Jennifer's Junky Life ~

Pinterest Geared Apology

My apologies to all of you Pinners out there for the influx of Smitten Kitchen food pins lately! I'm a huge fan.

Was that really necessary to say that..?

I'm working on my meal planning, and organizing recipes right now. (Is there supposed to be a comma there? I don't think there is but I put it anyway.) I'm gathering all sorts of recipes and meal ideas so I can write down several months' worth of meals at a time. Something I've always wanted intended to do but have never gotten around to.

I know it's something that will make life a whoooole lot easier around here and that's always a beautiful thing. Don't ya think?

Not only am I gathering supper ideas but also breakfast, lunch, and snack ideas. If I feel ambitious enough when I finally get it done. Which will probably take me two months to do at the rate I'm going. I'll share them on here from time to time.

Seeing as how 'procrastination' is my middle name, I can't guarantee any type of weekly share but we shall see!

I don't follow any food pins out there - and this is probably why! They can totally consume the boards! eek. sorry 'bout that. :) Remember: It takes only one little click to unfollow a board!

{Photo: This was taken yesterday (May 1). I realize that my child isn't food but I love her so much I could just eat her up sometimes! And, besides... She is sitting in a large stainless steel bowl after all...}

Let's Stop and Sit Awhile

I love to sing. I know I've said it before. That's not to be confused with me saying I have a melodious voice. Because I don't. But it's something I love to do. {I've always wished I had a melodious voice to go with it though...}

One thing I love about having a new baby is that I get to sing. A lot. I used to sing hymns to my babies all the time and I hadn't realized how much I've missed that until now. I love how singing has the ability to soothe and calm a crying baby.

{Our little chubby cheeks.}

Having a baby forces you to really slow down, to take a slower pace, and to remember what's important in life.

I kind of like that.

I also kind of like that my baby goes five to six hour stretches of sleeping at night, too. And I'm really hoping she keeps that up! I feel so good and haven't napped during the day since the first couple of days after she was born. But I've also been getting back into my habit of staying up until 1:00 a.m., as well! Once a night owl, always a night owl.

{My baby and my no-longer-the-baby. He sure loves his little sister in spite of his adamant claims the entire pregnancy that he did.not.want a baby sister. He loves to hold her and is so proud when he is able to soothe her when she starts to fuss by giving her her paci, or gently bouncing her in his arms, or softly humming to her (my personal favorite).}

She's been a pretty good baby for these first twelve days. But she's had quite a few fussy spells in the past four days, too. A few days ago, she fussed all afternoon after I posted about how good she's been. Guess she had to show me what's what. She's definitely the boss!

I'm loving that she often calms down when I take her though if she's been fussing with someone else. Or when She starts fussing with me and I hold her out in front of me and start talking to her and she just stops fussing for a few minutes to gaze up at me. That's the best.

But it's been a little frustrating at night because when it gets to be about bedtime for everyone around here, I nurse her and then pass her off to Mark so I can hop in the shower. She's usually fine with him for awhile while I'm cleaning and straightening up around the house but by the time I get in and out of the shower she's bawling her head off. Every.single.night.

And as soon as I take her and put her in her sling she immediately calms down and goes to sleep. (usually). Our babies have always loved their daddy so hopefully this little stinker will get past this phase soon and let her daddy soothe her too! Because he loves holding our babies just as much as I do.

Thank you everyone for all of the well wishes! Although, I haven't had the opportunity to respond to all of them, we have enjoyed reading every single one that we have received here, on Facebook, and in email! :) Know that they all mean a lot to both of us.

{The pacifier clip and all three swaddling blankets, aqua, pink, and turquoise are from Lil Cleo on Etsy. The colors are way off on my screen. The turquoise one looks more blue turquoise on my screen but it's more of a green turquoise IRL. It's a really pretty color and I love them all! They are super soft and the perfect size for swaddling. Check out Lil Cleo for more color options and many other great finds!}

Baby's First Bath

I gave Aria a bath yesterday. I've never waited a week before bathing any of my other babies but this pregnancy I read a lot about waiting and how beneficial it can be for baby's delicate new skin. I was planning to wait until the rest of her cord fell off but she had other plans. Like filling her diaper all the way up her back for the first time!

(Headband from Calikatrina. I love these things!)

