Tribal Affairs

In need of a dentist? Live in Ogden?

noreply@blogger.com (Allan) — Wed, 26 May 2010 19:35:00 +0000

So even though this blog is basically discontinued, the http://family.madmim.com still gets traffic from this website. So people are still apparently coming here to go there.

So this is for all of you who still hit this site. If you need to go see a dentist in Ogden Utah, you should go to my dad, Mike Tribe. His office is on the Southern border of Ogden City just east of Harrison Blvd.

I just barely finished his website, its lacking a little bit of info about the staff, but other than that it is ready to go. I'm working now on getting the site higher on Google for keywords like Ogden Utah dentist and such.

His office is really nice, it has an Xbox and a Wii in the lobby, TV's above each dental chair, and really cool digital x-rays. You can take a virtual dentist office tour led by my dad on YouTube.

Hope you enjoy. Oh, by the way, if anyone sees any typos or anything on the website let me know.

Changes.

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 08:45:00 +0000

So we're moving. Blogs. There are a number of reasons, but one is that I've been getting some chinese comments with horrible links here for the last few posts, and well...I've been thinking it would be a good idea to go private for a while. ALSO, I want to separate church from state. I know that some of you only read for family updates, and then some of you only for sewing/craft projects, and so I've decided to (in addition to going private) to create a separate public sewing/craft blog dedicated solely to my exciting craft life. Although it appears as if I've been on a blogging hiatus, I've really been blogging overtime.

Since Allan convinced me finally to switch over to wordpress for my blog, it only made since to bring our family blog over too.

So.

My new sewing blog is madmim.com, and this first week I've got lots planned! Come visit me!

Our new family blog is family.madmim.com, and instead of sending an email out, the set-up has you go to the page, set up a log-in, I approve you, and you're set. I REALLY hope you come with us over there, friends.

Allan's website is www.uscollectacoin.com, and he'd love a visit as well!

See you!
-Mim and Allan

Hey wait! I'm not too late, right??

noreply@blogger.com (Allan) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:47:00 +0000

A handsome little pea-pod. Hey come on! It's gender neutral! (can you believe how much they look alike??

Madame Josefa.

Sir Allan with the fam...

(I know, I know...also a repeat. I just didn't want to worry about it this year!) Thoroughly Modern Miriam. "If you've got it, you've got it."

And obviously I don't got it.

Caramel apples to her heart's content.

The three boy cousins. (All born within two months). Gabriel (Cory's--who is normally an incredibly happy boy), Merritt and Owen (my bro Merritt's)

Giving it a whirl...

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:36:00 +0000

Ok, so when my sister told me that they were having a design contest over at Shabby Apple, I thought it would be fun. And it was! Ever since I was a little girl I've liked to draw pretty girls in pretty dresses. So here's my Dress design for Shabby Apple dresses:
And here are the specs: First of all, I wish I knew what to call the ruffle the comes down either side of the bodice--for lack of better name, I'll call it the PollyAnna ruffle. So anyway, the bodice, PollyAnna ruffle, the waist, the skirt, it's all in a uniform color. Because of the interest up top, I think one color makes it more cohesive. The bodice is drapey like a tucked-in-shirt would be, and the sleeves are half-circle sleeves that give them a lovely flowy look. The PollyAnna ruffle that goes down the front of either side of the bust and then around the back is meant to fall over the sleeves, giving them a tiered look. There's a lace applique (in white or perhaps a lighter hue of the overall color) with buttons, on a circular boatneck. The waist begins slightly higher than the natural waistline, and continues down to the abdomen arc (about 3 inches below the waist). It's subtly ruched (not too much!) and again has a lace applique with buttons on the waist. The buttons look dark in my drawing, but I've been imagining small pearly ones. It would definitely have a side zipper.

As far as colors go, I imagined it in a nice soft buttery yellow because that's one of my favorite colors. The design kind of lends itself to those soft vintage colors, so I think it would be stunning in a pale pink and slate gray. But I also think that bolder colors like blue and purple and even turquoise would make it especially fresh and youthful.

A word on fabric. This dress would be beautiful in silk of course, but a good silk/cotton blend would be lovely, and even a light drapey cotton by itself would be okay I think. but it has to be good and drapey.

My inspiration was PollyAnna herself. Josie has been watching it a lot lately, and the other day I noticed the dress she arrives to Harrington in. Aunt Polly says "WHERE in the WORLD did you get that dress?!" To which PollyAnna innocently replies "It came in the missionary barrels." Aunt Polly does have a point in that it's not especially stunning, BUT I saw the potential in that ruffle! Love it!

So that's it. I would love to make this dress! I haven't seen anything like it, which would make it even funner to wear because it feels special and unique, yet in a flattering classic style.

Finding the Chance

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:23:00 +0000

I wanted to give a shout out to my bro Cory, who just wrote a book!!! Woohoo! Isn't that cool?! It's such a sweet and touching story, and I'm super proud of him for making this happen. Check it out here!

