WIC!!!

Yesterday, I went to the WIC office right across the street from my house hoping to get some free juice and peanut butter. I walked into their pleasantly cool office and they had me fill out a couple of forms. Almost as soon as I was done with that, a very nice lady took me to the clinic room to get my height, weight, and iron measurements. As we were waiting for the results of my iron, she told me that anything over 10.5 is great. The machine beeped and she told me that my iron is at a healthy 11.3! How exciting!

Next, we went into her office where she interviewed me about my eating habits. We talked about the things I'm doing right along with ideas of how I could do better. Then she asked me if I plan on breast feeding.

"Of course! What better way for my baby to get all the anti-bodies he needs!?" I replied.

She smiled and explained that WIC rewards women who breastfeed by giving them even more free stuff once they give birth. She showed me information on a free breast feeding class that they offer and I happily signed up. She then explained the importance of having a strong mentor in order for me to be a successful breast-feeder.

"Do you know of anyone who would be a good support for you?" she asked.

Of course, I immediately thought of Cindy. I told her all about my partner's mom and how enthusiastic she is about natural childbirth in general and how particularly excited she gets about breast feeding.

After we covered all the bases, I was handed my blank WIC checks for the next three months and a brochure on all the stuff I get every month. I was shocked because I thought it was just free juice and peanut butter, but it is so much more. Today I went to Wal Mart and used the first of my four checks for the first month and got only a fraction of what I'm allotted for the month.

Here's what I get every month for FREE:

11 half gallons of lactose and growth hormone free milk
6 bottles of 46 oz juice
2 pounds of cheese
1 dozen eggs
36 oz of cereal
1 jar of peanut butter or dried beans or lentils

I just love that this benefit is there for me to reach out and grab onto. It is definitely worth the minimal effort to get all this free healthy stuff for my baby and me! I think on my next visit, they might give me some vouchers to get some free local produce at the farmer's market. I can't wait!

The meaning of the name Daniel Lorenzo

When the two individual name meanings join together, a very special meaning emerges ...

A great ruler who is a servant to the people. A patron of the arts who has been judged by God and crowned in laurels as victorious.

How I came to this conclusion... the background:

From the Hebrew name דָנִיֵּאל (Daniyyel) meaning "God is my judge". Daniel was a Hebrew prophet whose story is told in the Book of Daniel in the Old Testament. He lived during the Jewish captivity in Babylon, where he served in the court of the king, rising to prominence by interpreting the king's dreams. The book also presents Daniel's four visions of the end of the world.

Italian and Spanish form of Laurentius (see LAURENCE (1)). Lorenzo Medici, known as the Magnificent, was a ruler of Florence during the Renaissance. He was also a great patron of the arts who employed Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli and other famous artists. In Italian, the name Lorenzo means- form of Lawrence, laurel-crowned or victorious.

Baby's first tarot card reading

Cam and I have been having some really weird dreams over the last few nights. When we talk about them, they've been turning out to be quite similar. We've decided that our baby has crossed over a threshold and is trying to communicate with us and is scanning our memory banks to feed his own brain and help us revisit issues we haven't even thought about in years. For me, I figured that the next logical step would be to try and communicate back and gain some understanding through Zen Tarot.

I did a simple "relating" layout that examines a relationship between two people. In this case, it is my relationship with my son, Daniel Lorenzo. It looks like this:


Since this is a reading meant for my relationship with my son, I will leave out my personal interpretation to keep it sacred, avoid skewing other perspectives and maintain the level of privacy that Tarot requires. The following, are the representations and meanings from the book behind each card in this layout.

I want to share the cards and their general meanings because they hold great beauty and power and can be used to bring out things in the mind that we already collectively know. Its perfectly fine to interpret these how you want. Whatever insight and understanding of your own you get is a gift for you to reflect upon and enjoy!

Card 1: Me and what I am contributing to the relationship...

UNDERSTANDING: "The bird pictured on this card is looking out from what seems to be a cage. There is no door, and actually the bars are disappearing. The bars were an illusion, and this small bird is being summoned by the grace and freedom and encouragement of the others. It is spreading its wings, ready to take flight for the very first time. The dawn of a new understanding - that the cage has always been open, and the sky has always been there for us to explore - can make us feel a little shaky at first. It's fine, and natural to be shaky, but don't let it overshadow the opportunity to experience the light-heartedness and adventure on offer, right there alongside the shakiness. Move with the sweetness and gentleness of this time. Feel the fluttering within. Spread your wings and be free."

Card 2: Daniel Lorenzo and his input to the relationship...

REBIRTH: "This card depicts the evolution of consciousness as it is described by Friedrich Nietzsche in his book, Thus Spake Zarathustra. He speaks of the three levels of Camel, Lion and Child. The camel is sleepy, dull, self-satisfied. He lives in delusion, thinking he's a mountain peak, but really he is so concerned with others' opinions that he hardly has any energy of his own. Emerging from the camel is the lion. When we realize we've been missing life, we start saying no to the demands of others. We move out of the crowd, alone and proud, roaring our truth. But this is not the end. Finally the child emerges, neither acquiescent nor rebellious, but innocent and spontaneous and true to his own being. Whatever the space you're in right now - sleepy and depressed, or roaring and rebellious - be aware that it will evolve into something new if you allow it. It is a time of growth and change."

