Bean's a year old now, which is the time frame I'd always had in my mind for weaning. Add to it that he has 8 teeth and my production has dropped dramatically, and it would seem that nature agrees. He does a great job with solids - opening his mouth like a little bird and trying everything - so I don't think this will pose a problem. I'm just not sure of the exact logistics for doing this successfully. What I *am* sure of is my desire to have my boobs back and to no longer feel like a dairy.

Ode to Weaning
Oh how I miss my old boobies
Due to gravity and the work of Bean's mouth
What once so proudly pointed northward
Alas have begun to head south

Labels: Bean

You can tell we're moms. With Bean's arrival, we've re-evaluated raising kids in LA. (Though I hate to admit it, my sister's right.) We are going suburban. Ish. Which means we're moving. Have I ever mentioned my thoughts on moving? Sweet holy Moses, I LOATHE moving. Home dental surgery sounds more enjoyable. Hate. It. Haaaaaaaaaaaaate.

Which is why I'm baffled by my own behavior. Since college, my longest tenure in an abode is a measly three years, with the majority being two years or less. The place we're moving is an apartment, so there's another move even after this. My hope is that the place after this is officially ours, in Bean's future school district, with room to grow. Once we find that place, I'm gonna plunk my rear there and I AIN'T MOVIN' AGAIN.

Labels: pet peeves

This stuff just writes itself sometimes. From BBC news: Scientologists convicted of fraud. Well color me surprised!

Unlike the US, France has always refused to recognise Scientology as a religion, arguing that it is a purely commercial operation designed to make as much money as it can at the expense of often vulnerable victims

...

In the case leading up to Tuesday's ruling, a woman said she was sold expensive life-improvement courses, vitamins and other products after taking a personality test.

A second woman alleges she was fired by her Scientologist boss after refusing to undergo testing and sign up to courses.

"Religion" my Aunt Fanny.

Labels: news

Scientology as a religion baffles me. Seemingly intelligent people join and the reasons just don't make sense. Is it the promise of fame and glory? Is it a deep and abiding love for sci-fi? Is is it the refusal to believe any other organized religion?

Okay, I'm with them on that last point...

Actually, very few recognized religions make sense to me. I count myself as an agnostic atheist (agnostheist? athenostic?) depending on my mood. At times it's a flat-out disbelief in any higher power, at others it's an uncertainty. However, my beliefs are mine, and I don't expect others to do what I do. Likewise, I don't do well with following senseless orders. Apparently, Paul Haggis agrees. After 35 years with the Cult Church of Scientology, he's finally come to his senses and decided to quit. Two of the main reasons are because Scientology refused to take a stand against homophobia and the other had to do with them forcing his wife to sever contact from her family.

Read the whole thing here.

Once you've read it, if you can enlighten me as to why people join in the first place, I'd love to hear.

Labels: news

Yesterday, Skatcat said the day's post wasn't very saccharin. Today, I'm probably gonna break that. Bean is ONE today. Sweet jumping jeebus. How is it that a year of this kid's life has gone by so freakishly fast? Two seconds ago he was rolling over for the first time. Now he's almost walking. And he is so effing smart. And has a great sense of humor. I am endlessly grateful that he's a part of our lives.


Happy birthday, Beanie. Your mommies love you more than anything!

Labels: Bean, monthly recap

One year ago today, I was in very active labor. The doctor had warned that if I didn't go into labor on my own, then by Friday he was going to induce. I'd already had a few false starts, so an induction and potential C-section were looming.

I'm sure you've heard all the "surefire" ways of naturally inducing labor. There's nipple stimulation (nope, just annoying); "The Salad" from Caioti Pizza (yummy, but no dice - though one woman's account that it induced a massive fart at 4:00 in the morning made me giggle); sex (for lesbians, this doesn't work at all - it's not the nookie, but the...um... "man juice" shall we say? that does it); an enema (I'll spare you that); long walks (nope) and finally castor oil. It was down to the end. So I went to the drug store... and bought... castor oil. (Cue dramatic organ music.)

I had been warned to have a glass of OJ to cut the ooze that was going to make its way down my throat. Very. Good. Advice. Chug-a-lug... Taste-wise, not too nasty, but imagine thick oil coating your entire mouth and you'll understand why that OJ was sage advice.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the intended effect of castor oil, it's supposed to make you poop. I guess the thinking is that if everything below your boobs is intent on expelling something, then your uterus may as well join the party. Take a crap and out pops a baby!

As advertised, the castor oil worked. Contractions began and this time they didn't stop. In the wee hours of October 23rd, Bean entered the world.

And tomorrow he turns one.

I may just crap myself all over again.

Labels: Bean