Christmas 2010!!

So this is the Christmas card that we sent out this year! Yes that's right I actually sent cards out!! And I made this one using my scrapbook software, which makes it even more special!

I was a little disappointed that my little photomate printer doesn't print 5x7 but I made due with sending out 4x6!


I forced Joe to pose for the pics and these are the two that were in the running. On a side note: my cute knit slippers were a gift from Kathy last Christmas...I love those things!

My attempt to capture our Christmas tree on Christmas Eve...

Here is our tree in all of it's 4 foot grandeur!! The funny thing is that from the outside it looks like a normal size tree!!

3rd Trimester!

That's right, Jesse and I have officially made it into the 3rd trimester...that is 28 weeks, aka. 7mos! We now have appointments every two weeks with the midwives and childbirth classes every Wednesday!

My little guy is getting big and is still super active! He's already head down (but he's got plenty of room to change position if he wants to). He's been hanging out with his head in my left hip and his little feet in my right ribs!! He also likes to try and stretch while in this position which is getting uncomfortable for me, however, he appears to enjoy it very much!!

So here's what the website What To Expect says is going on with me and Jesse in week 28...

Week 28 of Pregnancy

Your baby has started blinking and dreaming while you may be dreaming that the pain in your derriere will disappear!

Your Baby in Week 28 of Pregnancy

Your baby is settling into the proper position for birth, with his head facing downward (toward your body's nearest exit!). Your little work in progress is now about 2.5 pounds and almost 16 inches long. He's busy adding new skills such as blinking to an already impressive repertoire of tricks like coughing, sucking, hiccuping, and taking practice breaths. Your baby's sleep now includes the REM (rapid eye movement) phase — and that means he could be dreaming already (what do you suppose he's dreaming about?).

Learn more about your baby this week and fetal brain activity.

Your Body in Week 28 of Pregnancy

While it's good news that your baby is settling into the right position for childbirth (since you're now entering the third trimester), the potentially painful news is his head — plus the weight of your uterus — may now be sitting on your sciatic nerve, which runs through the lower part of your back, buttocks, and legs. This common condition (called sciatica) can cause sharp, shooting pain and/or tingling or numbness, starting in your rear end and radiating down the backs of your legs. The best thing to do for sciatica (and the rest of your week 28 aches and woes)? Take it easy — and hope your baby changes position sooner rather than later.

Busy Day Indeed!

Wow! We had a super busy day today! I had another appointment with the midwives and I had to do the 1 hour glucose test to check for gestational diabetes. The appointment went very well! Jesse appears to be doing what he needs to be doing and he's currently in proper position, however, he's still small enough to flip-flop if he so desires. Joe got to feel where Jesse's head is and I've discovered why he's always jabbing my in my left hip and right rib!! The glucose wasn't as bad as I had anticipated and I had no adverse reactions afterwards!! WooHoo, praise Jesus. I was also very brave and didn't throw a fit when the midwife had to draw the blood! =)

We also were driving all around town trying to look at gliders and ottomans, cribs, and pillow cases for my snoogle (it didn't come with one!!).

We couldn't get the glider we wanted and it was a really good price. We ended up settling for one that was a little bit more expensive and a slightly different color, only to find out that it was actually CHEAPER!! Another WooHoo!! We decided to wait on the crib for awhile longer however, we have one picked out. I was also able to find the very allusive Snoogle pillow case!!

Next on our to-do list is clean out the office and convert it into a baby room!! We're not looking forward to it but my goal is to have it done by January so we better get a move on it!!

Woo Hoo! They've finally arrived!!

With all of the pregnant woman around me, and those with young children, I've discovered many new options that I would have never considered!! One option in particular...cloth diapers!

My grandmother told me stories of how she used cloth diapers and it sounded absolutely horrid!! I mean cloth being hosed off on the deck in the back yard (you can use your imagination here...) and being swished around in the toilet or a bucket...YUK!! I could just see myself here in Alaska trying to hose off a dirty diaper in the back yard in 2 degree weather in the winter time!! LOL! I don't think so!!

So anyways, several ladies I know have started doing cloth diapers and I began asking some questions. One friend was kind enough to bring one to show me and after that I was sold!! Well, I think I was sold when she told me she found this website that sells them for SUPER cheap...and well, THEN I was sold!!

So here are the cloth diapers that I just got in the mail from Sweet Doll Baby. I only purchased 12 of them because I'm not positive if Jesse will have any allergies to them. Didn't want to invest too much only to find out that it's not really an option. They were only $4.50 with two cloth inserts to help absorb.

So a big issue I had with this whole set up was the hosing and the swishing. What if "stuff" gets all clumpy in there?? So my friend showed me this amazing thing that helps her avoid really having to deal with the "stuff"!! She uses these things that look like dryer sheets which are placed in the diaper. When baby does his business, all mom has to do is remove the liner (dryer sheet looking thingy) and flush it!!! That's right...I get to flush it down the toilet!!! These were only $10.00 for 200 sheets at DivaDiapers!!

GroVia Bio Liners

GroVia™ BioLiners™ GroVia™ BioLiners™ allow moisture to pass through while keeping your baby's skin dry. Easy to use, they keep solids contained for easy clean-up. Simply remove the liner and flush. 200 Unscented 100% Natural Liners GroVia™ BioLiners™ are made from Ingeo™ Fibers, a renewable fiber free of harsh synthetic chemicals and preservatives. Fragrance Free Chlorine Free Dye Free Flushable Breathable So that's right, cloth diapers that require no hosing, swishing, or safety pins to jab my poor little Jesse...and I get to flush the "stuff" too!!

