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It’s here. He’s full-term. That means I can still water birth it even if he comes now instead in a few weeks {take him now, God, take him now!!!}. So now I get to subject you to more nesting photos. Because I’m crafty nesting, design the bathroom nesting, and putting away winter clothing nesting. And I may have lost my to do list. So I’m don’t-ing and just doing what I feel like. Fair enough? On an aside, I had an amusing exchange with a midwife–not my norm–at my 37 week visit. She wanted to talk family planning postpartum and I was all game. I’m sure somewhere (everywhere?) in my chart it says we’re Catholic & don’t use contraceptives & {gasp} use natural methods of charting fertility. Mostly my midwives & I talk about this stuff at the beginning and then they’re open to questions, but let me do my thing. But she’s the first midwife who wanted to delve deeper. How many children do you want to have? What happens when you’ve reached a place where you feel you’ve had all your children? Do you know breastfeeding isn’t 100% accurate for preventing fertility? How did it go with planning your other children? I just want to answer all your questions about using NFP to prevent pregnancies . . . . I genuinely felt she cared and wanted to be helpful and get to the bottom of my perplexing responses {we don’t have a set number of children in mind} {we’re not…
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The perceived hubris of the unmedicated birth stands the same, always: I’m a tougher, more natural, more loving mother because I embraced terrible suffering to bring you into this world, little one. Hey, not only is that inaccurate but also unfair. As with so many ideals, sometimes things don’t work out. I needed pitocin with SweetPea to jump start things. Many a friend has done natural births a few times and then switched to medicated, ne’er looking back with regret. Some people’s births don’t go the natural way; some people don’t want their births to go the natural way. These are not moral decisions. Parenting styles, not parenting values. {Look at me surrounded by my doula team–the one & only Liz Abbene of Enlightened Mama & Emily Rumsey of everything Emily. Could I be in better hands?} I just read this great article written by a local midwife titled Why Are We Afraid? Thanks for passing it along, Emily! It gave me a lot of food for thought, especially as right now I’m thinking: Why do we do this? I always ask AA around this point in pregnancy. The point where no position is comfortable and my child is kicking and punching me all the time. Why do we opt for unmedicated birth? Are we gluttons for punishment? Are we trying to prove something? Can I do this again? His calming answer is we do it because it’s what’s best for you and baby. He’s right, of course. That’s how this whole natural birth & parenting thing began. Reading, listening, researching,…
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— 1 — Sleepless life. That’s what 36 weeks of pregnancy has given me. I’m a total insomniac. Leg cramps & stocking up– elevate your legs. Heartburn–keep your chest upright. I need one of those trapeze artists’ bars so my body can both be up and down and down and up at the same time. Because you all love to hear about pregnancy woes, I’m going to regale you with seven things to do when you can’t sleep. Right about . . . . now. Number 1 is obviously scratch out some blog posts. And read some of your favs. Did you ever know how Cup of Jo started? Interesantes. Or how Kendra’s day looks? Or how Lindsay’s two year old is so stinking cute. (Now that SweetPea is 2 and one day, she’s looking more and more like a big girl.) Or what kind of donuts you could be baking? Don’t think I didn’t do some zullily shopping and get a donut baking sheet. You tell me. — 2 — Shop for King Sized duvet cover & bedskirt. Let’s be honest. I love to sew. But not things my household actually needs. Remember that I sewed about a dozen little girl skirts? And I’m having a boy? Oh, yes. Back to my sewing list of things for the household. I won’t tell you how many items are in the mending pile. You either won’t believe me or you’ll think I’m even more horrible than you already think I am.…
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Our sweet little SweetPea. She’s feisty & ferocious, snuggly & straightforward. And we share the privilege of a birthday. Here’s to you, my little love bug. We are so so so blessed to have you. Emily Rumsey Photography And a happy birthday to me, too, as we share this special day. Thanks to my own amazing mother for giving birth to me 31 years ago!
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The ultimate mommy blogger, Grace over at Camp Patton, is giving away a new mama package–and a little sweet skirt from yours truly’s etsy shop is included. Come and visit Grace, and see what’s giving. I love her blog, and if you don’t subscribe, you’re missing out. We’re pregnant along the same lines–due around the same time! She’s with her fourth and I’m with my third. I have no idea how she keeps keeping on, if you know what I mean. I’m dying and I only have two kids!!!!! On the only having two kids so far, we had a quiet romantic weekend away from the kids to celebrate our almost-five-years of marriage. My ah-mazing family played with the kids and held down the fort while we did absolutely nothing. But eat ice cream for lunch. Eat pizza for dinner. And lay around. The quiet was deafening!! I also revealed to AA his birthday surprise that will unfurl next weekend . . . will tell you all once it’s happened. As an aside, if you run a shoppe or know someone who does and would like to talk retail with me about my products, drop me a line! wholeparenting (a) gmail.com. Giftsets of Bandit Bib & Contour Cloths are my most popular retail item. This set was a giveaway with Grace a while back! Pretty sure this is all the kiddos did all weekend:
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Okay, or I’m working on it. A few girlfriends who are experts in the field of fermentation gave a presentation to a larger group that I hosted the other weekend. I was a mere bystander (taster?) of the goodness and have vowed now to eat only things that are fermented. I jest. Well, actually, one of the presenters does practically this and I swear she & her kids are so super healthy! Moral is: get over your fear of bacteria and get on the fermenting bandwagon. Molly laughed at me when I said what I was hosting, You, Nell? You hate sauerkraut and the like. Her hurled accusations are true! But, in my defense, I did learn to love kombucha tea in law school under the tutelage of dear Ukrainian family friends. So I was half way there years ago. The ladies focused their presentation on the history, science, & whys, and then demonstrated a little for us. Everyone walked away with their own fermenting jar of green beans, and a full belly of flavor filled kimchi. If you want to start checking all this out, go to the bible of it: Nourishing Traditions. My BFF Sarah gave it to me years ago and after paging through and earnestly deciding to cook liver constantly, I gave up years back. Sarah, I’m trying again! Sprouting your grains, fermenting your veggies, all of these are excellent for your health and how we used to eat for centuries. This isn’t a fad diet. This…
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