This is Why I'll Never be an Adult

I've posted this on Facebook before, but I came across it again, and in light of my recent cleaning and organizing attempts, it seems appropriate. And hilarious.

http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/06/this-is-why-ill-never-be-adult.html

It pretty much sums everything up.

Failure

So... normally I am really good at keeping my word and doing what I set out to do, once I make the effort to set out, of course. It's that initial effort I usually lack. Anyway, I have been excellent with my fasts. I haven't touched facebook in a week, and I don't even miss it. I like focusing on the everyday life of my family, without everyone else I know's lives on top of that (no offense). We are also doing really well with the gluten-free diet. We decided not to fast sugar completely, I need honey in my coffee, but to limit it and only use natural sugars (you know, besides the box of chocolate covered almonds I ate the other day, but it was for a good cause! And gluten-free!). When we do our re-introduction-to-gluten test we will not consume any sugar, as to not interfere with the possible symptoms.

Everything else has basically failed. It seems like I am better at giving up stuff, than actually doing stuff. Well, I've kept up with my laundry as usual, as if I even needed to say that. And some of my cleaning. Just not the floors, STILL. I actually plan on doing that today, though. I managed to get the kitchen clean yesterday, so hopefully that momentum will carry on to today. This morning when I looked out the window it was snowing, so that means it's a great day for staying in. =) I heard it was supposed to turn to rain, which would be wonderful. I've been craving rain lately. I don't normally like the rain, unless it's in Australia, so that's kind of odd. But maybe I am just so sick of the snow that other forms of precipitation would be most welcome. It would wash the snow away, and bring that wonderful Spring smell! Judith and I have been counting down the sleeps until it is officially Spring! You know the winter has been rough when even Judith, my snow-lover, can't wait for it to be over!

I haven't done the Shred or the Purge since I last posted. I think I might just start over with those. At day 4 or whatever I was at. I've got lots of time I guess, Lent is more than 30 days anyway. I'd rather start over than give up completely!

On a semi-related note, I have been reading The Continuum Concept, which has been really eye-opening. I find I often read books at just the right time in my life, and I really do feel like God had this one for me right now. I know my problem with cleaning, and everything in general that I struggle with, stems from emotional issues. Like really, how hard would it be to just clean up? Ok, I have 3 kids age 5 and under, so it's pretty hard to keep up, but still. I seem to have all of these hurdles in my head. The book is helping me a lot to understand some of these hurdles. It's actually kind of a tough read emotionally. It's hard to start to see why our culture is the way it is, and it breaks my heart for everyone. I see the same issues in my kids, which I have always known deep down were "wrong", but were told that they were normal. It's hard not to feel guilty, I feel like I should, but really I don't. And I'm not interested in blaming anyone either. I'm just satisfied in having some information that backs up what I have felt instinctively all along. And THAT gives me hope. I know if my instincts are still intact, and merely just buried under all of the social intellectual garbage I have been fed, that they can be resurrected in me and our society. I feel like I have a lot of de-cluttering to do in my heart and my head, as well as my house. I also recently read Hold on to Your Kids, The Highly Sensitive Child, In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts, The Mood Cure, and Unconditional Parenting. All of these had the same effect. I feel like God is giving me these tools so I can piece together the roots of the issues I struggle with, so I can heal and move on. I read all of these books in the hope that I could help others, especially my kids. But in reality, it has helped me with myself the most. I highly recommend these books to everyone, they have been a really helpful part of my personal journey. At the same time, I think part of my problem is that with this new information has come a season of grieving for me. But I know that is important and necessary. Once those emotions are purged, I will be able to move on with more clarity and intention than before. Just as my life will hopefully be a lot smoother and more organized once I have purged the clutter from my house.

I really didn't intend to write that last paragraph, but it just kind of came to me, and I'm glad I got it out! I love writing, it helps me so much. I need to start writing more (you know, besides all of the huge comments I always leave on Facebook and in forums!). I will keep everyone posted with my progress, I intend to start Shredding and Purging today!

Also - Don't forget to check out my new blog http://cyclopschicken.blogspot.com I can't get it to import to Facebook until I am back on Facebook at the end of April, so you will have to actually GO THERE to check out what hilarity the kids are up to. I also made the kids new tickers for that site and I love them!

She Knows What She Wants

Here is a great birth video I was watching the other day. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zgb7AL7kFbg
The midwife didn't make it in time, and the baby needed resuscitation, but mom knew what to do and everything was fine.

