Its coming!! We leave in t minus 9 days and i can't even believe it. Baby is all vaccinated up, mom and dad are not (but really, we won't be in the african bush or anything), winter clothes are shipped (but have they arrived? hmm i should really check on that!), oliver is going to hang with his friend copper up in the mountains (remember to bathe him beforehand!), dad will be coming to check on the house and start my car every once in awhile (translate - every day b/c he's so bored!). there are so many things left to figure out like how we're getting to the airport and back. Yesterday we were at a soccer game near the airport and baby cried every time a plane flew overhead. NOT a good sign. But I keep telling myself she'll be fine and I'm sure she will. hopefully. And in the meantime, I have tons to do to get ready, get the house ready, get ourselves ready. I can't wait!
I haven't updated in awhile b/c I haven't felt compelled to write much. I have some things I'd like to discuss, especially after talking with my sister in law about a couple of blogs she's associated with that focus on raising confident, healthy girls in our society (a recent post about thongs for seven year olds comes to mind...) that I may get to today.
Our garden is growing like crazy - yea homemade compost! the downside: a lot of things will be ready while we're gone so we won't get to enjoy any of it. We will also miss all the great things that aren't in our garden that will be at our farmer's market - berries (well, we have berries but the birds usually get them before we do), tomatoes (that too). I keep bitching about things I'm going to miss here and I must remind myself: I will be in south africa. how awesome is that?! And our family will enjoy the garden while we're gone. and take good care of it! right?!
the baby has started crawling. she also pulls her self up to a semi-standing position by leaning on us, the dog, her toys, her cosleeper. basically she gets her feet on the ground and her butt in the air. the crawling is fun but no babyproofing has been done, nor do i think any will be done until we get back from our trip. but it also means she can now crawl out of bed. and by out of bed i mean to the edge of the bed and then off she goes. it hasn't happened but once, where we're pretty sure she landed safely on poor oliver (or at least his bed) which means she is looking at a very close future of naps in her crib. i'm glad dad has to introduce that new fun event b/c i don't think she'll like it. i was almost hoping we could make it straight from our bed to toddler bed (a bit early) but i don't think its going to happen. with all the recent recalls on cribs and the inevitable BAN on drop down cribs i am super uncomfortable with her being in a crib. plus the crib we have is not very sturdy...yea. not stoked on this. our immediate plan is to set up the video monitor on her while she naps so we can see when she wakes up before she starts exploring the edges of our bed. wish us luck!
And today my goal is to get my world cup picks done-ish. I need to do some research...
Link loves:
good tutorials and free patterns:
http://needlework.craftgossip.com/
words cannot even describe how cool this is. my mom and i plan on making our own version:
http://plays-with-needles.blogspot.com/2010/05/right-alice.html
http://www.flickr.com/photos/playswithneedles/sets/72157623938098087/
This is what I want my life to look life, can you imagine her house??
http://annamariahorner.blogspot.com/
My new go-to mac and cheese (sorry spicy mac) - maybe add artichokes and tomatoes?
http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Greek-Mac-and-Cheese
fun mommy blog:
http://themamadramalogues.blogspot.com/
great recipe blog (jesus endorsed!):
http://www.perrysplate.com/
and making this:
http://www.perrysplate.com/2010/04/roast-chipotle-chicken-tacos.html
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
smells like summer
I love the smell outside right now. It just smells like - Richmond summer. and there is absolutely nothing better than a Richmond summer. And the smell makes me reminisce, and wish i was 16 again, 21 again, even 25 again. and all the years in between. BUT it also makes me so happy for where i am now - because the things i once loved to do have morphed into new things that are just as fun and enjoyed with a new set of friends and family along with a lot of old friends and family. very content right now. thank you smelly Richmond. and in case you were wondering - it smells like flowers and grass and the river and hot. yes, hot smells.
and speaking of things to do, i want to do these two things:
tea tour at maymont
agecroft hall
of course, along with all of the other things to - lebanese food fest, tuckahoe plantation, berry picking...
