Goodbye Baby

Arveragus, Your Godmomma loves you THIS much--and will miss you terribly for the next 7 months!

What do you do

When the baby is crying, the toddler on the edge of a tantrum, and the older kids not cooperating?
a) Hide in the bathroom with chocolate.
b) Join the three year old.
c) Pull out candy for everyone.
d)call your husband on the other side of the country and ask whose idea this was anyway?
e) All of the above in quick succession.

Busy Boy

Dear Arveragus,
We had our going away party tonight at the Lombardo's. You spent a lot of time on the floor watching 3 year old boys push cars around. You scootch around in the not-quite-a-crawl sort of way and try to keep up. I can see in your eyes that you want so badly to move freely and play with the bigger boys.

Tonight in bed we were all delighted to watch you pull yourself all over our bodies, laughing and grabbing and kissing all of us. You have the sweetest smile ever, and are just a bit too kissable! I love you!
Momma

Stylin' Mama

The coat I have dreamed about for almost a year arrived on Monday. It is everything I dreamed of. Even with the steep learning curve of getting baby in and out, I LOVE IT! A new way to hold baby close is my favorite thing!

Arveragus has gotten two new baby holders since his birth: The Storkenweige, and the Amautik. I do use the good old canvas backpack (that still works even though I ran over it once) quite a bit too. And the ring sling is always handy. But none of them quite as stylin as the Amautik.

Health update: Pox exit, chesty cough/head cold enter and meander through all children.

Cheerful suffering

My baby has chicken pox! REALLY! I'm hoping he'll turn the corner tonight and feel better tomorrow. He has been fussy, and in mommies arms all day. But this is my job. I do feel like I'm in my glory when I'm calming a fretful baby. Two nights ago it was 5 year old John Henry who was suffering through the night. I was sitting by his bed, periodically rubbing his head and offering water. Around 1 am he work-up, saw me, gave me a HUGE SMILE OF LOVE, and went back to sleep. All day today I would sleep with Arveragus on our bed. He would wake, see me, and drift back to sleep. AHHH! My mother's heart rejoices. I can comfort. I can make it ok for these precious little people. I revel in the power, but at the same time feel how fleeting it is. There will be pains I can't fix and troubles that won't disappear with a kiss. But for today I will hold my pox-y baby and wield the power of mothers love.

Best friends

A: Hi Nicholas! Can I suck on your head?
N: Why sure Arveragus. As long as you don't mind my poking your eyes and sucking your nose.
A: Hey--how bout we just nurse?
N: Yeah, these Mommy people are sitting here just waiting for us. Good idea!

Diapers and Me

I have been diapering for ten years! WOW! That's a lot. From the beginning I have been a cloth diaper person. There are a lot of good reasons to use cloth. My own main reason it that I love putting fresh soft cotton on a fresh soft bum. I love telling the story of being a college student, and going from dreaming about papers due, to dreaming about cloth diapers within 2 days of knowing I was pregnant.

It was with ambivalent feelings that I let it be know that I was accepting disposable diapers for baby #5. Five children, 2 in diapers, no dryer, and (I found out later) a 3 month stint in parenting alone made it seem a wise choice.

I had even worse feelings when I got a blogger mad at me for being so cruel to the environment and children in need of adoption by having 5 babies. She didn't know about my cloth diapering, no-electricity living, whole/organic food eating lifestyle. All she knew was I had 5 kids and so am an environmental black hole. I felt really bad about the diapers then!

But all that has changed! Nope--no dryer. No, John's still in Oregon. YES! Tadeu has potty trained!! Dear friend Lisa brought her too-small-for-my roly-poly-baby diapers over today!

So 4 days shy of his 6 month birthday Arveragus has new duds on his bum! YEAH!

Boys in the Tub

Keeping with the bath theme, here is Arveragus in his first brother bath. It wasn't too bad. He did not enjoy it all that much. But I know that times will change, and before I know it I will be giving warnings about splashing, and pulling screaming toddlers out of the tub when they refuse to stop the inappropriate use of buckets, hoses, and other illegal tub toys. . .for now he's an easy little bug who gets held by biggest brother for a few minutes of tub time.

BTW any want to come over and tile our tub walls for us. . .I've had all the tiles waiting for 3 1/2 years. . .

Happy baby

At the grocery store every old lady stops to say hello and you give them all your BIG SMILE.

At the fair friends and strangers admire you and your BIG SMILE.

At the playground in the swing every time I give you a push and snort you hit me with a BIG SMILE.

