tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-257112462024-03-19T04:26:00.009-05:00Farm FreshAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02414405825215814113noreply@blogger.comBlogger1671125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25711246.post-76186539622032537282017-04-13T00:02:00.001-05:002017-04-13T00:02:38.276-05:00NEW HOME FOR FARM FRESH IOWAI've been blogging here since the summer of 2006, when I was still pregnant with Brielle. Back then, blogging was completely different than it is now!<br />
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I have finally bitten the bullet and bought a domain and made my own home on the internet for this content.<br />
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Please stop over and visit me at <a href="http://www.myfarmfreshiowa.com/">myfarmfreshiowa.com</a>! I'll see you there!<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQeVZPwCB8_u0feEdkb2RLHDMp5RrEtOFkvcwLrTPjP0_waYkFGUAfclnaZDHkVpFiPBP2wg_cEYTxNE5WohapsSKdtl8qZkFb0GXw9tlPntIRuum2RQrM2ESq5-I7IbjW01ECRA/s400/Sandy+Michaels.png" title="Farm Fresh Iowa" width="285" /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02414405825215814113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25711246.post-76155158610994558582017-03-30T22:35:00.003-05:002017-03-30T22:35:41.384-05:00KonMari LifeI read <i>The Life Changing Art of Tidying Up</i> in January, and have watched several YouTube videos about the KonMari Method, and minimalism in general. I have been incentivized to change my life!<br />
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I haven't done her program to the letter exactly how she describes, but what I have done has been fantastic!<br />
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I've done most of the kids' clothes, mine and Kevin's clothes, all the books in the entire house, a lot of our homeschool supplies, and some of the kitchen. As a mom of many, it would be impossible to do it exactly as she lays out in the book, and knock out all of the "odd and ends" for example, in one day. I try to tackle one category of things or a room every other Friday.<br />
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I had the goal of fashioning a creative environment to use as an office. I want to blog more. I want a space of my own. I also am taking on a job within our Classical Conversations community which requires more responsibility and record keeping, so I needed a spot for that.<br />
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I'm lucky enough to have a studio already. Sort of a glorified closet, it's a small room on the south side of the upstairs. I love the natural light in here. I used to scrapbook in here, and I still sew and make cards. My needs have changed considerably, and all of the things I've been keeping have inched their way farther and farther from the wall until there wasn't much room at all. And, with all the clutter, it does not invite creativity.<br />
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After a hard day's work, I ended up with this: </div>
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Much better, but it was still sort of cluttery, especially on top of my drawers, and with the sunlight I loved so much, I couldn't see my computer screen due to the glare.</div>
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I made a few purchases to decorate it a bit, AND cleaned out our entire storage room to make room for Kevin's steel guitar you see in front of the window. </div>
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Now I truly have a Fortress of Serenity. I have a room I love to be in and a room that is once again useful and welcoming.</div>
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If you need motivation to change your life, I highly recommend <i>The Life Changing Art of Tidying Up!</i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02414405825215814113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25711246.post-25164229267706961302017-03-27T20:12:00.000-05:002017-03-27T20:16:10.886-05:00Psuedo Stitch Fix or Creating a Spring/Summer Capsule Wardrobe on a Shoestring<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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I have been needing to update my spring and summer wardrobe in the worst way. I still have maternity clothes mixed in there-which is not necessarily a bad thing, they are so darn comfortable! But I know that many of my pieces are heading into the frump zone, which I hate. When I dress well, I feel well. When I feel pretty (and comfortable!) in my outfit, I feel happier. </div>
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While I was searching for "trendy spring looks for moms" on Pinterest. I found this amazing blogger at <a href="https://www.nowthaticando.com/" target="_blank">Now THAT I Can Do, Mama!</a> She has a great attitude and a loving heart. She also offers eBooks you can buy, and previews for free, of looks with her capsule wardrobe, and best of all, tips on how to be chic AND cheap!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVv5w4OITjPW9mDqOgHGAO0rfaXti4dkusjb9t-GnSCxdB5EiLwRrGeqL1DK1NO3F5GFaedYWFpdfKWt788yl_W7ItEXSLi4IJ9JRRqJmqydRl3RY34AdQ53gFXO67o0lyA9BGoQ/s1600/outfit+post.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVv5w4OITjPW9mDqOgHGAO0rfaXti4dkusjb9t-GnSCxdB5EiLwRrGeqL1DK1NO3F5GFaedYWFpdfKWt788yl_W7ItEXSLi4IJ9JRRqJmqydRl3RY34AdQ53gFXO67o0lyA9BGoQ/s320/outfit+post.jpg" width="107" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spring and Summer Capsule Wardrobe</td></tr>
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Her capsule wardrobe was incredibly useful as a shopping guide when I was at Goodwill today. She also offers a printable shopping list on her website if you prefer. I was pretty excited to find many of the pieces she suggested! Because I like bolder colors, I changed the suggested palette to plum (because, purple!), orange and aqua, along with the gray, navy, and white. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnHhh4zqRUS6eK3od-umTB8W4Tmj4SXfUHGsYZn0BTvCUEI61fgNQuBo4vjlr7rGV4vbAKwTG2ewY8KB4VM0u_xT0SvgfH3Q0_DXKeSUGDYc_ZU0BGw4DfjZLduKsxCAu2N6nVug/s1600/outfit+post+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnHhh4zqRUS6eK3od-umTB8W4Tmj4SXfUHGsYZn0BTvCUEI61fgNQuBo4vjlr7rGV4vbAKwTG2ewY8KB4VM0u_xT0SvgfH3Q0_DXKeSUGDYc_ZU0BGw4DfjZLduKsxCAu2N6nVug/s320/outfit+post+1.JPG" title="mom summer wardrobe plan sandals cheap chic" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">T-strap sandals in pink, fashion sandals in silver</td></tr>
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I loved that I found two pairs of sandals! I have been wearing a lot of flip-flops in summers past, pretty much my summer shoe staple, so I needed to get some dressier options.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ADHCvNP0kxsZJtOSqUA9VnHhCcg-cB6ieGsiU7TDEgVk8m1oVYYuxMIwsdP4QgM-FqqaXKbUwmrzzRBULtt8Lp_om0uzUZohjSf-K7ANvArBYor4v4pDbbUKVkEbT4WCm77wPw/s1600/outfit+post+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ADHCvNP0kxsZJtOSqUA9VnHhCcg-cB6ieGsiU7TDEgVk8m1oVYYuxMIwsdP4QgM-FqqaXKbUwmrzzRBULtt8Lp_om0uzUZohjSf-K7ANvArBYor4v4pDbbUKVkEbT4WCm77wPw/s320/outfit+post+2.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Neutral shorts, Color shorts<br />
Navy and white swing dress, Chambray dress</td></tr>
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I found these white and aqua shorts that fit me! And looked good! which is was a blessing, because my bottom and most bottoms don't get along. I loved this dress! I know she said a gray swing dress, but this one looked good, and has great pockets. Plus, I looked up the brand, and it's from Macy's. I don't ever shop at Macy's, so now I'm feeling all cool and stuff. I found this chambray dress/tunic instead of a shirt, and all the children in the dressing room said, "oooh! Cute!" I am ordering a couple of belts off amazon to hopefully anchor the outfit.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSF3USMpWnbAr4mLebY4OLtPfeOr1cWk_UDBRqBOPmnH0xHUcohdDz2ROxMddTQycxornHP4EOPpP-mjAmuoT0d-eynEWBNxTsDleHt3LbxBI2p_hKf52pZU-r_XddNzOYorLQvg/s1600/outfit+post+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSF3USMpWnbAr4mLebY4OLtPfeOr1cWk_UDBRqBOPmnH0xHUcohdDz2ROxMddTQycxornHP4EOPpP-mjAmuoT0d-eynEWBNxTsDleHt3LbxBI2p_hKf52pZU-r_XddNzOYorLQvg/s320/outfit+post+3.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">paisley vest, striped stretchy 'blazer'</td></tr>
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I didn't find a crochet vest, and I'm not even sure I really like crochet vests, but I did score this awesome paisley number. It's nice and flowy and will look great with my new white shorts. This 'blazer' was actually a shirt that I cut up the middle to make a cardigan.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0jnpsEi_rz49jTFy5Taf7eXtrmEtFq6hOuibIGgLoJsyqWzumaYEjQT6A6pH8GNsXoORp-QqV0hD-soly9ZfCSOQnEjdnq6lgXQad4djgj2FzXZxfHOQuWw237vuZHu-mE4VDNw/s1600/outfit+post+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0jnpsEi_rz49jTFy5Taf7eXtrmEtFq6hOuibIGgLoJsyqWzumaYEjQT6A6pH8GNsXoORp-QqV0hD-soly9ZfCSOQnEjdnq6lgXQad4djgj2FzXZxfHOQuWw237vuZHu-mE4VDNw/s320/outfit+post+4.JPG" title="summer wardrobe cheap capsule spring" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">fitted striped tee, slouchy tee</td></tr>
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This striped tee shirt was originally long sleeved, but I cut them off. The slouchy tee has the blouson style that is really flattering for the extra fluff around my middle.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YRKVHD5N-K1mmGkdX6as6_0BG6sel6ZOt1PJw81PzDGrdaFSIWdNbTz6rmVUcWgR_zoAdywqsl9QHgMzrEJXie32nLqLKhl4i3dWkQEMsAoED698vQTNDjxlUB_hv6K61UBuNw/s1600/outfit+post+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YRKVHD5N-K1mmGkdX6as6_0BG6sel6ZOt1PJw81PzDGrdaFSIWdNbTz6rmVUcWgR_zoAdywqsl9QHgMzrEJXie32nLqLKhl4i3dWkQEMsAoED698vQTNDjxlUB_hv6K61UBuNw/s320/outfit+post+5.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">tunic top, fitted tank, one shoulder tank</td></tr>
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I love the bright colors in this tunic top, and it matches my aqua shorts amazingly. The fitted tank looks great under almost everything I bought. The one shoulder tank is my daring purchase. It's not something I would normally get, but the colors were perfect; it has that blouson style I love, and it's on trend right now. If I don't wear it often, I'm only out $3.88.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUG0veori1CghlZYGLUTJXo6sy-HT-xJQDLEMmsOI86Y4HDt-DfXIyEvfZ8lGRCJIvyBrjRLUCpS3LdFfEAhzDvLAVyffWXcOBOxM5LdwG8JDXGU8XCzmErZQ0WK33xscHjcdRpw/s1600/outfit+post+6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUG0veori1CghlZYGLUTJXo6sy-HT-xJQDLEMmsOI86Y4HDt-DfXIyEvfZ8lGRCJIvyBrjRLUCpS3LdFfEAhzDvLAVyffWXcOBOxM5LdwG8JDXGU8XCzmErZQ0WK33xscHjcdRpw/s320/outfit+post+6.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">slouchy tank, bonus dressy tank, dressy top</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And my final three pieces: the tank is a really soft jersey knit, but looks dressier because of its buttons and pockets. the teal tank is just gorgeous, and the purple shirt is stretchy and dressy.<br />
<br />
I spent a total of $52 on this haul. I just <b>love </b>thrift shopping! Now I feel that I can definitely splurge (well, my definition of splurge) on some of the accessories. As an added bonus, I already have a lot of items that will go with these pieces, so I'm looking forward to some warmer temperatures so I can actually try them out!<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02414405825215814113noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25711246.post-77411480591445554002017-02-07T20:41:00.000-06:002017-02-07T20:41:10.670-06:00A Day in the Life of a Doula4 am--One of my clients texts that she's been having contractions on and off for a couple of hours that keep waking her up. I ask a few questions to get more details.<br />
<br />
I try to go back to sleep.<br />
<br />
5 am--Different client texts that she's been having regular contractions since about 1. They're about 10 minutes apart. We converse for a few minutes.<br />
<br />
5:10 --Toddler wakes up for her morning nurse<br />
<br />
5:25-- I slide out from under Fizzy Baby and head downstairs to check my doula bag. All I really take with me are personal care items like toothbrush and toothpaste in case of a long birth, and snacks. I top off my snacks and mill around a bit.<br />
<br />
Start texting my back ups because obviously I can't be two places at once. Freak out a little when I don't hear back right away.<br />
<br />
6:30 B wakes up and asks right away if I have a birth. She's so astute.<br />
<br />
Text my fellow Essentials tutor and our Classical Conversations director and let them know I might need a sub for my class.<br />
<br />
6:40 Water broke for second client! She reports contractions are little closer.<br />
<br />
I stay in regular contact with my client and her husband as I get ready and get the children ready. I tell Kevin all of the things that need to happen. It seems this client's moving pretty quickly, so I decide to head in to hospital while they wait for Grandma to come to their house to take care of their toddler. I hear back from my back ups and breathe big sighs of relief. I give necessary info so I don't have to think about my other client still having irregular birth waves during another client's birth. I try to get kids organized to help Kevin as much as possible; they do so amazingly helping each other.<br />
<br />
7:50 I text the husband to see how they're doing as I'm pulling into the parking garage. They are on the way.<br />
<br />
8:05 In triage--nurse all business, bustles in and tells client to pee in cup, change into gown.<br />
<br />
My client is working
incredibly hard. It always amazes me how strong and beautiful women
are when they feel loved and supported through their labors. Her
husband was feeling a little frantic, but he is taking good care of
her. She is handling her labor waves wonderfully, even as they come
every few minutes. She climbs up onto the narrow bed and promptly
assumes the elbows and knees position.<br />
<br />
I suspect she is ready
to just get this baby out, so I ask if she wants to skip the
monitoring and just get checked to see if she could get back in her
room. She thinks that sounds like a solid plan and affirms with a
terse “YEAH!” It’s hard for women in labor to respond to
people’s questions around them, and it’s best to just ask
questions or make statements they can answer with a nod or shake of
the head.<br />
<br />
The midwife asks if
she can flip over to have her cervix checked. My client does not
think that sounds like a good idea. The apprentice midwife is
awesome and says she would do her best to check her in this "non-traditional" position! Many care providers make the laboring mother roll over on their backs for a cervical check. She concludes client is at a 7
or 8 (10 being complete and ready to push baby out) and we could
immediately move down the hall to a room.
