scraml.

Kicky baby!

Sigh. You in there kicking, and stretching, and doing somersaults, or whatever is is you’re up to, is something I can’t imagine ever tiring of. When I first started to feel you “for real” about 2 weeks ago (just shy of 18 weeks), you were favoring late afternoon as your kicky time. Since then, I imagine because you’ve grown a lot in that amount of time; I feel your amazing little signs of life all times of day, and it’s pretty much the most reassuring feeling I’ve ever had. It’s been a crazy couple of weeks, baby. We’re taking advantage of my second trimester energy (well, sort of energy), and medium sized-still-able body, to play musical rooms for you - getting prepped for your arrival like crazy, moving furniture from one room to the next (which, in case you’re wondering, is nowhere near as fun as musical chairs is), researching child care, attachment parenting, how to go about birthing you in the best possible way to match our values and attitudes about health, and of course answering about a million questions each day from family, friends, coworkers… there are a lot of really great people that get to be in your life, and damn are they excited about you!

All this is overwhelming to say the least, and all the extra hormones raging around are of course turning your ordinarily even-keeled mother into someone else at times. Interesting emotional times rivaling an out of body experience now and then. However, one of the things I appreciate most about your dad and I - we’re very well matched when it comes to a roll-with-it attitude. We’ll figure it all out, and the end result will be nothing short of amazing.

We get to find out your sex on the 30th, which is only a few short days away. I feel like we’ve been waiting a year to reach the 20 week mark, and yet, it’s suddenly feeling like this pregnancy is flying by. I haven’t suffered terribly, which I feel very fortunate for - some nausea for a few weeks, but nothing major, a few aches and pains and a fair amount of round ligament zingers that I suppose another woman would be complaining to high heaven about; but for me, this is all a means to a very beautiful end and simultaneous beginning. And in spite of the pains and inconveniences, I’m richer for the experience. I am just so grateful for your little-yet so big-life growing into mine. Your dad and I are so excited to meet you and be a part of who you become.

Ok, if there’s one thing, I’ll admit that I really could do without the extreme fatigue and fitful, uncomfortable sleeping patterns (which I imagine are only going to get worse). And the unpredictable sciatic pain. One of these days I’ll get that sorted out a little better. This stuff, of course, is none of your concern. Your big job these days is to keep on growing strong and healthy, and to know you’re protected as you do so. Mama bear’s got a nice safe little cave for your hibernation months, kiddo - love you.

Choices

Word.

whoneedsfeminism:

I need feminism because feminism is about CHOICE, and what women find is right for them as an individual, not about what YOU think is right for women as a whole.

I need feminism because it is about EQUAL RIGHTS and not ‘being better than’, ‘being superior to’ or ‘knowing what is right for’ other indiviuals.

Mpls city council passed the Urban Ag Amendments unanimously this morning! This is fantastic!

LSP Applauds Mpls. City Council’s
Approval of Urban Agriculture Rules

3/30/12
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — The Land Stewardship Project (LSP) applauded the passage today of zoning and planning rules that will help promote the production and consumption of local food in Minneapolis. The Minneapolis City Council unanimously approved Urban Agriculture Zoning Text Amendments that, among other things, address market gardening, use of hoop houses and the construction of raised beds. Most importantly, produce grown within city limits can be sold for market, creating more food security within the city, and opening up avenues for food related businesses, according to LSP organizer Anna Cioffi.

“This is an historic day for the City of Minneapolis,” said Cioffi. “For the first time since 1963, people will be allowed to grow food commercially in the city. Having urban agriculture as part of the city zoning plan is a huge step toward making the production and consumption of local food a key part of our communities.”

The text amendments will allow the use of hoop houses on residential property while making it possible for market gardeners to sell directly to customers from their sites for 15 days per year. Commercial growing will be allowed on a large scale at urban farms in industrial districts, and on a smaller scale at market gardens in low-density residential areas. People will also be allowed to grow food commercially in their own backyards, and be able to sell it from their property. In addition, aquaponics will be allowed within the city limits.

“It’s going to open the door for food entrepreneurship in Minneapolis, while renewing the relationship between city land and the food that we’re eating,” said Cioffi.

The City Council has indicated that after the first year of implementation of these amendments, it will revisit such issues as expanding the number of days market gardeners can sell from their properties.

During the past two years, LSP staff and members have been focusing on making urban agriculture a critical player in the community life of Minneapolis. In 2009, the City of Minneapolis decided through recommendations put forth by Homegrown Minneapolis to pursue the development of “a city-wide topical plan on community gardens and urban agriculture.”

“I’d like to commend all the farmers, gardeners, restaurateurs, and other supporters of urban agriculture who propelled these amendments forward over the past few years,” said Cioffi. “It will be exciting to see this sector of the economy grow and live up to its potential.”

*COMGAR is for community gardeners in Minnesota to share timely information, seek advice from other gardeners, and learn about resources available to gardeners. **Send emails to comgar-l@lists.umn.edu. Gardening Matters moderates and maintains this listserv, please forward questions and requests to remove or update subscriptions to info@gardeningmatters.org. Archived COMGAR postings available at http://lists.umn.edu/archives/comgar-l.html

Wiggly little baby

We went in for another ultrasound, and there’s a wiggly little baby in there! The little sprout was nestled really deep in there, at sort of a difficult angle, so we didn’t see much. But there was that beautiful fast little heartbeat again! One more week and this 1st trimester is coming to a close. I’m getting bigger already, despite only being 11 weeks. I have to admit, I wasn’t really expecting that. But I’m so damn excited I can’t stand it.