You Tell 'Em, Big Brother

The woman behind the counter at the consignment shop today took a very keen interest in Zoe's birthmark.

"Oh no! The poor dear bumped her little head!"

Seriously, if I had a nickel for every time someone made this assumption, I would be rich. It really has taught me that it's very easy to say something that seems caring, and have it come across as just annoying and judgmental to the receiving party.

I politely explained for the 1,678,892nd time, "No, it's just a birthmark."

"Oh, I see that now. But how did she get that bruise? Poor dear!"

At this point, I'm a little aggravated. Mostly, because Zoe is getting old enough to understand this. I know she does, and I know that this particular time the attention is making her uncomfortable. I wish I could use words to frame the look on her face accurately. It was a mixture of embarrassment and annoyance, with her eyes narrowed slightly, and her head tilted slightly down and sideways.

I said, "She's fine. It's just a birthmark, and she'll grow out of it. She's perfect & beautiful just like she is though!" I smiled and gave Zoe a squeeze. Zoe smiled back at me.

So, I thought this was going to be like EVERY other time someone makes a comment. They withdraw in embarrassment, and make some comment such as, "Oh, I gotcha. Well, I'm glad she's not hurt!" I think most people really are genuinely trying to be nice, or make conversation or whatnot. It's just annoying!

Well...the woman took me aback when instead of dropping the subject, she proceeded even further.

"Why, little dear, you're a little unicorn! Oh yes, just a little unicorn growing there!"

I'm not kidding, Zoe's look changed from annoyance to anger. She jerked her head around and laid it on my shoulder.

Meanwhile, I played back what she just said. A unicorn!? WHAT?! Ok, I guess she was trying to be cute, but this really had me flustered. She's not growing a magical horn out of her head!! I like to pretend, but I just didn't like this at all. And, I didn't know how to be nice.

Before I could even blink, or close my mouth Ian took a step forward and thrust his chest out at the woman.

"She is NOT a unicorn. She is a goat! My sister is not a unicorn. A goat. A gooooooat." He dragged the word out the second time as if the woman was dense. (Hm, could I really blame him?). And he stared at her with intensity and finality.

Zoe immediately lifted her head and smiled at her brother. The woman behind the counter looked at me suspiciously. "A GOAT?"

"Yes, he is right. She is our little goat," and Zoe smiled even bigger. The woman scowled at me and withdrew behind the counter, and I was able to walk away laughing. Thank you, Ian, for reminding me not to take life so seriously.

For Zoe is indeed our little goat. The first little cries she let out sounded like a goat's bleating, and Matt and I laughed and joked at our little goat baby. As time goes on and she still continues to chew everything in sight and climb furniture with the nimbleness of those sure-footed white mountain goats, the nickname suits her even more.

I am reminded in yet another way how powerful words can be.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. -Proverbs 18:21

And, next time someone asks me about Zoe's birthmark, maybe I'll just let Big Brother handle the situation. :)

Deja Moo

Udderly adorable! Hehehe.

I can't believe time is flying by so quickly. Before another 5 minutes goes by, I will be cropping little brother into the picture too, and it will be deja moo all over again! :)

Another Funny Friday!

I was making a salad, but realized ALL of the tomatoes were molding over. Yes, gross. And, we practically just purchased them. I have no idea why food seems to rot SO FAST here in Beaufort!! Wait, humidity. I digress.

Ian watched me shove the tomatoes aside. "Why you not getting tomatoes in your salad, Mommy?"

I crinkled my nose, "They were bad!"

Matter-of-factly, he chided the tomatoes, "Oh no, you wasn't listening, and now Mommy's not going to eat you."

Hold Out Your Hand

Ian likes to pretend to give me things...money, food, and pretend pets to hold.

So I'm editing photos and he's watching Nemo. I thought nothing of it when he walked over and announced, "Mom, I have something to give you. Hold out your hand."

Willingly, I offered my left hand, while I continued working on the photo with my right on the mouse.

I quickly recoiled when I realized he was...

not

pretending

to hand me anything.

He was actually...

wiping

a booger

on my palm.

Mothering tip #5,567: Always hold out your hand when your child needs you. But, make sure you're looking. :)

Funny Friday

Some funnies from the kids this week!

*While I was talking on the phone, Zoe was running around my bedroom putting things in her mouth. I kept asking her to get them out. "Yuck! Put it down!" She ran for the next thing...exasperated, I asked her a question I knew (thought) would be rhetorical. "WHY?! Why do you keep putting things in your mouth!?"

