Hello! I'm on a short break from blogging....promise to be back next week.
How about a funny picture of my husband and his brother and sister on Halloween??? They are SO SCARY in their PJ's.
Hehe!!!
Love,
Chels
October 30, 2010
October 26, 2010
October 25, 2010
October 22, 2010
Menehune.
Wikipedia defines the Menehune as: in Hawaiian mythology, the Menehune [pronounced meh-neh-HOO-neh] are said to be a people, sometimes described as dwarfs in size, who live in the deep forests and hidden valleys of the Hawaiian Islands, far from the eyes of normal humans. Their favorite food is the maiʻa (banana), but they also like fish.
The Menehune were said to be superb craftspeople. Legends say that the Menehune built temples (heiau), fishponds, roads, canoes, and houses. They are said to have lived in Hawaiʻi before settlers arrived from Polynesia many centuries ago.
Little boy, you might be wondering why we keep calling you Menehune. Well, for starters (sorry to embarrass you before you are even born) you might exist because of a little trip your parents took to Oahu in May. Second, your daddy has native Hawaiian heritage. He didn't grow up in Hawaii but I know he feels a deep connection to the islands that I will never fully understand. Plus, he looks just like all of those Hawaiian boys with their pickup trucks full of surfboards. Your daddy grew up surfing the freezing cold Oregon coast and I know he wishes that he could run out into the warm, turquoise Hawaiian water every day.
Little Menehune, you will have that same Hawaiian blood in your veins and I know that you will have the spirit of Aloha in your tiny little heart. Your daddy has already told me that he wants you to feel the sand in your toes right after you are born. We might never have the privilege of living in Hawaii but we will take you there (and Mexico, and California, and anywhere else we can think of with a beach). I promise.
Love,
Mama
October 20, 2010
Pretty Please With a Cherry on Top?
If you wouldn't mind taking a second to click here (then the top link after that):
It'll help keep me listed on the "Top Baby Blogs" website.
Thank You Thank You!!
Love,
Chels
Get Candy!
I'm definitely excited to have a little one around to revive my holiday spirit. It will be exciting to dye easter eggs again, it'll be sweet to send out Valentine cards, the magic of Christmas will return, and of course, we'll carve pumpkins!!
I'm pretty sure we'll get creative with the sewing machine and make our own Halloween costumes in our house next year, but for now here are a few hilarious costumes I found on Etsy. Anybody who shows up at my door in one of these is definitely going to get extra candy.
The Little Lion by sweetpeatoadtots
Baby Chick Costume by DIPdesigns
Loch Ness Sea Monster by missnessamonster
Leia Baby Hairdo Hat by thegreenhedgehog
Neon Green Witch by zacharydickorydock
Happy Halloween!!!
Love,
Chels
October 16, 2010
Too Far Away
This cute face comes home to me today:
He's been in China all week for work and I can't wait to give him a big squish.
China is TOO FAR AWAY. Really, it's way too far.
October 15, 2010
What I'm Reading
I never gave much thought to the idea of childbirth before I got pregnant. I just always imagined it would be in a hospital, with my regular OB/GYN. Little did I know there is a whole world of information out there to be read and learned and childbirth in America is not as perfect as it seems on TV. The most important thing i've learned is that I have a choice in how I birth my baby. I am not required to see an OB/GYN, I am not even required to have my baby in a hospital. It is shocking to learn that the majority of families in the US spend more time and energy making decisions about what TV or car to buy then how and where they will give birth to their children.
Once I started getting into the facts and statistics of unnecessary medical interventions that occur in hospital birth with a medical doctor, I started exploring my options. At my first prenatal appointment with my OB I mentioned to her that I was interested in having a natural childbirth. Her expression was priceless....and she basically patted me on the back and said "you know that over 90% of women who think they want a drug free birth end up having an epidural....but we'd really love to see a natural childbirth around here if you want to try". Her tone was slightly sarcastic and not at all supportive of this huge decision I was making for myself and my child. I later discovered the hospital where I would give birth had a 40% c-section rate and there were actual signs in the employee area that said "When in Doubt, Cut it Out". This is what the medical system and insurance companies have done to childbirth.
