Archive for August, 2009
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Our baby as produce.
By Karen | Monday, August 17th, 2009 | 1 Comment »
19 weeks into this pregnancy and my torso has become a foreign landscape. Despite looking as if I have swallowed a melon, I still find the mommy industry’s practice of comparing one’s developing child to a piece of produce to be disconcerting. Each fruit or vegetable that our baby can be likened to in any given week gives me cause to boycott said foodstuff until our baby can no longer be compared to it. Here’s an example of the analogies that crop up in every newsletter, website, and iPod application that targets moms-to-be.
Pregnancy Tracker’s weekly size chart:
- No size comparison in Week 1: ovulation
- No size comparison in Week 2: implantation
- Poppyseed: 0.02″
- Poppyseed: 0.10″
- Sesame seed: 0.18″
- Grain of rice: 0.25″, 0.05 oz
- Blueberry: 0.53″, 0.07 oz
- Raspberry: 0.68″, 0.11 oz
- Grape: 0.93″, 0.35 oz
- Prune: 1.2″, 0.71 oz
- Fig: 1.7″, 1.06 oz
- Plum: 2.3″, 1.6 oz
- Peach: 3″, 2.3 oz
- Lemon: 3.5″, 3.9 oz
- Apple: 4.1″, 4.8 oz
- Avocado: 4.7″, 5.6 oz
- Turnip: 5.2″, 7.1 oz
- Sweet potato: 5.8″, 8.8 oz
- Mango: 6.2″, 9.5 oz
- Grapefruit: 6.8″, 13.4 oz
- Cantaloupe: 8.9″, 15.9 oz
- Spaghetti squash: 10.2″, 1.1 lbs
- Papaya: 11″, 1.2 lbs
- Ear of corn: 11.8″, 1.4 lbs
- Rutabaga: 12.6″, 1.7 lbs
- Eggplant: 13″, 1.9 lbs
- Head of cauliflower: 13.4″, 2.2 lbs
- Chinese cabbage: 13.8″, 2.5 lbs
- Butternut squash: 14.2″, 2.9 lbs
- Head of lettuce: 14.6″, 3.3 lbs
- Head of lettuce: 15.4″, 3.7 lbs
- Head of lettuce: 15.9″, 4.2 lbs
- Pineapple: 16.5″, 4.6 lbs
- Pineapple: 16.9″, 5.1 lbs
- Honeydew: 17.7″, 5.5 lbs
- Honeydew: 18.3″, 6 lbs
- Watermelon: 18.9″, 6.4 lbs
- Watermelon: 19.7″, 6.6 lbs
- Watermelon: 19.7″, 6.7 lbs
- Pumpkin: 19.7″, 6.8 lbs
Brahms’ Lullaby
By Karen | Friday, August 14th, 2009 | 1 Comment »
I once owned a pink and red Sanrio jewellry box (something like this). It was my most cherished possession for the magic that it possessed inside: a chime that spun a lullaby whenever it opened.
Later, I learned that the melody was Brahms’ Lullaby, and that English lyrics existed for me to learn and sing to our highly anticipated family addition. Did your parents ever sing this song to you?
Brahms’ Lullaby
Lullaby, and good night,
With pink roses bedight,
With lilies o’erspread,
Is my baby’s sweet head.
Lay you down now, and rest,
May your slumber be blessed!
Lay you down now, and rest,
May thy slumber be blessed!
Lullaby, and good night,
You’re your mother’s delight,
Shining angels beside
My darling abide.
Soft and warm is your bed,
Close your eyes and rest your head.
Soft and warm is your bed,
Close your eyes and rest your head.
Sleepyhead, close your eyes.
Mother’s right here beside you.
I’ll protect you from harm,
You will wake in my arms.
Guardian angels are near,
So sleep on, with no fear.
Guardian angels are near,
So sleep on, with no fear.
Lullaby, and sleep tight.
Hush! My darling is sleeping,
On his sheets white as cream,
With his head full of dreams.
When the sky’s bright with dawn,
He will wake in the morning.
When noontide warms the world,
He will frolic in the sun.
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