Judith heard the grunting and came running downstairs. She stopped at the landing and asked "What is that noise?" (She knew what it was though)

I said it was a birth video, and then she ran the rest of the way down and looked very eagerly around the corner to see the screen. Then she said "Phew! There's a tub. I was scared that she wouldn't be in water. I am definitely having my babies ın water." Then we sat and watched it together. =)

Home Made Deodorant

On Father's Day, I gave Dave a big hug, and then decided, immediately, that this would be the day I finally made deodorant. I had read a recipe on the Passionate Homemaker, and really wanted to try it. Deodorant isn't that big of a deal for me, I hardly sweat, and only usually smell for the first few months of breastfeeding. Any of the natural (and regular) deodorants I have tried have worked for me, and never caused any problems.

My husband, however, is a different story. Regular deodorants irritated his skin, and none of the natural ones worked. He is a roofer, and a big guy in general, so we were hoping to find something that worked. He would be a great test subject for our home made stuff.

I made the deodorant according to the recipe, and it took no time at all. In a small bowl I just put in 1/4 cup of aluminum-free baking soda (that I got from a local health food store), and 1/4 cup arrowroot powder (also from the health food store, or you could substitute corn starch). Then I added a few tablespoons of extra virgin coconut oil (in solid form), and mixed it up. I kept adding the oil until the mixture resembled a thick cake batter. It was a hot day when I made it, and I would recommend mixing it up in a warm environment for sure. On cooler days it solidifies up nicely. Anyway, the recipe calls for 6-8 tbsp of coconut oil. I also added about 5 drops of tea tree oil. You could add whatever essential oils you like, or skip it completely.

I put the mixture in a small, 1 cup (250 ml) size mason jar. I put it in the fridge at first to firm it up. Now we store it on our bathroom counter, and as long as it isn't terribly hot, it keeps just fine there. We apply it with our fingers, it's nice on the hands too.

Here is the great instructional video:



We are both extremely impressed with how well it works! It is so simple yet effective, even for a roofer in the summer! So now we get the protection we need, without worrying about what chemicals are seeping into our skin. It may not totally prevent us from sweating, but it does prevent the smell, which is the important part.

Serious Business

I always thought Gideon was serious about food as a baby, but Ruthie puts him to shame! She got her first tooth at 6 months, the earliest of my kids to get one, and she has put it, now them (she has 2 now, she got her second at 7 months) to work! She has very minimal patience for being spoon-fed, she would much rather feed herself, I suppose that way she can ensure to get the job done "right". She also hasn't had as much patience for nursing lately, which makes me a little sad, although we will not be stopping any time soon, don't worry. Milk is just not as interesting at the moment I guess.

She got the pincer grasp down immediately, and had it perfected at 6 months. With both hands.





She was born with her tongue sticking out like this, and when I first gazed lovingly into her eyes, her expression very clearly and firmly said FEED ME. She latched right away, and never needed help nursing. She has loved food ever since, and when she is hungry she lets me know by sticking her tongue out. Or, if she realizes that someone else is eating something, anything, her tongue comes out and curls up. It's seriously too adorable for words.



She can even handle mushy foods all on her own.



She loves chicken, but is clearly NOT a fan of tuna.



One at a time wasn't fast enough for the strawberries...



Her favourite, by far, are Cheerios. They have taken her love for life to new heights.



She knows the box, haha. I think she was trying to will some on to her tray here.



I have a feeling she may choose to work with food some day, it seems like a life-long passion in the making.

P.S. YES! We do tend to follow baby-led weaning, thanks for asking! I've posted this before, but in case you are new, here are a couple links with some info: http://www.tribalbaby.org/babyLedEating.html and http://www.borstvoeding.com/voedselintroductie/blw/engels.html

Happy Birthday to ME!

Yep, it's my birthday. Tonight I am hanging out with a few of my favourite ladies. Not totally sure what all we will do, but I'm happy just to have their company. I'm very excited!

A little while ago I was given some money, and decided to splurge (if you can call $40 for a pair of pants a splurge, it is for me as I never really buy clothing new). I bought these from one of my favourite sellers on Etsy, cocoricooo. I loooove them! They are so light and comfortable, and for once the perfect length! Gotta love short Thai people! And I think they are so beautiful. They show off my big hips, and I've heard many times that short people shouldn't wear baggy pants, but WHO CARES. I love them and they are amazing. The best part is they have an elastic waist band so they are great for the baby years. And they will still fit if I ever get skinny again too, haha.