I discovered a midwife practice that is 3 miles away from my house that has privileges at the hospital across the street. I immediately made an appointment and was thrilled to learn that it was possible to have a natural childbirth, in a hospital, with a supportive midwife who would help me accomplish my goal of a drug free birth. I am not quite brave enough to go the "home birth" route (although when reading about it it sounds amazing) and there are not many birth centers to choose from where I live. This seems like the perfect option for my family and I am so happy with my care so far. I feel confident that I will not have to fight off an epidural or pitocin and that a c-section will be a last resort in a true emergency. I will be allowed to labor at home for as long as possible, and then once at the hospital be able to move around freely and not be chained to the bed with a fetal monitor. I believe that having a baby is not a medical problem or a sickness. A woman's body is made to have babies and when left alone it almost always does what it needs to do to produce a healthy, alert, and happy child. I know it will hurt like crazy but I am willing to experience the pain to achieve the outcome. I also understand that things go wrong and I have to be flexible in my expectations, which I am. Obviously the most important thing is a healthy baby and healthy mom. This is why i've chosen to stay in the hospital, just in case we need some extra help. I also want to note that I am not trying to judge anybody that has made a different childbirth choice, this is simply the personal goal for myself and my family.
So, that's the plan. I've read some amazingly informative books along the way and wanted to share some of my favorites.
Currently, i'm reading "Homebirth in the Hospital" by Stacey Marie Kerr, MD. Written by a doctor who believes in natural childbirth and spent 10 years living with midwives on "The Farm" (with Ina May Gaskin) in Tennessee. She gives her advise on how to have the best possible "homebirth" in a hospital environment.
I just finished reading "Your Best Birth" by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein. This book is a must read for any woman expecting a child. I lets you in on a lot of the dirty little secrets of the birthing industry and explores all of your options for childbirth. Loved it.
Also in this category falls the movie "The Business of Being Born". This is a HUGE eye opener and you absolutely must see this movie if you are expecting a child or even if you ever plan to have children. Also, make your husband and your mom watch it with you, but not at the same time.
Next up is "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth" by Ina May Gaskin. She's one of the most famous midwives in the country and has birthed over 1200 babies. She has a remarkably low c-section rate of 1.8%. I'm excited to hear what she has to say.
Oh how my reading choices have changed over the last 6 months!!!
Love,
Chels
October 12, 2010
extravaDANCEa
I'm a little late on this, but I physically drug my husband to see THIS last Tuesday:
It was A-MAZING. I am a huge So You Think You Can Dance nerd. I can't wait for it to start each season. I just can't believe what these kids do with their bodies, it's really pretty incredible and inspiring. And I heart Cat Deeley and her outfits. RD wants baby boy to play sports, but I think it's ok if we squeeze a few dance and gymnastics classes in there too. He seemed to really love the loud music and the applause during the show.....I think he was doing little baby dance steps in my belly.
October 9, 2010
My Little Sunshine
Let me start by saying that life caught up with me the last week or so and this little blog quickly became abandoned. Growing this tiny person is hard work and i'm learning that I can't keep going at the same pace that i'm used to. I'm trying to slow it down a bit and take more time to put my feet up. I only have one chance to get this little guy here safe and sound and healthy.
In other news, I wanted to give a little shout out to this adorable new children's shop in NYC's Chelsea neighborhood. According to a recent article in "Time Out New York", My Little Sunshine "Is stuffed with durable kids' clothing from labels like Oeuf, Imps & Elfs and Splendid; blankets and muslin sleeping bags by aden + anais; accessories including shoes, hats and umbrellas; and a toy stash of such covetables as mini kick scooters and jellycat stuffed animals." I am so proud to announce that my little labor of love Lola Miren is included among these amazing children's brands! Their first week in business was a huge success and i'm already working on a re-order for the shop. Thank you "My Little Sunshine" and I wish you continued success. It makes me so happy to hear of an independent business getting off to a great start, especially with so much bad news in the world right now. Check out the article here.
October 2, 2010
Happy Birthday Mom
I can only hope that I will be as good of a mother to my baby as you have been to me. I love you more than words. Happy Birthday!
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