<br />
<br />
8:20 Officially admitted. <br />
<br />
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Once we get settled
in the room, I start the tub in case she has time to get in the
soothing warmth of the water. They still have to monitor baby for a
while according to hospital regulations. I'm stroking her hair and head, saying soothing, encouraging things while the husband rubs her back. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The husband suddenly
realizes his car is still down in the circle drive in the front of
the hospital, and thinks he should move it. I say, “No, no, stay
here! I’ll run down and park it for you.”<br />
<br />
I figure the distance would be
about the same and decide to<b> run</b> around the hospital instead of
having to <b>walk</b> through it, and am literally sprinting once I got
outside the building. It feels amazing to run, even though I never do it anymore and am quickly out of breath. I find them a primo spot right next to the hospital door in the parking garage, grab their bags from the trunk and
hightail down the hall, back to the elevators.</div>
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<br /></div>
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8:35 Baby Born</div>
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As I enter the
Labor and Delivery Unit, the nurse grouches, “You missed it.” My
first thought is “Oh man! Bummer!” and my second thought is
“Better me than him!” But all I say is, “I never thought I’d
miss the birth because I was moving their car!” I have missed it by
mere seconds thanks to my sprinting, as they haven’t cut the cord or
hatted the baby yet. Mama is looking more gorgeous than ever now
that baby was here, Daddy is all choked up and beaming. I love those
moments! I immediately pluck up my camera and snap some photos. I’m
strictly an amateur photographer, but I know my families appreciate
some memories captured from those first precious moments.</div>
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I hang around for a
couple of hours after the birth to answer questions, give leg
massages, run errands such as getting heated blankets or coffee, talk
things over, help with baby’s first breastfeeding if necessary, to
take photos of when babe gets weighed and measured, and just be
there, holding space for them, as they need.</div>
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<br /></div>
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11:00 a.m. I take my leave and
head for our Classical Conversations Community, where my four older
kids already were. I’d been in a bit of a time warp and can’t
believe it is still morning! It is a grey, wet day which usually
makes me sluggish and morose, but not today!</div>
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<br /></div>
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I swing by Panera to
treat myself to a scone, a breakfast sandwich and coffee. Depending
on the time of day, I almost always get myself a store bought coffee
after a birth. I feel like I deserve it and, just on Birth Days, I
want to act like a grown up who has a job and money, instead of a
stay at home mom, who scrimps on the coffee creamer. It’s always
surreal for me to go back into the regular world after just
witnessing the miracle of a new life, and seeing the overwhelming
love between new parents and from them to their new family member.
It’s almost weird to see people just working on their laptops, just
drinking their lattes, doing regular people things. I want to yell at
them, “Don’t you know what I just got to do?! Don’t you know
where I just WAS?! Don’t you know what just happened? A BABY WAS
BORN! A new person was given LIFE today! A mama found out how strong
and powerful and wonderful she is!! Don’t you KNOW?!” But I
hardly ever do that.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I arrive at
Classical Conversations in time to see the kids do their review. I have some really amazing conversations, and a friend prays for me and some relationship struggles I've been having. I immediately feel the pain and heartsick hurt dissipate. It is really incredible. </div>
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<br /></div>
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12:00 We
all eat lunch together, which is always loud and overwhelming, but I
get to talk to my friends and be with my Mama Tribe. </div>
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<br /></div>
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1-3 pm In the
afternoons, I teach an English class. We do math review in addition to English grammar and writing. My phone
goes off right at the end of class. Perfect. My text tone for my
doula clients is the Justin Bieber chorus “baby, baby, baby ohhh”
which gets my attention, no matter the time of day and always makes
me smile.
</div>
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<br /></div>
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I have been in
contact with my other client all day and she is contracting more
regularly now, and they are feeling more intense. We decide I would take my kids home, spend some time
with my wee ones, and then I would head in to her house after an
hour or so.
<br />
<br />
I snuggle and nurse Finnella and read a few books to Elivette. I chat with the older kids and try to squeeze in their daily quota of hugs. </div>
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<br /></div>
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4:45 I arrive at her house. We spend time
chatting while she is laboring. Her husband got their other kids
ready to go and I keep her company and help as she seems to need
through the labor waves. She was handling them wonderfully. </div>
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<br /></div>
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7:10 pm When we
got to the hospital, I was completely shocked to hear her tell the
nurse they were a 10+ on the pain scale because she was so completely
calm and relaxed on the outside. She really wants me to keep talking
during her waves, which is surprisingly awkward for me. I’m used
to most women not wanting chit-chat during the contractions. Everyone
was upbeat and lively for quite a while. She watches some funny
YouTube videos (Zach King, if you’re wondering) and we laugh and
banter. As things heat up, we discover scalp rubs really
help her relax during her birth waves. We do some relaxation
exercises and she says she is feeling really calm and peaceful
during this part of her labor.
</div>
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<br />
7:44 We are in her room. She has some delicious essential oils in her diffuser going and I am thankful because this room really smells like nursing home.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
8:47 It is time to
push, and she starts out on her back. After pushing there awhile I suggest a squatting position. She tries that for a while and feels it isn't effective. She wants to be on her back. I learn that as long as the
mother chooses the position, it’s a great position to be in.<br />
<br />
9:39 or :40 Her
baby comes out face down, and completely rotates to face up. This is really unusual! Baby’s shoulders got stuck, which can be dangerous because the
baby can’t get oxygen while the head is out and the chest is still
in the birth canal. Extracting them is a little more complicated than usual because of baby's face up position but the midwife acts quickly and stays calm. Her expertise and instant action saved the day.<br />
<br />
9:41 Baby born! Baby is able
to be immediately on mom before they took her over to the warmer and
checked her oxygen levels. She was fine and almost right away was
brought back to mom. It was scary there for long minute though!</div>
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I am so happy they
were able to put baby on mom right after birth. I’ve been at a home
birth when baby wasn’t breathing right away and mom was holding
baby and talking to her and rubbing her while the midwife gave oxygen
and did the necessary things. I’ve also been a hospital birth where
baby was taken away immediately to give oxygen and do the necessary
things. The mom had no idea what was happening, the doctor wasn’t
giving any kind of updates orally, and it was terrifying. I wish they
could always do the former as much as possible.
</div>
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I stayed for a few
hours after the birth taking more photos, talking and helping any way
I could. This mom was still nursing her toddler and didn’t really
need any assistance nursing.</div>
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Two baby girls, born
almost exactly 13 hours apart. They were both third children, and one
weighed over three pounds heavier then the other. Both mamas handled
their labors gorgeously, and completely differently. Two different
hospitals, two different midwives, interestingly, both with a
midwifery student.
</div>
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<br /></div>
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I got home around
midnight and promptly went to sleep.</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02414405825215814113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25711246.post-36336930124361635832016-10-12T16:58:00.001-05:002016-10-12T16:58:21.212-05:00Uncommon Goods: An Honest Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHhqTTkR5UWT6Dwcxt8JvjbO9CiaKBfw52C0VlvHxMuU3bNQYJMYwXtjQ86_lrRcIxcE2DZcttxJIOqJTZXMNYtL2kUWMIU19xdgJPT3xDeK6KzHw6jv_M54hsw00xlDSN6i1bQ/s640/blogger-image-187473233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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I sometimes click on Facebook ads, if it's something that appeals to me. That's how I first heard of Uncommon Goods. Their website is full of intriguing and appealing gift ideas, for yourself and for others. You can see some of their birthday gift suggestions <a href="http://www.uncommongoods.com/gifts/birthday-gifts">here.</a> I had browsed their catalog several times, but never had the opportunity to buy anything.</div>
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I was over the moon when <a href="http://www.uncommongoods.com/gifts/wedding-gifts">Uncommon Goods</a> contacted me to ask whether I would review their company. The answer was a resounding YES! I quickly filled up my cart with $1000 dollars of items I would love to have in my home or on my body, but of course I had to scale back. After much agonizing, I decided on two beautiful yet practical additions for my home.</div>
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As you can see, my box arrived damaged. I was concerned about this because I have had to send items back before due to poor packaging. To my delight, everything was wrapped wonderfully and in no danger of breakage during shipping. Even better, Uncommon Goods prides themselves on being an environmentally conscious company and strive to be Earth sustainable in all of their practices, so there wasn't any wasteful packaging, and what was in the box is environmentally friendly.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHhqTTkR5UWT6Dwcxt8JvjbO9CiaKBfw52C0VlvHxMuU3bNQYJMYwXtjQ86_lrRcIxcE2DZcttxJIOqJTZXMNYtL2kUWMIU19xdgJPT3xDeK6KzHw6jv_M54hsw00xlDSN6i1bQ/s640/blogger-image-187473233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuB4jKsChNEiJyDt8YbZ-nHMQIPuxDL7r0DTlw0THsCUrIjxSZfcsIb8TlKBcsLzRL-YczclovbJsqQtZA1ae1oRUmwQ-wvduL36Tw8NGmGszmdKECUJqhYmqYWI3iOv0i9oPLpw/s640/blogger-image-214041570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuB4jKsChNEiJyDt8YbZ-nHMQIPuxDL7r0DTlw0THsCUrIjxSZfcsIb8TlKBcsLzRL-YczclovbJsqQtZA1ae1oRUmwQ-wvduL36Tw8NGmGszmdKECUJqhYmqYWI3iOv0i9oPLpw/s640/blogger-image-214041570.jpg" /></a></div>
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I ordered the<a href="http://www.uncommongoods.com/product/nebulizing-aromatherapy-diffuser"> Nebulizing Oil Diffuser</a>. Isn't it beautiful? You don't add any water to it, just your essential oils. It fogs up like that inside when it's on, and is a gorgeous decoration when you're not using it. It made both our dining room. living room and keeping room smell delightful, which is a lot of square footage benefiting from the Joy, Vetiver, Orange or Slim and Sassy I have tried so far. </div>
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There are no plastic pieces which I really love, it's entirely wood, glass, and metal with a bit of rubber to hold the glass lantern in place.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpef-a2Wcw5J73TmFeULeo0Ze6pHkGftNx1ZPp0Hc6pGi9sdFf3ErgIdvuxXu7axdbuglf94Znf0hWkSTYTAuDDzvYqHDaDG5x9uZZlr0FvGnnGtQrhS1pcu-JnDf45RY-tc_IA/s640/blogger-image--1716863231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpef-a2Wcw5J73TmFeULeo0Ze6pHkGftNx1ZPp0Hc6pGi9sdFf3ErgIdvuxXu7axdbuglf94Znf0hWkSTYTAuDDzvYqHDaDG5x9uZZlr0FvGnnGtQrhS1pcu-JnDf45RY-tc_IA/s640/blogger-image--1716863231.jpg" /></a></div>
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Another thing I like about Uncommon Goods is that they have a great sense of humor; there are real people behind their website. For instance, if you search for something on their site, it quips "You searched "<a href="http://www.uncommongoods.com/gifts/by-recipient/gifts-for-men">Gifts for Men</a>"-- and Poof--here are your results."<br />
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I also adore how they support small artists. The craftsmanship on the items in inventory is remarkable. I wanted to buy so. many. things. I ultimately chose the <a href="http://www.uncommongoods.com/product/zen-wishing-stone">Zen Wishing Stone</a> because if you know anything about my home, you know I need a whole lotta zen. Also, we had gotten my daughter a Buddha Board for Christmas one year, and I loved playing with it until someone got butter all over it and it would no longer work properly.<br />
<br />
This Zen Wishing Stone is a piece of slate made by an artist from Oregon. It is very calming to write an affirmation on it and watch it disappear, then to do it again and again.<br />
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHhqTTkR5UWT6Dwcxt8JvjbO9CiaKBfw52C0VlvHxMuU3bNQYJMYwXtjQ86_lrRcIxcE2DZcttxJIOqJTZXMNYtL2kUWMIU19xdgJPT3xDeK6KzHw6jv_M54hsw00xlDSN6i1bQ/s640/blogger-image-187473233.jpg" /><br />
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It's also fun for the young ones to practice writing or drawing. It's a great multi sensory tool as well for kids with dyslexia or other learning disorders.<br />
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And my 10 year old figured out it's fun to do her sentence diagramming on it.<br />