Speaking of hips, I need to go get me an ice cream cake!

Solids, Already?!?!

I can't believe Ruthie is 6 months already. It still feels like I just had her, but I guess I can't really use the "I have a newborn" excuse anymore.

She has been wanting to eat what I'm eating forever. It probably doesn't help that I usually eat with her on my lap, so she has watched me her whole life. When my Mom and Grandma came to visit back in May, my Grandma was sitting with her eating a piece of banana bread, and Ruthie swiped a handful of it, and had it in her mouth before anyone could blink! Then, another day I was at a friend's house, and she managed to grab a handful of grass and clover, and shove it in her mouth in the half a second it took me to go from squatting to sitting. She actually managed to swallow, and successfully digest it...

So I guess it's time. So far, she has tried (and LOVED!) banana, avocado, potato, blueberries, peas, chicken, and water. And of course, grass and banana bread. I know, it's kind of a random list. But I like to follow baby-led weaning, and well, I'm just not as uptight about this kind of thing as I used to be. Sometimes I help feed her, sometimes Judith helps, and sometimes Ruthie does it all on her own. Yesterday I mashed up a banana with a fork and put it on her tray, and she ate the WHOLE thing all on her own, I was amazed. This girl is SERIOUS about food! I was surprised that she didn't start sucking on the tray to get every last molecule.

She doesn't have any trouble eating either, she never pushes the food out of her mouth with her tongue like most babies do at first. And with the chicken and peas, there were good chunks. She has never choked. She just gummed them and swallowed, no problem! I can't be bothered to make purrees and sit and spoon-feed her like I did with Judith. I don't think there's anything wrong with that, but if Ruthie doesn't need me to, why bother? I don't leave her alone with the food, of course, I always supervise. She hasn't had any trouble digesting anything either. I was hoping that solids would help cut down the number of poops she has, but nothing has changed so far. She still poops multiple times a day.

So anyway, that's my latest adventure in parenting Ruthie. Here are some pics:

First taste of banana.



Judith feeding her banana, can't get it in fast enough!



Avocado.



We do use a spoon sometimes to gather up the mashed mess and get it in her mouth, but Ruthie likes to assist.



She downed about 1/4 of that on her first try, then lost interest. She also is very good at drinking from a cup.



All of my kids so far have been really excited about solids. My milk must get boring after a while, haha.

Happy Births

It's no secret that I am a fan of birth stories and videos. Even when I watch certain TLC shows that infuriate me, I still end up crying when the baby is born. Being a witness to the miracle of birth is always an honour to me. Our culture can try to screw with it all it wants, but it's still a miracle. I know that sometimes things happen, and I thank God for the technology we have that does save lives. I also know that many women have wonderful, empowering births with assistance or surgery. I have no problem with women who want drugs or interventions, as long as they get what they need to feel safe, are respected and have a positive experience, and have a healthy baby. Personally, I am moved by every birth, and every story is valid and captivating to me.

But there is something overwhelmingly beautiful when you get to witness birth unfold naturally, as the mother is able to listen to her body, and trust triumphs over fear. I can't even begin right now to explain the depths of emotion a birthing mother goes through, the extreme vulnerability that can empower or destroy her. The passage into motherhood occurs on every level of being. It is such a sacred time, whether medicalized or not. But for those of us who have been fortunate enough to experience birth naturally and joyfully, we know nothing compares. I truly wish that every woman who wanted to, could have a birth like this.

Here are a few videos that have moved me recently.

This one was incredibly fast! The father had just left briefly to let the midwives in and get some towels (I think I read that in the comments before they were disabled). The poor mama was kind of in shock though! It just shows that labour isn't always long and hard. (Click the links)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoIiVszj1EU

Here's another quick, beautiful birth (warning: boobs. Although if you're into birth, it's obviously not a big deal.).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqArhbe-pAY&feature=player_embedded

And finally, this one is long, but worth watching. It's a hospital birth, but you'd never know it. It shows how calm and gentle birth can be, and also how skilled and professional the midwives are, while also being respectful and not causing a scene or making the mother fearful.



You can also find tons of other great home birth videos by clicking the links after these videos. It's truly incredible what women are capable of.

