Leonora and the butterfly

This is Leonora's wind-up butterfly.



She found it one day when we were packing and cleaning our old apartment.




She was making the butterfly fly.



I wish I'd done a video, but here are some cute pictures!

Fresh Strawberry Pie

This is my mom's recipe. I love it! I've decided what makes this simple recipe so good is the lemon!

Ingrediants:

1 cup water
3/4 cup sugar
2 T cornstarch
Juice of 1 lemon
2 lbs strawberries
large pie crust

Mix sugar and cornstarch in a small bowl until well blended. Set aside. Take 3-4 strawberries and smash. Bring water to a boil. Add sugar mixture to water. Blend thoroughly while still cooking. Add juice of 1 lemon. Remove from heat and let cool. Add smashed strawberries. Hull remaining strawberries and place in large pie crust. Pour water/sugar mixture over strawberries. Refrigerate 1-2 hours or until ready to serve.

It's great served with whipped cream! I am lazy, so I usually buy the pie crust. My favorite to use is a shortbread crumb crust, but this is grahm cracker crumb. Enjoy!

Two Months!

Time has gotten away from me! I didn't even realize that I hadn't posted about Isaac's 2 month check up!



Isaac has gotten huge! At least, he seems huge to me. If you were carrying him around all the time, he'd seem huge to you too!! He had his 2 month check up last week and is doing well. He weighed in at 14lbs even (95th percentile) and was 23 1/2 inches long(75th percentile). He has a slightly flat spot on the back right side of his head, so we are trying to encourage him to turn more to the left. Other than that and a case of craddle cap, he's a happy healthy little boy!

First Impressions

Sunday was the first time we attended our new ward. There were a lot of visitors. We kind of blended in with all the other new faces, but I'm sure we'll atract a little more attention next week.

We arrived on time-quite the feat for our family-and settled in for a mostly enjoyable sacrament meeting. When it was time for Sunday School, the first order of business was finding out which rooms the kids were suposed to be in. I found the primary room and took William in to ask where his room was. One member of the presidency took him off to his class. As I was being led away to the nursery with Leonora, I realized that I hadn't mentioned his name. I hoped to myself that he wouldn't be too shy and would introduce himself. After all, he knows his name! I then repeated Leonora's name two or three times to the nursery leader. She can't say her own name. Incredibly enough, when she tries, it comes out a few syllables too long.

The rest of our meetings went well. Isaac stayed asleep the whole time. I found out that a couple who were in my ward when I was a little girl are in this ward. They have children close to my age and it was fun to catch up a little. It's nice to see someone familiar in a new congregation.

After church, we set off to find our children. Aaron found William and brought him to where I picked up Leonora. They both seemed happy and to have had a good time, and both had colored pictures for us. As we loaded into the car, I looked a little more closely at William's paper. I instantly regretted not introducing him properly!

Moved!

Just thought I'd let you all know that we are now residing in our new home! So far, we are very happy with the increased space and asthetics. We've still got a bit of unpacking to do, but it is starting to feel more like a home and less like a storage unit with a kitchen! :) I have some pictures to share, but don't have the time at the moment. We've been busy, so I have lots to post about but not the time to do it. This will have to do for the moment!

Isaac's Blessing

Isaac was blessed in chuch on Sunday. I miraculously finished the outfit I was working on for him. Well, all but the buttons, but I think it turned out pretty good even with no buttons! The blessing was very nice! Aaron and I both had a lot of family who were able to attend. It was nice to have so many of them there with us! Here are a few pictures!

Hey Everyone...

I need a couple more of you to comment on my "Pay it Forward" post!! Come on! I'll make something you'll love! :)

Just an experience I wanted to share...

Sunday, I went to the cemetary to remove the evergreen wreath and replace it with a valentines themed one. The new one probably won't be there for too long, but the Christmas one needed to come down. Anyway, I often see one or two other people visiting the cemetary when I go, especially on Sunday afternoons, however, yesterday was a very wet and rainy day here. I probably wouldn't have gone if it weren't the only practical day for me to go before Valentine's. I really didn't expect to see anyone there in the rain, but while I was hanging the new wreath, someone drove to the next cemetary "block" over and stood by a new grave. I knew that there had been a funeral on Saturday. The man who died has a daughter in my high school graduating class. She isn't someone I knew well, but in a graduating class of only 130 students, it's unusual not to at least know names and faces. It was her that I saw standing by the grave.

