Peter's Cross Station

Just So You Know

Selina's baptism is Sunday. I have five out-of-town guests coming in (including Mama Fern) and a big party on Sunday afternoon. You probably won't be hearing from me until after all of that.

Spring Garden Soup

You will need:

one pound of fresh spinach
one head of cauliflower, coarsely chopped
one large onion (or two smaller ones), chopped
about 8 cloves of garlic, crushed and chopped
a pinch (or two, depending on your taste) of red pepper flakes
4 tablespoons or so of butter (you can sub olive oil)
6 cups of vegetable broth (chicken broth would work too)
fresh yoghurt (or sour cream if you must)
salt and pepper to taste

In a large, heavy saucepan, melt the butter then add chopped onions and garlic. Cook until the onions are translucent. Add the red pepper flakes and cook another minute or so. Add 1/2 cup of water and the spinach. Stir it around a bit, maybe put a lid on the pan for a minute until the spinach is cooked down a little. Add the cauliflower and the broth. Bring to a boil, turn down the heat, put on a lid and allow to simmer for about half an hour.

Blend the whole concoction until completely smooth. I used to use a food processor, but I am a total convert to the immersion blender now.

Salt and pepper to taste and serve in bowls with a dollop of yoghurt in the middle.

Beautiful and oh-so-tasty!

P.S. You can eat it chilled on the second day.

Sleep when the bab...hey, wait a minute!

Twice tonight I had to go into the girls' room and take Nat out of Selina's crib. The first time, she was gently poking her awake, "hey, Seena! Hey, Seena!" and Selina was blinking in surprise.

The second time (about 20 minutes later), I heard Selina from across the house, laughing much louder than she typically cries. I found them sitting there, across from each other in the cramped mini-crib, playing pat-a-cake in the twilight.

It soon got dark enough that presumably, Nat couldn't find her way back across the room to climb into the crib a third time.

Poor Selina. She has a lot more trouble falling asleep than Nat. She's gonna be a grouch tomorrow. Especially if, as I suspect will happen, Nat gets into her crib again in the early morning to wake her up and play some more. (Selina goes down about 45 minutes earlier and usually sleeps at least an hour later than Nat in the mornings.)

Then again, if Nat and Selina would play for a while in the morning, maybe Cole and I could get some sleep...

By the way, Nat has started to correct herself in pronouncing Selina's name. She has said "Selina" instead of "Seena" several times in the past two days.

Blessings and Curses

Two annoying phrases in the media regarding the Obama-Wright controversy have been bouncing around my brain lately.  The first is "should Obama be judged by the company he keeps?" (via Salon) and the second is "Is Jeremiah Wright 'typical' of Black preachers?" (via NPR).

To the first, I say heartily, "absolutely!" by which formula Obama's association with Wright boosts him in my esteem.  To the second I say "what?"

It reminds me of a piece NPR did when I was living in D.C. called "The Other Side of the River" which was a multiple-installment report on the Anacostia neighborhood of D.C.  In typical white-liberal fashion, the report assumed the listener lived on "this" side of the river.  Much as within white supremacy, all "people" are white until marked otherwise, the river's "other" side was of course, the Black neighborhood.

NPR assumes its listeners are a bunch of white liberals who now have cause to worry about what Black People Are Saying in Church.  Just like there's not one "Black Family" which all us white transracial adopters need to emulate to do right by our children, there is more than one Black Church.  And anyway, Wright isn't even part of a traditionally Black denomination!  The UCC is mostly white.  His church, as he explains in the Moyers interview (I'm gonna keep hounding you until you've all watched it and reported back to me) was planted on the south side of Chicago by white liberals imagining an integrated church.  But no white people really ever showed up, so the church decided to give up and embrace its Blackness.

I dare you to find a "typical" Black preacher any quicker than you can find a typical white one.  Is John Hagee one?

My ambivalence about the democratic primary race evaporated the second the Clinton campaign (and/or its surrogates) started playing the race card.  I was done with Clinton as soon as Gloria Steinem and Geraldine Ferraro started hinting around that Obama was an unqualified affirmative-action case.  I was beyond done when this Jeremiah Wright stuff started.  Because, as the signs say, Wright is right.  And Wright's use of the spotlight to draw more attention to the issues about which he so deeply cares is nothing but spiritual opportunism at its best, if you ask me.

