At Justin's first trip to the pediatrician at 4 days old the dr we saw gave me the advice, "don't compare this baby to your first". Haha, yeah right. Of course I am going to compare my second newborn experience with that of his big brother. What mother doesn't? Jack was an easy baby. Yes, he fussed and we struggled with breastfeeding for the first month. But did I ever consider him to be a fussy baby? Nope. He had his fussy hour and it was very predictable: every night at 8pm for a good two hours he was totally inconsolable. Fussy hour was gone by two months and life with my happy baby was great. Fast-forward two years.

New Jersey would become the first state in the nation to require mandatory HIV testing for pregnant women AND newborns if a bill presented last week becomes law:

The bill would require that pregnant women be tested for HIV as early as possible in their pregnancy and again during their third trimester. Each birthing facility in the state would be required to test newborns in its care.

There will be an 'out' for women who don't wish to be tested:

Senate President Richard J. Codey said he will introduce legislation to require the testing unless the mother specifically chooses in writing to reject the test.

According to the Kaiser Foundation, a nonprofit research organization focusing on U.S. health care issues, four states -- Arkansas, Michigan, Tennessee and Texas -- require health care providers to test a mother for HIV, unless the mother specifically asks not to be tested.

There is opposition to the bill:

The Center for Women Policy Studies, a Washington, D.C.-based feminist advocacy organization, opposes mandatory HIV testing, arguing it violates a woman's right to make childbearing and medical treatment decisions.

"There's an important issue about privacy and the right to make certain decisions about one's self," said Leslie Wolfe, the center's president. "What's really needed is good counseling, preventative education and conversations with respectful medical personnel and counselors about HIV."

I'd like to dedicate this diary to my dear friend Karyn who will join us in the trenches of parenthood with the arrival of her first child in April. When I emailed with her last she commented that she is really excited about the birth of her child but has a fear of the unknown about parenthood. I remember that feeling like it was yesterday. After watching a birthing class on DVD because my work schedule didn't fit well with any of the classes in our area, I felt confident and prepared for labor and delivery. I had done my prenatal yoga and felt that I had the breathing methods mastered. I was armed with my birth plan. So that preparation was checked off of my list. So, what unknown was I worried about? What to do with my newborn son once we were home from the hospital. I had done lots of babysitting but I had never really cared for a baby so young. I had no idea what to expect.