so much to do and so little time to do it!
i haven't really been in the garden this season. i know! its terrible. that doesn't mean the garden hasn't been tended to - jack is taking care of them. its just so weird to not be out there weeding on the weekends. but the baby gives me a good excuse, and all of the happenings lately i just haven't had the time. but it needs to be done and i will. i swear. no seriously. soon.
and this time of year means I'm itching to have a cookout, but we have a few coming up at other people's houses that means i don't have to cook (aside from angel food cupcakes...) but can just enjoy. so I'll just plan on the annual 4th of July bash and merit's first birthday to satisfy my need to entertain. and yes, i am already planning merit's first birthday. I'm thinking a fairy garden theme with gnomes and toadstools. but then I'm thinking maybe i don't really want to go all out b/c she won't really remember it and then i won't use up all good ideas. so maybe something more low key? she has three cousins with birthdays right around hers, so we've discussed (and I'm sure in the future there will be many) big joint birthdays. but, as we all know, my birthday is very important to me and i like to make a big deal out of it, so i can only give my daughter the same. and these first few years are probably the only ones where i can do what I want and not what she wants (I'm dreading the dora themed party). i guess the bottom line - i will end up making a big deal of it and having some sort of theme that I would want if i were a kid (alice anyone?) ok. so this is still months away. but it will be a hot topic of conversation for me from now until then I'm sure.
merit has started trying REALLY hard to crawl. she can push herself backwards (and does - all around the house), but gets very upset when her toys and her mom and dad keep getting further and further away. she can scoot too - one minute she's next to me on the floor, the next she's halfway across the room. so this is leading to the inevitable - babyproofing. our house is small and packed with stuff. especially since jack moved the computer to the front room. I'm looking for a gate i can just wrap around the TV - rather than find a way to tie up all the wiring and Wii that now reside under the TV. outlet guards, fragile things up high..ugh. NOT looking forward to it. i found this thing:
and this:
thanks blair for mentioning me!
and speaking of things to do, i want to do these two things:
tea tour at maymont
agecroft hall
of course, along with all of the other things to - lebanese food fest, tuckahoe plantation, berry picking...
so much to do and so little time to do it!
i haven't really been in the garden this season. i know! its terrible. that doesn't mean the garden hasn't been tended to - jack is taking care of them. its just so weird to not be out there weeding on the weekends. but the baby gives me a good excuse, and all of the happenings lately i just haven't had the time. but it needs to be done and i will. i swear. no seriously. soon.
and this time of year means I'm itching to have a cookout, but we have a few coming up at other people's houses that means i don't have to cook (aside from angel food cupcakes...) but can just enjoy. so I'll just plan on the annual 4th of July bash and merit's first birthday to satisfy my need to entertain. and yes, i am already planning merit's first birthday. I'm thinking a fairy garden theme with gnomes and toadstools. but then I'm thinking maybe i don't really want to go all out b/c she won't really remember it and then i won't use up all good ideas. so maybe something more low key? she has three cousins with birthdays right around hers, so we've discussed (and I'm sure in the future there will be many) big joint birthdays. but, as we all know, my birthday is very important to me and i like to make a big deal out of it, so i can only give my daughter the same. and these first few years are probably the only ones where i can do what I want and not what she wants (I'm dreading the dora themed party). i guess the bottom line - i will end up making a big deal of it and having some sort of theme that I would want if i were a kid (alice anyone?) ok. so this is still months away. but it will be a hot topic of conversation for me from now until then I'm sure.
merit has started trying REALLY hard to crawl. she can push herself backwards (and does - all around the house), but gets very upset when her toys and her mom and dad keep getting further and further away. she can scoot too - one minute she's next to me on the floor, the next she's halfway across the room. so this is leading to the inevitable - babyproofing. our house is small and packed with stuff. especially since jack moved the computer to the front room. I'm looking for a gate i can just wrap around the TV - rather than find a way to tie up all the wiring and Wii that now reside under the TV. outlet guards, fragile things up high..ugh. NOT looking forward to it. i found this thing:
and this:
that would work for wire management. so now I'm on a quest for a baby gate and locks for my cabinets. I'm kind of hoping she won't start until we get back from south Africa. but it doesn't look like its going to happen that way.