Ruthie's birth was a lot like these. Honestly, one of my biggest regrets ever was not getting her birth on video. It would have been great to share it with the world.

Insight into the Unschooled Adult Life

I'm really enjoying this video right now. It's long, but so interesting.



I got it from this blog, which I also highly recommend.

My Cloth Diapers - Revised

My cloth diaper stash has evolved quite a bit since I last posted about it. So I think we are due for an update!

First, let's go over the basics in case there are some newbies out there.

Cloth diapers ain't what they used to be. There are quite a variety out there on the market today, and cloth diapering is gaining popularity. Just google it and you will find all kinds of stores and resources online. The best place to start, in my opinion, if you are serious about cloth diapering is www.diaperswappers.com (DS). There are forums there where you can ask questions, and also buy used diapers from other mamas to try out. I got many of my diapers through DS.

I also have bought from EcoBaby Canada, Babes in Arms, kijiji and even garage sales!

Most people say to have 18-24 diapers minimum in your stash. But really, it's up to you, and how often you want to do laundry. I survived a few months with just 14 diapers, and I know a couple people who get by with 10 (and wash them every day).

Cloth diapering can save you a lot of money, or be really expensive. It depends what route you go. You can outfit your baby for about $300, or even cheaper if you buy used, or I've heard of moms who spend over $8000! It costs about $1000 I think to diaper a baby for 2 years with disposables.

There are several different types of diapers to choose from. Here are the basics:

1. Flats. These ARE your Grandma's diapers. They are just plain, flat pieces of fabric. Old school. You put your baby on them, fold them up and pin them, and cover with rubber pants (or some kind of cover). These are the cheapest type of diapers, they last well and are easy to clean. This is the only kind of diaper I have not played with, but here is a link to a blog post, with videos, on how they work: http://www.momaroo.com/693133348/how-do-you-fold-flat-diapers-check-this-out/

2. Prefolds. Similar to flats, but with several layers of material sewn together, thicker in the middle, for better absorbency. They are cheap, or easy to make yourself, last long, and are easy to wash and dry. They are not water-proof, so they also require a cover. You can get newborn size, regular, or large.



They are fairly easy to assemble. I fold them in 3, along the sewn lines, then open up the back, put baby's butt over the open part and bring the folded part of the diaper up through baby's legs to baby's tummy, and bring the corners of the open part around baby's sides, and pin or Snappi them to the diaper on baby's front.





3. Fitteds. These look a little more like a "typical" diaper we think of these days. They are sewn to fit your baby, and often will have doublers (extra pieces of absorbent material) that are sometimes attached, sometimes not. They are not water-proof, so require a cover. There are quite the variety of fitteds out there, some cheap, some expensive, some are super-absorbent, some not. Some are adjustable so they will fit your baby from birth to potty training, and others will only fit a certain size so you will have to buy more as your baby grows. They are easy to wash, some are easy to dry, and others may take a while.





4. Covers. Flats, Prefolds and Fitteds require covers. You can also use some covers as, or over top of disposable, swim diapers. There are quite a variety of these too. The typical ones are made of PUL (Polyurethane Laminate). They are thin and waterproof, and fairly cheap. You don't have to wash them after every use, only when soiled, so you only need a handful. They are easy to wash and quick to dry, can be machine dried, but best hung.



You can also use wool or fleece covers. These are not water proof, but they will just get damp instead of soaked (unless you are totally negligent or have an extremely heavy wetter with only a thin diaper). They are breathable, so good for baby's skin. They are fairly expensive to buy, or you can sew them yourself by recycling a 100% wool (or fleece) sweater, or knitting with wool yarn. You can get/make simple covers or wraps, or pants (longies), shorts (shorties), or even skirts (skirties)! Personally I think the wool and fleece covers are super cute. Fleece you can wash and dry in the machines, but you need to wash wool by hand with a special lanolin soap (I use LANAcare). They only need to be washed when soiled though. If they are damp you can just leave them to dry, then re-use them. Wool covers can be really bulky, so sometimes clothes won't fit over top. Which is fine, when there are things like BabyLegs! I have 7 pairs (but no photo, I didn't think of it until now), and they fit all 3 kids. Judith loves to wear them under her pants when it's cold!







