Prepping

This week, I have just started to think that I should prepare for the new baby. I haven't done anything, seriously. Its real and I need to get with it. I don't want to fit the stereotype I have heard so often about how the last or in our case, third child, is allowed to do whatever and is all but neglected. 


I understand where this stereotype comes from. With practice makes perfect, or makes one more relaxed and confident and for us at least, by the time the third child arrives, I think (I hope) we will know what to expect, minus his little personality quirks. So what's the need for all the fuss and stress?


With Nyah, I was thrown numerous baby showers where I received beyond the amount of gifts one human deserves, from overly generous family and friends, picked from a mega baby store using a small hand held scanner. I had everything for her, wipe warmer, special pillows for nursing, special medical kits, special blankets, you name it. 


When Elsa came along, I had luckily saved everything from Nyah and was able to reused it. I obviously didn't ship the big stuff, like obnoxious swing, exersaucer, etc but that was fine. I didn't miss any of it and realized I didn't need any of it. The purpose of all the stuff seems to be just to make one small moment in the mothers life and small stage in the child's life easier and then to take up a lot of space. 


Elsa, from birth, has lived a contraption free life, minus a swaddling blanket. She has always been left to her imagination and allowed to lie, roll, sit, scoot, crawl and walk to her hearts delight without being confined to a piece of plastic. Our major investment with her were some mega padding puzzle like pieces for the hard tile floor which we are still using in the girls play area. We child proofed the house and set her free. She walked early and is extremely independent, has killer concentration for her age and enjoys playing alone, preferably looking at books. So this is the route we will take with the little guy, a plastic contraption free life. 


I have a carrier, swaddling blankets, co sleeper (in fact, haven't even put it away), the girls bedding is cobalt blue, everything is gender neutral so other than clothes, which my generous friends have totally hooked me up with, we might be set. I think. I hope. Bottles? Nope, breastfeed and try not to leave baby much. Cloth diapers? I just might go there this time, oh yeah, we got a washer and dryer. Booyah. Yup, it's the little things in life.


What I have been doing most of all to prepare little dudes arrival is reading. Lots. I totally engulfed myself with reading when I was pregnant with Ny. I wanted to know all there was to know about natural child birth and breastfeeding. None of the woman in my family knew much about these topics, in fact, I think my poor grandmother was knocked out for her "births". So since I really had no one to bestow this important womanly wisdom on me, I hit the books, naturally. My all time favorite book and the one I credit with teaching me the most was, Spiritual Midwifery, written by the badass midwife, Ina May Gaskin in 1976. 

If you are pregnant and have any interest in the beauty of child birth, you gotta read this book. 

A little crunchy and hippyish (some of the woman have harry arm pits) but it tells the birth stories of hundreds of women written by the mother herself, father, friend, or midwife who attended the birth. The numerous stories of how the mommas repeatedly had uncomplicated, untraumatic birthing experiences was so enlightening and get this, the majority of them did it on a farm. No hospital. They all did it, without drugs, without C sections. And they survived. The statistics are amazing, at times unbelievable. 


It's empowering and I credit this book with giving me the confidence to relax, trust my body and embrace the life changing labor and delivery experience I had with Nyah. The woman's stories in the book helped me realize that delivering a baby is normal and something I am perfectly capable of doing and in fact was born to do. It is a nice way to counter the horror stories so common in our culture today. 


Couldn't resist including a picture of the little beauty who changed my life in more ways than I can count.

So, I have picked up my treehugging tendencies again and ordered Ina's newest book, Ina May's Guide to Childbirth. 

Love it, so far. Haven't finished it yet but enjoying more inspirational stories along with more technical info of how to get 'er done in the delivery room. 


And there you have it, the most important item I have purchased thus far in preparation for baby boys arrival. Also, now accepting, in advance all good vibes anyone wants to send this way for a quick and peaceful delivery of a healthy baby. By far the best gift we could receive as we prepare ourselves and our lives for the newest addition.

