Feeding Hansel

I just love you people! I'm so grateful that you  express your opinions in a respectful way and that this blog doesn't have to become another place of hatred and flaming. Instead of covering our ears and humming so we don't have to hear anyone else's opinion, I love that we can both express and listen. Most issues are complicated and most of the time I can see both sides. Book banning, selecting books for public school curriculum, deciding what a room full of teens are or aren't ready for--these are often complicated issues. But you know what isn't? Calling a book like Speak, which deals honestly and non-graphically with rape, pornography. I draw the line there, people! I shout foul! And I bleed for all the survivors out there who have to deal with this attitude in real life. Speak up, girls! We've got your back.

So I'm 36 weeks, a huge milestone. Even if I went into labor tonight (no please) our babes have a great chance of avoiding the NICU. I want those girls. I want them already. They're so quiet inside my belly, so hidden, a jumble of pokey parts that jab me and move around. Mysterious. I want the realness, the babyness, the tangible parts. I want the smells and the skin to kiss and the milk breath and the silky soles of their feet. I want the crying that (hopefully) stops when I hold them and snuggle them and help them feel safe. I want to see the baldness or hairy heads, the eye shapes and marvelous noses, the little lips for me to kiss like flower petals. I want my babies!

But not yet. Maybe in another week. They could use some more fattening up. Like Hansel's witch, I've felt their boniness through my skin and find them too skinny still. Eat more first, my pretties. Here, have some pie.

Comments

[Zenny]

Even 36 weeks pregnant and writing in a blog, you still manage to be a wonderful storyteller. I'm inclined to put all these blogs together and turn them into a book of their own.

Can't wait for those girls too!

[Jaclyn Weist]

I think I'll go hold my 6 month old now. Her skin is pudgy and not as soft as a newborns but your descriptiveness made me want to go snuggle her. :) Enjoy your pie and good luck for another week!

[Jesskimo]

This blog is precious- I'm so grateful I get to listen as you experience your babies and your pregnancy. I can't imagine how wonderful it must feel to bring a child into this world, let alone two :) . The love you feel for your girls jumps off the page and I'll be praying for your safe and smooth delivery- whenever that may be :).

[Shannon Morris]

So, Shannon. I checked out Speak form the library today. And I'm going to devour it. And, I thought you might like to hear that a good friend of mine always checks out banned books, or even controversial books, even if she won't have the time to read them, just to keep them circulating. Thanks for your outspoken, valiant spirit. You inspire us all. Bless you and amazing growing family.

[Meredith B.]

Oh, Shannon, you won't be able to help but devour it. :-)

[Calliope1of9]

Shannon you are soooo adorable! You get my vote for most-entertaining baby incubator ever!

[Zenny]

I did some research on banned books, and a lot of the challenged books in the United States surprised me. But this was the one that surprised me the most:

Captain Underpants

What? WHAT?! I can understand books like Catcher in the Rye and To Kill a Mockingbird to some extent, but Captain Underpants?! How to Eat Fried Worms?! That's just wrong to even think of banning those books.

[Gretchen]

Heck, I'd stay in the womb an extra week (or two) if it meant I got pie out of the deal.

[Christen]

The way you said all that makes me wish I was a mom RIGHT NOW. :)

[Mia]

On the banned books subject I believe that the Bible was the number 1 book banned from schools that should never have been so. I've grown up in Christian School where the King James Bible was always present and now that I'm attending Bible College that hasn't changed. I thank God everyday for the higher education I've received through His word.
I'm still open to many other books and have even read the Twilight Saga but you'll find in my copies that every curse, slang or swear word has been somewhat omitted. Which is another stunning example of why I love the Books of Bayern Mrs.Hale, thank you for a good, clean set of adventures that I cherish more and more with every re-read. :-)

[Jena]

Your posts here always make me smile!

Hang in there, almost to the finish line, then a new marathon starts times 2!

[Katie]

Love these chronicles of your pregnancy. Almost there...meanwhile, yes, have some pie!

[Juliana]

I delivered my little wee ones at exactly 36 weeks and they were perfectly healthy, over 5 1/2 pounds each. So huge congrats for getting this far!

[hajens]

Thank you for those beautiful words. I needed that today. How do you string them together so perfectly?

[Laurie]

While I don't comment often, I have been reading for a while. I just wanted to let you know that you are cracking me up with the all the pregnancy updates... today's especially.

Thank you !! And good luck with the imminent L & D :-)

[Je Reve]

Good luck with the pie thing. Oh, and peaceful discussion of controversial topics is also AWESOME!

[Laura M.]

Hope the rest of the pregnancy goes great!!!! Can't wait to hear of the twins' birth :)

[micah]

Cant wait for those babies! I bet that their cute too. Im a HUGE fan of the Goose Girl, Enna Burning, River Secrets, and Forest Born. In River Secrets Enna mentioned not feeling like she is old enough/ ready to have babies, so that leaves me wondering, will you wright another Book Of Bayern in which Enna is pregnant? really i wouldnt mind if she wasnt,i just want another book! (i dont mean to come off selfish, but i LOVE your writing and books!) Good luck!

[Anna]

the library in my school got a new librarian this year and when I walked into the academic resource center today, there was a huge amount of caution tape....was it construction, a crime scene.....nope it was a giant display of banned books....aka paradise.

[Miss Erin]

this post made me smile so big. :)

[Karla]

LOL! Hansel reversed: your babies are already IN the oven! :) I hope they stay there at least another week. Best wishes to you and your daughters. There are a couple of strong women in there, I know it.

[yakx]

36 weeks???

Well, I can't wait for the girls. Are you going to put pictures of them???

[Sue S]

I love the smell. Of course their skin is amazing too...but still that smell..(not the diaper end) too bad it goes away.

[nerdyem]

Lovely description of babies! I always crave the kissing of their silky temples and the inhaling of that tangy yumminess of their velvety heads.

And that milky sweetness of their breath is divine--you nailed it on the head!

[Princess Luna]

Lol,I what you said in the last paragraph,well I atcually liked what you said through the whole thing.And we really atcually cant say anything bad about your work,necause for your work awsome is an understatement.=)

[Wren]

And they lasted right at another week, right? Their mother should be so proud of such obedient daughters!