I’m feeling SO much joy lately.

Every pregnancy brought with it fears of being good enough.  With my first I had so many questions and wondered if I would make the right choices, and if I would be a good mom.  It seemed overwhelming, that I had SO much to learn.  Then I had Capri and learned that the Lord had created me with an instinct to do this thing called mothering- and I was already good at it, if I just listened to that voice.

With my second pregnancy I feared the balancing act of two, and how I would rock one baby and nurse another and how did other mothers do it?! I was overwhelmed with ONE baby- how did women go on to have many children?  Then I had Thatcher and realized… I can do this too.

I can rock two babies at once, I can tackle any situation, I can go to the grocery store with both of them, and most importantly I started to believe in myself as a mother.

Then with the third pregnancy I no longer feared how I would manage as a mother to all of them, but I feared how I would do anything else in life. On days where I was feeling lazy and maybe let the dishes go a little too long, I wondered, “When I have THREE kids, how will I ever keep up, if I’m overwhelmed with house work NOW?”  I feared the third thinking that I would be so overwhelmed I would never find time to get myself dressed in the morning, and I just concluded that I would probably never…ever…leave the house.

Now with three the Lord is teaching me that I CAN do all these things.  I can do way more then I ever thought I could.  Housework seemed so overwhelming before, and I knew looking forward that I would just have to GET BETTER at everything, and I was so fearful about HOW I was going to make that happen.  Then, suddenly I have to do it- and guess what?  I AM.  I’m just doing it.  I have no idea how, and no idea what changed.  I just adapted like every other time.

It’s amazing how motherhood can all at once make us feel completely inadequate, and yet be the most empowering journey of all time.

In the same day I can feel like I am failing in every way, and then BAM, I nurse, do the dishes, make lunch and hear my daughter say “You’re the best Mommy” and all of the sudden I feel like I can do ANYTHING.

Yesterday things got crazy after I picked up Capri from school.  She was throwing a fit because we didn’t go OUT to eat for lunch (even though we never do, and I never said anything about going out to eat), Thatcher was crying because Capri hit him in her anger (he happen to be standing too close), and Bea was crying to nurse because she woke up from a 4 hr nap right before I had to get Capri from school and so she had to wait to eat until after we picked her up and- OH the torture, poor thing!  All three kids screaming at me- lunch needed to be made- naps then needed to be had.

This sounds like a small moment, but these are the moments that would make me FREAK OUT before.  I would either scream or cry, and when it was all over, and my heart stopped racing and my panic went away I would want my husband to come home immediately and just hold me.

This time, I just said to myself “It’s okay!” and I just stayed calm, did what I was already doing (a million things at once), and guess what?  I was FINE.

It was my AHA moment- I didn’t have to let these crazy times overwhelm me- fear isn’t real, ya know?

Each baby has brought a new big lesson in motherhood and God is totally shaping me through it.

Disclaimer:  I wrote this like a journal, so that I could remember every detail.  It’s VERY long, filled with graphic details and images.  If that makes you squirmy, then skip this one!

I woke up at 3am with a big contraction.  I knew this was different then the normal braxton hicks I was used to having.  At the same time Thatcher woke up and decided it was time to play and so I was awake with him from 3-5AM.  My contractions were about 5 minutes apart and still pretty mild.  I went back to sleep and when I woke up at 7:30 they were still going.  I text family and midwife and decided to get the kids ready to go to my in-laws in hopes that I would labor throughout the day.  I spent the morning packing bags and snacks, making breakfast, cleaning, getting everyone bathed, dressed, hair braided etc… I would stop every five minutes and just sway my hips and breathe through the contractions that were about 30 seconds long.
The kids left with family around 10 and I decided to rub castor oil on my belly and pump in hopes of encouraging active labor to start.  I didn’t really see a change- just 5 minutes apart, mild contractions.  Wade and I decided to go for a walk.  It was the most gorgeous, perfect day!  I just wanted to stay outside.  It was sunny but not too bright, and probably between 75-80 degrees with a nice little breeze.  With the other two kids we took this same little labor walk, but with the other two it was in the middle of snow storms.  We had to load up in boots and coats to go outside, and then had to walk through 2 feet of snow and slippery ice in freezing temperatures!  Let’s just say I was SO thankful to be living in Arizona this time around!  We just spent the walk talking about our family, being so thankful to the Lord for how far we’ve come in the past few years, and all the ways he has blessed us.
When I got home my Midwife Anne Marie, asked me if I wanted her to come over and I was hesitant.  I am always worried about “crying wolf”, and since I tend to have long early labor periods, I feel so bad for getting everyone excited and then having DAYS of labor.  Finally, I just asked for her to come and check on the baby, and then to come back when I was in active labor.

Around 2PM, she checked the baby, and all was great, and then asked if I wanted to be checked.  I normally would have said no, but I wanted her to confirm what I thought- that it was still “early”.  If it was, then I was planning on taking a trip to Target to distract myself from contractions, and maybe take a nap.  She checked me, and I was 80% effaced, and 4, stretching to 5 centimeters along!  I was shocked!  I was expecting to hear I was at a 3.  I think those herbs I took helped- I remember one of the benefits to them was early dilation without pain!  For a girl that had very long and very painful early labors with the other two, this was just the greatest thing ever!  Anne Marie decided to stay near by, saying that she thought things were happening… so she went to Target across the street and shortly after she left my contractions became REALLY strong and I got in the tub.

This labor was different then my last two in a few ways.  The first being that I decided to MOVE through my contractions.  Before, I managed my pain by completely relaxing from head to toe, similar to hypnosis, and I didn’t want to move AT ALL.  This time, I relaxed and surrendered but I also moved.  I would sit on the ball and sway my hips, or sit in the pool and move in circles.  I changed positions often, not being afraid of getting stuck in something uncomfortable when a contraction came, but trusting my body to move in the way that it needed to.  I not only surrendered to the pain, but I surrendered to my body, it’s power and however I needed to move.

Contractions were difficult and I sort of felt like my “transition” lasted for hours.  Ya know the contractions that are intense, close together, and make you want to scream “I can’t do this anymore!  I’m done!”?  In some ways this felt like my hardest labor, and in others it felt like my easiest.  I guess I just coped better then before.  Although, I did not have back labor- and that made all the difference!  Wade didn’t have to sit in the tub and push my hips together with each contraction (poor thing was sort of bored!), I didn’t need the water high and boiling hot, and it was easier to move.  Good little girl stayed anterior the whole labor and never went posterior.  I was so thankful!  Around 4PM I threw up with a HUGE contraction and it was pretty memorable since Wade had followed me around with a pot, and then I asked him to get me water and as he took a step away I yelled “Pot!” and he ran to me and missed me by a half second.  After this I could feel her move down quite a bit (one of my favorite parts of laboring naturally- although painful- SO cool!).