And how could I forget a photo of the precious Elsa Christiana who brings joy and light to our lives daily.

Everything in Time

Nana has left the building and life around here is slowly getting back to normal.  A good time was had by all, especially Ny who already started the countdown until Nana's next visit which provides the opportunity for some serious lessons in time. Much talk around here about months, weeks, and the human gestational period, as Nana will be back to St. Croix, or wherever we are in this world, in time for baby boy's arrival. 


The highlight of Nyah's week, well besides basically every moment of having her favorite person around, was her first boat ride to Buck Island aka the location of the most beautiful beach in the world.

Oh, and don't let the snorkel gear fool ya. She is still deathly afraid of the deep ocean. Not quite sure how that happened. The fact that she is afraid of the ocean is typical, I guess. Having her object to something George and I adore keeps us very aware and helps us recognize her individuality. We have tried everything and every sort of swimming contraption invented but have come to realize that only with time, hopefully, will she come around. Elsa on the other hand, yikes. Watch out. She would jump in alone if allowed, already going under, repeatedly and loving every minute.


So back to reality and in the home stretch of this pregnancy, just waiting for time to pass until we get to meet the littlest dude. Its warming up around these parts so everyone is starting to move a little slower. The calendar doesn't lie though, things are changing and I realize that in just a moments time our arms will be filled with our newest bundle of joy. Still taking advantage of every moment until that day in June to prepare and continue to strategize how I am going to fit everyone in our truck and how I am going to navigate, alone, from the truck to the house with two little ones in tow.


More on the topic of how we prepare for a baby tomorrow.


Until then, wishing everyone a beautiful Sunday mornin'!

Nana

The countdown has finally come to an end. In less than twenty-four hours my Mom will arrive on the island. There is such a buzz in the air. Nyah is most excited and has had the sleeping arrangements planned for months, obviously Nana will be sleeping in her room. Pictures are colored and awaiting the superstars arrival. George and I are excited because having Nana around means a little down time for us and possibly some alone time since we will have a built in babysitter who is actually excited to watch the girls. Who knows what we will get out and do, the options are endless. We might even get gussied up and go and be social. Not sure if I remember how to do that but exited to give it a try.


It has been awhile since Nana was in the house, over a year to be exact, when Elsa was born.

We are so excited to have you back. Safe travels Mom, we can't wait to see you.

The Lunch Situation

Each night after dinner as I put the left overs away and begin the meticulous process of cleaning the kitchen, I pack Nyah's lunch for school. George helps me clean the kitchen of course. He is the master of washing dishes and loves to remind me how much better he is at this task than me. I have to say, I totally agree with him. He can totally claim that one, spotless dishes every time. Remember dude, I grew up with this little invention called a dishwasher. Mind blowing, I know. I have told him on numerous occasions that since he is SO much better than me at washing that he can be totally, one hundred percent in charge of the task but he won't buy it. But I am thankful for whatever help I can get.


Since packing the lunch kit is such a part of my daily routine that I truly enjoy, and will probably be doing for a long, long time, (wow, I am really going to pack a lot of lunches in my life) I thought I would share what its all about.  So here's the lunch kit, in all of its glory:

We are highly discouraged from using plastic baggies, juice boxes and other disposable stuff at Nyah's school, in an attempt to keep waste to a minimum, something that has become habit in our daily lives. We are lucky that none of her classmates have any over the top peanut allergies so peanut butter sandwiches are a-okay. Nyah typically opens her lunch box to find a sandwich or left overs, always fruit, maybe pretzels and her all time favorite, yogurt. A serious treat for her. 

The containers are from some mega store, cold pack a gift given to Ny when she was a wee precious one from my dear friend Ashley, and the snack bag is courtesy of my sister and the rockin' toy store she works in.