She bounced up and down on my leg, chewing on a crayon and said, "I funny eat! I funny!"

*The car began leaking (gas, long story) when Matt started it up after a repair (and no, it was not his fault!). Ian asked, "What's going on, Mommy?"

I looked at the car that wouldn't start and replied, "Well, Ian, it looks like the car is giving Daddy a hard time."

Ian looked down at the growing puddle on the driveway and quipped, "Oh no! Is the car peeing?"

*Ian walked over to me during a particularly active point of little brother's day yesterday. I held Ian's hand on my tummy, and told him to wait and see if he felt anything. Oh, how his eyes and smile absolutely lit up at a particularly big kick!

"Mommy! My brother just kicked me! He kicked me! There's a baby in there!"

Of course, he knows it...but just like pregnancy takes on a new thrill when you feel the first movement yourself, I know that he's understanding in a new way again!

The funniest part was he then told me, "Mom, I'll be riiiight back. I have to go get something."

SO smart! He listened so intently and was so still, I was just amazed! Brother was kicking him back the whole time, and Ian was loving it! Watch his face change as he's listening...

Not that it needs a caption, but he said, "Oh, I heard him Mom. I did hear him. Now be still, lemme listen." :)

The Power of 45 Minutes of Crying

This morning, I had a 45 minute meditation on the agony of wearing play clothes when you would rather wear pajamas.

Ian had an accident in his pajamas, so we had to move on to the clean clothes that were handy! "NO WAY, MOM! I'm NOT wearing clothes-es!" Calmly I reminded him, well, actually son, you are...and if you want to continue wearing your favorite pajamas, next time you have to make it to the potty...as far as I know, all the pajamas are in the laundry, anyway! So I put him in his play clothes.

Then the crying started. Powerhouse, angry crying. At first, I tried to rationalize with him, but every word out of my mouth was met with an emphatic, "UH-UH! NO!"

Instead of grunting back in argument, I told him to go to his bed, and when he calmed down we would talk about it some more. Considering we just got out of bed, personally, I needed the space before moving on to the next step!

I came back here to the computer to wake up, and wait for peace to settle. Ten minutes passed...twenty minutes...thirty minutes? (Sometimes, I'm not sure how long these things last, but sitting right in front of a clock helps).

At first, it was easy to ignore the crying. Woohoo, I thought...I'm a pro at ignoring this tantrum stuff! I began repeating things to convince myself of things that I know to be true:

-It will end. They all do!

-He is not dying, even though it sounds like it.

-A giant monster did not sneak into his room and is not eating his leg off his body.

-I already established that he can come talk to me when he's calmed down, and he has mastered what this concept means already.

-He is not dying.

-It will end.

But as I listen to him at minute 33 over the baby monitor SCREAMING in his room, I'm wondering...is he EVER going to stop crying?! Surely he's got to figure out very soon that I'm just not buying the dramatics. Do I go in and tell him to stop and threaten further punishment? How can I possibly just make the crying go away?

Are you one of those parents that's thoughts drift to duct tape, dog kennels, or special noise-insulated padded cells for children? I'm not really there until 4:30pm. But this was pushing it.

Did I mention we just woke up?

(You moms know that there is an unspoken rule that any and all temper tantrums must be thrown after breakfast. Before breakfast is simply absurd. Wait, the rule is actually no temper tantrums at all, ever. Hm, something a little fishy with this rule book).

My mind was thinking of a lot of possible scenarios and how they would play out. Then the process shifted from intensity to peace.

God made Ian a boy with an incredibly strong heart! He is so committed and dedicated to the things he believes! You can't just give someone tenacity and a will for standing up for things. Any strength can also manifest itself in a less-than-productive way. This is just an example of that in action. I'm such a blessed mom to have such a wonderful little person in my charge! One day, he will have tools for discerning what things are worth fighting for, and will be one of the world's unstoppable forces for Truth.

Almost in synch with my thoughts, he stopped at 44 minutes and 22 seconds. Please feel free to round up, it did feel like longer.

Completely calmly and with a smile on his face, he approached me with a pair of clean pajamas. "Mom," he touched my arm softly and sweetly, "I'm sorry for throwing a fit. I don't want to wear my clothes-es. Please can I wear these? I found them."