My amazing Doula/Midwife Assistant Amara helped me so much through my labor.  Early on I asked her to read me my birth affirmations.  She whispered them softly in my ear as I lay over the tub.  I just focused on her words.  Then she started taking a washcloth and dipping it in the water and rubbing it around my neck, down my arms, over my face etc.. She would fan me with it too.  If you would have asked me ahead of time if I would have liked this, I would have told you a big fat NO.  I can’t believe I liked it, but it was AMAZING, and I wish she was at all my births.  It is the benefit of having a great Doula- that they can be intuitive enough to know what you need when you need it.  She is an experienced massage therapist too, so the way she moved and rubbed the wash cloth was so soothing.  She also did some EFT tapping the whole time, and I KNOW that it helped me emotionally.

The other part of my labor that was very different was that before, each time a contraction came I fearfully anticipated the pain.  I could relax a half of a second later, but I never could enter a contraction surrendered and relaxed.  That tension and fear in the beginning of the contraction caused me pain until I could let it go.  This time, instead of focusing on relaxing I focused on the baby.  Each contraction I visualized her moving down, and I kept talking to her in my head saying things like “Come to me baby girl”, “I want to meet you”, “Come down and out sweetheart”.  I repeatedly talked to her through the whole contraction and visualized my body opening up and pushing her down.  Because of this I embraced the pain of the contraction instead of fearing it.  I could FEEL everything and when it was painful it was because my body was opening and she was moving down.  I was actually disappointed when I would have a weak contraction that didn’t hurt!  The whole time my biggest frustration was patience.  I just couldn’t wait to meet her, and I wanted to see her face NOW.  I didn’t think of laboring this way ahead of time, it was just instinct.  Because of this, I didn’t have fear or tension when entering a contraction, I was relaxed from the beginning so the pain was so manageable.

A few times my midwife showed me how to “check” myself.  I really didn’t have any idea what I was feeling, but I did it again another two times and could totally tell the difference between the first time.  That was such a cool experience!

I have always found my labors to be an intimate experience with my husband.  Sure, there are other people in the room, but this is OUR time, bringing OUR baby into the world… a baby created out of our love.  Before, he was in the tub with me pushing on my back, holding me.  I longed to be close to him the whole labor, and he took care of me the whole time.  At the end, he held my hand, and I just loved his presence.  He is so my love and my rock.  It makes me sad for all the women a generation ago that had to labor with their husbands in the waiting room.  I don’t know what I would have done without him there.

It wasn’t long and I was squatting and feeling a little pushy.  I was expecting a break in contractions before that point, but everything was still 2 minutes apart and 1 and a half minutes long!  With the other two I never got the urge to push, and I think my body was just telling me to rest and prepare.  Instead of listening to my body I just pushed even though I didn’t want to, and had very long pushing stages.  I HATE to push, and it was the same this time!  So now that I had the urge to push, it scared me!  I voiced this to Anne Marie and Amara.  I told them that I was so used to relaxing through my contractions as a way to cope with the pain, that I was afraid to push through the contractions (instead of relax), and face that pain.  My midwife (who is also a ND and a Homeopathic doctor) gave me a couple of homeopathic remedies for fear.  At the same time Amara was surrogate tapping (EFT) and said, Carrington, I want you to say “Trixie is worth it”.  It was exactly what I needed to hear, and went right along with how I had been laboring, giving all my focus to her.  She WAS worth it.  She tapped, and I said those words.  Then Anne Marie said “Why don’t you just try a little grunt?  A little push, just to see how it feels?”.

At 6:45, with the next contraction I gave a tiny push and a grunt and all of the sudden my water just burst through…. the water!  With it came my mucus plug and bloody show- neither of which I had lost yet at all (even being a week late!).  It was so cool to me that it completely distracted me from my contractions.  I think I even said “Whoa, that was really cool.”

Two minutes later another contraction came and I thought I would try just a little push again.  I just loathe pushing, and it also scares me, but I wanted to see my baby SO bad.  When I pushed a little I was shocked at how much it moved her that I kept pushing and her head came through!  I don’t think anyone else in the room realized how close I was, or that she was coming that fast and I heard Wade exclaim, “I see her head!  I see her head!”.  I was squatting with one knee down and one leg up.  After her head came out, I wanted to be done SO bad that I just fully committed, accepting whatever tear or pain was going to happen and KEPT pushing until she came out!  The next push (and same contraction) she was out!  Oh gosh, it felt so amazing!

I had voiced that I wanted to catch her, or have Wade catch her, and so when I pushed her out so fast, I just reached down and grabbed my baby girl.  With Thatcher I delivered him behind me (standing up), and I hated the feeling of not being able to see him, or grab him.  Grabbing her as she came out was so incredible empowering and amazing.  I pulled her to my chest and she let out a big cry.  She quickly turned a little gray/blue and my midwife came up behind me because her cord was wrapped around her neck.  She was also grabbing her cord like it was her little lovie, and was refusing to let it go!  Anne Marie had to pull each little finger out of the tight grip and pulled the cord around and she instantly pinked up and let out another cry!

I kissed her, kissed my husband, kissed my mom and couldn’t believe how TINY she was.  To many other people she was probably huge, but to me?  She was soo tiny! Her brother was almost two pounds heavier!  Her tiny features!  Oh, she was so beautiful and reminded me so much of Capri and Thatcher.

We waited until the cord stopped pulsating and then clamped it and Wade cut it.  After we cut the cord, I handed her to Wade who swaddled her up and held her.  I got out of the tub and sat on the birthing stool to deliver the placenta with the midwife in front of me.  It came out fast, along with a bunch of blood clots.  She noticed the bleeding was more then she liked, so she gave me a couple of homeopathic remedies and two herbs- shepards purse, and blue cohosh.  We waited a few minutes and she kept massaging me.  It wasn’t stopping and so she decided to give me Cytotec.  With Capri I had some bleeding, and they gave me pitocin and cytotec right away (without my permission) and I still passed out after the birth trying to go to the bathroom.  The doctors never mentioned my bleeding, and so I had no idea that was why I passed out.  I just wasn’t informed, but looking back I understand what was happening.  With Thatcher, I had a lot of bleeding, and was given cytotec as well by my CNM, and after a lot of massaging clots out, and getting some food in me, I eventually felt better (although I felt like I was going to pass out).  Knowing this might be a “thing” with me, I spoke a lot with my midwife about it ahead of time to make sure she had what was needed on hand, and I took TONS of herbs to prep my body in hopes I would not have any hemmoraging.

I started to feel a little better and asked to go to the bed to lay down.  We went into the bedroom, she massaged more clots out and then I sat up and was nursing Beatrix.  We sat in there for a little over an hour, talking about the birth, nursing etc.. Then, I started to feel super weak again, and gave the baby to my mom and laid down.  I told Anne Marie I was feeling really weak and she checked my blood pressure- it had dropped drastically (sorry, I can’t remember what it was at- but let’s just say it was dangerously low).  She asked me, “Do you feel like you did with Thatcher, or worse?”  I said, “Worse”.

Then I passed out.

At that time it was just Jordan (my good friend who was there taking pictures for me), and the midwife in the room.  The midwife yelled for Amara to call 911 (Jordan just did), and Jordan yelled for Wade as my midwife ran to get one of those things you snap to wake people up, are they amonia?  I don’t know what they are called, ha!  Before she left she rolled me on my side and told Wade to talk to me and get me to wake up. It was only about 20-30 seconds that I was “out”.

