Baby Resources

Via Pursuing Titus 2:

1. Cloth Diapers

2. A Simple Diaper Pail

3. Clothes from the THRIFT Store or Garage Sales

4. A Few Blankets (also from the thrift store or garage sales)

5. A Backpack to Use as a Diaper Bag

6. A Good Quality Baby Carrier

7. A Compact Baby Bather

8. A Plain, Ordinary Car Seat

9. A Nursing Cover-up

10. A Place for My Baby to Sleep

11. A Few Little Drug Store Items

12. Cheap, Enormous Bibs

In my mind, those are the only absolute essentials. There are also a few things that are nice, but not necessary:

1. Double Jogging Stroller
2. A Few Toys and Board Books
3. An Easy to Clean High Chair
4. A Comfortable Rocking Chair
5. Expensive, Plastic, Space-Eating Baby Holders

Via Frugal Granola:

1. Young babies don’t need shampoo (even if they do have hair).
2. Bathe only when necessary with a tiny amount of natural baby wash.
3. Use a natural moisturizing oil for bathing and massage.
4. Choose pure, natural moisturizers instead of a chemically-formulated lotion product.
5. If eczema is a big problem, I highly recommend beginning a search for possible food allergens.
   
6. With healthy diapering practices, diaper creams are rarely needed
7. Disposable baby wipes also contain chemicals.
8. Baby powder isn’t necessarily an essential.
9. Dark, ethnic hair requires regular moisturizing.
   
10. Sunscreen should not be applied to babies under six months old, if at all.
11. I use Biokleen’s All-Purpose Cleaner for all my stain-removal needs.
12. Choose a natural solution to address the discomforts of a little one battling a common illness (colic, bumps/bruises, etc).

Via Babble, Advice on the Care and Raising of Boys

• Think caveman.
• Watch his body not his mouth.
• When in doubt, hug.
  
• Yes, it really is all about poop.
• Batman lives forever.
• Pointless physical activity is perfect.
  
• Winning does matter, but less than you think.
  
• Clothes matter.
  
• Crowds, not so much.
  
• Bedtime is sacred.

It is an interesting and complex discussion, the intention of "hijab" in the Qur'an, verses what people will do in real life. The idea of "hijab" is the same as the Jewish "tzniut" or Christian "modesty". It has to do with respect for self and respect for others as a child of God; valuing the physical without making it profane. I see the niqab and burqa as the "logical extremes" of the concept.

It is the same as self-imposed food restrictions. I eat meat --> I eat carefully raised meat which was slaughtered humanely --> I am a vegetarian --> I am a vegan --> I am a level 4 vegan. I won't eat anything that casts a shadow.

I think this woman adds something interesting to the discussion of modesty: http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-life-and-religion/93971/tights-squeeze/

The end of the article where she discusses, very briefly, Micah 6:8 is really the meat of the argument. Tznuit/hijab/modesty are about one's attitude and relationship with God. It is not for debate with other people. It is one's private relationship with the divine. I am of the opinion that discussing tznuit in a measuring way (that is, judging) is covered under Lashon Hara/gossip (I'm not sure what the arabic word is or if there is a commandment against it as there is in Judaism and Christianity, but I'd wager money that one exists).

I understand the desire to go to the extreme of an observance because it is a common desire. I, myself, will never be pale enough to be happy. I will always see "sun damage" on my skin. However, like OCD tendencies, I need to evaluate how best I can live my life and that involves letting go of the total control because it is impossible.

I agree with limiting the niqab in places like courts and citizenship ceremonies. While an important part of the Canadian identity is accepting other cultures' intrinsic value, part of becoming Canadian and functioning in Our society is accepting Canadian culture of equality and openness.

He's doing it again. Still? I don't know.

He has been home 10 days. I am not happy - not happy at all.

I honestly don't know which bits are in my head and which bits are actual problems. He does not appear to have the emotional stamina to have a fucking conversation. We do "small talk" all day every day. We've had a couple of *good* conversations.

I'm fucking tired of this. When's it go'n' be my turn?

Re: The Catholic Church

Why are they retranslating from the Latin? WTF?