I've also started to try to give her "real" food. she's totally into yogurt, baby cereal, her pureed fruits and veggies. for cinco de mayo i gave her her own little fajita - tortilla, peppers, and chicken. she ate a little, but wasn't too interested in it. she wasn't very interested in the green beans last night either. mac and cheese though - she liked that. and she likes rice and bread. i think we're just going to have to start concentrating on feeding her bits of our dinner. it just seems like she's used to getting spoon fed, so she doesn't really want to feed herself anything other than crackers and bread. but this would be way easier for us if she could get the hang of it before south Africa. (so no to crawling, yes to food)
I'm also so ready for her to be OUT OF OUR BED. yes, i said it. i want her in her own bed. she doesn't go to sleep until almost 11 lately and she kicks constantly while she's trying to settle down. which means she kicks me - in the belly, in the face, in the legs. it sucks. she's still the cutest angel when she's actually asleep and not tossing and turning. but she lately seems to always be tossing and turning. but again, i don't want to try to put her in the crib and change her whole sleep schedule until we're back from south Africa. i think it would just be way too much for her, plus she'll be sleeping with us there so it'd be pointless to try to teach her to go in the crib and then not have her in one for two weeks. so another month or so....I'm so tired.
Friday, April 30, 2010
PHSSA support - please!!
Although I've never wanted to be a teacher (I can't teach to save my life), I (obviously) think education is extremely important - look at how much schooling I did! It has also been my experience that alternative forms of education work much better than the standard that is presented in public schools. I attended a governor's school (nerds unite) as well as took college courses throughout high school, including a summer semester at Johns Hopkins. So when the Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts became a reality for Richmond Public Schools, I jumped at the chance to help out. Besides the concentration in science (hello! perfect!), the charter school opens so many opportunities to an alternative way of teaching that I just knew would be beneficial. Their focus is a integrative curriculum, which has been proven to work better than standard rote learning.
As with anything new, the school has been met with major opposition from RPS. Of course they'd oppose it - although they have to fund the school once it opens, RPS has no say in curriculum, as the school is run by a board of directors, not the school board. So they have to put money in but get "nothing" out of it. And although we have incredible support from the governor, we are still met with opposition from community members who think it is an excuse for the "white Richmonders" to send their children to an alternative school. Which is definitely not the case. Those who have enrolled make up an extremely diverse group - much like Richmond itself, including African American, white and Hispanic children.
As opening day of the school grows closer, we are met with more and more roadblocks from RPS. The building is an old one. It is not ADA compliant. However, we have set up a plan to make part of the building, the part that students would use the first year, compliant. However, we do not get funding from RPS until the school is actually open, which means not enough money to bring the entire school up to code before that. (Interesting is that a number of RPS schools are not ADA compliant either, yet they are open and have been for quite some time). Hence, we have found an alternative site for the first year. But we must depend on RPS to allow us to use this site (which is within walking distance of the school, so kids will still be able to work on their gardens, and identify with the school). Fingers crossed that the council finds it in their best interest, and that of the children in their city, to help us open and become the great school that we are striving to be:
April 2010
Dear Friends of PHSSA,
Times have been very busy here at the first charter school in Richmond. For a quick overview of some of the school's recent activities, visit the PHSSA website.
Currently, 95 students have enrolled at PHSSA. The most important and pending initiative for these families and the school is finalizing an alternate location for the school to open for 2010-11 school year. The PHSSA Board is working with the leadership at Woodland Heights Baptist Church to rent 10 classrooms, 2 common rooms and the dining hall in their Education Center from them for a period of up to a year. Since Richmond Public School Board and PHSSA Board have not solidified agreement on a lease for the Patrick Henry School building, PHSSA Board feels that this is the best option for PHSSA families. Read more about the details about the Education Center at WHBC (EC-WHBC).
