Saturday, June 10, 2006

The Zoo




Beckett made his first trip to the zoo last week. He slept through most of it, but woke up somewhere near the otters. Which is interesting because Otters are my favorite animal at the zoo. We went to Pt Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma. They have a great new Kids Zone with activities and a petting zoo. I put Beckett's feet in the water at the fountain. I'm not sure he knew what to do with that. Yes, I know he's too young to even remember it later on, so truly the zoo visit was for us. But as a family, we all had a good time. A few days ago he also rolled over for the first time. He hasn't done it since though. My theory is that he's done it once, so why do it again. "All right, I know I can do that now - next!" But wait - there's more. It's been an even bigger week. His first little tooth began to break through his bottom gum. He can't be our little toothless joe anymore. He'll need to be a one-toothed joe. Of course, we didn't discover the little bugger of a tooth until late last night after he'd been nothing but a cranky pants all day. He just wouldn't nap all day. Luckily, he's still sleeping through the night though. Thank goodness for small miracles.

Thursday, June 01, 2006

Our Family

Blogging for LGBT Families

Today, is Blogging for LGBT Families day. Basically, the short story is that a short bit ago I discovered a great website: http://www.mombian.com/ . They declared today, June 1, 2006 as Blogging for LGBT Families day. Today falls exactly in the middle of Mother's day and Father's day. It is a day to educate others as to exactly who we are when we are both.

Sometimes, in this great, big straight world I feel alone. Yes, I am part of a bigger population of mothers and parents, but in our lives, we do not have a lot of LGBT parents. This is something I’m trying to change, but it isn’t easy. Luckily Beckett was born very close to the Pride Season. Therefore, if we hang out long enough at almost any pride event, we’re bound and determined to run into someone that we might get along with. In the meantime, we’ll continue to surround ourselves with allies. Even then, the answers to the questions don’t come easily.
Q - who’s baby is it? A – ours
Q – who is the father? A- no one
Q – doesn’t he need to see men to understand how to be one A- do you need to see assholes to understand how to be one?

P.S. I’ve never gotten up the nerve to actually answer the third question that way. It’s just what the little voice in my head answers.

Beckett has some amazing role models in his life. Strong moms, resilient grandmas, handy and loving grandpas, fashionable uncles – he’s luckier than a lot of babies with both a mother and a father. Eventually, Katie will legally adopt him and then hopefully we’ll have more of the legal recognition that is vitally important. Until then, we’re just a family that happens to have two moms and we will fight tooth and nail to be recognized as such with or without two names on a birth certificate.