I woke up on my side in my husbands arms with him yelling my name and my midwife back and yelling my name.  It was the weirdest and most confusing thing ever.  I had no idea I passed out.  It felt like I had just fallen asleep.  You know when you are up late chatting with a friend and they are talking and you accidentally fall asleep until they say your name to see if you are listening?  That’s what it felt like!  I didn’t understand why everyone was running around, etc.. Then, I felt instantly better!  Blood pressure went back up, and midwife is holding my legs up, and then people are feeding me coconut water, yogurt, broth, etc..  By this time the paramedics had already arrived (I swear, they were there in like two minutes!  Nice to know I live so close to them!)

So, I started talking to the midwife about transferring, and asked her what they would do for me at the hospital.  She said they would give me fluids, and more cytotec and pitocin to stop bleeding.  I knew that SHE had all those things on hand as well, and since my blood pressure was stable, did I really have to go?  I didn’t want to leave my baby, and I really, really didn’t want to go to the hospital!  I had just had the most beautiful experience, I didn’t want to leave my home.  I asked her if she could stay with me through the night to monitor me, and if it got worse, we could just call the ambulance back, but I wanted to stay.  She agreed as long as my blood pressure stayed stable that we could do that.  So, they went outside and told the paramedics that we were refusing transfer.  As they were out there telling them, all of the sudden I felt weak again.  I told her to take my BP again, and AGAIN it had dropped way low.  She looked at me SO concerned and I said “I should just go in, huh?” and she said “YES.”  So then she ran outside to tell them to come BACK.  The fire department was still there but the paramedics were just leaving, so they chased them down the street and waved them down, telling them to come back.

A minute later I’m naked on my bed and there are about 8 EMT’s in my bedroom!  The first thing they did was cover me up, and I laughed- I swear all my modesty left with childbirth!  They were all SO nice.  I kind of expected attitudes, because so many people have so many beliefs about the safety of homebirth, and I figured I would get a comment from them, but they were all so nice telling me congrats, and what a gorgeous little girl I had!  They carried me out in a sling because they couldn’t get the gurney to fit through the door way.  All in a matter of minutes we figured out that Amara and Jordan would stay with my mom and the baby at home.  Jordan would pump for the baby , and my midwife and Wade would come with me to the hospital.

Off to the hospital I went, conflicted as to whether I made the right choice to leave my baby.  Feeling thankful for being taken care of, then feeling silly for causing such a scene, etc.. When we got to the county hospital, they brought me through the ER, and I was soo hoping that they would not leave me there.  It looked like a really busy night, and I didn’t want to deal with an ER doctor.  God totally answered my prayers and after listening for a few minutes to the paramedic argue with the nurse, I was brought up to L and D and brought into a room.  Again, I was expecting a lot of negativity, or comments from nurses/doctors about having a homebirth but it’s like the Lord chose these specific people for me this night.  They were all SO loving and kind and just above and beyond sweet, making the whole situation that could have been very traumatic for me, very smooth and easy.

They gave me more cytotec, pitocin and hooked me up to fluids (I got three whole bags that evening), and then gave me morphine so that they could literally DIG inside my uterus and get the rest of the clots out that were preventing my uterus to contract fully and thus be able to stop my bleeding.  Even with the morphine it was painful and the doctor pulled out a whole cluster of clots that had gotten stuck in my lower uterine cavity.

After that I was doing much better.  We had to stay for hours more as they ran tests.  It was SO hard to be away from Beatrix, but I knew she was in good hands with my mom (probably the only person I would have been comfortable leaving her with), and with Jordan there to pump, I wasn’t worried about her.  Actually, I think I had been blessed with a supernatural peace.  Being separated from my baby so soon after birth should have been way more traumatizing then it was.  My midwife came with and was able to answer all their medical questions, give them my charts and all my medical history and answer all their questions.  It was so nice to not have to do any of that, and have her there for a second opinion on things!  She was amazing!  She stayed with us until midnight and then went home to do all the newborn stuff with Beatrix!  In all the crazy, she hadn’t even been weighed or measured.  I actually was so anxious to see how much she weighed that we had Amara do it, and they text us pictures and the weight at the hospital.  8.3 pounds!  Oh my goodness! I had PRAYED for a small baby, and there she was!  Although, that weight deserves a little * by it, because she pooped like 5 times right after birth!  It’s a whole different story, in which my mom got pooped on a bunch, lol!  It was also another thing we were praising God for.  My body knew I needed to push her out right away, because I believe if I had a long pushing stage she might have had meconium in there, and that leaves risk for ingesting some, or breathing some of it in- both can be serious complications.  The Lord just had it all perfectly planned.

Wade and I spent the evening RESTING and talking.  We were giddy and couldn’t stop talking about the birth, what happened.  I loved hearing his perspective and he loved hearing mine.  It was so fun to recap the birth of our little girl.  Finally, at 6AM we were allowed to go home. Baby had been spoon fed some milk, and was doing great- sleeping.  Amara and my dad had cleaned up the tub and Amara was sleeping on my couch.  I could.not.wait. to hold her again.  Oh, it was like giving birth all over again- that moment!

I will say this- although it wasn’t perfect, and I had to transfer to the hospital- it FELT perfect to me.  I didn’t feel like my transfer experience took away from my birth experience.  I’m SO so happy I birthed at home and got an intervention free birth with a healthy baby without the need of monitoring, pain medication or surgery.  I hope my birth is an example of the awesome care I was under with my Midwife, and how the medical intervention I had was sooo wonderful, and needed and I am beyond grateful that I had it.  My hope is that her birth is not overshadowed by the transfer- that you don’t look at my homebirth and say “Look!  Homebirth is dangerous!”  This would have happened whether I was at the hospital or not, and I had great care while I was at home to take care of me while we waited for transfer. I think my birth is a great example if you are having a homebirth and you fear, “What happens if something goes wrong?”  This is what happens, and this is what you do, and this is why I love homebirth!

So, she is two weeks old now- but let me introduce you to my new best friend…

Beatrix Anne Beauchamp

Born at Home

8 pounds 3 ounces 19 inches long.

Born at 6:50 (ish)

My Support team was AMAZING.

Thank you to my husband for being such an encouragement, support, love.  He is a master birth supporter/coach, and I’m so blessed to be his wife.

Thank you to my Mom who was there doing all the little jobs no one sees, loving on me, and then being there to take care of my baby in the most crucial time!  Thank you for then taking care of me in the weeks after.  I have NO idea how I could have ever become a mother without the support and care that you have given me!

Thank you to Anne Marie, my midwife for her amazing care.  Your knowledge and expertise wow me, and I loved getting to talk to you each visit.  Thank you for giving me such a beautiful birth.  I trusted you completely, and I’m so glad the Lord led me to you.  Thank you for going with me to the hospital, staying late and taking care of me each step of the way.  You are simply the best! <3

If you live in the Phoenix area and need a midwife, a homeopathic doctor, or a naturopathic doctor (who specializes in pediatrics, so you can do your well baby check ups with her, instead of a Ped!) you need to check her out! Here is her website and her Facebook

Thank you to Amara, my “Doula”… a role that you took on, and were absolutely amazing at!  I’m so happy to have met you, to have made friends with you.  Thank you for your support during labor- my only regret is that you weren’t at all my babies birth!  You went above and beyond in every way for me, and I’m forever grateful!  Thank you so much!

