Time is Flying!

I didn't realize that the last time I blogged here was when I was 12 weeks. Yikes! Now that I am entering my THIRD trimester I guess I had better get caught up on the second trimester. Sheesh!

Fortunately it was very uneventful! I started feeling our sweet baby around 15 weeks and it was very obvious that is what it was. This baby, like Ayda, did not leave me wondering "was that it?". Kevin felt him/her at around 16-17 weeks. Ayda loved to show off her kicking for anyone but this baby seems more shy. As soon as you put a hand on my tummy the kicking immediately stops. It is really funny.

I have felt great through the second trimester as well. There were several weeks that I said if I didn't feel the little kicks throughout the day I would forget I was pregnant. I had wonderful energy, no nausea, no sciatica, and no other aches. I have exercised way more with this baby and even been able to jog some. I feel great. My weight gain is the only thing frustrating me. I have gained way more weight already than I did with Ayda. It stinks but I also know I am eating healthier on average than I did with her and exercising. So I don't know why the weight is coming on so much but I feel healthier so I am going with it. I'll worry about the pounds after the baby is out.

I hit 27 weeks yesterday which is hard to believe. I feel like the next three months will go so fast and the baby will be here. I decided to do the glucose test again this time around because our midwife has a more holistic approach to it. I originally said I wasn't going to do it again because I was negative for gestational diabetes with Ayda and I felt like drinking a super sugary drink is not the healthiest idea for me or baby. But our midwife prefers I eat a very specific diet of protein and carbs and then have the blood drawn an hour after. I'll have to be very prepared that morning to eat such a breakfast and then jump in the car and get to the center but I was ok with that. I feel like it is easier on my body to test that way. After that test in a couple weeks we won't be testing for anything else. We'll just wait till I go into labor!

We opted out of using a doppler to hear the baby's heart beat after the 12 week appointment. So we didn't hear the sweet sound at 16 or 20 weeks. But alas at 24 weeks we finally picked it up with the fetoscope!!! It was around 150. I have been able to hear it with my regular stethoscope a couple times since which is neat. I counted around 150 both times again. Consistent baby!

I think that gets me caught up! I'll really try to blog after my appointments from now on. At least then I'll have something to say perhaps!

12 Weeks!!

Wow! I hit 12 weeks yesterday! I'm so excited. I have a midwife appointment on thursday and then we will FINALLY make our announcement and I will publish these posts! I can't wait!

This has definitely been a different pregnancy. I was not expecting it to go this way at all. I was so yucky feeling with Ayda. This go round I am definitely nauseous and tired but I eat like no other! I crave things all the time. I have been a big consumer of Hamburgers. Which if you know me you know I do not eat hamburgers on a regular basis. Maybe twice a year I will want a good ole hamburger. The rest of the time I am quite content with chicken or fish. Not the case the past several weeks. But my midwife did say my iron is exceptional for being pregnant! That's a plus I guess...no risk of anemia here. I also have taken an interest in wings. Another completely random thing. I am not sure when I last tried a wing out but boy they are good!!! Kevin is loving this new side of me...actually he is proud that this baby is more like him! With Ayda I wanted Mexican food, fruit, yogurt, etc. More healthy options. This kiddo is going to kill me before he/she is born! I am hoping as I enter second trimester I can regain my normal eating habits back! It is getting better already. I can get in the more healthy food options. At least I know I am knocking out the protein requirement!

We are excited for our appointment on Thursday. We don't do ultra sounds because we just don't feel they are safe. There are studies that have been done that show evidence that they can warm the fluid the baby is in or displace cells (which I don't want to displace cells that are trying to become a liver, heart, lungs, etc). We do feel that when medically necessary, it is a technology that is nice to have. So anyway, we don't get ultrasounds but we will let our midwife do a quick doppler on Thursday at our appointment. After thursday we will only hear our baby's heart beat through a Fetoscope in order to keep the radiation out of there. Then when I am in labor they have to use the doppler again to monitor the baby which is fine. It is the most accurate compared to a fetoscope and I want accuracy when we are at home! I'm very anxious to hear that sweet swish swish swish sound on thursday. It will be a family affair too...my mom, kevin's mom, kevin, Ayda and I will all be there! And our midwife of course! She will get her first taste of what she is dealing with. Our family is a HUGE support system for us and we are thrilled it is that way! Just might make the room a little crowded! I wouldn't have it any other way though!

Hopefully on thursday or friday I'll be publishing these posts! I can't wait!!

