Apparently, Congressmen Don't Have Kids...

Or they're pocketing so much dough that they don't need to worry about maternity leave benefits. If they did have kids -- and I guess this would only apply to the female Congresswomen -- they would surely have passed a bill providing paid maternity leave to federal employees by now. What's that? You didn't know that the federal government didn't provide paid maternity leave? Surprise! Neither did I. Let's just say I found out, oh in my 6th month of pregnancy, that I would have to take Leave Without Pay for 3 of my four months on maternity leave. And the only reason that I was able to receive a paycheck during the first month was because I had to use all of the vacation days and sick leave that I had accrued [a whole 3 weeks!] in the few months that I had been working with the goverment. Anyway, we were fortunate enough that I was able to still stay home with my baby for a few months, although money was [and because of that] still is tight. Seeing as how Youngest just turned 10 months old last week [!] the memory of the unpaid maternity leave [and my current lack of vacation and sick leave] is still very fresh. So imagine my surprise when a co-worker sent me this link to an article in yesterday's Washington Post. According to the article, Alaska Senator Ted Stevens has introduced a bill that would provide eight weeks of paid maternity leave to federally employed women after childbirth, and 5 days of paid paternity leave to new fathers. The bill would also give 5 days [woop-tee-doo] of paid leave to federal employees who adopt children. Federal parents would also receive eight hours of paid leave to take their children to the doctor or dentist and for parent-teacher meetings at schools. I think it's great! And really about time. The Bush administration will be looking at this issue as part of its budget planning for fiscal 2008. Can't wait to see what happens. In the meantime, I'd like to thank Senator Stevens for being sensitive enough to this issue to introduce this bill.

He must be pregnant.

Hey You! In the Corner...

It's National De-Lurking Week, started by Sheryl at Paper Napkin. I know our blog is fairly new and we probably don't really get all that many visitors, but if you visit us regularly or from time to time and don't leave a comment, now's your chance to stop lurking! Drop us a line to say hi, or to let us know what you think of our blog, just so we know that someone, somewhere gives a hoot :)

Oh, and make sure to leave a link to your blog if you have one so that we can pay you a visit.

'Preciate it!

J. Fergie's Thursday Thirteen #3

Thirteen Things I Plan to Do This Weekend

1. Purchase birthday gifts for the two-year-old twins whose birthday party my daughters have been invited to. Any suggestions for good gifts? Their mother has pleaded with me not to buy them any toys and clothes are so boring for a toddler to open.

2. Attend the party. I'm looking forward to it. The parents of the twins are a great couple [our age for once!] The mom is a Mocha friend of mine. The trick will be to convince Hubby that he will have fun at the party. He has been on an anti-kid party rampage for some months now.

3. Prepare and deliver a meal to a Mocha friend who gave birth last week. A definite perk of our mommy group is that we deliver the new mom meals twice a week for a month after she brings the baby home from the hospital. Having been a recipient of the meals, I can honestly say that it's a real blessing. I think I will make them my delicious taco casserole.

4. Go with Hubby to see Blood Diamond. He has been dying to see this movie since it came out. The last opportunity we had to go to the movies he was outvoted and we went to see Dreamgirls instead. Well, he didn't actually go. My MIL, SIL and I went while Hubby, his dad and my BIL watched the 5 kids. Apparently "men" don't go to see that movie.

5. Attend my second Weight Watchers meeting. Wish me luck on the weigh-in!

6. Visit a new church. Ever since the pastor dies at the church I belong to, I haven't felt compelled to go and I've been searching for a church home. You know, one that just "fits."

7. Clean the house. Again. And finally put away the Christmas decorations and obsolete baby gear that have been piling up in front of our storage space in the basement. Hubby will be ecstatic.

8. Catch up on my missed episodes of Top Chef. And watch a chick flick. I've been trying to watch one every week thanks to On Demand. This is my "me" time. Last week I watched The Family Stone. it was sooo good. I even got teary-eyed at the end.

9. Purchase booster seats for Oldest. Now that Youngest is in a convertible seat, we no longer have a set of car seats in each car [we put both convertible seats in Hubby's car]. It doesn't make sense to buy two more convertible seats since Oldest will be turning three this year, so I figure we can buy two booster seats since Oldest is 35lbs, and have a set for both gorls in each car. Any booster seat recommendations?

10. Visit one of my dearest friends who is giving birth to her second child tomorrow. I'm so excited. Don'cha just love new babies?

11. Purchase baby shower gifts. My office is throwing a baby shower for one of my co-workers next week and I'm in charge of getting the gifts. My weekdays are jam-packed, so if doesn't get done on the weekend, it's not getting done!

12. Volunteer for MLK Day. See MamaLaw #9.

13. Enjoy my family! I am looking forward to the boundless energy, contagious laughter, snuggly hugs, lazy mornings, pizza-ordering, family-errand running and general company of my nutty bunch.

