FWIW, JZ, I think I'm actually a much better writer now, even if it was almost a year before I really started being able to write again. Not as fast (not as much time), but a lot more focused, and more... hmm. Grounded, perhaps. Adding a nice bit of earthy to my prose, toning the purple down to a muted plum or some such.

For myself, among the reasons I am glad I had my second child is that I am so much less stressed out about everything. My god, I learned something with No. 1!!! (Sorry, No. 1, for screwing so many things up. Have fun in therapy!) (Sorry, No. 2; I'm sure I'll screw something different up with you! Have fun in therapy, too!) (But the two of you do look cute together!)

I think you need to tell your parent, "I've been working on making, feeding, sustaining, and nurturing your GRANDDAUGHTER. So, little busy these days."

Meh. I mostly feel guilty and miserable about failing my own expectations, not theirs -- I was supposed to be a 1000 word a day writer with a novel and a chapbook and a couple of optioned if not actually produced screenplays under my belt by the time I hit 35, and in actuality I've done about 12 pages of creative writing, total, in the last half-dozen years.

I'm suddenly really glad that my parents live so close to my brother and SIL. My brother works nights, so my SIL has dinner with my parents a few nights a week and my dad plays with my nephew while she runs errands or just passes out on the couch watching movies with my mom.

I want to send my parents to live near JZ, now.

{{{JZ}}}

How much do I love that bosoms are all over the place at b.org today? THHIIIIIIISSS much!!!

mostly feel guilty and miserable about failing my own expectations

Know exactly what you mean, sweetheart. It's so easy to be on your own back about stuff anyway, let alone when you are sleep deprived a raising a new human. Try not to be, though. Be nice to my friend, m'kay? *smooch*

I want to send my parents to live near JZ, now.

I wish I lived close to Allyson's parents, too.

I just posted an add on Craigslist looking for an occasional sitter. DH's work schedule is getting hectic and I need someone in my address book that I can call during the day for doctor's appointments, errands and such.

We have three colleges (one very large one) in this town, so I hope I get some decent responses. There is a service in town that I can try but a friend didn't have very good luck with it--it's expensive and they take a few bucks off the top of the girls' pay.

If lived there, Cash - we would totally do a trade-off.

I can't wait until the next batch hatches! It's very exciting.

I know. Are there more? I know Lyra Jane is expecting, but we never see her here, anymore. Is there another active Buffista who is pregnant?

I want to send my parents to live near JZ, now.

I said this to Teppy a few weeks back, when she was sick, but this is the thing that frustrates me to tears about friendships that primarily take place online. If my household didn't have the plague, I'd have Matilda over to hang, while David and Jacqueline went home and napped, ate, and sexed the day away.

Okay, provided I didn't have to drive into Boston, to get her. They'd have to bring her here. All my localistas like to do things in the city. I have city fatigue. I worked there for years. I'm over it. I hate the trains. I hate the drive. I'm hoping Nora, Tom and Frank end up tempting a few more of the locals to the North Shore. I don't travel well. I'm like fine shrimp.

I'm totally counting Kat and Lori's babies as new nieces and nephews.