If you want an amazing Doula, or need a massage from an epic massage therapist, or want someone that will do placenta encapsulation, or do you want to know more about EFT, or need help figuring out information about vaccines?  (She is a woman of many talents!)  You need to call Amara!  And, if you choose Anne Marie as your midwife, you might just get Amara as your midwife assistant and then have a built in doula like me! This is her website and this is her facebook.

And last but not least- thank you to my dear friend Jordan!  She is the one that took ALL of these amazing photos!  She is the one that fed my baby when I couldn’t!  Jordan, I told you this before, but it was like a divine appointment having you there.  You had such great energy and were so great and taking pictures of EVERY moment and yet never disturbing me.  I’m so glad I got to share this experience with you, forever grateful for the moments you captured, and so thankful for your support afterwards.  You are simply the best!

I’m now 2 days past my due date, and shockingly feeling okay about it.  I’m obviously huge and uncomfortable.  I cry when I have to roll over in bed at night, or get up to go to the bathroom.  My hips and lower back and ligaments are crying for mercy.

BUT, I feel a peace that surpasses it all. This may (and most likely will be) our last pregnancy.

The last time I will feel flutters and kicks.  The last time my belly will make crazy movements, my husband will talk to my belly and my kids will kiss it.  It’s the last time I will experience what it is like to have life inside of me.

It’s the last time we will do things together as a family of four.  That I can hold just two kids in my arms (without squishing in three).

Enjoying this time with my husband where our bed is only ours, and my body is only ours .

Every night I am feeling super strong braxton hicks that start in the evening and go throughout the night.  They are much stronger then the ones I get throughout the day, and are more consistent and constant.  I’m hoping with all the herbal prep I did that I am possibly dilating a little each night (without pain), and that I will start labor already in active labor!  That would be my dream!

This waiting period is so weird.  A LIFE CHANGING, difficult event is about to happen at any moment, and we are supposed to carry on with life until it does.  Every time I paint my nails or shave my legs I pray and hope it’s the last time before the baby comes.  Every time I bathe the kids and braid Capri’s hair, I pray it’s the last time before baby comes (so they are clean and ready for in-laws!).

I’ve never seen contentment in myself like I have right now.  Maybe it is because she is still a little high and floaty and so I’m not in SO much pain (like with the other two?) that I’m not desperate for her to come out yet?  Or maybe it’s because we came so close to losing her early on that I’m just super present and sensitive and GRATEFUL and THANKFUL for the miracle that she is.

I just want her to feel peace from me, and I want her to feel peace when she comes into this world, and loved…. so so loved….because she is.

I keep thinking that my peace and contentment is a sign that she is NOT coming for a long time!  But maybe I could be blessed enough to feel this way all the way up until she comes?  I hope so.  I so prefer this feeling, this way of living to the torturous ones I did with my other two!

If you would like to see “labor updates”, I’m going to be updating (and having a friend update for me) on my Organic Life Love Facebook page.  Just click “like” on the blue box on the top right hand side of the blog.

Oh, and hopefully “one last” belly shot?

40 wks 2 days

Hopefully next time I write it will be with a little girl in my arms!

So, a few things are going on… I’m REALLY pregnant now- 39 wks, due November 6th.

Wade and I were able to escape for a date night the other night- wanted to make sure we snuck one in before baby Beatrix showed up!

I took a picture in the bathroom at the restaurant!  I’m now noticing that my dress looks more like a tent with how big my belly is!

I’m feeling really great which is SO weird.  I find myself having energy, nesting, and in a great mood.  I normally want to just die at the end of my pregnancy, and right now I’m in no rush to see this baby!  I obviously can’t wait, but I’m not feeling the usual pressure to get her out!  This might be our last baby, who knows?  I just want to enjoy her, and feeling her crazy movement, and being pregnant!  I’ve never really felt great pregnant, and so I am enjoying it!

My mom and dad get into town on Monday though, and I’m thinking I will start wanting her to come out then!

The last two weeks I’ve been in panic mode that she might come EARLY.  Then I got really fearful about labor and my birth, and was feeling SO un-ready.  Some awesome friends just reminded me that she will come when we were both ready.  And it is so true!  I just felt so much more mentally prepared with my last two.  I was able to spend some time meditating and practicing getting to that really focused place- and this time around I have had NO time to make that happen.  Somehow though, I feel like the Lord is preparing me, washing away my fear, teaching me how to surrender in other areas of my life which I’m sure is just practice for surrendering during labor.  I’m feeling more ready each day to welcome this baby girl into my life, and instead of fearing the process I am getting really excited.  I can’t wait to have the birth I envision!  I can’t wait to feel her move through my body, to catch her, to hold her, to nurse her, and to see her beautiful face.

(I dyed my hair red btw).

Feeling beautiful pregnant for the first time ever!  It feels pretty awesome.  Now I get the women that embrace this time, and their bodies, and just feel glowing and magnificent.  I’m feeling it now!  Wish I embraced pregnancy this way before..

Tonight we took the kids to a pumpkin patch, and we managed to find a pretty awesome one near town.  This is pretty amazing since we live in a big city, a big desert city!  Last year we drove up north for the day and found one, but we couldn’t do that this year (obviously), so we were so happy to have found this place!

The kids LOVED it, and this pretty much sums up our night….

We rode a little train, jumped in a blow up jumpy thing, went down slides, climbed on hay stacks, picked pumpkins and then went through a really dark (and really long… oh gosh, kill me now) corn maze (filled with teenagers screaming and scaring my children!)

Hope you have a Happy Halloween!

I have been really looking into taking some kind of herbal support to prepare me for labor.  I had never really looked into this before, and the extent of my knowledge was just to drink lots of red raspberry leaf tea.  I never ended up taking the RRL very much.  I would always buy it, and then drink it once or twice and then forget about it! Ha! Whoops.

But I KNOW there must be a reason why some women have super easy fast labors, and others don’t.  Why some women have such a hard time healing afterwards, and others do not.  I’ve had long, difficult labors, and my recovery has always been hard (even though I never had tearing)… it was just hard to walk for at least a week, how do some women seem to jump right up?

There are SO many contributing factors to these things, and most of the time we have no control, and can’t help these things.  But what if there was a way to prepare our bodies, to strengthen them nutritionally to do their “job” most effectively.

Since I had those problems, and more (like serious bleeding after Thatcher was born), my midwife suggested a labor prep combination called Gentle birth.