Wright got in trouble for suggesting that God may not bless "America" when it takes actions contrary to justice.  So, how do those who couldn't handle Wright's words manage to digest this:

"Then he looked up at his disciples and said:
‘Blessed are you who are poor,
   for yours is the kingdom of God.
‘Blessed are you who are hungry now,
   for you will be filled.
‘Blessed are you who weep now,
   for you will laugh.

‘Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you* on account of the Son of Man.  Rejoice on that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets.

‘But woe to you who are rich,
   for you have received your consolation.
‘Woe to you who are full now,
   for you will be hungry.
‘Woe to you who are laughing now,
   for you will mourn and weep.

‘Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.*

Jesus preached that.  But then, Jesus wasn't really very typical was he?

If some white Christians aren't hearing this Word in their churches, maybe they need to go visit Wright's church, or one like it.  Because they are missing half of the story if they stop with the blessings.

* Luke 6:20-26

Why We're "Mostly" Vegetarians

We are omnivores over here, but we eat very little meat. We simply can't afford to eat it more than about once a week, because we only eat expensive, locally, organically raised meat. When this news came down on Wednesday, I wasn't exactly shocked:

"The current industrial farm animal production system often poses unacceptable risks to public health, the environment and the welfare of the animals themselves, according to an extensive 2½-year examination conducted by the Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production..."

This video is a great 20-minute documentary which highlights a piece of the problem and impressively addresses the environmental racism that is often overlooked when people discuss this topic:

Spring Jewelry Sale Just in Time for Mother's Day

Hi folks. Have you ever thought, "gee, I'd love to buy some of Shannon's jewelry, but the prices are just five to fifteen dollars too high?"

I have been reading your mind! In an effort to clean out the closet, I've reduced the prices on almost everything (except the stuff that was already dirt cheap). I have a bunch of new stuff, too, that needs to get photographed and uploaded, but for now, I thought I'd see if I could generate any interest in what's already up there. After something has failed to sell for a while, I will cannibalize it and use the beads for something new, so if you've had your eye on something for a while, here's your big chance. But it might be gone soon, so don't hesitate a minute longer. Get on over there now!

There, have I created panic and fear of scarcity? I sooo should have gone into marketing.

I Still Like Jeremiah Wright

Politics as usual. Obama himself is backing away. But he has to. I don't. I am not running for president.

I can't believe the press is acting like Jeremiah Wright has somehow created a race problem that otherwise wouldn't have existed here in post-race (ha) U.S. America.

Daniel Schorr, who I usually applaud heartily when I hear him on NPR, said that he knew young Black men who had never heard of the Tuskegee syphilis experiments which ended in 1972, but (said Schorr in a chastening tone) Wright talks about it as if they happened yesterday. Well, 1972 wasn't exactly ancient history, now was it? That would be 8 years after the 1964 Civil Rights Act. It would be 4 years after the assasination of Martin Luther King Jr. If young Black men of Daniel Shore's acquaintance haven't ever heard of it, that's a travesty of miseducation. Gee, that sounds like something Jeremiah Wright would say...

The claim that without Wright's corrupting influence, Obama could have somehow "transcended race" (as Shore put it) or that "we" as U.S. citizens have "gotten past" ugly racism just rings absolutely insincere to me. How could anyone with eyes and ears--let alone professional journalists--fail to notice that race hasn't gone away in this country?

I implore you, if you have not already done so, to go and watch, listen or read that Moyers interview I posted about last week. Don't just take the word of public radio on this one. They are wrong. Wright is correct. Racism is alive and well in the United States and it affects people's lives every single day.

An Obama presidency will doubtlessly do very little to change that. But Obama's candidacy should not be sunk by hysteria over someone preaching the Gospel even if it is hard to hear.

Bottle Update

I probably get 5-15 hits on this blog per day from people googling for info on nontoxic baby bottles.  We've been quite happy with the evenflo glass bottles while home and the Avent drop-ins while out.  (Yes, googler, the Avent drop-in liners are recyclable if you have access to #1 plastic recycling--same as a spring water bottle--but don't re-USE them.  #1 plastic starts to leach after one use.  Just remember #1=1 use.)