Urgent: We Need Your Help
Getting PHSSA, the first charter school in Richmond, up and running has uncovered many unforeseen challenges. We have been working with Richmond Public School Board for two years to try and make this school a reality for the community.
This option to open the school at the EC-WHBC is not in PHSSA’s original contract with RPS and will therefore require a vote to be approved. PHSSA Board of Directors sent a letter to RPS School Board to request this change to the contract. They will vote to approve or deny this request on Monday, May 3rd at City Hall at 6 pm. We currently have 95 students enrolled in the school and the school needs community and family support to encourage school board members to approve this vote. Let your voice be heard!!
Here's what you can do:
Call, email and ask to meet with your school board rep before May 3rd and ask them to vote ‘yes’ on the alternate location for PHSSA. Find out who your school board reps at RPS's website.
Ask your friends, family, neighbors, relatives to do the same.
Blog and write letters to local newspaper editors about how PHSSA is important to your family and this city!
Attend the RPS Board Meeting on Monday, May 3rd at City Hall at 6 pm. Speak during public comments period and tell the school board members why you think PHSSA is important to your community and your family. Ask them to vote 'yes' on alternate location. See the guidelines for public comments. Contact RPS Clerk Angela Lewis at alewis@richmond.k12.va.us or 804.780.7716 by this Friday, April 30 at noon to register to give comments at the May 3rd meeting.
PHSSA is ready to open the school and has the funding in place to run the integrated curriculum program. The challenge PHSSA is facing is that the PH building is not renovated and ready for children yet. This is why the PHSSA Board of Directors sought out an alternate location. Now RPS School Board needs to approve this alternate location. Please ask them to approve it and help make this school a reality for Richmond!
Thank you so much for your support of the first charter school in Richmond!
PHSSA Board of Directors
http://www.patrickhenrycharter.org/
As with anything new, the school has been met with major opposition from RPS. Of course they'd oppose it - although they have to fund the school once it opens, RPS has no say in curriculum, as the school is run by a board of directors, not the school board. So they have to put money in but get "nothing" out of it. And although we have incredible support from the governor, we are still met with opposition from community members who think it is an excuse for the "white Richmonders" to send their children to an alternative school. Which is definitely not the case. Those who have enrolled make up an extremely diverse group - much like Richmond itself, including African American, white and Hispanic children.
As opening day of the school grows closer, we are met with more and more roadblocks from RPS. The building is an old one. It is not ADA compliant. However, we have set up a plan to make part of the building, the part that students would use the first year, compliant. However, we do not get funding from RPS until the school is actually open, which means not enough money to bring the entire school up to code before that. (Interesting is that a number of RPS schools are not ADA compliant either, yet they are open and have been for quite some time). Hence, we have found an alternative site for the first year. But we must depend on RPS to allow us to use this site (which is within walking distance of the school, so kids will still be able to work on their gardens, and identify with the school). Fingers crossed that the council finds it in their best interest, and that of the children in their city, to help us open and become the great school that we are striving to be:
April 2010
Dear Friends of PHSSA,
Times have been very busy here at the first charter school in Richmond. For a quick overview of some of the school's recent activities, visit the PHSSA website.
Currently, 95 students have enrolled at PHSSA. The most important and pending initiative for these families and the school is finalizing an alternate location for the school to open for 2010-11 school year. The PHSSA Board is working with the leadership at Woodland Heights Baptist Church to rent 10 classrooms, 2 common rooms and the dining hall in their Education Center from them for a period of up to a year. Since Richmond Public School Board and PHSSA Board have not solidified agreement on a lease for the Patrick Henry School building, PHSSA Board feels that this is the best option for PHSSA families. Read more about the details about the Education Center at WHBC (EC-WHBC).
Urgent: We Need Your Help
Getting PHSSA, the first charter school in Richmond, up and running has uncovered many unforeseen challenges. We have been working with Richmond Public School Board for two years to try and make this school a reality for the community.
