Pawker Bames turns three.

Dear PJ, 

I just want to capture in words what you are like at this point in your little life. You are passionate. What ever you feel you feel it deeply. You tell everyone that you love "I love you" and when you tell them that you say it at least three times, ending with "I love you sooooooo much" 

When you are mad you are quick with "You are poopie." If that doesn't have the desired effect seconds later  its "I hate you." Five minutes after your rage you are back to "I love you. I'm sorry its my fault. Mom, its all my fault" And you go back about your day.

Your vocabulary is out of this world. I can't think of anything you can't say. If rushed its hard to understand you, but you always manage to get your point across. 

You make sure that you say goodbye to everyone. And its always a full goodbye. Hug. Kiss. AND three goodbyes, even if I'm only running a very quick errand. I have to sit in the van and make sure that you won't manage the lock, evade your dad and run out into the front yard anyway. 

You don't like clothes. Therefore you are frequently naked. This tortures your older siblings. OH MY GAWD MOM he doesn't have any pants on. You all the while don't get what the big deal is. 

You are a good eater. 

You are still breastfeeding. What's up with that? 

We say goodbye to the big kids on the bus, welcome it home every afternoon and spot buses on every trip out of the house. You may fight with them but you want your brother and sisters around you. 

You give equal attention to "girl" stuff and "boy" stuff. You are versed in the vernacular of my little ponies and racing cars. 

You have some OCD tendencies. When you want it done your way in a particular order nothing will re-direct you. 

You are full of life, love, spirit, and spunk. And we love it all.

LOVE YOU SO MUCH PJ.

-mom

Improving Birth Rally 2013

last year's rally this gal was in my belly: 

 Improving Birth one baby at a time 

Best Links for Circumcision information.

I am often asked about unbiased, drama free circumcision links. That is hard - for one thing - bias is everywhere! And sadly peer reviewed methodologically sound studies are not that prevalent for circumcision. Here is one 
The take away from that study is that to prevent one UTI 111 boys will need to be circumcised. BUT the complication rate is 2%, so 2 out of 100 will have a complication to prevent less than one UTI.

To find an unbiased article or blog post that would require someone one day deciding to tackle circumcision when they have no real vested interest in the subject. I think that default should be to NOT doing a painful procedure unless there is solid evidence that it is needed or that there is a deformity to correct. Add to the mix that the person having the procedure done to them might one day want to read up and decide themselves I think its a pretty firm ethical offense to take that choice away.

Lets help the dads with this... Helping dad be on board with his son being different, his son being intact.

My advice. Remember moms to always be gentle (but firm.) and don't fall back on "He has the penis so he should decide." Anatomically the foreskin correlates with a female clitoral hood. Same tissue, different formation. So if dad was circumcised you actually have more in common with your newborn son. So yes he has the penis but YOU have a foreskin. Any argument made for your son's foreskin being removed imagine if it was was your clitoral hood being discussed. If you don't want that removed don't remove your son's foreskin.

If this is about the locker room, remember the tide is turning, soon, if not already, the circumcised boys will be the minority.

Anyhow, here are the following best links (I feel) for helping dad:

Videos:
Elephant in the Hospital:



Penn and Teller Bullshit episode on Circumcision (NSFW):



Craig Ferguson on Circumcision:


Joe Rogan (NSFW)


Links:

The Circumcision Decision

Banned from Baby Showers Circumcision and HIV 

Myths about Circumcision

Oxford special issue on the ethics of circumcision

Any suggestions for what you think would sway a reluctant father's mind?