Peter's Finally Home!!

noreply@blogger.com (Allan) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:27:00 +0000

Now Adam leaves on the 28th to Rankagua, Chile. Ahh!!

Now when I sit down to sew...

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 01:56:00 +0000

I have a lovely little corner of art to serve as my muse. When I rearranged my living room, I created a little nook for my sewing stuff. I bought a desk, and gathered a few paintings and photos of all things sewing. I also created a few pieces myself! Very tactile. Here are a few of the pictures:

I cut these gems from old vintage patterns, and then modge podged it all on blank canvases.

This is by Edouard Vuillard, and I LOVE the detail in her dress. His mother was a dressmaker (the woman is his mother), and he grew up around his sisters and mother SEWING.

Mary Cassatt. Growing up, we had an art history book that had several of her paintings including this one, and so she's always been a favorite. I love how the little girl is just chilling with the mother. That's just like Josie. Sometimes she just stands behind me on my chair while I sew. She's always near me, whatever she's doing.

I love this painting by Edward Hopper for two reasons: Firstly, the vibrant reddish orange color that makes you feel the warmth of all that light shining the through the window. Secondly, doesn't it look like she was getting dressed, but then she noticed something that needed altering on her dress and so she skipped over to her sewing nook to fix it before her she got dressed? Many a Sunday morning can I be found at the sewing machine fixing something real quick--

PS I'll take a picture of the desk plus art when I finish the desk...

Shake it like a polaroid

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:56:00 +0000

My kids are getting huge. This past summer Josie has grown like a weed right out of her pants and shoes (In fact we measured her right at 24 months--kids are supposedly supposed to double their height at two--and according to those calculations she'll be 5'10''). She's grown an inch since then. Merritt has gone from infant to bouncing baby. He cracks us all up with his laugh (see video below), and makes more squeaks and squeals than a rubber ducky. He's diligently trying to roll over, and casually trying to sleep through the night.

Conference this past weekend was brilliant. I ate up every single word with gusto. After it was all over, I just had this warm, happy, buzz and felt so thankful because I knew it was all true, and that felt good. I re-watched Elder Holland's talk today, and yep, it's just as powerful the second time. I loved them all, but especially Elder Bednar's talk, President Monson's, and Elder Cristofferson's. Which were your favorites?

My friend Martha started a new blog on which she talked about Rollip--a website that changes your photos into polaroid-looking pictures. Fabulous!! Here's me going crazy this afternoon...

President Monson

Timpanogos Temple

And here's a gem from the other night. You don't have to watch the whole video, because it's pretty much the same thing for two minutes. But I always say you can never have enough giggling from a 5 month old.

Tri Tri Again...

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 04:34:00 +0000

WOO HOO!!! Yesterday I completed my second triathlon! It was so great. I mean, it was really so great. My first one was right after Josie was born, and Emily and I made up our own course. Fun. This time I did it with Eirene, and we did the Powertri Yuba triathlon out in Levan Utah. We even got a t-shirt! It was so thrilling to race with other athletes, and I loved the spirit of camaraderie between everyone. People would just yell "Good work!! Keep it up!" as they passed you. We definitely felt super amateur compared to all the serious athletes, but we finished, and we had a blast. We did rent wetsuits however, for the open-water swim, so yeah, we were pretty cool for that part. And I was feeling pretty good about myself when I get out of the water 'cause the two dudes that were finishing with me were these super fit looking twenty-five year-olds. Boo yah! The race was a 1/2 miles swim, a 13 mile bike, and a 5k run. We did it in just over two hours. I was surprised to find that running a race is very similar to the feeling I had when giving birth (racing isn't near as intense as birthing), but you feel that high-as-a-kite, on top of the world feeling. Eirene and I were comparing the last few hundred yards of the run with the last few pushes. Eirene was like, "Ok, now the baby is crowning!...now we're just pushing out the placenta!!" TMI? Ok. But really, it's more similar than you'd think. Anyway, so fun. can't wait to do another.

I can't really believe that I'm posting this chin shot, but...enjoy.

I'm in there somewhere.

Me.

Rene.

Eirene doing a victory leap!

Eirene's battle wound. The turnaround point was horrendously dangerous.

Adam came to support us. Allan and Ben and Rene's kids were there too, FYI.

From bad, to worse, to a little better

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 17:25:00 +0000

Some of you will remember that a while back I bought this desk, and painted it. Let's take a moment to wonder WHAT I was thinking.... Anything?? Yeah, no... me neither. No, actually, I had a vision that was really fabulous in my head, but one of those tragic projects that totally did not work out. And actually turned out disasterous. I've hated that desk the moment that I finished it, and my brother-in-law Ben told me it looked like board shorts. I knew in my heart that that's exactly what it looked like, and it was more than I could bear. So when I saw this paint for 50 cents at Restore (one of my favorite and most frequented stores), I decided it was time to change the beach-themed furniture from my living room.
I like it MUCH better now, although it's still not my favorite desk in the world.
(and yes, I am big into grey these days....)