This option to open the school at the EC-WHBC is not in PHSSA’s original contract with RPS and will therefore require a vote to be approved. PHSSA Board of Directors sent a letter to RPS School Board to request this change to the contract. They will vote to approve or deny this request on Monday, May 3rd at City Hall at 6 pm. We currently have 95 students enrolled in the school and the school needs community and family support to encourage school board members to approve this vote. Let your voice be heard!!
Here's what you can do:
Call, email and ask to meet with your school board rep before May 3rd and ask them to vote ‘yes’ on the alternate location for PHSSA. Find out who your school board reps at RPS's website.
Ask your friends, family, neighbors, relatives to do the same.
Blog and write letters to local newspaper editors about how PHSSA is important to your family and this city!
Attend the RPS Board Meeting on Monday, May 3rd at City Hall at 6 pm. Speak during public comments period and tell the school board members why you think PHSSA is important to your community and your family. Ask them to vote 'yes' on alternate location. See the guidelines for public comments. Contact RPS Clerk Angela Lewis at alewis@richmond.k12.va.us or 804.780.7716 by this Friday, April 30 at noon to register to give comments at the May 3rd meeting.
PHSSA is ready to open the school and has the funding in place to run the integrated curriculum program. The challenge PHSSA is facing is that the PH building is not renovated and ready for children yet. This is why the PHSSA Board of Directors sought out an alternate location. Now RPS School Board needs to approve this alternate location. Please ask them to approve it and help make this school a reality for Richmond!
Thank you so much for your support of the first charter school in Richmond!
PHSSA Board of Directors
http://www.patrickhenrycharter.org/
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Working with mommy guilt
I've worked very hard for where I am in life right now. And I'm having major mom guilt, because I'm not guilty about it. I went to 5 years of undergrad (I switched my major my junior year to biology - not the easiest way to go), took a year off to work in the biotech industry, and then went back to school for another 5, almost six years of graduate school to get my PhD. This may tell you what kind of person I am - I really like my work, I like going to school. When I got pregnant I was super excited, I've also always wanted to be a mom (I also really wanted to be pregnant, and I loved every minute of it). But I always knew that I would never ever want to stay home with my baby. And I still don't. Sure, I'm a little jealous of the fact that my husband gets to wake up to her shining face every morning smiling at him. I get to do that on saturdays and sundays and its that moment when she opens her eyes and sees me and gives me the biggest grin that makes me completely melt. And yes, I do wish I could go for a walk with her around 10am and get coffee and just hang. And no, I don't enjoy having to ask my husband what her cry may mean or what her schedule is, b/c i feel like those are things I should know. But I know that I could never do those things. I could never spend all day at home. I'd go crazy - absolutely batshit insane. Now when I get home, She reaches for me and its so sweet and she cries when i leave the room, which i secretly love. and weekends are so important to me to have that time with her. But that amount of time - its just perfect. I'm not sick of her, I'm not (usually) frustrated with her. I can handle her when my husband is at his wits end after a day with her when she's teething. I don't even mind being up in the middle of the night with her, as long as there is no kicking, scratching or hair pulling involved. hair pulling, by the way, is her newest favorite thing. So I love my daughter, but I love my job too. Do i love it more than my daughter? of course not. But i do feel mommy guilt. Because sometimes, I would rather leave for work than stay home. But I think I'm a better mom for it.
Friday, April 16, 2010
jack's letter to the prez
Dear President Obama,
I saw online today that you might be headed to South Africa for part of the FIFA World Cup this summer. That reminded me of something I have been meaning to write to you about since I first heard this rumor last year. While I sincerely hope you go and enjoy yourself, I have a personal request to ask if you do.
My father, John Lavelle, works at the US Embassy in Pretoria, where he is the Admin officer. I am traveling with my wife and daughter to South Africa in June to visit him and my mother and to watch the World Cup (Yes, I am excited. Thanks for asking). We will be there the week before the Cup starts and for the first two USA games of the opening round.
