The Mom-to-Be with the Grandmothers

This photo was taken at Katherine's shower in late September. On the right is Lee's mom, Tuni Chilcote and on the left is Katherine's mom, Anne Readey. They are standing in the dining room at Tuni's home in Cleveland Heights, where the shower was held. Many thanks to Katherine's close friends from high school, Dana and Julie, for hosting the event.

The Baby Industrial Complex

I've coined a new term for Babies R Us in my own head: "the baby industrial complex". Because, well, it seems very consumer-oriented to me, and maybe worth of a conspiracy theory or two. We just bought a changing table from The Complex, however, so I guess that I am guilty of supporting them ... All of this makes me wonder: When it comes to mass-produced baby gear, are there any local, independent stores that sell this kind of stuff? I know that there are many boutiques that carry baby stuff, and over the months, we have bought stuff from some of these places. But when it comes right down to it, when you need everyday baby gear, Babies R Us seems like the most convenient option. As we do more shopping and talk to more people with kids about where they shop, however, I am sure that we will find a few alternatives.

Finding Community

I feel lucky that Katherine and I have made such good friends in Cleveland. As we get closer to our due date (less than three weeks away!), our community is evolving, and we are welcoming new friends with families into our lives. Last night, we went to several parties, and at each one, we heard stories of pregnancy, birth, and raising kids, and got lots of advice. I sort of feel like a walking NPR "story corps" sometimes, but that's a great thing. The sense of community that we have found here in Cleveland makes me very excited to bring our baby into this world.