If you were wondering if "Miriam's Trunk" featured on Design*Sponge's Before/After's today is me...

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 20:37:00 +0000

It is!!!

WErhgsadASDLKgha;ilsduopwiehr!!!!! See? I'm so excited that I can't even type coherently! If you read design blogs, than you already know that Design Sponge is the most AMAZING, drool worthy, inspiring design blog out there. And they featured my before and after that's really a DIY project, but they can call it whatever the heck they want, and I'd still be thrilled!! Woohoo!

I'm not dead. I'm watching SYTYCD.

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 03:22:00 +0000

So it's no secret that I don't have quite as much free time as I used to, and because I spend at least three hours a week watching So You Think You Can Dance, I just haven't had time to blog. Not that I've ever been a real consistent blogger anyway.

So life is good. There's a lot of things that I could write about, but since that would take a long time, I'll give you convenient bulleted list. This will be fun, cause you can guess what I would say if I did take the time to ramble about...

-Josie finally actually turned two, which is funny cause she's been two for like six months.

-Having two kids isn't near as bad as I thought it would be.

-Newborns are a delicious breed of human.

-Do you ever feel like your workouts take up your entire day? Not only because IF you don't finish before the kids get up, they really DO take the whole day, but because all day is a recovery of your morning workout, and all day is also just a count down to your next work out. I hate that. I just want to workout and then forget about it.

-I wish I knew how to make Josie feel more secure, because recently (like yesterday and today) she's hit Merritt a couple of times, and it brings out the big bad Mama Bear in me, and I lose it. I really hate it when I lose it.

-Cooking dinner every night is a real beast.

-I'm kind of embarrassed to admit that I've been busy with just as many projects as ever. I feel like since I have two kids I shouldn't have time for that kind of stuff, but yet I still find away. Everyone always asks me how I can manage to do everything, and to that I say, I don't. There isn't enough time to do everything, and so when I get a project done, I don't cook dinner or don't clean the house.

-I wish I knew how to balance my life better.

-I'm amazed that nobody ever talks about how poop and potty are such a huge part of motherhood. Who knew? Poop and Potty are significant part of my day. Everyday. It seems like there's always something to wipe, or wash, or change. But at least it's my kids' poop and potty I have to deal with, because that would really be gross if I had to clean up your kid's...

-I really like the library.

-Help! I can't stop reading self-help books!

-I signed up for a triathlon today. WOO WOO!!! (September 12, baby!)

I'm sure there's more I could bullet about, but it's already taken me like a half an hour to come up with that list.

Here are some pictures to accompany my bullets:

Two.

Two's birthday dress. I saw this in a magazine for $98, and recreated it for $4. I actually took pictures to make a tutorial if anyone is actually interested.

Just chillin...

Stealing Grandma's glasses...

Adam left his fake glasses here, and this is Josie right before she broke them. Sorry, Egg.

Josie and Mae enjoying a good read with Grandad.

Family vacay to my parents. They don't live in the cliff dwellings. (and don't judge me on how big my arm looks in this picture).

Mesa Verde. So cool.

What Josie does when we're not in the room.

Some sweet close-ups of my angel.

I bought an old military foot locker at DI for $3, planning to upholster it and make it into a toy chest. But once I started sanding it etc, it was so gross and nasty I decided to just make a new one entirely. So I just went down the Home Depot, bought some plywood, had them cut it to the dimensions I needed (do you know they do that for free?!) and then slapped the puppy together with some wood glue and nails, upholstered it and printed the fabric with a homemade stencil, and BAM. A new toy chest.
Here are the toys within.

I decided I needed a purse to use when I'm without my kids. I know, it doesn't happen often, but when it does, I always feel like I've got these big old mom-bags, and I don't feel cute (especially on date's with Allan). So I designed this little purse to help me feel more hip. Too much?

This doesn't look near as exciting as it is. I bought this curtain hardware at Ikea, and then free-handed some designs onto a big cut of fabric to make this room separator. Our front room is really pretty big, and all my sewing crap is just out in the open of my living room. I have long-loathed our set-up. So this divides the two areas and helps define the living spaces. I rearranged the whole room, and LOVE it. There's NOTHING so refreshing and exciting as rearranging furniture.

And another HUGE project I've been working on is my dang quilt (the one I've been working on for over a year for our king-sized bed). I'm ALMOST done with the top, and then it will probably just sit there for years until I have enough $$$ to actually have it quilted.

I never know how to wrap up huge posts like this, so I'll just say be glad that I used bullets to SUM up all this mumbo jumbo.