When I climb into the van to get you out you always SMILE.

Yes, my son, you are a happy baby.

Not Separated at Birth

Tell me you see the resemblance. This is Mary Catherine at 5 months. And Mary Catherine holding Arveragus at 5 months.

First food?

Well, not really. He's been tasting watermelon rind for a couple of weeks. And he's not too into anything but mush--no blueberries etc. They make him choke. Of all the traditional signs for readiness to eat--sitting, teeth, no tongue thrust reflex--Arveragus has none of them. Except that he cries if we eat and he has nothing to taste. Wonder if this desire before ability thing will become a personal trait?

He liked the pears from a jar anyway.

God Bless Babci

For being an extra pair of hands. For reading to, and doing activities with the school children. For buying lunch, and providing kielbasa. For taking us out to fly a kite on the most beautiful late summer day ever. Grandparents are blessings to their grandchildren--but most especially to their grandchildren's parents!

The Incredible Rolling Baby

Arveragus is definitely trying to crawl. He can get his bum up into the air, but nothing else. In the meantime he has mastered the art of rolling to get anywhere he wants. This is very creative, and fun to watch--except for one thing. The Bed.

Arveragus has fallen off our bed more than any other baby in Eddyblouin history. The thing is, he is active AND mellow. A combination we have not seen before, and which means he does not cry when he wakes up--he just rolls--right onto the floor.

I'll try some fancy footwork with pillow barricades. If that doesn't work I may have to put the mattress on the floor.

Getting as much as we can

Snuggle time, that is. Over the past month Daddy has been on a whirlwind tour of the job market in Oregon. Not really. Just one job. But they hired him. And since it's a bit much to begin teaching 5 subjects and find housing for a big-ish family, Dad is going out by himself. He'll stay with Uncle Paul and settle into the work. Then have a leisurely time finding housing. We will be apart for 3 months and one week. Arveragus, you may begin to crawl while Daddy is away. We all feel this sacrifice sorely. But I keep reminding myself that he's not going off to war! This is a great opportunity for all of us. But I know on some level you will miss your Daddy--so snuggle-up my baby with your loving DADA.

Beat the Heat

Today was a HOT day--and humid--and I was WAY too tired to contemplate going to the beach. The beach is great as long as I have put in a substantial amount of energy in food and packing prep. Packing diapers, sunscreen, extra clothes, appropriate toys, food for the drive there, food for the beach, food for the drive home (this is a 10 min drive!), and extra food just in case.

Today I just could not do all that. I hung the laundry. Watered the pigs. Went to the dump and library. Then wilted in the heat. In my memories of childhood Mom would bring us to a matinee movie on days like this. The cool dark theatre was the perfect respite. The kids all thought this was a great idea. Budget be damned, we're cooling off. . .except we live in rural Maine with only 2 theatres in a 30 mile radius and non of them were showing G movies. UGH!

Even though I wanted to scrap the whole day and wallow in misery I had 10 eye balls looking at me to think of something fun to do. My great answer was a blanket, and the library books, and our cool shady woods. We all camped out together, read the books, met the mail truck, and had a good time just relaxing and staying cool. And as for Arveragus, he had a nice long nap! In the end I was happy to have the time when we could BE, without disctractions and fancy entertainment.

But I still wonder if the movies may have been more memorable.

The Incredible Sleepless Baby

Arveragus celebrated his 4 month birthday by staying up all night. OK. A bit of exaggeration there, but not much! The poor baby just couldn't get comfortable. Tossed and turned. Settled for an hour or two. Tossed and turned. Then at three Am (I checked my watch) he began coughing and sneezing. An official case of the sniffles. So beach time is on hold for a couple of days. Maybe I'll finally get to the millions of laundry that needs to be tended to. In between the nursing and snuggling of sickly boy.

Wrong time, Wrong place

I went to the local cool store with gifts and penny candy today. With all the kids. At 1 pm. Everything was going fairly well when a nice old lady, who I don't know from Adam, recognised me from church. After commenting on how amazing it is that I can keep track of them all she began to tell a story, loudly, in the crowded store, of how one of my boys had fallen out of the window at church. Since falling out of windows is topped only by drowning and cars on my list of mothering neurosis, this was hard for me to listen to without my insides shrivelling up with embarrassment and shame. I think I managed to recover externally pretty well, while internally wanting to shout that she MUST be mistaken.

We moved on to another part of the store.

Then we went to check out. Then Thaddeus started to fuss. Loudly. Then Arveragus started. Loudly. I had to write a check while balancing the fussy baby and keeping tabs on the fussing toddler. This was when the sweet, young, attractive girl at the register said "You look haggard."