Nyah stays hydrated through the school day and during lunch from a tiny glass full of water which she pours from a mini glass pitcher. Real glass? Three year olds? Really? Yes. All part of the process. Dropping and breaking glass and the reaction it elicits is all part of the process of learning to be careful, concentrate and handle things with care.

I pick Nyah up at twelve o'clock sharp each day and get the pleasure of spending some time with this little community of barefoot kids. 


Yesterday, one of the little cutties reached his tiny, short arms up to rub my belly and while peering at me from under my bump asked me so curiously, "Why is your belly so big?"


To which I replied, "Because there is a baby growing in there".


To which he bluntly blurted, with his best are you crazy lady look on his face, "AGAIN!?!".


I'm convinced picking Nyah up during lunch is the best part of Elsa's day. She gets such a kick out of making her grand entrance to meet the group of socializing children gathered and eating lunch at their chowkies on the open air porch of the beautiful school*, hoping to get a bite but always receiving a hug.  


Oh, a chowki is a little table which originates from India (where Nyah's teacher, Ms. Jill received her Montessori training). Ms. Jill describes how the guards used to sit on the little tables outside of homes during a long watch, so I guess this would make them more like stools. 


Here is a photo of the Indian God, Ganesha, sitting on a chowki. Obviously, the one Nyah uses daily is made of wood and not nearly as ornate, but you get the idea.

The kids at StarApple Montessori use the chowkies as tables to do their "work" (a very serious matter if you have had the pleasure to be around a Montessorian) and also to eat on. The students take wonderful care of their little chowkies, the perfect sized work station and portable table for them to eat on.


So there you have it, the whole lunch routine from start to finish.


*I would love to include some photos of Nyah's amazing preschool (yes, I am so inspired by a preschool) but just don't feel right snapping photos of others children but maybe someday I will find the school empty. Until then I will leave it up to your imagination.

Business

Obviously, I interrupted some serious business here. Nyah in the business of teaching and Elsa fully emerged in the business of learning. Major world issues in the process of being solved until Mom barged in with the obnoxious camera. Carry on girls, carry on with your business.

*I know, I know. They will hate me for this photo someday, a future I am willing to face. I just couldn't help myself to share this precious scene (with the world). Sorry girls, I take full responsibility.

She Eats

I finally discovered the culprit, the reason I have to make an extra trip to the over priced grocery store in the middle of the week. There she is, the full blown, extra mouth to feed in our house, and feeding she does. She just doesn't stop.

She eats her portions and then finishes her sisters meals. We have had to stop her on more than one occasion, afraid she would make herself sick from eating too much. We are still wondering where the petite fifteen month old puts it all. She has pretty much ditched the breastfeeding thing for the real stuff and hasn't looked back since. 


And, once again, I found myself way behind at dinner last night (as usual). I handed her a fork (just to get her warmed up to the idea) with a bowl of pasta. She proceeded to eat her whole bowl of pasta with the fork, stabbing the noodles with perfect precision and bringing them to her mouth with skilled eye hand coordination as if she has been doing it for years. Seriously, who teaches her this stuff and where was I? Watermelon is definitely one of her favorites.

Twenty Five Weeks

For those wondering, here's what's been cooking for the past six months. 

I told myself I would gain as much weight with this pregnancy, that there is just no need for it. Well, the veracious hunger has taken over and though I am eating healthy, the extra lbs have found me. My stomach popped out this past week and my pants won't button. The old rubber band trick my mom taught me with my first pregnancy is doing the trick so far. Other than growing exponentially, I am feeling awesome and enjoying every moment of this pregnancy. We are truly blessed.


We cleaned out all the baby girl clothes from the closet yesterday and gave them to a friend who is expecting her first girl soon. It was so bittersweet as I smelled and snuggled some of the softest pinkest clothes both girls wore when the were the tiniest beings. Could they have ever been so small? Guess we are confident this baby is a boy. Lets hope ultrasounds don't lie.