One of the things I've gotten out of my experience with Renee is a deep sympathy for others' grief. When I see people experiencing a big loss in their life, I just really want to help them. Of course, I always felt bad for people before, but I think I aproached it differently than I used to. There are so many thing that people say that help so little. In fact there are a lot of things that people say with good intentions that end up just making a person feel worse. The things that helped me were those looks from certain people. I have no idea what some of these people's experiences have been, but there's a look that people who have felt a terrible loss have when they tell you they are sorry about your loss. I don't really know how to explain it, but you just know that they've been through these emotions before. It's a look of understanding and compasion. Those looks, along with brief expressions of sympathy, gave me much more comfort than anything that anyone said. I know that I'll see Renee again. After she was burried, I "knew" that someday I wouldn't feel so miserable, but I couldn't see the end of my grief. I was told that the first year is the worst, but I couldn't imagine waking up after that first anniversary was past and feeling better about my daughter being gone. Seeing that look was a testimony to me that there would be a time I'd feel better about it. It was a look that said, "Yes, what you are going through is terrible, but it will pass. I know because I've been there." I imagine that it's the look Christ would give us if we were telling him about our trials face to face.

So when I saw my former classmate standing over her father's grave, I felt compelled to at least attempt to give her some of what had helped me. I didn't say much. Her grief is still very new, so I doubt she remembers much of what I did say, but I hope that I was able to share with her some of what was shared with me. Some Hope for the future, and, even if it was only for a few minutes, a friend.

Pay it Forward

Pay It Forward----I got this off of a friends blog after I commented. Have Fun!'

The Rules:

1. Be one of the first THREE bloggers to leave a comment on this post, which then entitles you to a handmade item from me - something crafty or yummy, who knows?!.

2. Winners must post this challenge on your blog, meaning that you will Pay It Forward, creating a handmade gift -anything!- for the first THREE bloggers who leave a comment on YOUR post about this giveaway!

3. The gift that you send to your Three Friends can be from any price range and you have 365 days to make/ship your item. This means you should be willing to maintain your blog at least until you receive your gift and have shipped your gifts. And, remember: It’s the Spirit and the Thought That Count!

4. When you receive your gift, please feel free to blog about it, sharing appropriate Linky Love! If you are not one of the Top Three Commenters on this post, you can still play along. Go ahead and start your own Pay It Forward chain, and encourage your blogging friends to do the same! SO, REMEMBER... it is good... :) Pass it forward.

Isaac is one month old!

Isn't that amazing?! The last 4+ weeks have flown by for me!

Isaac had his 4 week check up today. He weighs 11lbs, 2 oz and is 22 inches long! His head is about 15 1/2 inches around.

The doctor's verdict: One "Healthy Hunk!"

I'd like to add that he's a handsome little hunk as well!

Happy Birthday to me! and other news

Well, I'm another year older! Ack!! I had a very nice birthday. Aaron and I went out to the movies and dinner and the next day I made a cake. William was a bit distressed that we didn't have any on my birthday.

I've been waiting to post because I wanted to let you all know that we did get aproved for the new apartment! I found out this morning, and that's probably the most exciting (late) birthday present! :) We'll be siging the lease and getting keys on the 13th!

Another fun tidbit is that we openned savings accounts for each of the kids last week! William has been very busy finding ways to help out around the house and earn some pennies. I'm hoping that he'll keep it up and be helpful while we are packing up to move!

Looking again

Awhile back I posted about an apartment that I was hoping to move into. Yeah, that didn't happen. I was pretty disappointed at the time, but now most of the rental properties have lowered their prices, so it has turned out to be a bit of a blessing! Today, I went out and looked at a couple of places. One was kind of run down and in an "iffy" neighborhood, so I ruled that one out, but the other was really nice. At the time that I posted about the other place, this one was over $100 more per month, which put it out of our price range. Anyway, I'm feeling really good about it. There's one other place that I want to look at before we make a commitment, but I'm secretly hoping this is the place! Here are a few pics from the rental agency's site.

