But I do need makeup help: What are the pros and cons of completely totally removing my actual eyebrows, other than looking a bit Pink-Floydy when I go round for milk without drawing any on?

The constant worry that you will never be able to draw them on evenly. That's what's kept me from shaving mine completely off. I shave off the outer edge/line of my brows, which allows me to change the shape every day without me having to ask Pete to draw on my brows.

Now if you could just get her to say "What a dump!" a la Bette Davis.

Oh my god, yes! I MUST do this.

Also, as I recall, Jilli abandoned this practice last year and began growing her eyebrows back. It is so 2005.

You need to update your notes, Hec. I went back to shaving off the outer edges as soon as I went back to trimming my bangs into a batwing point. Sharply-defined bangs must have sharply-defined brows, otherwise it looks sloppy. t / VERY opinionated

Okay, I guess I'm really back, as I have my first meara of 2007.

Astarte! It is nice to see you posting.

Thank you, lovely SJ it is nice to be back with mah bitches.

December Pictures...

The Gud-kinder are way past cute, and approaching lethal. Good camera eye, too, Gud. I especially like that one with the shadow pattern on the floor. Also, happy to hear good marital news. May 2007 bring you and yours all the joy you can stand.

Astarte! Nice to see you around again.

Thanks, Jilli. I thought of you the other day when someone complimented me on my "Goth sense of style". While I can only compete on the amateur level, I thank you for the inspiration.

You babywranglers awe me without the desire to imitate you. Good things, as I think the ovaries have given up the ghost, so to speak.

See, I don't have any outer edges to speak of. Naturally, my brows are low and flat and tend towards each other, in a very Cro-Magnon style. I've been shaving the bottoms and making an arch first with the shaving.

Of course, I didn't care for them the week I was home and sick, and it appears that left to their own devices, my eyebrows will grow down to cover my eyelid.

The surgeon said he refuses to operate on mothers. Flat out. He says I can promise all day long to stay off the foot for 2 weeks, but it won't happen if you have kids. 12 weeks of no lifting would require a lot of advance planning.

Heh. Laura's in my head.

You are on the right track with trying all your options. I hope the physical therapy gives you some relief. So much back ~ma for you.

Me, too. And you're right. There's NO WAY I can get through 12 weeks without lifting at least Olivia.

He can climb onto a bed to get his diaper changed. He can climb up into your mini-van. He can climb up into his high chair. He can do stairs. If he wants you to pick him up, he can learn that you have to sit, and he had to climb into your lap, etc.

He's getting much better about being self-mobile. Not that I carried him everywhere before but at least now he'll take vocal direction, hold my hand, climb into his car seat himself and he sits in a regular chair at dinner because he's so over his booster chair. He's getting so good at stairs now, too--holds the rail himself and walks down (not that this is advanced--he's just slower on the gross motor skills than a lot of other boys his age).

Doc said I could get a lifting belt for at home during the day--it gives you enough support and reminds you to NOT bend your back. Christopher already totes all the laundry and sweeps, takes out trash, recycling, etc.

I think if I'm very careful, that we can get through the next few months. Doc also said once the kids are completely mobile and the strain of that extra work is taken away, I may enjoy even more recovery.

It's all doable. I don't even medicate beyond ibuprofen and the rare bedtime flexeril anymore so I know it's bearable.

Congrats on moving to the dark side the job, Plei! That security sounds like a good thing.

Shoe post! I think I need both of these:

Flats with rivets and buckles! [link]

Wedges with a teeny bow! [link]

It was oddly cute. Of course, a few minutes later, she decided she was All Done with her food, flipped her tray onto the floor, exclaimed "Mess!" and then giggled delightedly. So apparently my babywrangling skills need a little work ...

Sound pretty spot on to me. Although I am thinking the latex clothing might suit me, too. We're still drowning in a river of snot and I've had to change my clothes twice today--snot on my sleeves, snot on my shoulder, snot on my pants leg. I'm done with it. We're on week 3 of the Runny Noses from Hell.

Oh, GC, those flats kick ASS! I can't do wedges anymore but I want those flats.

"GOOD GIRL, DADDY!"

Spiffy! I have a new taunt to use on Joe when I frag him.

Admittedly, it'd be more appropriate to use when he has fragged someone else... but I'm not that patient.

As someone who went without eyebrows involuntarily for about nine months, I wouldn't recommend it. As Hec says, shampoo and sweat run into your eyes. Not having eyebrows really affects the look of your face. I got better at it, but I could never draw both eyebrows the same. Then again, I'm not known for my eye-hand coordination.

I was so glad to read your news, Gud. And your kids: still cute. Is Leif still a one-man demolition squad?