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All in all, I would heartily recommend ordering from Uncommon Goods, whether you are looking for a <a href="http://www.uncommongoods.com/gifts/personalized/personalized-gifts">unique, meaningful gift for a special occasion</a> or you want to reward yourself for a job well done (or just because you got through the day with only yelling once) (even if it was a 15 minute tirade). You deserve the beauty of Uncommon Goods.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02414405825215814113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25711246.post-86094704893058402372016-10-09T18:41:00.001-05:002016-10-09T18:41:59.262-05:00Back to School 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I've been doing a "Back to School" photo in this corner since Aviana was three. I'm absolutely awed by how much things have changed and by how much things are still the same.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> I still have these burgundy and green walls. I still have a nursling. I'm still a homeschooling mama. I am still making it through the day alive, sometimes by the skin of my teeth, sometimes with great peace and joy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Aviana 7th grade</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3rru6JwM-EmK4imIQTR63u5Vmx8ZBN45Q8cikcL2qhYJ0fnXi-6beI2d50uIzYZKoL-MiMEQUx_NmdQoKTlCptKv9dPKya-ZT0phBCozFsor1X8Rzy4GchVdf87vFTXvrYJnAbQ/s640/blogger-image-1013299578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3rru6JwM-EmK4imIQTR63u5Vmx8ZBN45Q8cikcL2qhYJ0fnXi-6beI2d50uIzYZKoL-MiMEQUx_NmdQoKTlCptKv9dPKya-ZT0phBCozFsor1X8Rzy4GchVdf87vFTXvrYJnAbQ/s640/blogger-image-1013299578.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Brielle 5th grade</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9kUMxP8gy-cbJm8d8PF2QJkZi-flIhD93gzYHJCcGat8ncIP7IwIa9jGHJKXdDMBPgyt8x1zoqjz3oDDtZoBraDybeVNrcYXWepsrcsgDgqmEhXO6XIv_Ru4fwZzwEHUgY_fNYA/s640/blogger-image-206311414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9kUMxP8gy-cbJm8d8PF2QJkZi-flIhD93gzYHJCcGat8ncIP7IwIa9jGHJKXdDMBPgyt8x1zoqjz3oDDtZoBraDybeVNrcYXWepsrcsgDgqmEhXO6XIv_Ru4fwZzwEHUgY_fNYA/s640/blogger-image-206311414.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Cadrian 2nd grade</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRE6GWVP8QRTsvRbmunU2E-500aiQn8R2LAwZOhvdK44cW1Ky3XjV64v4AvFm25H7hpEWMUXIZJjupQhfM7N-Zah0tJSYTjoEstERasCxWaEbIyMSbNYXVbLJfQHhfbpvZznwag/s640/blogger-image--1123137104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRE6GWVP8QRTsvRbmunU2E-500aiQn8R2LAwZOhvdK44cW1Ky3XjV64v4AvFm25H7hpEWMUXIZJjupQhfM7N-Zah0tJSYTjoEstERasCxWaEbIyMSbNYXVbLJfQHhfbpvZznwag/s640/blogger-image--1123137104.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Denton Kindergarten </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzeIPFfWVVaVxUxshq41NR3Y1T0AFoxXDqTRG9hPdTg_ah_Ii39TeOIU5QIjCf2c1K9lr9dsgjD1Q1tvF6cyCfXQWON_MhEMtA8hd-K9v0CJ2K2Qzi6uLnTlny7CAVLT5aeaXVg/s640/blogger-image--1814360046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzeIPFfWVVaVxUxshq41NR3Y1T0AFoxXDqTRG9hPdTg_ah_Ii39TeOIU5QIjCf2c1K9lr9dsgjD1Q1tvF6cyCfXQWON_MhEMtA8hd-K9v0CJ2K2Qzi6uLnTlny7CAVLT5aeaXVg/s640/blogger-image--1814360046.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Elivette 4 year old preschool</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifEbbPy7clVT8bcshgy-aVleXFDwoB-eNxac5f_FmmyCW6Q2iQinVX7aCL3NP_Ngoyu0ZO3NUG6dpfkYByrPwoJJ8K636NN5PghZ7_V1-4ArflsP5hbm6i4npAMBcrRl9KLu5gxw/s640/blogger-image-1768213306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifEbbPy7clVT8bcshgy-aVleXFDwoB-eNxac5f_FmmyCW6Q2iQinVX7aCL3NP_Ngoyu0ZO3NUG6dpfkYByrPwoJJ8K636NN5PghZ7_V1-4ArflsP5hbm6i4npAMBcrRl9KLu5gxw/s640/blogger-image-1768213306.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Finnella Nursling </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFRO0fL-0xIfPrd54BoGjoCvSI8-rJlbBVeDvZT4a3IsW6HiLmlSLpz6uyT10iGC-fUzjN3X-NTQWa_7umeShOjuT1ij_cBn_nayGdBD_AgT6cjB4nbNA8KJ4s-1XcMg8HmduDvA/s640/blogger-image-2134511947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFRO0fL-0xIfPrd54BoGjoCvSI8-rJlbBVeDvZT4a3IsW6HiLmlSLpz6uyT10iGC-fUzjN3X-NTQWa_7umeShOjuT1ij_cBn_nayGdBD_AgT6cjB4nbNA8KJ4s-1XcMg8HmduDvA/s640/blogger-image-2134511947.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02414405825215814113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25711246.post-35079424581097723452016-07-31T13:26:00.001-05:002016-07-31T13:26:45.449-05:00Musings on The Whole 30<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mq7ztINHO8cg3PoYFTqhw9Lba-Eti9C3U63b2q_wLgwKhPQZQX9Me-w-DX5dogZKyVomJipJJAr5GoiOuaPHxAY03z4ykrygTOPKP0Z6sYqlVorLpF5Ou4XXqXdX_8UZRThmjQ/s640/blogger-image--691237138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mq7ztINHO8cg3PoYFTqhw9Lba-Eti9C3U63b2q_wLgwKhPQZQX9Me-w-DX5dogZKyVomJipJJAr5GoiOuaPHxAY03z4ykrygTOPKP0Z6sYqlVorLpF5Ou4XXqXdX_8UZRThmjQ/s640/blogger-image--691237138.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Tomorrow August 1, on my 41st birthday, I start the Whole 30. 2016 has been a year of change. I've been battling to change my eating habits, and my lifestyle, and never ever go back to having chronic headaches several times a week and being bedridden with migraines for a quarter or even third of my life! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">When I juiced the month of April, I saw amazing benefits in my energy and mental clarity among other things, and have not ever descended back into eating an entire row of brownies or eating spoonful after spoonful of cookie dough. I'm still off caffeine. I don't have severe sugar cravings every afternoon and need to rummage for chocolate. But I'm gradually getting headaches back again, and my energy isn't as high and that near constant irritability that used to plague me when I was sick is rearing its ugly head. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Juicing was really good for me in that I didn't have to eat real food and the temptation of all the not healthful food choices was essentially eliminated. But it was really time consuming, expensive and not sustainable. When I was finishing that month of my juice fast feeling wonderful and looking better to boot, a couple of my friends suggested the Whole 30 as kind of a where to go from here next step. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I eagerly got the books from the library and immediately decided it would be impossible to not eat sugar or bread. <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">And cheese. They want me to eliminate cheese!</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> It was too strict and regimented for my personality. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">But then my doctor suggested that going gluten free might be really beneficial for me, and told me it appears that my gut still needs a lot of work and that my liver is working too hard and I should do another cleanse. And then a good friend told me she's been diagnosed with thyroid issues and was going to start the Whole 30 a bit before the time I'd been hesitantly considering it. And then another one of our friends was going to do it with her in solidarity at first but then discovered all the ways it would benefit her family. And then another friend told me she'd join me on the second wave, and give up gluten and sugar.And another friend and fellow cheese lover said she's eliminating dairy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So here I am. I had my cup of Teeccino this morning without French vanilla creamer. I didn't have a bit of any of the kids's cookies or Italian ices. Today, so far, has been Whole 30 compliant. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Kevin and I are going out on a dinner and movie date tonight so I'll see if I can keep up the momentum, but I like to be able to tell myself I don't <i>have</i> to, as I'm starting officially tomorrow. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I'm going to cook for the family lots of on plan meals, and also have separate food for myself when the kids are having sandwiches or something. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Kevin supports me in that he'll eat his evening ice cream in the office instead of next to me on the couch. When I was listing off all the veggies we needed to pick up at the store, he said, "And I need chocolate and beer."</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02414405825215814113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25711246.post-53146898495507869912016-07-13T20:45:00.001-05:002016-07-13T20:45:42.873-05:00the concepts of play and fighting<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgvccV5HH7-cACZr2tFjWD7awC0CSxfbAo-ia8S3j77-i-MXu1oaM5Qd_36CX3lVr7rGL7Uhgiz4_5sOCe4IEKwMICReTDHqZwjJrtp8ZU36QtM9s1WXNyH5zU5gYfpTvHwtywcg/s640/blogger-image-1716262211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgvccV5HH7-cACZr2tFjWD7awC0CSxfbAo-ia8S3j77-i-MXu1oaM5Qd_36CX3lVr7rGL7Uhgiz4_5sOCe4IEKwMICReTDHqZwjJrtp8ZU36QtM9s1WXNyH5zU5gYfpTvHwtywcg/s640/blogger-image-1716262211.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This excerpt is from <i>For the Children's Sake</i> by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay. It encapsulates my philosophy of life and learning pretty well. I intentionally give my children large blocks of unstructured time, space to roam, and freedoms to do just about anything as long as it doesn't impinge on others' person or property. While it sounds good theoretically, I am struggling to make it work for me and my family. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I am with my children all of the time. I am physically present all of the time. I am mentally and emotionally available to them probably sixty percent of the time. I have done everything I know to do to live this philosophy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And yet, it seems like my kiddos can't think of anything to do when I want them to. If we have friends over, they will disappear for hours, barely turning up to eat. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">If it's just us though, they want to sit right next to me, or on me, or fight about who is going to be on me. Or they'll come in the living room where I am obviously otherwise occupied and start noisily eating something which one-grosses me out, because I hate the sound of people chewing and eating and two- isn't allowed in the living room, or just start asking me inane questions or fighting and bickering, trying to get my attention. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I spend a few hours with them in the morning, reading out loud, talking with them, doing schoolish type things. By then I need a break. I need space for my body where no one is touching me and space for my brain where no one is asking me rapid fire questions, or demanding I do something for them. Or whining!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Then it seems like I spend the rest of the day fighting for a break and fighting to get them to help clean up after themselves, and help one another and me, and fighting to get them to stop fighting! I'm struggling. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">How much time should I be "all there" ? How much rich creative play can I really expect? Why do the books say boredom is a good thing as it launches creativity, but in practice all they can think of to do is torment a sibling? Why do they need to make their noise and mess right where I am? Why don't my children stick to the boundaries? They matter more than the furniture but it still drives me nuts that the carpets and couches are stained from the eating in the rooms they're not supposed to and there are holes in the upholstery from scissors and saws and "exploration". I GIVE them interested support and empathy during their quarrels and try to really listen and reflect their feelings and they still demand <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">more. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">How do children learn to play without my intervention? Or when they just don't want to? How do they learn to get along without making me crazy? How I stop taking their big emotions onto myself? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I'm struggling with these concepts of play and fighting. Struggling.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02414405825215814113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25711246.post-48883660573393593672016-07-10T20:35:00.001-05:002016-07-10T21:19:40.960-05:00Goodwill Stylist aka The Un Stitch Fix<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijCyI12CHj68XIrKBWoGVfr2LBP7qrMaL2kq0Ghh0FEiRLV7YcYsGe7_b3t0GmaTOum2hjgaoAslOYo5Cv8ydymMJPc1IVHyV4ytF57ItC2ArkcdPsvGmpFsV_gTBhpWRO_Zjb2w/s640/blogger-image-1879843313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijCyI12CHj68XIrKBWoGVfr2LBP7qrMaL2kq0Ghh0FEiRLV7YcYsGe7_b3t0GmaTOum2hjgaoAslOYo5Cv8ydymMJPc1IVHyV4ytF57ItC2ArkcdPsvGmpFsV_gTBhpWRO_Zjb2w/s640/blogger-image-1879843313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdgww6jIFjfALsq-lAg1dSO4pjeep87uXgzGwogjTnakQGVXwgfB0t7DmpJil6BaeTVmAjUZfSrJekArW_wNp4Cly9KIXqPKCFaPNPm6Olh6Hc__gH_H68C_LMSpqSkx1qFv9orA/s640/blogger-image-1185020083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdgww6jIFjfALsq-lAg1dSO4pjeep87uXgzGwogjTnakQGVXwgfB0t7DmpJil6BaeTVmAjUZfSrJekArW_wNp4Cly9KIXqPKCFaPNPm6Olh6Hc__gH_H68C_LMSpqSkx1qFv9orA/s640/blogger-image-1185020083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR7UDd23BCeVwwLA4pHbfsULRDWYtntsvACJDwl675oFw0PLvjsCXhdnIvHknNp_zC6iFNVr4-dvPnF9tIoVf5WpbESwwPH6e1BcRM-A5dzjoqYxEmW9zBZdleKH72jUqzkwhsNQ/s640/blogger-image-591632699.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR7UDd23BCeVwwLA4pHbfsULRDWYtntsvACJDwl675oFw0PLvjsCXhdnIvHknNp_zC6iFNVr4-dvPnF9tIoVf5WpbESwwPH6e1BcRM-A5dzjoqYxEmW9zBZdleKH72jUqzkwhsNQ/s640/blogger-image-591632699.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdvVBUJ4ocdJMSHdNMPJvQhXYoYMtCOOr5dwNCaj-2sVG2SKvkpMI5FPweB0jfx3c8vJ0ip9glDUZYxwNP8y-sTNzH9mkUzasLHB-bWaUghS5eInmXUvJUd7xJOmjL3fi17IM0WA/s640/blogger-image-959226989.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I've done a couple of Stitch Fixes and loved the idea of it, but it was super hard for my frugal self to swallow the price point. I've been saying for months I needed a stylist who would thrift shop for me and today I was able to do it myself!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I am WAY more excited about these finds than I was even about my Stitch Fix. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This dress is from Banana Republic. It cost $4.88. It is my favorite color and fits pretty well. I love how the cut is vintage-y. I can't nurse in it, but I can wear it to an event where I wouldn't need to take Fizzy Baby along. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The shoes are Born and the most expensive thing I bought. They were $12.88.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdvVBUJ4ocdJMSHdNMPJvQhXYoYMtCOOr5dwNCaj-2sVG2SKvkpMI5FPweB0jfx3c8vJ0ip9glDUZYxwNP8y-sTNzH9mkUzasLHB-bWaUghS5eInmXUvJUd7xJOmjL3fi17IM0WA/s640/blogger-image-959226989.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsblkMKZLzUOKf7Qh2g-gVCv55aC8JD5pCoXZsAC22QDuNktKm8lufdyLjA8W63L47WZBk9ydx_owz6xxUfPqGnU1yAEM3ZvwOM5iS5EmRhvsefX83Qt55RV35ArYusN8PVsMrBA/s640/blogger-image-566138228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsblkMKZLzUOKf7Qh2g-gVCv55aC8JD5pCoXZsAC22QDuNktKm8lufdyLjA8W63L47WZBk9ydx_owz6xxUfPqGnU1yAEM3ZvwOM5iS5EmRhvsefX83Qt55RV35ArYusN8PVsMrBA/s640/blogger-image-566138228.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This top is St. John's Bay and the flower has sparkles and a little 3D effect with chiffon detailing.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUSxrsXemPmCflto5FwrDih3FkvkDAuBhc-trypFH-MBQOSdQvSTAQJJYRT_TRguVg14qGAjhPvKVAqABtdBFSgguM1Tm0N3quEVfSGBLmtn4RqpUml5R_MHTjlDYEhV223NGBuw/s640/blogger-image-1059098240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUSxrsXemPmCflto5FwrDih3FkvkDAuBhc-trypFH-MBQOSdQvSTAQJJYRT_TRguVg14qGAjhPvKVAqABtdBFSgguM1Tm0N3quEVfSGBLmtn4RqpUml5R_MHTjlDYEhV223NGBuw/s640/blogger-image-1059098240.jpg"></a></div>The capris are Nine West. I've been wanting a pair like them for ages, even though I've seen memes about how no one should decorate their bum. I don't care. I love them.</div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdvVBUJ4ocdJMSHdNMPJvQhXYoYMtCOOr5dwNCaj-2sVG2SKvkpMI5FPweB0jfx3c8vJ0ip9glDUZYxwNP8y-sTNzH9mkUzasLHB-bWaUghS5eInmXUvJUd7xJOmjL3fi17IM0WA/s640/blogger-image-959226989.jpg"></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR7UDd23BCeVwwLA4pHbfsULRDWYtntsvACJDwl675oFw0PLvjsCXhdnIvHknNp_zC6iFNVr4-dvPnF9tIoVf5WpbESwwPH6e1BcRM-A5dzjoqYxEmW9zBZdleKH72jUqzkwhsNQ/s640/blogger-image-591632699.jpg"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This tank I got today and the unicorn leggings. Everyone needs unicorn leggings.