The Master Bathroom:


The Kitchen as viewed from the dinning area:



We'd be in the lower right if we decide on this place.

Homebirth

I was sitting in the local WIC office today waiting to add Isaac to the program. A worker came by to make sure I had what I needed to add him, and asked if I had his hospital bracelet for identification. I explained that he had been born at home, but I had his birth record with his name, birthday and my midwife's signature. This satisfied their requirements, and the worker checked with the other women in the waiting room and then left the area. Shortly afterward, one mother with her own newborn asked me about my homebirth. "Were you afraid that something would go wrong?" she asked. I stopped for a moment to think if I had had any such fears during my labor. "No" was the only answer I could give. So many people say to me, "I could never have a homebirth." They site reasons such as wanting pain medication, fears of complications, or having to clean up the mess afterwards. Some people have very good reasons for birthing in hospitals, and I rarely try to convince anyone of how to give birth unless they ask for my opinion. Those who are at a higher risk for complications should be where they can get appropriate care-usually at a hospital under the care of an obstetrician.

When people ask me if I have fears of things going wrong, ironically, the first thing I picture is being in a hospital. I picture an IV in my arm and moniters on my belly. I picture nurses and doctors coming and going and making decisions that will change the outcome of my child's birth. As long as I am able to stay home, I have nothing to be afraid of. It's when all those interventions that most people consider a normal part of giving birth come into play that I start feeling afraid.

I don't think all interventions are bad. C-sections can be very good, if they save a baby and/or mother from a truly dangerous situation. There are times when a mother's labor should be induced. Episiotomies are something I personally find more difficult to justify, but I supose there are cases where they may be necesary. But for me, needing those things is a sign that my body isn't functioning the way it should.

I have to wonder why it is that many mothers who have their babies in hospitals are afraid, while those I know who have had homebirths consider birth to be normal. Could it be that there is more to fear in a hospital? I read and listen to typical hospital birth stories, and if that was my only experience with birth, I'd be afraid too.

Oh, and as for the mess of birth being an issue, I didn't clean up anything after Isaac's birth. The midwife started a load of laundry and Aaron later switched it to the dryer. Everything else was taken care of.

The two-week check up!

Isaac had an appointment with the pediatritian today. He got weighed, measured, listened to and looked at! The jaundice we had been watching is gone and he is back over his birth weight! His current measurments are 8lbs 12oz and 22 inches long. He's around the 50th percentile for his weight and about 90 for his height! We will see how long that keeps up! With such short parents, I suspect he will grow out of it, but we will see! His head is about 14.5inches, which is also right around the 50th percentile compared to other babies his age. Over all, he is a happy and healthy little boy!

Two Weeks!

Wow, I can't believe it's already been two weeks since Isaac was born! Here are a few pictures. He is doing well. We've pretty much figured each other out as far as breastfeeding goes, and he sleeps great-but sometimes he does it in the middle of the day and not at night! So we are working on that. He has a two week appointment on Monday, so I'll update again with his current weight, etc next week!

Isaac Is Here!

Isaac getting ready to be weighed by the midwife.

New baby Issac!

Hello! I know I haven't posted much lately, and I'm sorry this has taken me a few days to announce! We had our baby! He was a couple weeks early, which is the reverse of what I'm used to! He was born at home Saturday night. Here's his birth story. It's somewhat detailed, but I wanted to share the whole story, so hopefully that doesn't bother anyone too much!