Here is a great description for the rationale behind these labor prep combinations:

(http://gentlebirth.org/archives/herbs.html#PN)

Rationale for Prenatal Herbal Tonics

Prenatal herbal formulations are designed to help ripen the cervix and tone the uterine muscle.  Typically, they do this by causing an increase in toning contractions in late pregnancy.  If humans lived now as we evolved, even very pregnant women would still be doing a lot of walking around, foraging for food or moving about by foot instead of by car. Those normal levels of adrenaline from daily activity caused toning contractions (archaically called Braxton-Hicks contractions), which helped move the baby into the optimal position for birth and toned the uterus for an easier labor and birth.  Moving the baby’s head down onto the cervix helped ripen the cervix so it would open more easily when the contractions of labor started.  Having a ripened cervix helped the baby to come in a timely fashion, preparing the uterus to be ready to go into labor as soon as baby threw the switch.  This meant that baby was more likely to have a nice, flexible head for easier molding and less likely to release meconium before birth.

Instead, we now see lots of women with long prodromal or early labors, which tell us that the uterus and cervix weren’t ready to go into labor when baby was ready to come.  Women can help prepare the uterus to be in synch with baby’s timing either by doing lots and lots of walking (several hours per day would be optimal), or by taking herbs which also cause toning contractions.

The herbs in these prenatal formulations are tonic herbs, meaning they are mild, and you need to take them over an extended period of time in order for the benefits to accumulate.  The capsule formulations are not a concentrated tincture or extract; they simply take the plants, chopped and dried, and put them into gelatin capsules.  This is why you end up having to take so many capsules around your due date; they’re not concentrated the way herbal tinctures are.  You could view it as a way of getting more greens every day.

Their are three main products/companies that carry these combinations- however you can take these things seperately or find a great herbal shop to blend them for you, or put them in a tonic.

Dr. Christopher’s PN-6 (however this his hard to find?), Nature’s Sunshine 5W (Standing for 5 weeks, which is how long you take it for), and Gentle Birth by Mountain Meadow Herbs.

All of them claim basically the same things, with the “strongest” formula being the PN-6, then 5W, and then Gentle Birth.

• Very little post-date babies (they come either “early” or “on time”)
• Less pain during labor and delivery
• Advanced dilation before discomfort was felt (Can I get an Amen?!)
• Shorter, easier recovery
• Very little bleeding and hemorrhaging
• Better breastfeeding
• Little to no “after pains”

I have read that they will make you have lots of braxton hicks contractions near the end, but they will actually regulate those contractions, and when you are ready for real labor (as opposed to false labor), it STARTS and then doesn’t stop.  It feels like an epidemic with my close friends that have labors that start and stop and start and stop (poor things, how awful, huh?).

If taken before 35 or 36 weeks however these can induce labor early, so it is recommended that you take them per what the bottle says of course, and under the provision of your care provider.

I was interested to learn what some of the herbs in these combinations actually did- here are a few-

Squaw vine herb: Used by Native Americans and “among the best remedies for preparing the uterus and whole body for child birth”. Recommended for use during the some weeks before one’s EDD. Also useful in the relief of painful menstruation (dysmenorrhea). When used in preparations for labor, combine with raspberry leaf.

Black cohosh root: Used by Native Americans and “has a most powerful action as a relaxant and a normalizer on the female reproductive system”. Also useful in dysmenorrhea relief. Its usefulness in labor is to “aid uterine activity whilst allaying nervousness”. That said, this herb is known to have some sedative effects in addition to its effects as a general female tonic.

Red Raspberry Leaf: Used to strengthen and tone the uterus, thereby easing labor and preventing hemorrhage. This herb should be taken regularly during pregnancy and esp. during labor.

Here are the other herbs found in some of these combinations if you wanted to look each of them up…. blessed thistle, blue cohosh, false unicorn, bayberry,ginger, scullcap, motherwort, wild yam, dong quai root , butcher’s broom root.

My midwife recommends the gentle birth formula, and my herbalist recommends the 5w, however there are many midwives that do not think these are a good idea, so check with your care provider before taking them!

I sat fascinated and in AWE of the testimonials of all three of these products through this one forum I found online- hoping I have a similar experience as these women, you MUST check out this feed…. http://www.welltellme.com/discuss/index.php?topic=15472.0

I am 36 weeks now, and I will be taking one until I have the baby!  I will let you know which one I ended up taking, and then I will obviously let you know how my labor/recovery goes!

And please tell me, have you ever tried these?  What was your experience with them?

That is my Niece!

Born at home in the water at 6:30pm October 5, 2011

9lbs 2oz 21.5 inches

She was the most waited on baby of all time… and she was soooo worth the wait.

She has brought squeals, and tears, and healing and redemption to our family.

She helps us celebrate her older Sister, and heal.

She looks so much like her three big brothers- she was always meant to be here- to fit right in.

We CANNOT be more excited about her arrival.

And her Mama?  AMAZING birth warrior.  If you want to know how to surrender anything- ask her!  She’s become a master.

So proud of my Sister.

And her Daddy?  He was so meant to be a daddy to a girl- it’s the sweetest thing seeing them together!

Praise God for babies, they are SUCH miracles, aren’t they?

Eating and drinking during labor is one of the most important things you can do!  I feel like with my first I “heard” the advice, but I didn’t take it seriously, and I did not realize how important it was.  After my water broke, I was just so excited “Today is the day! YAY!”  Maybe I had a bagel?  Maybe I had nothing.  I don’t remember eating anything but maybe ice.  Then I was puking, and didn’t have an appetite for anything.  Problem was I had a super long early labor stage and the not sleeping (the other most important thing that I never took seriously), and the not eating led to total exhaustion and hospital transfer for me.

With Thatcher, I was SET on eating AND sleeping during labor to get me through.  I slept in between contractions, and ate as much as possible (Even though I really didn’t want to).   It made ALL the difference for me.  Contractions didn’t seem so hard because I had the stamina and strength I needed to get through.  I knew that however long this process was going to be, I could do it as long as I got sleep and food!  I also believe that sometimes the body is asking for food to kick you into active labor (and out of early labor).

Studies show that almost 100% of women will WANT to eat and drink during labor.  It is mainly important for the early stages of labor, and once active labor hits, food consumption lowers (you might want sips of drinks etc..).  I’m not sure I ever really wanted to eat or had much of an appetite, but I was committed knowing it was what I needed.  I think that we should respect women to know when they want things, and when they don’t, but I also think (like in my case) being reminded and encouraged to eat and drink during labor is important.

And of course, eating things like jello and cookies are not going to sustain you like other things-

these are my best tips for labor snacks!

Early labor snacks-

Eggs (have it for breakfast and keep some hard boiled ones in the fridge to grab if you labor starts quick).

Cheese cubes

Applesauce (loving those squeeze packets, and would be so convenient during labor).

Beef (try to eat some of last nights leftovers for breakfast- or make yourself a burger for lunch.  This red meat protein is the foundation for all proteins).

Protein bars

Protein shakes (make it with raw milk, or whole organic milk).

Apples

Hummus platter (this was a hit for me with Thatcher, lots of veggies, lots of hummus and pita bread)

Smoothies (these were my favorite! I probably threw them up, but didn’t care!  Berry smoothies, and you can add a protein scoop to it as well!)