XXoxo
Mim

MJ Forever

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 03:35:00 +0000

Yeah, so I'm totally swiping your blog post, Averi. Even the picture and title. Take it as a compliment! I would...
MJ does, and will live forever. He's as immortal as Elvis, or the Beatles. He's the King of Pop! I am totally incapable of not bopping my head, or snapping, or popping my shoulders at least a little when I hear Black or White, Bad, or The Way You Make Me Feel to name a few. The beat just forces you to Rock with him.....Alll Night. That was why Michael Jackson was our first choice as motivating background music for the few times we cleaned up around the house growing up. My mom would say we had to clean up (the exact phrase was "do a cleanteam"), so we'd set the clock for thirty minutes, pump the Michael Jackson Greatest Hits CD, and work it like the King himself. Ahh, those were the days... That was almost as glorious as taking first place in a college dance competition (Battle of the Dance, baby) where we popped and locked our way through Smooth Criminal. We won first place, and if you had been there to witness the event, you'd have thought I just won the lottery. I'm still embarrassed when I think about how much I freaked out. Well, that is what I'm good at. That and MJ moves. Just yesterday as I was finishing my run, the song "Bad" came on, and I'll admit it, I threw a kick or two. Can you just see it, Marth?

So, I'm willing to put aside his recent creepiness to pay homage to the king. He was cool enough that in highschool I checked out every single music video he ever made and thus learned how to moon walk in my tv room. Well, kinda.

May we all (or at least any of you out there who ever did the Thriller dance head-bobble-slide-stomp combo) take off your white glove and throw your hat for the King of Pop.

And then we blessed him

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 20:24:00 +0000

...On Sunday. It was nice. Nice to see family. Nice to eat good food. Nice to fall a little more in love with my husband as he blessed our little baby.

We tried to get a family photo, but we were extremely limited on time, because Josie had pooped in the toilet without me, and forgot to wipe, and unfortunately it was the kind of poo that you really ought to wipe. Did I mention that she didn't have underwear on? She didn't because earlier she had leaked a little before making it to the toilet, so I just took them off. Consequently this rather unforgiving poop was in chunks all over her dress, and legs, and well everywhere. Anyway, we discovered all this just moments before these photos were taken, and that's why she's standing in front of us, and not sitting on our lap. Merritt pooped too, but it wasn't as big a deal. I took some awesome photos of the poop smeared dress as well as Allan hosing her off stark naked in the backyard, but I'll spare you. I have to remind myself sometimes that not everyone enjoys a good poop documentation like I do.

The photos of Merritt are pretty dark too, but it was rainy today and so that's the best I could do. As my Mom would say, it is what it is. And that's fine. I also tried to get him to smile--he does so often--but he was pretty stoic this morning, and that's fine too. Stoic Merritt is almost as cute as smiley Merritt.

Oh, and I cut my hair.

I'm slain...

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 03:27:00 +0000

...by that three-week-old smile

The Birth Beat

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam) — Tue, 12 May 2009 18:02:00 +0000

Hilarious, as well as a painful reality.

I've been meaning for some time to blog about this, but I didn't want to do it until I had enough time to really say what I want to, which, you know, never really happens, so I'm just going to take a stab at it. P.S. This IS the longest post I've ever written, so don't bother reading it if you have absolutely no interest in childbirth. Or do. But don't feel obligated, because I won't ask you about it next time I see you. You're safe.

Josie's labor was a jumble of both good and bad. For months and months I would play out in my mind the whole experience, just trying to process it. There were a few complications during labor that made it stressful and difficult for me (the precautions limited my options and freedom significantly i.e. continuous internal fetal monitoring that restricted me to the bed), and so in that sense I disappointed. I had a fairly negative experience with my healthcare providers; it felt like it was Me vs. Them, and that my desires to birth naturally were met with a whole lot of reluctance, pessimism, and at times, straight-up doubt that I had the ability to do it. And after it was all over, I honestly couldn't believe I'd gone through that much pain. The whole experience was completely surreal. So, all those things sound bad. True. The good part, no, the amazing part, which I also went over and over in my mind, completely in awe of the experience--was when I pushed her out, and she was resting on my chest. It was unbelievable. I had worked so hard for her, and there she was. Real. Really in my arms. It was like a climax of utterly intense emotions--love, pride, relief, strength, empowerment, exhaustion.....gratitude. I wouldn't trade that experience for the world. But backing up a little bit, during transition (for all you who don't know yet, that's the period of time when you go from dialating to ready-to-push), I had that classic moment of self-doubt. It's very typical for women to doubt their ability to really do it during transition, and I definitely did. Suddenly the physiological experience becomes so intense that you wonder how much longer you can keep it up. The good thing about transition however, is that it means you're almost done; ironically, that feeling comes when you're so near the end. Anyway, I was expressing these feelings of doubt to Allan, and my midwife Mindy sat down and said "honey, you are no less of a woman if you need medication now. Don't feel guilty if that's what you want." I was frustrated by this comment, but I didn't have the energy or frame-of-mind to articulate that I wasn't birthing unmedicated because I wanted to be "a woman." I wasn't looking to feed my ego with toughness or bravery; I wasn't out to prove anything--in fact, I'm positive that if that were my motivation, I wouldn't have been able to actually do it! I was laboring unmedicated because I believed it was better for me and my baby. So here's the point of this anecdote. In the months following her birth, I thought a lot about that moment, and knew that if I were ever going to labor unmedicated again, I needed to KNOW exactly why I felt that natural was better for me and my baby. I wanted to understand perfectly all the pros and cons of both medicated and unmedicated labor. IF I ever were to labor naturally again, I had to, or else I knew that I couldn't do it.