</div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdgww6jIFjfALsq-lAg1dSO4pjeep87uXgzGwogjTnakQGVXwgfB0t7DmpJil6BaeTVmAjUZfSrJekArW_wNp4Cly9KIXqPKCFaPNPm6Olh6Hc__gH_H68C_LMSpqSkx1qFv9orA/s640/blogger-image-1185020083.jpg"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Here is a better picture of the j. jill tank. I paired it with a mega comfy polka dotted pencil skirt from Old Navy. Leggings, tank, and skirt were all $2.88.</div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijCyI12CHj68XIrKBWoGVfr2LBP7qrMaL2kq0Ghh0FEiRLV7YcYsGe7_b3t0GmaTOum2hjgaoAslOYo5Cv8ydymMJPc1IVHyV4ytF57ItC2ArkcdPsvGmpFsV_gTBhpWRO_Zjb2w/s640/blogger-image-1879843313.jpg"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I also got a pair of capris from The Gap and an American Eagle skirt short enough that NO one should be wearing it. I plan to cut the lace off the skirt and cut the capris into shorts to trim the legs with the lace. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Additionally, I found a VS nightie with tags, 4 dresses/outfits each for Finnella and Elivette, jeans and a few shirts for Brielle, an Iowa State jersey and sweatshirt for Cadrian, another pair of unicorn leggings, a tunic, a maxi dress and a couple pairs of pajamas for Aviana. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Total cost was LESS than my last Stitch Fix (which was 3 items). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Even if it takes more time, it's settled. I'm going to stick with my Goodwill stylist. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02414405825215814113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25711246.post-7508359385325835472016-07-06T10:56:00.001-05:002016-07-06T19:34:05.049-05:00Staying on Task. Or Not.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I had high hopes for what I could get accomplished by 10:30. Incidentally, it's 10:42 and I am attempting to nurse the baby down for her nap. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRr80F8NM73XQEAAtqPB-v9W393BwfYdjdcWbwo9zUf-4f2vq3OxBif648xOEKV9Yj8EOBAW6OazuJN4mYW12o4liJP1MCm0lemZ6zKtESqAPGYLlGd7YqXCIY91xq5PYNHWrZYg/s640/blogger-image-611742296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRr80F8NM73XQEAAtqPB-v9W393BwfYdjdcWbwo9zUf-4f2vq3OxBif648xOEKV9Yj8EOBAW6OazuJN4mYW12o4liJP1MCm0lemZ6zKtESqAPGYLlGd7YqXCIY91xq5PYNHWrZYg/s640/blogger-image-611742296.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Here's how my to-do list this morning played out. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Check FB while nursing Finnella at 6. Slither out of bed about 6:30. Try to renew library books due yesterday but it's already too late. Collect them from the cabinet. One is rain damaged and I'll have to buy it. At least I liked it! One is not in the cabinet. Not too bad of odds considering how many we check out at a time. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Go out to office. Stare out the new storm door at the last vestiges of rain from the storm last night on the deck while listening to the cacophony of birds. Go back into kitchen to get a cup of teeccino. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Cadrian is up. Go back out to office to work on updating my birth related resource list for my Birth Boot Camp recertification. Cadrian follows. Asks a barrage of questions like, "Which would you like better, to die in a rain storm or get run over?"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Finally give him permission to make a smoothie so he'll disappear for a bit. He actually didn't make a giant mess! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Work on updates. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Kevin comes in, wants to chat. He finally wanders off to catch the news. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Girl child brings me baby. I take baby to Kevin, who's watching TV. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Finish updates. Start working on community groups, like La Leche League. To most easily find the information, I go to FB and quickly wander down one rabbit trail after another, including discovering that a year ago today Finnella smiled her first smile and looking at family photos we had taken four years ago.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">One child after another keeps coming in the office, while somehow Kevin manages to continue watching the news alone. I must need to change something with my pheromones so I'm not so attractive. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">By 9 am Elivette is the last one up. Ask Brielle to make her and Finnella some eggs so I can go work out. I go to get dressed and realize I need to unpack. I get everything out of the suitcase and make categorical piles on my bed. I get some things put away when Elivette comes up crying because Brielle won't make her malt o'meal. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I finally get her calmed down and get dressed, leaving my bed covered in clothes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I head outside to work out. I'm tired and not really in the mood but I keep at it. It's not long before Elivette comes out with a bowl of cut up delicious fresh peaches and starts to feed them to the dog. I rush her inside and ask Aviana to make her some malt o'meal since she refuses to eat anything else and Brielle refuses to do as she (or I, for that matter) asks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I see someone had gotten out last night's pizza so I grab a piece and heals back out to the patio. I ate pizza while working out. I take my fitness very seriously. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I at one point get distracted by the weeds and start pulling some when Cadrian comes out. " I thought you were supposed to be working out!" </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I finally straggle done, and go inside fully intending to get everyone rounded up for Circle Time, but Finnella is so fussy I take her upstairs to nurse her. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And that's how I managed to get 1 1/2 things checked off in the four hours I've been up. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">How much I love today is a better goal than how much I get done. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02414405825215814113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25711246.post-16833696284373660392016-07-02T10:28:00.001-05:002016-07-02T10:31:43.730-05:00Farm Fresh Road Trip<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdC4WLeyGGBZTGR152OuFO14-HC07uBP8e2ABEd9ClYRuxku3B87HNKuy0R2jJh1nf8olfaTB4_wKWzJPH6U5lZdVCgnMPtATFPGRSz5-jGtXGLEfjBHXk9m9oombpjTElhx17iQ/s640/blogger-image--240596561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdC4WLeyGGBZTGR152OuFO14-HC07uBP8e2ABEd9ClYRuxku3B87HNKuy0R2jJh1nf8olfaTB4_wKWzJPH6U5lZdVCgnMPtATFPGRSz5-jGtXGLEfjBHXk9m9oombpjTElhx17iQ/s640/blogger-image--240596561.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Six kiddlets and one mama heading up to Chicago area for Independence Day weekend.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Minute 1: tan I have a snack now?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Minute 7: it takes a wong time to det to Gigi and Opa's. (Repeat every 2-3 minutes) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Minute 11: pass out multiple "pixie cups" of cheddar popcorn accompanied by threats of being tossed out the window if you spill any</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Minute 20: wait for train</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Minute 30: Burger King drive through</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Minute 36: I'm hungry, tan I have a snack now? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Minute 49: enter expressway with very minimal exits and much construction and no shoulder</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Minute 53: air conditioning starts blasting heat. Even shutting off fans does nothing to stop it. Roll down windows, hope for the best. There is NO WHERE to pull over. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Minute 58: three year old, red in the face and exquisitely in pain begins scream crying "top on the side of the road to doe peepee and poopoo!!"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Minute 59: thankfully see a sign declaring we are not far from the only exit for another 35 miles because there is no way to pull over in the construction and traffic </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Minutes 59-65: Hold it baby, can you hold it? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Big brother: just pee in your seat! Hahahaha!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Minute 60: Nine <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">year old, red in the face and exquisitely in pain begins scream crying, because of a leg cramp</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Minute 66: baby wakes up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Minutes 66-80: Take kids into gas station by turns. Deny requests to buy fireworks, toy cars and snacks. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Minute 85: return to tollway. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Minute 86: I'm hungry. May I have a snack? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Minute 87: is it my turn with the kindle yet? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Minute 88: miraculously, shutting off Suburban has fixed the heating issue, at least temporarily, and air conditioning works once again and we can roll up the windows.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Minute 88-120: negotiations for Kindle turns, drinks of water, much conversation and laughter and "It take a wong time to det to Gigi and Opa's house": arm in backseat stroking baby's head</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Minute 100: Cadrian gave Denton the Kindle so he could play Math V. Zombies, but only after he used up all the bullets so poor five year old had to do too hard of math problems for him in order to get more bullets. For some reason this made me laugh hysterically. Aviana to the rescue--provided him with a well stocked arsenal.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Minute 115: finally stop laughing. Hysteria may have other sources... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Minute 121: let boys in third row have popcorn bag</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Minute 121:30: uhoh!--the popcorn dropped all over the floor and seat</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Minutes 122 continued: feverishly feed baby grapes to keep her quiet. She bites into them, eats their guts, spits out the outsides. Don't care. At least she's not crying.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRYoDuGT-loifrhhhmYwfNK9mHjHCQwhWwUr7JA54pRmfHBXFTdAM2daaC_XYqZ8hiAJcV5_rBm6xO-MRqp0XlLQ1PcQ-rNecnPCWPRSaB6P0erNqC0HPL5uT9UvTxNNz_gklESg/s640/blogger-image-794562878.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRYoDuGT-loifrhhhmYwfNK9mHjHCQwhWwUr7JA54pRmfHBXFTdAM2daaC_XYqZ8hiAJcV5_rBm6xO-MRqp0XlLQ1PcQ-rNecnPCWPRSaB6P0erNqC0HPL5uT9UvTxNNz_gklESg/s640/blogger-image-794562878.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Minutes 123 continued: everyone gets louder and louder the heavier the traffic gets and the closer we get to our destination. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Minutes 125 and on: Jokes like: why did the cow cross the road? To get to the other side. Why did the calf cross the road? Because he was nursing his mama</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Minutes 126 and on: Brielle texts my friends with video of crying baby. And texts whomever will text her back</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Minutes 127 and on: children wave exuberantly at fellow drivers and shout things they thankfully (hopefully) can't hear like "hey lady! You're fired!" </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Minute 140: notice phone battery (and therefore GPS directions) is getting dangerously low. Charger in a bag in the way back. Carry on bravely. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Minute 145 and on: childish jabber noise and intermittent baby fussing accompanied by the constant pinging, baaing, and general noise of Elivette's Todo Math game </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">(Don't forget the "it takes a Wong time to det to Gigi and Opa's house!" Every few minutes)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Minute 183: ARRIVE AT DESTINATION </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Now it's "how wong befowre Uncwle Torydon dets hewre?"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Clean out popcorn, grapes, at least half a pint of blueberries, and an entire garbage bag of trash. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Ahh. We're here. </div><br></div><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02414405825215814113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25711246.post-54280638572106990642016-06-23T15:08:00.001-05:002016-06-23T22:32:19.021-05:00Stitch Fix #2<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfMI97ShVDd6sWHvupOU0aUtizJVWi5rkrzos-LN94W4k_BUDhZeanJe1OWtkJp6DUYaKkrGkPuBfzbZlarL3z4wmVMTveHAJtqRkhDO6Pw1PVOmjytJSi4Q3ihnR-RMOKJdkDZQ/s640/blogger-image--1520884565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfMI97ShVDd6sWHvupOU0aUtizJVWi5rkrzos-LN94W4k_BUDhZeanJe1OWtkJp6DUYaKkrGkPuBfzbZlarL3z4wmVMTveHAJtqRkhDO6Pw1PVOmjytJSi4Q3ihnR-RMOKJdkDZQ/s640/blogger-image--1520884565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpyokvztWHRHAjVMlYKgKbcajhrlVoscLZAF7i-vUDZ7HFdQkGNqk4XnSZZ3OwBa2PuwHWCxGky__UbbfdSqOxc2deUIVwjVTjeYTJJlymm4Xz7_8NP_gDAO0Wl-RNIkqw6xjMA/s640/blogger-image-1300534390.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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Stitch Fix is my favorite. I did my first Fix six months ago and liked all the items I received. I felt so pampered. Retail shopping is something I rarely, if ever, do and Stitch Fix fits nicely into my life. </div>
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You fill out a form to let them know what you like, about your lifestyle, and preferences in color and items. Having a fashion Pinterest board is helpful so your stylist can get an idea of what your tastes are. (Here's mine:<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_925931429"> </a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://pin.it/KfI3CjD">http://pin.it/KfI3CjD</a>) </span></div>
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I was excited that I got two referral bonuses to use ($25 each) and in addition if you keep all five items they choose for you, you get 25% off! </div>
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It costs $20 as a styling fee, but if you keep an item, you get it taken off your order. These items averaged $30 after the discounts. </div>
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Now with the basics out of the way here's what I got:</div>
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Elaine Ikat Print Pocket Front Knit Tee</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpyokvztWHRHAjVMlYKgKbcajhrlVoscLZAF7i-vUDZ7HFdQkGNqk4XnSZZ3OwBa2PuwHWCxGky__UbbfdSqOxc2deUIVwjVTjeYTJJlymm4Xz7_8NP_gDAO0Wl-RNIkqw6xjMA/s640/blogger-image-1300534390.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqlxm-yxB4S_kqrDcFp6jwQuZhWaeuQDZKQQBFuj9wuS2qsi6HK88OKmfcvmHS3mE7BtbWat31CoWNEXgvrjk9B2xl3q7zTl7b6vOtYS_xX0xxZ0ZKs883igUEf3O80Z8dpuTB5A/s640/blogger-image-1564554630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqlxm-yxB4S_kqrDcFp6jwQuZhWaeuQDZKQQBFuj9wuS2qsi6HK88OKmfcvmHS3mE7BtbWat31CoWNEXgvrjk9B2xl3q7zTl7b6vOtYS_xX0xxZ0ZKs883igUEf3O80Z8dpuTB5A/s640/blogger-image-1564554630.jpg"></a></div>
