Courtney tagged me via comment. Her blog is linked to the right and talks about her life as an ESL teacher/missionary in Peru if you want to read about her adventures. I am now going to share seven facts about me, and tag seven people to do the same.
1. I was once bitten by a pig at Maymont. I have a scar.
2. Once a crazy English guy proposed to me in Richmond Park in London. I happily said no. Then an amazing American guy proposed to me in his backyard. I said YES.
3. When I was little, I dreamed of being a professional roller skater.
4. I am always the last one up at night.
5. For a long time, I wasn't sure if I wanted to have kids.
6. I hate cold weather, but miss Virginia falls.
7. I don't like surprises.
I am tagging Laura, Laurie, Emily, Jenna, Mollie, Natalie, and Kelly. I'm too lazy to link here, but they are all linked to the right if you want some fun reading!
Friday, November 21, 2008
My Crazy Dancing Family
Here are two videos from tonight of my insane and lovely family. In this one, Dad helps Sawyer strut his stuff. I may or may not have peed my pants a little during the making of one of these.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Free Bird--I Mean, BIRTH
I am at liberty to watch my parents' ten thousand channel cable while in Virginia, and while flipping between E! News and Food Network Challenge, I caught a bit of Freebirthing on Discovery Health. I heard about freebirthing when researching home birth, and the site I found was really wacky. If you don't know, freebirthing is exactly what it sounds like--giving birth to your baby with no assistance whatsoever, usually with only a spouse in the room observing or offering support.
When I first heard of home birth, I did think it was crazy. Then I researched it, and I think that anyone who does may come to the same conclusion I did: home birth may not be for everyone, but with a certified midwife, it can be an amazing and safe and healthy birth experience. The people who are freebirthing, from what I can tell, offer some of the same reasons that home birthers do for their choices. They would like an intervention-free, natural birth that is more as nature intended. The reason to not have a midwife is that they tend to believe that having any outside presence in the room will cause undue stress, and that birth is meant to happen as it happens with NO intervention, even the non-invasive and gentle care of a midwife.
I'm not putting any links here, because I didn't find any great sites that distinguished themselves from any others about this, but if you want to read more, you can find plenty of sites and stories online from and about freebirthing women. I have to say that I understand the desire to have a natural, empowering birth, but I think the choice to go it alone is, at the least, unwise. With home birth, the more I read, the more I felt assured of the safety of this choice. With freebirth, the more I read, the more I felt uncomfortable and frightened.
Not that you want to assume that things can go wrong in birth, because I do believe in most cases, your body would do what it needs to on its on. But there are all kinds of very common birth issues, from major to minor, and I feel that having an advocate and helper who is trained and experienced in birth is the responsible choice. As to the argument that having any presence in the room can cause discomfort, if those women have a relationship with their midwife like I did with mine, there will be nothing but peace and comfort resulting from the presence of a midwife in an ideal situation. I think it can also be empowering and encouraging to have other women like a midwife or doula present to cheer you on through labor and delivery.
I talk a lot on here about people making informed choices, and I respect the right of these women to freebirth. But I have to say that after being informed, I don't know that it is the most responsible or best choice for anyone. Anyone catch the Freebirthing documentary or have thoughts about this trend??
When I first heard of home birth, I did think it was crazy. Then I researched it, and I think that anyone who does may come to the same conclusion I did: home birth may not be for everyone, but with a certified midwife, it can be an amazing and safe and healthy birth experience. The people who are freebirthing, from what I can tell, offer some of the same reasons that home birthers do for their choices. They would like an intervention-free, natural birth that is more as nature intended. The reason to not have a midwife is that they tend to believe that having any outside presence in the room will cause undue stress, and that birth is meant to happen as it happens with NO intervention, even the non-invasive and gentle care of a midwife.
I'm not putting any links here, because I didn't find any great sites that distinguished themselves from any others about this, but if you want to read more, you can find plenty of sites and stories online from and about freebirthing women. I have to say that I understand the desire to have a natural, empowering birth, but I think the choice to go it alone is, at the least, unwise. With home birth, the more I read, the more I felt assured of the safety of this choice. With freebirth, the more I read, the more I felt uncomfortable and frightened.
Not that you want to assume that things can go wrong in birth, because I do believe in most cases, your body would do what it needs to on its on. But there are all kinds of very common birth issues, from major to minor, and I feel that having an advocate and helper who is trained and experienced in birth is the responsible choice. As to the argument that having any presence in the room can cause discomfort, if those women have a relationship with their midwife like I did with mine, there will be nothing but peace and comfort resulting from the presence of a midwife in an ideal situation. I think it can also be empowering and encouraging to have other women like a midwife or doula present to cheer you on through labor and delivery.
I talk a lot on here about people making informed choices, and I respect the right of these women to freebirth. But I have to say that after being informed, I don't know that it is the most responsible or best choice for anyone. Anyone catch the Freebirthing documentary or have thoughts about this trend??
Sleep! That's Where I'm a Viking...
This has nothing to do with sleep, only vikings. (The post title is a Simpson's quote.) We got Sawyer this hilarious hat in the Williamsburg Toyshop. I'm glad I didn't get him the matching sword or we'd probably all be missing eyes by now. Sorry for the bright second picture--my camera stinks. 
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Song Confusion
Lately I've realized that I don't quite remember songs from childhood as well as I should. Here are some examples of songs I've messed up:
"Old MacDonald had a farm and Bingo was his name-O, B-I-N-G-0, B-I-N-G-O, B-I-N-G-O, and Bingo was his name-O!"
"Yankee Doodle went to town a-riding on a pony, B-I-N-G-O..."
(Obviously Bingo is a common theme...)
