License to Procreate

Emily Jane is doing well. Evenings have been a bit rough with some gas and crying, but she usually smoothes out by 11:00. Yesterday, E.J. and her mom went on their first adventure…a reading and book signing with Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea at Agnes Scott. Emily Jane slept in a sling and most people didn’t even know Cindy had a baby with her. Mortenson is a humanitarian who works to establish schools in remote areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan, particularly for girls. In some places it is illegal for girls to go to school.

Speaking of illegal.

Should we have to have a license to procreate? Don’t panic, I’m not going all red-china population control on you or anything. But having and raising a child is much more difficult than other things I have to have a license for. Driving, hunting, or fishing. And of all the millions of things that need permits, no permit is needed to add a person to the world. It requires nothing of anyone but fertile loins to bring children into this world. Of course, this is all just coming out of my fear of not being a good parent or doing something out of sheer ignorance like butt medicine in E.J.’s mouth.

But I do have a recommendation, as radical as it may be, to the food and drug administration. I propose every infant boy receive a surgically placed valve in his little seminal vesicles and this valve is switched to “off.” You know we have the technology. The inventors of the vasectomy reversal, nano tech robots and the makers of the iphone could have a prototype in a week. When all little boys become men, say at 25 or so, they can go have their little valves turned to “on” at their doctor’s office. There wouldn’t be any test of intelligence (against Cindy’s opinion), or common sense, or financial fitness exam, or anything else that might seem Gatica like. Men, simply by reaching the age of 25, could get a license of procreate. And E.J.’s dad would sleep much better.

about time

sorry for the delay...today emily jane is 8 lbs and 11oz. good news. e.j. has been a bit fussy in the evenings...though the last two nights she's been a little sweetheart. she did well today at the doctor, all systems go. she lifts her head and looks around when she's on her belly. she also started to coordinate her facial expressions with her feelings. one night this past week she slept for a 5 hour stretch.
her father has an uncorrected rough draft of his doctor of ministry final project...which is even more good news. since it is due next week at the latest, so not much time left.
speaking of time. in the recent LOST episode it was asserted that there is nothing anyone can do to change the past, which seems obvious enough, but not to someone who has apparently just traveled back in time. it does appear possible to change the future, again obvious stuff. but those changes only occur in the future of the time traveled person's original time continuum. so if you left 2008 and went back to 2000 you still couldn't have kept BUSH from being elected president, but you could act to cause OBAMA to be elected back in your original time. this type of reasoning causes one to reconsider past regrets and be hopeful in the future.

Tree Frogs, Bear Cubs and Gremlins

Life is pretty good for a three week old. Emily Jane is more gassy than her father and she adores her mother. Generic mylecon drops are good friends. Today her friend Kiva came over to visit. Kiva is way older, like three months. She does big baby things like hold her head up, focus her eyes and smile on purpose. E.J. is starting to pull things toward her and push things away. She likes making new friends. She is not a very loud baby, however, she is a very noisy one. Next week, two important things happen. First, Emily Jane has her one month check-up...the weigh in and some shots...ouch. The second thing is the presidential inauguration.
In Emily Jane’s world it will always be normal to have a black president. Many other things will be normal for her. Being friends with people from other countries will always be normal for her. Conserving gas, electricity, and recyclables will always be normal. Food will always have been expensive, valuable, and shared. War will be an ongoing reality but hopefully never glorified and talk of peace will fill her ears and hopefully her heart. Saving will be more popular than credit. And she always will be able to imagine doing what a courageous black man did the day she turned one month old.
Check out her latest vid (turn your volume way up).

Power to the People

Last week was a big week for Emily Jane. She met two grandfathers, another grandmother and got her first bath. She was on the phone with her agent and soaking in her luxurious private hot tub when she got great news...the Wright deal finally came through.
Grandmother Clevenger got her a Cleopatra Doll from the Tut exhibit. Today she made her first trip to BabysRUs, which totally overwhelmed her and made her poop. Pooping is good. She also cashed in a few gift cards and with some coupons got a pack-n-play and a rain forest swing. Emily's appetite has really revved up. She's a greedy little girl. She's also very fortunate to be loved by some many people.

When Emily Jane's Hungry

Here are some fun pics of Emily Jane proving she's not just having gas. She is very hungry. We're always trying to figure out what Emily wants. Aunt Nancy said she was sleepy. Cindy said she was gassy. Snuggle, Snuggle, latch.