First Communion Family Thingie.

Today we went to my husband's cousin (my cousin-in-law?) Patrick's First Communion. This first involves going to church (which always creeps me out) and is then followed by a wedding-reception-like family gathering. William stole the show, and enjoyed himself thoroughly because the event involved his favourite things: eating, running around with other kids, eating, people smiling at him and gushing about how cute he is, eating, climbing stairs, and eating.

The kids pictured above with William are more of my cousin-in-laws, Darius and Claudia. And of course the second pic is William being fed by his Babcia. Yes, he always opens his mouth that wide when he is being fed.

Also Adam wants me to make sure to mention that his toe might be broken because he dropped a piece of wood on it. It's all red and purple. Poor dear. Leave it to my husband to attempt carpentry in bare feet.

Super Happy Fans

My biggest fans Kate and her Mom, just sent me this picture of them wearing their Super Happy Fan T-shirts. You too can purchase one here. I think the dog needs one too. I assume the pooch is in the picture because he is a big Super Happy Fan as well. Wow, a dog who can read and use the internet. You guys must be so proud!

This picture brightened my day because lately I've been feeling all pregnant and gross. It's not fair, you feel the most pregnant when you're not even showing yet, and nobody pities you at all. Later, when you have a nice preggers belly and are feeling fabulous, everyone starts opening doors for you and offering you somewhere to sit. I went to the doctor's yesterday, but because of the long weekend, he hadn't received my ultrasound pics yet and couldn't give me a due date. (The doctor's office is in the same building as the ultrasound place, so apparently it takes them 4 days to carry a file up a flight of stairs). Instead I got the fun of having my vagina poked and swabbed.

In other news, it's my favourite (also my only) brother's birthday today. This means we're all going to dinner tonight at my parents and having cake with little peanut butter bears on top (Craig's favourite). Not having to make dinner makes me super happy. This also reminds me that I'm looking forward to my brother's wedding in August. (Yes, this August, they're speedy, what can I tell you?)

Baby's first photo

So we now have photo evidence of the blob growing inside of me. (The white blob growing inside the black blob is William's new brother or sister).

Getting an ultrasound should be an enjoyable experience. I mean, you get to see your baby, what fun! But, in the interest of preserving the torturous nature of medical procedures, they make you drink your weight in water before the test. This ensures an uncomfortably full bladder. The ultrasound tech then tests your pee-holding power by pressing down on your bladder with her magic ultrasound wand. All this time, you're laying back with the screen faced away from you, so only the tech can see your baby! At the last minute you can check out your little peanut, but by then you're like "chuck this, where's the washroom?"

I was surprised that they could see anything since the first time I went for a William ultrasound, it was too early to tell anything and the ultrasound tech basically made me feel like a dork for coming in at all. This one actually looks similar to the second time I saw William in utero. The tech said that I'm about two-months along, which seems about right. I should get an official meaningless due date when I go to the doctor on Tuesday. Then I can adjust the preggers ticker.

Cody Filipowicz 1998-2008

A 100-pound golden retriever with the energy of a puppy, you couldn't meet Cody without falling in love with him. He greeted every visitor to my in-law's house with overwhelming enthusiasm and a wag of an enormous tail. Those who didn't take the time to rub his belly as they came in, would have their shoes playfully snatched away.

Cody was Adam's dog, and when we got married we briefly considered taking him with us. But Cody needed a big yard, and a house that was familiar to him, so he stayed behind.

Yesterday Cody went to the vet to have fluid drained from his stomach, but it turned out that most of the fluid was blood. The vet recommended that Cody be put down. He was 9 1/2 years old.

Goodbye Cody. We'll miss your big fuzzy heart.

Militant Atheism?

The other day I was at dinner with my family when my mother refered to me as a militant atheist. It bothered me. One because she waited until I was out of the room to say it (possibly to avoid a theological discussion). But really it was the word "militant". To me this describes someone who is agressive in forcing people into their way of thinking, maybe even using violence. Does my mother really believe I'm like this? If my mother doesn't understand where my beliefs stand, how can anyone?

Unfortunately I ended up making some throw away remark about the world being better place without religion. I don't really believe this! For a lot of people believe in some kind of supreme protector watching over them provides comfort through hard times, the ability to deal with death and despair. Belief can comfort whether God exists or not.

