Dialogue of a Wallflower

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Garden Nome

(No, I did not spell that wrong. Nome is a nickname my brother, Andy, calls me)

Summer is pushing it's way into Wisconsin, and that means it's garden time. Those of you who know me, know my track record with plants. I don't have a very high success rate of keeping them alive.

Ok, more specifically, I don't have any success at keeping them alive.

But this year is different. Because I decided it is.

I will be successful. Period.

So...

I dove right in. I came up with an equation for success.

1.) Move the location of the vegetable garden. (Jared was THRILLED about this one.)

This spot is much closer to the kitchen door. Which means I have to only walk 5 feet, instead of 25 feet to pluck some basil for the gourmet italian cuisine I will prepare every night...

2.) Make it a raised bed.

Commense digging, since this location is on a hill and a raised bed wouldn't be much of a success if it's tilting downhill...

3.) Finish digging it out before Memorial Day.

This is as far as we've gotten. Next week, we proceed on the path to success.

4.) Fill with organic compost.

5.) Plant vegetables.

6.) Water daily, watch them flourish, harvest and eat, be very, very proud of me.

And now for the flowers. Be impressed.

daisy

dahlia

martha washington geranium

senetti

martha washington geranium

dianthus

vinca

petunia

dahlia

yellow daisy

dianthus

dahlia

purple iris

Me and my garden extraordinaire. My mom. She is amazing.

My Four Monkeys

I am back!

Our life with a new baby has been a little more crazy than usual, but I finally feel pretty well adjusted to our new dynamic.

I have tried to capture as much of it on film as possible. Here are some of my favorites from over the past month...

Gino, 3 days old

Soph chillin' with Ruby

My sister, Anna, moved in with us for the summer to help out with the kids, and keep me company!

Sophia completed her first year of AWANA Cubbies!

She finished her first Cubbies book and got a book award! (So proud!)

Preparing to pray?

For the first two weeks, Gino took his baths in the bathroom sink.
Now he has graduated to the kitchen sink.

Sleeping like a man... in his skivvies.

First bottle. Two weeks old.

Love the tenderness of this one. Special, quiet moments.

Mother's Day with my mom.
The sunglasses are hiding the hideous pink eye I woke up with that morning.

A daily (hourly?) sight. She loves to help Mama burp the baby.

My four monkeys...

Take two.

Take three.

Give up.

The End.

Friday, April 27, 2012

I went into labor around 3:00pm, on April 17th. I noticed I was having contractions pretty close together, so I started timing them. I wasn't sure if it was the real deal until about two hours later, when the contractions were still consistent and getting much stronger. So I called my mom to come fetch the three kiddos, and finished packing the hospital bag. The kids left at 6:00, and Jared and I walked around at home, until we decided it was time to head into the hospital. We arrived around 7:30, and after six attempts, they got my IV in and started my antibiotics (for GBS) around 9:00p. I climbed into the birth tub, but my labor slowed down considerably, so I got back out and paced the room until 10:45 when I was in intense labor, and dilated to 8cm. We decided it was time to break my water (Which never breaks on its own. I'm not kidding, she finally got it broken on the twelfth try!). I went back into the tub immediately and my labor went from intense to almost unbearable. I only got through it because I had such an awesome God, and amazing birth team on my side, guiding me through each contraction. Then, at 11:55, I felt pushy and out came Gino all in one big, looooong final contraction. He was born at 11:56pm.

Jared rubbed my back during each contraction when we first arrived.

The "before" picture with my amazing hubby

My doula (and one of my best friends since age 10), Abby, me, and my midwife, Liz

Giovanni James arrived at 11:56pm! We just hung out in the tub, cuddling our new baby for the next 15 minutes. It was wonderful.

An I'm-so-glad-it's-over-I-love-you-I-love-our-new-baby-I'm-so-happy kiss

Daddy admiring his new son

Family photo

Within 20 minutes of birth, Giovanni latched on (the first try!!) and nursed like a champ for 45 minutes!!!

Me and Liz "before"

Liz and me "after"

Liz and Giovanni

Me, Gino, and Abs

My INCREDIBLE birth team. I simply could not have done it without these two amazing people. They tag-teamed me through each contraction. Jared holding me, swaying with me, whispering encouragement in my ear, and being tuned in to my every need and desire. Abby massaging my back and hips through every contraction (with the most amazing lavender massage oil), feeding me water and OJ, taking photos and video, and reminding me that I can do this. These two made this birth the best birth experience I have had yet.