Hi Stephanie! I'm glad you're going along well (and getting SLEEP!) Edit - I mean to say, I've heard of lots of kids having a "favorite boob." So funny! Except for the whole "looking normal in public" thing.

Plei, are you seriously attached to the idea of a dress for the wedding? I haven't worn a dress since Evie was born. (I also never bought any nursing clothes - I just expose myself, and to hell with you if you care.) I'm imagining you in some floaty top - a gauzy dark red trapeze top or a big poet's blouse - that you can get the ENTIRE BABY underneath to nurse in public. My favorite shirt in the early months was a trapeze top I'd had since I was 15. Then to make the ensemble formal/sexy, something snug and slinky on the bottom - a hollywood-waisted long tight black skirt and fancy shoes, or something.

Or you could wear a corset and just pop out a boob when babycakes needed feeding. No?

The one funny part is that she loves the left boob, hates the right one

Mal too! We call them the Chocolate Boob and the Broccoli Boob. Although, now that he's more comfortable turning his head to the left, he's more comfortable with the right boob. This whole issue is what started us on the side-lying thing...I couldn't get him to face me sqaure-on, otherwise. He wanted to lie on his back and turn his head.

As for the gender confusion, I introduce him as Mal mostly, and figure people will only make the mistake once. It's not like we named him Juliette or something, and I mostly feel bad for them because I know I hate getting babies' gender wrong. I'm mostly just venting about Super Denial Man. This wasn't his best denial trick ever, just his most recent.

We are gaming tomorrow with our gaming group from DC, one of whom is in Moldova and the rest are in NoVA. Behold the power of the internet. I'm ridiculously excited, as it's the first social non-work event I've done since March.

Raquel, friends of our named their baby "Rice". They just signed the card they sent us with their names and "Rice". I have no idea if they had a boy or a girl. I just can't figure out why they named their baby after food.

I think Mallory is a great name, regardless. And gender confusion arises with wee babies due to baldness and neutral clothes. I wouldn't stress about it.

I'm glad Owen wasn't a picky nurser when he nursed. A boob was a boob was a boob. And he pretty much nursed how I held him.

My insurance company just sent us a letter about our credit report. We're not getting better rates because of our credit rating anymore and I'm trying not to panic, wondering if this isn't just the usual bullshit build-up from year to year on credit reports (old accounts, a few late payments) or if someone in New Jersey is buying a house in my name. Feh. Now I have to call, get a copy of the report and try to clean it up.

Raquel, friends of our named their baby "Rice". They just signed the card they sent us with their names and "Rice". I have no idea if they had a boy or a girl. I just can't figure out why they named their baby after food.

Maybe they went to Rice.

Maybe they went to Rice.

Nope. Ball State. So I guess it could have been A LOT worse, huh?

I mean to say, I've heard of lots of kids having a "favorite boob."

My mom has informed me that calling my large boob DD is optimistic. She's conviced it's more like C and whatever comes after DD (E? I have no idea having been a B girl my whole life.)

I'm now starting a 6 hour practice bar test. I'm so (not) excited.

I just can't figure out why they named their baby after food.

Maybe they named it after Bush's little cup of moccachino the Secretary of State.

Sorry for the Jon Stewart possession there.

Stephanie, I am completely in awe of you taking the bar as a newborn mother. You're like the Goddess of Competence.

Good luck on the practice test, Stephanie.

A thought I noticed in passing.

as women don't take their husband's name at marriage

It always fascinates me, naming practices with marriage. I'm trying to remember if women always took their husbands' names in English culture. Heck, I guess it depends on when last names became ubiquitous.

All boobs all the time! I was not very modest while nursing. I liked wearing blouses that crossed over in front and just popped it out. The baby hid most of the breast, but only children stare. The adults divert their eyes.

Welcome back Hil. Sounds like it was a great trip.

Envious of Stephanie's drive.

So sorry about the car stuff Plei. Car buying is my least favorite experience in shopping.