Check It

Pictures and Deets!!!

Baby Nomad

HE's 7 lbs 9 oz!!!!




More from MamaNomad later...

Labor Watch

I'm sitting in my dark kitchen, a candle burning peaceful, smooth labor-vibes into the air, glancing uncontrollably across the street every few seconds...
What a beautiful day it was! You can read the events from Leah's perspective, and I'll just show you the pics:

The perfect labor meal: A BLAC Sandwich (Bacon, Lettuce, Avocado, Chicken). Mmmmm...
A little Isa-love
Watch out, Kiran, that seat will be gone, soon!
Holding Peck
Glowing

Light your candles, ladies!!
xoxoxoxoxo

So Much To Say, So Little Time

I almost finished my Treasure Map last night, and I am really loving how it turned out! But, no final picture to share yet.

Rich and I also just met with Andy and had our kids' charts read. Whoa. My mind is totally spinning... Their readings were so insightful, accurate (in terms of what I know of their personalities so far), and very very helpful. I am looking forward to processing more deeply, but am scarfing down some dinner as fast as I can manage in order to get to the ICAN meeting tonight that I'm already 20 minutes late for.

Sorry for the cliffhanger!!

33 Years!!

Happy Anniversary, UrbanHippie Parents!!

Neat Trick

While working like a mad-woman to get our duplex rented, I left the boys in the van while I ran into my parents' house to fax something, and I asked my mom to go out and sit with them. She called me immediately from her cell phone, and I ran out to see what was wrong: Kaden had shoved a bead as far as possibly up into his nostril. He looked at me with a very anxious face. He could still breathe, so I knew it was not a life-threatening emergcncy...but it still made me very nervous and I was totally unsure of what to do. I tried pushing it down from the top, and he pulled away and said that it hurt.

I asked my mom to stay with him and make sure he didn't shove it any farther up, and I ran inside to check the best resource I've got--the internet. I googled "bead in nose children" and came up with this guy's entry on his blog--it was EXACTLY the help I needed! I chuckled to myself about what I was about to do, marveling at how simple the answer was, and returned to the car confident that we would not need to make an unexpected trip to the ER today.

I kneeled next to Kaden in his car seat, tipped his head back, plugged the bead-free nostril, and did a CPR-type puff into his mouth (being careful not to blow too hard)...the bead popped right out!!!

I'm so grateful for bloggers sharing such important information!!!

The Unsuccessful Reinactment

Mail-Order Wife!

Well... not quite, but it will have to be the next best thing. I just found out that my birthday-twin Shawna will be coming to visit in June, and is going to stay with us for 3 weeks!!! We had such a wonderful time, and the kids got so attached to her, when she came to visit last December--we are thrilled to have her come stay again!

I have to say, I know I will be very a little jealous, because she will be fresh off an amazing trip through Central America, but I am also just as eager to hear all of the wonderful details, love on her yummy brown skin, and look at all of her pictures.

Now I just have to wait 2 months...

Behind...

Ok, so I'm 2 days behind on my blog365...at this point I'm hoping that the project at least compels me to post a couple of times a week. ;) 

I just got back from a wonderful, relaxing evening knitting and talking with friends. I am not able to expand on this much more, because as I type Kaden is climbing onto the table showing me his "panty" that he's wearing (the same pair of training pants for a full 24 hours!), Kylin is yelling for me to come lay down with her, and Kiran is foraging for snacks off of the floor...

Tomorrow night Rich and I have a date planned...I am beside myself with excitement!!

Good night, and Happy Hump Day!

Andy The Astrological Detective

In response to the popularity of the last post and the proposition that was made, here is a post solely dedicated to dispensing Andy's contact information:

astrologicaldetective.com

503-404-5068

andy@astrologicaldetective.com

There is more great info on her website, so I would recommend checking it out, but for a quick glimpse at the info you are looking for, a standard 1 hour natal chart reading it is $100 ($90 for my friends!!), and you leave with the chart and an audio tape of the reading (or you could probably get a videotape, Lee--she's an interpreter, also). There is also an option to have a parent and child's chart read at the same time, for $150, which is a good deal. Initially this may seem like a lot of money to spend on a non-essential service...but when you take into account how much you may spend on a haircut or an outfit, and weigh that against how much insight into your child (or yourself, or your spouse) that this can give you, it really is worth it. If it just isn't affordable, but it's something you'd really like to do, it also could be a gift to your child for a birthday or holiday and relatives may even pitch in for it.