Fortunately, my father got tickets to all three USA games in the group stages. My father does not yet have any tickets to go to knockout round games, but I am sure he will try to as our guys continue to play (fingers crossed). Which gets us to my problem.
If you come to South Africa, my father will not be able to go to whichever game you attend, and quite possibly, any game near where you attend. Obviously, he will have to work. I am sure that by now you know how big a production it is when the White House starts moving around the world.
While I know that the news recently reported that you would most likely be going to South Africa if the US team advances to the knock-out stages, for much longer the rumor has been that you might go to the opening ceremony or our first game against England.
So, now I get down to my specific request. I am very much looking forward to enjoying games at the World Cup with my Dad. Please help us out and stay away until after my family and I leave South Africa on June 19th, or help make sure my Dad can go to the game with me if you are there. In fact, you might consider taking him with you if you go to a knockout game. He is a big fan of the game and the reason I love soccer.
Please understand, this is not about you at all. This is about your office and my father's job.
Thank you very much for your interest and time.
Take care and good Luck,
Jack Lavelle
P.S. White House staffer - Please help us out and pass this along...at least to the scheduling office. Imagine that you are in country for the World Cup. You have tickets and your family is traveling thousands of miles to visit you, yet you get called into work. And I'm not talking about a softball game or a "Hey, honey - can't make it to the movie tonight. Gotta go to work" kinda thing. This is the World Cup.
I saw online today that you might be headed to South Africa for part of the FIFA World Cup this summer. That reminded me of something I have been meaning to write to you about since I first heard this rumor last year. While I sincerely hope you go and enjoy yourself, I have a personal request to ask if you do.
My father, John Lavelle, works at the US Embassy in Pretoria, where he is the Admin officer. I am traveling with my wife and daughter to South Africa in June to visit him and my mother and to watch the World Cup (Yes, I am excited. Thanks for asking). We will be there the week before the Cup starts and for the first two USA games of the opening round.
Fortunately, my father got tickets to all three USA games in the group stages. My father does not yet have any tickets to go to knockout round games, but I am sure he will try to as our guys continue to play (fingers crossed). Which gets us to my problem.
If you come to South Africa, my father will not be able to go to whichever game you attend, and quite possibly, any game near where you attend. Obviously, he will have to work. I am sure that by now you know how big a production it is when the White House starts moving around the world.
While I know that the news recently reported that you would most likely be going to South Africa if the US team advances to the knock-out stages, for much longer the rumor has been that you might go to the opening ceremony or our first game against England.
So, now I get down to my specific request. I am very much looking forward to enjoying games at the World Cup with my Dad. Please help us out and stay away until after my family and I leave South Africa on June 19th, or help make sure my Dad can go to the game with me if you are there. In fact, you might consider taking him with you if you go to a knockout game. He is a big fan of the game and the reason I love soccer.
Please understand, this is not about you at all. This is about your office and my father's job.
Thank you very much for your interest and time.
Take care and good Luck,
Jack Lavelle
P.S. White House staffer - Please help us out and pass this along...at least to the scheduling office. Imagine that you are in country for the World Cup. You have tickets and your family is traveling thousands of miles to visit you, yet you get called into work. And I'm not talking about a softball game or a "Hey, honey - can't make it to the movie tonight. Gotta go to work" kinda thing. This is the World Cup.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
springtime placental planting
we worked in the garden this weekend. jack added some great compost to each garden ( and i mean great soil - almost black - which is a good thing for soil. seriously impressed by our hands-off, hand-made compost bin). and...we finally planted the placenta! now i won't get that and steak mixed up in the freezer. serious disappointment there. we moved the blueberry bush and planted the placenta underneath it. now we'll have blueberries fed by the blueberry. sort of. it was seriously gross and squishy. i wanted to make a sort of personal cermeony of it (get all misty eyed and think of her birthday..you know, sappy mom stuff). but it was too gross and bloody. so i just chunked it down the hole. happy birthday!
i love the springtime and the warmer weather. i kind of don't even mind the occasional cool days. mostly i love this time of year b/c there are fun things happening all over town. these are where i will be:
-french food festival...mmm crepes
-spring bada bing!
