what happens when you run out of babies!

Low fertility rates in Europe and elsewhere:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/29/magazine/29Birth-t.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1

good ol' baby update:

"This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of
cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended.
She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing
her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue
developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are
still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of
medical help — if she were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic
movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be
common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and
they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle."

taken from here: http://www.babycenter.com/6_your-pregnancy-27-weeks_1116.bc

she also apparently likes sweet potatoes.

i know, it's nascar...but it's interesting

kudzu the next bio-fuel?

http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/nascar/cup/columns/story?columnist=mcgee_ryan&id=3461697&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab3pos1

Oh. My.

Good ol' Dr. Dobson...

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/06/24/evangelical.vote/index.html

God is good

...all the time.

So today, one of my co-workers had to leave early and so she just gave
me a whole thing of blackberries! Not enough for a pie, but certainly
enough to make my day better. When I was a kid, we lived in the country
and used to pick blackberries all the time--even last year, I went and
picked blueberries with my mom at the berry farm off of west county
line. This year, I don't think being out in the heat and humidity is
really my thing (thank you Iris!) but I sure wouldn't say no to some
berries!

Also, my husband never fails to preach the gospel, and I love him and am
proud of him. He also watches DragonballZ.

monday links:

Neighbors:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/23/opinion/23lovenheim.html?pagewanted=1

Scholar:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/22/world/europe/22chadwick.html

i wish my computer had speakers...

http://www.myspace.com/bifrostarts

so i'll have this...baby check list--any additions/subtractions?

Newborn necessities checklist
A master list for moms and dads

Consumer Reports Video
BUYING ADVICE
Newborn necessities
Here's a checklist of what you should have on hand before your baby arrives.

Tooling around
_____Car seat.
_____Stroller.

Beds and linens
_____Crib.
_____Crib mattress.
_____Bassinet/cradle (if you don't want to put your baby in a crib right away).
_____Two to three fitted crib sheets.
_____Four or more waffle-weave cotton receiving blankets for swaddling baby
_____Two mattress pads.
_____One to two waterproof liners (for crib or bassinet).

Diaper duty
_____Diapers. Disposables: One 40-count package of newborn (birth
weight under 8 pounds) or of
size 1 (birth weight over 8 pounds). Cloth: Two to three dozen, plus
six to 10 snap-on, waterproof
outer pants, and two to three sets of diaper pins, eight to 10
all-in-ones or diaper system covers;
two to three dozen diaper system inserts.
_____Diaper pail (with refills or bags as needed).
_____Diaper bag.

Dressing baby
_____Four sleeping outfits or one-piece sleepers with attached feet.
_____Six side-snap T-shirts.
_____Four to six one-piece undershirts that snap around the crotch.
_____A small baby cap (although the hospital will probably give you one).
_____Six pairs socks/booties.
_____Two to three soft, comfortable daytime outfits. Get only a few
items in newborn size. Then, go for
clothing in the 6-month size--your baby will grow into it quickly. But
don't buy baby sleepwear
that's too big--it's a safety hazard.
_____Cotton sweater or light jacket.

Summer babies
_____Brimmed hat.

Winter babies
_____Snowsuit with attached mittens or fold-over cuffs, or heavy bunting.
_____Heavy stroller blanket.
_____Warm knit hat.

Feeding time
If you're planning to breast-feed:
_____Three to five nursing bras.
_____A box of washable or disposable breast pads.
_____Breast pump if you expect to use one (manual or electric).
_____Four small baby bottles with newborn nipples for storing
expressed breast milk.
_____Bottle-drying tree.
_____Bottle brush.
_____Insulated bottle holder for diaper bag (the hospital may give you one).
_____Three packs of cloth diapers or burp cloths.
If you're planning to bottle-feed:
_____Six 4- to 5-ounce bottles, plus nipples, rings, and a dishwasher
basket if you use a dishwasher.

Bathing/Grooming
_____Plastic infant bathtub.
_____Three soft hooded towels.
_____Two packs of baby washcloths.
_____Baby body wash that doubles as shampoo.
_____Pair of blunt-tip scissors or baby-sized nail clippers.
_____Zinc-oxide-based diaper rash ointment.
_____Soft brush and comb.
_____Mild laundry detergent.

Medicine chest essentials
_____A pain-and-fever reducer recommended by your baby's doctor, such
as Infant's Tylenol.
_____Cotton pads/swabs.
_____Nasal aspirator.
_____Digital rectal thermometer.
_____Rubbing alcohol.
_____Petroleum jelly.

Keeping baby happy
_____Pacifiers.

Extras: Nice but optional
_____Baby monitor.
_____Changing table.
_____A rocker or glider.
_____Sling or strap-on soft carrier.
_____Boppy, a doughnut-shape pillow designed to make holding baby
during breastfeeding or
bottlefeeding easier.
_____Nursing coverup. Attaches at your neck and allows for private
breastfeeding when you and your
baby are in public.
_____Infant swing.
_____Bouncy seat.
_____Night-light.