Thanks. I hadn't known. Now I feel MUCH better.

But it's nice to know that other struggle with similar situations.

Life of Contrasts

Disconcerting

• flea on baby head


• horse fly on baby head


• two year old teeth marks on baby back


• crying baby waiting for Mom to finish making dinner

Heartening

• Baby and kitten playing


• Thaddeus patting baby and saying "I want to hold this guy."


• Sisters eager to hold and entertain a fussy baby in exchange for food.


• Happy baby on sheep skin

Beach Babies

Dear Arveragus, You put-up with the beach pretty well. Sand on you face, in your rolls, and on my nipples. I keep you covered, and though you have a slight tan, no burns on your tender baby skin. I continue to embarrass myself by bragging to all who will listen about how big and strong you are. For instance--your feet are the same size as 11 month old Abbey Nelson's, you can roll around the floor at will, and you are grabbing at toys and mouthing them a full month earlier than the charts say you should. I have to brag!!

love,

mamma

How Do I miss Thee?

Mary Catherine has been away. We have prayed a Hail Mary for her every day. I periodically ask "I wonder what she's doing right now?" I know she is having a blast at the Catholic Girls Camp she's attending for a week. And I miss her! Not only do I miss her presence, but I miss being able to at least fool myself into thinking I know what her experiences and thoughts are. This is easy to do for the first several years of mothering. But I remember going to camp. I remember all the interactions with friends, the joys and frustrations, the things I learned about myself. I DON"T remember talking to my mother about them. This parent child relationship can be so intimate, and so lonely. Is Arveragus my consolation? So small and dependant and easy to read? If he is, it is bittersweet as I look into his milky face and imagine the 11 year old he may be one day. It is all so brief, and so beautiful.

Baby Music

Dear Sweet Arveragus,
I have always sung to my babies and you are no exception. The songs you like best are :

• "How Sweet it is (to be loved by You)", James Taylor
• "Everything's Alright" JC Superstar
• "Arveragus Asperagus, Mama's Little vegetable, Arveragus Asperagus, Mama's little plant."
• "The grand Old Duke of York" with you going up and down at the right times.

I want to hear you singing along, but am happy to snuggle you close and serenade for now.

Love, Mama

Birthday love from sisy

I can't believe you are already three months old! It seems like yesterday you were a baby. But you are still as cute as ever so I can't complain. Today Thalia saw you trying to crawl and you looked cuter than ever. I am going to miss you so much when I go away this week

I love you so much and hope you always stay this cute,

love Mary Catherine.

Siblings

I have the La Leche League library in the van. All 4 boxes. This is a great benefit when I am waiting for various children, friends, or spouses (ok--I only have one of those) to meet me. Today I grabbed "Siblings Without Rivalry". A great book which, like most of these parenting books, I enjoy re-reading every now and then to remind myself of the skills I have forgotten I have.

But wouldn't you know it--ever since I started skimming it the kids have been angels with one another. Sisters joking while doing dishes. Brothers running around like puppies. John Henry running upstairs to get Thaddeus when he woke-up this morning. Everyone wanting to help with the baby. It's bliss. It needs to be recorded for the times I'm sure they will be Cane's and Abel's! But today it is Bliss!

3 new skills and weight

• laughing--the classic pterodactyl chuckle
• rubbing eyes with fists
• shooting poop out of butt 3x's the distance of body--covering bed, mom, and dad who screamed "I've been hit!"
• According to the hanging scale at Lauren's house--14 lbs.

The Year of additions!

Most of the day I listen to table saws, circular saws, and hammers going crazy. The hammering is not just John, but the children also. Thankfully, Dad is willing to have little hands practice nailing things together.

Arveragus does not actually help all that much, but makes for a good prop when it's time for a photo.

So we will some day look back fondly on 07: the year we gained two additions is the family, one eternal, one earthly.

Call it what you will

Thaddeus and Arveragus have been my only pacifier babies. They are both frustrated thumb/finger suckers. Arveragus is still trying to get his fist in his mouth. Not easy to fall asleep with your fist in your mouth!

Anyway--there are a lot of names for pacifiers. Some we have heard, and use are:

Sus (my favorite)

Binky

Dummy (British)

Babu

Dodo

Can you add any?

Vacation shot

Arveragus,

This is just about the only picture I took of you during our week long vacation. Forgive me. We were very busy, and really didn't take too many pictures. Except for Mary Catherine who took a digital photography class and took 100+ pics of flowers, mountains, and people on ski lifts.