Did you just get tired reading about my weekend plans? I did. At least it's a 3-day weekend!

Have a good one.

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
1. Johnh985
2. starrlight
3. raggedy
4. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)


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*UPDATED* MamaLaw #9 - Give Back

Now of course the golden rule is one of the fundamental principles that we all should be following, regardless of whether we are mothers or not and in every context of our lives, not just parenting. But I thought it would make a good MamaLaw because of our responsibility to teach our children to be nice people [I hear some do still exist!] and as part of that, to be active social citizens. As I get older, I am realizing how important personal relationships, moral character and community involvement are to my life, my children's futures and our society as a whole. 2007 is just beginning and we should all take the time to think about how we are going to incorporate this principle into our resolutions for the year. Lest my post become too heavy [perish the thought!], I will wrap up by telling you about the MLK Day Initiative. It's an inititative by the federal government to make MLK Day a day of service, and the website allows you to search for a community service project by state. They even have several family-friendly service projects that you and your kids can take part in. This sounds like a fun and easy way to give back to the community and a great opportunity to teach your own children the importance of community service. I've already signed us up!

Toodles!

So Nat and I went to volunteer at the Community for Creative Non-Violence yesterday. It was a great experience, not only to participate in the MLK Day Initiative, but to learn about the important history of the center which houses over 1,300 homeless men and women in DC. The center also has a domestic violence shelter, a drug and alcohol rehab program, a food program, a clothing program and a job program. You know what's funny? All we were asked to do was to chat with some of the men recovering in the infirmary. Most, if not all, don't have family and were very happy to have a visitor to talk to. And so, a simple conversation brightened someone's day. How easy was that? Makes you think...Hope you had a good King Day.

'Round and 'Round the Mulberry Bush...

It's been almost three weeks that this cold has been going around and around our house. It started, of course, when Oldest came home with it from daycare. Then Youngest got it. Then they Both had it all through Christmas. Then I got it. Then Hubby got it. And wouldn't you know, as of today Oldest, Youngest and I all have it! It's exhausting. Your average run-of-the-mill sniffles-and-sneezes-cold wouldn't be so bad, but this cold comes with the free bonus gift of a hacking cough. For the most part the kids are unmoved by it, but at nighttime it wreaks havoc on their peaceful slumber. Last night, Youngest was up at 4am coughing her little heart out. And now she has a slight fever, poor thing. I took Oldest to the pediatrician last week who told us that she was the picture of perfect health and that "it should pass on it its own in no time." Well, "no time" has come and gone, Lady! We are all ready to say "Good Riddance" to this nasty cough.

On the bright side, Oldest has become a pro at saying "Bless You" ["ba-dooze!"] and "Excuse Me" ["'scu me mommy!"] and covering her mouth. So maybe we chalk this whole experience up to a manners lesson. The Basic Black Karens would be proud.

Swiper, No Swiping!

So if you have a toddler or your child was a toddler recently, then you know [and quite possibly hate] Dora the Explorer and her band of misfits [ok, not so much], Diego, Boots, Map and that crafty little sticky fingers, Swiper. Well, Swiper lives in Maryland. How do I know this? Because household items will go randomly missing for days, sometimes weeks, on end and it just doesn't even make sense! For example, where is the star piece of our Baby Einstein playgym that lights up and plays music?? I used to see it all the time. It would show up in our bedroom, in the kitchen, in the office and now that I actually want to find it so that I could loan the playgym to one of my co-workers who is expecting, the doggone thing is nowhere to be found. It's gotta be Swiper. And where is my heart-shaped silver necklace that I wore, like, 3 times? There's only so many places that it could be. Gone. And how about the new toothbrush I bought on Friday that I know I unpacked when I got home from the store but seems to have vanished? S-W-I-P-E-R.

But seriously if you see him on a streetcorner trying to sell you my necklace, will you buy it back from him, please?

Is it just me or has Swiper been to your house too lately?

Works for Me Wednesday -- Eating Well

I like that this week's WFMW is themed "Eating Well," because it fits right in with my new weight loss plan. Now, these aren't "recipes" per se, but they are handy dandy tips for healthful snacks. I looove snacks and am contstantly munching on something all day long, so here are a few ideas that work well for me:

(1) Light Popcorn [no butter] drizzled with Honey. Sound strange? My granny used to make us caramel corn in the oven when we were kids (I think she actually used molasses) and it was so delish. When I was on Weight Watchers the first time, I came up with this snack. It's great for after dinner or while you're watching a movie when you want something crunchy and sweet. Pop your popcorn in the microwave, drizzle a tablespoon or two of honey over it, and eat with a spoon. The trick is to measure out a serving of popcorn into a separate container before you eat it (unless you are using the individual microwave popcorn bags). It's too easy to just scarf down the whole thing!

