Using my child as a billboard.

So far along this journey of carrying and eventually giving birth to a beautiful baby boy, I have received many different outfits and baby clothing items, for which I am very grateful. It makes me happy to see how excited people get over the fact that Travis and I are bringing a human being into this world that will, hopefully, become a well-rounded, well-educated individual with the ability to thoughtfully consider and discern truth for himself. Even if our gracious gift-bestowers don't go that far with their expectation for our youngling, I am happy to see that they are happy (as opposed to terrified) that we are becoming parents.

So far, among these gifted clothing items, we have received no smart-ass shirts or anything of the like. Which kind of surprises me. Normally, I would not advocate using my son as a billboard, but I'll admit, the temptation is there for a few select things. Most notably, the baby's t-shirt I found on some right-winger site which reads "I survived Roe v. Wade." I'm sure taking a kid out in public with such a shirt will offend some. Honestly, I don't particularly care if anyone is offended that I firmly believe that abortion is, at any stage, in all forms, and in every situation, an incredibly gruesome unwarranted slaughter of a child. My views on this are even stronger now that I'm experiencing pregnancy, and a "surprise" pregnancy at that. The question of putting such politically charged messages on my child isn't one that considers how offensive the message might be to some. For me it's just a matter of whether or not I think it appropriate to use a child (who can neither choose to wear such clothing, nor understand and choose whether to support my beliefs) as a display for my beliefs.

Like I said, using our son as a billboard is tempting for someone like me who enjoys being occasionally inflammatory, though I think I will refrain from doing so. I've come around to the way of thinking that although my views on different matters are very important to me, how does it help, for example, the millions of unborn being led to the slaughter every year out of inconvenience if I only alienate and enrage people with a smart-ass statement posted on my child's chest? I probably do more to help those children and the pro-life movement by peaceably explaining my views on this issue, and the same goes for any other issue.

Now...when it comes to this particular issue (as with some others), my views are most often greeted with an extreme intolerance. As in, I state simply my view, and am not allowed to expound upon why I take such views because I am interrupted with "I can't believe that! That is so wrong!" and similar backlash. I find the people that preach tolerance are oftentimes the most intolerant of any viewpoint with which they do not agree. Especially in matters of religion and politics.

But anyway....rabbit trail there...though I've seen some kick-ass baby clothes that well-express my views on different issues, I am choosing not to use my son as a billboard for my views. However, I cannot be held responsible for said child's clothing choices once he's old enough to understand the issues and choose such messages for himself. For now, I relegate my desires for snarky clothing items to the onesie featuring Richard from the Looking For Group comic. Because putting an undead warlock/mage psychopathic murderer on your baby's chest is SO much better. :-D

Planning stuff

I was recently asked by a friend to divulge the details of cost for my wedding reception. I happily obliged, though I think I may have overloaded the poor soul with details. It made me contemplate event planning, and the planning my life has gone through lately in general.

I planned my first big event in college, helping along the way in one way or another with Campbell's hosting of the November IC for NCSL (if you dont know what that is, ask in comment and I'll explain). From there, I got elected Lieutenant Governor, and the task of planning our big shebang (Annual Session) fell to me. Prepared me for planning our wedding, something I did largely on my own. (At least for Session, I had Tara to come with me and hold stuff :-D). I love event planning. Gets the adrenaline going, getting into all the details and making everything just so. Finding the deals always makes my day too.

And then there's event planning for life. I find things like planning the logistics of moving, new jobs, a lot of the life changes scary but exciting to plan for. With the baby on the way, I've kind of gone into overdrive with it. Everything on my registry lists was carefully chosen after painstaking research, including the different brands and types of cloth diaper stuff we're going with. If I didn't put it on there, there's a reason for it (usually).

Now, I've come to a sort of stand-still. Life is entirely up in the air for me, with the job search and everything else. I want desperately to get on with life. To plan the nursery and put it together, to move or plan to move, to start my career in local government management. With everything on hold (to the point that I have no idea where I will wake up Christmas morning), I can't plan. I can't act on a plan. Right now, the plan is sit tight, waiting on job prospects and God knows what else. So I'm left with only the looming prospects of change. And change is something that scares the heck out of me. I get comfortable, what can I say? Try moving me out of North Carolina for instance. Will I do it? If I must. Will I whine about it the whole way until I get there and see that the rest of the country isn't so bad? You betcha. Unless Travis tries to move me to the Northeastern United States. That's grounds for divorce :-D.

Eh, for now though, I chill out with visions of what the plans will entail once I have a direction to put them in. And yes, this includes decorating a nursery.

Blogging

The past few months I've had a lot of fun using sarcasm and truth to discuss different things that have come up in the adventure that is mine and Travis' first pregnancy/expected little one. But usually there are about 80 different topics that cross my mind on any given day that I wouldn't mind ranting or commenting about. Those who know me realize that my naming this blog "fancy stricken" is appropriate, given I'll be focusing on whatever strikes my fancy at any given time. I am slightly ADD (at least Travis tells me), so there's a whole range of topics I might find interesting to discuss. Among them are politics (local, state, and federal alike), my pregnancy, marriage, church or religion, my dogs, the latest video game releases...you get the idea. Always open to comments and suggestions, though please refrain from using profanity.

Until I feel like writing again,

Sarah