(My personal favourite is a Goodmama/Longies combo)



5. Pockets. These are very popular, because they are so simple to use, just like a disposable. They are Daddy-friendly! They are easy to wash and dry. But they are expensive. The outside is like a cover, made of PUL, but there is a lining on the inside, with an opening on one end so you can "stuff" the diaper with an absorbent insert. A lot of pocket diapers are sold with a microfiber insert included. The nice thing about these is, if your child is a heavy wetter, you can add more inserts (even a cut up towel or like my friend uses, a Sham-Wow cloth), or you can buy separate doublers. Hemp is a popular material for doublers due to the great absorbency. You do have to "stuff" them before using, but I don't really find it all that much more work. You can wash them with the inserts still inside, but I don't recommend it. I simply shake out the wet or soiled insert(s) into the diaper pail when I change the baby, then the pail is ready to just dump into the washer. There are many good brands of pocket diapers out there, the most popular being BumGenius and Fuzzi Bunz. I like the BumGenius the best because they are one-size (OS), so they fit from newborn to potty training. Although I've had mine for almost 2 years and the aplix (velcro) is starting to wear out, which is a bummer. I may get them converted to snaps, so they will last through future children. I also like the Fuzzi Bunz because of the snaps (harder for baby to get off) and there is lots of room to super-stuff them for overnights. I also have a soft spot in my heart for all things minky (like, plush soft and furry). The photos below are of a Preston's Pants pocket diaper.







5. All-in-Ones (AIO). These are basically as close as you get to disposable diapers. Very Daddy-and-babysitter-friendly. They are expensive, a little harder to get totally clean, and take forever to dry. No stuffing required, there are absorbent layers sewn in. Some have pockets as well where you can stuff an insert if baby is a heavy wetter and needs the absorbency. The photos below are of a Chunky Monkey AIO diaper.







I also have cloth wipes that were made by a friend using scrap flannel (bed sheets at a thrift store are good for this!), 2 layers serged together. Or you could use old towels cut up, or do a combo of towels, flannel and fleece. You can also buy cloth wipes, or use baby face cloths.

I make my own solution using a drop of natural baby soap, 3-5 drops of tea tree oil, and about 20 drops of calendula tincture in a small spray bottle with water. I keep my wipes dry, then spray them, and baby's bum if it's dirty, just before wiping.

I recommend having a wetbag for outings. I cloth diaper all the time not just at home, and I honestly find it just as easy as disposables. I have a pretty wetbag, but I forgot to take a photo of it! When I'm out I just put the dirty/wet diapers and wipes in the wet bag, then dump the bag into my diaper pail at home. The wetbag can be wiped out by hand (I just use a wipe and the spray!), or thrown in the wash (and hung to dry).

For diaper pails I just have a couple of plastic buckets Dave got from work that were in the trash. You can buy a fancy diaper pail, but you don't need to. Any pail works, as long as it has a lid, and preferably a handle. I rinse mine out after I dump the diapers in the wash and they don't smell too bad. If they do need a more thorough wash, baking soda and vinegar does the trick. Or dish soap. If you want to prevent smells while the diapers are in there, you can put a few drops of tea tree oil on to a cotton ball and tape it to the lid of the pail, and/or sprinkle some baking soda in the bottom of the pail.

When a baby who is eating solids has a poop, simply knock the poop off into the toilet. I use a piece of toilet paper to help it along. If it's really messy I have to scrape it off with toilet paper, which yeah, is really nasty. But not as nasty as having a garbage bag full of disgusting disposables every week! I really want to get a diaper sprayer, I've heard great things about it, and it would make the poop-removal process so much easier.

You can also get diaper liners. You place a piece of it between baby's bum and the diaper. These are flush-able, so it makes poop-removal easy. Just toss the liner and poop in the toilet. It can also be used to protect the diaper from any bum rash cream (although if your diapers are under warranty, any use of diaper cream will void the warranty). Any rash cream or oil will ruin the diaper's absorbency, making the diaper leak.



I do diaper laundry on Tuesdays and Fridays. First I do a cold/cold cycle with about half of the minimum recommended detergent (I use Nature Clean, you HAVE to have a detergent without fragrances or harsh chemicals, or it can hurt baby's bum and wreck the diapers). Then I do a hot/cold cycle with about a quarter of the minimum recommended detergent. It's important to not use too much detergent, or it will not all rinse out, and that will make your diapers stinky (and possibly irritate baby's skin). Then I do an extra cold rinse at the end. I hang everything that has PUL in it, and the rest goes in the dryer on high.