Card 3: The composite energies or what the energies create when they come together...

THE MISER: "This woman has created a fortress around herself, and she is clinging to all the possessions she thinks are her treasures. In fact she has accumulated so much stuff with which to adorn herself - including the feathers and furs of living creatures - that she has made herself ugly in the effort. This card challenges us to look at what we are clinging to and what we feel we possess that is so valuable that it needs to be protected by a fortress. It needn't be a big bank balance or a box full of jewels - it could be something as simple as sharing our time with a friend, or taking the risk of expressing our love to another. Like a well that is sealed up and becomes stagnant from disuse, our treasures become tarnished and worthless if we refuse to share them. Whatever you're holding on to, remember that you can't take it with you. Loosen your grip and feel the freedom and expansiveness sharing can bring."

Card 4: The insight... what I can learn from this relationship...

MORALITY: "Morality has restricted all the juice and energy of life to the narrow confines of her mind. It can't flow there, so she really has become a "dried up old prune." Her whole manner is very proper and stiff and severe, and she is always ready to see every situation as black and white, like the jewel she wears around her neck. The Queen of Clouds lurks in the minds of all of us who have been brought up with rigid ideas of good and bad, sinful and virtuous, acceptable and unacceptable, moral and immoral. It's important to remember that all these judgments of the mind are just products of our conditioning. And whether our judgments are applied to ourselves or others, they keep us from experiencing the beauty and godliness that lies within. Only when we break through the cage of our conditioning and reach the truth of our own hearts can we begin to see life as it really is."

20 Questions answered by dad

What color do you think your child's eyes will be?
brown
How will you talk to him about sex?
honestly, and openly
What do you think will be your biggest challenge as a parent?
letting him be free in this crazy world.
What is the biggest gift you have to offer your son?
my freindship
In what ways will this child change your life?
teach me to be more self less.
What t.v. dad do you hope to be like?
none of them
Will he wear boxers or briefs?
briefs as a boy, boxers when he develops
What kinds of activities/sports do you think he'll be interested in?
I think he will be very creative. Sports might not be his thing.
How will having a son affect you as a man?
I hope I can grow a better mustache.
What kind of hope do you have for him?
That he can enjoy the world that he is coming to.
Who do you think will spoil him the most?
Me
What do you think his first word will be?
Beer
Do you think he'll register to vote?
I don't know
Will this kid have any siblings or be an only child?
any child should have siblings, I believe
Where will he go on his first trip?
Grandma Cindy
What age do you think he will have his first girlfriend?
10
Will he be a mama's boy or a daddy's boy?
mama's
Will he have lots of friends or be a loner?
lots and lots
How many times will his heart be broken?
very few
What will his favorite animal be?
jack-a-lope

20 Questions answered by mom

What color do you think your child's eyes will be?

I'm thinking blue. That would be amazing if he had my eyes and his dad's skin. I've always liked the contrast of light eyes against dark skin.

How will you talk to him about sex?

I want to be candid with him from an early age. I hope to talk to him in a way that he is never ashamed of his sexuality and always feels comfortable to talk to his mom or dad about anything he wants.

What do you think will be your biggest challenge as a parent?

My biggest challenge will be in separating what is my style of parenting versus what has been ingrained in me from my parents.

What is the biggest gift you have to offer your son?

I want to share my inquisitive nature with him so he grows up knowing the importance of questioning everything from things on the news, right down to the notion of reality.

In what ways will this child change your life?

I'm sure in ways I can't even imagine at this point, but I really look forward to having a chance to reflect on my own life as I watch him face the challenges each time period in his has to offer.

What t.v. mom do you hope to be like?

Abby from "Dharma and Greg."

Will he wear boxers or briefs?

Probably boxers.

What kinds of activities/sports do you think he'll be interested in?

I don't know that he'll be big into sports. I'm sure we'll take him camping quite a bit and his dad will probably kick the soccer ball around with him. I want him to stay active, but I don't want him to feel pressured to do anything he doesn't want to do.

How will having a son affect you as a woman?

I have a lot to learn about boys and men and I see that having a son is a great opportunity for me to expand my scope of understanding of them.

What kind of hope do you have for him?

I hope he grows up with just enough conflict to build his character, but not too much to break him.

Who do you think will spoil him the most?

So far, I think Grandma Cindy and Auntie Danielle are up there on the list.

What do you think his first word will be?

Cat

Do you think he'll register to vote?

I think he will, I just don't know when.

Will this kid have any siblings or be an only child?

I hope to have maybe one brother or sister for him, but probably not more than that. There's nothing wrong with being an only child!

Where will he go on his first trip?

His first big trip will probably be to visit family in Seattle.

What age do you think he will have his first girlfriend?

8

Will he be a mama's boy or daddy's boy?