My only 'mistake' is that I did bathe her after she was born. I say mistake because I wish I'd waited - just a personal preference. I could have just wiped her down a little but we both took an herb bath after my midwife and her assistant, and my doula and her daughter, had left. Looking back, I wish I'd left more of the vernix on her skin. Her skin is a little pealy and dry and waiting may have helped that a little bit.

Nikayda snapped a ton of photos of Aria's first bath. My favorite is after I'd soaped her up, I decided to put her in the water up to her little bum. (Because she still has her cord, I didn't want to fully immerse her and get it wet.) She was a little fussy while I was washing her but as soon as I sat her in the water, she just got this amazing look of awe on her sweet little face and just kept gazing at me. Pure bliss. It melted my heart!

Then mommy had to take her out of the water - and she sure didn't like that!

But the tears didn't last long. She relaxed again as soon as I started putting lotion on her.

All fresh and clean and content, she slept for the rest of the evening after that! She normally wakes up for awhile when Mark is home - but not last night.

Photo overload. Boy, do I feel like a first time mom all over again! And I'm loving every second of this. She has been so good so far. Thanks to her paci which soothes her in between her baby-led nursing that she's doing and my Mamma's Milk sling. I've been wearing her constantly. If she's not being held, she's usually in the sling. She gets fussy if we're not holding her - totally normal for a newborn. We love all of this cuddling right now!

We'll see in a few weeks what she's really like since it can take a good three to six weeks before you really know if you have a fussy baby or not and whether you need to change what you're eating if they start getting belly aches and whatnot. So we'll see... But for now I feel like it's been relatively easy with her.

Every night when Mark gets home from work, the first thing he does (instead of his normal routine of doing chores) is come in the house to get some baby holding time. I just love seeing him holding a baby again! And I like that I get that time with him for a little while, too.

Oh my gosh - she just exploded! I kid you not. And she's still sound asleep in her sling. haha. Time to wrap this one up!! Wow...!

Two Sisters :: My Daughters

I love saying I have two daughters now. I was going to post these pictures in that last post but I took them today (and the others were taken yesterday) and I forgot to get them from the other album before I posted.

Nikayda just loves having a sister! She's been holding her non-stop. If I'm not holding her, you can probably bet that she is. She's going to be such a big help for me.

I feel so fortunate to have eight sisters (and five brothers) and I've always wished that Nikayda would have a sister someday. There is nothing like a sister. A friend for life. And it makes me smile when I see the two of them together. Someday that ten year gap won't make a lick of a difference.

Aria looks a lot like Nikayda did. It's so fun to see that resemblance! Mark pulled out Nikayda's baby pictures this weekend to compare. They both were born with nearly black hair - but Nikayda had a little more. And they're both a little more dark in their complexion, which they get from their dad. (No, they get it from me! I wish.) And Aria's a little bigger and more chubby than Nikayda was. (Nikayda was 6 lbs. 10 oz. and Aria was 8 lbs. 4 oz.)

The Baby Photo Saturation Post

Oh my goodness, are we lovin' this whole baby thing again. It has been so much fun having a new little lady in the house again. After spending an all-nighter the day she was born, we spent two relatively sleepless nights right after that with lots of monkeying around and fidgeting with her. (And by 'we', I mean, me and the babes.) But Saturday night to Sunday, she slept for seven hours and forty five minutes straight. And last night she slept six hours straight. A {new} mom could get used to this! Talk about a treat.

She was super fussy the first couple of days, which has been the norm for my babies (and probably many as they acclimate to their new world). But she's had a lot less fussy/fidgeting spells in the past day or so. I can't believe she's six days old already. She's getting much better with latching on to nurse right away - and we've gone through an entire package of diapers make that, an entire package and a half already. I forgot about this other pack here! (Time to start researching cloth options - I'm thinking of going that route this time... we'll see...)

{Aria - Five days old.}

I took a ton of pictures yesterday so here they are! We also took our first outing with her as a family. It's our weekly tradition to go to the park with the kids on Sunday afternoons and because it was such a beautiful day we decided to head out yesterday. Mark and I sat in the car with Aria and visited while the kids played. It was so nice sitting there with the windows down and the warm sun shining in.

She loved her carseat. She was a little fussy just as I was putting her in, but as soon as she was buckled in, she fell fast asleep and slept for about three and a half hours! Nearly the entire time we were gone.