Of course, I'm not sure I will emotionally be very happy with whatever the reasoning is as I have issues with hugely bureaucratic penis clubs intent on writing long lists of rule pertaining to my relationship with the Divine and aspects of my life and salvation.

I know that it's more complicated than all this but as far as I can boil it down, Jesus cancels the Old Testament and his entire message in the New Testament is "Don't be a dick".

From Nerimon, via John Green. (Look it up. It's worth it.)

1) Tell us about your first kiss
I was four. We were "playing Sleeping Beauty". Of course, when I say that, I mean we were just doing the kissing part because we were surprisingly sexualized children. I can't speak for anyone else, but I was never (as my mother euphamistically puts it) "interfered with". I was just obsessed with sex. ...unlike now... What can I say, Childhood sexuality is serious business.

Adam, Andrea and I.

I thought Andrea was the better person for the kissing. She was older (by two weeks), knew more things (I was somewhat sheltered, if somewhat means I was raised in a cave on Mars, under a rock, with my fingers in my ears) and she was shy about it so I had to. 9 years later, Adam and I were "dating" (but we didn't talk about it in public because he didn't want anyone in the class to know) (a recurring theme in my relationships) and kissing up a storm. If I had known more and had access to birth control, I would have felt ready to engage in coitus. As it was, we practically did everything but.

2) What is the most expensive casual item of clothing you've ever bought?
I don't even know. I don't know that I've spent more than $100 on an article of clothing. My wedding dress (the dress I signed papers in) cost $60. I need to spend more on clothes and have better quality.

3) What was the first job you ever wanted as a kid?
I wanted to be a doctor, I though. But not so much a doctor, as a dominatrix. My fantasies included doing things with "patients" sexually with me in a position of power. I didn't know Dommes were a thing. Good think I wasn't surrounded by people who knew what questions to ask.

I remember a lot more sex in my childhood than I think children probably need to be thinking about.

4) Tell us about your group of school friends
I had less friends and more acquaintances. I'm the same way today. I'll help you out if things are going poorly but I'm not likely to ask for help or really want to hang out, when things are going well. I'm the opposite of a fair weather friend. Call me when the shit hits the fan.

5) What would you name your kids?
I don't even know. That is a complicated question.

Dear Fashion,

I get it. We're never going to be good friends. I just don't think enough about how other people see me to hang out with you every day.

But we need to have a talk.

I attend formal functions. It's part of my job. I'm also what you would consider pudgy, dumpy and overweight. I'm mostly okay with this, because, well, I'm not changing anything and I don't like to be sad.

This idea you have that dressing skinny people is fun is nice for you but the formal functions I attend are also attended by other women. Most are not skinny. Most are squishy in lovely places. All of them, though - ALL of them are snarky.

Wrapping a red sheet around a model and making a shoulder poof is not going to cut it. I'm sure the young woman pictured is a lovely young lady but this is not what I consider your best effort.

My options, if one can even call them options, are:
1) Dresses designed for skinny people
2) Dresses designed to humiliate a bride's friends
3) not attending the function.

I've been a good sport about this. I've made the best of a bad situation. This has got to stop. We are going to work on a cease-fire and establish a no-man's land. I'm slowly backing away from you and towards my own sewing machine. I'm going to attempt to find a middle ground.

AND I'M GOING TO BE USING PROPER STRUCTURE AND FOUNDATIONS IN THESE THINGS. YOUR APPARENT LACK OF CONCERN FOR BONING AND GIRDLE NEEDS IS APPALLING.

Respectfully,
Moi

I picture Lily Tomlin reading it on a blank stage. She does amazing work, you know?

Hello? Is this the complaints department? I'd like to file a complaint.

I don't remember signing up for this so this might be a mistake, anyway.

I'm a grown up; an "adult", if you will. I don't remember ticking that box when I signed the contract.

Someone has gone and left me in charge. I have all the answers. I'm the one people dump their problems on. I am the one who, without staying late, helps the company grind to a halt. It was I that sent someone home sick and I, again, who approved a request of someone to go home early.

