Motivation to have more children!

I recently read an interesting article in the New York Times.

As you can read, there is a new trend called "Push presents" that a husband typically buys for his wife. It's a way, I guess, of showing gratitude for what a can be a very grueling 9 months and 24+ hours of labour. I hadn't really heard of this during my first pregnancy until a few of my friends showed up sporting their gorgeous "push presents." Now, it's even in some of my pregnancy books!

So - come back to me on this - girls - what do you think of push presents? Do we deserve them after dedicating ourselves to almost an entire year of Excedrin and Diet Coke free living? Or is it a shameless excuse to ask for new stuff? Jewelry being the most popular gift of course. And let me ask a few sub-questions. If you are PRO push present, do you want diamonds? Or maybe something with the baby's birthstone? OR, would you rather have something practical like - your husband arranging to have the house cleaned for 3 months or a massage every month for a while?

If you are"Anti" push present - why? Do you feel it's a wife exploiting something that she agreed to? Or is it more about materialism?

I don't know where I fall on this issue. It's hard for me to turn down jewelry at any point, but to be honest - the best thing my husband could give me for what is a hard 9 months (plus the endless months of nursing and the lifelong toll pregnancy takes on your body) would be a really nice, long letter. Reminding me of the ups and downs of the pregnancy, thanking me for trying to do my best to take care of the little guy while he's still cooking - telling me how lucky he is to be my husband. You know, all that stuff.....

But if you ARE interested in a push present.......THESE and THESE are really cute!!

Thanks Santa!

Flicks

I don't remember the last time there were so many movies I wanted to see!!

1. Marley and Me
Honestly - anyone with a dog, let alone a Lab must see this!!

2. Valkyrie
I will go see anything with Kenneth Branaugh in it - but this one actually looks really good and I hate Tom Cruise!

3. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Sometimes I feel like Hollywood makes movies over and over again - this looks refreshingly new!

4. Frost / Nixon
I love political movies and this one promises to be excellent!


5. The Reader
Ralph Fiennes is another one whose movies I will go see just because he is in them. (I'm hoping Maid in Manhattan was a temporary lapse in judgement) I love anything to do with WW2 and this seems like it is handled with class and poignancy.

6. Doubt
The storyline itself is excellent, but with Streep and Hoffman, it takes it up a notch.

I still want to see The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (just finished the book 2 nights ago and HIGHLY recommend) and The Changling but I think I'll have to wait until those are released on DVD.....

How did the Pioneers do it??

Without this?

Sometimes all of the gadgets made for modern parents just make me feel insulted.

T-7 days

Until THIS!

Is anyone as excited as I am???

Vote Early Vote Often

I added a poll to my blog in which you can cast your vote for the sex of baby number 2 - due May 25th, 2009. We will find out on the 22nd but don't expect to see it here until after Christmas - gotta tell the family first!!

It's never too early!

How much do I love this??? Ok maybe 2 years old is a little young, but maybe by 3?

My favourite Christmas Songs

In Random Order:

1. All I want for Christmas is You
(I heard this about 2.5 million times while I was dating my husband)

2. Carol of the Bells
(Does anyone remember THIS version?)

3. O Holy Night
(I love those lines, "Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;
And in His name all oppression shall cease. ")

The story behind the lyrics and music of the song are incredible..
And who doesn't love that hiiiiigh note at the end?

4. Santa Baby
Any song that mentions Tiffanys is ok by me!

5. The First Noel
When I was a kid I liked that people sang the last word as "Isss RYE el"

There are lots more...but these are the first few that came to mind right away...

What are your favourites?

If the right one don't get you, then the left one will

I have always found it interesting that certain smells or sounds or textures even....can bring back a sense memory from childhood. To this day when I smell Obsession I think of my big sister Joy. the funny thing is that of course I don't ever think about Obsession - but as soon as I do I look for my sister. It's just in some back part of my brain.

Today I was in CVS and I heard "16 Tons"

It was a nice change from Christmas music, but it also brought my mind back to being about 4 years old and sitting on my parents bed listening to my dad sing it. (Followed of course by an explanation of the entire coal industry, debt bondage, and unions.) It was just one of those things that was part of my childhood. My dad was often singing - he's a dead ringer (soundwise - he doesn't wear those Cronkite glasses) for George Beverly Shay(which I am going to wager about 2 people who read this blog know who that is). I hate to even say it, but when my father passes, I will invest in the largest GBS cd collection known to man. It will make me feel like he's right there.

And that's how I felt in CVS - just for a few minutes I remember everything about sitting on my parents' bed - the colour, the smell of the room, my dad's work clothes... all because of one very out of season song.

Isn't it ironic?