Turn, Turn, Turn

On Saturday we went to a birthday party. Typical preschool birthday party, nothing unique. Moon bounce, face painting, pizza, lots of kids running wild. I left the birthday party, dropped Doug and Michael off, and headed to a shiva minyan. I was paying my respects to the son of close friends of my parents. I had known this young man his entire life. I babysat for him. I remember, when he was about 10, we were watching an episode of "The Golden Girls" on a Saturday night that covered the topic of menopause. 15 year old me, trying to explain periods to a 10 year old boy. Good stuff. What is so odd to me, is they shared the same first name, David. Yes David is an incredibly common first name, as is Michael. But who would think I'd be singing happy birthday to a 3 year old David and an hour later saying the mourners kaddish for a 28 year old David. He was their only child. Their hopes of grandchildren, family vacations, and someone to take care of them when they are old died with him. As is 3 year old David, and 3 year old Michael. Sometimes I wish I could see the future.

Quote Book Saturday, Twitter Edition

No quote today. I went to a DC Metro Moms party and was convinced to Twitter! So, want some quotes from me, follow me on Twitter.

The Truth

Parent Bloggers Network and Discovery Network are asking, what is it about pregnancy, parenting, and motherhood in general that only a girlfriend will tell you? I have two. They are both so simple and basic, but I just wish someone told me. Some babies just don't latch. No matter what you do, no matter how hard you try, it just won't happen, and it is okay. The first night home from the hospital is hell. And you know what, that is okay also. Michael slept in the hospital, really well. He was calm and happy and playful and the only issues we had was because I was trying to nurse. We got home from the hospital around 5 pm, and Michael screamed until 9 am the next morning. It was a good thing we had a pediatrician appointment that morning because otherwise we would have lost our minds. It didn't help that I was still trying to nurse and he was starving. We were both exhausted, me from the whole giving birth thing and Doug because he didn't sleep the whole time we were in the hospital due to that horrible pull out sofa thing. When we told the pediatrician that Michael had screamed the whole night and something had to be wrong he took one look at us and said, "babies never sleep the first night home. Didn't anyone tell you that?" And I said NO! And when I called my mom after the doctors appointment and complained about how tired we were because Michael had been up all night screaming my mom said, "babies never sleep the first night home. Didn't anyone tell you that?" And I about lost my mind. So I'm telling you.

Wow, It's Been a Long Time Since We've Done This

Let's talk about some search terms that brought people here, shall we? Maybe I can answer some questions so they can stop searching. The number one search term that brings people to my site is, drum roll please............. Squirrel names-I get why that is bringing people here, remember Chloe? But, how many people out there are naming squirrels? Clearly, there is a need out there for an internet database of squirrel names. "Michael wants to" "all the time"-I do not want to know what was in between those two phrases. 100 things you learn from high school musical 2-100 things? Really? Answer to life's questions: why is Angela so pretty?-huh? I have no idea? I hate amalah-you are in the wrong place. Move on. I love Amalah, really. The person and the blog. I want a husband-oh honey, stand on your own two feet, really. (I got married at 23, what the hell do I know?) Is beating your children ok-NO! Is bush a dork-YES! Jody ran off with your wife-No I didn't. And it's Jodi with an (i).

Actual Conversations In My House

"Mommy, what time is it?" "5 o'clock." "Why?" "The big hand is on the 12 and the little hand is on the 5," pointing the the clock. "That's how you tell time." Doug walks into the room. "Daddy, the big hand is on the 5 and the little hand is on the 7," pointing to the clock. "It's 5 o'clock. Mommy said so." Doug to me, "how the hell do you tell time?" "Mommy, where's Michael?" Michael is looking at a picture from our wedding hanging in the hallway. It's one of those posed ones of the wedding party. "You weren't born yet." "But there's Mommy and Daddy and Daddy's princesses and circus people." I think he is talking about the bridesmaids and groomsmen. And oh, is he right about those groomsmen.

You Know What's Sad?

When a Company's GOOD customer service shocks you. I own a set of Le Creuset pots. Actually, they were Doug's birthday present from me two years ago, but I use them way more than him. I was making soup a few weeks ago and the enamel on the bottom chipped off in the soup. I sent them an email explaining the problem. They emailed me back within a few days and told me to ship the pot to them. I had to pay for shipping, but if they determined it to be a manufacturer defect they would replace the pot for free. Otherwise, I could buy one for 75% off. Off it went. A few weeks later, a new pot showed up at my door. In the era of horribly ridiculous customer service, how crazy is it that I am singing the praises of a company who simply REPLACED A DEFECTIVE ITEM. Should a stockpot crack while I'm making soup? No! So, they replaced it. No argument. No demands for receipts. No requiring letters and documentation about what was happening when the pot cracked. Le Creuset for me from now on. It may be expensive, but it's so worth it to know when a company says "lifetime warranty" they actually mean it.

Remember the Whole Michael Hospital Craziness?

It garnered an interview. Go check it out!