Every 2 months I do a "strip". I do my usual first wash, but add a bit of baking soda (don't do this if your PUL diapers are still under warranty, it voids it). Then for the hot wash I use a bit of Nature Clean dish detergent (you're supposed to use regular Dawn, but I can't find it!). Then I do a full cold/cold cycle after, with a bit of white vinegar in it (again, don't do this if the diapers are under warranty).

Never ever ever use fabric softener on diapers! Fabric softener is just bad news in general, really.

The best way to get stains out is to lay or hang the diapers out in the sun. It does wonders!

*******

Sooooo... now that that's out of the way...

Here's my current stash!

Newborn (Please excuse all the stains, they will be sunned out when the weather gets nicer!)

Unbleached Newborn Chinese Prefolds (I can't remember how many I have, maybe a dozen, or just over that? Ruthie was wearing one and there were a few in the diaper pail as well as these)
2 Little Beetle Size 1 Fitteds (2nds), 6 Gabby's Newborn/Small Fitteds
2 Annie Marie Padorie Small Fitteds, 2 Kissaluvs Size 0 Fitteds, and Home-Made Wipes (not made by me though)



Small Fleece and Knit Wool Home-Made Covers
Little Beetle Small Wool Cover, 2 Bummis NB/SM PUL wraps, and 4 Newborn Motherease PUL Wraps



Here they are all put away. Awww...



Intermediate (These are what Gideon started out in at 1 month, but he was quite the chunk. I will slowly incorporate these into Ruthie's stash as she outgrows the others)

18 Regular Prefolds (there are also 6 more that I am currently using to double-stuff Gideon's night time diapers), 2 Snappis (I have another one but it was on Ruthie at the time), 6 Kushies Medium PUL Covers
2 Small Jamtots Hemp Prefitteds, 2 Medium Wool Wraps (no tags), Preston's Pants Minky/Minky Medium Pocket, RubyDaisy Medium PUL Cover
2 Sandy's Motherease Small Bamboo Fitteds, Medium Fleece Cover by The Eli Monster, Small Fuzzi Bunz Pocket, Medium Fleece Longies by RubyDaisy
Muttigan 3sr Fitted, PUL Medium Cover/Swim Diaper by The Eli Monster, 3 PUL Medium/Large Swim Diaper Covers (can't remember the brands off-hand)



Blueberry OS (cow) Pocket, Medium Chunky Monkey (giraffe) AIO
2 Medium Wool Knit Longies



Toddler (Gideon's stash)

Home-made wipes, spray bottle of solution, 14 BumGenius OS Pockets, 6 Large Fuzzi Bunz (stuffed with insert AND prefold, our night time solution), 3 Large Chunky Monkey Minky Pockets, 4 OS Goodmamas Fitteds , 2 Medium Little Beetle Wool Longies, 1 Large Kushies PUL Wrap, 1 Large Thirsties PUL Wrap



And, just in case you're curious, the newborn stash came to $81. Intermediate was $248. And toddler was $550. Yikes! A lot of them I got used too. So a grand total of $879. But if I were to buy disposables at $17/2 weeks, my total for Gideon would be $884 by the time he was 2 (he will use them longer than that though). And these will all work for Ruthie too, so that is where I am saving the big $.

I hope you found that informative! Let me know if you have any questions.

I don't know why, but cloth diapering is so fun! Seriously, I can't handle the cuteness.

Simple Woman's Day Book - Week 5

Outside my window... It's still white.

I am thinking... Yeast and I don't seem to get along well. Yesterday the cinnamon bun dough wouldn't rise, and today my pizza dough. D'oh! (I tried different yeast too)

I am thankful for... How cute my babies are. I think God gave me cute babies so I don't kill them when they cry incessantly (just kidding, of course).

I am wearing... Gray yoga pants, gray nursing tank and a navy Roxy hoodie.

I am remembering... How wonderful it was getting 6 straight hours of sleep the other night! The baby hammock rocks.

I am going... To become a doula! For realz!

I am currently reading... Discipline Without Distress by Judy Arnall. I read ONE chapter this week!

I am hoping... uptoten.com continues to occupy my kids this evening so they will stay out of my hair as I attempt to get this pizza made!

On my mind... The future, like where our family is headed. Or where I'd like to be headed.

Noticing that... Skype is such a great way for the kids to keep in touch with Grandma! So much better than the phone.

Pondering these words... "No. A glimpse is not a vision. But to a man on a mountain road at night, a glimpse of the next 3 feet of road may matter more than a vision of the horizon." - C.S. Lewis

From the kitchen... FAIL.

