Olympic Moments..

Good Morning Friends...

Mr. Pancakes saw how sad i was not being able to watch the Olympics...

so he went and got me this contraption that allows 

us to have regular channel without dealing 

with the dreaded cheating and conniving Cable companies.

I TRULY love my man!!

That being said, i have enjoyed many Olympic moments thus far this weekend.

And i've been in awe of the athleticism...how the athletes push their bodies to the max..it's incredible.

I am also loving all the amazing stories of the athletes working hard to realize their dream.

It's quite emotional if you watch it long enough...

My favorite moments thus far include:

Golden Girl Gabby Douglas

Amazing that at such a young age, she knew what she wanted, 

she dedicated herself to her craft and is enjoying success at the highest level.  

And she seems to have the best kind of positive attitude!

Oscar Pistorius

I think it's pretty amazing that he is defying the idea 

that a person's limitations (double amputee) has to prevent them from doing what they love.

He qualified for the 400meters!

Plus he is a cutie pootie with an awesome ascent!

Serena Williams

She was so excited to win the Gold...

she was having fun out there like a little girl!

You could definitely tell winning thnis meant a lot of her.

Jessica Ennis

I had no idea what a hepthalon was until last night...

but British Athlete did her thing by winning in high fashion.

And her abs...this will be my abs once this baby comes out.

I can dream right?!

Michael Phelps

The most decorated Olympian...who wins 22 medals, 18 of them gold?

He has made many memorial memories.

Baby Pancakes is definitely getting into the swimming pool soon as he is old enough!

Question of the Day:

What has been your favorite Olympic moments thus far?

My condolences go out to the families and friends of those involved in the 

Wisconsin Sikh Temple shooting.

So much hatred in our world despite all the positivity that is coming out of the Olympics.

Smile at someone today...

Friday Funnies: Baby or Banana?

Thanks everyone for your thoughts on the maternity leave post...

definitely our country could do a better job in this department

and it begins with us making it an issue during an election year!!!

...Oh i also had a dream i was at the Blogher Conference....
maybe next year.  Enjoy ladies that are attending.

In the meantime...i have Friday Funnies for you...

I am thinking if i can make one person laugh on a Friday i have done a good deed!

Is that a Baby or Banana in there Mr. Monkey?

Enjoy your Weekend.

I know i will be...i need to sleep and relaxation...

my body is definitely preparing for Baby Pancakes' arrival.

Feeling Thankful: Maternity Leave

One of the things i have been thinking about as of late is my maternity leave.

Team Pancakes is definitely not in the position, financially,

 for me to take a full year off to become a full time mommy,

therefore we will have to become creative. 

I truly believe that the maternity leave laws through

the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a complete joke!

It is absolutely inhumane!

There are no other countries in the world with such oppressive laws toward mothers. 

For a Society that values families, this law is not family friendly...at all!!!

 The mother/child bond is so crucial that the expectation

that a woman who just gave birth should return to work six weeks

 or less after going through such intense surgical procedure is very unfortunate.

Who came up with these laws?

 And why has it been acceptable all this time?

As a society, do we really value the workplace

and productivity over the mother/child relationship?

Do we value work over family?

Coming from Canada, i am of course very jaded about the laws in this part of the world. 

 In Canada, if you were unaware,

women are entitled to a year of maternity leave

and fathers are entitled to six weeks (i believe). 

 This time is allotted so that one can take stay home with the new baby. 

And how beautiful is that? 

That parents have the opportunity to spend

the year with their child, to bond, take care

and for the mother to heal (properly) before returning to work.

I have never wanted to be a stay at (full time) home mother

 but i would love the opportunity to spend a year with my child, just taking care of him.  

There are so many moments that occur in a child's life

in the first year/the first fews months and the fact that

 many mothers miss these moments because they have to return to work saddens me. 

Since we are not in Canada (wish i had planned it better!!),

Team Pancakes decided as a couple that we wanted me to take

 three months off so that i can be home with Baby Pancakes. 

 Three months is not qutie enough but given the laws (and the economy),

it will have to be enough.

  Lucky for me, i work in a flexible,

easygoing environment with supportive team members,

so even after i return to work, i will be able to work from home sometimes.

And Mr. Pancakes will switch his schedule around

so Baby Pancakes does not have to go into daycare right away. 

So we are definitely one of the lucky ones.

There are too many parents that don't get this opportunity and that is not fair,

 justified or in my humble opinion democratic.

The maternity leave laws in this country are definitely stuck in archaic times.

There are many things that can be changed about it.

And while i write a letter to my local Congress woman and man...

I just want to say that tonight,

 i am Thankful that at least i have a choice to take three months off.

Question of the Day:

How were you able to be creative with your maternity leave?