(2) No Guilt BLT. If you need a quick snack or light dinner, this hits the spot. Toast two pieces of light whole wheat bread (Peppridge Farm makes a good one). Spread with 1 tsp. of light mayo (if you can do without the mayo and want to use mustard, even better, but I can't). Microwave two pieces of turkey bacon (Butterball's is good). Top bread with bacon and as much tomato and lettuce as you like. Yummy! And only 4 Weight Watchers points.

(3) Deceivingly Tasty Veggie Burger. Also great for a snack or a quick lunch. Bake or microwave a MorningStar Farms Spicy Black Bean Burger. Put onto whole wheat hamburger bun and top with as much tomato, onion and lettuce as you want. This is so low fat that you can even get away with adding a slice of cheese. Add a tsp. of ketchup and you're golden. Trust me, I am a Fuddrucker's Gal so for me to be recommending a veggie burger must mean that it's good. {Note: it does taste better baked in the oven rather than nuked.} 6 WW points, including cheese.

(4) Tomato Bruschetta. Perfect to make for or take to a party. Slice a baguette of crusty french bread and spray slices with Garlic Pam. Toast in the oven. Chop up Roma tomatoes and red onion, mix with olive oil, garlic powder, salt and pepper to taste. Top bread slices with tomato mixture and sprinkle Shredded Parm ontop.

(5) Caramel Rice Cakes. By Quaker Oats. I could eat 'em all day. My Oldest loves them too. 1 WW point.

(6) Any of the Nabisco 100 Calorie Packs. Seriously. Try the Oreo, Doritos and Chips Ahoy. You won't even miss the real thing! 2 WW points.

(7) Klondike Slim-A-Bear bars. Taste just like the real thing. Not even a yucky aspartame aftertaste. Promise. 4 WW points.

Happy Snacking!

For more healthy recipes, visit Rocks in My Dryer

I feel guilty about having some freedom

Well ladies....I've been back to work now for a week, after spending the last year and change at home with DD. It's been very hectic here because I was thrown into the dungeons immediately. I, however, feel this tremendous sense of freedom being out of the house. Of course I miss her dearly, but I can't explain how liberating this past week has been. I know as time goes by I'll start missing her more as I spend more hours away from her, but I feel really good right now, but I feel guilty at the same time. Am I a terrible mom?

Go Orange & Blue!!

A shout out to J. Jones' and my alma mater for taking home the national title last night! And a personalized poem penned by my Ma!


What else can I say but congratulations Gators!
You’ve certainly squelched all those critics and haters.
Sports fans looked on as you showed them your stuff,
And though some may have left in a huff and a puff
Can’t nobody say that you squeaked out a win.
Can’t anyone claim that the margin was slim
The Canes couldn’t beat em, but you surely did.
You Gators have proven with touchdowns and dunks
That unlike the Canes, you’re not in a funk.
So enjoy being champions and know it was earned
And even if Ohio feels they’ve been burned
IF you want respect, you gotta win with class
IF not then you’ll end up with a kick in the ………………..

GO GATORS!

It's Going On My Wall...

I came across this poem while searching for a printable weekly menu planner and thought I'd share:

Thank God for Dirty Dishes

-- author unknown

Thank God for Dirty Dishes,
They have a tale to tell.
While others are going hungry,
We're eating very well.
With home and health and happiness,
I shouldn't want to fuss.
For by this stack of evidence,
God's very good to us

Puts things in perspective, doesn't it!

Friday's Feast

Appetizer

Which celebrity (or celebrities) do you think will make headlines this year?

Whitney Houston (what with the anticipated post-crack comeback album and all).

Soup

They say that good things come in small packages? What is something little that you think is great?

Of course a baby! A jewelry box from Tiffany. Gummi Bears.

Salad

Name a song that makes you want to dance.

For the moment: "Vans" by The Pack

Main Course
What is your favorite font?

Duh! Georgia, of course. Just so you know, I hate Arial. It makes my skin itchy.

Dessert

If you were to write a do-it-yourself article, what would it be about?

Planning an event. Or how to make your family dinner in 20 minutes or less.

BlogFinds...

Me Again.

Just wanted to share with you two great blogfinds for the day (or, rather, yesterday -- but I was having trouble with Google).

First, Shannon and Chilihead launched a new site for beginner bloggers! It's called BloggingBasics101 and is designed to answer the many questions that us amateur bloggers have but are ashamed to ask...

Second, Christy at The Abundant Life's WFMW tip was sooo cute that I wanted to share. She put up family mailboxes in her kitchen where she puts surprises for different members of her family each day. I'm so doing this when Oldest is, well, a bit older.

That is all.