Let us begin

This is my real blog. I've had a hidden pretend one in the past. But this is for real. And because it is real, it is guaranteed to be boring, and sometimes self indulgent. So there. Mainly it will be pictures of Layla (because she's a lot cuter than me), quotes that I like, and me pontificating on different subjects.



We begin with a picture of Layla-because really, she's adorable. Though maybe not as adorable in this picture as she is in real life, mainly because this is about 2 hours after we discovered her egg allergy. So she's got hives all over her face and body. Because I suck as a mother. Thankfully, as a species we have the ability to adapt for survival. Or Layla would be toast, considering my mothering abilities.

On to my quote for the day: My idea of feminism is self-determination, and it's very open-ended: every woman has the right to become herself, and do whatever she needs to do. Oh, Ani Difranco, how I do love the things you have to say.

I thought I was exploring my right to become myself, when things got thrown a bit of a curve ball. I didn't plan to get pregnant right off the bat-I was trying to prevent that from happening. It was my worst nightmare. And it came true. Only, really, Layla is that "whatever" that I needed to help me become myself. I wasn't fully or entirely me, or the me that encompasses the full female experience until Layla showed up at our doorstep. I remember one day during my pregnancy, I was pretty much hating everything about it-and started griping about everything I was giving up, when a wise friend of mine said "grad school will always be there. those buildings have deep foundations and the minds that preside there usually get hired for life. so you're safe. i'm seeing layla as the factor that you weren't counting on who will guide you to where you want to end up more soundly than you could alone." And how right you are, Hannah-how right you are!