Post Auction Round-up...

Yesterday was the La Leche League Silent Auction, an event that I have run for the last four years and from which I have just stepped down.

The Silent Auction is always a blast. My co-leader and I wear evening gowns and tiaras to promote the auction which takes place during our Area Conference. There are so many, many babies to coo over and more than a few little girls stop to stare at our fancy dresses. The camaraderie that I share with my fellow Conference Volunteers is also amazing- it feels wonderful to be working hard for a cause which means so much to me.

However, spring is becoming an increasingly busy time for us. We have birthdays and dance shows, recitals and gymnastics performances. I am looking forward to not having the auction on my plate next year.

Tomorrow, as Lily has reminded me every single day for the last two weeks, is Lily's birthday and it is really the craziest thing because that child is turning eight.

I told her that I have had quite enough of her growing already and that I'd appreciate if she would just stop.

She refuses. She is so difficult.

Tomorrow there will be a special outing, cheeseburgers and cake.

Here are some things I feel you should know.

I killed three hornets in my attic today by spraying liquid poison on them. I really didn't want to use poison in a poorly ventilated room where my children play, but dude, HORNETS! One year I found a hornet in the attic and went downstairs to get the hornet poison. By the time I got back my cats had killed it and were eating it. It turns out that occasionally the cats aren't completely useless.

My house is properly cleaned because I did a big blitz on it when I came home today, but also because my husband had the kitchen nice and tidy when I returned. Know what else he did? He changed the sheets on the bed this morning. They were starting to feel like a sandbox from the sand which the dogs track into the house. It was so nice to get into bed tonight and find clean sheets that smell like a dryer sheet commercial. Thank you David for being a man of great competence and heart.

Eight years ago, right around this time I went into labor and showed David my mucus plug. He was grossed out. I was excited because it meant that this baby was going to be getting off my bladder and out of my body. You can only appreciate the joy of the mucus plug if you have carried seven pounds of human being inside your body.

Sophie pooped on the porch and ate half of it.

After Lily was born we found the cats playing with her shriveled umbilical stump on the floor.

Rebecca bought all of her gifts for Lily with her own money. She even bought Lily's teddy bear a present. I love that kid.

I miss mixed tapes. When I was a teenager and in my twenties a mixed tape was a declaration of love.

Dixie Carter died. Most celebrity deaths do not affect me at all. People die and I do not miss a step. But Dixie Carter, especially as Julia Sugarbaker, is a loss I keenly feel. Julia Sugarbaker was a wonderful character, smart and classy and strong. My mother and I still refer to using our best "Julia Sugarbaker" when we have been especially angry and outspoken. May you rest in peace.

That's about all I have today. I'm sure I'll have a weepy maudlin post about Lily tomorrow. Stay tuned!

Sniffing babies...

Once upon a time there was a lovely young bride who happily found herself with child. The young bride had always pictured herself serenely nursing her babies in the soft glow of morning, beside an open window, with a soft breeze blowing. Well meaning friends would suggest that the young bride attend a class on breastfeeding. "How ridiculous!" she thought to herself. "How hard can it be?" The young bride angered the lactation gods with her hubris and they struck her down, cursing her with a bad latch and nipples so sore that she wailed in agony.

After two weeks of misery the young bride called La Leche League who sent along a Fairy Godmother. The Fairy Godmother was both a La Leche League Leader and a Lactation Consultant. She soothed the young bride and showed her the proper way to bring her baby to her breast. It was a miracle! There was no pain and the young bride rejoiced! Her dream had come true and she nursed her baby for many many months.

Once the young bride's babies were weaned, she knew it was time for her to begin her training and become a La Leche Leader so that she might pass on the gift of happy nursing to other young mothers in need. After several years she became accredited and began her work drying the tears of exhausted mothers and showing them the way to nursing joy.

Which brings me to today. Today is the second Thursday of the month. On the second Thursday of every month, I lead La Leche League meetings. Today there were three pregnant mothers, two mothers with four month olds, one mother with an eight month old and a mother with an eighteen month old.

There was a lot of baby sweetness in that room. I may have swooned. I may have sniffed. Have you smelled a baby lately? The best smell ever.

One baby had just learned to clap. Fat baby hands clapping and a drooly smile bring me to my knees.

I love having big kids. They are so much fun. They are interesting and engaging.

But I have a secret wish. I wish that just once a week, for about half an hour, I could have them back as infants. I would nurse them, stroke their soft hair, smell them and just hold them in quiet stillness.

La Leche League gives me a bit of that. When I go see new mothers, so tired and so in love with their new babies, I get a little taste of my secret wish. And I always sneak a sniff.