-maymont plant sale - peppers, cukes, green beans, peas
-lewis ginter plant sale - lilly of the valley, hopefully
-arts in the park
-mommie dearest and steel magnolias at movieland movies and mimosas
-lebanese food fest
-tuckahoe plantation
and on to south africa! we have tickets for both the US games while we're there (ahem, yes US v. England. ah injured Becks, I'll miss seeing your hot ass playing). I was kind of bummed we're going to miss a lot of fun things around richmond (beer fest, broad appetite, the potential blair cooke harry potter themed bday party), but of course south africa is going to be way cooler. and cooler. we're shipping winter clothes out there this week. i was hoping for safari but since its winter there, we're not sure how much we would actually be able to see. but the in-laws are trying to make it work!
and one more thing i'll be doing once the peppers come in:
making my own siracha.
i love the springtime and the warmer weather. i kind of don't even mind the occasional cool days. mostly i love this time of year b/c there are fun things happening all over town. these are where i will be:
-french food festival...mmm crepes
-spring bada bing!
-maymont plant sale - peppers, cukes, green beans, peas
-lewis ginter plant sale - lilly of the valley, hopefully
-arts in the park
-mommie dearest and steel magnolias at movieland movies and mimosas
-lebanese food fest
-tuckahoe plantation
and on to south africa! we have tickets for both the US games while we're there (ahem, yes US v. England. ah injured Becks, I'll miss seeing your hot ass playing). I was kind of bummed we're going to miss a lot of fun things around richmond (beer fest, broad appetite, the potential blair cooke harry potter themed bday party), but of course south africa is going to be way cooler. and cooler. we're shipping winter clothes out there this week. i was hoping for safari but since its winter there, we're not sure how much we would actually be able to see. but the in-laws are trying to make it work!
and one more thing i'll be doing once the peppers come in:
making my own siracha.
mamas in the media
this is great to finally hear, it even made it on the abc morning news. and also in the mainstream media was this article and this in fit pregnancy. its nice to see the media getting away from advising women to get a c-section and use formula, backed by evidence-based facts - and the natural process of child birth. the more articles advising for nature and against unnecessary technology, the better the chances that doctors and mothers will go that way - or at least try.
oh and did anyone see pg 1239 of the health care bill?! luckily for me, I work at a company that has an overabundance of pregnant/lactating women so the upper managment (all men btw) have no choice but to provide us with a room in which we can "do what we need to do" or there would be a supreme revolt. granted, when i got moved out of my office and into a cube in the middle of the lab (it was my second week, i couldn't really complain or argue), i lost my lovely ability to pump and work at the same time. but i was able to join two co workers in their office for our twice daily "pumping parties" - please return in ~15 minutes. but i can't imagine being in an office without such privacy (and i know of two new mamas that are having this issue), that are considering pumping in a bathrrom. beyond icky. and i think the only real way to get support is if there is another mama who has been in that position making executive decisions. and unfortunately, espec. in my field that doesn't happen often.
oh and did anyone see pg 1239 of the health care bill?! luckily for me, I work at a company that has an overabundance of pregnant/lactating women so the upper managment (all men btw) have no choice but to provide us with a room in which we can "do what we need to do" or there would be a supreme revolt. granted, when i got moved out of my office and into a cube in the middle of the lab (it was my second week, i couldn't really complain or argue), i lost my lovely ability to pump and work at the same time. but i was able to join two co workers in their office for our twice daily "pumping parties" - please return in ~15 minutes. but i can't imagine being in an office without such privacy (and i know of two new mamas that are having this issue), that are considering pumping in a bathrrom. beyond icky. and i think the only real way to get support is if there is another mama who has been in that position making executive decisions. and unfortunately, espec. in my field that doesn't happen often.
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