Kids Kids Kids

I've always been one of those people that believe that there are a LOT of people in this world who shouldn't have children. I mean, you have to pass a test to learn to drive, but just anyone can have a child.

I know it probably goes against everything I believe about living in a free society, but I kind of agree with this judge's decision.

When I first saw the headline that a judge mandated that this women not to have any more kids, I thought it was because she had like 17 kids or something (a practice that part of me wouldn't oppose) imagine my surprise.....

What do YOU think?

It's a rich man's world?

OK, I can't hold it in anymore. I have to admit I don't understand why some people are SOOOOO against privatization. I'm not saying everything in the entire United States needs to be privatized, but seriously...... isn't it competition that has made this country great? That has kept us on the edge? That has kept us from becoming stagnant?

It wasn't all that long ago that the US Postal Service *ahem unionized monopoly* told us they couldn't get something across the country overnight. That is was impossible? But - what do you know? Some competition pops up who CAN get it there overnight, and - BAM so can the USPS.

Remember how expensive long distance calls where? When it was the government who regulated it? You couldn't have an answering machine or caller id! I remember my mom giving my sister an egg timer to watch when she talked to her boyfriend in Florida. But, once again - competition steps in - quality increases and prices fall.

The last thing in the entire world that I want is the government stepping in and telling more of what I can and cannot do on issues that have nothing to do with other peoples safety. Big government doesn't want to allow stupid people to be stupid. Do I think people should wear seat belts? Of course! Do I think I need a law telling me that in my state that I live and pay taxes in, that I cannot CHOOSE to NOT wear a seat belt? Gag me! If someone is stupid enough to not wear a seat belt, I believe that is their right. I just happen to believe that the government has better things to do than spend thousands of taxpayers' dollars passing a bill that they really shouldn't have any right to pass.

Adventures in CoSleeping

For anyone whose had a baby in the last - m - 5-8 years knows all about "Attachment Parenting." It's basically holding your baby as much as humanly possible while they're light enough to hold. Cosleeping, breastfeeding etc etc etc......

Everyone does certain amounts of attachment parenting - but others take it to quite an extreme. That's fine with me as I think it's everyone's personal choice.

The choice was however, not for me. YES I held my baby all the time, YES I breastfed and practiced positive discipline. I drew the line at co-sleeping however - for many reasons. 1) I was too afraid of 3 people in one queen sized bed. 2) Um, I would like to have one private area of my home where I am an island unto myself. Of course Madeline and I snuggled there and we all spent many a Saturday morning playing as a family on our big bed. But nighttime? That's mine! Yes I (happily?) nursed 2-3 times a night, but by the end of a day at hoom with my daughter, I was "touched out." And treasured the few minutes when I could have total peace and quiet alone or with my husband. Nighttime was the time he and I got together and keeping that as our own kept our marriage strong and my sanity in tact.

However, as Madeline's gotten bigger, Steve and I both enjoy the few moments where she'll actually stop and cuddle with us. They are few and far between so they're a treasure. Sometimes as night when we'd check on her we'd say "Oh let's put her in bed with us!" and then we'd go on with our night. But the other night I told him that we really were going to do it.

It was around 11 so we were both ready to turn in. Steve slipped into her room and brought her into ours. We all snuggled up into bed, and as I inhaled her I thought, "Why haven't we done this for a long time?" She was quiet and still. We were all huddled in for our night when we heard "PAN! PAN!" as she pointed to the fan going. Then she proceeded to go through every word in her vocabulary.

KEN! BETTY! MAMA! GRAMPA! CHEESE! OCTAPUS!

She Shhhhhed her and she rolled over and koala-ed onto Steve. I was a little jealous but felt myself start to get sleepy. Then her noggin smashed into mine. "Mama" her little hot breath on my face. I gave her 491 kisses and told her I loved her. I wrapped my arms around her and thought we had discovered the best little secret in the world.

"PAN!PAN!" "YIGHT! YIGHT!!!!!"

After about 5 more minutes of non-stop talk, scratching of nails, and getting whapped in the head with her various limbs, I decided Cosleeping was STILL not an option for us. Steve deposited her back in her crib and we, once again, enjoyed a nice night's sleep all by ourselves.

Everybody knows everybody

When my husband first told me he lived in Pendleton, I said, "Where is THAT?" I can't say that I was in love at first sight with the house and the 5 acres. (Ok , maybe the house.....) Things like "tractors" and "composting" were not in my vocabulary. Passing combines on the road was not something I was particularly excited about.



I've never been that good with change. I like what I know and I see no reason to go about upsetting that balance. Moving from an apartment complex where I could hear (and smell) the neighbors' Chinese take out order, to moving to a street with 5 houses on it was one of the larger changes I've made in my life. I'm surprised at how quickly what was so far out of my comfort zone is now my status quo. As I walked to the garden tonight to pick some fresh tomatoes and peppers from my garden, I realized that I was walking the equivalent of some people's entire front and back yards. It was so quiet and Serene - no neighbors encroaching on me with their loud dogs and burnt barbecue. The few people who actually drive by our house on the street are all people we know by name. It's just the norm. I'm certainly not saying that this life is better than those in a suburb (I totally miss sidewalks) or that "country" life is for everyone, but I'm surprised that it's turned out to be for me.