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I would never have picked out either the color or the pattern, but I really like it. It's extraordinarily soft and will dress up if I want. The light color is more of a light blue than is showing in the picture.</div>
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Banzai Twist Detail Top</div>
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This is a dressier fabric that I would worry about spilling on or the kids goobering, so this is strictly a going out of the house shirt. I don't own anything green either, so I am surprised how much I like it. The twisty neck is a fun detail, and I could still wear a necklace with it. </div>
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Montgomery Cross Front Top</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVlWizvMKmnLcKVaFmbEWuDOl1dXceZu3XNHzgYEDL7ehTI2Oe979Iwzw1eYBh_DmCC5Me5mIF7sJB_T2SddpBmYaig_XYG3TXaKMxnfRppCXkLT3q8dgnBrjUTClBZfTBV7uFg/s640/blogger-image-1332944744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVlWizvMKmnLcKVaFmbEWuDOl1dXceZu3XNHzgYEDL7ehTI2Oe979Iwzw1eYBh_DmCC5Me5mIF7sJB_T2SddpBmYaig_XYG3TXaKMxnfRppCXkLT3q8dgnBrjUTClBZfTBV7uFg/s640/blogger-image-1332944744.jpg"></a></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This is a knit fabric, also incredibly soft and, I think, quite flattering and nursing friendly</span></div>
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Halle Printed Flare Skirt<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgurooRX20pzwxhyoj9Tde_HQgkgbrhd29OFP86ifuIZMuhQDvYpFw7eZh2mPCMnYAW6-PjmRAi9_kLdsjys7LaJ63LZg-egeWdlHazhNgaLjMZbsL2a4Ec9hlAy8z8Z7dQI4dXPg/s640/blogger-image-569924076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgurooRX20pzwxhyoj9Tde_HQgkgbrhd29OFP86ifuIZMuhQDvYpFw7eZh2mPCMnYAW6-PjmRAi9_kLdsjys7LaJ63LZg-egeWdlHazhNgaLjMZbsL2a4Ec9hlAy8z8Z7dQI4dXPg/s640/blogger-image-569924076.jpg"></a></div>
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I really love this skirt. It's got a vintage feel in both feel and pattern. I have one almost like it with polka dots. It has the unfortunate flaw of being a bit too snug and not having an elastic waist. Since having all these kiddos, I am all about the elastic waist. I may alter it so it's more comfortable, because it is definitely not an all day item as is. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhptJ84LSYRiQgGCYSw9g6T4kiegkdMabyFukFQiwaIBSAVc5cFbUYFQmi1llFZkBAOG_sQ78W-CraT-9rk-cNuH5mWYtmVJ9KV4FX1lKcwpSv5TVeoMwT9c5q39PjCBvaZHONtyA/s640/blogger-image-634506321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhptJ84LSYRiQgGCYSw9g6T4kiegkdMabyFukFQiwaIBSAVc5cFbUYFQmi1llFZkBAOG_sQ78W-CraT-9rk-cNuH5mWYtmVJ9KV4FX1lKcwpSv5TVeoMwT9c5q39PjCBvaZHONtyA/s640/blogger-image-634506321.jpg"></a></div>
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Sam Hi-Lo Short Sleeve Tee<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs4DpBB2VnwI0Jgm4NcTv8mLCd2Q4m35PpYlFhWme685ysAH-25kF8kUZ9ck0zoFztCTTWcHdyzGziQvhPAFku5fJRVvs1RYj_5kPmayDJu6yAyuDTiVeFx3-AsoAez4brK8puOA/s640/blogger-image--252549212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs4DpBB2VnwI0Jgm4NcTv8mLCd2Q4m35PpYlFhWme685ysAH-25kF8kUZ9ck0zoFztCTTWcHdyzGziQvhPAFku5fJRVvs1RYj_5kPmayDJu6yAyuDTiVeFx3-AsoAez4brK8puOA/s640/blogger-image--252549212.jpg"></a></div>
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This shirt, again, is amazingly comfortable and so soft! I'm quite tactile so that matters to me quite a lot. It is a good basic piece and a lot higher quality than what I am used to wearing. </div>
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However, it is not very forgiving. Here is what it looks like with the wrong pants and wrong bra.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxq4W4smCy0x_VDr46vggPBqF33-x_pr32TLqfsSGIUoRRICJguHG0OvN0JDylyKud41N0CFXgaEb3Sma4F-lEeotUdFGj1ebJxgA43IJ3nXrYPUy4gJTcitZEaZkz_v6bKcozg/s640/blogger-image-201868188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxq4W4smCy0x_VDr46vggPBqF33-x_pr32TLqfsSGIUoRRICJguHG0OvN0JDylyKud41N0CFXgaEb3Sma4F-lEeotUdFGj1ebJxgA43IJ3nXrYPUy4gJTcitZEaZkz_v6bKcozg/s640/blogger-image-201868188.jpg"></a></div>
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If I keep all five items, the discount basically lets me get 1 1/2 of them for free. And as an added incentive, I don't have to go to the post office! </div>
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What do you think? Would you keep them all? I need to decide by Saturday. (You have five days to decide, I just couldn't get the pictures taken and the post done right away.)</div>
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If you decide you want to try Stitch Fix, I'd be honored if you went through my link: https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/6383365</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02414405825215814113noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25711246.post-43383440044783994922016-06-10T15:36:00.001-05:002016-06-10T15:36:07.762-05:00Gentle Parenting in a Big Family<span style="font-family: inherit;">I first became committed to Gentle Parenting--parenting without threats, spanks, yelling, anger--three years ago. We always have been Attachment Parents--breastfeeding, baby wearing, cosleeping are a few of the tenets--, but I didn't understand Gentle Parenting or Peaceful Parenting, or how it could possibly "work". I even joined a Gentle Parenting board and tried to learn more, almost a decade ago, but it was not a good fit at the time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Gentle Parenting as described eloquently by L.R. Knost "is <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 23.8px;">guiding instead of controlling, connecting instead of punishing, encouraging instead of demanding. It’s about listening, understanding, responding, and communicating.” It is a concious shift away from the way I was brought up, away from what everything in my body is demanding, away from the gut center of my brain.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Gentle Parenting is, I think, a bigger challenge for me than traditional parenting because it requires more from the parent. More thought, more emotion, more connection, just more. No matter how you parent, or how many kids you have, it's hard, don't get me wrong. When I had two little daughters and I was spanking, it was hard. Now though, I have to think more about why I'm being reactive and what is going on in my child and what is the behavior trying to tell me and teach them how to problem solve at the same time I'm trying to change a diaper and spell a word and give directives and help a child and there are six of them!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I follow several Gentle Parenting pages on Facebook and it seems like they all have one or two children. It feels frustrating because they offer their good solutions, and say things like "if you...then they will..." and it just doesn't happen right away. The dynamics in a home with one or two children are very different than a home with several. I am dealing with teenagerish hormones at the same time I'm nursing a baby with four loud and active and strong children in between!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I don't think I thought this "big family thing" through very well.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXlh5_jW5tjfwSOgc4ZocigTruzA-NWK9zmuxIn-01SKxw1N11flMPSiruKhVn4nw5Hom0-kfg-tFl0lza-9GidXdXKqNWAeXLPZQJklBM19gx4BD33eO8WE5n5-ZLhlOGmrYE7g/s640/blogger-image--1456341252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXlh5_jW5tjfwSOgc4ZocigTruzA-NWK9zmuxIn-01SKxw1N11flMPSiruKhVn4nw5Hom0-kfg-tFl0lza-9GidXdXKqNWAeXLPZQJklBM19gx4BD33eO8WE5n5-ZLhlOGmrYE7g/s640/blogger-image--1456341252.jpg" /></a></div>
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It is hard to coach a small child through their big emotions. It is hard when some kid is lying stiff as a board and mad faced in the middle of the floor when everyone else is following directions and you know if you stop and help this kid through it, everyone else's well oiled machine-ing will grind to a halt. It would be so much easier to say, "Fine. If you're not going to clean up then no TV tonight." Or "Fine. If you're going to act that way, you don't get to be with the family" and physically drag that child to the corner. I know this, because even though I'm <i>committed</i> to Peaceful Parenting, I'm not perfect at it. </div>
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There is still yelling and still anger, and still fights and frustrations and upsets. The differences are dynamic though. Instead of angrily telling my child "You're acting like a brat!" (yes. I said that.) I can now angrily say, "I am so angry right now! I feel so frustrated when you hit your sister! I need to calm down! (I take some deep breaths, and ask, more calmly)What can we do differently next time?" I am teaching my children important skills when I do this.</div>
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I see a huge difference in Aviana at 3 and Elivette at 3. Elivette knows she is respected as a human being and an integral part of our family. I thought I was showing the same sorts of things to Aviana, but because I punished her when she threw tantrums, didn't allow her grace when she was angry or "disobeyed", because I honestly thought I was doing what would teach her how to be a compassionate, loving grown up. </div>
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Elivette and Aviana handle their emotions completely differently. Aviana, almost 12, has been 'gentle parented' for three years, but Elivette has known it this way her entire life. Aviana will sneak pinch or hit her sister when frustrated; Elivette will cry "I'm so mad!" and we'll work through it together and let her feel those emotions and let them dissipate. Aviana is used to stuffing them down because they weren't accepted for so much of her life. Elivette doesn't really have tantrums, because she feels heard most of the time, and knows she's accepted. Aviana threw tantrums of epic proportions. </div>
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I know a lot of it has to do with personality and I know each child is different. I don't want you to read this and think "I gentle parent and my kid still has fits. I must suck." That is NOT what I'm saying! I just know this to be true in my own family--that I am seeing the fruit of this hard work of gentle parenting these lovely chiddlers, as they grow into compassionate, loving adults.</div>
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(As an aside, I was spanked, screamed at, belittled, criticized, hurt, and more, and I still grew up to be a lovely human being. This post is not meant to give guilt trips. At. All. I'm just trying to relate how positive of a change this has been in my family, and how I am seeing delightful things happening here. )</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02414405825215814113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25711246.post-79737160493922229472016-06-07T17:06:00.000-05:002016-06-07T17:06:11.983-05:00Farm Fresh Family Update<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brielle and Finnella looking for books on CD<br />
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I haven't blogged for six months! I have lots of good reasons/excuses, depending on how you look at it. But I miss it and I enjoy it and I am doing it for me, so I'm back! It's hard to let go of expectations--like how blogging has kind of turned into article writing, and I don't always (ever) have the brain space for an <i>actual article</i>, so I felt like I couldn't compete. But with whom am I competing? And why!?<br />
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I'm learning a lot about myself and being a better self.</div>
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The Farmer: He's busy with the farm as always. He's got more cows than ever, and more feed lot cattle too. He's putting up a lot of forage (hay, rye) for the winter and to hopefully sell. He's working on spraying now. He does his best to take children with him whenever he can and to be home for dinner, or at least bedtime. As any working parent knows, it's a challenge to be pulled in a lot of different directions, and with farming, you can't leave your woes behind at the office, it's always there. Staring you in the face. Glaring at you.</div>
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The Farm Fresh Mama: I've got my hands in a lot of different pots. I've gotten back into serving my community as a doula and love holding space for mamas so they can see their own power. It's a beautiful, celestial calling.<br />
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I have more than doubled the garden this year. I'm doing Square Food Gardening and trying something new, Straw Bale Gardening. I don't think my peas are going to make it, and will have to start over with them, but everything else looks good. I've gotten a new hobby of "planning", which is writing my to do list and decorating it, and writing down what we did in quick bullet points in a composition notebook. It's a fun segue between scrapbooking and keeping track of what I need to do on the backs of kids' drawings. Writing "water garden" in my planner helps it actually get done. Funny how that works.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finnella on Memorial Day</td></tr>
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I'm doing something new with the boys for school, called Easy Peasy Homeschool. The woman who put it together did a curriculum for ALL THE GRADES, of activities to do with links added. It's amazing she did this and I am so thankful. It eliminates the problem of never being able to find the book I need. It doesn't matter how organized I am, there is always a missing book! They like being able to play games and be on the computer. <div>
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I love homeschooling and seeing their successes and the delight for learning gleam.</div>
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Aviana: This child is almost as tall as I am and it blows my mind. She weighed as much as a bag of sugar when I brought her home from the hospital and now she's looking me in my eye. IN MY EYE! She earned Memory Master again this year. I am proud of how she puts her mind to something and attains it. She's going to be a seventh grader. She plays piano and earned a spot in a special recital for students who have been given a Superior rating three years in a row at festival. She took up violin this year too and we are putting her in orchestra at the junior high. I'm feeling nervous about that, almost like sending a child off to kindergarten!</div>
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Brielle: She's as precocious and adorable as ever. She achieved Memory Master in Classical Conversations this year, as a nine year old. That is a <b>big</b> deal! She plans to do it the next two years and try for National Memory Master, which would put us on a cruise (and makes her my favorite)! I love how much she can do when she puts her mind to it! </div>
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Cadrian; My sweet boy has grown so much this year! He is reading better than ever, helps me garden, and is our chief breakfast maker. He specializes in Toad in a Hole and oatmeal. He is amazingly thoughtful and kind to me (which is why he's my favorite), and absolutely likes to stir the pot when it involves his siblings. </div>