Happy Juneteenth!

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1815936,00.html

i bet this is AMAZING!

Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0016NF06O/ref=pe_24490_9556600_as_txt_7/

morning links...none of then happy

funny-ish:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/weather/06/18/midwest.flooding.pigs.ap/index.html

bizarre:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/06/18/canada.feet/index.html

sad:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/06/19/darfur.rape/index.html

an endearing story

So, this morning, in the bathroom with Roy, he farted (something that
happens in our house a lot). But for some reason, it just made me
think about how much I would miss him when he died (assuming I outlive
him). And so I said, "Roy, I'm going to miss you when you die," and
hugged him. He hugged me back, inhaled, and said, "You might want to
get out of here! It's pretty bad!"

The Hubbards--stinky and sentimental. Come over any time, but bring a candle.

the food section of the NYT got me today...

let's go home and cook!

garlic
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/18/dining/18appe.html?pagewanted=1&ref=style

white lily is leaving knoxville :(
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/18/dining/18flour.html?pagewanted=1&ref=style

homemade popsicles
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/18/dining/18mini.html?em&ex=1213934400&en=41e89b4916b63dfd&ei=5087%0A

"touch of grace buscuits"
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/18/dining/181frex.html?em&ex=1213934400&en=7870c3f990e159b9&ei=5087%0A

interesting...

an article about the harmfulness of come kinds of feminism (especially
alice walker's):
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1021293/How-mothers-fanatical-feminist-views-tore-apart-daughter-The-Color-Purple-author.html

in fairness, a rebuttal (isn't slate pretty liberal?):
http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/xxfactor/

baby update!

Your baby rivals the average rutabaga in weight -- about 1 1/2 pounds.
(Length: 13 1/2 inches, head to heel.)

Do you want a free house?

FW: [Freecycle-JacksonMS] OFFER: HOUSE to relocate (Brandon/Reservoir area)

Approximately 1400 sq.ft. house on conventional foundation: 3
bedrooms, 2 baths, living room with fireplace, eat-in kitchen (range,
venthood, and refrigerator included).
Built 1930s, completely renovated 3 years ago.
Free to anyone who will be responsible to move it and demolish
enclosed den area on slab foundation (cannot be moved).
Available around August 1st.
Please contact if you have further questions or would like to make an
appointment for viewing.
Serious inquiries only.

also

girls night tonight (and every tuesday)...7ish

JK Rowling speech

http://harvardmagazine.com/go/jkrowling.html

interesting...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1024927/The-wife-John-McCain-callously-left-behind.html

this article actually sounds like books i used to read...and would
still read if i made it to the welty library.

um...
the mimosas and magnolias are blooming and the air is scented if you
drive through the right part of town. it's kinda lovely.

baby update!

i'm now 24 weeks--the last week of the second trimester! damn!

also, my uterus is the size of a soccer ball. (or foot ball, depending
where you live). if you've seen my belly recently, you'd agree.

so, anyway: Your baby has caught up with an ear of corn in size and
gained about 1/4 pound since last week. (Length: almost a foot.)

she's a growing! and i can't stop eating. wednesday night at youth
group i had four pieces of fried chicken! it was bizarre.

we just have to get through June, July, August, and September--and
we'll have a baby to hold in our hands (instead of my belly.)

daily links....

football on TV
http://clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080603/SPORTS/80603017

value of "at home mom" calculated:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/worklife/05/09/mom.salary.ap/

"study to crack evangelical stereotypes"
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/05/22/evangelicals.ap/index.html

enjoy!

i hope roy will tell you this himself...

but if he doesn't, ask me to tell you the story entitled, "Roy, the
possum avenger!"

good stories:

South African Xenophobia
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1810805,00.html

A Wonderful way to work!
http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1810690,00.html

question...

is it ever appropriate to tell a co-worker they are driving you crazy?
especially when he/she isn't doing anything wrong, just...being ...
too... something?

i'm afraid that i just need to suck it up and get sanctified, but i
wish i didn't have to.

in other news, we went to the dr. yesterday and had a great, if short,
visit. i hate when our appointment is at say, 9:50 and we see the
doctor for five minutes at eleven. but we heard the heartbeat
(whoosh/whoosh). i guess it would make me feel better if the doctor
actually examined me everytime (i mean, maybe not something that would
make me take my clothes off) but at least a little bit more than
asking me how i am and how things are going, 'cause i've never been
this pregnant before--it's not like I really know what should be
happening. i assume things are fine, but i don't really know. i think
if he just felt my swelling abdomen and was like, "yep, that's a baby
and that's how it's supposed to feel" i would feel a lot better.

also, roy lost his phone and got a new one, so call him today with
your number. and elbert and andrew barnes are taking the oral
ordination exams, so say a prayer.

okay. back to being diligent.