I love you--and take MANY pictures of you when we are home and not so busy!

Momma

Vacation shot

Arveragus,
This is just about the only picture I took of you during our week long vacation to Utah. Forgive me. We were very busy, and really didn't take too many pictures. Except for Mary Catherine who took a digital photography class and took 100+ pics of flowers, mountains, and people on ski lifts.

I love you--and take MANY pictures of you when we are home and not so busy!

Momma

Collard Greens

The vegetable that caused Arveragus enough intestinal pain to have him up from midnight to 1 am, and again at 3:30 am. This is remarkable because it was truly the first time I had to be out of bed at night to care for him.

If you don't have kids, trust me, this is AMAZING!

God Bless mellow babies! I'll even grant them the right to be up at night everything three months or so.

Airport Security

Security lady: You are allowed to have Breast Milk.

Me: I do have it.

SL: They will just have to see it.

Me: It's in my breast.

SL: (stunned silence)

Vacation

We are back from Arveragus' first vacation. Though his whole life is a vacation right now isn't it. The hardest part of returning to LIFE, for me, is cooking.

Since getting back three days ago I have cooked. . . rice. That's it. Cereal, coldcuts, salad, even (gasp!) store bought bread have been on the menu! I don't even think the rice counts since the electric rice cooker did the work!

Will post pics soon.

Weird Name Stories

Arveragus does have a unique name. I have noticed a generation gap in the reactions. Boomers generally are cool on it, Gen-x-er's love it.

My Mom giggled for a week every time she said it.

A card I got referred to him as "Arveragus"--like it's a label, not a name.

English majors love it. "Is that from Chaucer?"

Our priest told the parishioners what a great name it is at his baptism

The Moms who visit my midwife's website love it.

What will we call him?

Arveragus! Arveragus! Arveragus!

Another month passes

My two month old is abundant and smiley! And loves the new sweater--blue, not pink!

Breakfast Conversation with My 3 Sons

John Henry: How many days till we leave for Utah?

MoM: It's 10 days. Do you want an egg and toast?

JH: 10 days! I should pack!

Thaddeus: JAM! JAM! JAM!

Mom: No it's not time to pack. Here's your toast Tadeu.

JH: Are we taking a plane?

Mom: Yes. Here's your egg and toast.

Tadeu: I wanna go on a space ship. Space ship MAMMA? I want BIG JAM.

Arveragus: WAHHH!

Mom: We have to leave soon. Everyone eat. (Picks up baby to nurse).

JH: Should I pack!?!

Mom: Not for Utah! For church!

Tadeu: Space ship? We gonna ride a space ship?

Mom; Yeah--a spaceship to church. It's leaving soon. (starts to wrestle 2 year old into clean clothes).

Arveragus: WAHHH!

Tadeu: NO MAMMA!

JH: I'm hungry.

Mom: Your breakfast is in front of you!

JH: Oh. Didn't see it.

Tadeu: (drops toast on floor) WICKED HARD!!

Mom: Climb down and pick it up, Taj. Here's more Jam. (wipes up jam on floor while nursing baby.)

Everyone ready to leave?

Arveragus: WAHHH.

Peace Peace

I am re-committing myself to maintaining inner peace throughout my crazy days. This photo is my inspiration. The peace of a sleeping toddler and kitten. They are both so soft, so easy to kiss and cuddle, and so different from their rambunctious wakeful selves. Family life is a lot like that. The rambunctious exterior needs to be grounded by a peaceful interior. The interior life of the family is the relationships between the individuals. John and I work at having time with each of out children, and eachother. A simple shopping trip can become mother/daughter time for the girl I invite along. A trip to the dentist for one child becomes a field trip including a picnic lunch and buying summer sneakers. Helping Dad clean the yard becomes father/son communion. And so it goes. Grasping the chances we get to build up the communal inner peace.

But today I'm working on my individual inner peace. Acknowledging that I need a strong center to meet the needs of these beautiful children with grace and love. I am pushed to my limit sometimes, but look forward to the chances I'm given to build that peace in order to love.

Blessed days

These are blessed days because I can count them. I have a need to put numbers to days. Like 300 days till Christmas, or 20 days till vacation. My count at the moment is 6 more days of formal lessons! In 6 days the girls and I will have completed 5/6 th grade, and 2nd grade! we have had challenging times, but right now I LOVE HOMESCHOOLING. My enthusiasn is boosted by the 2007-2008 homeschooling catalogue we got last week. Oh the treasures to be had for next year. Adding a few things for the younger kids, and a LOT for #1 student who will be in 6/7th grade.

