Top.Mail.Ru
? ?
Sarah
30 September 2015 @ 04:01 pm
Random meme I saw going around Facebook.


A
A- Available: Married
A- Age: 34 this Friday
A- Annoyance: Our neighbor's dog's loud barking
B
B- Best Friend: Lizzy. We went to high school together, and were also roommates for years out of college. My mom.
B- Birthday: October 2nd, 1981
B- Brand of cell phone: iPhone 5s (would love to get the new 6s plus. Maybe for Christmas)
C
C- Crush: I crush on my hubby
C- Car: Toyota Highlander
C- Candy: M&Ms, Milky Way, Red Vines
D
D- Day or Night: Night
D- Dream Car: BMW X5
D- Dog: Had a Golden Retriever growing up we loved. Though I'm very much a cat person. I have 2 cats now.
E
E- Easiest Person to Talk to: My husband
E- Eggs: Scrambled with a bit of milk
E- Earnings: I collect in kisses and hugs
F
F- Favorite Month: October thru December
F- Favorite Color: Blue
F- Favorite Memory: Holding my babies for the first time.
G
G- Gummy Bears or Worms: Bears!
G- Giver or Taker: Giver, but I can take too.
G- Graduated: High School. Some university.
H
H- Hair Color: Blonde
H- Height: 5' 8"
H- Happy: Generally.
I
I- Ice Cream: Ben and Jerry's Phish Food or Baskin Robbins Mint Chip
I- Instrument: Piano. Some guitar.
I- Insecurity: I feel shy and awkward in social situations.
J
J- Jewelry: Wedding ring. Often a delicate style necklace, I've been given a few special ones over the years. Love gold and rose gold tones.
J- Job: Stay at home Mom
J- Jail: Not even close
K
K- Kids: 2. Lilia's 2 1/2, and Henry's 4 months.
K- Kickboxing or Karate: My brother took some karate, and he taught me how to throw a proper punch. Does that count?
K- Kindergarten: When my little ones will start their adventures away from home. Thankfully not yet.
L
L- Longest Car Ride: Once drove from Seattle to San Diego and back. Road trip!
L- Last kiss: This morning
L- Lipstick or Lip gloss: Lip gloss.
M
M- Milk Flavor: Normal milk. 2%
M- Most Missed Memory: How can I remember what I've forgotten? I do wish I had more memories from when I was young.
M- Movie: Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring
N
N- Number of Siblings: 2 older brothers
N- Number of Tattoos: 0
N- Name: Sarah
O
O- One Wish: I'd love to have a home in England one day. Somewhere in the country outside of London.
O- One Phobia: Spiders
O- One Regret: Not graduating or doing more with my education.
P
P- Pet Peeves: Poor customer service. If I'm paying for something, I want it to be worth it.
P- Part of Your Appearance You Like Best: My hair.
P- Part of Your Personality: Feminine. Introvert.
Q
Q- Quote: "Good memories are the greatest gift we can give each other."
Q- Quick or Slow: Both
Q- Quiet or Loud: Quiet
R
R- Reason to Smile: My children
R- Reality TV Show: Great British Bake Off
R- Reason to Cry: Fear and disappointments.
S
S- Song Last Heard: Problem (Monster remix) - End credits song of Hotel Transylvania, which Lilia just finished.
S- Season: Autumn
S- Shoe: 9
T
T- Time You Woke Up: 7:30-ish
T- Time Now: 3:38pm
T- Time you wish it was: Evening's my favorite.
U
U- Umbrella design/Color: I have a black umbrella with blue underneath
U- Under your bed: Empty except of a couple cat toys that have rolled there
U- Underwear: Victoria's Secret. I like their high-leg brief or the lace-waist hiphugger, usually.
V
v- Vegetable You Hate: Artichoke
V- Vacation Spot: Hawaii for somewhere beachy, England-France-Italy for sight-seeing and food.
V- Voting: Democratic
W
W- Worst Habits: I can be fussy about details. I over-analyze. I'm slow in the morning starting my day (not a natural morning person).
W- Where Are You Going to Travel Next: No travel plans.
W- Weather Right Now: Partly cloudy.
X
X- X-Rays: Have had a few before, no broken bones.
X- X-Cited about: It being Autumn. New tv shows beginning. Holidays to look forward to.
X- X-tra Credit for: I often take care of my parents in various ways. Cleaning/cooking/errands. My mother still has poor health, and I want to help where I can.
Y
Y- Year You Were Born: 1981
Y- Year it is Now: 2015
Y- Yellow: Sunflower
Z
Z- Zoo Animal: Tigers
Z- Zero tolerance for: Intentionally rude people
Z- Zzzzz What time do you go to bed? Get in bed by 10:30 or 11, alseep before midnight.
 
