we had a great weekend that i was very excited to blog about, until this happened:
yesterday, a unitarian universalist church in tennessee was the target of a deranged conservative. it's been all over the news, so i will only briefly state the facts here. the horrible man, jim adkisson, entered the sanctuary and fired into the congregation who had gathered for sunday services and a children's production of 'annie'.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/28/usa
why? because our religion is a liberal religion. because we fight for the rights of everyone, including gays. because we teach our children about social justice and try to make the world safer for everyone. because we don't think we have all the answers, and draw our personal faiths from many sources.
these are the reasons why colin and i became UU's ourselves, and are raising liam in this faith as well. and these are the reasons two people were killed and seven more were injured, some critically. as soon as i saw the news yesterday, i knew that this would be why the congregation was targeted. the motive wasn't actually released until today, but i think anyone who knows about our faith would have known instantly because it is so controversial. you know, to truly believe everyone has 'inherent worth and dignity,' including gays and women. *gasp*
it's hard to think about the fact that we live in a very conservative town without a shortage of it's own crazies (ie = fred phelps and family). my thoughts are with the families in tennessee, because i know it could have been us. it could have been any one of our friends at fellowship. and even though we don't know them, they were singled out by this madman simply for the faith we share.
i'll let my frivolous blogging about my seemingly charmed life wait for another day.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
summer reading
i thought i'd post the great books i've read this summer, in case you're wanting some ideas for yourself. or just wondering what it is i do at work, i.e., whenever i nurse liam.
currently reading:
'jitterbug perfume' by tom robbins. thanks, evie! so far, i'm loving it and would really rather be reading than updating. which is why the blog has been sparse lately.
finished recently:
'breastfeeding: biocultural perspectives' editors: patricia stuart-macadam and katherine a. dettwyler (from the LLL lending library)
'someone like you' short stories by roald dahl (from my friend, missy)
'becoming attached: first relationships and how they shape our capacity to love' by robert karen (from the API group lending library)
'the way that water enters stone' short stories by john dufresne (also from missy)
'girl, interrupted' by susanna kaysen (missy again!)
'the girl with the pearl earring' by tracey chevalier (book sale find)
'the man who mistook his wife for a hat, and other clinical tales' by oliver sacks (book sale find)
i would highly recommend 'becoming attached' to anyone with children or contemplating having them in the future. it is full of the science behind attachment theory. this is the theory that motivates colin and i, along with many of our friends, in the ways we choose to parent our children. many people have misconceptions about what attachment parenting is. it isn't babywearing, breast feeding, or co-sleeping, although these practices often naturally grow out of this type of parenting. what it really is is education about infant and child development, based on scientific research. this book makes a compelling argument against most forms of daycare during the first two years of life. it also stresses the importance of being responsive to infant's cries, and shows that actual brain damage occurs when babies are left to cry without being comforted.
the other book i wish everyone would read, although it is dry (because it is, in fact, peer reviewed research studies) is the breastfeeding book. i thought i was pretty schooled on the womanly art of breastfeeding, but a few things caught even me by surprise. the first is that being breastfed reduces a woman's chance of getting breast cancer. you read that correctly. not only does breastfeeding protect the mother from this form of cancer (when duration is 2 years or longer), it also protects her infant daughter. second, out of 190 cultures surveyed, only 13 viewed the female breasts as sex objects for men. much to colin's chagrin, this seems to be a cultural valuation instead of a biological one. this, in the author's view, is one of the biggest stumbling blocks in our society to breastfeeding. another study shows that breastfeeding and near-sleeping reduces an infants risk of dying of SIDS (but i admit, that i already knew!). finally, over 3,000 babies in the US die each year from not being breastfed. crazy!
as far as my fiction list goes, i loved both books of short stories. i hadn't read that genre in ages, and i don't intend to stop now. there was some synchronicity between ending 'girl with a pearl earring' and beginning 'girl, interrupted'. the first was all about the painter vermeer, and the second also takes the title from a vermeer painting. although i took an art history class, i don't remember the painter, and found it odd that he appeared in both books.
liam updates
he can now say the following words: mama, dada, cat, car, and baby. it's so freakin' adorable. i need to get it on video soon. he's such a delightful kiddo and we cant' imagine what we would be doing without him.
currently reading:
'jitterbug perfume' by tom robbins. thanks, evie! so far, i'm loving it and would really rather be reading than updating. which is why the blog has been sparse lately.
finished recently:
'breastfeeding: biocultural perspectives' editors: patricia stuart-macadam and katherine a. dettwyler (from the LLL lending library)
'someone like you' short stories by roald dahl (from my friend, missy)
'becoming attached: first relationships and how they shape our capacity to love' by robert karen (from the API group lending library)
'the way that water enters stone' short stories by john dufresne (also from missy)
'girl, interrupted' by susanna kaysen (missy again!)
