Bath Time (otherwise known as The Splash Zone)

Ezra's bath time has become one of his favorite times of the day.  We are currently experimenting with using it to help get in the bedtime mood.  So far, it seems to work really well.  He loves playing in the warm water.  He has just recently gotten too big for the newborn sling that usually sits in his little tub, so he has more space to play.  Ezra has decided that the thing to do with all the extra space is to splash around so that everyone in the room gets to enjoy his bath as much as he does.



Ezra's first Halloween (sort of)

Happy Halloween!



Alex is an Ewok and Ezra is a bull



 Tonight was the annual church Trunk-or-Treat where everyone decorates their cars and the children go around for candy.  It's a neat alternative to Trick-or-Treating because the community is tighter nit than most neighbors.   We combined with our extended family, Lindsay and Alex, and had a really cool evening.  We decorated with spider garland and a lighted pumkin on top of the car.  Alex helped us pass out the candy, and he was really good at making sure everyone got at least a couple pieces, sometimes more :) 



Moo.



Marla is a hotdog with mustard. 



Ezra dressed in his bull costume (I've been told I cannot call him a cow), and Marla dressed as a hotdog.  Marla was very gentle with all the kiddos that wanted to come play with her, and she remarkably kept her costume on all night long, even though we were pretty sure she would lose it in the first five minutes.   

All in all, my favorite Halloween ever has been the first one I had a kid.  I would never have imagined.  :)



Ezra had a great time, but he was done before the night was over. 



Why LYB Day is so important to me

This is what inspired me to celebrate Love Your Body Day each year.  Jean Kilbourne is amazing.  I will say that this material is not rated G.  It is, however, nothing that isn't seen in any magazine you pick up in a grocery store. 

What are  your thoughts?

Love Your Body Day 2011

Supporting what you believe in is important, otherwise you're just a spectator rooting for the good team.  Why not join the team?  Since last year's Dating Violence Seminar, I have decided that at least once a year I will do some sort of feminist activism.  This year my activism was to throw a party for Love Your Body Day. 

Awesome Publix cake, as promised

The party began with food and good company.  In the invitation I definitely promised cake and door prizes.  I ordered the cake from Publix and ask that the words "Love Your Body Day" be iced on the cake.  My request was met with a hushed tone and the reply, "I'm sorry-  we can't do that."  Confused, I assumed it was because they did not have a stencil for it.  But, non, entertainingly enough, putting the word "Body" on a cake is a no-no.  It was explained to me that "body" on the cake could insinuate perverse ideas.  I had to laugh to myself a bit on that one.  After a long think about what could convey the message of the day and not include the word "body," I called back the Publix bakery and had them put "Celebrate You" on the cake, with which they were much more comfortable.  The cake was delicious.

Packets full of recipes

Next, there was a station for nutritious eating that was based upon health rather than skinny figures.  There were packets of recipes given out as well discussing antioxidants and omega fatty acids.  This was something I was excited to have because rarely in the media do we hear about diets for health.  Often we here about our "girlish figures," "Bikini bodies," and becoming "high school skinny."  The entire focus for the eating presentation was on health rather than calories.  Included in this display was a storyboard that showed beautiful women of all different shapes and sizes. 



Beautiful bodied women



I especially love Dove's campaign for real beauty.  This set up worked really well next to a slideshow made by NOW for Love Your Body day that discusses women presented in advertising.  To view that presentation, please visit NOW's Sex Stereotypes Beauty Page. 

Lastly, I prepared a craft (because who doesn't love a craft?!).  On one side of a small bag I painted a hear or a star and LYB.  The other side was to be decorated with things we love about our body or things we love doing with our bodies. 

Front of the bags

Decorated back of the bags

I would definitely say the night was a success.  As my activism for the year I hope I was able to help put a better perspective on female bodies and how to both appreciate them and not take cues from the media on what they should be. 

Happy Love Your Body Day!

This year had certainly been a busy one for our little family.  We have welcomed lots of new family through marriages, but we have also increased our numbers with our little Ezra and Marla, our dachshund.  Ezra is the fourth grandchild on Jason's side and the first on Blythe's side.  We have love seeing his firsts so far such as rolling over, reaching for things, smiles, laughter, etc. 

Right now, Ezra is working on rolling over consistently.  He almost has it-  his arms tend to be his biggest hurtle.  He is also trying to crawl (though we must admit it looks more like swimming on land).  He loves looking around and doing baby push-ups.

Currently, we are looking forward to the holidays.  Kick starting the holidays is halloween.  Although Jason and Blythe have yet to figure out their costumes, Ezra is going to the Church's Trunk or Treat as a cow and Marla is going as a hotdog with mustard. 

<------- Here is Ezra getting ready for Halloween with his scary bat vampire pajamas.

Hopefully, we will keep up with this blog pretty regularly, as we have many family and loved ones we can't see day-to-day.  This is for ya'll :)