So, evidently, we’re going to be parents…
Doesn't all nesting begin at Ikea?
No pressure but if you mess this up your child will most certainly die.
"Step back. I've got this."
"Loving my new bed!"
"Soon. Yet not soon enough."
Crib? Check.
Lookie who is a featured model on the Perch Furniture blog! Our new couch. Oh and Aaron too!
It was cold, it was rainy and it was dirty, frustrating work, but we had a great time at SOLVE’s annual beach clean-up in Sand Lake, OR. Even NEWMAN had a great time, chasing seagulls and waves for three hours.
I have no idea how many pounds of litter the four of us removed but it was certainly rewarding and we’ll definitely go back again next year — baby in tow.
Volunteering with SOLVE on the Oregon Coast.
SOLVE Spring Clean-Up on the Oregon Coast. (ht Julie Dery
Newman was a great helper at SOLVE's Spring Clean-Up!
I knew Aaron was the one from the moment I met him, but this moment really cemented the deal. (hat tip to Sarah Street for her excellent photography-ing)
Wine.
I’m a big fan of the infographic (sorry @StephenSolo) and this one caught my eye today, being quite timely…and fairly disturbing.
I can’t tell you how many times people who ask me about my maternity leave plans are amazed that I will get zero pay during my three months off. But it seems that’s the unfortunate truth of breeding in the US (“we want you to breed but we’re going to make doing so as hard as possible”). And my office is certainly not the exception to some unspoken paying standard out there as sadly, paid maternity benefits are not a given, requirement or legality in this country and thus not given by many, many office places.
That said, because we have fewer than 50 employees, my boss is not even legally required to permit me even a single day off for maternity leave (FMLA only applies to offices with 50 or more people), so I feel lucky to be given the time I’ve been given, unpaid or not — Can you imagine having a baby and going back to work the next week by necessity? Or the next day?
I’m not coherent enough at this point in my pregnancy to structure an overly opinionated argument around why supported and structured maternity benefits are a great idea for everyone — not just those of us who chose to breed — but I know there’s a logical, meaningful argument out there to support such change. Something about babies benefitting from time with their actual parents (not daycare providers), growing into worthwhile adults, reductions to the prison population and drop-out rates, fewer deaths and disabilities, all equaling a more stable, happy society, etc.
You know — all that feel good-y liberal-y stuff.
Anyway — I’ll just let this infographic make my argument for me but I’m interested to hear what you think about this argument if you care to share.
Maternity Leave Across the World (Infographic)
“What? This totally fits me.”
Someone asked Aaron recently, “Is Jennie showing yet?”
Third Trimester Belly (27 Weeks, 2 Days)
Umm. Yes. Jennie is definitely showing. Because third trimester has begun. Last Saturday to be precise.
I feel like I have been pregnant forever. But I also feel like I have forever to go. This whole experience has been such a roller coaster ride of feelings and emotions — lots of sickness, but more recently, utter amazement at this living, breathing, thing rolling around inside.
My third trimester goal is to live in the moment — not just anticipate what’s next. Because I know I’ll never do this again and I don’t want to forget any of it. Okay, maybe the first trimester. But not much since.
So, hello, third trimester. Nice to meet you. I can tell that we are gonna be friends.