As things start to progress into active labor and you want less food and only liquids- these are some good ideas!

-Honey sticks!  Easier then taking a spoonful of honey.

-Electrolyte replacement- coconut water!  Coconut water is just the best electrolyte replacement, and you can buy it flavored (I prefer a strawberry or something), and make a goal to take a sip of this and water every three contractions through the end of labor.

Here are some other great recipes for home made electrolyte replacement:

Midwife Kim Mosny recommends this “Labor Aid” recipe…

* 1 qt. water
* 1/3 c. honey
* 1/3 c. juice from a real lemon
* 1/2 t. salt
* 1/4 t. baking soda
* 2 crushed calcium tablets

Here’s another similar recipe including magnesium (I assume it’s also added to a quart of water)…

* 1/3 cup lemon juice (preferably fresh-squeezed)
* 1/3 cup honey
* 1/4 tsp. sea salt
* 1/4 tsp. baking soda
* 1-2 calcium/magnesium tablets, crushed, OR 1 Tb liquid calcium/magnesium supplement

-Beef stock (drink it with a straw).  My midwife’s assistant made up a big yummy batch of this in my home after I delivered Thatcher because I was so weak- and they thought it would work much better then giving me an IV- well they were right!  It was amazing!   Make some homemade and add lots of veggies for you to sip during and after labor!

These tips are not just useful for homebirthers and birth center mama’s but hospital mamas can do this too!

I recommend staying at home in those early labor stages (which unfortunately, can last a looong time) and eat and drink these things while you are at home!  Also, maybe it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor and negotiate maybe some “against policy” items that your doctor is comfortable with (like the beef broth, protein shakes, or coconut water).

I’m constantly researching for myself with this new baby coming, and I would love to hear any other ideas you guys had!  What did you enjoy eating/drinking during labor?  What do you swear by?

I met Rachel on Twitter a few years ago, and at the time we both lived in Northwest Indiana (she still lives there ).  We bonded over our shared love of birth and babies.  She is a doula you see, and she was my doula at Thather’s birth.

Here she is with me:

And last week she welcomed her first baby- a beautiful little girl into the world at her home.  A frank breech baby born in 8 hours!  Goodness!  I’m so happy for her and her husband, and so proud of her.  I asked her if she would share her birth story with us!   Here is the story in her words:

This is the birth story of Maren Libby Louise Campbell.

Adam and I tried longer than most to get pregnant, so every day that I was pregnant was a blessing for us. I had very few complaints! Of course, I don’t miss the pregnancy heartburn. I was excited to see what day our baby would pick for her birthday and really looking forward to her birth experience. I started my maternity leave at 38 weeks because I needed time to nest at home.

A little background for those who don’t know: I have done doula training and have attended births. I have always been passionate about pregnancy, labor, birth and babies. Thanks to our pastor’s family growing up, homebirth has always been on my “radar” and I feel like I’ve always known that when I got pregnant, I would want a homebirth. Adam and I were excited to have a low-risk, healthy pregnancy that made homebirth an option for us. We had all of our prenatals from 20 weeks on in the comfort of our own home. It was awesome!

The week before she was born I mentioned to our doula that I secretly hoped my water would break so that there would be no doubt I was in labor. I sure got my wish! On Tuesday the 13th, I asked Adam to bring up our recliner from the basement. My midwife, Cindy, had asked me to rest up because I had been having some signs of labor. I hadn’t been sleeping well and I thought sitting upright might help me actually get quality rest. Because I had been on maternity leave, I had a weird schedule that usually had me up until 2am and sleeping in until 11am or noon every day, plus naps if I wanted. I was up until 1:30 watching Mad Men on Netflix in the recliner.

Before I settled into the recliner I told Adam I was going to put a chux pad on the recliner in case my water broke. He asked “What?? Do you think you’re going into labor??” I said no, but just wanted to be prepared. Right after I shut the light off to try to sleep I felt a weird fluttery sensation in my belly. When it happened I couldn’t be sure if it was a physical or psychological thing, but in my head I thought “I think I’m going to have this baby, and I’m ready.”

I fell asleep and woke up abruptly. A split second after waking there was a HUGE gush of fluid. I was super happy I put down the chux pad! I sat up in the recliner, went to the bathroom and confirmed that my water had broken. It was clear and so I wasn’t worried. I went back into the bedroom and changed my clothes, then called my midwife to let her know. It was 3am.

My midwife suggested taking Benadryl or drinking a glass of wine and going back to sleep to rest up for the birth. I got off the phone with her and told Adam my water had broken. I told him the plan of trying to sleep, which was a relief to him because he had been feeling sick for a few days and was worried he would be sick at the birth. I also texted my friend Beth, who I invited to take our birth photos, that stuff was happening. Adam texted our doula, Robin, for me. I put down some chux on the bed and tried to lay down after a glass of wine, but I was leaking so much fluid I soaked through the pads and couldn’t get comfy. I went back to the recliner with more chux and dozed a bit, but couldn’t get comfortable because I felt like I was sitting in a bath tub! I felt my belly tightening into my first contraction, so I decided to get up and when I released the recliner it sounded like someone was just pouring a glass of water onto the floor. The chux had absorbed all they could and the rest splashed onto the carpet! Oh well, it’s just amniotic fluid.

I went to the bathroom and started timing my contractions by downloading an app on my phone during a contraction (how 2011 of me). I wanted to be able to tell my midwife/doula if things were picking up and have tangible proof, even though I knew they were. I had several contractions pretty closely together, so I woke Adam up and told him to call Robin and have her come. I also texted Beth to start heading over as soon as she was ready.

Adam called my parents (they were nice enough to take our dogs for us while I was laboring!) and also called Cindy. I took my exercise ball and went in our master bathroom to labor. My parents came and my mom came in and we talked about how her water broke with me. My mom had a 12 hour labor with me and I was hoping I’d have such a quick one too!

Our doula showed up not long after my parents left and we chatted through my contractions while Adam filled the birth pool. Right when I was getting pretty uncomfortable the pool was ready and I got in. Strangely, I did not enjoy the birth pool as much as I thought I would. Inbetween contractions it was wonderful, but during a contraction it was miserable for me and just didn’t feel right. Beth showed up and started taking pictures, and they all waited on me if I needed anything. It was nice to just relax and labor in my own home.

I liked to get in and out of the pool, because feeling the cold air on my skin after being in the pool felt AWESOME. I loved laboring on the toilet (a favorite of many women). I would go back and forth from the bathroom to the pool.

Time doesn’t exist when you’re in labor, and I made sure to avoid clocks so I wouldn’t feel any differently toward my progress. My contractions varied, but I had a lot of back labor. I have a history of painful periods, and the pain level never truly exceeded anything I’ve felt before. Also, knowing I was getting a BABY at the end of it made the pain very tolerable. Don’t get me wrong; they HURT! But it was never unbearable, and you always have the comfort of knowing a contraction will end, and you’re one step closer to your baby.