bored
bored
 
1 | +
 
Sarah
28 December 2013 @ 07:28 pm
Locked
selectively adding

 
 
 
Sarah
23 October 2012 @ 03:46 pm
I can't believe I'm already half-way through my pregnancy! Time has settled into my favorite season, enjoying all the things I love about autumn, with the holidays peaking around the corner. I'm doing well in my second trimester, with a proper bump and being able to feel the baby move and kick, and we found out ITS A GIRL! So so happy to know and feel that much closer to our baby. Knowing the sex makes it easier to picture them, imagine the future, and start buying baby things here and there. We're waiting to start getting the big stuff until I'm in my 7th month, but smaller things like clothing and blankets and toys we're able to begin shopping for.

Now that we're paying more attention to things we need to get, and of course doing lots and lots of research on what's the best, price is hitting home more. We had a rough idea in the beginning, and we have a certain budget tucked away, but research has uncovered things we didn't think about, and "the best" often does mean expensive. Many things are twice as much as we originally thought. Christmas, my parent's 35th anniversary, and 2 birthdays coming up also mean lots going out. Money's becoming stressful. It's gotten where I'm afraid or feel guilty for buying anything non-baby related, as I know we'll need the money soon. Simple stuff, like a new album on iTunes or a nail polish I think is pretty, things I wouldn't of thought twice about before, now stress me out. In a matter of 4 months our little girl will be here, and times up, we'll need to have everything ready to care for her.

One thing we did agree and commit to this season is a Halloween party. We haven't really done much for the holiday the past couple years, and with a young child we'll pretty much be staying home the next few. We wanted to do something fun for just us. Now that we live in a house instead of an apartment, we have the chance to host a party. Money's gone to that, and I've been busy getting ready for it. We're having it this Saturday. I found some neat ideas on Pintrest, like chicken wire sprayed with glow-in-dark paint to make floaty ghost dresses, and foggy drinks.

Symptoms! As this is an update I should probably get to that. :) Heartburn has been a recent issue. It's not something I normally get, but I know it's very common during pregnancy. Headaches still bother me, but unfortunately there's not much I can do about them. Body aches in general. I've started getting dizzy spells randomly. They worry me. Not so much the dizziness itself, although unpleasant, but I'm afraid of falling and hurting the baby. Hopefully with all the yoga I do, I'd be able to brace myself no matter how I fell.

I still can't believe how vivid my dreams have been since getting pregnant. Not only do I remember many of them, they can be strong enough to affect my other senses. I dreamt about chocolate cake the other morning, and I swear I could taste it. Didn't even need to fulfill the craving once I'd woken up, the dream satisfied it. Crazy!

Here's the latest ultrasound photo from last week - http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/evening_star/4878979/167177/167177_original.jpg <33
 
 
1 | +
 
Sarah
08 October 2012 @ 08:20 pm
Unfortunately Eli's had to go out of town for a few days, for work, so I rescheduled our ultrasound for the 16th of October, instead of tomorrow. We have to wait another week to find out the sex. :( It just didn't feel right to do it without him, this is a really big moment for us.

He's had to go out of town occasionally before, but the house always feels so empty without him. I enjoy it for the first day, having things to myself, and then I really miss him. I bought a maternity pillow Friday, and those things take up like half the bed, so that helps a little there. Eli hates it. We don't quite fit together when he curls up behind me because my body's alined differently, away from him, or we have the pillow between us when I'm on my other side, but it makes sleeping so much more comfortable. As my belly grows I know it'll become a necessity. Right now even when I'm laying on the couch, it's nicer to have another pillow beside me.

I've been sore a lot. My back, my breasts, my head. I've been getting headaches off and on throughout the pregnancy, and it's hard because I can't really take anything for them. I'm allowed acetaminophen, but not often, and it doesn't help much anyway. Sometimes a hot shower and a nap helps, if I can find the time and quiet to do so. A feat more manageable this month than last.

I'm sure the headaches are stress and hormone induced. My hormones are definitely on overdrive. The past couple weeks I've been more...amorous, you might say, than normal. Even watching hot guys on tv gets my attention. This is not made easier with Eli away for a few days, where I can't pounce on him. (...ok, tmi) He's been rather pleased with this development. I told him to enjoy it while it lasts, I think this stage of pregnancy is to make up for the couple months right before and after the baby's born, when we won't be doing much of anything.