{Abram took her after Carter was holding her but she started crying and he told me, "She doesn't like me. She always just starts crying when I hold her." haha. Poor kid - I'll have to get him to hold her first when she's in a calm spell one of these days.}

We are all so in love with her. It's amazing how someone so tiny can capture your whole heart so quickly. We're treasuring every moment right now.

Baby is doing great and so am I. My recovery is going so well and I've been able to get a lot of rest, which has really helped.

{Above: Testing out the carseat before we put it in the car. That little pink hat and sweater were mine when I was a baby and Nikayda wore them as well. Our neighbor lady at the time, Loretta F., made them.}

My favorite thing, aside from finally having this little baby is that I can hug my husband again without turning my large belly off to the side. The best things in life really are free!

{Paci clip and pink swaddling blanket from Lil Cleo. I love them both! Check out Lil Cleo for all sorts of cute items for babies and moms!}

{Hat is from Target - and while I think it's very cute, I don't recommend them. It comes in a set of three - and they all stretch out way too much after just one day, as you can see from the photos.}

eta: I forgot to post sisters pictures! I was saving them for last and then forgot them! They are here in their own post.

Never been this happy with so little sleep

I pulled two all-nighters in a row and I'm tired but oh so happy! We had our baby girl on Tuesday morning at 6:15 a.m. after 8 hours of laboring through the night.

Aria Irene - 8 lbs. 4 oz. 20.5 inches long. (Pronounced Ahr-ee-uh.) We're both healthy and well. And I'm still amazed that she wasn't ten pounds after being ten days overdue and with a belly as large as mine was! - especially because my last one (Carter) was three days overdue and he was 9 lbs. 7 oz.

{These two were taken yesterday when she was born. All others are from today.}

It was such an amazing experience to labor in the comfort of my home and to birth in water. I can't even describe how awesome it was. My midwife and her assistant did a wonderful job of helping us to deliver our baby. Mark was able to catch her when she was born and to cut the cord once it stopped pulsating.

My doula was so fabulous. This was the first time I had ever used one and she literally helped to cut the pain of most of my contractions by half just from counter pressure to my back. I also now swear by a birth ball - something I've also never used before. I wouldn't have made it without that thing during contractions - I sat on it almost every time to relieve some of the discomfort. It really made a difference.

This was such a great experience and I feel like I could do it again drug-free. (I couldn't say that after Carter's birth!) I just keep looking back at it all in awe. I feel like a first time mom all over again.

We are loving having a baby in this house again. We can't get enough of her! She was up last night from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. with only tiny little bouts of snoozing in between but we were able to get some sleep this morning. She's been a little fussy off and on but hopefully that will work itself out soon enough. At least I can sleep when she does for now. And, really, I don't even care because she's just so darn cute and precious!

Mark is home today (and, of course, yesterday). He's been so helpful for everything I need right now so I can stay off my feet as much as possible. I couldn't do it without him! And, a huge thank you to my sister, Sara, who came and got the kids yesterday and kept them for the night! It's been so nice to rest.

The kids were home for the birth but they were upstairs sleeping in our room. They woke up right when I was delivering and were able to come downstairs as soon as we had her. I just love the whole dynamics of this birth. It was everything I'd hoped it would be.

See... No need to worry

Last night, we got a few inches of snow. I thought, for sure, that the change in weather would bring about this impending birth. But, not quite yet. She just isn't ready. But I think it will happen soon.

I was quite relieved, too, because I was worried for my midwife and my doula to be out on the roads last night. My midwife is coming from an hour away.

I love the snow. Even when we get it in April. The trees were gorgeous this morning.

But it's almost gone now.

Just like the snow in April, I'm reminding myself that labor will come and go and before you know it I'll have a sweet little baby in my arms. Everything comes. Everything goes. For now I'm continuing to enjoy her little kicks and punches and other movements as she settles in for birth.

I feel like I've been grateful for this extra time. I wasn't mentally ready a week ago - not in the way I feel now. I've continued to devour birth stories* and natural birth videos. I can't get enough of them right now. They're all so amazing and so empowering as I prepare my own mind for this amazing event. (*I discovered the Birth Story of the Week feature on Marvelous Kiddo a couple of months ago - and love reading them. They're not all about natural homebirths but they're all personal stories on many different views of birth. I like the variety because every woman has to choose what she's most comfortable with when it comes to giving birth.)