I see the end...

Of the first trimester!!! I always love thinking about all that is happening in the first trimester. It is truly the time of setting up the foundation for this little baby. But...I am also very anxious to get into the second trimester! Feel the sweet movements, not have nausea anymore, regain some energy. I must admit this pregnancy has been so different than my pregnancy with Ayda was. I have not been nearly as sick!!! I have nausea if I don't eat every 1-2 hours which is interesting, but it is manageable. I am so thankful. Poor Ayda was very disturbed the one time (so far) she saw me throwing up so perhaps it is for her sake that I have felt good!

I met our midwife last week for my first appointment. I was super nervous about having a different midwife for this baby but I really liked her. Debbie took such good care of us in ATL but I have full confidence that Robyn will take good care of us here in Florida! And of course, we are planning for another home birth. After our experience with Ayda I could not even consider anything else. We have the birth center option here in Florida but that would be a step backwards for us.

We have not, and don't plan to have an ultrasound again. I will admit it is tough seeing friend's show off their pics of their growing babies but we just feel it is best to not do them. I remember when I finally saw Ayda and held her in my arms it was amazing because I had NO clue what she looked like. Not even something as simple as does she have an over bite...which she does! It was a neat feeling to know I only imagined what she would look like and had no sneak peaks. So the same will be with this little one as long as there is no true medical reason to do one.

I started another Bradley series which will be so neat to teach knowing I have to do everything with the couples as well. I told them to hold me accountable as well. I have practiced my relaxation a lot already simply because I know it helps me to unwind. It has helped ease a bad case of nausea, headaches, and even some of the fatigue. I love it! I hope to get one more series in before the baby is born and then I'll take a little break to enjoy the newest addition to our family! I just can't wait for March to come!!!

More in a few weeks!

The Joy of Life!

Kevin and I are very excited that we are pregnant again. I am planning to journal my walk through this pregnancy and I am so excited. By the time these first several posts are actually published I will be into my second trimester because we plan to keep things quiet till then. So...

Kevin and I decided to start trying for another baby about 4 or 5 months ago. I thought for sure we would get pregnant on the first month of trying but that was not the case. I then began a journey of letting go and letting God. Each month it got easier to learn we were not pregnant. Not because I wanted it any less but because I was finding contentment in the life God was blessing me with. Kevin and I have had time together, we have a beautiful daughter that I can spend so much time with and we are busy with Kevin's business.

So this past week when I knew my period was due to start I thought nothing of the possibility of being pregnant. Until I had some spotting a few days before I was due to start it had not really crossed my mind. I was actually annoyed that I had that because I was ready for another cycle to start and us to keep moving forward and pregnancy was on my mind again. Once I was a couple days late I decided to get the test. I dread taking those things. I feel like a negative result is such a slap in the face. I was SO excited and shocked when I took it and the two lines popped up right away! I immediately said a prayer for the little life inside me. I can't wait to start this journey again!!

Kevin and I plan to have another home birth. He will keep a very close eye on me to be sure I don't need an adjustments so that my body is working at it's best for the baby. No drugs. No unnecessary interventions. Just us having a baby. If you would like to follow along with us we would love it. There may be times there is too much detail so beware! I am excited to journal this time in our lives. I am even excited for the first trimester blues because I know right after that I will feel my sweet baby moving around inside me and that is totally worth it. And in March of next year we will hold our little miracle in our arms and become a family of FOUR!

Bradley Classes

I am starting a new series for Bradley classes!!! They will begin mid August either Thursday or Friday evenings from 7-9pm! Still working on nailing down which day! If you are interested email me at rlnaturalbirth1@gmail.com! Classes are taught in Clermont FL!

The classes are great and the time will fly!!!

Spanking: Good or Bad?

Before I start I would love feedback on your views regarding the subject!

One thing I love about Kevin and I's relationship is that we are so often on the same page before we even discuss the topic. Soon after Ayda was born I mentioned discipline. I was curious how he thought he would discipline our children. We immediately realized we were thinking the same thing...we would not spank our children. The only thing with that was, how would we discipline? I was spanked, he was spanked, pretty much everyone we know spank their kids. So what would we do in order to not have a disrespectful, disobeying child? Our convictions, though, were that we felt spanking typically happens while the parent is angry with the child. I did not want to react that way in anger. Also I struggled with spanking my child for hitting, kicking, biting, etc. I felt I was disciplining a wrong with a wrong.

