I've been so interested in these and here's a fantastic giveaway!!
Teething Bling Giveaway
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
ERGO Carrier Give Away
The Modest Mom is giving away an ERGO baby carrier. Click on her blog link for information and to enter! A winner will be picked on September 30th.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
My *Home* Birth Story
Should have done this a week ago.. anyway, here it is...
My *Home* Birth Story ♥
After passing up all three due dates, our little bundle, Jacklyn, decided to show herself on
July 20, 2010 at 105pm, weighing in at (for me, a whopping) 7lb 2oz and 20" long. We're so excited to have her here!!!
Around 740am minor, irritating contractions started, I'd had one or two around 430am and then around 5 and 6am, but nothing consistent. I figured they would eventually go away, so hubby went to work as usual. From 740 to about 1015 the contractions were minor and I just stood at the dining room table and swayed side to side, consciously relaxing any tense muscles I could relax while I timed them. After about 1020 the contractions started to get intense and around 11am I called hubby to come home.
*Good thing I did*.
Things progressed faster after 11am. By noon I was contracting with my head on the couch on a pillow and my knees on the floor. I had a few in this position when I felt the need to push. It was like all of a sudden I could, with each contraction, see myself opening up for this baby to come. It was an awesome visualization that I hadn't planned on. That is certainly not my "happy place", but I could see it. So I moved myself to the bathroom. I was on the toilet (classic sign that you're about to deliver) and my water broke. :-)
We'd planned on a water birth and at this time, hubby was getting the water ready in our tub. Neither of us were quite sure when exactly to get into the tub - obviously, I should have asked a few more questions and done a little more research. lol I totally did NOT make it into the water.
Hubby grabbed a waterproof pad and I ended up hanging on to the tub, on my knees and feeling like I needed to push.
At one point, I remember a conversation between my wonderful husband and myself....
Me: I need to push.
Hubby: Don't push you'll tear. Just relax.
Me: I really need to push.
Hubby: Don't! I'll be right back with the water.
Poor guy! I wanted a water birth so bad he was going to try to hurry and get the water warming on the stove for me (our garden tub is one one side of the house and our water heater is on the other, so it takes a bit to warm the water, etc.... we were just going to improvise. lol)
Me: Don't leave me, here's her head!
LOL
Seriously...
Anyway, so her head was out, I told hubby to hang out and I would let him know when I was going to push again. I did, and out she came for Daddy to catch her at 105pm. He was so thrilled! So with contractions not being intense until around 10am, it was around a 4 hour labour. :-)
Our other two children were having their quiet time during Jacklyn's delivery. Our 5yo daughter wanted to help me, but when she saw me in a little "distress" during a contraction, she about started crying, so her daddy sent her to her room for her own quiet time. :-) Poor thing. So, after Jacklyn was born, they were brought back to see her. They're so excited to have her here! They just love her. ♥
The entire experience was absolutely AMAZING and I wish I would have had all three of our babies at home! I pray that any more kids we may have we're able to have at home. Maybe next time I'll get that water birth. ;-) (IMO) There's no labour/delivery in the world like a home labour/delivery. You're in your surroundings with your hubby and kids. If you're hungry, you can eat whatever you want. You can clean during your lighter contractions. It's just ideal. A big plus for me was not having to be in a strange place with strangers coming in and out of the room checking on me. Everything was familiar and I really think the labour and delivery were easier this time. My husband was (and IS) absolutely Wonderful and did everything to keep me calm and relaxed and in control. I am a Seriously Blessed wife and mother!
If you're ever able to at least consider a home birth, please do!
My *Home* Birth Story ♥
After passing up all three due dates, our little bundle, Jacklyn, decided to show herself on
July 20, 2010 at 105pm, weighing in at (for me, a whopping) 7lb 2oz and 20" long. We're so excited to have her here!!!
Around 740am minor, irritating contractions started, I'd had one or two around 430am and then around 5 and 6am, but nothing consistent. I figured they would eventually go away, so hubby went to work as usual. From 740 to about 1015 the contractions were minor and I just stood at the dining room table and swayed side to side, consciously relaxing any tense muscles I could relax while I timed them. After about 1020 the contractions started to get intense and around 11am I called hubby to come home.
*Good thing I did*.
Things progressed faster after 11am. By noon I was contracting with my head on the couch on a pillow and my knees on the floor. I had a few in this position when I felt the need to push. It was like all of a sudden I could, with each contraction, see myself opening up for this baby to come. It was an awesome visualization that I hadn't planned on. That is certainly not my "happy place", but I could see it. So I moved myself to the bathroom. I was on the toilet (classic sign that you're about to deliver) and my water broke. :-)
We'd planned on a water birth and at this time, hubby was getting the water ready in our tub. Neither of us were quite sure when exactly to get into the tub - obviously, I should have asked a few more questions and done a little more research. lol I totally did NOT make it into the water.
Hubby grabbed a waterproof pad and I ended up hanging on to the tub, on my knees and feeling like I needed to push.
At one point, I remember a conversation between my wonderful husband and myself....
Me: I need to push.
Hubby: Don't push you'll tear. Just relax.
Me: I really need to push.
Hubby: Don't! I'll be right back with the water.
Poor guy! I wanted a water birth so bad he was going to try to hurry and get the water warming on the stove for me (our garden tub is one one side of the house and our water heater is on the other, so it takes a bit to warm the water, etc.... we were just going to improvise. lol)
Me: Don't leave me, here's her head!
LOL
Seriously...