Probably mama's

Will he have lots of friends or be a loner?

He just might be a loner with lots of friends!

How many times will his heart be broken?

Too many to count. I think he'll be in love a lot.

What will his favorite animal be?

Well, considering the cats all take turns laying on my belly, purring and making him move around like a Mexican jumping bean, I think its safe to say that he'll be partial to cats.

Do We Really Need to Circumcise?

I'm sure there are many questions that will come up for us, but now that we know we're having a boy, my first big question is: Should he be circumcised? My partner's immediate answer is, "yes of course!" I ask for an explanation and he can't seem to give me one because he's never really thought about it. He simply says, "That's just what we do, I guess." I, on the other hand, am finding myself struggle with an answer because I believe that if he's born with it, why the hell slice it off? And in such a sensitive area!

I've done some research and know it is not medically necessary. Most people do it for religious reasons, the sake of convenience, or to simply fit in with society. As far as religion goes, I consider myself to be eclectic and have a strong connection with nature. I feel that the most natural and consistent action with my belief system would be to leave my son with what body parts he is born with. As far as fitting in with society, I'm not concerned with that either. I feel that there are more important issues to consider than simply fitting in.

So, then what about hygiene? Simple. As long as proper hygiene is exercised and instilled from an early age, there's no need to worry about infections. Furthermore, I want my son to have an active role in paying attention to and taking care of his body, including his penis. Any additional way he can feel connected with the functions of his body is a great thing. The more involved he is in taking care of himself, the happier he will be and the less likely he will get sick. After all, prevention is key to being healthy.

Like I said earlier, it is such a sensitive area. In the foreskin alone, there are thousands of nerve endings. This, to me would seem to enhance sexual sensation and to take it away would rob him of part of his sexuality. The other functions of the foreskin are very valuable also. It keeps the glans of the penis protected from the elements, prevents chafing and callousing, and provides a natural color in the glans by maintaining proper blood flow.

I can't even imagine inflicting such physical pain on him and to cause the emotional pain of taking away some benefits that nature has to offer from the gifts his body gives to him in his perfect state at birth. With my adamant feelings against the strong societal pressure that has instilled a belief that circumcision is "just what you do when you have a boy," I can see that this might be up for debate for a long time and will be a topic that re-emerges for the rest of the pregnancy and possibly beyond.

Functions of the Prepuce (Foreskin) @ Yahoo! Video

Drumroll Please! Its a.....

Healthy baby boy!...

Meet: Daniel Lorenzo Page

Here's his package:


Face:


Profile:


Profile with hand by his face:


Foot with toes curled:


Proud Parents...

Boy or Girl?

Today, I am officially 19 weeks along and feeling great! I feel like I've got a handle on the basics of being pregnant. I really just can't believe that I'm about halfway there! I am so excited for the birthing process to begin. I mean, I am totally ready. I can't wait to experience labor! When I think of what's to come, I think of the night I peed on that fateful stick and how enthusiastically Cindy roared "BRING IT ON!"

Of course I'm jumping ahead of myself. That is way farther in the future than the 20-week milestone we're looking at in a week. This will be the time when we get to see pictures of our little creature and find out if its a boy or girl. There was an overwhelming consensus that the child we lost in the miscarriage of the last pregnancy was a girl. This time, the feeling is just as strong, but for a boy.

We had a laugh with my midwife when we talked about one of the ways some people try to determine gender. She said that if the mom is particularly emotionally sad, it should be a girl because of the extra estrogen and if she gets easily angry or mean, its a boy because of all the excess testosterone in the system. I thought about it for a second then looked at Cam. He came right out and said, "Well, she CAN be pretty mean! Maybe we are having a boy!"

There are a couple people that swear we're having a girl. Personally, I've had the strong sensation that there's a little boy inside of me, but I'm willing to be proven wrong! When it comes down to it, I've been wanting and waiting so long to get pregnant that I don't care if we end up with an androgynous duck-billed purple space alien! I just want the chance to experience a tangible manifestation that is a result of the love I have with my partner Cameron and the love of family.

I know that there are no guarantees especially after the last pregnancy ended in miscarriage. Even though it was painful, that experience has an important place in my life. I gained so much from such a huge loss. I can't really put it into words, but I've been able to sense the vast amount of sequential spiritual exchange that took place from the loss of our last baby Chloe to get to the point we're at now with baby Uma Kali or Daniel Lorenzo.

Cute names, huh? We decided that if its a girl, I get to name her and if its a boy, Cam gets to name him. Both of us had names picked out almost from the beginning. They both just popped into our heads like they were always meant to be. Who knows? Maybe we'll all be surprised and get one of each. Twins perhaps?

For now, I'm just trying to keep myself distracted as much as possible to get through this week. I am dying to get that ultrasound and see what is in store for everyone in our family. Will this be a son or daughter, grandson or grand-daughter, niece or nephew? I will be sure to keep everyone posted as soon as I find out! So mark your calendar for April 15th - tax day and the day we will know more about Tam and Cam's baby's gender!!!!