Beauty is Truth, Truth Beauty

While the gals were away, M got all sorts of things done around the house - including hanging the Grandmas birthday gift to Miz V.

This stained glass panel features the Japanese kanji characters shin jitsu - the closest translation for Verity.

I will let the beauty of the image speak for itself. Clearly, this is an instant heirloom.

Thank you again, Grandmas D and L, for this remarkable, generous gift. It is hanging in the dining room window (currently flanked by the summer blackout shutters, but in the fall will stand alone) and Miz V likes looking at in and making dolphin noises. I interpret them as approval.

does sonya spoil me? signs point to yes!

Sonya cracks me up.

A few days ago my FB status indicated that I wanted a magic eight ball. I was feeling kind of frustrated not knowing stuff - like how my hands were doing, what kind of bebe was using my lungs for resistance training, and all the other million things I don't know about the future (when will I get my flying car?).

Anyway, SJF jumped to action and mailed me not one but TWO Magic 8 Balls - a regular once for daily questions, and a High School Musical one for career-related inquiries. NARF!

To provide adequate padding, the care pack was rounded out with an astonishing variety of Pocky products...including the highly mysterious Pocky green tea mousse, the very elaborate Dessert Pocky, and the inexplicable Pocky Milk. Wacky!

And to top it off, a package of extremely disturbing lemon bubble gum that comes with a plastic identity card with photoshopped pictures of cats doing strange things. I think I will put in into the bebe's memory book with no explanation whatsoever so when the kid is twelve s/he will be able to point to that as proof positive that s/he's being raised by lunatics.

Thanks so much Miles! You made my week!

carry on!

Last Thursday Nathalie and I went to evymama, the breastfeeding boutique (this is why it's good to live in a major city, they have shops for everything, if you can find 'em) to try out baby holders. With the crap hands, I want to have as many options for kid-hauling as possible.

I'm very glad we went there, since the owner was extremely helpful and took the time to show me every carrier she had (which was a sizeable stock) and I was able to try them on with dolls. Some designs that I had seen in other shops or online that looked like they would be good options turned out to be nearly impossible for me to adjust without seriously damaging my paws.

I ended up purchasing two: a simple black cotton ring sling (which I thought would be too small for me, but actually fit great) made locally by a company called Rolz and Sassy and a more versatile soft structured snuggli style carrier called a Pikkolo made by a Chicago company called Catbird. The Pikkolo can be worn front, back or on the hip, so hopefully the player-to-be-named will like being strapped in place.

I'm still looking for baby holding and placing options, as my capacity for babe-in-arms holding may be restricted, so I welcome all suggestions!

(photos feature Matt's bear. Actual baby size may vary.)

Mystery Genie!

A big thank you to the kind sir, madam or collective who sent us a Diaper Genie II, the diaper pail of champions, so I am told. Unfortunately, the packing slip from Toys "R" Us (why is flouting grammar considered cute marketing strategy? Seriously, someone explain it to me.) did not list the giver's name. So, if you gave us this, many many thanks, and please let me know somehow so I can thank you properly.

Oh, and happy Good Friday. Can you say "happy"? It seems tacky, like saying "Merry Immolation", or "Joyful Beheading"...

registered...

I caved.

Today I went to Babies "R" Us (shudder - the precious "R" gives me hives) and filled out a registry.

Don't get me wrong - I know and accept that bebes require stuff with which to clothe, bathe, transport, feed, store and amuse them. I am also very grateful when people are generous and want to share their generosity with the spawn currently using my guts as a mosh pit. I just have always felt odd about the registry process, I had the same reaction to the wedding registry. It feels like getting all your family together and reading them your Christmas wish list in a loud obnoxious voice. That said, I know there are good and practical reasons for having a shopping guide available.

There is also furniture and a bunch of random stuff we're getting from Ikea, which has no registry, so Ikea gift cards are also welcome.

PLEASE, DO NOT THINK THIS IS A SOLICITATION FOR STUFF. I am not asking for stuff, I am letting people know what I am planning to get.

I've been asked a lot about what colours we're using. I can now tell you the stroller we're coveting is green and grey (see picture). I prefer solid colours, especially in jewel tones (the darker the better) for clothes and other things. Remember, I am that freak friend of yours who thinks babies in black are absolutely adorable. I really don't like pastel colours. Unisex styles are better. Please, no princess stuff - if the spawn is female, I want to wait for the inevitable pop culture indoctrination to take root before I have to deal with Disney-promoted narcissism. On the other hand, if there is a skull on it, I will giggle with glee. Also , inappropriate t-shirt slogans and leftist political screeds always earn applause (everyone has their something...). Toys: great! Preferences: wooden and sturdy, soft/plush, minimal plastic, stuff that has no batteries, lights or canned music, no small parts (obviously) and prefer no "character" stuff. Watching all the recalls this past year, I'd really rather have a smaller amount of quality toys than many things I have to keep checking out on online recall lists.

Hand-me-downs are also very welcome - bebe will be learning the joy of thrift shopping at the knee of an expert, secondhands are terrific.

Enough materialist ranting!