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Denton: He is learning right along side Cadrian and often feels shuffled in the middle. He's sensitive and tough at the same time, the tough being a cover up for the sensitive. I wish people could see the sweet and sensitive easier, because it's so easy to start off going toe to toe with him. I'm so thankful I discovered what Gentle Parenting really means before he ever got spanked (because he's my favorite). It's hard enough to figure out how to help him reach his full potential with the respectful parenting tools I DO have in my arsenal. He's as bright as a brass button and full of his own ideas. </div>
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Elivette: She is talkative and adorable and loves to say "Pwetty Pwincess Pwease". She sports dresses all the time and often a tiara. She is smart as a whip and as thoughtful as you please. She has an amazing memory and astounds me with what she comes up with. Her three year old year has been so completely different than the older girls' (probably because she's my favorite). I can't help but wonder how much my parenting shift has had to do with it. She </div>
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Finnella (my favorite) has turned one! She has been taking some steps here and there. She loves being outside and in point of fact is sitting right next to me on the couch literally screaming at me because I am not taking her outside. I stood up with her just now and she stopped screaming. I took her outside and put her in the swing and she smiled. She knows what she wants and doggedly goes after it.She likes her swing in the tree the best, but will happily crawl around where ever we are. She doesn't like the feel of the sidewalk or grass so crawls on one knee and one foot. She waves, babbles like crazy, and lets you know her needs, but doesn't sign anything yet. </div>
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One more thing that I wanted to mention is how vital my mama tribe has become. I have always had friends, but in the past couple of years, I have been given the gift of people who understand my heart and my very soul in a way I haven't experienced. It has helped me become more like the person I've always wanted to be.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">D, F, E, B, A and C and me on a hike at Starved Rock State Park</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02414405825215814113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25711246.post-68129363601912109372015-12-12T16:14:00.000-06:002016-06-23T16:21:14.983-05:00Stitch Fix and more<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;">Baby Girl, Sweet Fizzy Baby, is six months old now.</span></div>
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I am starting to feel like I can do this thing, this mothering six souls thing. I am not crying every day any more and I am laughing. It feels wonderful to laugh again.<br>
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One thing that really helped is the Handsome Husband and I went on a short impromptu vacation to Las Vegas of all places. We went with another couple which just made it even better. The laughter! The being a person, not just a mom! The space in my brain!<br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finnella and me waiting to go up in the High Roller</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Farmer, Finnella and Me at Hoover Dam</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just some farmers checkin' out the big city.</td></tr>
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I've also been having a hard time because I am still wearing maternity jeans and leggings all the time. I realize I'm 40 now and this is baby #6. I know that appearance isn't everything. I know my heart and love and compassion matter more. I know all that, and yet it still bothers me that I went from my high school size pre-pregnancy to not even being able to fit into my "fat clothes" now, six months later.<br>
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I heard about Stitch Fix and thought it might help my self view a little bit to have some nicer things to put on this amazingly capable, mama strong body. I decided to join Stitch Fix because I never have time to shop for myself. I'm only just now leaving the baby with her dada for any length of time. Stitch Fix is an on line stylist/personal shopper. You fill out a detailed profile for yourself, noting what styles you like and any details you think would be pertinent, such as needing access to be able to breast feed, or a preference for no holey pants.<br>
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I also like that it's completely free to join and there is no commitment. I signed up to just try one fix, although you can do it monthly if you want to. There is a $20 styling fee that you only have to pay if you don't keep anything from your order. If you keep all five of the items they send, you get a 25% discount. Since I'm almost exclusively a Goodwill shopper, the prices are definitely high for me. I hardly have anything in my closet I bought new.<br>
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I got my first Fix on Tuesday, unfortunately when I was sick in bed and couldn't even bring myself to open the box. I tried on the items yesterday and decided to keep all five because the discount was equivalent to getting one of the shirts free. One interesting thing about my Fix was that I wouldn't have even tried on most of these items if I were in the store and saw them on the rack.<br>
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This is a navy asymmetrical cardigan and infinity scarf. The cardigan makes me appear to have a waist :) and the pop of pink in the scarf matches almost everything in my closet and keeps me warm.<br>
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This is a grey crochet inset shirt. The fabric is "nicer" than what I usually wear (nearly always tee shirt fabric). The cut isn't super flattering but I really like the details and the fancy feel of the fabric.<br>
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This is a charcoal extraordinarily soft tee shirt. Business up front, party in the back! It's perfect for accessorizing with something, perhaps a bold necklace or a scarf.<br>
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I wasn't too keen on a tank top in my December Fix, but I thought maybe I could wear it under a jacket or cardigan and I would be warm enough. My sister-in-law does this all the time, so maybe it will work for me too. Nevertheless, I can wear it in the summer because I love the scalloped hem, the gathering at the yoke, and the button detail in the back.<br>
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If Stitch Fix is something you would like to try, I'd love it if you used my referral link!<br>
<a href="https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/6383365">https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/6383365</a><br>
<br>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02414405825215814113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25711246.post-47518502225449166662015-12-01T16:19:00.000-06:002016-06-10T15:36:42.126-05:00Birth prayer banner making written by Brielle, age 8<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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We have been making birth affirmations the past few days.the first day we made water color paintings with my mom, Rose Hains, and Lydia Hains.<br />
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then that night I wrote calligraphy on them.what?!?!?!?!?!?!? You say that's NOT calligraphy?!?!? Ok fine. it's not ACTUAL calligraphy, but My brain is Too tired to do ACTUAL calligraphy at the end of the day. Then that morning Brielle made them into banners.don't you like the pattern? The thing is that we ran out of the white ribbon, THEN we ran out of the pink ribbon.<br />
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We still have more to do. last night Brielle wanted to do more, but I said no.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02414405825215814113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25711246.post-26841175958711555592015-11-29T16:18:00.000-06:002016-06-10T15:37:03.584-05:00The FarmerHappy Anniversary!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">December 2009</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hard at work, as usual</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He walks in the house and we hand him a baby<br />
Finnella at a few weeks old</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02414405825215814113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25711246.post-26415444329490312002015-08-24T21:36:00.002-05:002015-08-24T21:36:41.641-05:00Farm Fresh Birth and Birth Boot CampI have a new business page! <a href="http://www.farmfreshbirth.com/">www.farmfreshbirth.com</a><br />
<br />
I recently got certified as a Birth Boot Camp childbirth educator. I am thrilled about this new endeavor. Share this information with anyone you know who is expecting this winter.<br />
<br />
Birth Boot Camp will help you prepare for the event of a lifetime! <a href="http://farmfreshbirth.com/birth-boot-camp-farm-fresh-birth-services/" target="_blank">The sign up is located here.</a><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02414405825215814113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25711246.post-30164320768961201002015-07-07T20:39:00.000-05:002015-07-07T20:41:01.687-05:00The Perfect Home Birth of Finnella Blessing: The Movie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-OTWfA9MDDM/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-OTWfA9MDDM?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02414405825215814113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25711246.post-89976444116778119482015-07-07T20:35:00.003-05:002015-07-07T20:35:33.375-05:00The Perfect Home Birth of Finnella BlessingMay 31: I had been getting more and more tired of being pregnant and trying different tricks that might get labor going for several days. Of course it was nothing drastic as my due date wasn't until 9 June. When Kevin and I went to bed that night, he noticed I had a "piddle pad" a reusable thick cloth pad one could use for incontinence; we used them for changing pads for the wee ones. He was teasing me about it; but I pointed out that my water broke as my first labor symptom with Elivette and I wanted to be safe, in case that happened this pregnancy too, I knew only about 15% of labors start with breaking waters, but maybe it would bring me luck. Unfortunately, I'd been sleeping on it for several days too, and it had done <i>nothing</i> to start labor. ;)<br />
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We had been in bed for a while, and were still in that drowsy awake stage of pre-sleep when suddenly, I felt a tiny "flick", and boom: the precautionary mama cloth I was wearing, my pajamas, the piddle pad and the mattress pad were all soaked! Guess who was glad I had preemptively protected the mattress now!<br />
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I knew it could be a while before contractions started, but I went ahead and texted my midwives and the people who had promised to be in prayer for us, around midnight. I was excited and jittery and found it hard to get to sleep. I got a surprising number of replies too, which helped keep my mind calmer. I'm thankful for my night owl friends.<br />
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I woke up around 7 as usual, and no more signs of labor, just the occasional gush of amniotic fluid reminding me how I wasn't laboring. By 10, I was starting to get resigned to the fact labor was not going to happen, and frustrated about it. My mother-in-law picked up the three youngest and the girls and I kept busy around the house. We went for a walk down to the lake about 1/2 mile from our house. It was pretty and peaceful and I would have stayed there most of the day if not for a heavily pregnant woman's need to relieve herself frequently and the fishermen I wouldn't want to see me do so. We trundled back to the house and relaxed a little.<br />
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At lunchtime, Kevin wondered if he and Aviana could drive a few hours to go pick up the milking LaMancha goat he found on Craigslist. I said they may as well, since I wasn't going to have the baby. My midwife thought it was possible it wasn't my actual amniotic sac that ruptured, but the forebag. She also thought that perhaps it wasn't amniotic fluid at all, but pee. I was positive THAT wasn't the case. A friend,meaning to be helpful, bless her heart, told me she had gone to the hospital one day thinking her daughter would be born, and she wasn't born for 17 more days. And my discouragement grew.<br />
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I posted on Facebook , "We aren't having a baby, but we are getting a milk goat, so yay." The support and solace my friends offered were bountiful. My photographer and friend, Kelcy, commented that there was still plenty of day left, and that made me feel a little better.<br />
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At 3ish, I felt a twinge of <b>something</b>. A dozen minutes later, definitely, <b>something. </b>I put the first birthing wave in my contraction app at 3:30. I texted my midwives again. Kathy lives an hour away and I'm not known for long drug out labors. Sarah, my midwife's assistant and friend and I chatted for a while. While we were going back and forth, my uterus amped up. Now the waves were about five minutes apart. I told her I would feel more comfortable if she were with me. She texted back, "ME TOO!" A little later she told me she would leave as soon as her husband got home from getting a chicken.<br />
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Meanwhile, Kevin was still 45 minutes away from home after picking up the goat.<br />
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Kevin got home eventually, and he started filling up the birth tub. Sarah arrived soon after, much to my relief. Aviana felt strongly that JuneBug, the goat, needed milked then and there. Since I had the tub ready now, and Sarah was with me, I was ok with that. The contractions were coming right on top of one another. Getting in the tub spaced out the contractions so I was able to have some breath of a break; I was amazed at how the water helped!<br />
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During the time they were down at the barn, I had a contraction that was 'different', one that made me feel if Kevin and Aviana didn't hurry up with that goat, they were going to miss Fizzy Baby's arrival!<br />
My good friend Karen arrived. She was here as support for the girls. We wanted someone to specifically be with them, in case of anything going awry especially. She was absolutely perfect in her role, and supported anyone who needed her. She and Brielle went downstairs to get some fruit ready to snack on. The watermelon tasted wonderful. It was the first time I had ever eaten in labor.<br />
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Close to 6, I told Sarah she had better tell Kelcy she had better come. She texted back, "I can see your house." I asked her if she would braid my hair, as it was starting to get wet and was all in my face annoying me.<br />
