May I Use Your Baby for a Game of Dominos?

I went to a house-show last night, starring Darlene (http://www.myspace.com/moteldarlene). The host of this event, David (http://www.davidwiewel.com/), is a family oriented guy who also invites children to his parties. One thing I like about my Sudbury community is that the young families aren't segregated into some sort of idealized suburbian isolation. Everybody is integral in this community, and I am so grateful to be a part of and learn from this model, as I have seen other communities where community as I know it, is an unthought of concept.

As a midwifery student I have an interesting position amongst my friends, particularly the women, and especially the mothers. Women tell me their birth-stories, ask me for advice, and so on. Interpersonal relationships with women outside of the constraints of the Midwifery Program (http://www.midwifery.laurentian.ca/Laurentian/Home/Departments/Midwifery/Midwifery+Homepage.htm?Laurentian_Lang=en-CA) are really grounding for me. As a student I must behave a certain way and I am under the pressure of watchful eyes, which evaluate my performance. To be amongnst friends and aquaintences who grant me an almost automatic level of respect for choosing midwifery as a profession makes me feel confident in my ability to be a good midwife in the future. I sometimes wonder whom of the young women I now know, will deliver a baby into my hands and under my protection, in the future.

Five weeks ago my friends Trek (my hairdresser) and Jenny had a baby. I met baby Audrey last night for the first time. It was so nice to hold a baby again, as since school ended for the summer, my baby-holding practice has been reduced by about 99%. It becomes addictive (I am also addicted to palpating mamas' bellys). When the moment felt right, I made a b-line across David's kitchen to where Trek was standing beside Audrey in her car seat. I asked if I could pick her up and Trek agreed. I removed her little pink blanket and picked up her loosely swaddled body. As I turned around, my elbow hit my beer bottle*, which was sitting on the counter. My bottle knocked over two others in a chain reaction, resulting in beer falling to the floor. There was nothing I could do about it-- I had a baby in my arms. I turned to the room and shrugged my shoulders as somebody said, "It's okay guys, she's a midwife."

* For the record, I had only had one beer to drink. This was no more than another one of God's divine jokes.

xo!

Extra! Extra! Read All About it!

It's taking me way too long to figure out what my first blog should be about. It has become a needless obstacle, especially considering I have been keeping a journal and scrapbooks for over a Decade. I even have other blogs on Facebook and Myspace.

I was inspired by my friend Vago (http://www.existensis.com/) to start a blog. I told him that I hoped to write a book in the future and he asked what I was waiting for. He encouraged me to keep a blog, insisting that I have many good thoughts and stories to share. Shortly after this conversation with Vago, I started to develope a friendship with my friend Matt, who also keeps a blog (http://www.ahmoskalblog.blogspot.com/). Reading Matt's blog solidified my intention to blog, resulting in the creation of "Dubya Dubya Dubya Dot Com," out of a blogger account I had signed up for about two years ago, but did nothing with.

I guess now's the time.

Mmmmwah!
Dawn