So, that experience is what initiated my obsession with childbirth. For months I've poured over books on birthing--books advocating both natural and medicated labors. I went to the library, searched "childbirth," and basically checked out everything that came up. I wasn't really interested in labor methods as I was about learning the risks and benefits and even simply the physiological process of childbirth. As I learned, two things began to happen. First of all, I began to think that most of my disappointment and frustration with how Josie's birth played out stemmed from the attitudes of my careproviders, as well as (what I believed to be) unnecessary interventions, which were all largely a result of my own ignorance. Secondly, the debate in my mind became less about natural vs. medicated, and more about being informed enough to make good decisions, and then actually having the freedom to make them. I felt like I had very little choice during Josie's labor because the complications were blown out of proportion, and I felt I had little or no say in the decision-making process. I was mad about that, and the more I studied the more I believed that the lack of knowledge on my part had made me unconfident and unqualified to voice my objection to what was going on, because I didn't really know whether or not their attitudes and the precautions taken were necessary or not, and so I couldn't voice my gut feeling that everything was fine. Limited knowledge meant limited power.

As I gained knowledge through study, I felt I gained power too. I discovered that so much of my anxiety to deliver again was related to my ignorance in the why/what concerning both the physiological process of childbirth, as well as the safety interventions into that process. I came away with a reverence for our women-bodies, and complete confidence in my body's ability to labor just fine without anyone or thing interfering. I know that may sound presumptuous, but I believe that. I recognize that there are times when intervention is necessary and miraculous, and for that I'm grateful. But I also believe that MOST of the time our bodies know exactly when and what to do, and that often modern medicine can screw up that process.

I realize this is a sensitive topic for some, and so I wholeheartedly hope this doesn't come off offensive to anyone. Believe that I don't mean it to be! These are my experiences and feelings, and my journey to them was so personal that I wouldn't dream of ever telling anyone that laboring naturally is right for them--I would sooner tell them how many kids to have. What I do want to say, and what I've come to feel passionately about, is EDUCATE yourself! No matter what your ideal childbirth is, or how the heck you feel about medication during labor, knowing what's happening, why they're happening, and when intervention is needed, can only give you more confidence, peace, and ability to make healthy and informed choices during your own labor. If some type of intervention (i.e. induction, epidural, forceps, vacuum, episiotomy ETC) is needed or desired unexpectedly, knowing what's up will give you the power to choose rather than letting decisions be made for you, or in my case, allowing myself to be manipulated into certain decisions because of the fear factor (they said things like "you want a healthy baby, right?" Of COURSE I did! Every mother does! But not knowing anything makes THEM the authority on what's best). Plus, it will give you more choices. I promise. Example: Say you're a week overdue, and your providers want to induce you. Do YOU know the risks involved with an overdue baby? Do you know the risks of induction? Do you know the risks and benefits of allowing labor to begin on its own? Ok, so say you think induction is necessary--do you know the many different ways to induce and the risks/benefits involved with each? It is likely that your careproviders will give you one option, when in reality, there are many, and some are much less invasive than others. This is the case with medication, monitoring, pushing, positions, delivery, post-partum care, the list goes on and on. The more you know, the more choices you have.

And what's more, I feel like my confidence in being able to make good decisions, and my body's ability to its thang thang made everything go smoother during my labor. Merritt's labor was so calm and relaxed. It was such a positive experience ultimately, and I'm positive that my preparation made the difference. I think that at the end of the day, preparation and control have a lot more to do with satisfaction of experience than the presence or absence of pain. Reading up will only help you--regardless of how you choose to labor. Have I made my case??

I'm taking the liberty of listing here some of my favorites reads here.

Pushed: the painful truth about childbirth and modern maternity care by Jennifer Block. This is soooooo interesting. So fascinating. Read it. It's packed with studies and statistics and interviews and stories and it's really really good.

Easy Labor: every woman's guide to choosing less pain and more joy during childbirth by William Camann. This was my favorite book written from the pro-medicated side of the fence, and it provides a pretty good (although biased) overview of what you should know. I recommend this to the woman who wants her epidural yesterday. I also strongly recommend reading this ALONG with:

Easing Labor Pain: the complete guide to a more comfortable and rewarding birth. by Adrienne Lieberman. And this was my favorite book written from the pro-natural side of the fence. It also provides a pretty good (although biased) overview of what you should know. Again, I strongly recommend reading this along with Easy Labor. PS in this same category I also really enjoyed Labor Pain: a natural approach to easing delivery by Nicky Wesson.