We're taught that due dates are critical from early on but contrary to what we're taught by the medical world, a due date isn't a kitchen timer where it goes off and your baby is automatically 'done'. No one bats an eye when a baby is born two or three weeks early (in spite of the risks of complications from early birth) but we're taught to 'fear' when a baby is yet to be born two or three weeks later (because of the risks of complications of going 'over). It's all a spectrum. Baby's have been born healthy and well within both time frames for all of time and no end of the spectrum is 'better' than the other. It will all happen when it's meant to happen.

I didn't have that view during my other three births but I enjoy having it now. - I feel so relaxed about being overdue (9 days and counting), knowing it's all in God's hands. And it will happen exactly how it's meant to happen. When it's meant to happen. And, as my kids say, "I can feel it in my bones" that it probably won't be too much longer.

And I can't wait!

{Photos: All images taken today - April 16, 2012.}

The Countdown Continues...

They say the waiting is the hardest part. In a way that's true. Today is day five past my due date. I'm not anxious and overwhelmed like I felt when I was overdue (by three days) with Carter, our youngest. I have a more relaxed attitude this time around and a completely different mindset.

I'm also not dealing with stress and lingering post-partum depression/depression that I had last time. (I had been dealing with it for two years and had only just sought help for it shortly before Carter was born - so I was just beginning to take those steps to get myself on the mend.)

I am, however, anxious to be holding this little baby girl. We've been waiting six and a half years for her and we just keep chuckling that we have to keep waiting. But isn't anything worthwhile in life, worth waiting for?

I've been feeling a little 'yucky' for the past three days - just the most mild feeling of nausea or something. I've also had a lot of mild cramping, as well. Nothing to complain about but definitely a sign that things are changing - and definitely just enough to make me feel like I'm ready for this to happen so I can be on the other side.

I've been having strong and somewhat uncomfortable, but irregular, Braxton Hicks for about a week now. Same as with Carter. I walked around at a 4 for a week or so before he was born. And my labor went fast once things really started going - albeit much too intensely. I can't help but hope that things will go quickly this time, too, but just not as intense... (I hate to use the word but it was a bit traumatic, to say the least... And I said I'd never do another drug-free birth after his.)

This time, I don't know what my 'progress' is as I'm choosing not to be examined due to a different mindset because I realize how much it ups your risk for infection and that it really doesn't make any difference in telling how long or when you'll be in labor. Sure a little part of me would love to know but to me, it really doesn't matter. This whole thing really is a mind game. And if you set your mind to it, those little things won't make a difference.

My doula friend called me yesterday to check up on me. (I like to call her my doula friend because she's also a good friend I met through our home school group a couple of years ago.) She's called a couple of times in the last week and it means so much to me. She's been so encouraging and supportive and I'm really looking forward to having that type of support during my labor this time. I've never had anyone with me besides Mark before - and I love that guy like crazy for the strength and support he gives me - but I think there is just something about having someone there who will know what to say and what to do that could really make a difference during the hardest parts.

Today is another beautiful and sunny day, like yesterday, and once again Mark is home early - a perfect day to give birth. It's got to happen one of these days!

Routine Newborn Baby Care Info. :: Eye Ointment

I've been passing the time lately by reading up on all things natural birth and home birth as well as watching countless videos of the same. They are so inspiring and encouraging as I prep myself mentally to do this at home. Birth is such a beautiful thing. That is not to say that I'm not human and that I don't have little moments of 'oh my goodness, can I do this drug-free again?' because I have plenty of those! But I also have faith that I can do this.

I was astounded to learn today from one article that only 14% of women in the US choose to birth drug free and naturally! This shocks me considering all of the complications that can and do arise from using drugs and other medical interventions in a hospital during birth. (They are there for a reason and are a great blessing when they are needed though.)

Today, I came across an article on a birthing site with one midwife's insight as to why someone might choose homebirth and wanted to share it here as well as on Facebook. I know often that people wonder why in the world would someone choose to birth at home? And, although, everyone isn't going to 'get it' from the article, I'm sharing it because so many of my own views on the matter are so articulately spoken therein.

