The Tale of the Beach Babe Turned Punk Princess and the Sleeping Prince

Part 1

We just returned from 10 wonderful days in southern California. 10 days may sound long but I wasn't one bit homesick. With me not working the past few years, Savannah and I have had the opportunity to do a lot of traveling. Sometimes Mark came with us and sometimes he had to stay home and work. I've learned that when my family is all together I can stay gone indefinitely. But if Mark or a child is absent from the trip, no matter how much fun I am having, I am ready to go home by the end. The 4 of us were all present on this trip and I was not the least bit ready to come home!

One might ask why we would take a 3 month old baby on vacation. Are you kidding? Vacation provides what every mom wants after they give birth: someone else cooking, housekeeping (can I get an amen on that one!), and no responsibilities other than playing and bonding with your family. Pure awesomeness. I laugh every time someone says, "you know he won't remember this right?" He won't remember that I took him to the park the other day when Savannah had a play date there but that doesn't mean I am going to leave him out. Besides, he loved the one on one attention he got on the long flights where we had nothing to do but gaze into his deep blue eyes and coo back at him. The extra holding, cuddling, and attention followed him through out our vacation in everything we did from waiting in line for rides at Disney Land to relaxing on the beach.

In addition to all the bonding done on vacation, kids learn an infinite amount of information by traveling. Watching Archer you could almost see new neurological paths forming each time he experienced a new sight, sound, texture, and smell. And I won't even go inot all that Savannah learns. But that's not even the best part of traveling with kids. They are entertaining! For example, on the way to LAX Savannah threw up (we think she got car sick). We pulled over to clean her up and Archer had a blow out of a poopy diaper. Suddenly the wipes are missing, the same wipes we were just using to clean up Savannah. We need to catch our plane and one child is covered in throw up and the other poop with nothing to clean it up with in sight. We were jumping in and out of the mini van like circus clowns trying to find new clothes and where those mysterious wipes went. If a camera crew had been following us for a tv show folks at home would have been cracking up (it's always funny when it's happening to someone else!).

Anyway, we had a great time. We were glad to see Archer follow suit as a good traveler. He had 2 fussy evenings but that's it. I am beginning to think my kids do better on the go. It started young with Savannah too. When she started getting fussy from teething we would head to the mall or anywhere out of the house. And behold she would stop all fussing. If Archer ends up loving travel as much as Savannah, I may have to go back to work. Next on Savannah's list of places she wants to visit (besides Colorado which is always on the list) is Italy, France, Hawaii, and China.

I think I have created a monster.

Lee Ann said it all

Savannah getting ready for a hike one summer in Aspen.

Just hanging out at our house. What else do you do when you have a cute little girl other than dress her up and take lots of pictures?

Easter of course.






The other day I was sitting in our sun room on the comfy couch with the french doors open letting in the spring sunshine and I thought of Lee Ann's blog, "These are the good old days." How true that is! and not because of the amazingly gorgeous weather. There I sat on a beautiful day with Savannah beside me reading several early readers to me. I watched her excitement and confidence grow with each book she read. Meanwhile Archer laid on the ottoman beside us smiling and listening to the sing song sound of reading. I had both of my children together as I witnessed the miracle of their childhood and all in entails.


The preschool years are short but sweet. Since having Archer I have had several strangers young and old stop me and say that the best years of their life were when they were home with their young kids before they grew up and went to school. I couldn't agree more.


A few days ago Mark and I looked at pictures of Savannah over the years. They brought back many memories of mine and Savannah's days together at home reading books and playing and all the adventures and trips we were able to have since I didn't work. It's fun to see her grow up and learn so many new things. Our conversations are more in depth and very entertaining. But sometimes I miss the days when she was my cuddly 2 year old at home with me. Thank goodness I had another baby and I get to start these years all over again!


Wow. These really are the good old days right before my eyes.








Archer this week. I had to post this pic to show off that belly.

Archer on Daddy's shoulder just on the edge of sleep.

Smiling on the bathroom changing table.