At some point I became aware of whispering and phone calls. That’s when my doula told me they couldn’t get ahold of my midwife. She had stopped responding to phone calls. Adam ended up having the police sent to her house to make sure she was okay! So she had them knocking on her door asking her “Are you a midwife? There are people in Gary who need you.” I could only shake my head at this, because of course that would happen on the day I’m in labor! I was mostly just excited though, because calling Cindy meant that Cindy would be needed soon, which meant I was making progress!

I continued back and forth from the pool to the toilet. My body had started pushing on its own pretty early on, and when I felt the need to push I just let it happen. I had been doing that for some time and Robin kept telling me we were close, and I was working on making a conehead baby. Robin told me all the wonderful cliche things a doula says to a woman in labor but in my head I thought she was just humoring me, even though I knew I was close to delivering. I just couldn’t believe how quickly things were progressing!

Cindy showed up while I was in the pool, and shortly after I moved to the bathroom to labor on the toilet. I asked at one point if she was moving down and Cindy said “I don’t know, why don’t you try and see if you can feel her?” I started to, but then changed my mind. She said Adam could check me, or she could check me, and I declined until the next contraction. I felt the baby squirming a lot and felt her move down, so I felt to see if I could feel her coming out and when I pulled my hand up, I had meconium on it. I knew exactly what it was when I saw it and just stared at it. (Meconium is baby’s first stools, and is something you watch for in labor.)

I heard Cindy say “Is that mec?” Robin and I both told her my water had been clear, with no meconium in it. Cindy said she needed to do an exam and so when I felt up to it we moved to the bedroom.

That’s when Cindy told us the baby was frank breech, because she had just put her finger in the baby’s butthole (I found this amusing). I might have cursed at this point.

Frank breech means that baby is coming out folded in half with feet up by the face, butt first. Hospitals do not let you deliver breech babies vaginally; doctors are typically not trained for vaginal breech births. Vaginal deliveries are possible, but for a variety of reasons hospitals require a c-section for breech babies.

Adam and I had discussed a breech birth when the baby insisted on being breech during my pregnancy on more than one occasion. I was very diligent about feeling for her position especially closer to 40 weeks. Adam was not entirely comfortable with a breech delivery at home, whereas I wanted to attempt it as long as baby was fine. In the days leading up to delivery, even the day before, she was head-down.

Her heart tones were always awesome, and we decided to continue laboring at home. She was already so far into the birth canal, that as Cindy put it “If we go to the hospital they’re going to push her back up and section you.” Yeah, NO THANKS.

I felt a renewed determination to birth her, but because of her breech status Cindy requested that I breathe through the contractions for one hour and NOT push. This is to ensure that the cervix is completely dilated before pushing. The next hour was tough, only because my body had been pushing on its own for some time, but now I couldn’t help it along. I was in the pool for the next hour, and when a contraction would hit I liked to put my face in the water and make bubbles. Otherwise I would vocalize during contractions, that helped me get through it.

My back also felt like it wanted to explode at times with her moving through my pelvis. I pretty much wanted crushing-force hip compressions at all times. Adam did the best he could, but short of ten people pushing at me from either side nothing could have relieved all of the pressure I felt.

Cindy had also called in another birth assistant, Staci, as they like to have 3 people attend a breech birth. I was worried because last I knew Staci lived pretty far away and my thought was “If they think Staci has time to get here for the birth I have a long way to go!” But she only lives a half hour away now. That was a relief.

Thankfully, the hour flew by and Cindy told me I could push whenever I wanted. I tried to push in the pool but again, I HATED it! So back to the toilet I went. I loved it there! I made so much more progress on the toilet. At one point I felt to see where she was and she was SO CLOSE! I could feel her squishy, rubbery butt. I asked Adam to feel her too and he did.

It seemed like delivery was imminent and we actually had the bathroom floor into the nook area of our house set up for delivery. I tried to get off the toilet and push on my hands and knees, but it was terrible. Cindy requested I labor on the bed on my hands and knees, so we moved there and I hated that too. Finally, I requested the birth stool.

The birth stool was AMAZING. I was able to get the leverage I felt I needed and really push effectively. We had it set up on our bedroom floor in front of Adam’s dresser. Cindy was laying on her back with a flashlight to watch my progress. Midwives do whatever it takes to give the mom the birth experience she needs!

I could feel that her butt kept slipping out and going back up, which I knew was normal, but I needed to get behind that contraction and keep pushing her out to get her butt delivered. At one point I just decided to GO FOR IT and kept pushing with all I had and her butt came out!! With a frank breech I know that once the butt is delivered, the legs make a floppy and kind of dramatic entrance. They just sort of pop out. The key to breech is to not touch the baby, and let the baby come out on its own.

Cindy had me move from the stool to hands and knees on the floor. I could watch between my legs as I birthed Maren. I was pushing and watching her torso deliver in perfect unison with my pushing. It was so EASY! Also, pushing feels so GOOD–it’s a relief! Seeing her coming out was awesome.

Her head was the last thing to deliver, and Adam caught her. She looked at him immediately and started to cry. I couldn’t believe it was over that fast! I felt like it had happened in the blink of an eye! I couldn’t believe it. I heard someone ask Adam what her name was, and to talk to her. He was so choked up; it was awesome. I asked him “What is her name??” and he finally choked out “Maren! Her name is Maren!” She was born at 11am on the dot.

Adam passed Maren to me and my first thought was she had so much vernix on her! And she was so warm and squishy and oh my gosh, did I REALLY just birth a frank breech baby on my bedroom floor?!!?

The placenta came quickly as I held her, and I moved the few feet from the stool to the bed. I got tucked in with her on my chest and her placenta in a Ziploc bag next to me. It was amazing.

When we did her newborn exam, she weighed 8lbs 4oz and was 22” long! I weighed 8lbs 5oz and Adam was 8lbs 7oz. I expected her to weigh between 8 and 8.5lbs, but I didn’t think she would be so long! It was comical to measure her because her legs were so scrunched up from being breech!

I still can’t quite wrap my head around the fact that my water broke at 3am, and I had her at 11am–an easy 8 hour shift–and that to top it off, she was a surprise frank breech and 8lbs 4oz. Even crazier? I DIDN’T TEAR. At all. Seriously, I can’t make this stuff up.

I should mention Adam was a rock star during the whole birth; I couldn’t have asked for better support, especially when we found out she was breech. The poor thing was feeling so ill though that Anna came over to babysit me the night she was born so he could go to urgent care. He had a fever close to 101 and was diagnosed with sinusitis and bronchitis!! We turned the heat on in the house for the birth and Adam said he almost passed out at that point. He got some meds and is feeling much better now.

Maren is derived from the Hebrew Miriyam, which means “wished for child”. Libby is Adam’s mom. Louise is my mom’s middle name! We got to continue the tradition of 2 middle names after her grandmothers.

Adam and I are so in love with our Maren Libby Louise!!

Visit her flickr stream to see more adorable pictures of Maren.

This little happy guy is still my happy guy, just quite a bit bigger now. Everywhere we go people are commenting on how he has seemed to all of the sudden grown up!

I’m a little thankful he is looking so old, because somehow it makes me less freaked out that I’m going to have another baby in two months.  I think I’ll feel SO guilty if he is still ALL baby, and I have another baby, ya know?  Something strange like that.  His big boy status is sooo cute.

