COUNTRY TIME

This past weekend we took an afternoon trip to Mississippi to visit one of Jon's cousins.  I was a little nervous about the 45 minute car ride because Violet doesn't love being strapped in.  She was never soothed to sleep by the motion like most babies and would often just scream entire trips.  I know some people say "babies cry," but it was always hard on my heart (and ears) to hear it.    However, Violet was a champ and didn't shed a single tear!

Jon's cousin lives on a couple hundred acres of pure country.  Violet got to see some cows, chickens, and a very friendly horse who came right up to us and let me pet him!  She squealed with excitement at the sight of them and wasn't afraid at all.

Violet had lots of fun exploring new territory, petting a couple of old dogs with big ole bellies that practically drag on the ground as they walk, picking persimmons, and going for a ride on my shoulders which resulted in hysterical laughter.

I can't wait to take her to a pumpkin patch this weekend to pick out her very first pumpkin, which she will no doubt have to taste before we buy it.

VIOLET'S WATER BIRTH STORY

As Violet's 1st birthday approaches, I wanted to make sure and take the time to put my experience giving birth to her in writing.  It's easy to forget the little details as time goes by and I want her to know everything about the wonderful day she was born.

Anytime someone hears that I had a natural, drug-free delivery, they always want to know the details, but quickly follow up with a comment about if it's too personal, I don't have to share.  I personally think giving birth naturally is an absolutely beautiful thing and am always happy to share my experience in the hopes that I can convince another woman that she too is more than capable of doing it herself!

I really hadn't thought much about giving birth until a few years ago when I saw the documentary, The Business of Being Born.  I only knew two ways women were delivering: with an epidural or a c-section (whether planned or unplanned).  In fact, I don't actually know anyone in my age bracket who has given birth without some form of labor assisting medication.  It was after watching that documentary, that I really began doing a lot of my own research about giving birth and I wasn't even pregnant!

A few years later when I did become pregnant, I had already researched what was available to me locally.  I could give birth without drugs in a hospital with an OBGYN.  However, given the c-section rates, I felt sure drugs would be pressured, which can often lead to a c-section.  (Eeek!---Here's some articles if you're interested: Why is the national U.S. c-section rate so high?, possible delayed milk production after c-sections, pros and cons of epidurals)  I could deliver with a midwife (either in a bathtub or not) in a hospital that encourages natural birth, or I could have a home birth with a midwife (also either in a kiddie pool or not).  Given that this was my first go-round, I was a little nervous about having a home birth and decided to go with the water birth delivered by a midwife in a hospital option.  

Now for the actual events....

It was Tuesday October 29th, two days before my due date.  I had already taken off of work because I had this horrible feeling that my water would break while I was teaching and my favorite student would have to deliver my baby.  That evening I was up late making a plethora of pumpkin bread.  I can't really explain it, but I felt different that night.

I started having contractions sometime around midnight.  Every time I tried to go to sleep, a contraction would wake me up.  Jon was also up timing my contractions.  Some time around 4 a.m., my water starting leaking.  By 5 a.m., it seemed my contractions were close enough to make the hour drive to the hospital.  Ugh, I remember every single bump in the road.  So uncomfortable.  Despite this, we were obviously so excited.  Our baby was coming!  And the most exciting part---we were finally finding out if our baby was a boy or girl!

When we arrived at the hospital, they confirmed that my water was leaking and I was admitted into the hospital.  Several times I was told, "It's going to be a loooonnnggg day."  (My midwife warned me most first time moms are usually in labor for 18 hours or more.)  I was then moved into the birthing room, which was like the hotel suites of birthing rooms.  

Once we were in the room, we got to relax a bit.  I was starving and was so excited when they told me I could order food from the menu.  Then I saw the menu basically consisted of chicken broth and honeydew melon.  I've never been so disappointed in my life.  So instead of eating a delicious club sandwich, we took naps.  At this time, contractions were pretty uncomfortable, but I somehow managed to sleep through them for about an hour.

When I woke up, I was able to move around, which was nice.  The only comfortable position I could seem to find was awkwardly resting my arms and head on the rolling bedside table.  The baby monitors that were wrapped around my belly were seriously uncomfortable every time I had a contraction, so I was able to take them off and they just checked our baby's heartbeat every 15 minutes or so.  Again, awesome.  The nurses were super accommodating.

Once I was dilated 5 centimeters and in active labor, I was allowed in the birthing tub.  Yay!!!  It was so much more relaxing being in the tub.  We had been told Jon could get in the tub with me during delivery if we wanted.  We even packed his swim trunks.  However, once in the tub, I realized I wanted needed my space.  Contractions were still a couple minutes apart and I was just breathing through them.  I was told that tensing up during contractions could delay labor and I was ready to meet my baby, so I just tried to stay calm and control my breathing.