Isaac's Story

Saturday morning I woke up feeling pretty normal-huge and pregnant! Around 10:30am, I was started noticing some contractions that were harder and lasting longer than most of the braxton hicks I'd been having. I didn't want to get too anxious about it, so I counted them, but didn't really time them. They were really inconsistant. One hour I had 4, the next couple hours I had 2, then between 3:30 and 4:30, I didn't have any at all. I fell asleep and was woke up by a good strong contraction at about 4:30. From then on, they didn't stop. They still weren't really regular, but were getting stronger, and I was really feeling it in my lower back which made me wonder if he was turned wrong. Around 5:00pm I called my midwife. I was finally feeling like this could be it! She wasn't at home and it took me a while to get a hold of her. I finally talked to her at about 5:30. I was still able to talk through the contractions, so I didn't think it could be that close, but at the same time, I was definitly feeling things happening with most of them. She said to call back in half an hour. I went on with what I had been doing-cleaning the kitchen counters! Ha, ha! But pretty soon couldn't handle being on my feet anymore, so I laid down in bed. In the meantime, I was trying to get my mom to understand the urgency of the situation. She was supposed to be picking up the kids, but hadn't left her house which is a 20 minute drive. I talked to my midwife around 6 and she said she'd get ready and head on over. Aaron was scrambling to get the kids ready to go and Leonora was kind of freaking out. She wanted mommy to help her, but I was not moving! Around the time my mom arrived, Leonora had climbed up in bed and snuggled up next to me. Thankfully, she loves going to Grandma's so once we had our little snuggle, she was willing to go. The kids left with Grandma around 6:15 and I immediately told Aaron to go fill the tub. Because of the back pain, I was really struggling to relax through the contractions, and knew the water would help with that. As soon as the tub was filled I got in and we waited for my midwife. By this time, the contractions were coming a lot faster. We'd kind of stopped timing them when Aaron was getting the kids ready, so I'm not sure how close, but I'd guess at least every 5 minutes. Just before 7:00, I started feeling like I needed to push, so I told Aaron to call the midwife. Thankfully, she was in the parking lot when we called, and came right in. She checked me and said that I was nearly dialated. There was just one side of the cervix still there. She also said that the membranes were bulging, but the baby's head was still not engaged. She also gave me permission to push, and said that once my water broke, he would come down. I stayed in the tub a little longer, but I had no concept of how long at that point. I started feeling like I needed to change possitions to help things along. I was really getting anxious for my water to break so that we could get on with things! I slowly got out of the tub and then started asking my midwife about breaking my water. I told her that if it was safe, I wanted it done. I was feeling really ready. She said it would be safe, so I headed to the bed to have my water broken. I was having contractions about every third step, so it was slow going, but we made it to the bed. I had a couple more contractions while they were getting things ready, then as my midwife was about to do it, I felt like a water balloon had exploded down there! I think I said something about how I'd never had it happen quite like that before! So, I was glad to have that part done and was getting down to the business of getting the baby out! I turned to my side and had Aaron hold my upper leg so that I didn't have to. I still had a lip of cervix on one side, so my midwife manually took care of that and then it seemed like almost immediately she told me I could reach down and feel his head. I was in for a surprise when I felt nearly half his head already out! We had to kind of slow things down for a minute. He was sunny-side up, which I had assumed because of the back pain, and he also had one hand next to his face and the cord wrapped loosely around his neck. My midwife made sure his hand and cord were taken care of, and told me when to push. After that, I really didn't have to push much though. I felt like everything was kind of happening on its own! I'm not sure how many pushes, but from the time my water broke, until he was born was less than 5 minutes! That was a record for me! When they handed him up to me, I was just so overwhelmed, I was just sobbing! I was just so happy to have him in my arms! He cried right away, but didn't have very good color at first, so his 1 minute apgars were a little low, but he scored 9 on the 5 minute. He has some nice dark hair and dark eyes and the world's cutest dimple in his left cheek! Since then, he has been getting really good at all those things that babies do, eating, sleeping, and pooping! Monday he had a visit with the doctor. He's slightly jaundice, so they did a blood draw to check on that and re-checked it yesterday. His levels went up so he's being checked again today. I'm hoping that things will be better. If not, he may need to spend some time under lights in the hospital. I'm feeling really good for the most part. I had no tearing or swelling so things are healing very quickly! Other than the back pain, this was basically a dream labor! It went so quickly and smoothly, I really couldn't have asked for better!

Isaac Nathan Born 8:49pm on Saturday, January 3rd. 8lbs 7oz, 19.25 inches long.