Birthing From Within: an extra-ordinary guide to childbirth preparation by Pam England. I want to own this book. I love it. As far as labor methods go, this is it for me. It's all about trusting the natural physiological process, and just getting in touch with your inner birthing self. It also deals a lot with the psychology of birth, and working through you own issues (i.e. fear, anger, regret, disappointment, etc). And it has "birth art." Hello....What's weirder and cooler than birth art?!

The Business of Being Born (a documentary) produced by Ricki Lake. Yeah, so you should probably watch this now. Like, today. It's basically a very poignant, condensed documentary version of Pushed, and very worthwhile. Disclaimer: this has a lot of naked women giving birth, as well as naked women cursing while giving birth. PS. this streams from NetFlicks, and we watched it by signing up for the trial version.

So that's it. I'm genuinely sorry it's so long. If you want to know more about any of this, or want to read my birth story (Merritt's), just let me know. Another disclaimer though, my birth story is not for the weak of heart, and probably not for men. You know, just FYI.

Love you. Hug, hug, kiss, Big hug, leetle kiss.

Meet Merritt

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam) — Fri, 08 May 2009 18:11:00 +0000

So I just realized that we don't have any whole body shots, which is a shame, cause he's got a pretty one. So solid and cute. I do have amazing news, though. He successfully peed in his mouth this morning while I was changing him. He started to pee while I was between diapers, and so I tried to block the pee with my hand, but not before a very accurate stream had gone directly into his open mouth. Gross and kinda cool.

Here he is. You gotta love those CHEECKS! And the hair! Oh, isn't he just amazing??

He reminds me of Josie in this one. The eyes are really similar to her's at that age.
And this one is classic. This was literally moments after I pushed him out, and I definitely look the part. When I looked in the mirror a little while later and said "Yikes" the nurse said, "just think of it as war-paint." I just love the picture cause it brings me back to that on-top-of-the-world moment that it was. So great.

The grande debut

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam) — Wed, 06 May 2009 17:29:00 +0000

Hey ya'll. So it finally happened! I'll put pictures up later, but for now, here's the quick version: I went into labor 1:00 pm on Monday May 4, we got the hospital at 3:20, and BAM. By 3:54 he was here. SO QUICK. It went absolutely perfectly, and I'm still just floating around here on cloud nine. He's BEAUTIFUL and perfect, and HUGE. He was 9 FAT pounds 1 ounce, and------you ready for this??? He's got RED hair! (Thanks to Allan's beard). So that's it! I'm doing great, (I can't believe how good, actually) and we're just getting ready to head back home. Hooray! Oh, yeah--his name. He sort of just named himself, really. We were COMPLETELY undecided, and then when we finally met him, his name just sort of popped out.
Merritt Allan Tribe
(A big loving shout-out to my bro Merritt:))
Love ya'll! Stay tuned for pictures!

This better be the last belly shot...

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam) — Sat, 02 May 2009 03:11:00 +0000

INIGO: I do not suppose you could speed things up?

MAN IN BLACK: If you're in such a hurry, you could lower a rope, or a tree branch, or find something useful to do.

INIGO: I could do that. In fact, I've got some rope up here. But I do not think that you will accept my help, since I am only waiting around to kill you.

MAN IN BLACK: That does put a damper on our relationship.

INIGO: But I promise I will not kill you until you reach the top.

MAN IN BLACK: That's very comforting. But I'm afraid you'll just have to wait.

INIGO: I hate waiting.

Me too, Inigo. Me too. Inigo is waiting for a duel-to-the-death--which, for all his confidence, could be rather grueling--and yet the anticipation of it all is unbearable. I'm due tomorrow, and the only indication of that is my enormous belly. No real signs of anything going on. In fact, I feel annoyingly comfortable. My back has stopped hurting these last couple of weeks. My pinched nerve really hasn't bothered me. I'm sleeping pretty dang good. I can walk miles without feeling like the baby is going to fall out. I'm not complaining, but it makes me feel like I might just stay nine-months pregnant forever.

I could write an entire book on nesting. I've:
-organized every drawer, cupboard, closet in my house. (Allan says that "organized" is an insufficient description, so I will qualify by adding re-arranged, grouped, labeled, boxed, tubbed, beautified, etc)
-I've cleaned in places that have never been cleaned before (in my house, you sicko).
-I've sewn quilts and clothes and junk.
-I've literally read every book our library has on childbirth--pro-natural, pro-medicated, whatever, I read it.
-I've washed all his clothes and have them neatly folded in the dresser. Just waiting to be pooped on..
-I've bought meat almost every time I go to the grocery store, and have it waiting in the freezer.
-I've painted my toes
-I've straightened my hair almost every day for the past two weeks, just in case.
-And recently, I impulsively painted our dining room table bright red because I was desperate for a project (more photos on that later).