I spent about two and half hours in the tub.  Truthfully, labor wasn't really unbearable until the last 20 minutes.  Then I went into transition.  Here's what happened during transition.  I was naked and didn't care nor notice who or how many people were in the room.  I could barely talk, but was able to say three things: "I can't do this," the "F" word (but only once), and I told my dear, sweet husband to "Shut-up!" when he was just being supportive.  My legs were shaking uncontrollably.  And I remember thinking that each contraction felt like torture and that this must be what it feels like to be electrocuted over and over again.  While this phase was anything but enjoyable, it wasn't exactly painful.  I didn't cry out for drugs.  And I didn't regret my decision to have a drug-free delivery.

I remember asking when it would be time to push and I was told, "You'll know."  And I did.  It kind of felt as if I had to....how do I say this nicely...it felt as if I really had to go to the bathroom (numero dos).   When I was told to go ahead and push, I was so excited.  Our baby was about to be here!  It was also such a relief on my body to push.  Compared to the contractions I was feeling, it actually felt pretty good to push.

Violet was so low, I only pushed for about five minutes, though it felt like less to me.  This part of the delivery was almost a blur, but I do remember the commands I was given.  Breathe.  So I did.  There was a quick, sharp, burning pain as Violet started to crown.  (This part of delivery is dubbed "the ring of fire.")  Don't scream.  Focus your energy on pushing.  So I did.

The way I was sitting, I could actually see Violet coming out.  That might sound kinda freaky, but it was actually pretty motivating.  Once Violet's head was out, the rest of her body just slid out.  The midwife said to me, "Reach down and grab your baby."  So I did.  "It's a Violet!" Jon said.  I pulled Violet up onto my chest and just held her there for I don't know how long.

Violet Leslie was born at 2:21 p.m. on Wednesday, October 30th, 2013.  She weighed 6 pounds, 10 ounces and was 19 1/2 inches long.

If I'd known then I'd be putting this picture on my blog, I probably would have worn a little make-up!  Ha!  

Giving birth naturally was definitely painful.  I'd be lying if I said it wasn't.  However, it was also the most awesome experience I've ever had.  It was such an adrenaline rush and so empowering.  When I was getting out of the bathtub, I remember thinking, "Holy crap, I can't believe I just did that!"  I don't have an amazingly high threshold for pain, so if you think a natural birth is something you'd like to do, then just know you are completely capable of it!  

11 MONTHS OLD!

11 Month Sticker

Milestones:

Five teeth, running or at least speed walking

Likes:

Bananas! Actually, Violet hasn't met a food she doesn't like (except maybe broccoli).  Dancing!!! Chewing on her toothbrush Brushing her teeth...I have to literally pry her toothbrush out of her chubby little hand.  And she loves to play and read books.  She will pick out a book and walk over to me and sit in my lap so I can read it to her.  She especially loves flipping the flaps in Where Is Baby's Pumpkin?

Dislikes:

Being told no and when I close the refrigerator door or laundry room (aka Neil's room) door.  Anytime either the fridge or the laundry room door is open, she makes a mad dash for it.  She's quick, too!  I usually close it just in time, which results in her slamming her hands on the door and slowly sliding her body to the ground while saying, "WAAAHHHHHHHHH!"

Life now-a-days:

I bring Violet in the shower with me in the morning.  (Before I couldn't shower until she took her nap, which was like noon or later.  Yuck.)  She has about a dozen bath toys that she talks to.  Her baby language has really evolved.  It's not just the same sounds repeated over again.  It's more like Elvish.  Which means she's probably a LOTR fan and doesn't even know it yet!

Diaper changes are no longer awful!  For months changing her diaper was like trying to wrestle an angry alligator.  But no more!

Violet doesn't have a specific bedtime.  It all depends on what time she wakes up in the morning and how long her afternoon nap is.  If she's awake when we eat dinner though, she sits in her highchair and eats with us, usually whatever we're having.  She loves trying new foods and there is a constant, "Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm..." and sometimes a "nom nom nom" while she eats.  It's pretty adorable.

I really feel so blessed to have such a smart, sweet, silly, beautiful, cunning little angel baby.

IT'S FALL Y'ALL

This wreath is now available on Etsy.  Use the coupon code ITSFALLYALL for 20% off!

Man, I am excited it's fall.  Bring on the pumpkin flavored foods!  October really is the absolute best weather in southern Louisiana.  And I'm not sure what it is, but something about fall really, really makes me want to make arts and crafts.  Violet's a little young this year, but you can bet your britches, I'm gonna be dipping her little fingers and toes in some paint this time next year.  I mean just look at those little fingers.

Violet has been grasping a lot of new concepts this week.  Her motor skills and hand-eye coordination have really been improving.  She no longer walks like a zombie with her arms flailing in the air to help her balance. She can easily grasp tiny objects on the first attempt.  And her cognitive skills are really improving, too.  She'll hide from us behind the curtains.  When we say, "Where is Violet?" she will kick her leg out from behind the curtain as if to give us a hint.