If you are skeptical, I'll let you know a full report after we have our kids' done. Hopefully it will be soon... I feel like I really need some help understanding them lately!!

Treasure Mapping Confusion

Sorry for the confusion... the link I posted was from last year, so the dates were not right, and I was just too tired to do anything about it! So, the Aries New Moon for 2008 began April 5th, and it ends April 9th, which would mean you have to start your 2008 map during that time. You have until sometime around the 20th (can't remember the exact date) to finish it, though.
Here is a link to the current TM thread. I think last year's has more good info for getting started, though, so that's why I linked it.

When it's done I think I will hang mine in my craft room.

Treasure Mapping

I really want to post all of my weekly winners from the month, but I just have to go to bed. I've been working on my Treasure Map, and then had about a 2 hour nursing session trying to get the boys to sleep.

Design A Vagina

Yes, you read right. And you are probably not surprised, given whose blog you are reading.

My friend Saamanta sent me this link, and I just could not keep it to myself. I was intrigued by the breast project I posted a while back, and this is even more interesting. If real breasts are rarely seen, real vaginas are even more hidden.

So this artist is trying to change that. He says:

"Why am I doing it and what's it all about?" I hear you ask. Well, vaginas are as individual as a faces and most people don't seem to know that. Men tend to have seen more vaginas than women, who have often only seen their own and many have never looked that closely. Hence the exposure of so many, showing the variety of shapes is endlessly fascinating, empowering and comforting. For many women their vagina is a source of shame rather than pride and this piece seeks to redress the balance, showing that everyone is different, everyone is normal, and everyone is beautiful.

Check it out. You may be intrigued and inspired as well.

Funny Guys

Kaden wants ketchup...but that's not what it sounds like!

The Giggler

Have I Mentioned I Hate The Zoo?

But I went anyway (and braved rush hour traffic on the 26 home) for these lovely ladies (and men)... of COURSE they were worth it!!

My pregnant lovah
My 6 1/2 year old who rode in the stroller all day
Eleanor enjoying her corn dog way too much (and her kick-ass parents, Jimi & Danielle)
Kaden in "I-haven't-had-a-nap-and-it's-almost-5-pm" Land
The Elephants Doing Tricks
Danielle & Eleanor, and Joi & Grey in the background, watching the performing elephants
Grey is such a little Flirt
And now, the 6 1/2 year old being worn in the Ergo
And me wearing snuggly Isadore
Crazy, tired, boys on the way home

Birth Story Carnival

I realize I am a few days late, but I just couldn't pass up a chance to participate in a birth story sharing event.

My first inclination was to share Kiran's birth story, since it is my most recent and because we just celebrated his 1st birthday. But, in digging a little deeper, I have decided I would like to share Kaden's birth story. All 3 of my births changed me and are so special to me, each in it's own way. Kaden's birth was my first VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean), it was a very fast and uncomplicated birth after a super-long and more complicated birth, and it was my first homebirth--all of which made it such an intensely powerful and fulfilling experience for me.

I had been having strong and regular, but not painful, contractions for several weeks. At 37 weeks I woke up at 2 am for my regular potty & snack trip. I was still having the same regular contractions, but nothing out of the ordinary. I returned to bed with my string cheese, and had trouble falling back to sleep (again, not unusual). At about 2:45 Rich woke up and asked how I was doing, and if my contractions were regular. I told him they were, but that I thought we should just go back to sleep and that we would probably have several nights like this before I really was in labor. At 3 am we both laid down to rest, and I turned over onto my belly, like in child's pose, as my contraction was a little stronger--and I felt a "pop" up in my belly. Instantly the contractions intensified and became painful, and I went into the living room to sit on my birth ball and light candles, while vocalizing through them. Rich called our midwife and called my mom to come be with me, as he worked like a mad-man trying to get the hot tub (which was completely unprepared for labor) into the house, cleaned, and filled (HA!).

I labored like this for about 20 minutes, when I felt the urge to poop--so I moved into the bathroom. As soon as I sat down on the toilet, my contractions turned to grunting pushes...what an amazing feeling that was! That urge is so powerful and overwhelming, I could not deny it. I told Rich to call our midwife back and tell her I was "feeling pushy." By the time she arrived at 3:30 and checked me, I was completely dilated and pushing.