Anyway, so here it is. The last belly shot. It's absolutely ASTRONOMICAL, is it not?! I find that I stun even myself every time I pass a mirror. It doesn't feel that big, but when I see it I'm like "Seriously? That's me?!"

Wow.

Fruits of the Nest

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 05:25:00 +0000

Hey everyone.
I'm always surprised when someone like my Aunt, or Allan's cousin, or a friend from the ward says "oh yeah, I saw that on your blog." Really?! You read this? People read this? One time, I even got an anonymous comment from a "friendly blog stalker" about something I had made. Now, THAT was flattering.
But blogs are great, you know? If you ever are self-conscious or embarrassed about something (i.e. an unusually large belly), just blog about it, and you'll quickly be overwhelmed by boatloads of positive reinforcement. It's great for my self-esteem, but awful for my ego. I mean, based on all your comments, I am in danger of actually believing I am one of the most beautiful and talented people to walk the earth. Would you really have me believe that?? Well, that's what's resulting from all those really nice comments you're making. If I become a conceited, overbearing, unbearable prude, I'm blaming you.
On that note, let me share with you a few of the sweet treasures I've been working on for the newest Tribe.
First of all, don't you agree that lederhosens CAN be manly?
I think so. I'm imagining a tie or maybe a bowtie along with a tiny little dress shirt. Do they make dress shirts in this size? Size weelittle?

And second, I feel there's nothing that says "eclectic intelligencia" like a brown-plaid blazer. I wonder if I could find matching dark-rimmed glasses to really complete the look...
And now as many of you know, I'm trying to teach myself to quilt. Desperate for some guidance/instruction, I called up my mom's good friend and kindred spirit Shauna Ogden, who enlightened me on such things as a walking foot. Changed my life forever. I was able to do all the quilting on my machine, and I really love the way it turned out. I was lucky enough to find a women who would sell me this delicious Heather Ross fabric for retail price, rather double or TRIPLE that, which is what I was seeing everywhere else on ebay and etsy (because it's out of print). Anyway, it was so fun! I don't know if you can see real well, but on each block I quilted a different geometric design, which added a bit of whimsy, I think.

I also made these little booties from excess fabric.
All these projects I have thrown myself into hoping they would distract me from the woes of the third trimester. I won't elaborate about the various aches and pains that befall us all during this grueling time. As far as all that goes, I'm hanging in there. Just trying to avoid counting down or even thinking about time at all. Actually, despite the difficulties of mind and body, I have been extremely happy these past couple of months. As baby boy Tribe's debut fast approaches, I have clung to the short time I have with just my baby girl.
You remember how the Grinch's little heart grows three times larger (uh, something like that, right?) in the end of How the Grinch Stole Christmas? Well, I swear that's what happens when you become a mother. Your heart expands so much sometimes it feels like it will burst. I love my girl. She's my best little friend. My little family of three has brought me so much joy, that although I fully expect the fourth to bring more joy, it will never be the same. It will never be just us ever again. She's been my constant companion every day for two years...and soon that time, this time, of her and me will be over. It will all be wonderful, but it will never be the same wonderful as now. I know I don't usually wax sentimental, but I don't know...the additional hormones (??) have made me quite sensitive lately. You know that feeling when you're in a relationship and you have this gut feeling that the guy is going to break-up with you soon? (past-tense of course for all of you who are now in eternal relationships like me) But you know that feeling? That lump? I kinda feel like that. I feel like Josie is about to break-up with me, and I'm just so in love with her, that it breaks my heart even though it hasn't happened yet. Please tell me that this feeling is just poppycock! Tell me that things will never change between us!

She's potty-trained. She pretty much is amazing at it, too. She's done soooo super well. I realize that it has about nothing to do with me and my abilities to potty-train, and everything to do with her natural "potty" skills, and also that she was just ready. I was DREADING it, but it ended up being no big deal. I'll save all my dread for my next child who will inevitably be potty-training-challenged.

Hey, have you guys ever been to Color Me Mine? SO fun! I'm pretty sure I'm the last one to get on this band-wagon, but Allan took me their for our anniversary, and had so much fun. Last night I went again with my sisters (including my sister-in-law) and mom, and it was so so so fun. I haven't had that much fun since I was baptized. Anyway, so with Allan, we made this bowl. I designed it (which by the way, if it looks familiar to any of you, I have no idea why....?), Allan painted it, and then I added the black etching. I feel bad posting so many pictures of one thing, but I want to give you the full effect.

I also made these knobs. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with them yet...apron holder? Mount them on an old window and hang cute pot-holders on them? Well, that's it for now. Thanks for stopping in and reading. Thanks for all the super nice (if not a little too generous) things you all said after my last post. Hope you enjoyed general conference as much as I did today. My soul was uplifted, and my body was fattened (or my baby's body...or probably both).
Peace.

Where the Wild Things Are

noreply@blogger.com (Allan) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:19:00 +0000

Wow. Cool.