This is ridiculous. I mean, I know I'm not on the "kiddy-contract" anymore but this is getting out of hand. I have a husband. I run a household. I deal with suppliers. I make decisions with thousands of dollars. People look to me for advice. When does it stop?

All my life, they tell me that one does not just wake up one day and flick a switch and become an adult, but that is certainly what it feels like has happened here.

I'm just checking with you to see if there's been a mix up in my account? Are you certain that *this* is the right life?

No, no. I like the husband; certainly I don't want a different one. This one seems to fit my habits and prejudices.

No, I find the work fulfilling most of the time. It's challenging but usually to my skill level. I'm not sure that changing that would be the answer.

Mostly, I just wanted to check, has something - anything - been entered wrong on my file? Is this really my life?

Because I don't want to get used to this and find out there's been a mistake.

Is it possible to get this noterized, in some way? I wouldn't want someone to do an audit and realize there's been a mistake and put in for a recall.

Things I do like

Djruuh's existance

Mitch hedberg's jokes (See I'm a dreamer, man, and when I was a cook I'd always work with people who weren't dreamers. Like, I was cooking at this restaurant and I put a hot dog on the grill and my kitchen manager came over, and he said, "Mitch, put the hot dog up here, in the right hand corner of the grill, so in case you get a whole bunch of orders at once you have all this space available." See that's how I knew he wasn't a dreamer, 'cause the day I give up my dreams is the day I have strategic grill locations. A dreamer has a philosophy: The entire grill is hot.)

Other stuff

THINGS I DON'T LIKE

The fucking rattle in the front end when I turn. I don't know what compression arms are but I want that to fucking stop.

The fucking rattle in the front end when I brake. I don't know if it's the same thing but I fucking hate it.

The fucking way the fucking car fucking loses traction when I corner quickly. Why are you making me drive like a pussy, Car? Huh? What the fuck is your fucking problem?

The sounds of my neighbour maintaining his house. Every fucking day. Every. Day. Fucking stop washing your shit and mowing your shit. The fact that you have the fucking energy and drive to take care of your stuff pisses me off.

That there is fucking rubble every fucking where in this fucking house. Sure, the roommate's ex's stuff is fucking gone BUT HE STILL LEFT SHIT IN EVERY ROOM. I had this place fucking tidy and now it's not.

Stubbing my fucking toe.

The fucking sun. It's up way too fucking early and goes to bed way too fucking late right now. In winter, it sleeps the fuck in and then begs off at a fucking half day. Fuck you, Sun. Make up your fucking mind.

That Djruuh wanted to not tell anyone for a while that we were engaged AND THEN HE TOLD THE FUCKING ARMY AND THEN MY COWORKER TOLD EVERY FUCKING OTHER FUCKING PERSON. Yeah. I fucking resent not being able to tell people my own good news. Do you know how much I resent being told to keep shit a secret and then someone FUCKING TELLS EVERYONE?

That I was trying to maintain secrecy of the fact I got married so I could tell people myself but ONCE A-FUCKING-GAIN my coworker fucking scooped me. I resent people not letting me fucking deal with my own fucking news. I really fucking resent it.

I resent that I've moved twice without Djruuh's help and that I'll have to do it a third time.

I resent that I had to be the impetus for Djruuh to move out of his place and now his shit is everywhere. No, I'm not really interested in moving it all out of the fucking SUV myself nor do I really appreciate that I have a massive fucking pile of fucking clothing on my floor. I DON'T LIKE DEALING WITH MY OWN SHIT WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME YOURS TO DEAL WITH TOO

That Djruuh didn't get his request for $$$ into the clerks in time for them to deal with it. I'm not even in the fucking army and I know that two weeks notice isn't enough for them. Now I have to deal with the SUV right now so that I can get money from MPI to pay for the trip that he is supposed to be taking care of in totality.

I DON'T LIKE MY HAIR TOUCHING ME

I don't like that I've gained weight while Djruuh has been gone.

I hate the faint sound of whistling I can hear right now.

I hate the high-pitched sqeaky voices of children shrilly shreeking at each other.

I hate that the fucking TV won't fucking change the fucking channel without fucking thinking about it.

I'm going to choke a bitch shortly. Very, very shortly.