Now jump forward 18 months. We still stand strong on our way of disciplining. We have not had to spank Ayda once. Don't get me wrong, she has certainly made me mad plenty of times. But because I am not going to spank her I have to take a second, cool down, and talk to her. She does go into time out as well. I feel like that also gives me the chance to take a deep breath and decide what my next action should be. She sits in time out, sometimes cries, and looks at me. I then have the chance to talk to her and teach about apologies/forgiveness or figure out what is wrong and where we need to go from there. Kevin has taught me SO much about patience. He feels like we need to see the whole picture when it comes to her side of things. She cannot vocalize to me or him what she is truly feeling. If she is pitching a fit because I took something away from her (perhaps because it was dangerous), I need to see past the temper tantrum and see that she is mad something was taken away. She does not know it is dangerous. I need to teach that. I would be mad if someone grabbed something from me without explanation. So Kevin brings that type of thing to my attention so often. I also accept the fact that she is going to get mad, she will likely try to hit me, or scream. If I react in anger and raise my voice back I am teaching nothing. Instead I have found that if I lower my voice, come down to her level, acknowledge her feelings, and explain my reasons she actually calms right down and is ok. We then find something she can play with and have fun again.

Anyway, I am pleased to know that spanking is not the only way to discipline. Ayda is very well behaved, listens very well, and it is very rare that we have melt downs throughout our day. I also have figured out she is very likely to get more upset if she is tired or hungry, just like pretty much anyone! So you will always find Whole Wheat Ritz Crackers or some sort of easy snack in my car/diaper bag and I make sure she has plenty of time to get her sleep!

Again, I would love to know your thoughts on this!

Feeling Empowered

I have natural childbirth on my brain today. Just reflecting on ours and the stories of others. I want every baby to be born this way. Of course I know there are reasons for needing medical intervention. But if at all possible I wish this was the norm. I am loving teaching my Bradley classes. The group this series is so much fun! I will be attending one of the couple's births and can't wait.
I see how healthy Ayda is and contribute it to her drug free life and her Upper Cervical care. I can't stand when she is sick and I am thankful she has only been sick 3 times.
Back to Natural childbirth...women can do it. Yes there is pain and it is a lot of work. But you can do it! It's a shame society, or should I say drug companies, have convinced women that childbirth is unbarable. Our bodies know better than drug companies how to have babies. I cannot fully explain the joy I have knowing each sensation and piece of my labor. Feeling Ayda have the hiccups one more time before being born, her kicks as she made her way through the birth canal. Feeling in tune with her just minutes before we met her. I had tears in my eyes throughout my labor but not because of the pain. It was because I knew these were the last few times I would feel her inside me. Labor was a joy! And it can be for you too!

The Fight

Before even starting this post let me begin by saying I know there are times that some intervention is needed and medical professionals are needed. I worked with some of the best Doctors and Nurses in the NICU. And this is in no way medical advice, it is simply my opinion.

Kevin does not like for me to say I am sick or Ayda is sick. He says we are fighting illness or disease and it is a good thing. It helps build our immune system. It makes us stronger in the end. So when Ayda started her fight against what I thought was just a minor cold two weeks ago I was confident she would beat it. However, I started to wonder when after a whole week she was not getting better, in fact, she was showing signs of getting worse. Her cough was deeper, her nose more stuffed up, her energy zapped. I even prayed Monday night that she would just get enough of a fever that it would kill whatever she had. I found myself wondering what mother prays for their child to have a fever? Well the mother that knows medicine will not be given and she wants her baby to feel better sooner. And sure enough, at ten that night, Ayda woke with a 101F fever. She wouldn't go back to bed so I just went with it. She came out in the living room and started watching the Olympics with us. Before long she was turning in circles copying the figure skaters. I could tell the fever didn't have her completely down yet. After about an hour she went back to bed and slept fine till morning. The fever was 100.6 in the morning. We took it easy. Then the fever popped up to 102.5, her heart rate had increase and she was breathing faster than I liked. As a nurse I did a quick assessment on her. She just laid in my lap and watched tv for awhile. Kevin reminded me that her fever was fine and she was fighting the virus/bacteria. We remained confident that her body knew what it was doing. Before long she got up and played some. Then took another nap and woke up feeling better and had a temp of 100.5 again. Long story short, her fever broke through the night (only lasted about 24 hours) and each day since she has been even better. Today she was 100% Ayda again...loads of personality, energy, spunk.