Now came the hard part. :) I have heard a lot of women tell a lot of birth stories. I have read about and seen many many videotaped and a few live births. Some women have a very difficult time with the contractions, others with pushing... mine was pushing. It wasn't that it was so painful, although it was... It was deciding in my mind, actually committing to pushing that baby out, that was so difficult. I can remember the exact moment that I finally made up my mind, and decided to really push him out--and out he came!

It was so glorious to feel him slip out of me--although the several minutes that he was crowning was the most intense and painful moment of my life--and then to hold him on my chest, all wet and warm and brand new, was the most profound and most longed-for experience I have had.

To see pictures, and read the account of Kaden's birth that I wrote the day he was born, click here.

Thanks, Lotus, for giving us this opportunity to share such intimate and important details of our lives.

UrbanHippie Farm!

You are cordially invited to visit my new blog (which will be maintained in addition to my current one):

UrbanHippie Farm

This will be our online homesteading journal, and I may even persuade UrbanHippiePapa to post every once in awhile.

Those of you following along with my blog365 endeavor, this other blog counts towards those daily posts too--so if there's no post here, look over there!

Nighty night!

Thanks for the Chicken love!

Wow!! I guess all I had to do was ask?? And it helps to know the right people...

Everyone's comments and resources on my chicken post have been so helpful. You ladies are a cornucopia of poultry-wisdom!

We are going up to a friend's house on Tuesday to get a trailer load of of alpaca manure for our garden. Our first meeting with the Backyard Farmers last Tuesday was A-MAZ-ING... after they left we were so blown away and simultaneously grateful for their guidance... that's probably why I forgot to post! Our brains have been going a million miles an hour since then, planning our little urban homestead. Rich is even totally on board, which makes it so much fun. He is at work, as we speak, designing our garden beds, chicken coop, and goat pen.

Oh, another question: Have you seen goats and chickens kept together in the same space??


And for a laugh, here is a moment I found particularly hilarious last week:

The Voice of the Universal Child

Written by Bruce Scott

I am several days behind in my email right now, but I opened this today and thought I would share it. It is quite long, so I picked the 13 that most spoke to me, and then the rest follow.


The Voice of the Universal Child

1· Do not throw anything away that belongs to me, unless I
am asked first.

2· Talk to me in the same voice you talk to adults with

3· See me as a whole feeling person when I am a teenager.
Do not write me off as raging hormones or "just a teenager." I will
do the same for you no matter what your age.

4· Do not punish me, ever. Teach me. Hold me. Love me.
Trust that I, just like you, want to do what is right, and don’t want
to hurt anyone.

5· Help me understand what I don’t know. Don't call me
names, or label me or compare me, or make me compete for anything.
Help me cooperate and collaborate. Be the example for me.

6· If you feel embarrassed by something I am doing, hug me.
Come closer. I am being myself completely. If I need to be more
aware of others, I want to know that. I can hear your kind voice
remind me.

7· When it looks like I am having what you call a tantrum, it is
all I know to do to make contact, to be heard, to be taken seriously,
to be held. I am not wanting to bother anyone, or cause trouble

8· I am naturally creative. Notice how I make things out of
leaves, or sticks, or bubbles, or crayons. Notice how I like to
climb and explore, and discover everything all at once. Listen to my
imagination at work. That's not just kid stuff. This is what you
might do too if you would join with me.

9· I may take longer than you'd like, completing something. That
is because I am in no hurry to get anything done. I haven't learned
yet that hurrying, being busy and always anxious, are fun.

10· When I cry, I am feeling. Crying can be like sneezing,
feeling close to you, singing or running. It is just my body
expressing itself. I might have been sad, or hurt or afraid. When I
am feeling in my body, I am relieved. All you need do is be present
with me so that I know you are there, but not try to stop me or make
me feel better.

11· I am wise. I know things. I see things. I know naturally
what I need to know. I believe and trust myself and my intuition.
Unless I learn to mistrust myself.

12· I sometimes feel safe in the world. Sometimes I don't. If I
feel or sense something, and others don't, (maybe even make fun of
me), I get even more scared. I can feel so alone and wrong. It
helps when you take me seriously, regardless of my age, and ask me
more questions about what I “see,” feel or sense. I might be seeing
something you need to know.

