jessica9801's Xanga

Moving On

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 14:21:52 GMT

I finally did it! I started a new blog. Effective immediatly I will no longer be posting here on Xanga. I've moved into the real world of blogging and hopefully Joe will be joining me in my blogging efforts... making it a family blog!

Check us out!

http://we3liebs.blogspot.com

Thanks to everyone who read and commented on my wedding blog it was alot of fun and I recommend for anyone getting married to blog!

Baby Names!

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 19:41:53 GMT

GOOD NEWS: Joe and I have picked out names for the baby!

BAD NEWS: We're not telling anyone until the baby is earthside!

WHY?: Everyone has an opinion and people are less likely to make rude/ugly comments about a cute little baby. Plus it's fun to make people wait!

We promise they aren't weird.

HINT: The initials will be JAL or MAL (we're not telling which is the boy and which is the girl!)

P.S. the video below is just for you to watch... comment as you wish!

Just Listen

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 22:19:34 GMT

Baby Films

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 14:47:54 GMT

There is a birth film revolution currently sweeping across America. As women become more conscience of their bodies and what they are capable of the film industry has started to respond with the development of the Motherbaby International Film Festival Cocurated by Debby Takikawa and Diana Paul. "The Motherbaby International Film Festival (MIFF) is a showcase of the best and most amazing films about pregnancy, birth and babies. MIFF screens only soul nourishing, eye opening, woman empowering films from around the world."

Over 25 films were presented at the 2007 festival in Portland, Oregon. Here is a short listing of the films I'm interested in viewing:

A Clear Road to Birth directed/produced/edited by Judy Seaman
This is the premier video on natural, drug free, unassisted birth. It is revolutionary and confidence building.
A Midwife's Tale screenplay by Laurie Kahn-Leavitt
“A Midwife’s Tale” is an extraordinary film based on the diary of Martha Ballard. Author, Laurel Ulrich spent eight years deciphering Martha’s diary that was written during the 1770’s. This beautiful film incorporates Martha Ballard’s story and scenes from Laurel Ulrich’s research."
Breast is Best
In response to a decline in the number of women who breastfed their babies, Norwegian society reaped the benefits of the government’s promotion of this video. Norway now has 100% breastfeeding success.
The Business of Being Born
In this candid and eye-opening documentary, director Abby Epstein and producer Ricki Lake explore and question the way American women have babies. Shocking facts (to men and women alike), regarding the historical and current practices of the child birthing industry, interweave with stories of couples who decide to give birth on their own terms.
What Babies Want
What Babies Want is an award-winning documentary film exploring the profoundly important and sacred opportunity we have in bringing children into the world. Filled with captivating stories and infused with Noah Wyle’s warmth as narrator, the film demonstrates how life patterns are established at birth and before. The documentary includes groundbreaking information on early development as well as appearances by the real experts: babies and families.
You Just Have To Talk to the Man
Granny Midwife, Margaret Charles Smith (1906-2004) attended over 3,500 births without ever losing a mother. She lived and worked in rural Alabama, in a town devoted to Jim Crow and the KKK.

There were many other great films screened at the festival if you want more information about them visit their website at www.motherbabyiff.com

Nearly one third of all US babies arrive by cesarean section. The US is ranked 42^nd in the world for infant mortality and 31^st for maternal mortality. Some think there is a better, safer, less taxing way to give birth. These people will be at MIFF screening new films, sharing important research and giving gentle, time-honored tips to ease the next generation onto the planet.

Music News

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 12:38:27 GMT

What do these three bands have in common?

The are going to be playing Walnut Creek Ampitheater this summer. Of course the concert is June 10th so I doubt Joe and his 9 month pregnant wife will be attending but everyone else should go in our place. It will be awesome... no doubt about it!

Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 18:11:47 GMT

Work is boring sometimes so you have to explore the internet. Recently I've been perusing the maternity/baby sites and I've found so many great online shops with cute stuff!

Here are a few of my favorites!

Fierce Hugs

Not only are the clothes cute but they are also made from organic cotton!

Baby Wit

Pop Culture clothes for your baby!

Who should be president?

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 17:32:09 GMT

I'm not a very polictical person but I try to keep up with important issues including the upcoming election. Although I haven't decided who I'm going to vote for it's interesting to hear people's opinions about the candidates. My grandmother recently sent me this link http://www.votechooser.com which is a very trivial way to choose a candidate but fun nonetheless.

Here are my results:

3 WAY TIE FOR FIRST

Hilary Clinton

Mike Huckabee

Barak Obama

I'm not sure how that happens but here are my results from another quiz I took.

71% John McCain
70% Barack Obama
69% Hillary Clinton
69% Mike Huckabee
65% John Edwards
63% Bill Richardson
60% Chris Dodd
59% Joe Biden
59% Mitt Romney
57% Tom Tancredo
55% Rudy Giuliani
52% Fred Thompson
41% Dennis Kucinich
40% Mike Gravel
37% Ron Paul

2008 Presidential Candidate Matching Quiz

It's interesting to see the results of these quizzes but ultimately they are all flawed since a multiple choice quiz doesn't allow you to chose an answer outside of the options. Additionally, there are current issues that interest me more than others and I will probably chose a candidate that agrees with me on those issues even if I disagree with them on issues that are less important to me. Finally, there is the important factor of character. Many candidates make false promises or use archetypical labels to gain support from naive citizens that believe politics are pure and policitians have the best intrests of the citizens in mind!

What do men do at a Women's Conference?

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 22:39:51 GMT

I'm glad you asked. A few weekends ago Andrea and I had the privilege of leading worship for a women's conference at our church. In selecting the accompanying band we obviously chose a few of our favorite men to join us. (our husbands and the amazing Seth Hall!) During the meetings the men found various ways to amuse themselves at church. I recently discovered that at some point during the event Joe acquired my camera and the boys had a little fun...

SETH IN A BOX

POP-UP JOE

GIANT JERRY

and my favorite....

EXTRA TALL JERRY

Boys will be boys... it's just a little funnier when they get bigger.

I Heart Bento

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 17:21:39 GMT

Bentō is a single-portion takeout or home-packed meal common in Japanese cusine and they're so cute!

This one consists of Chicken Tosino, Cucumbers shapped like animals, carrots and Onigiri with Nori cutouts

This side items consists of Peanut Butter Green Pepper, a Clementine, Cucumbers, Wheatgrass crakers, dressing, hard boiled eggs. Spa Lady consists of blue rice, lunch meet, cucumber, mayo and canned cheese.

Finally this one has a hard boiled egg, dried cranberries, pretzels and goldfish, pierogis and cheese with nori hearts.

If only I had the time and talent to make such elaborate lunches!

I wish I could sing like this

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 21:02:08 GMT

much less while I was in labor!

My friend Stacy shared this with me and I thought it was worth a quick blog!

Enjoy!