But Selina is coming up on eleven months next week and I remember weaning Nat from a bottle around that age and I'd like to do the same with Selina.  But the 12 oz Kleen Kanteen sippy cups (we have two for Nat to use in the car and for a treat, in front of the t.v. very rarely) are kinda clunky and heavy for Selina.  I considered a hot beverage cup I use that holds only 8 oz, but it's designed for adults and doesn't seem quite right either.  I thought about skipping the sippy stage altogether and Selina has practiced a little bit with juice glasses with about a tablespoon of water in them, but I can't do it cold turkey.  I want to fall back on a sippy for a while after all.

Today I found this product and I am so excited about trying it out!  Anyone ever use a foogo sippy by Thermos?  It holds 7 oz and comes with the handles (you can get these handles for your Kleen Kanteen, too, but it's still 12 oz which is just too heavy for Selina, when full of liquid).  As soon as it's May 1st and my monthly budget is all fresh and clean, I'm gonna order a couple.

I'll let you know how it goes!

ETA: Whew! Upon a closer look at the Thermos website, I saw that the plastic parts of the foogo are "rubberlike" and "soft" which is a red flag for phthalates (long banned in Europe). But a quick search this morning brought me to this page" which says they are BPA- and phthalate-free. So they're still on tomorrow's shopping list!

Who Woulda Guessed?

via Susan:

You Are a Colon

You are very orderly and fact driven. You aren't concerned much with theories or dreams... only what's true or untrue. You are brilliant and incredibly learned. Anything you know is well researched. You like to make lists and sort through things step by step. You aren't subject to whim or emotions. Your friends see you as a constant source of knowledge and advice. (But they are a little sick of you being right all of the time!) You excel in: Leadership positions You get along best with: The Semi-Colon

What Punctuation Mark Are You?

Sleep When the Baby Sleeps

It's all well and good with that first baby (and assuming you are not working a full-time, paying job), isn't it? But every mother of more than one knows that usually, when the baby sleeps, someone else (or multiple someone else's) are in desperate need of constant service and attention.

I have achieved that magical goal of overlapping naps, folks! Selina has lately decided that one nap per day is just fine for her, thanks, and believe it or not, this is a great relief to me. Now I can put her down at 11:30, put Nat down at 12 and they both sleep until 1 or 1:30.

This has been going on for three days now.

That means I have had a nap myself (even if it was only ten minutes on the couch) for two days in a row! It's amazing the difference ten minutes makes for an insomniac such as myself. All the difference in the world.

I don't know how long this will last. Nat is well over three now and is bound to give up napping at some point sooner rather than later. But I will enjoy it while I can.

Jeremiah Wright on Bill Moyers Journal Tonight

Don't know if you saw it, but...wow!  Jeremiah Wright is smart, kind and good-looking.  He didn't say a single word I disagree with.  Moyers also played longer clips of the sermons that were cut to meaningless shreds for anti-Obama hysteria purposes.  I was standing up in my living room shouting Amen, and so was Cole and she's an atheist.  David Brooks said tonight on the News Hour that Wright should just keep his mouth shut if he wants to help Obama.  He couldn't have been more wrong.

Check out the interview here.

Tired but...

I am really too tired to write much of anything these days.  But I had to stop in and tell you something.  I talked a mom today with a six-week old and a 22-month old and she is ready to kill somebody and certain that she is a failure as a mom and doesn't know why she can't handily parent two kids like she sees so many others doing.

I told her, and I'll tell you:  No, you aren't a failure or crazy it just really is that hard.  It is, it is.  It is totally normal to feel like you want to die, and that you'd perhaps even like to take a little person out with you when you go.

Yes, you should get some help--a friend, a relative, the UPS man, anyone!  Someone who can give you a nap for a hour, or a trip to the store alone or something.  Beg if you have to, pick up the phone and call someone you barely know.  And tell yourself that "this too shall pass" because it shall, it really shall.

Won't it, ya'll?  Tell her about it!

Not To Be Outdone

Selina did the following things for the first time:

1. waved bye-bye
2. clapped
3. crawled

all today!

Belated Third Birthday Pictures

Here's the cake I made for Nat's third birthday. For more, check out the photoblog!

Props to Nat

Nat sat still for two hours yesterday to get her hair done. That is champion three-year old behavior, if I do say so myself.