13· I am your gift. I am not just a little person who needs to be
"raised" and taught, and taken to activities. I am not in your life
by accident. Incredible or unbelievable as this may sound, I came to
the people in my life to bring a message: slow down. Feel. Be. Over
and over again. When you do, you will notice immediately that I am
not an obstacle to your work, or inconvenient to your daily life.
Instead, you will come to appreciate my honesty, humor, presence and
love.



· Include me before making decisions that affect me.

· Find out what my experience is like with friends, or the
teachers in school, and believe me. Take action if necessary. Stand
up for me too, as a person.

· Respect my interests even though they may seem just cute
to you

· Do not refer to me as a "terrible two"

· If you are afraid for me, tell me so honestly with your
heart.

· Hug me, Kiss me, and Hold me a lot. Be kind with your
smile.

· If you are upset with something in your life, know when
you are upset. Don't be angry with me or blame me, or judge me. If
you want me to know something and hear you, notice your voice and
angry or judgmental thoughts before you give them to me. I, like
you, do not feel good when I am admonished, made wrong or blamed. It
just doesn't feel good. I want to hear and understand you. I like
being connected.

· When you are with me, be completely with me. If you are
in your thoughts, pretending to be with me, then you are not with me
at all.

· Treat me exactly like you would want me to treat you.
Exactly.

· Assume that I see everything. I am exquisitely sensitive
and can feel pretense, falseness, and hidden agendas. I can also
feel love.

· Know when you are sarcastic. Sarcasm is mean and creates
distance, hurt and separates us, almost without noticing. Humor
brings us together.

· If I am fidgety, seem bored, have difficulty sitting
still, talk too much, appear to have a short attention span, please
join with me. Ask me, with an attitude of wonder, what my experience
is in the classroom, or wherever I appear to not want to be. I am
not ADD or ADHD, or any diagnosis. I simply want to be where there
is life, movement and creativity happening (ask me what I mean by all
this). Together, we'’ll find understanding.

· Sometimes, I know what to do without reading written
instructions. I don't have words for it, I just know. I have the
ability to see how things go together. I may do things differently
than the way you learned. That's ok. Both ways may work. And
anyway, I have fun finding my own way. The destination doesn't
matter that much.

· I do not need you to always say Yes to me. Actually, yes or
no doesn't matter. What matters is how you hold me in your heart,
how you see me, and your appreciation for me. 'Cause when you
appreciate me, and see through my eyes too, a yes or no will always
be the right thing for both of us.

· No matter how old I am, three years old, sixteen, or forty-
five, I am not intending to deceive you, take advantage of you, use
you or disrespect you. If you have those thoughts or the belief that
I am "asking too much," that is not my intent. I am really, searching
out ways to make contact, and to be with you, for you to acknowledge
my presence.

· Finally, Be yourself, and if you don’t know for sure,
what yourself is, ask me.

The Card Up My Sleeve

You may notice an empty void which is my March 18th post.

I have been waiting to play this card, until the time struck me, but I think it has finally arrived:

To alleviate your curiosity, it is completely within the bounds of blog365 to use alternate methods for "blogging", which is really defined as journaling, to post everyday--and to even backdate posts which are posted after the fact. I will type up something I wrote yesterday and post it.

So, although it completely slipped my mind, which I can't believe because it feels like habit now to post something everyday, I am banishing the guilt and displaying proudly my Blogging without Obligation badge.

A Question For The Chicks

I wanted to catch up on the last 2 weeks worth of photos tonight...but it's not quite ready. So, instead, I will ask for your help.

We are researching chickens. We have a good spot for a coop, already have a little hen-house for them. But I just really realized today that this is chick season. Like, right now. We would like to get the chicks this year, rather than wait until next year (you may be laughing... maybe we can get chicks all year long?? I'm not sure...). Now I am wondering, how the heck do you know what kind of chickens you want? And, do we need a rooster?

I have been perusing websites today, but those are 2 questions I have that remain unanswered. Any answers??



We said good-bye to Grandma Sheila today...she flew home to California. She was missed as soon as she got out of the car--Kaden asked all the way home "Where Mra-ma go??".

Thanks in advance for your help with the chicks. And, I hope you had a good Monday.