Oddly enough, this is his favorite place to hang out. Just like a boy. Maybe I should get him a newspaper too.

Simple Woman's Daybook

For today, Monday March 1, 2010.

Outside my window...rain, rain, rain.

I am thinking...that I solved my "to-do" list problem. I was getting frustrated that I was only getting 1/2 of the things done on my "to-do" list everyday. My solution? Only write down 1/2 of the things I need to get done for the day. Then I'm not disappointed!

I am thankful for...100 degree dry weather in the summer. I may be the only one, but I love the heat and am missing it now.

From the kitchen...Jamaican Beans and Rice. Made with coconut milk it is a much more interesting dish than our traditional beans and rice. Definitely a family favorite.

One of my favorite things...housekeeping and room service. It's time for a vacation!

I am creating...other than breast milk...not much.

I am reading...uh, I checked out an adult book from the library the other day. Does it count that I at least checked one out? Only got to page 14 and now it's overdue.

A few plans for the week... nursing, MOPS steering team meeting tonight with Archer in tow, nursing, work tomorrow with Archer in tow, nursing, getting ready for family to visit for Archer's baby dedication, nursing, and hopefully sleep at some point.


Around the house...things could be cleaner. I finally got around to cleaning the floors and then it began to rain. Needless to say the floor is clean no more.

Here is a picture thought I am sending to you...

Archer Edward (A.K.A., little Mark), 9 weeks old.

Lost Art

As I posted on Cari's blog this morning, I planned to write about one of my favorite things today and talk about the lost art of food preparation. After catching up on my friends' blogs over coffee this morning, I left the house for my post partum OBGYN visit.

Dr. D and I discussed what was going on with my body and all the normal post baby check up stuff. As we began to wrap things up I mentioned how wonderful Archer's birth was and I was grateful that I was able to have a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean). For those of you who don't know, VBACs are a touchy subject with most MDs because they don't want to deal with them. I am fortunate enough to have a doctor that practices medicine by what is best for the patient instead of out of fear of being sued.

However, my doc was out of town when I went into labor and his associate was delivering 3 babies at another hospital and could not come. The MD on duty was apart of a group of Dr.'s who have a policy of "no VBACs." That's right, the Dr.s in that group are not allowed to make the decision for their patients on a case by case basis. They have to adopt the "no-VBAC" policy to join the group. Period.

Without going into detail (man I need to write out my birth story!), I had a VBAC anyway. The Dr. from this other group could not have been nicer about it to us. But we got wind after it was all said and done that we REALLY freaked the hospital out. Someone sound the alarms! There is a lady in here that wants to give birth via the vagina! YIKES! What do we do??? (I also wrote on Cari's blog this morning that I was going to keep my blog G rated. Better change that to PG.)

By the way I did not actively force them into performing the VBAC for me. I know y'all find that hard to believe because I am a determined person who can sometimes act like a bull dozer when I am trying to reach a goal. But that was not the case this time. I just labored peacefully while the cuircumstanses surrounding the VBAC developed organically.

Back to the MD's office today, Dr. D replied, "Yeah, I kind of got in trouble over that." I felt horrible for him. After all, he was out of town and it's not as if he even called and said, "you must let my patient have a VBAC." He was out of reach and we did not get a hold of him until it was all over. He said it was all a political mess and now there are new policies in place and extra paperwork to sign.

Now I felt really bad. New policies in place because of me? I had a wonderful natural birth. God created labor and birth with the end result of a baby coming out of the vagina. Why is this scary? It's how God created us. People have done this for thousands of years. It's not an illness that requires aggressive medical intervention. Sometimes things go wrong and I am thankful we have medical tools available for those times but they are not necessary in every case. Even after a c-section.

So I asked with the new policy, what would happen to a women in the same situation I was in. Would she be forced to have a c-section against her will? Horrifyingly, the answer was yes. Forced unnecessary surgery... that's like rape, robbing her of one of God's blessings.

Giving birth is a lost art. A beautiful lost God-given art.