Around the house... Puzzle pieces, crayons, and random bits from making Valentines this morning. Oh, and flour.

One of my favorite things... Having friends over!

From my picture journal... Ashley rocking the sling.

Haiti Blogs

Just a few blogs I want to share:

http://apparentproject.blogspot.com/

http://livesayhaiti.blogspot.com/

http://rebeccalarkin.blogspot.com/

http://samhaiti.blogspot.com/

Also, my friend Mandi (who I met through our blogs) is heading to Haiti in a couple months with Heartline Ministries. Here's her blog post about it:

http://mandispeaks.blogspot.com/2010/01/green-light.html

Another friend I met through blogs in involved with this ministry: http://theharvestofhaiti.com/

Hidden Valley Thoughts

For the next while, I'm going to try following some weekly memes to see if that will help inspire me to blog more. Yesterday I did the Simple Woman's Day Book, which I'm going to try and do Mondays. Tuesdays I want to try and do Hidden Valley Thoughts. I also want to continue with my 1000 Gifts project. There are buttons for all of these on the left column of my blog if you want more info. Fridays I will try and post a recipe, I enjoy doing those. The other days will be the usual programming, if I can come up with stuff. Let me know if there are any other fun memes or blog ideas out there!

About Hidden Valley Thoughts:


"As a career woman, turned stay-at-home-mom, I have learned what it means to live in a hidden valley.

"Moms live in a hidden valley day after day, completing tasks that will never be recognized but always taken for granted, putting in longer days than even the most ambitious career woman, and playing more roles than a well paid movie actress.

"They wake up each morning, longing to write that book, open that art gallery, record the music CD, start that exercise studio, and then fall into bed each night, too exhausted to pursue those dreams.

"There are tears that no one sees, laughter that no one hears, and lessons that few people ever hear about.

"Once a week, those who want to share a particular lesson or incident that took place in their Hidden Valley, can do so. It may be something God taught you, a moment of letting your kids play in the mud as you realize a little dirt doesn't hurt anybody, or a video that stuck a chord in your soul. Whatever it is, if it touched you, share it with us!"

I want to start off with this video, this is totally my life since becoming a mother:



I love Gypsee Yo. =)

Looking Ahead...

I just want to share a couple links with you. I have been SO busy lately, as you can imagine with just moving, planning Judith's 4th birthday, planning a home birth, AND preparing for Christmas! But come January there are 2 things I really want to focus on. 1 is eating better, and 2 is becoming more self-disciplined and taking better care of my family and house.

I came across this blog thanks to a friend on facebook, and I think it will be really helpful for getting my family healthy using baby steps. It's great timing for me too.

http://www.hiddenvalleysimplicity.com/2009/11/52-weeks-to-all-natural-lifestyle.html

And I used to follow FlyLady, but I haven't since the spring. But I want to get back on that bandwagon!

http://flylady.net/

35 Weeks!

Yikes, I am 35 weeks already!

Everything is going well for baby and I. Although I have been quite busy with the new house, as I'm sure you'd assume. Still trying to get everything put away and organized... Sorry for the lack of posting! This season has been crazy for me.

Yesterday I had a midwife appointment. We are doing great, but my midwife told me that they are starting to be concerned about the H1N1 flu. Now, I honestly don't buy into the hype on either side of the debate, but am glad that this whole thing is causing people to finally think about vaccinations instead of just blindly accepting them, and many people are also starting to take their health and nutrition seriously. My family is definitely NOT getting any flu vaccines this year, but I have no problem with families that do. We already take fish oils with vitamin D, probiotics, and multivitamins, which is what everyone seems to recommend. I am trying to be more conscious about hand washing, but it's hard when we are out with an almost 4 year-old who sucks her fingers regularly, and a toddler who still puts random things in his mouth. But we have been fine so far. I'm not limiting our outings because of this, I'm not letting it interfere with life. It would suck if we got sick, but honestly I'm sure we would be fine.