Visit to the midwife

Hi Everyone! We're went somewhere very important today! Mom took along the camera to document our experience. Here we are all ready to go to Mom's midwife appointment!

We love going to the midwife! She's so nice! Here's her house. We'll have one more appointment here in two weeks and then she'll start coming to our house!

We like her house because she has toys! The coloring books are a big hit with us! We colored while Mom did some other stuff. We don't really know what that's all about, but it gives us some time to have fun before we get down to business!

After Mom talks to the midwife for a few minutes, it's our turns to help! There's this great little squeazy thing that checked Mom's blood pressure. It was 110/70. I guess that's good.

Next came the measuring. Mom's belly sure has gotten big lately! We think our brother must be anxious to see us because he sure has been growing a lot! The midwife says he's about 2 weeks ahead!

Next we listened to his heartbeat. Leonora is our professional button pusher, so that's her job. This machine makes the coolest noises ever!

After that's all over, Mom talks some more to the midwife. They talk a lot, but we get to play some more, so it's okay with us. Then it's time to clean up!

And one final peice of business: trying on the Spiderman mask! Yep, it fits!

How many foots do you have?

This morning, William told me something that is definitely worth recording.

First, he told me that we are all in the same family. We all have the same last name and we have eyes and we all have one feet.

Before correcting him, I asked him to explain. He then told me that two foots is the same as one feet, so we all have one feet. Next he told me that two feet is the same as four foots.

Hmmm... Very clever William!

Seasons

As each season changes, so does the decor around our homes and neighborhoods. Of all the seasons, I think the change from fall leaves to Christmas boughs is most noticable. There is nothing shy about the way Christmas enters the scene. On November first, the only pumkins and fall leaves you'll see are in clearance bins, and every retail and grocery store is sure to be decked in red and green. I know this bothers a lot of people, but personally, I don't mind it. I do think that Thanksgiving is an important holiday, but the decor is much less festive. Besides, what's wrong with evergreen boughs being part of Thanksgiving? Anyway, I haven't gotten out many holiday decorations yet. I don't have lights, tree or nativity set up. I don't have any holiday wreaths or garlands around my home. But Sunday, I took care of the first item on my holiday to do list. For the last year, the decorations in my home have been second. The first place the season's change for me is at the cemetary where Renee is buried. There we have a small crook where I hang a wreath to match the season. For some reason, this makes her feel so much more a part of the celebration. A part of our lives. At times when I haven't been able to do this small thing, it has weighed on me. I feel like I'm ignoring her, or too busy for her. Even though I know she is not really there, it helps me to acknowledge her presence in my family. And in some ways, it feels like a gift that I give to her. It's one way I remember her, and show my love for her.

Our story part 5

The date

Saskia asked for pictures, so I dug out this one! Aaron looks so different here. Well, I guess we both look different. A lot can happen in 10 years! Sorry the quality may not be the best. I was in a hurry when I scanned it at my mom's house. It ended up a bit crooked. I tried to fix it, but don't have a very good program. Anyway, here it is: Our first date!

We had rehersal that day. After rehersal, my friend Diana and I blindfolded our dates and my mom picked us up and drove in a round-about way to my parent's house. We were served a spaghetti dinner by my dad, and took a few pictures before we left for the dance. The funny thing is, Aaron and I spent very little time in the dance! Well, I think we went in for the slow songs and to socialize a little, but we spent a lot of the time sitting outside the gym talking-and yes, that really is all we did! We never even held hands until the next summer!

At the risk of sounding a bit silly, I'm going to tell you this next part.

I had previously gotten the feeling that we would get married. It's funny, because that really was the furthest thing from my mind at the time. In fact, it was a bit overwhelming to think about! I mean, yeah, I liked him. I'd just chased him down to go on a date! But I wasn't looking for a serious relationship. So this had been bugging me, and I decided that maybe I should tell him, since it involved him! We spent a good deal of time during the dance discussing this topic. Thankfully, we were both smart enough to realize that knowing we may get married someday, didn't mean we needed to elope that night! In the meantime, we could just enjoy our friendship and get to know each other better. And that is what we did for the next month and a half until he went back to Seattle!