We also look forward to the summer semester. This involves singing latin and catching and observing and painting a lot of the world around us. Our upcomming trip to Utah will give us prime opportunity to do this in a different geographical zone. But I have to remind the kids that, unlike Maine, Utah DOES have poisonous snakes! Rattlers happen!

So it really is 20 days till vacation, and 6 days till the end of school! (I'm not sure about Christmas) Yeah!

Growth Spurt!

Six weeks today and right on target for the traditional 6 week growth spurt--as evidenced by Arveragus nursing constantly, and sleeping heavily in between the constant nursing. If it sounds impossible for an infant to both sleep AND nurse ALL THE TIME, you have not experienced the mother/baby-time/space wormhole.

Latest stats--223/4 inches and 12 lbs 11 oz! Let us contemplate for a moment how large he will be on the other side of this growth marathon!

The secret to

getting the dishes done at 6:30 pm when Daddy is away and the newborn has just woken up? A loving older sister of course! When I see my older children caring for the baby I'm always reminded of those ubiquitous photos of little African girls carrying their baby sibling on their backs. A rare sight in our culture, but not in this family!

REALITY

It has been raining for the past 3 days. I have been homeschooling and trying to act 'normal'. Of course, I have to find the new normal now that Arveragus has joined us. A small baby takes a lot of work! He nurses a LOT. It's hard to get up and fly around tidying the house, baking bread, washing dishes, etc with a little nursey boy hanging on all the time. On top of that, the rain has kept the little boys inside. Their antics have made me wonder how I ever survived the winter with them inside most of the time! I reached my limit today and was heard saying things like "GO OUTSIDE! You're not allergic to rain! Boots, Coats, OUT!"

Then a servant of GOD appeared. Her name is Sondra, and at noon she stopped by and offered not only to take the boys, but also to feed my family dinner at her house before our joint T-ball practice and church run. (Happy feast of the Ascension! 40 Days after Easter!)

I have educated my girls, tidied my bedroom, and baked the bread in relative peace. . .with little nursey guy hanging on for the ride. I've also looked for the LOST KITTEN. Yup--only four are there right now. VERY MYSTERIOUS. I hope we won't find a sad kitten body. I really hope it won't smell. Everyone else is healthy and happy and Mommy-cat is not upset or anything--can't figure it out! I'm hoping getting endless toys out from under Thalia's bed will reveal happy kitten. . .or not!

Happy One Month Day

One Month ago today you were a brand new little mushy ball of sweet smelling love. Today you are a bigger mushy ball of sweet smelling love! But more than that, you are now smiling, holding your head up, and pooping! OK, you were always pooping. Through all the noise of your busy siblings and Mom you sleep and nurse. You like being in the tub with me, and like hearing the spin cycle on the washing machine. You weigh more that 11 lbs now! I love YOU!

Mamma

Blessed Babies

What a busy and beautiful weekend. Sweet Arveragus, when you were baptised , with Godmama Shannon holding you, you looked into the distance and smiled and cooed for a solid minute. I can only imagine the angels you saw rejoicing at your spiritual birth! I love you much! (as Tadeu says).

Sister Thalia joined in the renewal by receiving Jesus for the first time the day before you were baptised. God is Good!

Mama

Overheard

5 Year old boy: Dad, lets walk through the woods and cut things down. We can bring your hatchet and the other thing.

Dad: Machete?

5 year old: Yeah! Your chete!

What Do You Get. . .?

When you mix a two weeks post-partum Mom with a stomach bug?

A: A great appreciation for how capable and loving and helpful your 11 year old daughter is.

Ode to Lactation and Love

I Am Woman!

My appreciation of my body has moved on to new parts. . . my breasts. I have always loved the FULL feeling. Full of milk, full of power, full of the ability to satiate a ravenous newborn. I could feed a small African Nation right now. I am passing on my own immunities, exercising Arveragus’ mouth and jaw, teaching him what love is, and showing the older children how rewarding self-giving is. All this by just sitting on the couch and nursing my baby. Sometimes it’s easy to multi-task!

I am admittedly a baby person. I have never struggled to meet the needs of a newborn. Even the fussy ones have been a joy to me, and I am filled with sympathy and patience for the little one with a sore belly, or teeth, or whatever it is that keeps them up at all hours.

