My Life as A Radical Whore/Madonna

I had a really good day yesterday - very productive and yet sufficiently relaxed.

I cleaned up in our bedroom and sorted laundry. It actually kind of looks like a bedroom now. I went and made an appointment to sign up for WIC (which is, for those of you who don’t know, a publicly funded supplementary nutrition program for Women, Infants and Children - WIC). It was really cool too, ’cause there was no one there besides the workers, who were reasonably polite, probably because no one was there. So I was in and out in probably 15 minutes. Then I went to the grocery store and then home. All, of course, with Stella in tow.

Yesterday evening, Ian and I went out for dinner at a new café in the neighborhood - it was like a little date. Yes, we brought the baby on our date - so what? Anyway, it was a lovely little excursion. We went to the Lakeside Café, which just recently opened on Howard Street, a few blocks from our home. We were very pleased with the place. The food was quite tasty and the atmosphere was nice - casual, pleasant, with friendly staff. The menu was vegetarian/vegan, and the food we had was really good. Any veggies/vegans out there looking for a good new place to go, give it a try. They also have fresh baked pastries that were awesome - we went home with a slice of cherry crumble pie, fruit and nut cookie bread, a thumbprint cookie and a little containter of baklava (I don’t think they made the baklava). It was all very good, and they didn’t give us crazy looks for bringing a baby in there (of course, Stella’s so cool that anyone should be happy to have her in their establishment). I highly recommend the Lakeside Café - go there so they can stay open and we can have a nice place to go out to eat that doesn’t involve planning a major trip.

When we got home, we watched Wedding Crashers, which was better than I expected.

Anyway, I should make the most of the morning. Do a few chores, you know, whatever.

Peace, and Happy New Year!

Atena Oyadi

Tuesday p.m.

We are sitting at home watching Boston Legal. I’m typing with one hand, holding La Bebé. Stella is chillin’, gurglin’, droolin’. She is warm and soft, totally kissable. She’s truly discovered her hands and is, day by day, figuring out more and more what she can do with them.

Wednesday a.m.

I’m watching the news, Stella’s taking a nap. We’ve got family in from out of town - cousins from out west. They got here a bit earlier than we were anticipating (a little before 6 am), but we’ve been able to get a little extra sleep (except for Ian - sorry babe) and it’s all good. Helen was nice enough to wash up some dishes. I’m going to try to get out today to donate some diapers and baby clothes to the local community center. I used to work there and I know that diapers are hard to come by for them. Maybe I’ll even get some laundry done. We’ll see.

Every week I feel more capable. Being able to feed Stella right at my breast has revolutionized my life - the difference is astounding. Life is so much more pleasant, more fun, more satisfying. I have time to do stuff and to go places. I can travel without schlepping breast pumps around. And Stella’s doing so well - I was concerned that she might lose weight after switching to the breast, but no worries. She’s a chubby little chunky munky. I love to just watch her, which is good because she’s getting rather insistent that we have conversations with her. She’s got some very compelling coos and gurgles, and she gets upset if you don’t pay attention when she’s talking to you.

I think I’ll read another book. I just finished ‘Good Omens,’ which was very satisfying once I finally was able to get into it. Ian got it for me to read when we were in the hospital with Stella - I just finished it on Monday. I think I’ll get back into Stardust now, another book I started reading in the hospital.

Anyway, that’s enough for now. I’ll be in touch.

Atena Oyadi

Alright, everybody. It’s on.

As of last Thrusday, we are cleared for full-fledged breastfeeding, PRN, as needed, ad lib, et cetera, et cetera. To breastfeed whenever, wherever is the best. I love it. After we got the good news following Stella’s swallow study x-ray, we celebrated by going down to the hospital cafeteria and having a nice little boob feast. Good times.

Stella is currently talking to me, grunting and sucking her knuckles. She’s in the process of discovering not only that she has hands, but that under certain circumstances they will bend to her will. She’s quite the awesome babester, cooing and smiling and flailing her limbs about. She makes it very difficult to look away or concentrate on anything else. And now that we’re nursing full time, she spends quite a lot of time at the boob. Sometimes she just hangs out there, messing with my nip. And if I takeher off for any reason before she decides to stop, I am subject to emphatic protest grunts and occasional screaming. The non-crying screaming is new to her repetoire.