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It was such a peace filled, calm hour. Aviana tried to read some Baby Blues comics to me when Wanda was giving birth. It was amusing for a while, but quickly got to the point where I needed it to stop. I had some praise music playing. The birth affirmations were hung on the mantel so I could read them, and I would think of one when a birth wave came on, over and over again as a meditation.<br />
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It wasn't long before things started to intensify incredibly. A few days before, I had watched a mare give birth out in the open air. It was beauty to behold. She would get up, turn around a few times, and then lie back down again. I found myself sort of spinning around in the tub, and thinking of that mare. <br />
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The mare was so composed and tranquil. I was starting to get noisier, but I felt like that mare. I never once felt scared or worried or out of control. With all of my other births, there was at the very least one moment, if not a whole scene, where I felt tumultuous.<br />
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A couple of times, as a birth wave crescendoed, I started to say "no" and then I caught myself and released myself into the passionate force of the moment. Being able to do that, being given the safe space, being surrounded by love and prayers, being completely mentally comfortable, was awe striking.<br />
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Soon, my birthing waves changed and my body needed to start pushing Fizzy Baby. There was no one moment of "Now, I shall push." It was a gradual buildup and I didn't really notice exactly when it was different. I never got checked to see if I was complete. No one told me what to do. Everyone just supported me and held me emotionally.<br />
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I had my hand on her head, and could feel as she began to come out into the world. This was a wonder-filled stage for me. I had never felt as in control before, so aware and internally calm.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-S_yXvDDm9Cw7jMLYy6X5VVQpofppFfsGayIJF5sKlL98S2Z8YUNRSUh9biz_j6_J-4Nq2EVrlIsIEkkDSpBGasKvxTTTWmULwahzl9G-l8ozZ71nTynkUIH12TalSetx6TL9Q/s1600/Finnella+Birth_069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-S_yXvDDm9Cw7jMLYy6X5VVQpofppFfsGayIJF5sKlL98S2Z8YUNRSUh9biz_j6_J-4Nq2EVrlIsIEkkDSpBGasKvxTTTWmULwahzl9G-l8ozZ71nTynkUIH12TalSetx6TL9Q/s320/Finnella+Birth_069.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I have seen several <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgZ5z6RB06c" target="_blank">videos depicting the mechanics of birth</a><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> (start watching about 1:40)</span> and knew cognitively what was happening. Now I could <i>feel </i>it happening to my own baby, under my own guidance, under my own hand! I could feel her head molding. I felt her head turn and then her shoulders slide out, and then she was here!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPcjoWpjwLMMQdqBrNmgRahcOdr3VbHzhG0muMgqD-kZnSO9GVp6Jk69GvxtsgdffASeY8WsqrcpCmYp7sGehDQWwHJyq_0q32O1k5QcFU_Y-JgUydXtxdqCL9hP5iv43_zdOkXA/s1600/Finnella+Birth_118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPcjoWpjwLMMQdqBrNmgRahcOdr3VbHzhG0muMgqD-kZnSO9GVp6Jk69GvxtsgdffASeY8WsqrcpCmYp7sGehDQWwHJyq_0q32O1k5QcFU_Y-JgUydXtxdqCL9hP5iv43_zdOkXA/s320/Finnella+Birth_118.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBc6-r83uNaBM_4esARL8AyAy5GiNT9sniCL7jjeUgnk4K8pvzjsRWcRtX3VwfERd8Tvl9iV82ZXvaWT8ifHhQ7BoZti-EsrA_pGdeeUkqxwpAUwEU9fVIfI3BxsawS0oqwiM2oQ/s1600/Finnella+Birth_129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBc6-r83uNaBM_4esARL8AyAy5GiNT9sniCL7jjeUgnk4K8pvzjsRWcRtX3VwfERd8Tvl9iV82ZXvaWT8ifHhQ7BoZti-EsrA_pGdeeUkqxwpAUwEU9fVIfI3BxsawS0oqwiM2oQ/s320/Finnella+Birth_129.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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She didn't even cry at first, just opened her eyes and looked at me, and gazed around at her new world. It was astonishing to see her be so peaceful and placid.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRAFHEUUWdU09-YTf3uNeLzHRHQ03zZ6Q9qTNJ-_KBPypw4Cc_dVchm1LsphxURXuZtkEEB_kZkPxe17HjmP3Oqhe6Lm3oyEWrMrCrqLof9QUIfaEpeBMiXVFAiNxcvVsBP5-dqw/s1600/Finnella+Birth_147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRAFHEUUWdU09-YTf3uNeLzHRHQ03zZ6Q9qTNJ-_KBPypw4Cc_dVchm1LsphxURXuZtkEEB_kZkPxe17HjmP3Oqhe6Lm3oyEWrMrCrqLof9QUIfaEpeBMiXVFAiNxcvVsBP5-dqw/s320/Finnella+Birth_147.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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My legs started aching and shaking immediately after she was born, and I started whining about soon after that. Somehow they managed to get me out of the tub, and into bed. There I delivered the placenta. Kathy assisted Aviana in its delivery. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWLD1rDxx1tWpjNS5QPZHSCTTYNraZri810PyAZkq1qaijx1OvYT8M4tgytgvZjQRGKa87JhjmOBelzjWozgPYdhx1yyP99ONKrN2wMKCOkJdTViy-2hpDqPSOU-X5SMJgBAb1A/s1600/Finnella+Birth_168+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWLD1rDxx1tWpjNS5QPZHSCTTYNraZri810PyAZkq1qaijx1OvYT8M4tgytgvZjQRGKa87JhjmOBelzjWozgPYdhx1yyP99ONKrN2wMKCOkJdTViy-2hpDqPSOU-X5SMJgBAb1A/s320/Finnella+Birth_168+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finnella-- heart-- placenta</td></tr>
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Brielle then cut the cord, and Finnella was forever her own person.</div>
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We all fell immediately and irrevocably in love.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF_cylirdghBvXEZ-71jFpS5BrJygeOKLFdCNQoOkBYc5WJi4VBBFcITA_kQG9pYLkKS6kSopir_5ECceS10Byth3zxE2i_MT92-x0uqiBzHHIjFjMzLIfCPn1B2F37ImpO9TV7g/s1600/Finnella+Birth_176.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF_cylirdghBvXEZ-71jFpS5BrJygeOKLFdCNQoOkBYc5WJi4VBBFcITA_kQG9pYLkKS6kSopir_5ECceS10Byth3zxE2i_MT92-x0uqiBzHHIjFjMzLIfCPn1B2F37ImpO9TV7g/s320/Finnella+Birth_176.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLZpuM09eftHfGPxEb3_y4Kho8O_KXMMzh2tjvjscZR3eiYi-P6symfuzrO03OBDFtzWkfrSQON9UcGvsjiAXO3eCsxajW8Y75dwHI8X8zDKBW4peLU3YEhvOvi7wq1OftfAftg/s1600/Finnella+Birth_178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLZpuM09eftHfGPxEb3_y4Kho8O_KXMMzh2tjvjscZR3eiYi-P6symfuzrO03OBDFtzWkfrSQON9UcGvsjiAXO3eCsxajW8Y75dwHI8X8zDKBW4peLU3YEhvOvi7wq1OftfAftg/s320/Finnella+Birth_178.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi134Jc-2XsD8BLdIuVtdD0zPUBNBaq3UMv5QXT9nEqP2LEuMs0g8xmecEmmepb4vXsj7wkJ5A9_n_LXmAe3aH-Xm8vA3HBohoVwDezAstTrB3u0wAquJx3_bRsX9yTvb9MlKSo6A/s1600/Finnella+Birth_181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi134Jc-2XsD8BLdIuVtdD0zPUBNBaq3UMv5QXT9nEqP2LEuMs0g8xmecEmmepb4vXsj7wkJ5A9_n_LXmAe3aH-Xm8vA3HBohoVwDezAstTrB3u0wAquJx3_bRsX9yTvb9MlKSo6A/s320/Finnella+Birth_181.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3QvXFe-jQa5CowlKYwMqFB0Iw30le6a8O9xB2wJsRbR43P__887zRmDPGRhRpYi5V25xrVSoVeUwZVUI1K483eB3bursedsXyu9l1wcUIKEyRZ43Do_bcVic4zyiO1O2XQd1lzw/s1600/Finnella+Birth_210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3QvXFe-jQa5CowlKYwMqFB0Iw30le6a8O9xB2wJsRbR43P__887zRmDPGRhRpYi5V25xrVSoVeUwZVUI1K483eB3bursedsXyu9l1wcUIKEyRZ43Do_bcVic4zyiO1O2XQd1lzw/s320/Finnella+Birth_210.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ2Oh6MlR6bDYyWGvx-OQL90yIT30uVWPQL7ZKXKVgYlPo-DBUtrzxXoqYHN49ZtL9ICfZ7DkPzvSlLL5EXqb3Wovi2-2M6lI1CZEru3Dhbx8gfGJa79O9yrmMbcazQFeP3TJFfQ/s1600/Finnella+Birth_212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ2Oh6MlR6bDYyWGvx-OQL90yIT30uVWPQL7ZKXKVgYlPo-DBUtrzxXoqYHN49ZtL9ICfZ7DkPzvSlLL5EXqb3Wovi2-2M6lI1CZEru3Dhbx8gfGJa79O9yrmMbcazQFeP3TJFfQ/s320/Finnella+Birth_212.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiET1JW5uCRsjZRqcFN3D0oIvrha4Qm1ASm8UywTZ1Bgm-wX6HC_w9_hSy2fFTm6igEOSLLR3QdwA-liYC3s2ShBk7Lo-QgpWrBfUAuksv970a0YXHzq-OCypvt4X04ET9Ve41Muw/s1600/Finnella+Birth_224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiET1JW5uCRsjZRqcFN3D0oIvrha4Qm1ASm8UywTZ1Bgm-wX6HC_w9_hSy2fFTm6igEOSLLR3QdwA-liYC3s2ShBk7Lo-QgpWrBfUAuksv970a0YXHzq-OCypvt4X04ET9Ve41Muw/s320/Finnella+Birth_224.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Our phenomenal midwives.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4TsZFxXcZorBS6TdvDme9JkGcz69BzOtDizJAApQ3HaoNqyXVHrGAqTUD4AYzRd4FUBGlD4wiO1LOjmacwMnZqjaKpQM9AMSgfOiz_vbhnxHQcqVoLzEAioqLQoNa3oVnmyxpQ/s1600/Finnella+Birth_235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4TsZFxXcZorBS6TdvDme9JkGcz69BzOtDizJAApQ3HaoNqyXVHrGAqTUD4AYzRd4FUBGlD4wiO1LOjmacwMnZqjaKpQM9AMSgfOiz_vbhnxHQcqVoLzEAioqLQoNa3oVnmyxpQ/s320/Finnella+Birth_235.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02414405825215814113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25711246.post-42310922964330673532015-06-30T17:45:00.001-05:002015-06-30T17:45:52.246-05:00Finnella Blessing 29 days old<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHIG0Qcm8YR1Y-_JBn7rJyBwdhTaMZ3D7Xv-MGrRwk65qUzQSZa3tO8ATdGXGI9msh7msBrQdo9LAzmGSX_hmkJdQO7qTy6pfGFWTtV4V5dgbryfsceVDmD9Myrr2Q5jn_iq6K-g/s640/blogger-image-1206743903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHIG0Qcm8YR1Y-_JBn7rJyBwdhTaMZ3D7Xv-MGrRwk65qUzQSZa3tO8ATdGXGI9msh7msBrQdo9LAzmGSX_hmkJdQO7qTy6pfGFWTtV4V5dgbryfsceVDmD9Myrr2Q5jn_iq6K-g/s640/blogger-image-1206743903.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My sweet little Finnella will be one month old tomorrow! I am having a hard time believing that little statistic as far as she is concerned. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">As for me, I am definitely feeling more like a human and less like a blubbering ball of baby fat and boobage. I even briefly considered going for an energetic walk this morning. Then I thought better of it and had a second cup of coffee. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Intellectually and creatively, I am bouncing back as well. I still can't be counted on to remember things like feeding other people's cats or who is taking Aviana to piano, but I finished up all my reading and study guide for my upcoming Birth Boot Camp Instructor training and yesterday Brielle and I painted these:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFeI2lp9O_9jQ8OgX4jg5okNlbWSLE6cvxePvkFEpy0pIy_qrEk8XgpfaF22XqKzv7ZAGfiD554Xul6Zsoup6fPdiUyrpQ7VtRUHo_lp-P_gpiJxgY-nFADQvYlyBds525lDIhag/s640/blogger-image--1937648812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFeI2lp9O_9jQ8OgX4jg5okNlbWSLE6cvxePvkFEpy0pIy_qrEk8XgpfaF22XqKzv7ZAGfiD554Xul6Zsoup6fPdiUyrpQ7VtRUHo_lp-P_gpiJxgY-nFADQvYlyBds525lDIhag/s640/blogger-image--1937648812.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Nursing is going MUCH better. In fact, on Sunday, she nursed in the wrap while I walked around grocery shopping. That felt pretty monumental. I can read while she nursed now and have read a couple of pretty good books this month. You should find me on GoodReads! I am thankful nursing has stopped requiring all of my concentration. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I handle being with the kids by myself pretty well. If the big girls have done their jobs, and are just sitting there reading, I pass off Finnella to them. It seems like a win-win :). Today a friend needed some help and so she brought her two boys over, and I had eight kiddos here! It worked out in my favor though because I can be a broken record with my own boys, "go outside. Go outside. Go. OUT. Side!" But when they have friends here, they will play out there unbidden for days.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Finnella doesn't really do much to report, just the baby basics: eat, exit what she ate, cry, sleep, repeat. She did make it all the way <i>into </i>town today without crying, not all the way to our destination, but still, progress. She recognizes me; if she is crying in somone else's arms, when I take her she almost always quiets immediately--at least momentarily. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I think the other children have adjusted now, at least for the most part. We are finding our new normal, and it is good.</div><br></div><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02414405825215814113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25711246.post-81188879599609330272015-06-10T20:18:00.001-05:002015-06-10T20:18:35.042-05:00Finnella Blessing: Nine Days Old<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj98t3m2Y-b9_4ThHzVWi6ci6g0UO95jbzBNHGGh3vnIT62cg7JYhc3rcab1YG8XpqkjmqngOyZ781n5WOsOvJ3aBJF6FqiWY-c7YwIP4ZCQ_DsKurquHQ97KKSQDLtyKtCtKNCvQ/s640/blogger-image--1569208810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj98t3m2Y-b9_4ThHzVWi6ci6g0UO95jbzBNHGGh3vnIT62cg7JYhc3rcab1YG8XpqkjmqngOyZ781n5WOsOvJ3aBJF6FqiWY-c7YwIP4ZCQ_DsKurquHQ97KKSQDLtyKtCtKNCvQ/s640/blogger-image--1569208810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">What an absolutely wonderful day. I am so thankful for my family, and the amazing people who are in my life.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I was home by myself with all six chiddlers all morning. And it was genuinely good. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I sat outside and made them pull weeds and various tasks amid much push back. When I got fed up with the contrariness, I went in and did my hair and nursed that baby. It is going SO much better. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Cadrian made lunch. Then Finnella woke up and Brielle took care of her, while I fixed Aviana's hair and finished getting ready for our newborn photos. I am so thrilled to see them. My friend and photographer is so talented! I was bummed Kevin had to bale hay so he couldn't be in any, but she is going to come over next week for a quick family session. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj98t3m2Y-b9_4ThHzVWi6ci6g0UO95jbzBNHGGh3vnIT62cg7JYhc3rcab1YG8XpqkjmqngOyZ781n5WOsOvJ3aBJF6FqiWY-c7YwIP4ZCQ_DsKurquHQ97KKSQDLtyKtCtKNCvQ/s640/blogger-image--1569208810.jpg"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> Brielle went with me and helped immensely--even though she got a little bored. We ran some errands. Our librarians were excited to meet our Fizzy Baby and thoroughly and properly admired her. Brielle ran into the grocer store for me and then we stopped at Dollar General where we bought nothing that was on our list and several things that weren't. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We got home just in time to eat a simply delicious meal a dear friend brought over and strawberry pie my mother-in-law dropped off.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHk3L91fl5zEPrSTcyPrY05R2s8OqGGwamQthoHP3Rv4J7fssXJ0XugOCqHzTciLYKZ42yFTpZ42oaRBAaMHpMWq3YZFQwII_9W6eSUjGTpuV8K-hEIaQgFL2RIscazMLRzpN2A/s640/blogger-image--1142732413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHk3L91fl5zEPrSTcyPrY05R2s8OqGGwamQthoHP3Rv4J7fssXJ0XugOCqHzTciLYKZ42yFTpZ42oaRBAaMHpMWq3YZFQwII_9W6eSUjGTpuV8K-hEIaQgFL2RIscazMLRzpN2A/s640/blogger-image--1142732413.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And in time to get a giant fox snake out of our garage. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDP4ojvSboHUp-kd3qJCxuwypHpUAOAhSSN97PYSgw77RyqLbuVLqbB00vVW21tQzsQXmVLjV3_ZwLvxQfTvow14iXUxPSJ8c6fR5UvGXqY7VtlwGVrOMKBtAsKZOUbffJTeXIxA/s640/blogger-image--900065351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDP4ojvSboHUp-kd3qJCxuwypHpUAOAhSSN97PYSgw77RyqLbuVLqbB00vVW21tQzsQXmVLjV3_ZwLvxQfTvow14iXUxPSJ8c6fR5UvGXqY7VtlwGVrOMKBtAsKZOUbffJTeXIxA/s640/blogger-image--900065351.