Baby Cravings and Brilliant Business Conceptions

So this last month has been a rather funny one. Despite my desire to repress any thought of having a child in the near future, I have been overwhelmed by cravings to jump on the bandwagon and get knocked up!

Weird, right?

I mean, I have two more years of school, Brett will have at least two more after that... Though we are at this moment in a good financial spot, I don't know that our income is necessarily ready to support a third Swanson. Not to mention the fact that I haven't the slightest clue how to be a good mother! I learned a long time ago that babies need WAY more than their mother's love to make it in life.

So what is with my strange appetite for someone to share my womb with?

I blame it on all of my friends. Seriously. So many of my friends or old acquaintances are either: a. Pregnant OR B. Just had a visit from the big bird.

I really thought this was just a little phase that would quickly pass. I love babies! Adore them, really. Every time I got to babysit my friend's little boy, I would just swoon! I would tell everyone how much I wanted to have a little one of my own because they are so doggone cute, but the next day, nothing. All tender feelings had subsided.

But this time it is different... Maybe it's because I have had more exposure to babies... I went shopping for another friend's baby shower and I fell in love with all of the adorable TEENY baby clothes! I even bought a couple things for when I do actually have a kid of my own... Everywhere I look there are babies or cute little pregnant moms. I mean, even yesterday at the gym, there was a girl who had just found out she was pregnant and it made me want to cry with excitement for her. TOTALLY WEIRD, RIGHT? Especially since she is a complete stranger!

I don't know when or if these desperate feelings will ever subside, but one good thing has come of them, believe it or not... I have come up with the best business idea ever! This is copyright material you are about to read, so don't you dare THINK about stealing my idea! OR ELSE!!! (Are you scared? Well you should be!!)

So, my brilliant business idea started with a philosophical thought. While I was with a friend buying baby clothes for her little boy, I swore that when I had a baby, my child would not wear clothes that were made just for his/her gender. My friend was appalled and said she felt sorry for my poor kid. Now, I didn't necessarily mean that when I have a little boy I am going to dress him up like tinkerbell, but rather, he will wear clothes that a baby boy or girl could wear.

Gender is one of my least favorite of the many social constructs. In fact, I hate the social construct of gender more than I hate fake Utah bimbos with their ratted up square hair, which I promise is A LOT. I mean think about it! When has a gender stereotype ever helped you in life? Men don't cry and girls are so emotional... SUCH BULL CRAP. And it all starts with BABIES. That's right. Babies.

We smother our boys in blue, brown and green. We give them trucks and trains and planes to play with. After all, that is how boys do it... On the other hand we suppress our girls with the color pink, and baby toy dolls because everyone knows that the only job in life a woman should ever have is that of mother and we MUST train our girls early about this role! Well, I CALL B.S.!!!!!

I hate this social formation, and so I have come up with an amazing solution! Are you ready for it?! I am going to create a cute little store full of baby clothes that can be worn by babies of either sex. They will be gender ambiguous and will not conform to the ridiculous gender roles that have been created by a flawed and rather messed up society!

Do you want to hear the best part of all? The name of my little creation will be called the Beatnik Baby Boutique! How freaking awesome is that?! For those of you who don't know who/what a beatnik is, let me give you a simple and incomplete history lesson... The beatniks were a group of people who rebelled against society. They hated the idea of conformity with a passion and so they refused to play the game. Isn't it the perfect name for my little bout of business brilliance?? I thought so.

My husband, on the other hand, thinks it will all be an epic fail because people actually LIKE to buy little boy and little girl clothes. I must admit, I'm sure I won't have many customers once I do get this thing going, but still. I must do my part to change this evil aspect of society, one baby at a time!

Now remember people. This is all highly confidential and copyright material. I will pounce if I find out that you have stolen my excellent idea. SERIOUSLY.

Gratitude

The past several months, I have been overwhelmed by an incredible feeling: Gratitude. I guess teaching an entire primary lesson on the subject today was a sign of fate. It is destiny that I am now writing this blog post!

It's a little funny that I have been so grateful lately. I am really beginning to think I am the most pessimistic person in the world; feeling extremely blessed and happy was so foreign, I thought maybe someone shipped me to Japan without me knowing!

So, I know you are all dying to hear... What am I grateful for? Let me see...

I am grateful for....

An incredible husband who is so amazing I don't deserve him.
Gilmore Girls.
Living in a spacious, clean, cold (or warm) house.
Being able to climb the stairs into my house.
Receiving a great education.
My family.
Having some incredible co-workers.
Peace and serenity.
Self discipline.
Chicken Marsala and Chicken Madeira from the Cheesecake factory.
Being able to take an expensive fun-packed vacation.
The ocean.
Trains.
Health code regulations.
Good music.
The mountains.
Having a good steady job and insurance.
Cars.
Being able to pay off all my old credit card debt.
Air conditioning.
Indoor plumbing.
Diversity.
Soft blankets.
Cameras.
Concerts.
Little sisters.
Washers and dryers.
Dishwashers.
Good books.
Art.
Photobooths.
Good friends.
Lagoon.
Skydiving.
The beach.
Memories.
Little children.
Forgiveness.
Camping.
Games.
The fact that God is the one in control of the universe and not I.
Freedom.
Independence.
Love.
Hope.
Healing.
Honest people.
Lovers of Humanity.
Good quotes.
Soul Sisters.
Yummy smelling candles.
Trail mix.
Babies.
Being able to see the beautiful world around me.
Spur of the moment trips to Massachusetts.
Utah. (who knew!?)
Red rock mountains.
Snuggling up in cool sheets.
St. George.
Hiking.
BFFs.
Heaven.
Toes.
Having people in my life who won't ever give up on me.
Motorcycle rides.
Deodorant.

And on that note, it is back to enjoying my lazy Sunday in bed watching Gilmore Girls and cuddling with my sexy husband! (Which are all things I am EXTREMELY grateful for.)