IN: Redding, CA. Baby Lovin'.

It is no secret to anyone that I have baby fever. I have had this fever for as long as I can remember; and then beyond that. I have video footage proving that I had the disease when I was in diapers, dragging my naked baby doll around the house by her leg and forcing a fake bottle into her mouth (whether she was hungry or not. "You're on my schedule now, fake baby!"). At any rate, it should come as no surprise to any of you that I have "The Plague" and to answer your insipid question: no, I am not pregnant, nor do I plan on getting in that kerfuffle anytime soon. Moving on now...

my fever in action with a real baby (my sister)

Apparently some doctor somewhere said you are supposed to "starve a fever," but he clearly hadn't taken into account my case. I prefer to excessively feed my fever until I get a "cold" from overexposure. I'm talking baby clothes coming out of my ears and offering to change diapers for free. Just call me Dr. Laci because my method works like a charm. There was a time when I offered to watch a baby for free- I met them in a grocery store. I wonder why no one took me up on it? Well, those days have passed and I am getting paid to soak up some lovin' from a 8-week-old little lady.

posers

With me and Joel getting ready to travel again for a couple months and still more epic trips on the horizon, we aren't in a place where we feel its smart to have our own little loves. So, I give my stored up affections to someone else's kid. And one day (whether sooner or later) we will have our own "mini me's" and I will unravel and be crazy about them. And as fond as I am of scheduling, I will try not to jam a bottle (or boob) in their faces.

sleeping beauty

I nurture by nature because God is a mother. One of the hebrew names of God is "El Shaddai." Shaddai is derived from another word that actually means "breast." I have heard it translated, "the many-breasted One." Rad thought: a lot of nursing mothers actually lactate when they hear a baby cry, even if it is not their own child. It is built into us to nurture because it is built into God to nurture. His natural response to our need is to leak provision (including our need for growth and development). Well, this concludes your boob talk for the day, everyone.

my little bear

Anyway, in this current (short) season in Redding, I allow myself to indulge in baby time. It is so necessary for me to nest wherever I am in the world and this is one of those investments to keep my heart open and full. Doing this job was never really about the money for me- it was always about being here, now. When you travel like I do, it is important to pursue things that keep you in the present at all times; no matter where you are- its called "putting down roots." I am not afraid to invest myself fully at all times- and so I live a full life. This is one of my very best secrets- shh!

-L