So why do so many people fear a fever? Illness? I know the doctors put so much fear in parent's minds. They say there will be brain damage if the fever is untreated or gets too high. Yes, that is true, if the fever reaches 107 or higher. So why do we start pushing the Tylenol at 100.4 or higher? I had Mastitis when Ayda was 3 weeks old and my temp reached 104.5 at one point. I was miserable, but fully coherent. I was told that if I didn't take antibiotics I could get an absess. I was also told that it could get so bad that my nipple would have to be removed. So much fear. My midwife and Chiropractor stood by me though and I didn't take antibiotics for the Mastitis and within 48 hours of spiking the fever, it broke and about 3 days after that we were smooth sailing with breastfeeding again. Why do we put so much trust in Medicine and not in our bodies? Ayda has been sick three times now, twice with a fever. None of those times did we even take her to see the doctor. I'm a nurse, I know what he would say. I assess her myself to make sure she is not in danger and that she stays hydrated and then we ride out whatever it is. I'm thankful she has only been sick three times and I feel that with each new fight she is stronger to fight the next thing that comes her way. God created us to be good. Trust your body.

Some natural things we did:

Let her fever run, but she got LOTS of extra love and attention since she felt yucky.

Pushed lots of water. She drinks water pretty good on a normal day but we kept sippy cups all over the house so she could just grab it no matter where she was.

Rest. If she was even slightly tired I put her to bed. We definitely threw out any routine we once had.

I am still breastfeeding her twice a day so I loaded myself up on Vit C so she would get some through the breastmilk.

Completely eliminated Dairy (cow's milk) products from her diet. No cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese (her favorite). Eating these products can increase mucous production which we did not need more of.

Ayda does not eat many things with sugar but I significantly decreased her sugar (even natural sugars) from her diet as well. She was on a very bland diet to say the least. Sugar can feed bacteria.

Baby Food Making

I will admit I was a little intimidated when I decided to make Ayda's baby food. I bought a couple books and started trying to figure out where to start and what to do. I am completely lost in the kitchen on a good day. How was I going to make baby food? Well lucky for me it turned out to be SUPER easy! And lucky for me, my best friend was making her son's baby food too. He is exactly 2 months older than Ayda so she had a good head start on me and could lend me some much needed pointers.

Kevin bought me a Beaba babycooker. It is WONDERFUL...and pricey. It steams the food and then you take it out of the steam container and put it in the main compartment to be pureed. It was all in one which made clean up insanely easy. You can also just use a regular steamer and food processor and it does the same thing. Having the Beaba was a luxury, not a necessity. I will say I still use it everyday even though Ayda does not need baby food anymore. I use it to steam just the right amount of veggies at dinner and clean up is easier than using the big steamer.

To get the food to the right consistency for her age I used water that had run off the fruits and veggies or breastmilk. Either worked great to thin out the food a little. Also whenever I was making apples, I bought organic apples and then would let Ayda drink the water from the steam. It had a hint of apple flavor and she absolutely loved it since I didn't let her have juices. It was a special treat!!

Once the food was steamed and pureed it was time to put it all in ice cube trays to be frozen. Easy as that! I froze the food overnight and then transferred it into ziploc bags or ziploc travel containers. Then when it was time to eat, all I had to do was grab a cube or two of the veggie or fruit that was on the menu and thaw them out. We put the food in little containers and put that into the warm water to thaw them out. It didn't take long, but it takes a little more planning than grabbing a jar of ready made food. I had to remember to thaw the food before she was even hungry.

Overall it is super easy and cheaper. I also liked knowing exactly what she was eating. Even the organic jarred baby food made Kevin and I wonder what was in it since it could sit on a shelf for several months at room temperature. I am glad that I dove into the task and I actually had fun when it was baby food making day!

