Only one of the biggest, best, most exciting days in our ENTIRE lives, that's all!

My man.

Is done.

With school.

Hoorayhoorayhoorayhoorayhoorayhoorayhooray.

Pete graduated from BYU on Friday with a degree in Advertising. He has a job waiting for him in NYC working in marketing (not modeling) for L'Oreal USA.

A good job.

A job that means that although we will not be living in a penthouse apartment in Midtown, we will also no longer be students.

I'm pretty stoked about this.

Here are some pics of the day:

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.