"Hush little baby, don't say a word. Daddy's gonna buy you a mockingbird. And if that mockingbird don't sing, Daddy's gonna buy you a diamond ring. And if that diamond ring don't shine, Daddy's gonna buy you a porcupine..."
"How much is that doggy in the window? How much, how much can he be? Cuz it's one! Two! Three strikes you're out at the old ball-game!"
See how I mess it up? They all run together. Must be because pretty much all those childhood songs are the same three notes. Sawyer does love singing, though, so I make up songs all day long for occasions. Some stick and are repeats like these:
"It's...diaper changing time! It's diaper changing time! It's diaper change, it's diaper change, it's diaper changing time!"
"It's bathtime, it's bathtime, it's itty-bitty-baby's bathtime. It's bathtime, it's bathtime, for Sawyer today."
"Pancake! You are you my pancake! Much better than cheesecake! Less fruity than fruitcake, not a poundcake, you're my pancake!"
His all-time favorite song is "This Is the Day That the Lord Has Made," which will make him stop crying and smile at almost any time! Anyone else love singing to the wee ones? Any other favorite songs??
"Old MacDonald had a farm and Bingo was his name-O, B-I-N-G-0, B-I-N-G-O, B-I-N-G-O, and Bingo was his name-O!"
"Yankee Doodle went to town a-riding on a pony, B-I-N-G-O..."
(Obviously Bingo is a common theme...)
"Hush little baby, don't say a word. Daddy's gonna buy you a mockingbird. And if that mockingbird don't sing, Daddy's gonna buy you a diamond ring. And if that diamond ring don't shine, Daddy's gonna buy you a porcupine..."
"How much is that doggy in the window? How much, how much can he be? Cuz it's one! Two! Three strikes you're out at the old ball-game!"
See how I mess it up? They all run together. Must be because pretty much all those childhood songs are the same three notes. Sawyer does love singing, though, so I make up songs all day long for occasions. Some stick and are repeats like these:
"It's...diaper changing time! It's diaper changing time! It's diaper change, it's diaper change, it's diaper changing time!"
"It's bathtime, it's bathtime, it's itty-bitty-baby's bathtime. It's bathtime, it's bathtime, for Sawyer today."
"Pancake! You are you my pancake! Much better than cheesecake! Less fruity than fruitcake, not a poundcake, you're my pancake!"
His all-time favorite song is "This Is the Day That the Lord Has Made," which will make him stop crying and smile at almost any time! Anyone else love singing to the wee ones? Any other favorite songs??
Visit with the Fam!
We headed to Williamsburg today to hang out with the family: Aunt Jo, Aunt Patti and Uncle Lew. We saw just a tiny bit of colonial Williamsburg, but the real focus with the fam and we had a great lunch. Here are a few photos! I'm glad Sawyer gets to see my family--it's so hard being far away!
Saw with Aunt Jo and this amazing John Deere corn teether--it vibrates to massage his gums when he bites down.
With Gammy Gummy and the teether.
Sawyer loved the fountain outside!
Sawyer loves Cricket!
The St. Clair siblings: Dad, Aunt Jo, and Uncle Lew.
Saw with Gammy Gummy. He's been into his tongue this week.
Sawyer with Uncle Lew.
The ladies and Sawyer.
Saw with Aunt Jo and this amazing John Deere corn teether--it vibrates to massage his gums when he bites down.
With Gammy Gummy and the teether.
Sawyer loved the fountain outside!
Sawyer loves Cricket!
The St. Clair siblings: Dad, Aunt Jo, and Uncle Lew.
Saw with Gammy Gummy. He's been into his tongue this week.
Sawyer with Uncle Lew.
The ladies and Sawyer.
University of Richmond
A few afternoons ago, we took a family walk to University of Richmond. Unfortunately it was COLD. But we had a great time, despite missing Robbie and the dogs. :(
This is the chapel where my grandparents got married!
Mom got to push the stroller.
The library.
Fun in the elevator.
Geoff needed a little pick-me-up.
Riding the metal spider.
I think he's trying to get some hair here...
Feet!
Grandpas are fun. Especially if their name is Turkey.
Somebody got tuckered out.
This is the chapel where my grandparents got married!
Mom got to push the stroller.
The library.
Fun in the elevator.
Geoff needed a little pick-me-up.
Riding the metal spider.
I think he's trying to get some hair here...
Feet!
Grandpas are fun. Especially if their name is Turkey.
Somebody got tuckered out.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Spoiler Alert
I found a good article on Baby Center that addresses this question: Can you spoil your baby? I liked their response because it's what feels natural to me. There comes a time when children understand cause and effect, but before this time, crying is about communication of a need. A parental response to that crying is not coddling, but responding to a need, showing love, and building trust. I think that the age where crying becomes a tool to get what baby wants can be determined by each parent taking an honest look at their child. Here is the article if you want to read it. The comments are...um, fiery.
SNOW!!!
This afternoon we had snow flurries!!! Sawyer's first snow! I haven't even had time to take pictures of him in the leaves yet.
Here's the fam. Look! A snowflake in the air on Dad's arm!
I love this one. I was trying to lick the snow and Sawyer got a hand in my mouth.
Snow in our hair!
I'm calling Robbie to tell him, so he can be a part of the first snow.
One of our old family friends happened by and took this. I wish our heads were in it.
Here's the fam. Look! A snowflake in the air on Dad's arm!
I love this one. I was trying to lick the snow and Sawyer got a hand in my mouth.
Snow in our hair!
I'm calling Robbie to tell him, so he can be a part of the first snow.
One of our old family friends happened by and took this. I wish our heads were in it.
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