What the world would be better off without is dogmatic thinking. "God says X and you do Y so you're going to hell" type of mentality. This is what causes wars, it's what causes politicians to backpeddle on human rights issues, it causes intolerance for anyone with a difference of opinion. But this is true of dogmatic thinking even when it's not tied to a belief in a particular deity. Rigid adherence to political beliefs, for example, can be just as dangerous. A truly militant atheist could fall into this category too, if he looked down on others for having religious beliefs.

Perhaps what my mother meant, was that I am a proud atheist. I refuse to be ashamed of not holding any religious beliefs. I wear my "Atheist Angel" t-shirt all the time, because I want everyone to know that I'm an atheist. Not because I want everyone to be an atheist. I want people to understand that atheists are not evil people, and I think people that have met me will agree that I'm a nice person. Also I want people to understand that they don't have to cherry-pick a religion. You can just not believe in God and that's okay.

Yes, I do sell atheist t-shirts (to be fair, this was originally my husband's idea) but I don't force anyone to wear them. I don't even advertise them particularly agressively. And I try my darndest to make sure the designs promote atheism, without denouncing religious faiths.

I don't personally believe in God. I think if there were a God, of the sort that is described in the bible, performing miracles all the time and interfering in everything from floods and hurricanes, to procreation and sporting events, then there would be evidence of Him everywhere. Science would already have collected all the data and put together a "God Theory" and I wouldn't have to "have faith" in order to believe. The lack of evidence for God, for me, is evidence for His non-existence. There could be supreme beings out there that don't interfere with our day to day lives, that don't answer prayers, and that don't decide who lives and who dies, but that's not the sort of being one builds a religion around, is it? That may be far from a persuasive argument for you, so please feel free to substitute your own logic for my own. I'm just passively stating my beliefs here, not being militant in any way.

So, Mom, perhaps this will help you understand me a little better. For more information on atheism, I should mention that I often (but not always) agree with this guy.

Science Centre

As I write this, William is pulling all the cards out of my wallet, and I don't have the energy to care.

Yesterday I went to the Ontario Science Centre with my nephew, my dad, and William. I was there to review an OMNIMAX movie for my sometimes freelance gig Today's Parent Toronto. Hunter was supposed to see it too, but he backed out at the last minute because he was too scared. This from a kid who watches all manner of violent productions (including my personal favourite Anakin Skywalker getting his arms and legs cut off) without blinking an eye. Apparently he draws the line at giant-screen documentaries. It's just as well since I had to leave half-way through the movie to puke. (No criticism of the film itself, just evidence of my delicate condition).

Later I chased William through the sports section of the Science Centre and William did some Olympic judging. In his button pushing gusto, he gave every performance 5 out of 5. I had some trouble trying to convince my son not to climb on some of the exhibits, especially the one you have to jump on to see if you can "land like a cat". Like a cat or not, I was sure he wouldn't like it if someone jumped on his head.

Anyway, I think most of my credit, debit and, ID cards are now under the living room rug.

Eireann's Going to Be my Sister!

Eireann and I became instant friends when we met in University. Both of us were plagued by society's attitude that one cannot be smart and have a sense of humour, but unwilling to become as seriously boring as everyone else. United by our mutual philosophies, and art history majors, people instantly began asking us silly questions like "How long have you guys known each other?" (like a week after we met) and "Are you guys sisters?" (no). Teachers would mix us up (even though we don't look even remotely alike beyond sharing the most common hair colour on the planet).

I'd always secretly thought that Eireann would be perfect for my brother, Craig, who also has a sense of humour, but is also sweet and gentle and respectful of women (he's the middle child sandwiched between two sisters). Unfortunately, at the time Eireann was madly in crush with her tattoo artist, Thor.

Lucky for Eireann, my brother is totally cool, and so I often invited him along to parties and other such get-togethers with friends. One New Years (not last year, not year before, but the year before that I think.) my friends told me that Eireann and Craig were "totally flirting" when I wasn't in the room. This led to conspiracy among the group, and I rarely had a conversation with one of my other friends without them asking "So, are Eireann and Craig dating yet?" My friends had to wait a whole year after that for them to be an official "item".

Now Eireann and Craig are buying our condo together. And last night Eireann and Craig announced that they are officially engaged!!!!!!!!! (extra explanation points needed)!!!!! Craig asked Eireann on top of the ferris wheel at Niagara Falls.

Eireann says she hates long engagements and wants to get married this summer or this fall, which seems like a bit rushed for a couple who took like five years just to start dating. This would also mean I'd be sporting a baby bump for the wedding (not that it's about me or anything).

So, the next time someone asks if Eireann and I are sisters the answer will be: YES!