Dr. D did say that he would continue to deliver VBACs. He came from one of the best labor and delivery hospitals in the nation and has the knowledge to back up his decision. I wish other Dr.s would practice medicine from evidence based knowledge instead of fear. My heart breaks for the women who do not have such a Dr.

(Wow, 2 rant blogs in 1 week. I apologize. I am normally not so fired up. Maybe I'm still hormonal.)

I love...

...baby breath. No, not the flower. I'm talking about the warm sweet milky breath flowing out of my 8 week old. I could just sniff him all day long! Please tell me someone else knows what I am talking about so that I will know if it's real or if I am on a post pregnancy hormonal high.

Anybody?

Coming to a newstand near you...

A story is coming outthis May in In Magazine about the doula that assisted Mark and I in Archer's birth. I was interviewed today for the story since our birth with Jennifer (our doula) went so well. It inspired me to blog our birth story. I started it once but never finished. We had such a beautiful experience I want to document it for myself but also so that others can read it. Maybe it will prompt others to use a doula for thier birth. Personally, I now have a don't-leave-home-for-the-hospital-without-one policy!

Check out the magazine this May! And please stay on me to write my story.

War has officialy been declared!

Some of you already know that I was attacked while walking with Archer in our neiborhood last Thursday. For those of you who don't know, here is the story.

The sun was shining, it was not raining, it was not snowing, there were no clouds in the sky, AND it was not snowing. Finally, it felt like a Texas winter. To stave off pending cabin fever I tucked Archer into the stroller and took advaantage of this rare occasion. We turned a corner in our neighborhood and were caought off guard by any angry aggressive dog charging towards us. In disbelief of what I was seeing at first I thought this dog must be coming to play with us. Most people don't let dangerous dogs run loose (not in the city at least!). It must be friendly. But it was not.

This rabid dog was growling and circling Archer and I. He began to "nip" (or so I thought) at my ankles all the while growling and barking. Then he went for the stroller growling, snarling, and and trying to get what was inside. I felt a sharp pain in my calf and screamed for help.

Praise the Lord a neighbor heard my plea and scared the dog away. I was paralized by fear. When I am out running and walking I always run through my plan of what I would do if I were attacked...by a human! I had no plan for a dog attack. I felt helpless to protect my 7 week old baby who was down low in the stroller near the dog. The neighbor began to ask if I was ok and I finally realized my I had been bitten.

We called the police so they could have the dog picked up (this was right by an elementary school and school would let out in 1 hour!). I had 4 puncture wounds from the canine teeth and a large circular bruise from the power of his jaws. Luckily he didn't sink his teeth into the muscle. I hate to admit it but I was pretty shook up!

So 2 days later I went walking. To be safe I stayed away from the area were the attack happened even though I knew the dog was gone. And at the end of my walk another dog came charging at me from 50 yards away. I wasn't even on his street. He was growling and barking and heading for my ankles. His oh so friendly owner said, "Don't worry. He won't bite." I shared my story of 2 days ago and told him to come get his freakin' dog!

Again today, I tried to go for a walk (before it snows again tomorrow. Seriously, I live in Texas for a reason.). This time a HUGE dog charged my from 100yards away growling and barking. I screamed! There was no owner in sight. Heck, I wasn't even on his street. He finally ran off without taking a chunk of my flesh with him.

Needless to say, I am scared to death of dogs right now! Do I have dog bate smeared all over me? I am always out in our neighborhood and there are certain dog who are always out that bark and follow me. But, they never growl or get close. They just annoy me. What is going on? I live in town!

War has officially been declared on all loose dogs. The police officer who came last week told me that bear spray works best to ward off aggressive dogs. Cabela's already has our order for bear spray and it will be delivered soon! So listen up pups. If I'm intruding on your property, you have the right to protect it. Go ahead bite me if I break into your house. But if you come on public property such as the street (I'm the public therefore I own it) and so much as look at me wrong, I am taking you down! And don't even think about looking at one of my children!