Somwthing I need to remember...

It is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the doing.

Mother Teresa

And now...your moment of Zen:

(Actually several parenting moments of Zen:)
~ Encourage your child's dreams ~
~ Look past the behavior - what is your child feeling? ~
~ A child at play is a young scientist, learning about the world ~
~ Show your love for your child in actions as well as in words ~
~ Children reflect the treatment they receive ~

[For more information, visit The Natural Child.]

"pushed birth. what to expect. really."

For the truth on birth - definitions, information, etc - and learning about how NOT to have a 'pushed birth,' my favorite blog/website is the one by Jennifer Block. She has researched the American birth world and written a book, called "Pushed." A totally necessary bit of reading material for all women planning on birthing in America.

And now...your moment of Zen:

Today's Horoscope

• The stars indicate this is a good week to get your life in order, making you glad you don't believe in astrology.
  (Source: The Onion) — warning, may contain humor that is offensive to some.

And now...your moment of Zen:

[The following is an excerpt of an interview from GivingBirthNaturally.com]

"...in the UK, midwifery is the standard of care. A pregnant woman would not go and even see an obstetrician unless he was high risk to begin with, or having some sort of complication later in the pregnancy that the midwives identified and then felt that you needed to be seen by a specialist. The obstetrician is really seen as a specialist rather than as the primary caregiver for that pregnant woman. "

Breastfeeding is NOT obsene!

Over on Facebook - no I don't have an account over there yet, but my husband does - there has been a virtual nurse-in all day.

Here is more info about it on another blog.

I changed my MySpace pic to a painting of a nursing mother for a while in support of it and my Husband changed his Facebook pic to one of Maggie Gyllenhaal nursing her little one in public. Yes there do exist pictures of me breastfeeding my DD but they are all out of focus and not composed very well at all! And by the way, I breastfed my DD until her 3rd birthday! I hope to nurse her sister at least as long ;o)

Right now, The Child Inside is constantly kicking and rolling and moving and giving my joy that she is INSIDE not OUT like her sister! I am doing well and am pregnant longer that I have ever been (I am just past the 31 week point in this pregnancy - the short version of last pregnancy is severe preeclampsia at 30 weeks, hospitalization, delivery of DD at 31 weeks, 17 day NICU stay, 3 months of preemie care, PPD for 6+ months, pain suffering...whole 9 yards...)

Our Christmas Mascot

After a long day of visiting family, and not sleeping but 2 hours last night, I awoke to my Husband playing Lego Batman on the Wii and our Daughter next to me in bed (she got a nap too yay!). We came out and after a while, I noticed there was a garden slug crawling on the ceiling right above the TV. When I announced this, well, let's just say that I am the designated 'bug-getter' or 'bug killer' in the family ;o) So, we poked it and it fell off the cieling - I caught it - 'someone' flipped out a bit then composed him, er ah, themselves, and I took the opportunity to show our Daughter in the bathroom - because the slug was a little dry. I have no problem gardening without gloves when I do get out there (and I have energy) and touching the things that are in our wonderful Florida dirt - slugs, snails, worms, and other wriggly critters. I pet the slug, got it to relax and stretch the eye stalks out, and it was on his way navigating my hand. DD was interested but not enough to touch. It now lives in the front garden.

I must saw that a slug is a good mascot for Christmas - it can teach us to adapt to our surroundings, relax, slow down, and teach others.

...yes, i did wash my hands...