Of course, I came pretty close to being killed by a bay leaf when I was in my 30s.

Of all the many accident-prone Buffistas, you and Hil worry me the most.

Annabel has her 9-month appointment on Friday, and I think I'm going to ask if I'm bringing her along fast enough then. I think sometimes I get into a rut, which would work fine if she weren't growing and changing so fast, but she is. For example, I've tried two versions of sippy cup, and she's not much interested in either. I think they're too slow-flowing or something. Rather than look for yet another version to try, I just dropped it altogether, because I didn't feel like dealing with Target or Babies R Us in December. But I'm starting to feel like I'm putting my baby on the slow track when she ought to be on the fast track because it's easier for me.

I think Ginger has Hil beat. Now maybe, that's because Hil is pretty young. But each time I read a story, I think this is the last, and well...it isn't.

Of all the many accident-prone Buffistas, you and Hil worry me the most.

Hey! Just 'cause I got injured by a bagel ... and twisted my ankle while sitting down ... well, OK, fair point.

It's really pretty hard to screw up raising a baby; they're more resilient than people give them credit for.

For instance, most Americans between, say, 40 and 60 were bottle-fed, and they came out just fine. Some of them were raised in an era when the best medical advice said not to touch the baby unless you were feeding or changing it. Others were raised in an era when you were a Refrigerator Mother if you didn't leap to the baby's every need.

And still, overall? Doing just fine.

So, we all agree that cuts to the hand hurt like hell, don't heal well because of the constant motion and use of the site, and are prone to infection if not well cared for, and loss of use?

Then why is it that every fealty-swearing movie scene, whether medieval, (Practical) magical, American western, Ya-ya-ical or Middle-Earthian, has fealty swearers slicing their palms, and in many cases, slapping the bleeding palms together to share the infection? In what universe is a gimpy-handed fealtor useful?

I dunno. I've always thought any sane blood-oath was taken with eensy drops of blood from the pinky.

Man, I've had finger-sticks at the doctor's office stay sore for days. Maybe oath-swearers should...rub elbows, or something.

Earlobes! I've had pinpricks in earlobes that were okay!

For example, I've tried two versions of sippy cup, and she's not much interested in either. I think they're too slow-flowing or something.

I've tried three (one was a gift). It may take a looong while to get her interested. Owen is still only marginally interested in his. But I found the Avent Magic Cup has a soft, rubber spout that he likes to chew and I fill it with watered down juice--which is a treat so he really gets into it when he's drinking. Sadly, he won't hold it all by himself to drink yet. He tries, but can't really tip it back far enough to get a good sip. He will hold he handle and then toss it off the tray. But I keep at it, trying at least two meals a day with a cup. I figure eventually he'll catch on.

And still, overall? Doing just fine.

Betsy is wise.

In what universe is a gimpy-handed fealtor useful?

Hollywood?

I though the words "blood oath" meant the blood of your enemy. Crazy me.