tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48620011875205323382012-02-15T23:57:04.844-08:00musings on motherhood, birth and babies...Babymoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748251432485052014noreply@blogger.comBlogger351100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862001187520532338.post-13616814513215490562011-12-28T20:55:00.000-08:002011-12-28T20:55:16.180-08:00

Today marked a nationwide nurse-in at national retailer Target.. an effort driven by a nursing mother being asked to use the dressing room at a Houston, TX Target and then being made to feel humiliated by the store employees after declining.  This nurse-in has ellicted an enormous amount of debate from both sides of the discussion. Myself, living in Washington state, the right to nurse in

Babymoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748251432485052014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862001187520532338.post-20705109812260014432011-12-26T13:02:00.000-08:002011-12-26T13:02:43.055-08:00

Seven years ago, we were expecting our third baby.  His estimated "guess" date was December 26th, however having had babes #1 and #2 at 38 weeks, I was sure he'd come well before that.  Staying true to the old tale that third babies are the wild card, he decided to stay put.. content to stay nestled in mama's body.  December 23rd brought many contractions... up to four minutes apart, without

Babymoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748251432485052014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862001187520532338.post-42980856636352339802011-12-16T14:58:00.000-08:002011-12-16T15:09:51.076-08:00

This past month has felt a little on the hectic side. At the end of October I began the last class needed as a pre-req for midwifery school- a course I had happened to take years and years ago that had been disrupted by an illness. My resulting C in the class wasn't adequate so I had to take it once again. Thinking it would merely be review was an understatement and the need to "review" an

Babymoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748251432485052014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862001187520532338.post-20993999743434322612011-11-16T19:15:00.001-08:002011-11-16T19:19:51.954-08:00

Ahhhh... there aren't many things better than seeing a new, beaming family and getting to hold a sweet, newborn baby, fresh out of the package!

Babymoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748251432485052014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862001187520532338.post-88719437866942763282011-11-11T20:10:00.000-08:002011-11-11T20:30:04.553-08:00

Driving home tonight the moon was big and full breaking through the one clear part of the sky.. so golden that it looked like an egg yolk sitting in sea of whispers of clouds.. quite a beautiful display considering our cloudy Pac Northwest skies that one gets accustomed to. Sometimes it's hard to remember that there are clear moons and skies full of stars out there. More women are said to go

Babymoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748251432485052014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862001187520532338.post-48580436837543597872011-10-23T20:34:00.000-07:002011-10-23T21:02:19.107-07:00

I have blogged multiple times about breastfeeding... I always knew that it was something I wanted to do, though I can't recall any specific reasons as to why. I don't remember having a lot of real life examples, other than the four months my Mom nursed my sister and seeing one aunt nurse my cousin for a bit. It just seemed to be what was supposed to be done and I did not go into it with any

Babymoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748251432485052014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862001187520532338.post-86416132365962747902011-10-05T19:40:00.000-07:002011-10-05T19:56:05.416-07:00

I love being a doula. Back in 2001, I took the Labor Support Course for Birth Doulas at Seattle Midwifery with none other than the amazing Penny Simkin (author of the Birth Partner, among other things). At the time, I was 9 weeks pregnant with my second child; the tools I learned were invaluable as I birthed my son unmedicated with a midwife at a birth center. Two years later, I attended my

Babymoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748251432485052014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862001187520532338.post-57865677578463875682011-06-07T18:51:00.000-07:002011-06-07T19:19:47.026-07:00

I have been pondering this question as of late, for several reasons. All too often in the birthing community I have heard birth workers, whether it be midwives, doulas, physicians, whomever, refer to the birthing women with a sense of ownership. When birth workers begin to use phrases when speaking of the birthing women they serve and the word "my" enters into the conversation (MY client, MY

Babymoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748251432485052014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862001187520532338.post-30876170039392053342010-11-21T07:50:00.000-08:002010-11-21T08:22:21.935-08:00

When I began nursing my firstborn just a little over 12 years ago (Happy birthday, baby girl!) I never would have imagined that in 2010 we would still be hearing drama over something so simple as nursing and nourishing our children. Over the past several years, stories have circulated about women's pictures of them nursing their children have been deleted on facebook accounts (this was an

Babymoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748251432485052014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862001187520532338.post-6398973086136687202010-07-08T10:11:00.001-07:002010-07-08T10:34:33.208-07:00

It is summer at last here in the Pacific Northwest...a highly anticipated time where the gloomy rain clouds dissipate and are replaced by sticky humidity and clear blue skies. I couldn't be happier. It also appears to be a season of change. Pattygirl is about to turn two in a few days. I can't believe it has been that long since I held my sweet girl in the confines of my safe womb, nervously

Babymoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748251432485052014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862001187520532338.post-35434017501370162152010-05-01T17:21:00.000-07:002010-05-01T17:34:51.452-07:00

I love spring. There is just something amazing about watching the world re-birth itself. Trees and flowers blooming, fresh produce in abundance, the warmth of a long-missed sun... nothing compares.My kids have started their own little garden. So far they have started growing dill, basil, rosemary, green onions, chives, chamomile, zucchini, thyme, peas and wild flowers. They have plans to start

Babymoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748251432485052014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862001187520532338.post-51821615186498077452010-04-22T20:09:00.000-07:002010-04-22T20:30:24.934-07:00

I think I perhaps may be the worse blogger in the world... for one, I constantly forget that I have this outlet here to rant, rave, ooooh and ahhhh.. and second I often wonder if anyone ever actually reads a smidgen of anything I write on here. Anyhow... either way I am back to muddle up cyberspace with more of my blabber.This past weekend I had an amazing opportunity to go the Midwifery Today

Babymoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748251432485052014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862001187520532338.post-47495595429554176632009-11-13T18:03:00.000-08:002009-11-13T19:27:11.457-08:00

Ahhhhh... breastfeeding. Nutrition, love and comfort all rolled up into one. I have a love/hate relationship with it. As my oldest daughter turned 11 last week, that makes almost 12 years straight of either being pregnant and/or breastfeeding. Some of my most precious memories are of nursing my children... a 4 mos old baby Kayla gazing up at me, milk dribbling out of her toothless smiling mouth..

Babymoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748251432485052014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862001187520532338.post-64407042371657928342009-11-04T19:23:00.000-08:002009-11-04T19:37:05.745-08:00

It's the classic debate, biology vs environment... being a step-parent, this debate takes a different flavor all together.. what makes a mother? Is it genetics? Or is it being there through good times and bad, teaching and loving and nurturing? Being there when the children are sick, taking them to doctor's appointments, hugging them when hearts are broken or buying a new dress for their first

Babymoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748251432485052014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862001187520532338.post-53819565128413957612009-04-25T11:16:00.000-07:002009-04-25T11:55:43.025-07:00

"For you, there'll be no more crying,For you, the sun will be shining,And I feel that when I'm with you,It's alright, I know its rightAnd the songbirds are singing,Like they know the score,And I love you, I love you, I love youLike never before"All of my babies have been "assigned" songs... special songs that Mommy can sing to them that have special significance. For Kayla, it is "You are so

Babymoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748251432485052014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862001187520532338.post-71696427497085239742009-04-20T22:02:00.000-07:002009-04-20T22:11:56.399-07:00

The last few days have been trying and tiresome, so I thought I would focus on some happy things..1) Patty-baby's deep belly laugh, it could melt anyone's heart2) Contests on who loves who more3) "girl time" with Kayla4) The Incredible Hulk5) first word's being "mama"6) children that love me enough that they supported me during the hardest part of laboring with their sister7) Jaiden's sillyness8)

Babymoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748251432485052014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862001187520532338.post-52570608446651750122009-04-14T23:41:00.000-07:002009-04-15T00:02:14.308-07:00

Can I vent for a moment here? (oh ya, of course I can... 'tis my blog and no one cares a lick about what I say anyways...)When I want to bake a batch of peanut butter cookies of which I know are my hubby's favorite, I know a few things are certain- I know what ingredients to include such as peanut butter, flour, sugar, butter, etc. I know what setting to place the oven on and how long to bake

Babymoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748251432485052014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862001187520532338.post-35983267736094547432009-04-12T21:17:00.000-07:002009-04-12T21:49:20.157-07:00

My stepbabies:When my husband and I met he was 11 years older than me, divorced with full custody of his 3 children (ages 3, 7 and 8 at the time). He made no comments to me at any point that when/if we were to marry that he'd like me to act as his children's mother, and I would say I had no pressure to do so. When we married I told the kids they were welcome to call me whatever they would like

Babymoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748251432485052014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862001187520532338.post-198544528217811962009-04-11T08:58:00.000-07:002009-04-11T09:19:15.343-07:00

Ava~Or otherwise affectionately known as "patty-baby".Ava is my fourth baby... my homebirthed baby. She was born at home on a relatively cool July evening. That morning I was woken early with pressure waves that continued on well into the evening before finally producing my 9 lb 13 oz ball of sweetness 18 hours later. Born just 13 minutes shy of my grandmother's 75th birthday, patty-baby was

Babymoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748251432485052014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862001187520532338.post-77617951024756871932009-04-09T20:08:00.000-07:002009-04-09T20:22:49.788-07:00

The Incredible Hulk:Aka Jaiden. My beautiful 4 year old boy. Jaiden was our surprise baby. When I found out I was pregnant with him I had just been accepted into midwifery school. TJ was just shy of 2 years old and still nursing, and the last thing we'd expected was another baby. Within the first week I ended up in the ER with extreme pain on my left side. Having quite a history of

Babymoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748251432485052014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862001187520532338.post-55440190271862594532009-04-08T19:15:00.000-07:002009-04-08T19:28:49.072-07:00

My big headed 6 year old boy...Tj was born on a quiet Sunday in a freestanding birth center... his birth was attended only by my husband and our midwives. That day it felt as if the entire world had stopped in arrival for our sweet baby. He was named Thomas for my grandfather who passed away when I was young. I remember once after he was born having a dream that I was showing TJ to my Morfar.

Babymoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748251432485052014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862001187520532338.post-42942753443962593342009-04-07T18:40:00.000-07:002009-04-07T18:55:25.556-07:00

So, yesterday while blogging my 6 year old exclaims, "I want you to write about ME, Mommy!" to which the others enthusiastically chimed in. Here we are... a series dedicated to the little ones in my life who have stolen my heart. Kayla:My first baby. How else can you describe the first child you gave birth to? Absolutely amazing. I was a few months shy of 21 when K was born. I remember her

Babymoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748251432485052014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862001187520532338.post-55503170824061586492009-04-06T21:04:00.000-07:002009-04-06T21:38:48.512-07:00

Living in the Pac NW, you learn to take advantage of the true and rare Spring-like days we get here. When the rain suddenly decides to take a break, allowing the sun to kiss the sky while revealing tiny pink and white blossoms decorating trees. This weekend happened to be one of these days! No rain, sun shining bright in the sky and temperatures rising to low 60's. Perfect. I find that nothing

Babymoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748251432485052014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862001187520532338.post-11623224386753169992009-03-18T19:20:00.000-07:002009-03-18T19:39:50.443-07:00

So, I will readily admit that I am a food Nazi when it comes to feeding my babies. For the life of me I will never understand the logic that says you must stuff artifical rice flakes full of empty crap and iron down your poor babies throat, shortly followed by a regime of jars full of pureed substances that looks the same as what comes out your baby's diaper. Ok, so maybe I am exaggerating a wee

Babymoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748251432485052014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862001187520532338.post-65213017353668353152009-03-16T07:10:00.000-07:002009-04-11T09:23:05.414-07:00

You didn't know that when you signed up, did you??This past week I have found myself bed-ridden with a sinus infection that would not quit. I wanted nothing more than to crawl under the covers, down a bottle of Nyquil and escape into a cold medicine induced coma, so to speak. But, alas, there are still kids that want Mommy, diapers to be changed, babies to be nursed, phones that ring, dinner to

Babymoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748251432485052014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862001187520532338.post-309231691390924422009-03-04T21:11:00.000-08:002009-03-04T21:19:33.436-08:00

*(While running through the house half nekkid, carrying nothing but two plastic squirt guns...)"GRRRRRR! I da Hoooooolk!" (aka the Hulk)*"Wha-da, say what?!"*"Mommy, I have powers for you... they are in my hands! Psssshhhhhheeeewwww!"*"Oh, tartar sauce!"*" DON'T KISS MY BABY SISTER! Grrrrrrr!"*After being told he can't *insert here: have a cookie, fly like superman, rob a bank, whatever*-- "Now I

Babymoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748251432485052014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862001187520532338.post-56592429397815146802009-02-22T13:30:00.000-08:002009-02-22T13:39:14.077-08:00

Being a Mom of many, many children organization has been a challenge of mine. I have continually struggled to find balance between work, housework, children's needs, my own needs, being a wife and sleep/relaxation. Concentrate on one thing too much and I end up shanking another. Patty-baby used to be content enough to sit in the "patty chair" while watching me cook and clean. These days, as

Babymoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748251432485052014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862001187520532338.post-23118766020852699082009-02-18T18:45:00.000-08:002009-02-18T21:07:39.185-08:00

Ahhh... the chaotic serenity of a family vacation. We had the recent opportunity to embark on a family trip, long car ride and all, to visit my husband's family. They fortunately happen to live in one of the most beautiful areas in the US, the Monterey Peninsula. The trip, while short, will live on as one of our most cherished family memories. Spending time together re-grounded ourselves in our

Babymoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748251432485052014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862001187520532338.post-17988540175791028182009-01-24T18:04:00.000-08:002009-01-24T18:28:49.746-08:00

It was only a matter of time before my thoughts would turn to birth.I work in a large office environment, but with a small team of about 15 other co-workers. My thoughts tend to be pretty out there when it comes to birthin' babies compared to the other ladies on my team. Anywhere from jokes about placentas bowls (yes, I bought a plastic bowl to make guacamole for our potluck and then turned

Babymoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748251432485052014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862001187520532338.post-41985079923222688142009-01-18T00:20:00.000-08:002009-01-18T00:44:27.558-08:00

After a long week of working and being a Mom sometimes there are those moments when you wish for nothing more than to not be demanded of.. even if it's just for a few minutes. Unfortunately, that wish rarely goes granted... it is the price we pay for sweet smiles and tight hugs from little, chubby arms. Tonight, after an evening of shopping, my girls and I stopped at Trader Joes for some

Babymoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748251432485052014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862001187520532338.post-27404590763726247672009-01-13T07:19:00.000-08:002009-04-11T09:22:43.472-07:00

J: MOMMY!!!Me: What, Jaidy?J: *balling fists and scrunching face* TJ called... ME... CUTE!!!!!Me: But you ARE cute!J: ARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH! *stomps away*

Babymoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748251432485052014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862001187520532338.post-86067925578113696792009-01-12T19:13:00.000-08:002009-01-12T19:25:45.730-08:00

Nothing gets me more than how mean children can be... especially pre-adolescent girls. When starting third grade, my daughter had a tussle with two little girls in her class. They called her "sassy pants" and "black history" and are now named her "arch enemies". Today, I come home from work... hubby tells me to ask K what happened today at school. Apparently, these same little heathens were

Babymoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748251432485052014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862001187520532338.post-35213909690522792852009-01-10T00:03:00.000-08:002009-04-11T09:22:19.713-07:00

A short time ago I decided that I would like to try my hand at making some homemade bread.. in other words, bread without using a bread machine, a new task for me. I enlisted the help of my daughter, Kayla, and we went to work that rainy Sunday making homemade buttermilk biscuits and challah bread. As we mixed and kneaded the bread I was reminded of the words of a dear friend who says while she

Babymoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748251432485052014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862001187520532338.post-5430045230881702512009-01-05T05:57:00.000-08:002009-01-05T06:13:47.695-08:00

It's shortly before 6am and everyone is asleep. I should relish this small slice of quiet rather than be annoyed than I am awake too early in the morning and it is fruitless to try to go back to sleep. Quiet is something that is taken for granted. I see that now that I am a mother. I have always been a person who has enjoyed time alone to herself. As a child and a teenager I would spend hours

Babymoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748251432485052014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862001187520532338.post-92151938888595196152009-01-04T00:21:00.000-08:002009-04-11T09:21:51.217-07:00

Well, here we go... I had a blog in the past, however it has been awhile. I realize it does me some good so I have decided to start again.What is a babymoon, you ask? It is akin to a honeymoon after marriage. A period of quiet and bliss to be experienced after the birth of a new baby. After baby number 4 arrived this past summer, I should be saying I am "beyond the babymoon" and shall never

Babymoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17748251432485052014noreply@blogger.com2