The baby's been moving more. I notice it particularly in the evenings or in the morning. I've tried pressing my hand to different places along my belly, but the movements aren't quite strong enough to be felt against the skin. I think it's going to be soon though. I can't believe my pregnancy is almost half over! I've been looking forward to these stages for so long, and yet it's progressed so quickly.
 
uncomfortable
uncomfortable
 
 
 
Sarah
01 October 2012 @ 04:08 pm
I'm so sorry this is all grouped together. September was extremely busy, and I wasn't prepared for how much harder that pace would be now that I'm pregnant. Such things weren't helped when Eli came home sick with the flu in the middle of the month, and we were both sick for almost a week. This past Wednesday - Sat, we had company staying with us, but now things are slowly returning to normal.

The biggest news is I started to feel the baby move! It's very recent, so it's only happened a few times, but it's so amazing. It does feel like little fizzy bubbles inside. The movement's not strong enough yet for Eli to feel by touch, for the moment it's my own little joy.

My belly has properly popped, and you can see I have a rounded baby bump through my clothes. I've started to wear maternity pants and underthings, though I can still wear my normal clothes in other items, particularly if it was a loose top or dress to begin with, or an elastic band I wear low.

My last OB appt was on the 25th, and I've gain 8lbs so far, which is normal and healthy. My iron levels are a little low, so she's put me on a supplement I take with my prenatal vitamin and DHA. The baby's about 5 inches long now. That's pretty big! I remember getting excited when it had grown to the size of a raspberry.

My symptoms have slowed down some from the rapid changes in the beginning. I feel more like myself. I'm still nauseous sometimes. Can't stand the smell of perfume, it's too strong. I've started getting back pain, which worries me a bit, I didn't think I'd have to deal with that until my 3rd trimester. It's more an ache than sharp pain, and is likely made worse by not only having a growing bump, but I'm a full cup size larger in my breasts. During yoga I can feel my center of gravity has shifted towards the front of my body.

Still craving fruit, oranges and blackberries especially. I know that sounds like a strange combination, but I don't eat them together. Sometimes I have the blackberries with greek yogurt or as a flavored drink. Been eating lots of pasta and oats too. I rarely manage to stay up past 11pm, no matter what time I wake up. I get so sleepy at night. I kinda miss my night owl days.

Our next ultrasound is scheduled for October 9th, so only about a week away. We'll find out the sex of the baby then! We'd hoped to have a name picked out, but we're having trouble deciding on one. Amelia and Lily are top contenders so far a girl, James and Conner for a boy. Even still, there's so many others we like. My mom is voting for Bella or Belle, and I have to keep explaining Twilight to her. Emma or Emmy is off the table for other family reasons. Sophia and Henry, maybe.

So happy October is here and autumn has finally arrived!! I love this month. I love pumpkins and Halloween and leaves changing color. Cold blustery days that let you wear cozy knits and have a fire going. My birthday is tomorrow, and strangely I don't mind that I'm turning 31, I'm looking forward to my birthday. I'm looking forward to the next year.
 
 
2 | +
 
 
Sarah
10 September 2012 @ 12:06 pm
I didn't write a post last week, so this one sort of encompasses both. It's not something I intend to become a habit. I just really didn't have a lot say last Monday, my symptoms have been very similar, and I've been busy on the house, getting things ready for autumn.

I'm in my fourth month now. My bump is rounder. I can't really wear anything that's fitted or snug, including my jeans. I'm not in maternity clothing yet, but I'm wearing pieces of my wardrobe that are loose and comfortable. Elastic waists, knits, and dresses.

Morning sickness is nearly gone. I'm still a bit nauseous, but I'm no longer sick. So so happy about that!! My energy has returned, and I've been keeping very busy with it. This September is highly planned out, after the past couple months of feeling poorly. So much to catch up on!

I've had some discomfort as my womb is growing. Stretching pains that are sore, but not painful. The books say the baby's about the size of a lemon now. Headaches are still an issue. They come on suddenly, and because I need to be careful about medicating myself, they're difficult to get rid of. Sometimes Tylenol helps, usually the ache lingers. I've spoken with my doctor about them. They're hormonal. Hopefully they'll be passing soon.