Anyway, so her head was out, I told hubby to hang out and I would let him know when I was going to push again. I did, and out she came for Daddy to catch her at 105pm. He was so thrilled! So with contractions not being intense until around 10am, it was around a 4 hour labour. :-)
Our other two children were having their quiet time during Jacklyn's delivery. Our 5yo daughter wanted to help me, but when she saw me in a little "distress" during a contraction, she about started crying, so her daddy sent her to her room for her own quiet time. :-) Poor thing. So, after Jacklyn was born, they were brought back to see her. They're so excited to have her here! They just love her. ♥
The entire experience was absolutely AMAZING and I wish I would have had all three of our babies at home! I pray that any more kids we may have we're able to have at home. Maybe next time I'll get that water birth. ;-) (IMO) There's no labour/delivery in the world like a home labour/delivery. You're in your surroundings with your hubby and kids. If you're hungry, you can eat whatever you want. You can clean during your lighter contractions. It's just ideal. A big plus for me was not having to be in a strange place with strangers coming in and out of the room checking on me. Everything was familiar and I really think the labour and delivery were easier this time. My husband was (and IS) absolutely Wonderful and did everything to keep me calm and relaxed and in control. I am a Seriously Blessed wife and mother!
If you're ever able to at least consider a home birth, please do!
Friday, July 9, 2010
*Due* today --- but the baby has NO idea!
Yes, I'm due today. But this baby has no idea. I feel fantastic today - too fantastic! This baby's not coming today...
As much as I know not to rely on the EDD, it IS a little disappointing to know that it won't happen today. I am ready. I'm tired of being tired and in various body pain. I'm tired of not being able to sleep on my back - or comfortably sleep at all - and of rocking to have to get out of the recliner - that I know NOT to sit in when I'm this big! LOL I'm sure that any pregnant woman would agree. As much as I'm tempted to try the wives' tales -- spicy food, bumpy rides, sex -- , I know that they won't do any good. This baby's not budging until it's ready. I'm not sure what to do to keep my mind off of it, it's become an obnoxious obsession. I guess I could re-wash all of the clothes, but that seems so unnecessary for two reasons: this is our 3rd child (I know that they won't be any cleaner with one washing as they would be with five) and we have no idea the sex of the baby! I'd have to wash the girl clothes and then the boy clothes and put them right back where I had them... it just seems like so much work right now. lol Hopefully (*prayerfully*) this weekend will be full of walking and cleaning and activity so as to take my mind off of it and also, by some chance, jiggle something loose to start labour.
C'mon Baby #3 and Homebirth! I'm ready!!!
Monday, July 5, 2010
Weight - May Be an Ongoing post...
I think I'm going to chart my weight on here somehow. Maybe I'll find a cute ticker or something that I can keep up with on blogger, but for now, this will do.
*Recently found my planner where I documented how much I weighed at the beginning of my pregnancy - 132! I've ONLY gained 30lbs this time around! That's encouraging and exciting to me!!
*Recently found my planner where I documented how much I weighed at the beginning of my pregnancy - 132! I've ONLY gained 30lbs this time around! That's encouraging and exciting to me!!
✿ 7/5 ~ A.M. ~ 162 @ 39 wks & 3 days.
Monday, June 28, 2010
6/28 I'm ready.... but my house is not!
The house is not ready. We don't live in a pig-sty. It's not filthy - the vacuuming and dishes are kept up on and my other kids (5 & 3) love to dust, so that's not the problem... It's the windows and little areas of clutter and the yard and garden. It's also deep scrubbing the bathrooms and making sure that the baby clothes/diapers/wipes are in order. I'm not sure why clothes will matter when the baby will just be in a diaper for the first few weeks of their life because it's summer, but it does!
Why does pregnancy bring this overwhelming need to rearrange, reorganize, and reevaluate everything?
So today, I'll be doing everything that I can - probably exhausting myself - to prepare for the upcoming arrival. :-) (Like s/he'll care...) But it's what I need to do - for my own sanity - what's left of it anyway. ;-)
Blessings,
~♥~April~♥~
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Exciting Giveaway through Modest Mom!
Modest Mom is giving away a My Baby Nest Wrap (link to Facebook page).
Check it out & Enter ~~ It looks AMAZING!
~*April*~
Check it out & Enter ~~ It looks AMAZING!
~*April*~
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Links To Remember
**WARNING: This post's links may be controversial, graphic, or TMI.**
Pregnancy/Labour/Delivery
Gloria Lemay - Placenta
Uses For Placenta
The Bridge of Life: Options for Placentas
Focus Through Yoga During Labour
Waterbirth International
All About Waterbirth
The Labour of Love - Forum
YouTube - Waterbirth
How Dilated Am I? Assessing Dilation Without and Internal Exam
Vitamin K shot for newborns
For Baby/Kids/Mama
Make Baby Stuff
Make a Baby Sling (from previously listed site)
(And after you make your carrier...) The Baby Wearer
Baby Wearing Instruction Booklet
Homemade Cloth Baby Wipes
Make them Yourself
Front Wearing your Mei Tai
...will be updated ASAP
Pregnancy/Labour/Delivery
Gloria Lemay - Placenta
Uses For Placenta
The Bridge of Life: Options for Placentas
Focus Through Yoga During Labour
Waterbirth International
All About Waterbirth
The Labour of Love - Forum
YouTube - Waterbirth
How Dilated Am I? Assessing Dilation Without and Internal Exam
Vitamin K shot for newborns
For Baby/Kids/Mama
Make Baby Stuff
Make a Baby Sling (from previously listed site)
(And after you make your carrier...) The Baby Wearer
Baby Wearing Instruction Booklet
Homemade Cloth Baby Wipes
Make them Yourself
Front Wearing your Mei Tai
...will be updated ASAP
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