In Which I Eat (just a little bit) of Crow

I've blogged an awful lot about Michael being an only child. Because we can't afford another one, and my house is too small, and I just don't have the desire for another child. I have sold or given away all of Michael's baby stuff, and own nothing. And I'm kind of, a little bit, not sure, maybe changing my mind. Emphasis on the maybe. The past month or so I can not stop thinking about having a baby. It's not the same urge I had when we were trying for Michael. It's more of a what if, could I make this work, maybe I do want this, kind of feeling. I'm constantly thinking of baby names. In my head, mythical baby is always a girl. I don't know what changed. It was almost like a switch went off in me and I said, hey I could have another kid. I think part of it is that Michael's babyhood went by so fast and I was always trying to get to the next step. I was soo not in the moment. I still don't know if I want to have another child. I just know that I am no longer so closed off to the idea. It took me up until last week to tell Doug how I was feeling. I thought he would FREAK OUT. We were so settled on only having one child, we literally have nothing, except the crib and stroller. But he didn't. We are officially thinking about it. Not thinking about trying mind you. We are thinking about thinking about trying. (This post is not meant to turn into an only children are bad post. I still believe whole heartedly in the only child. Hey, chances are, Michael will still be an only child. The only reason I would have another child is for me, not to make my first child less spoiled or give them a life long friend or any other only children are the devil reason. Yes, I am a little sensitive on this topic).

Quote Book Saturday, Sunday Edition

So, I'm a day late for quote book Saturday. But, you are getting a triple dose. "In the space between yes and no, there's a lifeline. It's the difference between the path you walk and the one you leave behind; it's the gap between who you thought you could be and who you really are; it's the legroom for the lies you'll tell yourself in the future." Specifically because today is Easter: "Somewhere along the line, organized religion stopped being about faith, and started being about who had the power to keep that faith." And why, from now on, I consider myself a Jewish agnostic: "An aethists' got more in common with a Christian, since he believes you can know whether or not G-d exists-but where a Christian says absolutely, the atheist says absolutely not..." For agnostics "the jury's still out. Religion is intriguing, but in a historical sense. A man should live his life a certain way not because of some divine authority, but because of a personal moral obligation to himself and others." I don't know if I believe in G-d. But in the end, I'm not sure it matters. We should be good to each other because we are all human beings, not so we can go to Heaven. This weeks quotes come from a novel I just finished, Change of Heart by Jodi Pioult. Jodi Picoult is my favorite author, ever. I've read all her books. I've gone to her book signings. This one, I didn't love. But, anything by Jodi Picoult is better than most of the drivel out there. In case those quotes sparked your interest, from Jodi's own website:

Shay Bourne - New Hampshire’s first death row prisoner in 69 years – has only one last request: to donate his heart post-execution to the sister of his victim, who is looking for a transplant. Bourne says it’s the only way he can redeem himself…but with lethal injection as his form of execution, this is medically impossible. Enter Father Michael Wright, a young local priest. Called in as Shay’s spiritual advisor, he knows redemption has nothing to do with organ donation – and plans to convince Bourne. But then Bourne begins to perform miracles at the prison that are witnessed by officers, fellow inmates, and even Father Michael – and the media begins to call him a messiah. Could an unkempt, bipolar, convicted murderer be a savior? It seems highly unlikely, to the priest. Until he realizes that the things Shay says may not come from the Bible…but are, verbatim, from a gospel that the early Christian church rejected two thousand years ago…and that is still considered heresy.

Change Of Heart looks at the nature of organized religion and belief, and takes the reader behind the closely drawn curtains of America’s death penalty. Featuring the return of Ian Fletcher from Keeping Faith, it also asks whether religion and politics truly are separate in this country, or inextricably tangled. Does religion make us more tolerant, or less? Do we believe what we do because it’s right? Or because it’s too frightening to admit that we may not have the answers?

One Last Question

Doug asked me recently what my favorite part was about blogging? And you would think that would be a hard question since I like blogging, a lot. Just look at my oh so many blogs. But the answer was easy, the community. I have made very good real life friends. But, I have also made friends I have never met. And they are real friends. Just as much as the people I see every day. (And I get to meet one soon!). We email daily. They know the intricacies of my private life. I go to them for advice, support, and laughs. They contact me when they are in town. They are my friends. I have been invited to DC blogger happy hours by this guy, but have not made it. I am going to a blogger wine party next week, hosted by Sarah, a blogger I have never met, but emailed with and we share a mutual friend. A year ago, the thought of this would have terrified me. A room full of people I didn't know. But now, I feel nothing but excitement and anticipation. These are potential friends. Friends I would never have had if I did not start blogging. I'm a firm believer that people come into your lives for a reason. When Michael was in the hospital each and every one of my blogger friends sent me amazing supportive emails that got me through the ordeal. And I know, that if I ever really needed anything, each and every one of them would be there for me, even if it was through cyberland. I could not ask for more.

Labels: Random Bloginess