Tag Archives: health

My birth story: coming tomorrow

So I’ve decided to share my birth story!

And I’m just warning you–it’s not a pretty story detailing how calm I was as I played my hypnotic music mix CD’s and how ethereal I felt as I engaged in this thing that women have been doing for millenniae and how connected I felt to the earth or some such thing.

I mean, I hoped that would be my story, and after taking a 9-session 27-hour Bradley Method natural birthing class, practicing relaxation and hearing about my amazing sister Heidi’s second birth (a water birth) during which no one could tell when she was having a contraction (yes, she was that calm), I was like, “oh yeah. I want to do that!”

I mean, I knew it would be painful, but I felt ready. Ready to have my strength tested and reach beyond the pain into an inner place of peace.

It turned out . . . a little differently.

I still remember my first Sunday back in church, when Alice was 10 days old.

“How did it go?” people asked me.

“Well . . .” I summarized, “basically I yelled “F***! F***! F***!” the whole time.”

Yes, I said the f-word in church. Multiple times, and I think in a loud voice, too.

I also added “Please remind me NEVER TO DO THAT AGAIN.”

Anyway, I recently read this article, which cracked me up and reminded me that I had never shared with you guys about my experience. Plus, Alice will be a year old in a month! So why not go back in time and finally share the nitty gritty with you guys. If you’re a dude, squeamish, or about to give birth for the first time and maybe not wanting to hear about some of the not-so-fun stuff (Veronica, Erica, Kelsey–I’m talking’ about YOU!), feel free to click away.

But for the rest of you: my story is not intended to discourage, frighten or advise. Every woman has a different experience–some are shell-shocked by it, some feel closer than ever to God; some scream, some are quiet, and I even hear that for some it’s a completely pleasurable experience. This is simply my story, and in the effort to finally make peace with it, I’m going to tell it as truthfully as possible.

Love you all and hope to see you back tomorrow!

Foodie Baby

I have always hoped that our kids would have adventuresome palates. With my love of food, variety and spice, the thought of a picky eater who would refuse anything but chicken fingers seemed rather dreadful.

When Alice was 5 1/2 months, we started her on solids. I had no idea how she was going to respond, and tentatively approached her with some carrots I had steamed and pureed that afternoon.

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She took to it like butter to a muffin.

Within weeks, she was eating about 14 oz of solids per day (!), and devouring anything I offered–carrots, peas, squash, sweet potatoes, chicken, lentils, spinach with garlic, Greek yogurt, Chicken Tikka, pureed coq au vin, tuna salad, chicken salad, any kind of fruit . . . everything except for avocado.

She even went gangbusters on a lemon.

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And in the first 3 weeks of starting solids, she gained 2 pounds.

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Whoa.

I’m guessing by now she’s put on another pound or two, which is surely helping her in her mission to move all over the face of the earth, scooch by scooch, and put everything she can find into her mouth. Go Alice go!

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But back to the food part! To this day, before her little mouth even makes contact with the spoon, she makes the most hilarious faces of skepticism.

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I think she’s anticipating, unsure of what her taste buds are about to experience. But she’s game to try whatever’s there, so in goes the food . . .

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. . . and the little face goes through a series of expressions that might seem like disgust to an untrained eye.

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She makes dramatic grimaces and looks at me with a face of great uncertainty. What are you feeding me??

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But after about bite #4, some kind of switch turns and she becomes RavenousBaby, leaning forward towards the spoon and smacking her little hand on her thigh or the table. More! More! More!

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Picky stages will most certainly come and go throughout her babyhood and childhood, but at this moment I am so thankful that she’s game for whatever I put in that little plastic bowl.

She’s my favorite baby. She’s just tops. And she’s MINE!

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