Snowpocalypse or Merely a Winter Storm?

It's being called a "Snowpocalypse" in Washington state. The snow and cold temperatures that moved in Monday brought 3-12 inches of snow and sub-freezing temperatures that Tuesday night plunged into the low teens, very cold for Washington at any time of the year.

But really, we've seen this before, even if drivers and city & county snow removal people are shocked and unable to deal with it. It was one 20-hr period of snow that produced about half a foot of snow or less in most parts of the county. We had that two years ago, but instead of once, it seemed to happen daily for a couple of weeks. Temperatures have stayed below freezing, and gotten very cold. We had that last year, for a week.

As of Tuesday night, the highways are in pretty good shape, and the secondary roads are starting to get cleared. But even where they haven't been, people in snow tires seem to get along pretty well. Obvously it helped that people pretty much stayed off the roads today unless they had to get out. Wednesday it will start to warm up and by the end of the week temperatures even overnight will be above freezing. And rain will be back.

Eventually, folks around here will stop claiming that "it never gets cold" and "when it snows it's just a couple of inches and it melts right away."

Sure it was a significant storm for us. But a Snowpocoalypse? Hardly. Just a friendly welcome to a La Nina winter.

Of Snow and Puppies

Yes, it finally snowed.

A mere dusting? Perhaps. Quick melting? Of course. But the snow fell often enough to get the kids outside and the snow gear soaking wet from the wet grass.

Oh. And one of our neighbor's dogs had puppies. 11 of them.

11!!

Apparently they are planning on selling them for $800 apiece. (Good luck with that.)

Interesting story. The dog belongs to the son of our neighbors. He and his wife, who just had a baby last summer, are living with the 'rents for now while they save money to buy a house. But that's not the interesting part.

Before they moved in, one of the conditions was supposed to be that they have their female puppy spayed. Looks like that didn't happen, and they're breeding the dog instead. I do know that as long as they live there, the puppies will have a good environment; it's a household of pets all of which are loved and cared for.

But 11? As my husband remarked, "Can you imagine 11 puppies peeing and pooping?"

One thing is for certain: We aren't taking one of them. For now, one dog is plenty!

But the snow is beautiful.

Snow

It's snowing in the pass. I know, because the smell of snow is in the air.

This statement often conjurs up the scene from "Seven Brides For Seven Brothers" when the kidnapped girls scream and start an avalanche.

But tonight, La Nina has moved in, and it is snowing in Snoqualmie Pass, causing periodic road closures. This is news, because through the pass is how people get from Seattle to Spokane.

But more importantly, snow is in the forecast for us here in the lowlands for the weekend. Last winter snow was almost non-existent. But this year, since September, dire forecasts have come our way: "Harsh winter! La Nina! Batten down the hatches!" However, things have been quieter than normal. Average rainfall, a nice stretch of 60s in mid-October, and no flooding (yet).

So not only is there the usual excitement and anticipation for snow (boots & snow clothes are selling like hotcakes!), but a little tinge of dread is behind it all: Will we get piles of snow? Will Seattle shut down for the two weeks surround Christmas like it did two years ago? Where did I put my warm gloves?

Only time will tell. But for now, my 11-year-old is excited at the prospect that it will snow on her birthday.

Talkin' Faith or Methinks the Lady Protests Too Much

For the past couple of days on Twitter I have engaged in a rather amusing exchange with a very earnest (seemingly humorless) atheist who insists that one can only believe one way.

For the record, I'm a Christian with a strong sense of social justice and religious tolerance. I may think you are wrong in what you believe, but accept that you believe it.

Now, I enjoy a stimulating exchange of ideas with someone with whom I disagree. However, I do consider it unproductive to be told what I should believe and ridiculed when I have a different take on it.

I know Christians like that -- well-meaning, earnest people who are so committed to their idea of what a Christian should be that they get flustered and bombastic in an attempt to cling rigidly to it. You will find people like that in all belief systems.

But I find atheists particularly negative. And I don't understand why. Is it because in their vehement denial of God, they are hiding a yearning for answers? My experience is that the more defensive someone becomes, the more uncertain of their convictions they will eventually prove to be.

At no time did I try to persuade her to change her mind, or disrespect her belief that there is no God. I disagree with her, obviously, but I will not tells someone flat out they are wrong. The basis of our discussion was my contention with her interpretation of a line in scripture. In an intelligent discussion, we can acknowledge that our understanding of something was incorrect, while still maintaining our core beliefs.

It seemed almost as if her whole lack of faith in God was a house of cards: If she admitted she was wrong about one thing, it would all fall around her. That should not be the case. Any faith, or even a lack of faith, should withstand scrutiny.

She accused me of being afraid of atheism, when in fact she displayed more fear of something that didn't agree with her. Every time I started to challenge her to prove their is no G-d, a viewpoint she was trying to persuade me to, she would put the burden of proving God's existence to her.

