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Our Baby: The Grape
photo credit: Jon OvingtonMy wife and I are only about six weeks into this pregnancy thing and we're still trying to wrap our heads around this whole idea of having a baby, though we have wildly different thoughts on the subject. I'm worried about whether or not we'll be able to handle the financial and moral responsibilities of bringing a child into the world. My wife is mostly worried about passing something the size of a watermelon through her hoo-ha.
And so far the worry has been all our own. We haven't told anyone else about our impending baby because, quite frankly, I don't think either of us fully believes that my wife is actually pregnant.
Sure, she's moody all the time and has had an inexplicable food cravings and she's taken to complaining about how bloated and fat she feels, but really, that's no different than how she's acted for the for the five years that I've known her. And I still married her.
Right now our baby is not really a "he" or a "she" as much as an "it" in our minds. We've been reading a lot of these baby websites and a lot of these sites compare our baby's current size to various pieces of fruit. The message eventually changes as the pregnancy moves forward, so one week the baby site will proclaim "Your baby is now the size of a sesame seed!" and a week or two later we'll read "Your baby is now the size of a raisin!"
If these baby sites had their way we'd all measure our own size compared to various items from the produce aisle. I'd stand 8.4 carrots tall and when I stepped on the scale it would read like a slot machine and report my weight as in at 250 pumpkins, two oranges and three cherries.
So every day I check these sites and every day I'm reminded that our baby is only the size of a grape. I don't mind telling you that it's hard to feel very attached to a grape...and it isn't even a fully developed grape. It's not like my wife has a little grape-sized person in her. No, right now she has a little pink squishy thing that, really, looks kinda like a...well....a squished grape.
Our baby is only beginning to grow organs, so it's not like we have a whole lot in common with our very, very, very little offspring. I mean, I'm a not a very complex guy but I still like to relax with a TV remote in one hand and a beer in the other. Right now our baby doesn't have hands to hold the remote or even a liver to process the beer.
This is all still so unreal to us that my wife and I are also still trying to find the best way to even talk about the whole idea of being pregnant. The phrase "we're pregnant" makes it sound as though we're some sort of bisexual Siamese twin sharing one body and committing unspeakable acts of fornication on ourselves. She's the one who's pregnant and I'm the guy who did it (or so she claims).
We've struggled with ways of referring to the pregnancy situation and so far we've used phrases like "knocked up," "expecting," "got a bun in the oven," "infiltrated," "violated," and even "been slimed." I think we'll have to filter out a few of those when it finally comes time to announce the news to our families.
So that's where we are in this whole baby-making process. The baby has been made, but it's still a pretty gooey, tiny thing that doesn't really have much personality and even less mass. I'm sure this whole fatherhood thing is going to change my life, but right now I'm just not feeling it.
I have, however, sworn off eating grapes. At least until our baby grows up... to be the size of a lime.
Teaching Your Child Magic Tricks
When it comes to fun family entertainment, consider teaching your child old fashioned magic tricks. This is a great way to kill time while waiting for an event to start or to stop those annoying questions of “are we there yet?” while driving in the car. Consider bringing clever magic tricks with you on vacation or camping trip so you children will have no complaints of being bored. You can find magic tricks at any specialty store or even your child’s favorite toy store. Many magic tricks do not require any additional materials, besides the old standby of a handkerchief or a bright, shiny penny.
One fantastic option for individuals wishing to teach their kids magic tricks are the Klutz series of books. These books teach kids, “tweens,” and teenagers all sorts of things, from different ways to braid hair to how to perform a variety of tricks using an old fashioned wooden yoyo. In addition to in depth instruction especially for the younger crowd, these books include several accessories that are necessary for performing the task. From their instruction book on magic tricks to their instruction book on card tricks, the Klutz series are perfect for any individual of any age looking to learn magic.
A quick trip to your favorite bookstore or local library will result in a plethora of books that will provide you with step by step instruction when it comes to teaching your child magic tricks. From classic tricks that are sure to elicit a chuckle to in depth slights of hand, magic tricks, and illusions that will wow all audiences, you are sure to find out how to perform each task with in depth step by step instructions that anyone will be able to flawlessly follow.
Consider bringing some necessary tools for teaching the specific magic tricks along on a long plane or train ride so your kids can do something more productive than mindlessly play video games or argue. This is a great idea if you are traveling to a city with a renowned magic shop, museum of magic, or show that features world class magicians. For instance, if you are traveling to Las Vegas to see the fantastic Lance Burton, teach your kids a few magic tricks along the way to make the show hit closer to home.
Magic tricks are great for school or club talent shows in which your child wishes to participate. Quite often, children are left at a loss when it comes to participating in talent shows and may feel left out if they cannot think of a talent that has not been chosen. Everyone sings or dances on stage at a talent show, but few children can don a magic hat and cape and perform astounding tricks of slight of hand or illusions. Learning magic can boost a child’s self esteem, especially when he or she finally gets the gist of the trick and is able to flawlessly perform the trick in front of an audience. Who knows, your child may be the next great magician and they will only have you to thank for showing them basic magic tricks!
Angelina And Her Babies
Adoption of babies by celebrities is the epicenter of controversies and brings special coverage in print media.
The UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) Goodwill Ambassador and Hollywood actor Angelina Julie has been trying to adopt babies in several countries though she biologically owns one and is reported to be expecting another. Controversies are part and parcel of these initiatives that intend to help the underprivileged families finding sponsors for their kids.
Despite issues faced by the Oscar winning star of the action movie Tomb Raider and her boyfriend Brad Pitt, the glamorous couple on the earth is set to opt for more adoption across the world. They have already adopted two children – Maddox, a five-year old and Zahara, a 22-month old, and are looking at adopting one in India, though their plans are yet to take shape.
Do the adopted babies add value to their already swelling kitty? Future might have an answer for this though these kids will be brought under different geographies and culture. Their adorable baby Shiloh has already brought more fame for their family and attracted millions after the Hollywood couple sold the first public photographs to magazines and then donated the proceeds to charity. Besides Shiloh, the two adopted babies are also getting substantial media attention.
Following the adoption of Zahara from Ethiopia, a number of women had claimed Zahara’s motherhood giving a fresh phase to the adoption-related controversies. The controversy ended after an Ethiopian judge ruled that the woman who claimed to be her mother is not the biological mother.
Besides babies, Julie is keen to support humanitarian causes throughout the world visiting several countries, and is well known for her work with refugees through UNHCR. As the Goodwill Ambassador, Julie’s main focuss is on field missions. As part of the field missions, Julie visited refugees and internally displaced persons during her first three years as the Goodwill Ambassador.
Julie was subjected to criticism by the pop diva Madonna for using the former’s fame to assist the UN. According to the pop singer, she has done more good to the world by adopting the underprivileged.
In contrary to Madonna’s allegations, Julie was not just visiting refugee camps, but she also published Notes from My Travels, a collection of journal entries that chronicle her early field missions in 2001-2002 alongwith the release of one of her movies. The proceeds from the book sale was used to support the UNHCR initiatives. As part of her humanitarian work, Julie was already associated with several social issues by funding a number of projects and visited places like Thailand, Ecuador, Kosovo, Kenya, Namibia, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Russia, North Caucasus, etc.
Julie’s celebrity status is making headlines everyday. She used her celebrity power to highlight humanitarian issues globally and get support from others. For instance, she promoted World Refugee Day 2006 in a two-hour interview with Anderson Cooper in CNN, and this program attracted more than double the audience of his typical newscast.