Yesterday we went to Bible Study and Capri went to her class, and he went to his class.  His class now goes on the playground, and happened to be on the playground when her class went out there.  She saw her little brother going down the slide on his tummy and was telling me about how silly it was!  She said, “When did Thatcher become a big boy?!”

I guess his big sister is having a harder time with him growing out of his babyness then I am?  So strange!

He has become increasingly picky when it comes to food- the little man that used to eat EVERYTHING is now a sugar addict and only wants to eat grains and fruit… Sigh.

He LOVES strawberries and frozen blueberries.

He really does NOT like any form of meat or vegetables.

But he’s still a great egg eater and milk drinker and he also loves him some spicy hummus.

During the day you can find him kicking balls around, stealing his Sister’s toys, opening and closing doors all over the house, reading books, chasing his Sister, and exploring the whole back yard.  He still LOVES to climb on EVERYTHING and I spend most of my days trying to stop him from killing himself because he is on top of some furniture item, standing tall.

Words have been a struggle for this guy.  He started out talking well, and has sort of regressed.  He used to say “ya” and “no” when you asked him questions, “mama and dada” and a bunch of other things and he just sort of stopped.  He seems to have picked up a bunch more words this last week that are all new- let’s hope they stick.  We went to Mexico to my inlaws house this weekend, and he loved the “boats”, the bright “moon”, the “desert”, the “ocean”, the “apples” painted on his grandmothers chair.

He also LOVED the ocean and the beach, and we spent hours in the water this past weekend.  The tide on their beach goes way low creating these tide pools and shallow water.  It’s PERFECT for little kids.  It doesn’t go past their knees, there are no waves and they can just run forever.  We had the BEST time.

The funniest thing he does lately, is actually VERY serious to him.  He gets into these yelling matches with Capri.  He will “scold her”.  He’s not really saying any words, but maybe he thinks he is?  And she gets mad back and they start yelling back at one another and Wade and I can’t help but laugh.  SO hilarious, but also so frustrating.  She doesn’t understand why he does it, and cries to me saying “Mommy, Thatcher thinks HE is the mommy!”

Ha! Oh well.  Hope you guys had a great holiday weekend, do anything fun?

I’m a big fan of social media and social networks.  I’m naturally very *social* and have been so blessed by my different online communities.  It’s been so crucial to me surviving these early mothering years.  Through blogging and all the other outlets, I’ve met people all over the world that I would have never known- people that I love SO much and I hope one day to meet.  We all stay connected through these different avenues- and although they can become “addictions”, I praise God for it, and for these friends I’ve made.  I also LOVE to meet new people, and hear their stories, and I get to do that ALL of the time this way.

Here are my current favorites:

Facebook

Duh, Facebook, right? But what is new for me is all the Facebook groups!

The past year I’ve used this little fancy tool a lot.  For example, my Sister in law, my Sister, and I all found out we were pregnant (in that order) within a few months of each other. (Roughly 6 weeks apart) we started a “Pregs” group and it was just the three of us, and we literally chatted EVERY day.  We can whine about different pregnancy woes, share links of really cute baby items that we wanted to add to our registry, and then asked each other questions about choices we had to made (choosing a new provider, what cloth diapers to buy, etc…).  See, we all live in in different parts of the country, and HATE that we can’t be together- but we all grew SO much closer during this time of pregnancy because we were connected EVERY DAY, sharing praises and excitement and supporting one another.  I’m so thankful for Facebook because it keeps me connected to my family.

Recently I started another group called “Best Family Ever!!” with just my siblings/spouses and parents.  We currently live in LA, SF, Charleston and Phoenix.  And again, this has been AWESOME at keeping in touch.  We are currently planning our family vacation for next summer.  We insist that my brother and SIL send daily pics of their newborn baby boy, and we all share silly videos of each other from our phones.  We got instant updates about hurricane Irene (from our east coast members).  Sometimes we randomly share old family pictures and laugh at them.  And just last week we used it to organize a fantasy football league.  We are the kind of family that would all live in the same cul-de-sac and be SO happy.  But since we can’t do that right now, this has been just the best thing to stay connected!

I also have non-family groups- ones with friends that are pregnant, ones with other Mama’s that are interested in all natural, organic, healthy lifestyle, etc… LOVE Facebook groups.  Have you started any groups with your family and friends?  Also are we friends on Facebook? Come find me!  I’m Carrington Beauchamp, or you can “like” Organic Life Love in the top right corner or the blog and we can stay connected that way!

Instagram

This is a fun and quirky IPhone App (I wish they used other platforms as well, sorry!).  I see it as twitter in pictures.  You snap a photo (or 10) through out your day and you have about 12 filters (I think?) to edit the photo with, share a caption, add a hashtag if you wish and then you can share it on just your Instagram feed, or you can share it on Facebook and Twitter as well.

My news feed, letting me know who "liked" and "commented" on my photos

You can search what is “popular” and different things will come up, and you can also search through hashtags.  Or (my favorite) just look through your feed of people you are following (friends, family, strangers etc..) and you can “like” or “comment” on their photos.   I’ve met some AWESOME people through this APP, and I feel like we are BFF’s because I see what their day looks like every day.  You get to know people really well.  I sometimes share the super cute photos to Facebook or twitter, but most often I just stick to Instagram.

This App has made me love taking picture throughout my day.  It’s like a journal, and it’s amazing how many MORE pictures I have of us and the kids.  I just want to capture it all, ya know?  Makes it seem easier to “live in the moment”  and enjoying this season of my kids life, so hopefully I don’t continue to be sad about them getting bigger (okay, maybe that will never change).

Oh, and did I mention it’s free?  In case you were wondering.

Do you have an IPhone?  Come find me on Instagram!  I am @ccbeauchamp

Pinterest

I love it when social apps TAKE OFF with all my friends and family.  There is nothing sadder then a really cool social media network that YOU think is really cool but then NO ONE you know will join it/use it.  Wah…wah…

But Pinterest started and has taken off!  I view it as this:  Sitting around reading the BEST magazines (and clipping things out) with all your friends.

You can be inspired, find recipes and DIY projects, look at beautiful photography, shop for your next outfit and completely redesign your dream home (or current home ).

I’ve recently learned even more about Pinterest by checking out this awesome little tutorial!  This will help you understand everything, and so if you haven’t already- join!

Come find me on Pinterest and let’s share! I’m Carrington Beauchamp!

What social media tools do you use most often lately?  And if you are on Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest, please share your usernames in comments so I can find you!

ALSO! My Sister is having a virtual baby shower hosted by the lovely Sara Sophia, have you seen it?  Everyone is invited!  These awesome companies are blessing her with baby products, and giving them away to us as well!  So far we’ve seen a Mamaroo, some lovely Etsy finds, and a beautiful ring sling!  Today is my favorite of all- a gift card for $100 to Barley and Birch- just about the cutest clothes ever! Go enter for your chance to win (and enjoy the daily writings on motherhood from Arianne’s friends and favorite writers!)