I find it fascinating that someone would have to work so hard to debunk God's existence, when it takes me so little to prove it.

Faith is a personal, spiritual experience, as different as we are as individuals. Why we should have to conform to one idea tells me that there are scared people, searching for a greater meaning in life. I know that there are Christians who, like the dwarfs in C.S. Lewis's novel The Last Battle who, in the midst of the light and beauty of Aslan's Country, insist that they are in a dark dimly lit, dirty stable. No matter what the people surrounding them say or offer to them, they insist that they are in that place. In the same way, her mind was so closed to any kind of epxlanation that it was an exercise in futility to talk to her.

In spite of that, I talked back. You never know when a seed will be planted. And while I am fairly certain mine fell on cement, there is always a crack.

A couple of weeks ago, I was on baby duty with my teenage daughter in our church's nursery during one of the services. An adorable 2-year-old girl was there playing with us, and memories of being a new mother flooded back to me as I started to answer my daughter's questions about taking care of babies. It got me to thinking about what kind of advice I would want to give a new parent. Here are a few of my essential tips:

1. Use a "doula." Whether you hire a doula or enlist the help of a capable friend or family member, get help for at least the first week or two. Having someone on hand to keep you and your husband fed, keep your house clean, look after the baby while you sleep, and politely suggest visitors leave when you are tired is an enormous help. Check your health insurance coverage -- many plans provide a doula for the first few days.

2. Trust your instinct. You will have a lot of plans and ideas, and get a lot of advice (like this!) from experienced parents, about how to care for your baby. But be ready to do what's best for baby. You will hear countless stories from parents that start out, "We planned to____ but...." One baby will sleep best in a crib, while another tucked in with parents. One baby may fall asleep being rocked, another may find it stimulating. Don't worry about what you think you are supposed to be doing: the right thing is what works.
 

What do I do now?



3. Stick with breastfeeding. The first few days of breastfeeding can be a challenge. Baby needs to learn how to eat, and that sometimes takes some trial and error. But it is well worth it. Nighttime feedings are faster, hungry baby eats immediately, and there's no clean-up. Breastfeeding helps the uterus contract more quickly, and it burns a lot of calories, helping you regain your pre-pregnancy figure more rapidly. (I actually looked better!) The best tool: a breastfeeding pillow to put your baby at the right height and spare your arms.



4. Always keep a diaper bag packed and in the car. Include two complete changes of clothing, a hat, burp cloths, diapers, baby wipes, a blanket, a change of shirt for you, two plastic bags for wet clothing and dirty diapers, changing pad, antiseptic wipes for cleanup, plus items for feeding. This works for years, transitioning into a toy/change of clothes bag for your toddler/preschooler.



5. Hold your baby. Babies should be held as much as possible for the first month or two. This is a great job for Grandma, especially if she is visiting but not your choice for doula, as well as Dad and other family. A sling or a carrier such as a Baby Bjorn are great for freeing up your arms and letting baby still feel close. But just sitting and holding your baby can be relaxing and comforting for both of you.



6. Develop a support system. Get to know your baby's doctor and especially the nurses. Often they know more than the doctors. Your ob & nurse can be a great resource as well -- mine had a nursing specialist on staff who not only gave me breastfeeding advice, but advice about the baby's health. Go on line to commisserate with other new mothers. Find your "go-to" person who seems to have all the answers. Mine was my sister-in-law who was a La Leche leader and mother of two. Find a mothers' group in your community (churches are a great place to start) to get together with other new mothers once a week. If you can't find one, start one.



7. Cloth diapers: your best friend. Not the pre-folded, the unfolded ones. They are great for so many things: as burp cloths, an emergency cloth to lay on a dirty surface if you have to put down your baby, and as an emergency breast pad. Later on, they make fantastic, lint-free dust cloths.

8. One acronym: DVR. If you do not already have TiVo or another recording device, invest in one. You will never miss an episode of your favorite tv shows, and you can watch them at your convenience. For a new mother, this can mean at 3 a.m. when you are nursing, or up with a wide-awake baby. (It happens)



9. Use a video baby monitor. There are many baby monitors on the market, but you will quickly find that just hearing the baby is not enough. You will find yourself more relaxed and productive if you can occasionally glance at a picture of your sleeping baby, because you will know what those noises are. Every parent goes through the stage of leaning close to make sure the baby is still breathing. Being able to watch from another room helps you break free.



10. Read to your baby. I know it sounds awkward, but it is fun, and great for your baby. Start with simple, small board books with photographs, especially animals, in them. I used to read to my daughters when they were lying on the changing table after they were clean and dressed.

Make no mistake, caring for a newborn takes a lot of stamina, patience, and work. But it is worth every second.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Lysol® Wee Wisdom blogging program, making me eligible to get a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.