that birth announcement was, “I love my daughter, I am so grateful she is healthy and safe, but I miss my husband terribly. There is a hole in my heart where our twosome once was. What have we done?” - Then again, on the topic of husbands… made me laugh more than once.
When I take a picture of my husband that he didn’t ask for:
When my husband takes a picture of me that I did ask for:
With Halloween around the corner, I thought I’d share 3 things that I find truly frightening.
- The news that Costco anticipates one of the next product shortages to be baby wipes.
- Walking my absent-minded, accident-prone, frenetic children through the wine section at the grocery.
- Finding an orphaned marker cap anywhere in our house.
*Shudder.*
A few things I’ve found and enjoyed on the web lately:
- Smithsonian Cheetah Cub Cam. The cubs are 6 days old. I’ve checked the cam 3x this morning so far. During those three times, the cheetah mom was always nursing. Two times, I was nursing. And one time I was standing at the counter, eating toast crusts my own cubs left behind. Solidarity, mama.
- This ad that depicts more of the reality of breastfeeding. Had to laugh (and wince a little) at this video.
- “Please stop hogging all the wolves.” Haha.
- Our favorite Halloween decoration — & our neighborhood goes big on seasonal decor so we’ve seen some stuff.
I cleaned out my purse last week so it was just essentials. I removed trash, five Dum Dums lollipops, and EIGHT writing utensils. One weekend later, this is what it contains:
1 x set of keys
1 x wallet
1 x kindergarten “walk-a-thon” paperwork packet
1 x McDonald’s receipt
1 x children’s nail clipper
1 x Blow Pop
1 x set of headphones
1 x fine point permanent marker
1 x partially eaten beef stick
1 x Matchbox car
1 x travel sunscreen – SPF 100
2 x grocery lists
2 x sunglasses
3 x tissues
3 x acorns
4 x chapsticks or lip glosses
4 x face masks (2 for kids, 2 for adults)
And $.25.
So essentially as long as I’m not in a position where I have 8 documents that must be signed simultaneously, I feel pretty well equipped to take on the world.
You haven’t lived until you’ve changed a diaper while being swarmed by bees.
I was leaving my OB check-up yesterday and a middle-aged man working in some medical capacity at the center joined me in the elevator. He eyed my belly, smiled, and asked,
“First baby?”
“No, this is my fourth,” I smiled back.
“Oh, really? Same husband?”
So… there’s that.