As a result of this new mental leap, as they call it, the wild really came out in my child this past week.  Violet has never been what I would call a champion sleeper.  I still wake up a few times at night to nurse her, which I hear is not completely uncommon for exclusively breastfed babies.  And honestly, I don't mind, because usually she drifts right on back to slumberland after nursing.  The past two nights are a different story entirely.  Sunday night was the worst; she was wide awake from 2 a.m. until 5 a.m.  She was a maniac.  After a couple of hours of shushing, rocking, swaying, nursing, singing, and just trying to hold her while she attempted to rip my eyelids off, I turned the lights on and just let her play.  That might have been a huge parenting mistake.  We'll see.

Don't they look like just a couple of buddies sharing secrets?

I know this is just a phase, hopefully one that's already over.  But in case it's not, we are currently accepting prayers for sleep filled nights and naps.

LIKE A KITTEN IN MITTENS

As soon as Violet learned to walk, I bought her some shoes.  And as expected, she only liked putting them in her mouth, not on her feet.  In fact, as soon as I put the shoes on her feet, she looked up at me like uh, Mom, these don't belong here and tried to kick them off.  It took a while to even get her to stand up in them.  When she finally started to walk, it was definitely awkward for her.  She had her arms stretched out like a zombie and she took slow, high steps.  If you've ever seen a cat walk while wearing socks, well, that's exactly what she looked like.  

Typically when we go places, I wear Violet in a Baby Bjorn.  I've been wearing her since practically day one, so she finds comfort in it, and it usually calms her down if she's fussy.  Until last week, that is, when she grunted, strained, and thrashed around like a ferrel cat.  She was clearly trying to tell me to put her down, but since she was barefoot, I was not about to let her roam around a store like some hill billy.  However, it was definitely my sign that she needed to practice walking in shoes.    

Pediped Shoes

So this past weekend, we took her outside to practice.  Annnddd she lasted about 10 seconds before she became fascinated with the grass and all the new things she could taste.

And because I felt you might need a visual of a "kitten in mittens," we put some mittens on Neil, Neil volunteered to help illustrate it. 

MISS INDEPENDENT

Being a stay-at-home mom is seriously the hardest, most demanding job I've ever had.  Though I've never had to perform an amputation in the middle of a war zone, I have taught public high school in inner city New Orleans, so I do have some experience with a stressful work environment.  For the first 9 1/2 months of Violet's life, she demanded 100% of my attention 100% of the time.  I read a lot books.  I played music.  We danced.  I talked in stupid silly voices.  We would go for walks when it wasn't below freezing (thanks coldest winter in history) or three thousand degrees out.  And basically everything else you might normally do in your day, except it took around thirty-seven times longer to do because I had her in one arm.  To some people I might sound like a lady of leisure, but I also nursed her 6+ times a day, changed her diaper at least 8 times (I don't even want to talk poop stories), barely got to take a shower until she started taking longer naps, and often realized I walked around all day with baby vomit on my shoulder without even realizing it.  And y'all, baby vomit smells. 

Then she learned to walk, and life as I knew it became intensely easier. 

Now-a-days Violet practically runs from room to room, behind the couch, around the table, in her room, in my room, in the bathroom, in the closet.  She never stays in one place long.  She's like a nomad.

She definitely gets into things.  As you can see above, she's caught red-handed (not that she cares) breaking into the spice cabinet.  She's quick to let us know what we need to baby proof.  

The best part about this age is Violet is playing independently.  Her current favorite toys are her fox, Playskool Busy Gears, O Happy Day Play-a-Song book, LeapFrog Sing and Play Farm, and her Fischer-Price Musical Activity Walker that she doesn't actually walk with, but loves pressing the buttons to hear the music.  The girl LOVES to dance.  When any music is playing, I sing her a song, or Jon plays his guitar for her, she dances.  I even see her bobbing her head in the car when we listen to her Sunday School Sing-Along CD.  Talk about adorable.

For me, her new independence means I don't have to rush to prepare dinner while she's napping.  It may not sound like much, but when you've had as much red beans and rice as we've had, you definitely appreciate a little variety in the dinner menu.

We are desperate for some fall weather so we can go outside more!  Goodbye and good riddance, summer!!!!!

LABOR DAY WEEKEND

Our Labor Day weekend consisted mostly of naps and scratching things off our honey do list.  We finally hung up our family growth ruler in the kitchen.  (I've also added it to our Etsy shop.)  Now we just have to get Violet to stand still so we can mark her height.

Wooden Growth Chart Ruler 

We also took a little day trip to see some family.  Violet has been doing impressively well in her carseat this past week.  I've been putting her little stuffed animal fox in her lap and she pets its little face while we drive.  Cutest. Thing. Ever.  The first time she laid eyes on that thing, she was all giggles, so obviously we had to get it for her.  I'm not positive, but I think she thinks it's a cat, which definitely would explain her fondness of it.  She also loves her little pink cat, dubbed Cuddles Kitten, because it's easy to carry while she's walking.

It was so nice having Jon off an extra day.  Violet adores him and the extra pair of hands definitely makes the day go a little smoother.  I'm sad the three day weekend has ended, but fall is just around the corner which means Violet's birthday, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year are all going to be here before you know it!