Anyways, my midwife said that there are currently 5 pregnant women in hospital here (city of 1 million people), that have H1N1 and are on respirators. None of the babies are expected to live, and one of the moms may die too. Of course there are no details as to whether the moms had other risk factors or were obese or generally unhealthy (although a doctor would still consider someone who eats at McDonalds several times a week and never consumes vegetables "healthy"). I'm also curious as to whether this happens every year to a few pregnant women who get the flu, and it's just getting publicity this time due to all the hype. But it's enough to concern the midwives. They haven't had any of their clients come down with H1N1 yet, but they are starting to hand out info about it, because now they are taking it seriously. It definitely is an eye-opener to see how devastating the flu can be, but I'm still not willing to subject my baby to the flu shot.

Here are a few links to information I have found interesting:

http://www.mothering.com/health/video-a-vaccine-primer

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.fluscam.com%252FVaccine_Package_Inserts_files%252FNovartis_A-H1N1_2009_Monvalent_VaccinePackageInsert_BasedOn1980Approvalfor%252520Fluvirin_UCM182242.pdf&h=f7a24b14b1ac71cdd403b6b70b46e033&ref=share

http://www.drjaygordon.com/development/news/h1n1update.asp

http://www.lewrockwell.com/sardi/sardi119.html


http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/11/03/What-We-Have-Learned-About-the-Great-Swine-Flu-Pandemic.aspx

(I'm a big fan of the Mercola website, although it can be a little sensationalist at times)

Rick Mercer's perspective, for fun.

Free Book!

I got myself one of these.



You can get a free copy here, http://store.laurelsprings.com/ You just have to pay shipping.

I'm really excited that once we move we will actually have room to, like, DO stuff! It will make things so much easier.

A Cool Mini-Documentary

You Have a Choice (A Short Birth Documentary) from Goodrich Creative on Vimeo.

http://www.vimeo.com/6344770

I'm really hoping for a home birth this time.

WHAT?!

So I'm 27 weeks, and I just realized that means I am in my THIRD FREAKING TRIMESTER! Seriously?! Didn't I just get pregnant??? I suddenly feel so unprepared. Well, just mentally I guess. I've done it twice before and I know I can do it again, but I haven't put any thought or prep into this birth yet, whoops. I guess it's the plight of the third-born? I haven't decided yet if I want to have the baby at home or in the hospital. I've been leaning towards hospital, just so I don't have to care what my house looks like in those last few weeks, and so I don't have to worry about getting all the supplies (Oh wait, we still have those from last time...). And to save the possible annoyance of transferring to the hospital during labour like the last two times. But there is a part in my heart that still wants to try for home. Third time's a charm, right? Plus, labour was SO much easier at home vs. in the hospital. Hospitals also kind of make me nervous these days, with all of the sicknesses floating around, if all goes well I know that it would be much safer to have the baby at home. Ah, so much to suddenly think about!



Here is some info on the baby at week 27 - http://www.baby2see.com/development/week27.html Isn't it amazing how babies develop?

Also, here is a link to an interview with Cindy Crawford about her home birth experience - http://www.mybestbirth.com/page/cindy-crawford-parts-1-2 and http://www.mybestbirth.com/page/cindy-crawford-parts-3-4.

Oh the Suspense!

I have been following dooce.com for a while. Honestly, I'm not the hugest Heather Armstrong fan, but I can relate to her postpartum experience after her first child SO MUCH. When I first found her blog, I read through so many of her archived posts, I think I actually spent a couple weeks reading through every single tidbit she has written on depression. I love the way she writes too. It's probably why she is so popular.

Anyways, a while ago I thought of hopping off the Dooce bandwagon, and then she got pregnant again. So I kept reading, well, just the pregnancy-related posts anyway. I was really hoping that this time would go better for her.

Just recently she had her baby, and so far has written 2 blogs about it, but hasn't gotten to her actual birth story yet! I am seriously so excited to hear it now that I have read the first 2 parts leading up to it! Apparently towards the end of her pregnancy, she had a sudden urge to explore natural childbirth.

You can read part 1 here.

And part 2 here.

I am patiently waiting for part 3 (because really, who has much time with a newborn in the house?). I can't believe I am anticipating this so much!

Who Homebirths?

I found a wonderful blog to inspire me during this pregnancy: http://www.blognow.com.au/whohomebirths/

I'm not sure if I am going to go for a homebirth this time, or a midwife-assisted hospital birth (both of my births so far were in the hospital, but attended by only midwives, no doctors or nurses, and they were great). But honestly, I can't get enough homebirth stories! I find them so encouraging and empowering!



Judith and I moments after birth.

(I love this photo because I honestly had no idea that there was a cloth on my head until I saw the photos after! I was in total birth-euphoria!)