I LOVE THIS SHIRT!

But I don't want to pay $22.99 for it; instead, I'll just say it to the person who gives me that "How could you!" look. Actually, since Ella nurses only in the morning and at night (w/the occasional midday snack), I guess I'll have to wait until the next one comes along to vent my feelings out loud.

Though in the past week, I've had quite a few stares from people THINKING I was nursing her in a restaurant. She just wanted to be cradled. Why are people so nosy?

There are other cute shirts as well, such as, "Breasts: Not just for selling cars anymore."

Or "Try eating with a blanket over your head!"

Going back to having another baby (no, not yet-please keep praying), I was talking to Ella about it today and said "When another baby comes, he's going to drink mommy's milk and that will be okay, right?" She said, "Daddy be here; hold Ella." Awww, so sweet but completely unexpected. I figured her response would be "Ella drink milk too." Guess we'll just have to see-that's a long way off, and I'm just taking one day at a time with extended nursing.

Okay, I think I've made history-2 posts in one day-pretty good considering my normal is 2 per month. :-)

The Business of Being Born

Have you heard about this film? Producer Ricki Lake made this documentary in order to emphasize a woman's right to make an informed choice about her birth. It shows many home births including Ricki's 2nd birth (her son Owen is now 6). Kudos to her for asking the hard questions, such as why the US is 2nd in infant mortality rate in the developed world?

The medical profession has convinced woman that they don't know how to birth. It's no longer thought of as an empowering experience. Everywhere else in the world, births are attended by midwives; why not here? I believe it's true that many times "medical decisions are made for monetary and legal reasons, not because they're good for the mother or the baby." That's why it's so important for every expectant mom to at least have a birthing plan written out. I'm so thankful for my natural birth at a birthing center (maybe by the time Ella's 3, I'll get around to posting my birth story!), and am planning on a home birth should I be blessed with another one.

I wish they were having a screening of this movie in my state-I'd go in a heartbeat.

Silly Songs

"Look, Marlo, Goodnight."
Ella says this to our dog as he walks beside her wagon-our faithful companion on our trips to the mailbox.
"See Marlo." "Goodnight." "New CD."

The CD is actually Laurie Berkner's, Victor Vito and we absolutely love it. Will thinks I enjoy it even more than Ella and he's probably right-it's a nice respite from BOZ and Frosty.
Goodnight is Ella's favorite, and a close second is Froggie Went a-Courtin.' She can do the "Uh-huh" parts very well. And I love dancing to it.

If you love silly songs and the guitar, you should check it out. You can hear a preview of all the songs on the CD if you scroll down on the Amazon page. Emmie, you've got to preview her Goldfish song. Laurie talks some in this song and I think she sounds like you (plus I can just see you making up a silly song like this!)

Other news-I went to my first MOPS meeting yesterday. This is one step in getting some much needed fellowship. It's hard to say much about "connecting" from just one meeting, but there are 2 more opportunities to get to know the ladies in a smaller group setting (Girl's Night Out and Mommy & Me Time) before the next official meeting, so I'm planning on going to those.

Thank you all for your prayers for a church family for us. We're still visiting and this Sunday plan to go to a Bible Fellowship class at one church we've visited several times. Please pray Ella will be willing to go to the nursery-she's been sitting w/us in church but for a small class, I know it would be best to be sans baby. Please pray she'll cooperate. I just cannot leave her bawling for me in a strange place. MOPS was doable only b/c Aunt Barbara is the childcare coordinator and took Ella-she still cried, but not as bad as she would have had I left her w/someone she didn't know.