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnVr8JlDV_Np-TvosAECwlFxXp57O2MCeRh9X2UUmT9oBa3f-Q9dAYZ5l1wngCLscShHls0r8ibr0XC01TZJBwsIQR-0RmpVd39MrAqqDRSU0Bu4dr-zDxouSin7syDvSrr_YIRQ/s640/blogger-image-349099042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnVr8JlDV_Np-TvosAECwlFxXp57O2MCeRh9X2UUmT9oBa3f-Q9dAYZ5l1wngCLscShHls0r8ibr0XC01TZJBwsIQR-0RmpVd39MrAqqDRSU0Bu4dr-zDxouSin7syDvSrr_YIRQ/s640/blogger-image-349099042.jpg"></a></div><br></div>The children are all in bed, Finnella is sleeping in my arms and the Farmer just got home. Now it is time to rest and settle in with my honeys. Big day!</div><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02414405825215814113noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25711246.post-55606347383525041712015-05-24T16:02:00.001-05:002015-05-24T16:02:05.314-05:00The Birth PauseI wanted to share this link with you. It was so encouraging and freeing for me. I cried all the way through this article (which isn't really saying a whole lot at this point because yesterday I cried that Kevin wanted to do hot dogs in the fire pit...don't even ask...I'm a crazy person right now). Truly though, this article blessed me so much. May it also bless you.<div><br></div><div>http://www.thebirthpause.com/p/the-birth-pause.html?spref=fb&m=1<br><div><br></div><div><br><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Qa5JHw6Rgrg473MEMtQUtaICmsfCllywHoylEW9mGIUwpR-YaCu0M_jIQGlsWXNKLNSI8AOsA3wxZVSReOeXyCMd6l9ENSrgEWfzQm4KvGAwQVMjVYVRjU_D7OBd7BzZw0ulig/s640/blogger-image-206549069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Qa5JHw6Rgrg473MEMtQUtaICmsfCllywHoylEW9mGIUwpR-YaCu0M_jIQGlsWXNKLNSI8AOsA3wxZVSReOeXyCMd6l9ENSrgEWfzQm4KvGAwQVMjVYVRjU_D7OBd7BzZw0ulig/s640/blogger-image-206549069.jpg"></a></div>I have always felt so guilty about this photo--my sweet seconds old Denton Leroyce. I still have the placenta inside of me, and his cord was really short, so I couldn't hold him up to my chest like I was "supposed" to. I was completely overwhelmed by all the aspects of birth--pushing, finding out he was a boy before I was ready to know, the slippery-ness of the chux pads-- all of it. But even though I joke about letting him lie on the floor for his first few minutes of life, I have felt that guilt: guilt that I don't have the euphoric birth look, that I am not even able to touch him, that I am "selfishly" drinking my water instead of being awed by my baby. Then I read this article today, and it moved my soul. </div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02414405825215814113noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25711246.post-23082660785829325982015-04-23T12:26:00.001-05:002015-04-23T12:46:27.788-05:00How to Boil an Egg<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I have been boiling eggs for a long while and have tried ALL the methods --or so I thought-- to get eggs to peel easily. I reasoned I had a pretty good handle on this most basic of kitchen cookerys.</span></div><div><br></div><div>Boiling eggs came up the other day in a group I'm in, prompting much discussion. I had thought that adding salt or baking soda to the water worked fairly well, especially for farm fresh eggs like we usually have. I still did spend an inordinate amount of time peeling the little cackle berries though. I had tried the pin method too, where you puncture the shell but not the sac around the albumen in order to let the water separate them and make peeling easier. I thought this made the eggs too wet and frankly a little gross. I had also tried the YouTube videos' wherein they basically blow an egg out of its shell in seconds--which didn't work at all for me.</div><div><br></div><div>Then last night my friend Amber changed my life forever. Boiling eggs <i>again</i> came up in conversation. She shared how she just read an article how to boil eggs and was feeling success in the egg peeling arena for the first time in her life. She had pretty much given up until she read the article. It convinced her because told her the science behind the method, so she thought she would try one last try.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-okDcU1SaO9o_mFDT1O-WKRzOBBIfvr8YPZn8Jq71tIT8zUML069u42WtrzIlvzsDXD1CTz1_9HpN4VU3NLjEuKxdACAmpSLT6QIIwEcIwN68Lcx9_FHnNm10D6PsBTlyaeqGQ/s640/blogger-image--1889233683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-okDcU1SaO9o_mFDT1O-WKRzOBBIfvr8YPZn8Jq71tIT8zUML069u42WtrzIlvzsDXD1CTz1_9HpN4VU3NLjEuKxdACAmpSLT6QIIwEcIwN68Lcx9_FHnNm10D6PsBTlyaeqGQ/s640/blogger-image--1889233683.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My experiment included the white store bought eggs of undetermined age we had on hand for Brielle's activities she came up with when she taught preschool last week, the brown eggs I marked "old" which were at the back of the fridge from a friend's farm, and then the plain brown eggs we took out of the nesting boxes within the last couple of days.</div><br></div><div>Here is what you do: boil water. Put your steamer on your pot. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3qITj4jeGJoF37s4Xh8chURwLl3S5OUGFoVR4QdH_3EDqVl12VcHHHWt-Ld2zsJZBTk6ymEg6G7VzLHT16ySZSPsCwdH8vx9YOs3Swpho43jTkXD3NhU8hpyd3l4a_zYZusW73g/s640/blogger-image--404857083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3qITj4jeGJoF37s4Xh8chURwLl3S5OUGFoVR4QdH_3EDqVl12VcHHHWt-Ld2zsJZBTk6ymEg6G7VzLHT16ySZSPsCwdH8vx9YOs3Swpho43jTkXD3NhU8hpyd3l4a_zYZusW73g/s640/blogger-image--404857083.jpg"></a></div>Add the eggs to the steamer--only once the water is boiling, mind you. Cover.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaZhB3zYcQ7yNPNU_CMofTZGSP9KZ9zHqZJAsBx5RJry7QtNQ5Ram5A2YlY86x9tA4liENzT_EDde4tzX9QR1Rw1USyqH6N9JiB6JamakMuuu3kG7JZH5hJ6v2ULZgT2fWBYCNgQ/s640/blogger-image--437132852.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaZhB3zYcQ7yNPNU_CMofTZGSP9KZ9zHqZJAsBx5RJry7QtNQ5Ram5A2YlY86x9tA4liENzT_EDde4tzX9QR1Rw1USyqH6N9JiB6JamakMuuu3kG7JZH5hJ6v2ULZgT2fWBYCNgQ/s640/blogger-image--437132852.jpg"></a></div>Set your timer for 12 minutes. Go laugh your head off to a Good Mythical Morning episode. (I guess that part can be optional, but seriously, you should do it.) When your timer rings, immerse your eggs in an ice water bath.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfclfKLVpL9lMSCBA6rpyGb-ESF6BwH9Is90B-qf2n2VBJG3RquoQWw-LvmmQ6xauRTns-8R6nohaVP8sQR9sk4baSKtHVUAq3aVip-3yOzsyM5AEJ95laI7n3s_qXNORjpxNVEA/s640/blogger-image--652383308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfclfKLVpL9lMSCBA6rpyGb-ESF6BwH9Is90B-qf2n2VBJG3RquoQWw-LvmmQ6xauRTns-8R6nohaVP8sQR9sk4baSKtHVUAq3aVip-3yOzsyM5AEJ95laI7n3s_qXNORjpxNVEA/s640/blogger-image--652383308.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We didn't have very much ice but it still worked.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div> I didn't time this part, but I first measured my kids' tee shirts to be sure of their sizes and placed an order for some Classical Conversations shirts. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZx803VG6yhZs_TF3cGIP0_30Qwgozy8L45lMb246VRgdyW3wlTukqSP7_a2sErPEf458yR1vqpXDQySuAYQWTC3_XVl3RPbd_CGINxJNjka038dRYxbMjh9ocr6rZGHWJNGA9g/s640/blogger-image-1400891900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZx803VG6yhZs_TF3cGIP0_30Qwgozy8L45lMb246VRgdyW3wlTukqSP7_a2sErPEf458yR1vqpXDQySuAYQWTC3_XVl3RPbd_CGINxJNjka038dRYxbMjh9ocr6rZGHWJNGA9g/s640/blogger-image-1400891900.jpg"></a></div>So however long that took is how long they sat in the icy water.</div><div><br></div><div>Now. This is the amazing part. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqctdMzNQRaGLoI7p2nrhwp1hFxsuKxJTSi8Pd8uyIlcIg1NGmA6EJGFVajIuHrR0kWXFGKYEsazWDSO-jAjPGXGqzlqDIqEy7BSMC1Hd3PMrbumXaCkLWAHnXETAvINchjegQVA/s640/blogger-image--52486953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqctdMzNQRaGLoI7p2nrhwp1hFxsuKxJTSi8Pd8uyIlcIg1NGmA6EJGFVajIuHrR0kWXFGKYEsazWDSO-jAjPGXGqzlqDIqEy7BSMC1Hd3PMrbumXaCkLWAHnXETAvINchjegQVA/s640/blogger-image--52486953.jpg"></a></div>Elivette and I peeled all nine eggs in about two minutes, <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjynWsyXCiR0WGKUnZ8g-PU9U6T8nfqy8cwlDe6xpaCTqwE9g91tLN6sJQt4YZTWPi8Mojc2AYO2nMJ8kpYoZi-nPckIEgfYbemJk1cRklQjnD7pfIO8XWOHZD3Tc1z_UWJcno1Wg/s640/blogger-image--1275674375.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjynWsyXCiR0WGKUnZ8g-PU9U6T8nfqy8cwlDe6xpaCTqwE9g91tLN6sJQt4YZTWPi8Mojc2AYO2nMJ8kpYoZi-nPckIEgfYbemJk1cRklQjnD7pfIO8XWOHZD3Tc1z_UWJcno1Wg/s640/blogger-image--1275674375.jpg"></a></div>even the ones that had been under a chicken a day or so ago. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbWHlm9Pb7YUxDtoQXKMurOMMdpbDRn1VheQ7QecZudc-8mM1sHvbGNHHClUTFnwb6oibnJTfO42y9At3R-uEg37BBuCYqkgV4mj1Ew07a9lnT7qkukd1G4XvXleQ0IlDgAeEw9A/s640/blogger-image-916627618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbWHlm9Pb7YUxDtoQXKMurOMMdpbDRn1VheQ7QecZudc-8mM1sHvbGNHHClUTFnwb6oibnJTfO42y9At3R-uEg37BBuCYqkgV4mj1Ew07a9lnT7qkukd1G4XvXleQ0IlDgAeEw9A/s640/blogger-image-916627618.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Now, go boil and peel happy. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMGka7R_D0o712ySk9RYxEsb0KJbQKngOXAXrtYWrOHkp202VdMm0N9tXiGKQuFYbO8RSO7LxaFUxBlgvyK7Au0nFT9DIOmYOacAlIU_Yuo1vcuqXscg1Jlgud6iw4h7_6R31kpw/s640/blogger-image-43941614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMGka7R_D0o712ySk9RYxEsb0KJbQKngOXAXrtYWrOHkp202VdMm0N9tXiGKQuFYbO8RSO7LxaFUxBlgvyK7Au0nFT9DIOmYOacAlIU_Yuo1vcuqXscg1Jlgud6iw4h7_6R31kpw/s640/blogger-image-43941614.jpg"></a></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02414405825215814113noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25711246.post-83931858074109648672015-04-21T20:32:00.001-05:002015-04-21T20:33:59.990-05:00Commence Operation Fill the FreezerI thankfully <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">have had pretty amazing energy the last couple of days, so I thought I would actually make some food instead of the catch as catch can kind of meals that have been happening around here lately. I will share what works for me.</span><div><div><br></div><div>I had been part of a freezer exchange group for several months, but it kind of fell apart. About a dozen people would make 12 of the same meal and then exchange it for 12 different ones. I was ok that the group dissolved though since I (and some other members) would work really hard on preparing healthful homemade generous meals and we would receive in exchange (from a few people) white pasta and store bought sauce with very little meat. I guess we are kind of food snobs around here because I would have to revamp the meal so my children would eat it. This kind of defeats the purpose of the exchange group. </div><div><br></div><div>Another time my mom and I spent an entire day cooking 10 different meals. We trebled the recipes and I took two and she took one. That worked pretty well, but it was an exhausting day and it was hard to juggle the children and the cooking even with both of us there. It is also hard to find an entire day that works for both of us. Another drawback is that it's expensive to buy all of the ingredients for 30 meals at one time, even without counting the cost of the homegrown beef in our freezer. </div><div><br></div><div>What has always worked best for me is to double or treble a recipe that I am already making. We eat one meal --and usually have leftovers--and I put another one or two in the freezer. Then on a low energy or sick or busy day, I can pull a freezer meal out and have a healthful homemade meal, regardless of the day's circumstances.</div><div><br></div><div>Last night I got organized and made a list of meals I would like to make over the next month.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCTRkh-vtBw1pcDGYETbEUoiI4d446nbtr71hChjZd2SeE5aNpaDo5HjBzJ1LZkSfibX6itJ935qgvR8qCw_J1t6y0xe7GbZm24jSB6WaqX38PxJQO81nhjSA_FtG1gGpuBjqG4w/s640/blogger-image--441286403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCTRkh-vtBw1pcDGYETbEUoiI4d446nbtr71hChjZd2SeE5aNpaDo5HjBzJ1LZkSfibX6itJ935qgvR8qCw_J1t6y0xe7GbZm24jSB6WaqX38PxJQO81nhjSA_FtG1gGpuBjqG4w/s640/blogger-image--441286403.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I started on a homeschool blog of a mom with seven children, but then realized I would be clicking all over the Internet and it was likely going to take all night to see if the recipes would fit our family's taste. Plus most of the recipes are for chicken, and we eat a lot of home raised beef and pork. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I then pulled out my favorite publisher's freezer magazine, which is a special publication they put out in the fall, and it only took me a short while to make the list. I made the grocery list at the same time, even though I probably wouldn't buy everything at once.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1uDCKJ_96fOJfx_GDus0UQXvU6ovxtIpn6vSynTWwmmDf4s63GwwHPRvGWTJXC-utSGFrEc9fv8bbFv_esosjRyIrREaBIRqJH2JXtvSwtmUm7ch3v1flvNHYaduFDJh5BJVkHA/s640/blogger-image-1590599815.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1uDCKJ_96fOJfx_GDus0UQXvU6ovxtIpn6vSynTWwmmDf4s63GwwHPRvGWTJXC-utSGFrEc9fv8bbFv_esosjRyIrREaBIRqJH2JXtvSwtmUm7ch3v1flvNHYaduFDJh5BJVkHA/s640/blogger-image-1590599815.jpg"></a></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I was watching a friend's daughters today, which really makes things easier because the kiddlets run off and play and don't torment me about how they are so hungry. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Whenever I am working in the kitchen, it makes people hungrier than hobbits.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We had Chicken Broccoli Skillet for lunch. It was pretty good, even though I forgot the cheese, and I got two meals in the freezer with very little <i>extra</i> effort.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZEvdT-QK5ddxLx6nlvDmMIrqDMqtDuHt_sJkZS6yK7VWyqCnICi5BkE2Z9bRwno63IJljJclHgleqH2um_hnobCQyh-MLL51DK79gFOmXWQHhXXQn7DWnYWVn_mzop7pNSFeS_A/s640/blogger-image-2048137668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZEvdT-QK5ddxLx6nlvDmMIrqDMqtDuHt_sJkZS6yK7VWyqCnICi5BkE2Z9bRwno63IJljJclHgleqH2um_hnobCQyh-MLL51DK79gFOmXWQHhXXQn7DWnYWVn_mzop7pNSFeS_A/s640/blogger-image-2048137668.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Then for dinner (supper if you're from a farm in Iowa), since it has been bitter and blustery, I thought Italian Wedding Soup sounded good. I didn't account for all the kajillions of tiny meatballs. Or the fact that my helpers would want to make meat snowmen. Or that once their friends went home, my Hungry Offspring would be whiny and tearful and prone to accidents.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Kb9cT2697B8Q5zL0wVej2_7OlxUpIxpGp6Red2yVohhGg3pC0AWUc8ZRmVYaxSXyP3f1qBkkkpN5tDOvLsLeg8Mlu6iwxLFl1DMSwiysmcqZB20l5jEFPSJamxhX41LfNsKXbA/s640/blogger-image--217148352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Kb9cT2697B8Q5zL0wVej2_7OlxUpIxpGp6Red2yVohhGg3pC0AWUc8ZRmVYaxSXyP3f1qBkkkpN5tDOvLsLeg8Mlu6iwxLFl1DMSwiysmcqZB20l5jEFPSJamxhX41LfNsKXbA/s640/blogger-image--217148352.jpg"></a></div> I managed to get dinner made, and <i>some</i> extra meatballs, but making the other batches of soup will have to wait until another day, as that was far too ambitious for this pregnant mama. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHyVZBd9i0UENt45rHk0YRkmIBIJcfFan20Ta9DXbItdKdlo6NmG5skQjdXji2HsZQ_Evlniv5F7-PTJDWiV3M_yTMi-n18_gZgTCk-A0JTPmViTvEggnwn278_uDt17R4bSFENQ/s640/blogger-image--1096399027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHyVZBd9i0UENt45rHk0YRkmIBIJcfFan20Ta9DXbItdKdlo6NmG5skQjdXji2HsZQ_Evlniv5F7-PTJDWiV3M_yTMi-n18_gZgTCk-A0JTPmViTvEggnwn278_uDt17R4bSFENQ/s640/blogger-image--1096399027.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My precious eight year old who happens to be in possession of boundless energy made the Onion French Bread and as an added bonus, made some orange sherbet. </div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02414405825215814113noreply@blogger.com0