I've noticed I'm getting out of breathe easier. When I take Watson out for a walk, or I'm climbing the stairs, I'm getting a little out of breath. I've only gained 6 lbs so far during the pregnancy, and I actually lost a couple during my more severe morning sickness, so I don't think it's weight. I don't know. I have a feeling it'll get worse as I get further along. I remember in my sister-in-law's third trimester she would get out of breath just standing. lol

Anyway, things are going well. I'm in my second trimester and I'm feeling a lot better. About to go to my prenatal yoga class and get some lunch. Thanks for your guys input on baby names. The post is here if you haven't seen it yet. <33
 
 
 
 
Sarah
06 September 2012 @ 04:55 pm
Eli & I have been thinking about names for a while now. We'd like to decide on something early, so we can stop referring to our little one as just "the baby", and further bond with this person that's coming into our family.

My gender scan isn't for another month, so we've begun making lists of girl & boy names. Thought it would be fun to post what we've got so far on here, see what you guys think, maybe get more suggestions. I wouldn't have thought it so, but boys names have been far easier to come up with than girls. Girls are hard!

Names:
( ) = nicknames, / = or

Amelia / Emilia (Emi)
Sophia (Mia) / Sophie
Lily
Autumn - middle?
Kahlan "kay-lin"
Nuovla "new-va-la"
Keira
Morgan
Katherine (Katie)
Audrey
Holly
Anna
I used to love Bella, but now with the Twilight connection it's not the same. :(


Conner
Michael
Charles (Charlie)
James
William (Will)
Benjamin (Ben)
Brady
Henry
Cedric
Gabriel
Toby
Jude

Leave thoughts/questions/suggestions below! <33
 
 
2 | +
 
Sarah
28 August 2012 @ 11:25 am
Second trimester!! Sorta. lol It's all rather confusing. A number of books or sites tell you that the second trimester begins either in week 12 or week 13. Doctor's opinion apparently differ greatly too. Mine says 12, so that's what I'm going with, despite the asterisk in my head. This trimester is the stage in my pregnancy I've most looked forward to.

I went for my ultrasound yesterday. We saw the baby!!! Words can just not express how amazing it felt. Scary and wonderful and completely incandescently happy. Here's the photo I posted on twitter - http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/evening_star/4878979/166973/original.jpg

I keep looking at it throughout the day, I can't stop staring. Our little one. So small, but growing so fast. Baby was asleep when she started the scan, so she moved the wand around and pressed a bit on my stomach to wake baby up. I wasn't expecting much, but the baby staring moving around and kicking. It was incredible to see. I can't feel it quite yet, but I could watch. Just incredible.

My energy is coming back to me. I get tired suddenly, where I kinda crash, but during a good portion of the day I have actual energy. It feels strange and wonderful after so long of sleepy fogginess, though I guess it has been getting gradually better these past few weeks, lately I feel almost normal.

Headaches are becoming more prevalent. I'm not sure if it's stress or the fluctuating hormones in my system. I'm trying to stay away from meds, though I've given in and taken Tylenol twice. Supposedly that's safe.

My little bump is getting rounder, even if it's not really noticeable over my clothes. I can feel it and see it if I look at my bare stomach. I've started using Josie Maran's whipped argan oil to prevent stretch marks. I like it better than the oil itself, it's a lovely rich cream I don't have to worry about transferring on my clothes or linens, and it comes in nice scents.

I've had a strong urge to watch Charmed lately. Not the random way I usually do, but a proper marathon. Wish I could find the time. My calendar is a color-coded mess of stuff todo this next month. Appointments, house project deadlines, freelance work, overnight guests, social obligations, even my bloody driver's license needs renewed at the dmv. I'm still trying to take it easy in the mornings due to nausea, I'm gonna try to get in 2 episodes every morning, let it become a new routine for now.

Oh, about the nausea. I finally found a breakfast I can keep down! Part of it might be my body starting to get over the morning sickness (fingers crossed fingers crossed fingers crossed) but I do feel better eating this. It's a Scottish porridge made with milk and I sprinkle a little sugar on top. That and a cup of the Earth Mama/Angel Baby tea, I can usually ride out the nausea for a few hours. Late morning eat some fruit, I feel ok. So so happy I've gone 8 days without throwing up. I wanna be done with that.
 
cheerful
cheerful
 
2 | +
 
 
Sarah
20 August 2012 @ 12:10 pm
I'm looking after my nieces today, so this'll be quick while they're occupied with The Lorax movie.

A recent issue is having trouble sleeping. Something I've started taking short naps again to compensate for.

Morning sickness still isn't easing, but it doesn't last quite as long anymore. I'm usually ok by 11 or so. I get nauseous again easily by smells or something I eat, but it's fleeting.