Baby Wearing

Baby wearing is such a benefit for the baby and the mom/dad. I spent 2 months in Africa when I was in college and decided then that I would carry my babies from the start. I saw those moms strap on the tiny babies or active toddlers and get where they needed to. The kids were content to hang out on mom and the moms never seemed to mind having them strapped on. It was a neat bond and I wanted to follow in those foot steps. America has made a killing on the travel systems that sell for a couple hundred dollars. It makes it super easy to strap the baby into the carseat and just move the carseat from home to car, to stroller, back to car, back to home. Never having to take the munchkin out during the outing. Baby can stay asleep if he/she falls asleep in the carrier. I'm in no way judging that method of transportation. I do have a problem though when I see parents out to eat and the baby is screaming in the carseat. They sit there and rock the baby, stick a pacifier in the mouth, and get frustrated when the baby will not shush. I want to go over and pick up the baby and rock him back to a calm state. So back to baby wearing...I decided long ago that I would not even buy the infant carseats. Avoid any temptation all together. Kevin was %100 behind me. We bought a convertible carseat that Ayda will use till she is a few years old. We also bought a sling and Baby Bjorn before Ayda was born. Both were great when she was tiny but since then I have invested in other types of carriers. Pretty much it comes down to preference. Different ones offer different support. We found the Bjorn to be uncomfortable on our backs once she hit about 15 pounds. The weight is not dispersed as well as some others. The sling was good but my right arm was limited when she was on my hip. I didn't like that. The Ergo and Moby are my favorite. I still carry her in those all the time! Going on 14 months and probably 25 pounds, those are the most comfy!

Kevin and Ayda (3 weeks)! Baby wearing dads are awesome!!!

Hanging out in the Ergo on a chilly night!

A homemade sling I made from a bed sheet. You can spend as much or as little as you want on carriers! The prices range from free-120ish dollars.

My homemade Moby wrap ($5). I bought fabric on clearance at Walmart and it works the same as a Moby. I love having this to strap her on my back. The front hold is great as well and will be great when we have another baby.

Just hanging out eating a snack!

Benefits: Ayda has always preferred to be carried by me. I always used the carriers when she was tiny to go the store, church, errands, etc. When she was able to sit up I thought she might like to sit in the front of the cart at the store. I noticed really quickly her patience in the cart was much less. She got fussy a lot faster and my time at the grocery store was limited. I usually ended up taking her out of the cart and holding her while now steering the cart with one hand. Back to the carrier she went, and she was happy! I believe babies need that human touch as much as possible, especially from the parents. She used to get situated in her carrier and go straight to sleep. She was secure, comfy, protected.

Also I have found it is so much easier to get through a crowd if she is on me. I despise trying to get through a crowded space with a stroller. It's sometimes nearly impossible.

I know there are plenty of times a mom (or dad) is unable to wear their baby. These are just suggestions and benefits we have found by wearing Ayda. Different products satisfy different people too. Of the two carriers I like best, one I spent $5 on and the other was $115. It just goes to show the range is vast!

Happy baby wearing!

Cloth Diapers!

Ok so it has taken me several days to be able to actually sit down and write another post! And my topic for tonight...Cloth Diapers! Kevin and I decided to switch over to cloth for many reasons. I would love to say the biggest reason was to be more green, but in all honesty it was financial reasons. I was so tired of spending at least 50 dollars a month on diapers that were only going to be thrown away and then sit in the landfill for years and years. I started adding up the numbers and realized the cloth diapers would pay for themselves in about 6 months. And since Ayda was only 6 months old when we started I realized we would most certainly get our money's worth! So began lots of research.

What brand is best? How do I care for them? How many do I need? And the list of questions continued on! A friend of mine was so wonderful to send me an email with TONS of information that she had collected after putting her sweet little girl in cloth diapers as well. Her information is what helped me take that step to just commit and switch!

Reasons for Cloth Diapers?

Financially it has been great to cut the cost of diapers down dramatically. However, through the journey I have realized so many more benefits to them. I feel like I am helping to decrease the diapers sitting in landfills. Also they seem much more comfortable for Ayda. To feel the difference in the material sitting on her skin is huge. I also don't trust disposable diapers (even the "organic" ones) to truly be dye, chlorine, and other chemical free. Companies have quickly picked up on the "go green" movement and anything and everything pretty much claims to be "natural". With the cloth diapers I know there is nothing in them but the cotton. I wash and dry them myself.

What brand is best?

We chose to go with Bum Genius brand and absolute love them. It is the All In One. There is an insert that we stuff in the shell of the diaper. After doing the wash and letting them dry it takes maybe 10 minutes to stuff and fold all of them. Kevin and I usually do them at night while we are watching tv so it is not any extra time spent on them. There are tons of different brands that different people have a preference for too. I am realizing each brand is great. It just depends on the preference of the buyer. Ours is one size fits all as well so we can use them from birth to potty trained! And they really are not all that bulky. Yes, they are bigger than a disposable diaper, but with her clothes on it is hard to tell a difference. I will say her pants tend to run a size bigger than they normally would be but she grows so fast it's not hard to keep ahead in sizes.

Is it hard to care for them?