Childbirth Classes...lots of options!!

Spurred on by a pregnant friend who just finished a 1 day birth class, I found the sudden urge to begin investigating which childbirth class would be a good fit for Joe and I. My friend is having her boy in a hospital and wants to try to have her little guy naturally. She gave me some great insight into the standard classes provided at the local hospital.

I discovered that half of the class was geared towards informing mothers of the different medicinal ways to manage pain and when you can have them administered. My friend also informed me that she wished the class would have spent more time on birthing positions. I knew from her experience that this class was not a good fit for us. We plan on having Jesse in a birth center where epidurals and medicine for pain management is not even an option. Why would I attend a class where half of the lessons do not even apply to us??

In the end we decided on going with the Bradley Method. I had originally looked into the Bradley Diet at the beginning of the pregnancy and thought that the diet was too difficult (like I could ever eat that much!!). But after looking at the class content we were sold!! Not to mention that Joe just happened to be reading a book Husband-Coached Childbirth, by Robert A. Bradley (the guy who came up with the Bradley Method).

So this is a 12 week course that meets once a week for 2 hours. Each class focuses on a different topic. The purpose of the class is to help parents be their own advocates and know their rights. It also stresses the importance of a proper diet and exercise to prepare for birth. I love how there are several classes that are geared specifically for the husbands on how to be a good coach!!

We've already attended 2 classes and have learned a lot!! We should finish up at the end of February!

"The W in Christmas"

I found this on one of my favorite blogs (Faith Sisters) which is starting a new scrapbook project for December. I just had to share it...and being all hormonal and stuff I kind of got teary eyed at the end! JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!!

The "W" in Christmas

Each December, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience. I had cut back on nonessential obligations - extensive card writing, endless baking, decorating, and even overspending. Yet still, I found myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious family moments, and of course, the true meaning of Christmas.

My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year. It was an exciting season for a six-year-old. For weeks, he'd been memorizing songs for his school's "Winter Pageant."

I didn't have the heart to tell him I'd be working the night of the production. Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with his teacher. She assured me there'd be a dress rehearsal the morning of the presentation. All parents unable to attend that evening were welcome to come then. Fortunately, Nicholas seemed happy with the compromise.

So, the morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in ten minutes early, found a spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down. Around the room, I saw several other parents quietly scampering to their seats. As I waited, the students were led into the room. Each class, accompanied by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor. Then, each group, one by one, rose to perform their song.

Because the public school system had long stopped referring to the holiday as Christmas," I didn't expect anything other than fun, commercial entertainment - songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and good cheer. So, when my son's class rose to sing, "Christmas Love," I was slightly taken aback by its bold title. Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates, adorned in fuzzy mittens, red sweaters, and bright snowcaps upon their heads. Those in the front row-center stage -- held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song. As the class would sing "C is for Christmas," a child would hold up the letter C. Then, "H is for Happy," and on and on, until each child holding up his portion had presented the complete message, "Christmas Love."

The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed her; a small, quiet, girl in the front row holding the letter "M" upside down -- totally unaware her letter "M" appeared as a “W." The audience of 1st through 6th graders snickered at this little one's mistake. But she had no idea they were laughing at her, so she stood tall, proudly holding her "W." Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it together. A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen. In that instant, we understood the reason we were there, why we celebrated the holiday in the first place, why even in the chaos, there was a purpose for our festivities. For when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and clear:

"C H R I S T W A S L O V E"

And He still is! I hope this special message is one that helps you reflect on CHRISTmas and the reason for this celebration!

Why Jesse Won't Be Born In A Hospital...

...At least that's the plan...

Joe and I decided very early on that we would have our baby in a birth center as opposed to the local hospital. Many a family member has raised an eyebrow or two at our decision and others just don't get it.

Honestly, I never even realized that a birth center was an option before we moved to Alaska!! I am blessed enough to attend a wonderful church that has a lot of young moms (several of whom have had deliveries in a birth center or with a midwife or doula). It is here that I learned about my various options. These moms were kind enough to share their experiences!

So, why will Jesse be born in a birth center??

• I hate hospitals!! They make me nervous, uncomfortable, and stressed (when I'm the patient, if I'm visiting it's not such a big deal)
• Surgery is more likely to occur in a hospital setting...if I can avoid being cut open I will!!
• I want to have more options available to me. If I am able to manage the pain by sitting in a jacuzzi tub, in a shower, or by sitting on a birthing ball, I want to be able to do that and not be discouraged!!
• I want to know who is delivering my baby. At a birth center I get to know each midwife and I know that at least one of those great ladies will be there to help deliver Jesse. At a hospital I may not get the doctor that I've been seeing throughout the pregnancy!
• The birth center allows us to be more involved in the process and helps us be our own advocates.
• Joe and I personally know several ladies who have delivered at this particular birth center and they all had amazing experiences.

We've also gotten the "So, yeah, yeah, yeah, that's all nice, but aren't you concerned about emergencies?"

I pray that we have no complications but I'm not too concerned about it. The midwives work under a doctor at a hospital that is only minutes away. If an emergency were to occur, Jesse or myself would be transported to the hospital where I would be immediately admitted and the situation would be addressed. Also, these women are Certified Nurse Midwives and not just some lady off the street. They've gone to school to do this and this is their specialty!

On a side note, we also know several women who have had unforeseen emergency situation occur while at the birth center (or even at a home birth) and they were transfered to the hospital without issues and were taken care of. And those women were still happy with their experience at the birth center (or with their midwife).

This is a personal choice and I understand that it's not for everyone, but we are happy with the decision that we've made and would not choose to make any changes so far!!