Is it Possible to be a Bombshell and a Hippie at the Same Time?

Alright, so the deal is this:

I'm seriously considering hyponobirthing/waterbirth this time around.



I know. I seem more like the type to schedule an induction (a week early) and demand the drugs at the first sign of labor-related discomfort. That's pretty much what I did with my first child.

But.

Although the birth experience itself last time went okay (really, I had nothing to compare it to other than the horror stories I had heard of 75 hour labors and emergency c-sections, and my birth was nothing like that) I had a really hard time coming home.

A really hard time.

I felt emotionally numb and physically shattered for three or four days after my baby was born, and when I finally started feeling something at all, I cried for about two weeks straight.

Part of my emotional wreckage postpartum may have been due to the fact that I was alone. Pete of course had to go back to work and school after a couple of days, and my mother, who had taken time off work to be with me, promptly developed appendicitis and spent her leave time in the hospital recovering from an appendectomy.

Part of the problem may have been the fact that it was gloomy winter and I was stuck in a basement apartment with very little natural light and unable to get out much for exercise.

Regardless of what the problem was I did not, as such, transition well into motherhood.

I want this next experience to be different.

Very different.

Which is why I'm looking into different birthing options in the hopes that a more conscientious birth will lead to a smoother postpartum and bonding experience. I'm already established with a midwife instead of an OB/GYN and I think I've decided on a birthing center instead of a hospital birth--which means a natural, drug free birth rather than having the practically irresistible option of an epidural only feet away.

Of course, choosing a natural birth means looking into alternative pain management options, and thus far, hypnobirthing and waterbirth are the most appealing to me. I know for certain I at least want to labor in water, that sounds much more relaxing than being strapped flat on my back being held down by beeping monitors and IV tubes.

Also, I'd like to try prenatal yoga.



Anyone have any experience with prenatal yoga? I found a place in Mapleton that sounds pretty good, but I'd rather not travel that far if I don't have to.

Please share your (educated) thoughts and experiences. With the added challenge of moving to NYC and being far from home and family, I really need this birth and newborn phase to go as smoothly as possible, and I'm trying to plan for the best experience I can early on to facilitate that goal.

Spring, Renewal, Rebirth and that sort of Thing

The sun was shining today (though I believe it's storming outside now) which was a first for longer than I care to remember.

Amelia's poor face is slowly healing (the wounds were self inflicted--she picks at every little thing until it becomes a big oozing crater in her face. The only way we've been able to keep her from reopening the sores is to tape mittens onto her hands at night).

Pete graduates from BYU next week. Hoorah hoorah hoorah!

We're moving to NYC in July--it's starting to finally feel real!

And I'm slowly getting back into writing. Slowly. I wrote a whole bunch of notes for a new story idea the other day, and I've been bulking out a few chapters on my current project. I'm less overwhelmed by it now but I still need some motivational umph. Reading a good novel should help inspire me; any suggestions?

Anyway, here are some more photos of the babes.







Our local park is not the world's greatest park, there's not much of a playground and no walking paths, flowers or any other landscaping. But, having said that, I am VERY grateful to the park management for finally removing the dead cat that has been stinking up the place for the past couple of weeks. How I love American Fork.

And here's Amelia in her favorite place. Snuggling her Daddy and watching videos on his iTouch.

I feel as though I should update this blog as I (rather rashly) promised to do in my last post, yet I somehow find myself scrambling for anything of interest to write.

I did have an ultrasound a couple days ago and got to peek at my baby (I loath the word fetus and will refer to him/her as a baby regardless of the the current stage of development) which was exciting. But at 11.5 weeks there wasn't much to see, a barely humanoid form with a heartbeat. So I won't post the picture because I can hardly make anything out of it myself and can't expect any readers to get overly excited about it.

I could write for a very long time about food and my tempestuous relationship with it of late, but I can't imagine a detailed history of my cravings and aversions commanding too much interest either. Suffice it to say, early spring strawberries are my salvation and cold cereal has made a remarkable resurgence in my diet.

I haven't really been writing much lately--surprise surprise--or at all actually. I lost the motivation after printing out the first 100 pages of my bakery romance and starting to read it. I haven't allowed myself to do any, I mean any editing on it with the hope that writing right through it would help me to actually finish an entire draft. Instead, I realized how very much work it needs and got depressed. But I didn't bin it and I plan on picking it back up. Soon. Like, this afternoon, maybe.

So, what have I been doing? I haven't been writing, cooking, or doing much exercising or even read anything new in what feels like ages.

Well, I have been hanging out with my girl.




We go to the park--when it isn't blizzarding. We chill at the various BYU museums. We do a lot of coloring, and watch a few movies. Momminess is pretty all consuming for me right now, because it's all I seem to have energy for. But I've been pregnant before and I know things will balance out soon. I'll regain some energy and enthusiasm for life. I will write again, and I know my creative cooking days are just beginning.

So thanks for your patience. In the meantime, more photos of the cutest 2-year-old ever.