A Few Things

First, two deaths today. One really saddens me, the other not so much.

The First: Jane Lawton
Delegate Lawton was one of the representatives from Montgomery County, MD who I worked with when I was a lobbyist for PPMW. She was a great friend of the pro-choice community in Maryland and could always be counted on to stand up on the floor when anti-choice bills were introduced. I met her several times at this baked potato restaurant (of all places) across from the Capitol. She was a really friendly and pleasant woman. She will surely be missed, not only by my former colleagues, but by the whole Democratic party in Maryland.

The Second: Henry Hyde
I don't know really what to say about this man. It's never nice (or healthy or good) to be happy that someone has died, and I'm not. But I can't help but lament and hate, hate, hate the legacy he has left behind. He was one of the leading anti-choicers in the House and is the author of the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits public funding for abortion. Now, this issue is one that people are consistently against in polls ("why should my money go for someone else's abortion, especially if I'm against abortion in the first place?"), but it's often without thinking the entire issue through. The amendment prohibits abortion funding for any reason--and it applies to anyone working in the armed forces as well. And this is why it matters so damn much! Whatever anyone's personal views for or against abortion--or even what they would do in a similar situation--I just can't comprehend the level of moral righteousness that was necessary to say to a woman carrying a baby who would never breathe, eat, or cry that it was too damn bad for her--she should just deal with it and thank God that at least it's legal in this country to have an abortion at all. So that'll be Henry Hyde's legacy.

On other, more pleasant things: I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Celebrity Baby Blog and today it featured Keri Russell who I have loved for years now, AND this kick counter thing that hopefully will make everyone's third trimesters a little easier. I remember freaking out when Lia wouldn't be kicking or moving and Ben always told me to chill out. Joke's kind of on him--she was born with the cord wrapped around her neck twice, so, needless to say, I'm very glad I was paying so much attention to those kicks!

Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving! I've got all the Christmas decorations up except a tree and I can't wait to get that because someone is VERY fascinated with the lights.

Jobs

I just applied for a job as a claims rep for Allstate. I hated working for Progressive. I swore I'd never work in insurance again. I am depressed now.

Here's a big surprise!

My Liberal Identity:

You are a New Left Hipster, also known as a MoveOn.org liberal, a Netroots activist, or a Daily Show fanatic. You believe that if we really want to defend American values, conservatives must be exposed, mocked, and assailed for every fanatical, puritanical, warmongering, Constitution-shredding ideal for which they stand.

Take the quiz at www.FightConservatives.com

Who does Amelia Jane look like??

Thanks Marianna!

The MOST AWESOME thing on the internet!!

I looked everywhere in Barnes and Noble last night for Babysitters Club books and could only find four graphic novels, so imagine my delight when I saw this on feministing.com. I may very well spend my entire night reading it. It's even more awesome than the recording of the UGA-AU game!!

How ridiculous is THIS?

This is Ali Landry (known for her brief marriage to Mario Lopez and her stint on Felicity) and her daughter, who's 4 months old.

Ok, this picture, from Celebrity Baby Blog, is SO obviously staged! It says they're out for a day at the park, yet the baby's dressed in a dress with a little bonnet...Maybe this bugged me because my mom's always telling me to dress Lia nicer--but my feeling is that she's a baby and she spits up, poops, all that--so why should I risk ruining nice clothes unless we're going someplace nice? I'll take Carter's cheap onesies over a frilly dress any day!

Being Thankful

Today has been a rough one. I don't know if it's the pinkeye or just an off day, but Lia wouldn't sleep at all. She would fall asleep while she was nursing and then as soon as I'd put her down, she'd wake up. She'd do the same thing for Ben after he rocked her. It was a long, frustrating day, only relieved when we went to church this evening and she fell asleep for a half an hour in the Baby Bjorn. This was the kind of day everyone references when they talk about how hard life is with an infant--the kind of day you can only imagine, and then not even very accurately. I almost lost it several times. I'd just stand there, begging her to stop crying and just go to sleep.

She finally fell asleep a few hours ago and I am sitting on the internet while I should be in bed, taking advantage of this time to snuggle with my husband (it's cold outside!) and get some much needed rest. But I felt compelled to post after reading something earlier. Marianna, I'd been sort of following the Farleys after following the link to their blog from yours. Their baby died from an abnormality similar to the one that caused our miscarriage last year--except where Copeland had 3 sets of chromosomes on the 18th chromosome, ours had 3 sets on every chromosome (triploidy). Because I'd researched what Peanut had, I knew a little about Trisomy 18. Anyway, from their blog I went to the Mooney's blog--which followed their son's terribly brief, yet incredibly long--for a Trisomy baby--tenure on earth.

I only had to read a little for my whole frustrating day to melt away. I'd read much of it before, and it's never failed to bring tears to my eyes, but tonight, it did more. I think it was a picture on there of their son--something in his expression reminded me of an expression Lia gets sometimes. And all at once, I was so grateful, so thankful for the opportunity that God has given me to be Lia's mom. I had forgotten to thank God for her today, for everything she is and will be to us, for her health, and even for her fussiness, because it makes the sweet times even sweeter. And I most especially feel the need to thank God for the perspective I have been given. We are truly blessed.