Archive for 'kids' Category

2011.05.19

Dear Sophie

This is a wonderful idea. Someone came up with the idea of using various Google products to create a sort of active journal for their child, as demonstrated in this video called Dear Sophie. Very touching, and a seriously good idea. I’m just wondering if there’s an easy way to do this without using Google…

2011.05.10

Child Cannibalism

Last night I was reading one of the many baby books we have in preparation for the Little Monkey arriving in our lives. There are so many things I didn’t know, or simply never thought about. For example, I never knew what the umbilical cord connected to: the placenta. And what exactly is the placenta? It’s an organ, derived from the blastocyst (specifically the trophoblast) that creates the baby, filtering food, waste and blood from the mother.

I remembered hearing that some people eat the placenta after the birth. But if the placenta comes from the blastocyst that means it is made from the same cells that your baby is made of. You are essentially eating your baby. It’s like if the baby’s arm fell off one day and you thought to yourself, “Hey, that looks kind of delicious. I feel like baby steak tonight!”

Some people think there are good reasons to eat the placenta. For example it is supposed to help post-partum blues in the mother and help get the milk flowing. Apparently there is not a lot of evidence to support this and it could simply be the placebo effect. Regardless, just because most other animals are eating it (strangely, camels do not) doesn’t mean we have to. It’s cannibalism! You are eating the genetic material of your child! You’re eating cells that, but for lucky position in the embryo, would have become your child!

Apparently there is a booming business in culinary placenta preparation. I wonder if the FDA is aware of this. I hope they don’t have a recall!

I have to say, I’m kind of glad I’m not the only one kind of weirded out by placentophagy. Happily, Rosa isn’t an ex-hippie so I doubt I’ll have to go through what that poor guy did…

Please note: I did not link to any pictures. I did this deliberately; they can be kind of disgusting. Do so at your own risk. Also note: I get it that many women feel more connected to their babies, spiritually and physically, by eating the placenta. This doesn’t change the fact that it is a form of cannibalism and I, personally, find that mildly disturbing.

2011.04.24

Prayer for the Daughter

Tina Fey get’s it right… I need my own personal prayer for my unborn daughter. There’s so much trouble she could -and probably will- get into that will drive me absolutely crazy. How does one cope? I suppose I’ll figure it out. In the meantime, not to be too cliché, but: baby steps.

2011.04.23

A Little Announcement

It’s Saint Jordi’s Day so maybe it’s time for a little announcement…

Rosa and I are going to be parents.

We’re expecting a little girl with a due date of September 11th. Although only 3-5% of babies are born on their due date we are excited about this particular day for two reasons. First, we can start taking back the day for America and second, it’s the national day of Catalonia which is where Rosa is from.

So… I’m going to be a father. How’s that for a “little” announcement!