Orange County, California July 2010

We decided to go on one last trip before the baby comes at the end of July. It takes me awhile to do a post with pictures. I seem to never upload my pictures. As always the flights seem to get messed up just as we arrive to the airport. We had to scramble around to find a flight that had open seats. Pretty crazy if you ask me. We ended up flying into a different airport than planned. Had to get a different rent-a-car than planned, and we ended up showing up about an hour late for dinner at Brandon's uncles house who lives on Huntington Beach. BUT we made it and it was all worth it.


We decided to go to one of our Favorite restaurants at Laguna Beach, Las Brisas. This place has really good Mexican food, and the most beautiful view of the water. Ahhh I could of sat there all day and sipped my lemonade.

The next day we headed to an Angels Game. It was so much fun to see the field and be so close to the 3rd baseman. It was a good game. Go Angels!

Have you been to the Crab Cooker? The best Seafood I might add! It's a great restaurant that is always packed to the rim. You are very close to your neighbor, and you eat on paper plates. What more can you ask for? MMM MMM MMM so good!

Bear Lake July 2010

This year was a great year at Bear Lake, we had 2 condo's to fill up my whole family. Needless to say we didn't all fit, but some how we made it work.
We went Swimming at the Pool and Swimming at the Lake. These two girls are pretty fast swimmers! Emily and Megan are growing up so fast.

We had so much fun at Bear Lake this year. Here is my brother Jeff and his daughter Aleah. So cute walking out to into the water. Can't wait until next year.

Going Natural

I've been getting a lot of questions as why I have chosen to go natural. I haven't given any really specific answers because it catches me off guard. I wanted to explain myself a little more so everyone knows why.

Having a natural childbirth never crossed my mind when I first learned I was pregnant. Like most women, I wanted the easiest, most painless birth possible, and we know that is by having the epidural. It's what everyone does and I was just going to do that too.

So I decided I needed to learn everything I can about the whole process. Reading mostly online, the materials given to us in my Lamaze class and watching movies/tv shows (You should watch the movie: The business of being born with Ricki Lake). I dug through website and asked everyone I knew who had a baby recently what their experience was like. I never thought about going natural because when I think of it, I think of pain. I did not want to feel pain anymore than the next girl, but as I began to fully understand how a woman's body would deliver a baby and the history of maternity care in our country, It made me think more on what would be best for me:

1. Laying numb from the waist down, on my back in a bed hooked up to a bunch of monitors and IVs sounded WAY worse to me than being able to move around, using gravity and the motion of my own body to move my baby down, the ability to labor in water, and having free motion to get on my knees, stand up, squat - whatever it was that I was needing in that moment.


2. My body conceived this child without intervention. It has grown this child without intervention. Why wouldn’t my body be able to deliver her the same way? While I understand that there are situations that require medical interventions (I have friends/family who have had to have emergency c-sections due to complications and am thankful that the technology is there for them to do so) - but why go into a hospital acting as if I need to be “treated” with needles and drugs if this is a natural, normal, low-risk birth?


3. Natural childbirth does not automatically equal a more painful childbirth. What causes the most pain during labor is the expectation and fear that women feel around childbirth. If you take out the fear away, then you change the experience. A woman laboring in a confident and relaxed state is not going to be fighting against her body like a woman who is scared and tense.
Women who give birth without unnecessary medical intervention have much shorter labors, less tearing, and babies who are more alert and able to immediately bond with mom.

Deciding to go natural requires A LOT more preparation than walking into a hospital in labor and letting the doctors take over. It means finding a hospital, OB, and labor coaches who will advocate for you and support you during your labor. It means to keep yourself calm, comfortable, and in control during your labor. So:

1. We hired a doula. An experienced doula or birth coach can reduce your chances of having to get a c-section by 50% Brandon has never been through this experience either so our doula will be there to support him while he supports me. She knows massage techniques too, which is the best part. She will be my advocate with the doctors and nurses and keep me focused on my task.

2. I chose the method of Lamaze to help me with the breathing techniques. I also plan to utilize other coping methods such as - birth balls, laboring in water, low lighting, music and a quiet, peaceful room.

3. We will create a birth plan that includes everything from what techniques I’m using for my labor to having my baby in my arms immediately after delivery without being taken away for testing, weighing, etc until we have time to bond with one another (as long as she comes out without any complication and is deemed healthy upon delivery). Everyone from my husband, my doula, my OB, AND the entire nursing staff at the hospital will have copies of this plan and be familiar with what we want.

Even with all of the preparations we are doing there is a possibility that we will still require medical intervention. I’m not against getting an epidural if I have done everything within my power to go natural but am not physically able to do it because of severe back labor or some other unforeseen complication. I understand that I may still require a c-section if an emergency arises. The single most important thing is the safety and health of our daughter and me. I will take whatever outcome with a happy heart because I know I have done everything possible to set myself up for success - if it does not go as planned - so be it. I’ll have no regrets. But I’m going to ROCK this birth. I am actually excited for it to get here. Nothing about going into labor or delivering this baby scares me. I’m confident in my body and in myself. It will be the single most amazing thing I have never done in my life. I have grown this baby girl and I’m going to be the one to bring her into this world - talk about empowering! When the day comes, I’ll be ready.

Bulky huh?

On our way home from California 2-3 weeks ago (which I still need to do a post about), both Brandon and I got stopped in Orange County airport going through security. Brandon's shoulder replacement made the metal detector go off, and they pulled me aside saying I was bulky. I wasn't wearing a coat or jacket. Just had a shirt and shorts on and they say I'm bulky! It was tons of fun to go through the whole pat down, but isn't that discrimination? HAHAHA. I saw people more "bulky" than me and they weren't getting pull aside to be patted down. They could clearly see that I'm feeding for two. Bulky huh?

