update

Well everything around here has been going really good. This weekend Jason and I decided just to relax. Yesterday we went out to eat with my mom and sister and Brooke, and today we just hung out and got ice cream at one point.

Brooke's becoming so big and smart. It's amazing how much she understands, even if she doesn't talk much. She has a new word, "amen." It's so cute, she says it at the end of every prayer, it's so adorable.

Jason and I have still been looking at houses, but it's both frustrating and discouraging. At this point I fear that we won't be ready for the baby to come, but I know whatever happens we'll still be happy with our growing family.

I posted my ultrasound pics of Summer, and also some pics of Brooke hanging around the house and at the Children's Museum.

I thought about weaning Brooke, or at least pushing her more down that path, because my boobs are so dang sensitive right now that it really hurts to nurse her. But since she doesn't nurse too often anyway, I decided to let her do what she feels comfortable with concerning nursing. I just tell myself that the pain is practice for labor ;o) Some days she doesn't nurse at all, some days she only nurses for naps, and then there are the few days where it seems all she wants to do is nurse!!

Well, that's pretty much all I have to update on. Ciao.

articles

Here's an article on why it's important to make bf'ing normal again.

Here's an article on a Breast-Feeding Display On Campus To Raise Awareness. Kudos to those women.

Here's an article on the situation of home birth in Missouri.

Here's an article on some wonderful legislation in Scotland that was recently passed helping working mothers to continue breastfeeding. The article also points out other ways the gov't can encourage bf'ing.

Here's a great article on the benefits of hiring a doula.

Expecting couples have the option of hiring a doula, who can make giving birth a smoother, less stressful process for parents. Photo by: Chris Riley/Chief Photographer

Jeanne Batacan, a doula and Morgan Hill resident, holds a baby who she helped the mother give birth to.

Photo Courtesy of Jeanne Batacan.

it's been so long...

Well it's been a long time, but it's been a little nuts over here. As of today I am 19 weeks along, almost half way there. It seems like this pregancy is going by much faster than brooke's did.

Jason and I found a midwife! She's really wonderful, I absolutely love her. I had my first prenatal appt with her last week, and it was great. The appt was scheduled for an hour, but we went over. We did mostly paperwork, discussed family history, etc. Then we talked about anything that was stressing me out and other stuff. She's really great, and suggested some herbal teas and stuff for me to drink. She listened to the baby, heartbeat sounds good. It was wonderful.

So before my first appt with my mw, I had my ultrasound done.....IT'S A GIRL! We decided officially on the name Summer Judith. I was very nervous the whole time, cause the us tech couldn't tell for a while due to the position the baby was in. And that was the last time that I will walk into that obgyn office for a visit, it feels so nice :o)

Easter was ok. Helen is now in the hospital getting treatment. They have to shrink down her tumor with chemo before they can operate on it. We've been to see her twice so far, and both times her optimistic attitude has been astounding. This woman just doesn't let anything get her down!!

I haven't heard about the job yet, they called me a couple days ago and told me that there's been some sort of delay with the decision but they will let me know as soon as they decided. *sigh* Meanwhile, I wish I hadn't told certain people about the job interview, I'm getting sick of hearing every other day, "did you get the job?" grrrr.

Brooke's been so good, she's getting so big. She loves to color like crazy. I took some pics of her coloring, and some pics of her at the children's museum that we took her to on Saturday. But the camera is in the car and it's raining out, so it can stay in the car for now. I'll have to post them later. Let's see, new things that she does.....she says, "oh man!", "I'm the dada!", and she wakes me up by giving me kisses on the eyes. We took her to an Easter egg hunt and she was absolutely adorable! I finished the teddy bear I made for her, but I'm not real happy with it. It looks like something out of a horror movie, and I can't blame her for not going near it LOL.  I'll have to post some pics of it later.

Well that's all the energy I have to write now. I'll try to post more often, although it hasn't been working well for me lately.....

beautiful picture

I was browsing through Bornfree! where I spotted this beautiful nursing picture and just thought that I would share.

"Her Universe" by Dejan Dizdar

hmmmmmmm

Here's an update on the husband that went on strike over co sleeping.

"I'm not a criminal," said James Wilson, who has a son who is almost 2 and a daughter who is nearly three months old.

kick, baby, kick

Well, finally it is the weekend. For every day this week I have taken Brooke to the park, and man my back and feet are really feeling it now. But it's worth it, she loves the park and she is so happy there.

So far I have heard nothing on whether or not I got the job, but hopefully I will hear from them this week.

I finally felt the baby move!! I was changing Brooke when all of a sudden I felt a good kick in my lower stomache. He/she doesn't move around much, but when he/she does, boy do they move!!

Today we are going to JoAnne's so that I can pick up some yarn and some fabric. The yarn is to finish the baby blanket and to start Brooke's bear, and the fabric is for the shawl I am going to make my mom for her birthday. We're also going to go to the library, and if the weather holds up, we might stop in at the park for a little bit.

Brookie had def cut down on her nursing. She no longer nurses to sleep at night and she only nurses in the morning about half the time. However, she does still nurse for her nap and if she isn't feeling well she will nurse. The rash she had never went away, so I took her to the doctors and she said Brooke has eczema. Then she told me that if she doesn't improve her vocabulary in three or four months then we should get her tested for speech development, since problems with speech runs in my family (my sister). Boy, did I really feel like a failure when I left the office. Eczema and possible speech problems? Not what I needed to hear. Last night I dreamed the Brookie was walking around and I was trying to get her to talk, but the only word she would say was "pizza". It was weird.

Well, gotta go get ready. Ciao.

links and stories

Here's a nice little article on Attachment Parenting.

The Leaf Chronicle - www.theleafchronicle.com - Clarksville, TN

Alicia Archuleta/The Leaf-Chronicle

Austin Rees holds the hand of her daughter, Isabella, while carrying her son, Declan, in a baby sling.

Here's an article on Katie's and Tom's plans to have a homebirth. Unlike a conventional homebirth, however, their plan is to give birth in total silence, as they believe any sounds are traumatic to the baby. Hmmmm...... You can find the article here, and the lactivist blog makes interesting comments on the situation here.

Here is a study on the outcomes of planned homebirths in North America, very good read for those who are interested in the safety issues of homebirth. And if you are interested in homebirth experiences, you can find some wonderful homebirth birth stories here. My personal favorite is the story of the birth of Benjamin & Montana.

Here's an article about how Alabama passed a bill allowing mothers to breastfeed in public.

Finally, this is the most ridiculous story ever. A father went on strike b/c he did not wish to co sleep with his kids (3 and 3 months) anymore. So, instead of compromise and other forms of adult behavior, he throws a fit, camps out on his roof, and turns a very private family matter into a media circus. He really needs to get over himself. You can find the story here. Personally, if he were my husband, I would take the ladder away and make him stay up there.

Of course, I'm an avid reader of Hathor- The Evolution Revolution, and I just love her outlook on the situation :o)