You know your a mama when...

So, I was at Target today, just looking at the women's section at some cute tops. Finally I realized that I was looking at the tags for height and weight requirements (3-6 months, up to 22 inches, up to 27 pounds). Wouldn't THAT be a scary way to catagorize things...

That's what babies do, they get in your brain and make you go just a little bit batty. That's why whenever an adult is around a baby they end up acting like complete fools. I was modeling at the League with Haven last week and this big, beefy construction worker and this middle-aged athletic looking guy were falling all over themselves making her laugh.

The thing about baby laughter is that it's so absolutely compulsive. As if they can't do anything BUT laugh. So often as adults we just give a polite laugh at the end of a mediocre joke instead of giving a big belly laugh like Haven does. It's infectious.

People Who Know Everything...

Sometimes it feels like the world is full of People Who Know Everything. These people vigorously impose their beliefs on others and will not listen to anyone. I don't believe that anyone can possibly know something beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Perspectives are always framed by experience. Who am I to tell a Muslim that they are wrong because their web of experience tells them that what they believe is truth.

I wish that people had the maturity to recognize that they cannot possibly have all the answers for all people. The world would be a much more civil place if we acknowledge this fact.

As a side note, I am really stricken to see this picture of these smiling children brandishing signs of such hatred. What are we teaching our children? How can such a dichotomy exist?

Drawing a blank...

I feel I should be witty and post an enlightening post, but honestly the only thing in my head is a cold. I think everyone in this house has just been trading germs back and forth for a few weeks now. Soon we'll have a houseguest and will try our darndest not to get her sick (sorry Jess).

It's funny how a babe draws a crowd. Earlier this month we had Kyle's parents in, now both his sisters at varying intervals, and even his cousin Jeff whom he hasn't seen in quite some time (although I think that's due to a conference...).

It's also funny how having a baby throws you back into the swing of holidays more than you have before. Believe me, I had a great romp even in college dressing up and going trick-or-treating, but this year we have three parties, one concert, trick-or-treating, two festivals, and one costumed playgroup.

I remember when I was a kid we were only allowed to go to five houses tops and never allowed to be something scary. I like Stephen King's idea that sometimes we need to explore the scary dark parts of ourselves (through literature or some other harmless method) so that they don't get the best of us.

In case you were wondering...

Buddha Belly Baby

Prana (Devanagari: प्राण, prāNa) is a Sanskrit word meaning 'breath' and refers to a vital, life-sustaining force of living beings and vital energy in natural processes of the universe.

So you can see why my daughter is my prana. So many things were decided when she came into existence. Kyle and I became a family forever. We're tied together forever and I love that. I never knew you could love people that much...

If I were poor...

Kyle and I discovered a wonderful cheap thrill today...Bridal Shows! I am fat from free hors'deurves, champagne, three pieces of wedding cake, chocolate fountain, and various candy party favors. We even got to take a ride around in a horse drawn carriage. That usually costs a fortune if you take a turn around 16th Street Mall! I think we'll go to these things even after we're (officially) married. Can't beat free stuff.

Unfortunately I'll have to do a bit more walking since I have foiled my post-maternity weight loss plans by gorging myself on cake. It's amazing how much a little excercise will change things. I lost four pounds in a week and a half! Why can't you burn calories being a couch pototato?

But I digress (Kyle, that was for you). If I were poor and living with no food, I would cast off my ring, take the bus to the nearest bridal show, and bring lots of zip lock bags. But moochers be weary, sometimes they are not free! Perhaps posing as a reporter from a bridal magazine would persuade them to let you in minus admission to sample to your heart's content...

His Holiness the Dalai Lama

I had the privilege of attending the talks given by the Dalai Lama a few weeks ago in Denver. These talks were set up by the Mind & Life Institute (www.mindandlife.org), who have set out to research connections between mental and physical wellbeing and contemplative practice of many traditions.

What impacted me more than I can say was part of his introcuction. "In speaking about his background, the Dalai Lama said his compassion comes from the memory and experience of receiving his mother’s milk, which is where we all learn compassion. He said if children receive constant affection, then they will learn better; and education is one of the keys to promoting peace and understanding."

I think it's sometimes surprising to realize that people that you hold in such high esteem are people from beginnings such as yours. Everyone has a mother, even His Holiness who is revered to such a high pedestal. The fact that he can honor his mother and that he himself is amazed at how his tiny little life was completely dependant on her and her warmth, her milk, and her caring, it moves me.

As he went on I was so touched and reaffirmed that he was describing my heartfelt views on parenting. As anyone who knows me could tell you, I am wholeheartedly a supporter of Attachment Parenting as coined by Dr. Sears. It was so heartening to hear His Holiness stress the importance of surrounding a child with love.

To learn more about attachment parenting go to www.attachmentparenting.org.

And I promised I'd never...

Ever since the blog phenomena hit I swore that I'd never succumb to posting things online that would be read by anyone with minimal computer know-how and access to the internet (luckily this rules out my mother...). I've been a bit of a sporadic journeler in my life, never quite filling up an entire book. I love collecting journals, rich leather and such, because they're so beautiful and full of promise. Well, that is until I would mar it with words.

I would always look over things I had written even a few months previous and think, "My god. I'm a moron." So why on earth would I want to preserve these idiotic thoughts in cyberspace? What compels people to blog anyway? Feel closer to the world at large, safely behind a somewhat anonymous computer screen?


I guess I'm just horrified that I'll say something stupid and my words will come back to haunt me. So, please know that I blog with the sincerest intentions of eating my words as seldom as possible. Let the blogging begin!