gift for bris?

So - I have been invited to a bris, by the parents whose birth I have just attended.

I have never been to one before. Yes, I do know what happens. :) Could someone please tell me, though, if a gift would be appropriate, and if so, what kind?

Thanks!

[books] reading aloud

So, I enjoy reading aloud to my housegirl.

A few weeks ago, we finished The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley. It was really a wonderful book to read aloud, because it is so lyrical. Also, the chapters are pretty distinct, and the plot is not so complicated that you can't remember who is who when you pick it up a few weeks later.

I have been having some trouble deciding what to read next. I don't want to just read her everything Robin McKinley ever wrote. I want to expose her to a variety of books. I had thought I would do Song of the Lioness by Tamora Pierce next - but I started reading it aloud and found it very clunky. The language doesn't flow terribly well for oration. Does anyone have any suggestions? What are your favorite things to read aloud?

more on birth

So, yesterday when I stopped by the Diesel, I mentioned to sunspiral that I had attended my first birth. He asked, "What did you do?" I don't think I gave a very good answer, so I thought I would write about it some more here. This isn't everything that a doula could do, just the things that I did this time.

- Reiki. Oh my goddess reiki. Continuous energy flow for seven hours, which I think is a personal record for me.
- A lot of reassuring touch - on the back, on the arms and hands, on the face and neck.
- Massage - the feet, the wrists, the hips, the back.
- Having mom push against my hands during contractions.
- Giving the mom ice and juice.
- Encouraging mom to make sounds and relax her jaw. (A loose mouth means a loose vagina. It really works that way.)
- Holding the mom up during contractions to take the pressure off her pelvis.
- Putting chapstick on the mom.
- Suggesting position changes.
- Encouraging mom, through touch, to relax various parts of her body.
- Telling mom she's doing great. Telling dad he's doing great too.
- Having mom physically lean on me for support while standing.
- Reminding mom to breathe deeply.
- Explaining terms used by the hospital staff to mom and dad.
- Supporting mom's legs so her pelvis can be open comfortably.
- Suggesting things dad can do to help mom feel more comfortable.
- Saying "Talk to your baby, your baby needs to hear your voice" after the birth. This is very reassuring to the baby and also helps brings the mom back down to earth from Labor-la-la-land.

goodbye, Ras Cafe

I went by one of my favorite spots a few days ago, to find it all closed up.

Ras Cafe was in Central Square, behind the big church. They had woooonderful juices. My favorite was pear-apple-lemon-ginger. So delicious! Their salads were also terrific. The music was never too loud, and the chairs were comfy.

I went there for the first time with Dave G, who I dated a while back, and I was hooked. I liked going there on my way home from my old job in Central Square. If it was a really hot day, I would go in and cool off with a juice. If it was a really stressful day, I would go there and read and meditate, until I felt I could leave work behind. I also would go there on my way to the Cambridge Women's Center at night. I have nice memories of spending time there with starkeymonster, mrpet, and redjo. It was a great spot to read with a friend.

Ras Cafe, I'm sorry that you went out of business. I wish we, the loyal customers, had been enough to keep you open. I will miss you.