I claim pregnancy

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 17:27:00 +0000

To all the women in grocery stores who comment how I look like "I'm ready to pop:"
I'm not. That is, not quite ready. This is a SEVENTH month belly. Not a nine-month belly, contrary to popular opinion. Ok, go ahead, say it--I've got an impressive belly, right? Right?! Yeah, I know. Most of the time I don't mind. I mean, I'm the first one to taut my belly pride. I don't mind when a little boy in primary says to me (out of the blue) "you can't run. You're too fat." Or when people say "I just can't believe how huge you are." Or when a person who shall nameless says "Wow, you sure have gained some weight!" after not having seen me for a while. Yep, it's true. I have.. but sometimes I get a teensy bit worried that people aren't referring to just my belly, but me in general. All of me. You guys are all talking about my belly, right? Right?! That's what I thought.

And let's talk about pregnancy brain. Can I say a few words about pregnancy brain? Boy, I tell ya. Sometimes I'm frightened for my life when I drive, because I'm worried I'll do something absolutely stupid and get us killed. I wouldn't put it past me. Just filling up my car with gas can be intellectually strenuous. "Umm, what side is my tank? Let's see....where's that little lever? Oh yeah, I need my wallet. Oops, I forgot my wallet! Shoot. I forgot to shut that little door again." It takes me twice the time it would normally, and I'm pretty sure the guy behind me is getting a good laugh. Laugh it up, punk.

And the other day when I made pizza, I forgot that I had left some potatoes in the oven, and they consequently got RE-cooked for three hours. I even put the pizza in without noticing them. And you know what's even funnier? I ate one.
And for your general amusement, here's another video of Josie in the highchair. This time she was deliriously tired (right after church which STARTS at one), and was pretty much like a little drunk girl. Not that I've ever seen a little drunk girl before, but it's what I imagine it would be like. I love how she's cleaning her teeth in it--she just ate PB&J. Sorry for the jiggly camera, that was my bad. Well, I blame the belly.

P.S. Do you like the sun-dress I made? The fabric was $3 at Wal-mart, baby.

Her Morning Elegance

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam) — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 16:09:00 +0000

My brother emailed this to me today, and it DELIGHTED me. Made my morning for sure. Good song too! Oh, PS. this is "Her Morning Elegance" by Oren Lavie.

Projects and Patience

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam) — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 03:32:00 +0000

So it's been awhile. Christmas was great. But I forgot to document how great it was. January has been pretty good too. I usually give January a big thumbs down, but this year I've been keeping busy with different projects and major nesting (I've been organizing my life away), and the month has flown by. Some highlights:

Josie went through a the two-naked-Ken-doll phase. All day long she made a big bed with every blanket she could find and put the two dolls to bed together. Cute and creepy.

And then she got into the Vaseline. That's how she achieved that dewy glow.

And she had her first Christmas that she remotely knew what was going on...
She played in the snow. A Christmas Story anyone? Anyone?
I made this quilt for Josie, as she is getting the boot from the crib when baby brother makes his big debut.

I bought this desk off KSL and then painted it.
Josie helped.

Allan and I have been watching Gilmore Girls, and Josie is really into interpreting the theme song.

And then tonight, Josie decided that she loves squash. But not to eat. Mostly to smash all over her face. And her hair.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lG4mN-XKhc

And I made these booties for a shower last night.
Well, that's it. Oh, and I'm PREGNANT. I'm not kidding, folks. I feel like I'm huge, and I AM huge. Three months seems like an E TER NI TY. I'm REALLY trying to psych myself out for the long stretch, but some days I'm feeling like I'm way more huge and uncomfortable than my six months should merit. Does anyone else feel like this? Have felt like this? I am probably alone in my principles.

Well, here I go off to my room to write that hit-song "Along in my Principles".

10 Awesome points to anyone who knows where that's from.
1.........
2............
3...........
*buzzer*

Adjusting my mindset a bit

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 22:06:00 +0000

My dad the-boy-at-heart, is a second child. My sister Em had a girl first, and then her second was a boy. Merritt had a boy first, and their second was also a boy. Eirene, as most of you know, just had her second child, baby boy Ike. Cory's wife Katie is pregnant with their second, a boy due in February. Allan's younger brother is the second in his family. His dad's family had a boy second as well. Due you see a pattern? As Allan pointed out to me before we found out, the second child in our families were 100% of the time boys.

And we are no exception.

I've gotta say, I'm O-2 now. I was convinced Josie was a boy, and well, she wasn't. And then with this one, I THOUGHT it was a girl ( I NEVER claimed to have any sort of real feeling guiding me) and again, I was exactly wrong.

But of course I'm thrilled! I'll just have to adjust my mindset a bit. And Allan couldn't be prouder of course. When I told my dad the news he said, "tell Allan he's the Man." And I did, but I'm pretty sure I didn't have to. He's walking with a little bounce in his step today.

So that's it. IT'S A BOY!

And PS to all those who wondered whether or not I'm showing?.........Yeah. I am. This is my best attempt at a profile shot.