Another reason to hate the FDA

Chalk one more up on the list of reasons to despise this evil organization. This one now tops my growing list; the FDA has approved food from clones. Nice huh? So much for going out for steak! Not that I normally have dairy, but this really sucks. Sign the petition, at least we can let our elected officials know we're not happy about this unregulated institution's control over our lives.

Politics

I got this in an email and was pretty sickened by it so I figured it good to share. And no, I didn't go out and vote in my caucus today, Kaylee wasn't having any going out, and I'm not fully supportive of anyone running so I don't really feel right voting just yet.

If Hillary wins in 2008 and Bill is 'appointed' to fill her Senate seat and either live to retire 'they' (together or alone) would get two US Presidential retirement checks, two US Senate retirement checks, and a retirement check from the State of Arkansas .
About the only thing they MIGHT NOT get is a Social Security check....but I wouldn't bet on it....

I understand ole Bill has earned $40,000,000 in the past six years. What a guy!

AND THE REST OF THE STORY... Hilarious Rotten Clinton , as a New York State Senator, now comes under the 'Congressional Retirement and Staffing Plan,' which means that even if she never gets reelected, she STILL receives her Congressional salary until she dies. (Would it not be nice if all Americans were pension eligible after only 4 years?)

If Bill outlives her, he then inherits HER salary until HE dies. He is already getting his Presidential salary until he dies. If Hillary outlives Bill , she also gets HIS salary until she dies. Guess who pays for that?

It's common knowledge that in order for her to establish NY residency, they purchased a million dollar-plus house in upscale Chappaqua , New York makes sense!

They are entitled to Secret Service protect ion for life.

Still makes sense.

Here is where it becomes interesting Their mortgage payments hover at around $10,000 per month. BUT, an extra residence 'had' to be built within the acreage to house the Secret Service agents.

The Clinton 's charge the Federal government $10,000 monthly rent for the use of that extra residence, which is about equal to their mortgage payment. This means that we, the taxpayers, are paying the Clinton 's salary, mortgage, transportation, safety and security, as well as the salaries for their 12 man staff -- and, this is all perfectly legal!

As she runs for President, will YOU vote for her?

follow up on the hoarding kitten issue...

So I was again cleaning out the stash under the crib and I found a bunch of my Christmas cards that never got sent. How she got them under there I'm not sure, but it seems like such a classic "excuse" to say my kitten stole my cards, that's why they were late getting to you. I'm a loser.

learning to blog

So I've been sucking at the blogging thing, but I guess you could say I've been doing some field research and reading lots of blogs lately. It's amazing to see the things that people feel the need to write about, some things are very quality and relevant, some just random rants. I can actually say that I'm learning a lot from other people and what they're willing to share. I'm also having lots of fun getting caught in giveaway rings where bloggers have joined together and are giving things away. My favorite one so far is for my absolute favorite baby product - the ergo. The blogger at "Our Blessed Arrows" is giving away an ergo accessory pack which is so amazing! I'm hoping to win, but even if I don't it's fun to enter. I'm so excited to actually see that there are other mom's out there who not only care about their kids but also about the impact that they have on the world. There are more people using cloth diapers than you'd think, and more people really getting involved with their kids through homeschooling, doing activities with them and making meals for them. I'm so encouraged not to be alone in this world. I'm also encouraged by all of those willing to stand up for what they believe in and speak it loudly and proudly online. It's awesome to have an instant bond with strangers through Christ and the love he has for us. Yeah, so there's some of my thoughts for today and my random searches in this crazy virtual world of the internet.

1 UP

So Halloween... it's not what it once was, but it's still a fun time to dress up and be someone else for a day. I just had to share a picture of our fun this year. Hope you enjoy.

Strange habits of a hording kitten

Following a trail of two or three disposable diapers that we had received as a partial package and were using for travel, up the stairs I was a little confused and wondered what was up. I followed the 'bread crumbs' to the baby's room and looked around.... nothing. I put the few diapers on a shelf under the changing table next to the cloth ones and went on with my day. Later when I went in to change Kaylee's clothes (spit up isn't fun to wear) I was denied access to the changing table

and decided that since I don't have enough arms I would just use the floor to change the poor girl. I spread out a blanket and sat down next to Kaylee and began changing her and I glanced under the crib and found the stash...
I should have known, I've found lost socks and piles of stuffed animals here before, but she's now grabbing rather large bags of diapers in addition to the normal toys and treasures. I'm not sure what the fascination is but it's quite entertaining!

An update on the EC journey. It occurred to me as I was holding Kaylee over a bucket today (so proud of her, she's amazing and doing great at telling us when she has to go) that Jesus was probably EC'd when he was a baby. Just a cool thought that made me smile.

Another quest

So while changing the third diaper within probably a twenty minute span, already fuming about the entitlement/wasteful attitude of American's (good story as to why, but that's another post that probably won't happen as I will sensor myself to avoid hurt feelings- you can ask personally if you want to know) I wondered to myself how people who use disposable diapers do it; and even more how they can live with themselves and what they're doing to the environment. Not to mention the financial cost of being so wasteful. Now I'm not judging them entirely, many people have really good reasons for using those things; and they definitely don't change the baby every time they get wet, but still, that is a lot of diapers. I feel guilty about throwing out the 'disposable' wipe after it's fourth time through the wash and there is barely anything left to it. And as I threw the cloth diaper into the laundry bin and see the growing pile of laundry I also feel the guilt about the water and electricity that it will take to clean the pile. The fact that our HOA won't let us put up a clothes line and we have to use the dryer (not that our HE washer and dryer use much electricity/water but still...) makes me even more upset. I then began to question how people in other countries deal with the waste disposal of their infants. I mean when I visited Haiti no one had any clothes, so I'm pretty sure they didn't just turn to a stack of Huggies when baby needs to poo. So I started doing some research, and found out what I'm sure they probably do and how it makes so much more sense than the torture we put ourselves through here in the states with diapers and then toilet training. They call it EC or Natural Infant Hygiene (lots more links if you're interested let me know) and it's basically potty training your baby from birth.
I joined a few of the Yahoo groups on the subject and have to say I really agree that it's silly to teach a baby to ignore their needs of elimination for the first two years of their lives and then suddenly expect them to change once they reach a socially acceptable age. I know that Kaylee is aware of when she has to go now, and also that she can control it. The fact that she stops once she realizes she's wet and that that is uncomfortable to her (why I change so many diapers in such a short timespan) is evidence of that. I just need to learn her cues a little better (I've figured out the hungry, tired, and wet cues why not learn the pre-wet one?) and then help meet her needs.

The concept is part of the attachment parenting theory of parenting, which as a whole I don't buy into. It does have a few good aspects. I like EC; it makes sense. I think babywearing is great, but don't think that it should be an all the time thing, as most AP people do. I strongly believe that children need to be on their own some. They don't need to be constantly attached to their mother. (Nor do I think they enjoy it- the happiness I see on my little girl's face when I take her out of the sling so she can move around and interact is evidence enough of that for me). I also believe children need structure in order to foster their independence; they shouldn't have a boob stuck in their mouth whenever they cry, but should be fed when they are hungry. They should sleep on their own and not always have to be in bed with mom and dad. I don't think that creating a supportive and loving environment should require parents or children to sacrifice their entire independence. Now these are just my views, I don't expect others to agree. However having these views, makes me not fit in so well with the AP crowd, and my openness to other not so traditional ideas (cloth diapers, babywearing, EC) tends to cast me out of the traditional groups... what's a girl to do?