Her hair has only recently got long enough to put in a nice long-term hair style (for us, long-term is a week at this point). And I am glad not to be redoing it every three days like I had been for a year or two. But the long-term hair takes more time too.

Nat quite often pitches a fit on hair day. But we suffer through and get it done by any means necessary. Yesterday, it was like she just made a decision to try sitting still. Every ten minutes or so, she'd say "I'm sitting still, Mama Shannon!" and I'd congratulate and thank her.

So go Nat!

(Meanwhile Selina's hair is fast outgrowing its baby pass and I am going to have to start paying it some concerted attention. It's completely different from Nat's so it's a whole new learning curve.)

Yes

We felt it.

There was this wild-eyed prophet of doom-type professor at my college who was always warning us about the New Madrid fault. We were all like, that old thing? Ha.

Ha!

(By the way, it's "MA-drid," not mah-DRID.")

Celebrate with Us!

Some of you may know Cari.

Cari is sort of my virtual baby-sis and a fabulous person who happens also to be a (fabulous) first mother. She is pregnant again now and planning to parent her baby girl, due in July but probably coming early! (This is the baby we got to see in a live-web-cast, 4D u/s, and the first live u/s I have ever seen. Very exciting indeed! I can vouch that baby girl was even cute at 23 weeks gestation...)

Poor Cari has not had the easiest pregnancy so far. She's even been hospitalized a couple of times and has lost some weight. Let's cheer her up, shall we?

I'd love anyone out there who is a supporter of adoption, of adoption reform, of first mothers, of pregnancy, of babies or even just of cute baby stuff to join me in showering Cari and baby girl.

You can find her Baby Registry at Babies R Us.

Thanks in advance!

Hands

These are Nat's hands.

But I was noticing Selina this morning and thinking that I really love the stage of babyhood when they are still quite little, but their hands start working properly. Selina is getting increasingly dextrous these days. If she reaches for it, she tends to get it. If she aims for her mouth, she makes it. If she grabs for a crumb fallen from her rice cake, she can pick it up with a perfect "pincer" grasp.

I think it melts my heart to watch because the hands seem so ahead of the rest of the child. She's still more or less a helpless, completely dependent being but her hands are a little window into her future as a competent, independent person.

It's a reminder of the fleeting nature of this time when they so easily love me. Who knows what those hands will get up to when they're attached to a 17-year old?

Number Four

Technically, #1 came in second, but #4 was a close third and I am too tired to think hard enough to write #1 for you tonight.

So here are some cute girlie vignettes:

Selina still thinks Nat hung the moon. Nat has figured out just how easy it is to please her sister and just how fun it is to get her laughing really hard. Selina is such a little Buddha baby, her giggles are to die for. Nat can get her really worked up, just by playing peek-a-boo. Selina will laugh so hard, she'll fall over and laugh even harder as a result.

Nat also likes to get Selina "talking" by asking her to say "Big Sister Nat!" and coaxing "gagaga" and "dadada" and "bwahbwahbwah" out of her. (By the way Selina has started saying "mamama" but we aren't sure if she really means it yet.)

About half the time when Selina cries (which isn't very often), Nat will come running, kneel down by Selina and wrap her arms around her, cooing "it's okay, baby Seena! Don't cry!" and lo and behold, Selina will stop crying and start grinning. Big sister is a magic pill.

When we meet people, they will ask Nat her name and how old she is, and Nat will sometimes tell them these things, but she will always wave her arm in Selina's direction and announce "that's baby sister, Seena Babeena!" which always puzzles people. They catch the baby sister part, but after that, they're stumped.

Speaking of "Seena Babeena," Nat has started singing the "Name Game" song to Selina thusly: "Seena, Seena, Babeena, Nanna-Fanna Feena, Fee-Fi, Meena, Seena!" It's very cute.

Nat has her jealous moments, to be sure. When we are all supposed to be sitting down playing with cars or blocks or puzzles, Nat has a tendency to insert herself, bodily, between Selina and me--usually by sitting on me, whether there's room or not--sometimes, by sitting on Selina. She's also been known to "pat" Selina less than gently and claim to be helpfully burping her, or to deliver a board book to her sister by dumping it on her head.

But overall, there's still a lot of love.