Wading into the red tape . . .

"If you are going to sin, sin against God, not the bureaucracy.

God will forgive you but the bureaucracy won't."

Hyman G. Rickover

I am beginning to finally wade into the sea of red tape that is registering an out of hospital birth in Los Angeles County. I find it kind of sad that having your baby outside of a medical institution is considered so taboo in my county. There is a very large part of me that just wants to never register him and keep him totally off the grid - but I know that would cause him major issues later in life, so I will be a good mummy and not screw up his chances of running for President someday . . .

Maybe what bothers me the most is government employees, little worker bees (really to call them this is an insult to worker bees who are actually efficient and productive, something the employees in the County Registrars Office never have been, nor will be) that act as if having my baby at home has somehow put them out. As if I chose a home birth just to put their collective noses out of joint. The condescension literally drips off them as they "explain" what paperwork I need, and even though what they are telling me is different than what is listed on their official paperwork, questions will immediately lead to the questioner being branded as a trouble maker.

Let's not even get started on getting a social security number for your out of hospital child . . . God forbid you do not have an "imunininization record" (no, I am not joking), to prove who your child is (because the birth certificate you have just paid for in blood, sweat, tears, and six forms of documentation is not good enough on its own), if you do not have said record, you are obviously a negligent parent and must therefore be treated like the lowest form of pond scum. It is enough to make you want to swear off "civilized" society forever and retreat to the woods somewhere.

"My symbol for Hell is something like the bureaucracy of a police state

or the office of a thoroughly nasty business concern."

C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters

And then there were two . . .

The last time I posted on this blog was just a few days before finding out I was pregnant for the second time in as many years.  God has blessed us with a miracle baby, bringing our kid count to two and our family size to four!  Being pregnant with a baby already in the house was definitely tiring, hence the abandonment of this blog . . . taking up sewing didn't help with the time management issues either (thanks Mom for the sewing machine as a Christmas present!).  

James Edward was born at home on June 27th, 2009 (just three days before my 30th birthday) and weighed 8 lbs, 12 ounces and was 20 inches long.

Introducing James:

I love this picture, even though we didn't quite get Maddie's hand in it correctly.  She loves her brother and is interested in everything he does, but she loves him just a little too much.  "Gentle" is a hard concept for an almost 15 month old who doesn't know her own strength!

Because James was born on 6/27, and Maddie on 4/26 they are exactly 14 months and one day apart, which makes Mommy a busy girl.  Here is how Maddie entertained herself while we took pictures of her baby brother:

 Unless the LORD builds the house,

         They labor in vain who build it;

         Unless the LORD guards the city,

         The watchman keeps awake in vain. 

    It is vain for you to rise up early,

         To retire late,

         To eat the bread of painful labors;

         For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep. 

    Behold, children are a gift of the LORD,

         The fruit of the womb is a reward. 

    Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,

         So are the children of one's youth. 

    How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them;

         They will not be ashamed

         When they speak with their enemies in the gate.

 - Psalm 127