Lamaze Class #5

Last night we got a tour of the hospital rooms where we are going to give birth in. It was pretty surreal to see, knowing that I will be there in a few short weeks. The weeks are going by so fast. Our teacher was showing us how to move the bed to get the help of gravity during labor for a faster delivery. I hope it works! I kept telling Brandon this will be us in few weeks, and we will be here for many hours and hours so he better pack his bag too. We checked out the electronic stuff so we know what to bring with us to keep us entertained.

We watched a movie about babies. It's amazing how smart and alert that babies are when they are just born. Just 20 min after being a born once placed on the mom's belly they can actually inch there way up to get breastfed. They can smell there food-aka mom. They recognized the voices of mom and dad. They like high pitched sounds. They can imitate some facial expressions (opening the month wide, sticking your tongue out, and frowning). They can even reach for your face for the first 2 weeks and then they stop and won't do that until 2-3 months old.

The "mom's" got in a circle while the "dad's" listened and our teacher asked each"mom" what we needed our husbands to do while in labor. Here are some of those response:

• Help with the breathing patterns/techniques
• Be there, never leave her side (he can't even leave to go to the bathroom-poor guy)
• Doesn't want to be under minded by her husband
• Doesn't want the husband to take things personally when she is in labor (she might say mean things)
• To be with the baby if mom is busy
• Make sure everyone knows the birth plan
• Communication! Communication!

Some of the things the "dad's" wanted were:

• Communication! Communication!
• Make sure they know what specifically is needed (ice, massage, etc)
• Know that it's just as a big day for him as it is for her
• Willing to help, just needs to be told what to do

It sounded like a lot of the "dad's" were getting pushed by the way side, bye their wife. Sounds like the wife said it's all about me, me, me! It has made me open my eyes to make sure that I'm not doing that to Brandon. It's just as big of a day for him as it is for me. 8 weeks to go!

*Still no name for our little girl, the crib is still wrapped up in plastic, and we need to go register. So many things to do and so little time.

Lamaze Class #4

I can't believe it was class #4 last night. Time has gone by fast! Too fast. I'm not ready-yet! Last night we watched another birth movie where 4 different women gave birth. The movie was from 1970's, the picture was cloudy, the music was awful, and their clothes and hair were ridiculously funny. All 4 of them had it natural and all 4 of them didn't tear. ***Read the remaining of this post at your own risk*** I think that is what I'm most scared of is the tearing portion of it. If I'm going to have this natural, I will feel every little thing. One thing that will stick with me the whole time, is when not to push. Once the baby is crowning you aren't suppose to push because your uterus is still pushing and if it's slow and controlled you shouldn't tear. So "Stop Pushing" "Don't Push". There are other factors as well:

• Inheritance-What kind of tissue do you have?
• Keagles Exercises-Have you done them?
• Support-Do you have support from the Dr and Nurse?
• Size-What is the size of your baby?

My homework for this week is to interview a new mom, and Brandon gets to interview a new dad, any volunteers? Here are the questions:

1. What was the most difficult part about being a new parent?
2. Looking back, what would you say is most important for a new parent to know?
3. Who did they ask for help or advice when they became a new parent?

We are taught to have an open mind, a different way of thinking about labor. Expand your consciences. Don't let anyone script your birth. Don't worry about anything you say or do during labor and delivery-it won't shock the nurses and they won't remember you the next day. And women have more orgasms after she has a had a child. Very interesting.... wouldn't you say. Also, once you have hit contracts when your dilated to a 7-8 those are the strongest and they don't get any worse. They stay at a 7-8 even if your dilated to a 10. I can do this!

Tips for Back Labor

• Get is a good position- Get off your back
• Hot and Cold packs-habituates after 20 min
• Counter pressure
• When everything isn't working-change your position and breathing patterns and try again.
• Breathe-he, he, he, who!

Cruise ~ May 2010

We have been home from our crusie for almost two months and I really wanted to post some pictures of where we have been. We went to four countries, Grand Cayman Island, Isla Roatan (Honduras), Belize and Cozumel Mex. This was the best vacation ever, we have had some excellent vacations but this one was just a little bit better than any other vacation we have ever been on.

DAY 1 Day at Sea

-It was my birthday and Brandon surprised me with our room decorated. We went to the pool and ate tons of food!

DAY 2 Grand Caymon Island

We took a bus ride to a few spots we went to.....
-We went to the Turtle Farm and saw tons of turtle of all sizes and ages. At the Turtle Farm they raise the turtle there and they release a lot in the wild to grow the population in turtles in Grand Cayman.

-We went to Hell, which was a bunch of lava rocks, but at least I can say I've been to Hell and back!

-We went to Stingray City. The tour guide caught a stingray and we all touched it and kissed it. Now I have 7 years of good luck!

DAY 3 Isla Roatan Honduras
-We took a bus ride through the town on a windee road and ended up at a beautiful white sand beach. This place had gorgeous veiws. So nice to soak in the sun.

Day 4 Belize

-We went snorkeling at the 2nd largest barrier reef! Had the best tour guide to tell us what fish is what and it had the prettiest coral I've ever seen, pinks and purples!

Day 5 Cozumel

-We went suviner shopping

-We chilled at another pretty beach!

Day 6 DAY at SEA

-Went to the pool, soaked in all the sun!

Day 7 Say goodbye and fly home!