Learning

We had a fun night last night with a bunch of babies. I invited over a few women I met through my midwifery clinic's Birth Circle and Mama/Baby groups. Each of these girls is raising their first babies, all boys. Two are single moms. Two were born in July, one in August, and Gavin in September. It's so fun to get a bunch of crawling babies together and watch them interact. That is, it might have been a bit more fun for me had I not chosen to have them over on a Wednesday night when I'm also solo-parent to my older two. I often think making plans on Wednesday evenings is a *good* idea because it will help to pass the long evening that Mike works each week, but I always find out soon into the plans that I spend most my time running around after my kids and leaving my guests to fend for themselves. Luckily these three ladies knew each other and had fun talking together, so the only one who really missed out was me. So as I grilled burgers, set out plates and salads, cleaned up pee off the recliner, and repeatedly grabbed Gavin out of the muddy puddle beneath the swingset, I did at least get to chat here and there with some like-minded mommies. Next time, though, Gav and I are going it alone. Lesson learned.

I snapped a couple photos of Baby Theo, who Benjamin adopted as his own for the evening, Baby Brody, who liked reaching out to Gavin, and cutie Baby Andy who did not get into any of the photos below but who had 13 stitches behind his ear the night before because of a fall off the bed. Ow!




Mike purchased me a new ipod Nano for Christmas, and I have just this week cracked it out and have attempted to learn how to use it. So sad, I know. I'm not very techy with this stuff. But I figured out how to buy and download Mp3s on Amazon.com and put together a workout folder of music for when I jog (and when I say "when I jog," that 'when' is a futuristic one.) I also downloaded and listened to my first podcast (The Spirituality of Parenting, from American Public Radio's Speaking of Faith show. Very interesting for parents; religious, spiritual, or otherwise. I highly recommend it.. Carrie, Samantha, I'm particularly thinking of you, here.)

Also am learning about Sweden's parental leave system. Thanks to my searchings for podcasts on Amer. Public Radio, I checked out some of their links to blog entries written by listeners. There are some fabulous, fabulous ones. I'm loving the one about Sweden's fathers and how much paid time they get when babies are born. Here is the opening paragraph:
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In Sweden, state financial incentives are changing the face of modern fatherhood. According to the International Herald Tribune, Swedish families receive 13 months of government-subsidized parental leave. Dads get two months and so do moms. Parents can divide up the remainder however they choose. But here’s the kicker: if fathers don’t avail themselves of their “daddy leave,” then the family loses out on a month of paid subsidy.
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Very interesting stuff. Check it out if you get a chance. Or if you are like me and are supposed to be finishing a dissertation, don't check it out. It will suck you in.

Here are a few more fun photos:

A VERY fitting tee-shirt


This is probably more appropo


Cutest little guy in history