'the girl with the pearl earring' by tracey chevalier (book sale find)
'the man who mistook his wife for a hat, and other clinical tales' by oliver sacks (book sale find)
i would highly recommend 'becoming attached' to anyone with children or contemplating having them in the future. it is full of the science behind attachment theory. this is the theory that motivates colin and i, along with many of our friends, in the ways we choose to parent our children. many people have misconceptions about what attachment parenting is. it isn't babywearing, breast feeding, or co-sleeping, although these practices often naturally grow out of this type of parenting. what it really is is education about infant and child development, based on scientific research. this book makes a compelling argument against most forms of daycare during the first two years of life. it also stresses the importance of being responsive to infant's cries, and shows that actual brain damage occurs when babies are left to cry without being comforted.
the other book i wish everyone would read, although it is dry (because it is, in fact, peer reviewed research studies) is the breastfeeding book. i thought i was pretty schooled on the womanly art of breastfeeding, but a few things caught even me by surprise. the first is that being breastfed reduces a woman's chance of getting breast cancer. you read that correctly. not only does breastfeeding protect the mother from this form of cancer (when duration is 2 years or longer), it also protects her infant daughter. second, out of 190 cultures surveyed, only 13 viewed the female breasts as sex objects for men. much to colin's chagrin, this seems to be a cultural valuation instead of a biological one. this, in the author's view, is one of the biggest stumbling blocks in our society to breastfeeding. another study shows that breastfeeding and near-sleeping reduces an infants risk of dying of SIDS (but i admit, that i already knew!). finally, over 3,000 babies in the US die each year from not being breastfed. crazy!
as far as my fiction list goes, i loved both books of short stories. i hadn't read that genre in ages, and i don't intend to stop now. there was some synchronicity between ending 'girl with a pearl earring' and beginning 'girl, interrupted'. the first was all about the painter vermeer, and the second also takes the title from a vermeer painting. although i took an art history class, i don't remember the painter, and found it odd that he appeared in both books.
liam updates
he can now say the following words: mama, dada, cat, car, and baby. it's so freakin' adorable. i need to get it on video soon. he's such a delightful kiddo and we cant' imagine what we would be doing without him.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
we're in print (again!)
here's something else to add to the scrap book - an article in our newspaper about our fellowship! i was interviewed for the story and the whole family got their photo taken. i think the article is great, so enjoy!
http://cjonline.com/stories/071208/rel_303070483.shtml
http://cjonline.com/stories/071208/rel_303070483.shtml
Sunday, July 6, 2008
a well deserved day off!
we spent our fourth of july holiday visiting family all over kansas. on thursday, we headed to salina to celebrate mandy's 4th annual 29th birthday with pirate night at grandma's house. it was awesome, and liam slept through most of the fireworks uncle k brought up. unfortunately, mom's dachshund buddy got spooked and is still missing. there was a call today from a neighbor who spotted him, so that's good.
friday we spent the first part of the day up at grandma's while mandy and rocky nursed fierce hangovers. from what i can tell from her myspace pics, they were up pretty late doing very piratey things! after lunch, we headed to kyle's in osbourne. the drive was really pretty (i haven't really ventured west of salina) and we got to see the huge wind farm. liam thought it was neat, too.
colin's dad and jenny came up, too, so we got to all hang out that night. liam got a little spooked during the big show uncle k put on, but then really enjoyed it. and then fell asleep halfway through and didn't stir during the huge finale, which included fireballs. these are exactly what they sound like.
saturday we headed back home, stopping to visit my dad and roxanne in white city. after nearly four hours total in the car, we were beat! the boys took naps, then colin went to work - yes, work! on top of all this, i think we both had some allergies to contend with from our visit to jewell. he's had sinus issues and i've had a terrible cough. did you know that a tablespoon of raw honey works as well or better than cough medicine? glad i had some to take, although it's supposed to be for bread i have yet to start baking!
today we were still getting back into the groove of being home and skipped fellowship. we ate a big lunch at jason's deli, then went to the library for some new books and a couple of movies. colin didn't feel well at all and napped most of the day away. glad he got some rest before his work week starts all over again. i'm going to try to catch up myself during monday's nap times.
finally, here's a photo of the baby carrier i made for my friend darla. it's the best sewing project i've finished to date. now i need to make one for myself!
we have a ton of photos from the holiday and pirate night on colin's camera. hopefully he'll pull those off soon so i can post them.
friday we spent the first part of the day up at grandma's while mandy and rocky nursed fierce hangovers. from what i can tell from her myspace pics, they were up pretty late doing very piratey things! after lunch, we headed to kyle's in osbourne. the drive was really pretty (i haven't really ventured west of salina) and we got to see the huge wind farm. liam thought it was neat, too.
colin's dad and jenny came up, too, so we got to all hang out that night. liam got a little spooked during the big show uncle k put on, but then really enjoyed it. and then fell asleep halfway through and didn't stir during the huge finale, which included fireballs. these are exactly what they sound like.
saturday we headed back home, stopping to visit my dad and roxanne in white city. after nearly four hours total in the car, we were beat! the boys took naps, then colin went to work - yes, work! on top of all this, i think we both had some allergies to contend with from our visit to jewell. he's had sinus issues and i've had a terrible cough. did you know that a tablespoon of raw honey works as well or better than cough medicine? glad i had some to take, although it's supposed to be for bread i have yet to start baking!
today we were still getting back into the groove of being home and skipped fellowship. we ate a big lunch at jason's deli, then went to the library for some new books and a couple of movies. colin didn't feel well at all and napped most of the day away. glad he got some rest before his work week starts all over again. i'm going to try to catch up myself during monday's nap times.
finally, here's a photo of the baby carrier i made for my friend darla. it's the best sewing project i've finished to date. now i need to make one for myself!
we have a ton of photos from the holiday and pirate night on colin's camera. hopefully he'll pull those off soon so i can post them.
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