So, I had my baby and stuff! Many thanks to Megan & Shrie for keeping things running smoothly while I've spent the last 3 weeks getting to know my son, Octavian. Maternity leave has consisted of a lot of feeding uponst his soft pudgey newborn cheeks. So deliciously nom-able. I could live on a steady diet of the flesh of infants!
Tavi is a remarkably mellow little guy, and I'm better rested now than I was through the last months of my pregnancy. What does this mean? More Offbeat Bride! More Offbeat Mama! More offbeat scheming for 2010! It may take me until January to get fully back up to speed, but I'm slowly re-acclimating. Thanks to each of you for your patience as I get my shit back together.
About Ariel Meadow Stallings
Author of Offbeat Bride: Creative Alternatives for Independent Brides, Ariel acts as the publisher of all the Offbeat Empire websites. She lives, loves, and dorks out hard in Seattle, WA.
MissMathea said
he is so handsome!!! what a little bundle a cuddles!!! congrats!!
@epistemophilia said
AHHHHH he's so cute! and what a great name!!
@awesomebrandi said
Congrats Ariel! He is adorable.. His cheeks are indeed nom-able!! Welcome to offbeat-motherhood
I can't wait to join you..!
A D said
Wow, those three weeks went by insanely fast. Congratulations on your little bundle of awesome, and welcome back!
@MashaMashaMasha said
Oh, he's so sweet! Nom nom nom! Welcome back!
Betsy said
Adorable! And his name is amazing.
joy said
love the green!
Kitty said
He is supremely gorgeous! Congrats to you and Andreas for creating such an exquisite little human being!
Cutiebookworm said
congrats, he's so beautiful!
Ophelia said
US "maternity leave" always scares me, it's so non-existent. Here (Switzerland)we have 14 weeks maternity leave and the mother gets paid 80% of her usual salary during that time. It's actually in the law that mothers aren't allowed to work until 9 weeks after birth and they are protected from being laid off for 16 weeks after birth. (I admit I had to look up the details on wikipedia)
Anon said
Agreed, it's horrifying! The USA is absolutely NOT "all about families" as some would have you believe….instead it is all about the $$….
In this instance, though, Ariel probably sets her own hours, which can be a huge benefit of running TWO great websites!
Welcome back!!
OffbeatAriel said
Don't get me started on USA maternity leave! My former job was incredibly generous with maternity leave by American standards — granting 12 weeks paid/8 weeks unpaid. What's really fucked up? When I got laid off last month, it turns out that severance pay is more generous than the maternity leave!
Which means that even a generous US company is better to its laid off employees than it is to its parenting employees. How demented is that?!
But to echo what Anon said — since I'm self-employed now, I set my own hours and can shift my offbeat responsibilities to make sure I get loooots of time to chew on Tavi's face. To be fair, little dude is sleeping 18 hours a day, so it's actually easier working now than it will be once he's a toddler!
Ruby said
What?! In England we get 6 weeks leave at full pay then £120 each week thereafter and we're entitled to 52 weeks leave. And that's just the goverment standard, many companies have additional maternity benefits on top of that. I can't believe you're entitled to so little.
Oh, and high 5's to tavi for sleeping so much! Sounds just like our little man until the teething began……
OffbeatAriel said
Don't get me started on USA maternity leave! My former job was incredibly generous with maternity leave by American standards — granting 12 weeks paid/8 weeks unpaid. What's really fucked up? When I got laid off last month, it turns out that severance pay is more generous than the maternity leave!
Which means that even a generous US company is better to its laid off employees than it is to its parenting employees. How demented is that?!
But to echo what Anon said — since I'm self-employed now, I set my own hours and can shift my offbeat responsibilities to make sure I get loooots of time to chew on Tavi's face. To be fair, little dude is sleeping 18 hours a day, so it's actually easier working now than it will be once he's a toddler!
Rozi said
He's a real sweetie and babies do have the most adorable little faces… and so do toddlers! Give him a big kiss from me!
Britany said
congrats! he is adorable!
Seacilin said
Congratulations – what a little dote!!
Jill said
Congratulations on Tavi, and welcome back!
hinakuu said
Congratulations! Octavian is a beautiful little guy.
Emily said
Such a cutie! And with an awesome name, too
I had to come out of lurking to say congrats!
MsFishy said
Congrats! He is truly adorable Ariel – welcome to motherhood, and the new adventure ahead of you.
~MsFishy
alphajammer said
Congratulations!
A fan of Jim Butcher and The Codex Alera are you?
OffbeatAriel said
Nope — actually a fan of MT Anderson, although mostly we just liked the way the name sounded and the many nickname options it provides (tavi, ian, tavio, tay, etc).
Andrea said
Congratulations to both of you. He is so adorable!!! We missed you while you were rocking the Mommy World , and glad to have you back! *hugs* B)
Paula said
Congratulations! He's gorgeous!
Eliza said
too cute!!!!!!! any chance of cloning?
Sabrina said
Congratulations Ariel and welcome back! All your dedicated readers are thrilled for you and Dre
Sara E. Cotner said
Welcome back, Ariel! You're an inspiration to us all (cheesy, but true!).
Laura said
okay, I know you have 26 OTHER comments saying the same thing, but I have to chime in, too: aww! He's adorable! Congratulations!
jessamyn said
so many congratulations! wonderful name, wonderful face, wonderful baby boy!