So many things, if they're not done the mainstream way, can be so controversial to people and they can really cause others to put their guard up about it simply because they don't understand where someone is coming from. Not everyone understands why someone chooses to live their lives with as little medical intervention as possible but I hope by sharing our experiences both here and on Facebook that at the very least it will get others to think about them.

So much of what we do where it pertains to modern medicine is done without thought - simply because that's the way everyone else does it. Case in point is the following info about the eye ointment given to all newborns in the hospital directly after birth...

I was not aware of it too many years ago and I'm sure many others are not, as well, but did you know that the eye ointment has to do with STDs - making it completely unnecessary for so many, many babies, including my own - and probably yours? It also causes pain, swelling, burning, and blurred vision for the baby for the first few days. Click on this link and scroll down until you see 'Silver Nitrate or Antiobiotic Eye Ointment' to read more about it. Yet it is automatically given to every baby in a hospital unless the parent refuses it. You as a parent, have a right to refuse this treatment as well as any others that you may research and inform yourself about and choose not to use.

I'm so anxious to be holding my own baby but continuing to try to take a relaxed attitude about being three days overdue. I had to chase down a goat today to get her back in the fence and it sure left me huffing and puffing in my current state! As comfortable as I am for how far along I am, I know I'll really be appreciating being on the other side soon enough!

{Photo: We took the kids to the park for pizza one evening a couple of weekends ago because it looked so nice out. But it didn't last long. It was cold and windy and it wasn't five minutes before we headed back to the car to finish our food!}

This could be the one...

I was due two days ago but I feel pretty good for being 40 weeks and two days pregnant. I can't complain. I get really good sleep every night and I'm not uncomfortable when I sleep. I go to bed between midnight and 1 a.m. every night. And I only wake up once around 6 a.m. every day and then I'm able to go back to sleep for a few hours. My appetite is pretty much normal. Normal being I eat several small/mini meals throughout my day - just as I have for the past month or so.

{Redneckville. That's what I've dubbed all of our goat paraphernalia out back. It kind of drives me crazy sometimes but I know, or at least hope, that it will all be painted someday to pull it all together.}

I get mild heartburn occasionally but I'm still able to combat it with dairy (organic raw milk and viili/yogurt). I've only had to sleep in the recliner about three times in the past few weeks due to heartburn. I'm able to spend large amounts of my day with my feet propped up - so that keeps me comfortable as well. And I haven't really had too much water retention this time around.

I had an appointment with my midwife today and I've lost three pounds since the last time we met two weeks ago. But I've gained around 30 pounds this pregnancy. I was quite surprised with the loss but she told me that it's normal to lose weight when labor begins... Which for me may have begun several days ago. I've had a lot of strong Braxton Hicks and mild cramping - all normal signs of early labor. And for some people it can go on for days or even weeks prior to the delivery.

I had the same thing with Carter, who was born three days past his due date. So when things really started going, I only had two hours of what felt like labor to me before he was born. But with him it was crazy, instense back labor due to him being in the posterior position. (This baby isn't - so far.)

I feel the most fortunate for my mental state. I feel fantastic and happy and it's not something I ever take lightly after having had depression and post partum depression with my last two kids. I'm remembering to feel grateful often for that this time around... It's no small thing.

I also have really strong nesting instincts and from what I've heard and read that's a great sign because it means your hormones are 'normal' for late pregnancy. It's not just an old wive's tale. I'm taking that as a really great sign personally, as well, because I didn't have those nesting urges when I was pregnant with both of the boys. So it's helping me to feel more optimistic that things will be okay after this little lady is born - just as they were when I had Nikayda.

I'm choosing to go the natural route this time around and that also means that I'm choosing not to have internal exams. For the most part, they're pointless and they don't mean anything as far as predicting when or how long labor will be and they also can up your risk of infection. However, when my midwife measured me today she did say that the baby's head is really low and she wasn't able to move it while feeling from the outside - so that's a good sign!

As good as I feel for being nine months pregnant, I am getting anxious to be on the other side and holding this little baby in my arms! Hopefully, it won't be too much longer...

My six year old keeps telling me that I'm a big, fat and chubby mom. Haha. Can't deny that. But at least I'm happy. And it won't be long before things can start sliding in the opposite direction on the scale. To me, it's all worth it when we've waited this long.