Not at all once you find your routine. I wash the diapers every other night, sometimes every two nights. I wash them in a cold cycle with the special/approved detergent, then a hot cycle, and last a cold rinse. Nine times out of ten that is enough to get them clean and get the odors out. I then put them on a folding drying rack to dry in the sun. The sun works great to naturally bleach the stains and kill the odor further. Then, like I said previously, we fold them while watching t.v. At first it was a little overwhelming but once I figured out each step and did it a few times it became super easy. It really takes no more time than it would to drive to the store and buy diapers.

Occasionally, they have started to smell so I use Dawn (the blue kind) dishwasher soap in the cold cycle and it helps tremendously. Also vinegar and baking soda is known to work. I typically don't use those because a little dawn does the trick if the regular wash cycles and sun do not work.

How many should I have?

We started Ayda in them when she was 6 months old. I so wish now that she had been wearing them from the beginning. But since we started a little later we have gotten away with only having 15 because she was requiring fewer diaper changes in a day by that point. I will probably purchase 9 more to give us 2 dozen when we have a second baby. You do have to change them a little more frequently than a disposable to keep them from leaking. Disposable diapers have a gel in them to wick moisture away from the baby and it solidifies the urine. Cloth diapers do not have that and therefore can reach it's max absorbency a little faster. It might be one or two extra diapers a day though. Nothing too big.

In conclusion, I feel like going cloth was such a great decision for Ayda. I'm interested to see if she potty trains sooner as well. Since the moisture is not wicked away like disposables the infant typically potty trains sooner because they actually feel when they are wet. We shall see!

If you have questions feel free to comment and I will surely answer them! Happy cloth diapering!

Our Birth Story

Ok I'll try to keep this short, but it was the most amazing 12 hours of my life!

When Kevin and I found out we were expecting he immediately started trying to get me to agree to a homebirth. Let me just say...it took a few arguments, a meeting with the OB/GYN, and lots of education for me to say ok. I was scared to death. I worked in a NICU. What if something went wrong? But once I agreed I was fully on board. I witnessed a dear friend have her baby in the comforts of her home and I was sold. That was what I wanted for my baby. So began my walk of faith, not fear! We took a Bradley Method class which gave us the tools we would need to handle the pains and endurance of birth. We met with our midwife regularly and I absolutely loved her. She made me feel so calm and confident about having this baby. So at 39 weeks and 4 days when I went into labor, we were ready. We didn't worry about complications, pain, or exhaustion. We welcomed each contraction as a sign that soon we would meet our precious miracle. We came together as a couple like we had never before. We communicated without saying a word. Kevin tended to me in such a compassionate way. He encouraged me through the entire night of laboring. We were truly one. And at 8:15AM on December 4, 2008 we welcomed Ayda Grace into our family. The lights were dim, the room warm, soft music playing. It was exactly how we pictured. My mom and two close friends were there for Ayda's first BIRTHday party. Tears in everyone's eyes made it clear this little one was so loved. I felt the Lord's spirit in that room like never before. Almost as if He was saying here is the gift I am blessing you with. Take good care of her. What an honor. In that instant I became a mom. A role I had no clue the intensity it would require. The responsibility beyond anything I imagined. The love I never thought I was capable of having for someone. At 11:30AM everyone had left our house except my mom. She went to the guest room to sleep. And in our room, all snuggled up together in our bed, was our new family. It was the most amazing, peaceful sleep I have had. To hold our sweet baby in my arms. Feel her breath. No interruptions. For 3 hours we slept. Her birthday was exactly what I wanted. No medications. No interventions. Just a family with community around us welcoming a new life into the world. It was perfect!

Welcome!

Hello! I decided to start this blog as a way to write out my thoughts, and feelings, about the way Kevin and I are choosing to live our life. As I talk to many people I realize they are interested in knowing this side of things as well. A more natural approach to life. My biggest passion is natural childbirth. But there is so much more. Cleaning products, diapers, food, illness, etc. Some of what I say is definitely controversial, some is readily accepted. Take it with a grain of salt. What works for us may not work for you, and that is ok! Like I said, I simply just wanted to write about ways we do things and research we find. I was a NICU nurse for four years and loved it. Those babies changed my perspective on life forever. Their tiny hands left a permanent handprint on my heart. So, no I am not entirely against medicine. There is a place and time for it for sure. Unfortunately I feel like people just go with what the doctor says and does not look at the other side of things. When it comes to my daughter, I want to know every angle before we make a decision. I want to know exactly what is entering her body. So enjoy! I hope to reference lots of stuff and feel free to comment anytime!