Thanks, giving

Not much over here, day before Thanksgiving.

We don't "celebrate" thanksgiving, especially since it's so sanitized by colonization and white supremacy. However, we do use it as an excuse to cook good food together, and hang out with any friends who also have the day off work. Really, who needs an excuse to bake pie???

On another note, I have received a couple anonymous packages from caring mothers and families this year and it is bewildering and comforting and heartening. This whole Holiday Helper thing at MDC is truly amazing! If you have half an inkling to help a family who cares about breastfeeding and bonding and many other AP-centered practices with their basic living and gifting needs, please consider helping at MDC's Holiday Helper thread. There are over 100 more families this year who applied for help, and helpers are DESPERATELY needed. I mailed two boxes of diapers and a box of clothes with a toy for a family who also needs help. It didn't cost too much, but it did cost something. If you can't help through the Holiday Helpers, please consider donating through Freecycle or giving some whole foods to a local food pantry, or donating some non-toxic toys to a Toys for Tots program near you.

And mama who dropped off that basket for us - you know who you are - THANK YOU!!

PSA over.

Now get ready for your holiday eating frenzy or laying around all day. And maybe give us a call...

more words

Of course last night after I posted and while Chris was writing, I thought of a jillion more sounds for words Pearl has:
on, off, our neighbors' names, swing, dog, puppy, apple, cookie, cracker, dirt, tomato, take it, thank you, (give) me!, squirrel, eye, pasta, spoon, water, banana, earring, tickle, vacuum.

And additional hand signs for baby and fan.

15 months, almost 50 words.

The sound of music

Since my life is otherwise too troubling for some, I thought I'd share some cute shit about being mama to my littlest. And maybe my eldest, too.

We recently watched the Sound of Music as a family. I felt all parental, singing along with the songs in the movie right there with Julie Andrews and her prim British accent. Ha! Now Pearl goes around singing "the hills are alive with the sound of music" when she sees the DVD or when someone else mentions the movie. It is adorable! Lola mimics the way I sing it, too - melodramatically. There are many, many moments of spontaneous singing in the house and I would have it no other way.

Pearl is scooting and tething and sleeping a bit better. She uses many words that only we can understand, and many more that no one can understand. It is not babbling - she will repeat a specific phrase many times in the hope that we, parental morons, will finally get it. But alas, we are unable, and she cries and cries so miserably. Sigh. She has sounds for so many words: nursing, hungry, berries, done, no, yes, Lola, Tata, Mama, outside, inside, switch nursing sides, laying down, bath, dog, cat, grandma, moon, sky, skull, laundry, pee and probably more I can't think of right now. She has a sign for bird, but no other signs except for all done. She can identify most of her body parts. She is amazingly clever.

Pearl sings and snuggles; she loves to be held and to hug back. She gives me baby kisses and I wonder how I got to be so lucky.

Lola is learning her letters, singing and dancing and making up all kinds of crazy stuff. The kid is a natural storyteller. Such a rich fantasy life. And she's a little amazon! I bet she's four feet tall already. Maybe taller! She and Pearl chase each other around the house, making each other scream and shriek. They laugh gleefully at each other's transgressions. They are sisters.

There is so much more, but dang if you all didn't need to hear something more than the frustrated ramblings in my own head.

Love me, love my ramblings, children.

Help a Family Out

There's this really cool phenomenon going on at this board I frequent, MotheringDotCom: For the third year in a row. MDC-member families who need help this holiday season get help from like-minded folks, no questions asked! A family in need signs up, writes a little about their needs/likes/interests, and volunteer mamas hook them up with people who can send their families cloth diapers or amazon gift cards or toys or warm hats or sweat shirts or whatever they need. All of this is voluntary. And amazing!

I've been (and am again this year) a mom-in-need and let me tell you that receiving a box of diapers or clothes or other items we can't afford to buy from another family who wants to give it is about the sweetest, most humbling thing ever. I learned about people's goodness and generosity through this event and I want to encourage ANY of you who are interested in helping families who need some help buying toothpaste or diaper wraps or cloth diapers or wood toys or paying rent CAN help - you don't have to be a member of MDC at all. You can painlessly donate through Paypal or supply much-needed gently-used items collecting dust in your own closet. Every item helps another family whose children may not have any gifts or medical supplies or soap or warm clothes without your help.

It is easy to help! Here is the link to the site that will take you to the info about helping. http://www.spatulagirl.com/holidayhelper/
You can choose a family or search by items needed. It's way too easy.

I'm mailing two boxes of cloth diapers and wraps. What can you do?

C'est Moi

Cool. It's me!

bastardette

I sure am tired of feeling sorry for myself.

Go read this insightful blog about adoptee rights instead:
http://bastardette.blogspot.com/

Love,
Me