My breasts are a little sore, but not the aching pain they've been in the past. They have grown almost a size since my prepregancy days, and my bump hasn't caught up yet, so I've felt a bit top heavy. Like Jennifer Love Hewitt. Looks normal in certain clothes but not in others. My bump is really just a gentle curve you can notice if I pull up my shirt. Apparently in future pregnancies I'll show much sooner, but this being my first one I'm told I won't really "pop" for a another month or so.

Still craving fruit alot. Less oranges and more berries. A few times I've wanted dark chocolate, which is funny because I used to prefer milk chocolate, but now it tastes way too sweet.

My dreams have become more vivid since becoming pregnant. I remember having one when I wake up on an almost daily basis, though the memory of it fades as the day goes on. It's usually baby and/or anxiety related. This morning I remember the dream was I was in a book store, trying to hunt down this baby book I absolutely had to have, and I was attacked and chased by a swarm of bees. *shrugs* The bee thing I think came from the fact a friend of mine recently got the cutest stuffed animal bee. The chase thing is common, and metaphorical anxiety. Why I was actually attacked this time, and where the book came in I don't know. But I've surprised myself at some of the odder dreams my brain's come up with lately. A nicer one I remember from earlier is I dreamed of breast feeding, though I was back in time several centuries and traveling for miles. lol

I've started to write down names as I think of them, or come across something pretty. We haven't actually gone through baby name directories or meanings yet, but I created a list on my phone of 10 or 11 girl/boy names to start. As it grows or gets narrowed down I'll probably post it on here. Maybe you guys will have some suggestions or comments.

Next week will be the end of my first trimester! I'll be beginning my second. Something I've looked forward to since the beginning. I'm also getting an ultrasound next week, so we get to see the baby!!
 
 
 
Sarah
15 August 2012 @ 02:31 pm
I gotta say, I miss the summers when dvd screeners of the upcoming pilots were leaked online early, giving you a better chance to feel out what you were watching come autumn. I vividly remember seeing the Chuck and Pushing Daisies pilots over and over in the weeks before Sept, falling in love with them.

The past few years there's just been nothing. Not even pilots that failed to be picked up, which broke my heart when I couldn't find Poe last year, an unbought pilot with a dream cast.

Anyway. Because of such blind limitations the list I've compiled is tentative and subject to tweaking and shortening in October. About half are new shows (marked by *). For my own reference, and if you're curious...

Sundays:
8:00 | Once Upon a Time - ABC | 9/30
9:00 | Revenge - ABC | 9/30
10:0 | Mentalist (if I can finish last season) - CBS | 9/30
10:0 | 666 Park Avenue - ABC | 9/30*

Mondays:
8:00 | How I Met Your Mother - CBS | 9/24
8:30 | Partners - CBS | 9/24*
10:0 | Castle - ABC | 9/24
10:0 | Revolution - NBC | 9/17*

Tuesdays:
9:00 | Emily Owens, M.D. - CW | 10/16*
9:00 | New Girl - FOX | 9/25
9:00 | Go On - NBC | (watched sneak peek, 9/11 normal premiere)*
9:30 | The New Normal - NBC | 9/11*

Wednesdays:
8:30 | Guys With Kids - NBC | (sneak peek 9/12, 9/26 begin)*
9:00 | Modern Family - ABC | 9/26

Thursdays:
8:00 | The Vampire Diaries - CW | 10/11
8:00 | Big Bang Theory - CBS | 9/27
8:00 | Last Resort - ABC ?? (more Eli's, but it has Dichen Lachman from Dollhouse) | 9/27*
9:00 | Beauty & the Beast - CW | 10/11*
10:0 | Elementary - CBS |9/27*

Fridays:
9:00 | Nikita - CW | 10/19
9:00 | Grimm - NBC (watched early premiere, 9/14 begins)
10:0 | Haven - Syfy | 9/21
Hunted - BBC | 10/26*

Saturdays:
Merlin - BBC | 9/29

Various other BBC shows as I find them. UK's scheduling usually isn't announced very far in advance, and most are only a few episodes long. I know Doctor Who begins this month for 5 eps. I love watching their cookery and homey shows as well.
 
 
 
 
Sarah
14 August 2012 @ 11:42 am
I felt really bad yesterday, so I didn't manage to get this up on Monday like I've been trying to do, but at least it's not too late. I was just tired and headache-y and nauseous most of the day. Feeling better now though.