So why do I struggle with the grouchy two year old, or obstinate older child (or husband) ? They are needing the same love and patience that flows so easily from me to my babies. It may not be as easily manifested as my milk, but is just as necessary to their growth.

I love breastfeeding, but I pray that God will grant me the grace to embrace all the other chances I am given to love and serve as easily as I do when holding my sweet baby.

Someday, Arveragus

you will join your Dad and Brothers in their wrestling matches on the bed. But for now you are exclusively my snuggle puppy. You don't mind at all.

Love, Your MAMA

Homeschool help

Blogging helps to homeschool--case in point--I was looking for a book about a famous early American to read to Thalia (history). While reviewing my last post I spied "Paul Revere" under the kittens. Score! I will snag it in the morning. . .

Blissful Sleep!

As it turns out Rosetta had 5 kittens. I'm not an expert, but from one quick inspection they look like all girls! Tonight I am enjoying the eight sleeping babies I am surrounded by whilst folding laundry. So sweet, and so kissable. It is an intoxicating place to live, this house of mine!

And somehow all of this simple, sweet, milky love gives me a boost, to get the folding done, say some prayers of thanks, and treat myself to a bedtime snack and some post-partum reading.

God is Good!

More Babies!

News Flash!

Rosetta the cat has given birth to 3(?, hard to see) kittens under Thalia's bed today--my original due date.

We are a house of lactating mammals and nursing babies!

Bonding with Baby

Arveragus is a lusty strong boy. Lifting his head, latching himself onto my breast; it's like giving birth to a 2 month old! I have called him Thaddeus a few times, but he also answers to muffin, asparagus, poop-machine, burp-meister, dumpling, and "the baby". Thaddeus likes his eyeballs. John Henry is taking time adjusting to his name, and the fact that he has been out-weighed (John Henry had been my largest babe at 8 lbs). Mary Catherine and Thalia are regular little mothers and love the baby tenderly. John spends all of his free time breathing in that delicious newborn smell and eating him up. We are all in love.

The Birth

Familiar Birth Scenes:

Eating donuts and other yummy food (welcome to Allison's birth and potluck party).

Laughing at jokes.

Hanging onto the "birth post" John so thoughtfully built into the middle of the room.

Using every pot in the house to heat water on the cookstove for the tub when the water heater gave out.

Unique to Arveragus' birth:

Doing "washing machine" spins and synchronized swimming moves in the very big Aqua-Doula tub.

7-9 PAINFUL contractions, instead of the usual 3.

During the painful contractions saying unheard of things like:

"This is not fun. This is usually fun!"

"SHIT! HOLLY!" (my midwife)

"The baby's not coming."

"I don't believe you!" (on being assured that baby was coming--of course he was born minutes later.)

How Wrong We Were!

" You are carrying so differently, it must be a girl."

"The baby is small. Must be a girl."

"I'm sure from the timing of conception--it's a girl."

Even John said "I'll be surprised if it's a boy."

SURPRISE!!!
Arveragus Plunkett Eddyblouin
9 lbs 8 oz of BOY!!!
2:23 Am April 14, 2007

Temptation and Rejection

I was at a low point;weak physically and morally. The $10 was on the dash and four hungry children, in various states of fussiness, behind me in the van. It was a complete set-up.

"OK kids. Drive-through for lunch."

Our town is small. It has one drive-through. It shall remain nameless for the sake of my whole-foods home-cooking pride. Heck--I'm extremely pregnant and have been having "going to be in active labor in the next 12-24 hours" contractions all day. I deserve a break right?

The drive-through window was closed.

Oh the tears! The wails of sorrow! And that was just me.

[We made it home and had homemade whole-wheat foccacia with tomato sauce instead.]

Patience!

I could stay pregnant like this indefinitely. I have lots of energy, I'm cleaning and reorganizing incessantly, and I'm knitting a sweet pink sweater BUT--I WANT TO KISS MY BABY!!! That's the only hard part.

Belly Love

I love my uterus! I especially love feeling it contract--so strong and powerful. While birthing Thalia I remember feeling the power of all creation moving through my body and out my uterus. This organ has protected a whole separate life for 9 month, and any day will move that life forcefully into the world. Then all to soon it will get small, small, small, and slip back into my pelvis--hidden to all but me. Thank you God! I really am fearfully and wonderfully made!

Cheating

How does a low tech homebirthing mamma cheat at gender identification? My midwife and I checked all the late pregnancy heart-rates for my last 3 births. . . boys=170, girl=140. Current babe=136. It's a girl!

Can't wait to meet you!
Mamma