We heard the baby's heartbeat!! It was such an amazing experience. Our OB appointment was long. I had all my initial exams and lab work done. We spent time talking about how I'd been feeling and she went through the precautionary stuff we need to know, things we thankfully were already aware of and doing/avoiding. We asked lots of questions. So far everything's healthy and normal.

Because we already knew how far along I was, sadly we didn't get an ultrasound yet. There was a lot already happening in the session, and she didn't see cause for one. But she did use a doppler and listened for the baby's heartbeat. She warned us sometimes it can be hard to find this early, but she found it pretty quickly. It was...wow. Such an intense feeling. The little heartbeat was so fast. Eli got teary-eyed and held my hand. I remember just this wave of calm and happiness washing over me. I cried afterwards, in the car, once I called my mom to tell her everything.

I'd already started a bond with the baby, a sense of connection that they're there with how my body's changing so rapidly, but hearing their heartbeat, it made it feel even more real. That's kinda of what Eli said too, that although he was aware we're going to have a baby, it hadn't felt totally real to him until then.

I can't wait until we can see the baby. I have another OB appointment scheduled for the end of this month, and we're getting a scan then. I'll have a photo to show!

With what I talked about last week, I've decided not to try a home birth. Part of me still really wants to, but I don't have the strength of confidence in it, and Eli and my mother both feel more secure with a hospital birth. I let myself get really anxious about it, because the type of care I get while pregnant and in what environment they're born into, is the first big decision you make as a parent. I just don't want to screw it up.

My morning sickness isn't getting better, but I don't feel as sick in the evening, which is some improvement. Gives me hope the morning sickness will fade by second trimester. I'm still easily tired, but rather than sleeping lots, now I'm having trouble sleeping, so I don't know how much the fatigue is related to that. My sense of smell is still strong. I'm craving fruit all the time. I have just the slightest little rounding of my stomach. It hasn't popped into a true bump yet, and you can't tell when I'm wearing clothes, but it's growing!
 
nauseated
nauseated
 
 
 
Sarah
06 August 2012 @ 06:51 pm
I have been interrupted so many times while trying to write this, please excuse if it seems more disjointed and rambly then usual. I kept losing my train of thought.

Things are about the same as last week, with regards to symptoms. The fatigue has lessened a little, thankfully. I still get tired easily, but I don't need naps anymore to make it through the day. The only thing I can think to add is there's been some mild cramping, much like period pain, but I've been assured that's just my womb starting to stretch and expand. The nausea in the evenings has made it hard to take my prenatal vitamins, and I can't keep them down in the mornings, so I'm trying to remember to take them in the afternoon. I think it's because they're such huge pills. Seriously, look at them next to a quarter. (the yellow is my DHA supplement for baby's brain and the pink is my multivitamin) A lovely side benefit is they have made my hair and nails the best they've ever been. My hair's growing like crazy.

Something I've been struggling with this week is the type of care we want during the pregnancy, and ultimately what our birth plan will be. My OB appointment is in two days, and I think after I talk to her it'll be a lot easier to decide. Stay with the OB and do a hospital birth, as naturally and comfortable as possible, or choose a Midwife and consider a home birth. I like the security and normalcy of the hospital, but so much of what I've read and watched says that midwifes are far more personal and really focus on a supportive relationship, and that a holistic and natural birth makes things easier and happier for the mother and baby. Being at home also means you keep the baby around those you trust and don't have to expose them to the hospital environment.

It feels strange even having to worry about this stuff now, it's so early, but your choice has a lot to do with the care you get while pregnant, and the doctor who becomes familiar with you. Having both isn't really an option, as midwifes also perform all the tests OBs do, including ultrasounds and labs.

I like holistic healing. I like using teas and nutrition to correct and prevent things. Massage and acupuncture for pain relief. Yoga for exercise. I've been doing all these things for years. But I also go a regular doctor once in a while for exams and antibiotics. *sigh* Can you sense my frustration? Eli wants what will make me most comfortable, but I can tell he's leaning toward traditional hospital birth. Ha! I say traditional, it's only been a tradition the last hundred years or so.

Speaking of yoga earlier, since I've been practicing it for about 8 years I stopped going to classes a while ago, I normally just do it at home on my own, but prenatal yoga is a little different, and as I grow I think it would be best if I was with other people, so I started going this week. They encourage you to start in your first trimester, so for now I'm going 3 times a week. It's a fairly drop in schedule, you buy cards good for so many classes, and they have an RN there as well.

I'm hoping we'll be able to hear the heartbeat Wednesday. So so looking forward to that!
 
 
2 | +