I want to remember this train of thought forever. Because I think it's important that I hang on to what this tantrum, like a lot of other frustrating moments, has shown me about Ian. I love the man he is growing up to be. Passionate about life, I pray for God to never let me squelch that energy, only to point it in the right direction. Oh, the power of 45 minutes of crying. :)

Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, unmovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that the work that you do for the Lord isn't wasted. -1 Cor. 15:58

So, What's Next for the Gaylers?

Matt spoke with the monitor yesterday! If you're wondering...the monitor is the Marine's job placement specialist. They balance a Marine's desired duty station with the needs of the Marine Corps and job openings.

We've been anxiously anticipating this talk to get a better idea of where we'll be going from here. Wow, loaded words. Are you wanting to skip ahead through all my gobble-goop to the good part where I tell you where we're going and when? Well, I'll save you the agony. A lot is still up in the air. It's the Marine Corps after all!

There are a ton of positions open near our house up north. He's the first to apply, so it's looking good! When we get orders (which he will be due up for in the Summer), we should be headed the direction we hoped. We have all 3 bases selected as first choices. Something is bound to end up planting us back in that area. Sounds good, right?

It did until I heard the part about the timing...and I had a small panic attack. There's a chance we could be moving before the baby was born...in the Spring. (Which is not the Summer. Which I didn't plan for at all).

What does this mean? Back to the drawing board with prenatal care...trying to settle in with 2 kids and a big belly in the way. Not exactly my idea of fun, let me tell you. After all, I have had this all figured out and planned out to little brother's arrival. UGH! I never really plan anything, so when I do...it's supposed to go my way. UGH!

So I got mad at Matt. How come he didn't tell the monitor we don't want orders until after the baby is born?! I refuse to move. I'll just stay here and have the baby at the Birth Center while he's up there, and then we can all move when I'm feeling like myself again, and we settle into a routine with the baby. Hello! The world revolves around me!!

If you're not military trust me when I say, I am 100% SOLD OUT to following Matt whenever and wherever he goes. I KNOW the military offers no guarantees and a lot of unknowns. Even with this knowledge and acceptance, I'm still human, and still like to have the occasional panic attack when things don't go how I thought they would go! (I really thought since he wasn't "up" for orders until the Summer, it would be safe to think things out at least until baby came).

I had a conversation with two of my friends that said words that stung deeply. "It will be fine no matter what." This stung because I didn't want to be fine. I was having a panic attack, which sounded like a much better idea at the time. And I know the verse, "Don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself," but it doesn't say that I can't over-analyze, come up with possible scenarios, and completely blow a gasket about my plans not coming through. That's not technically worrying about it, right?

I'm going to thank those friends for knocking sense into me and not joining my pity party. Even though it seems like the nice thing to do, please stop attending pity parties. It's not rude to just say you're busy and have other things to do like be positive and smile. :) Anyway, thank you for not attending my party.

This morning I still woke up grumpy, and had more sense knocked into me. IT WILL BE FINE.

And, I gave myself permission to really believe that circumstances are just circumstantial. How I define what is "good" and what is "bad" really doesn't matter at all. I can choose to be happy, no matter what!

One of my favorite verses, Jer. 29:11 is a constant reminder to me, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"

Nowhere in there did He promise things would go my way. Or that they would be "good." He says He gives hope and a future, and won't harm me. Thank you, Jesus!

More perspective...I heard something else this past week that has had me thinking ever since. "I hate it when people give God the credit for every little good thing." Yeah, me too. Doesn't this mean that I have certain things pigeonholed as God's benevolence, and others reserved for just "bad luck"? He's in charge of the universe, good and bad...and certainly holds a better definition of what those things really are...I will feel free to quit defining every moment and event in my life.

God doesn't only do things I can explain, and he's not confined by "reality." Certainly, not my reality.

Which brings me to one of my favorite quotes from the book, Son-Rise: The Miracle Continues (a book about a family's journey with autism), by Barry Neil Kaufman. "But suppose, just suppose, we obliterate what we think we should see and make up the wonder and beauty. Pie-in-the-sky? Unrealistic? You bet! We'll never beat the odds and marry our dreams unless we are decidedly unrealistic."

So I'm going to be as unrealistic as I can think to be. I'm going to completely ignore the fact that there's an invisible time-table on my location and the course of our family's future! I'm going to be even more unrealistic and not try to plan for all the possibilities. While I'm at it, I'm going to unrealistically assume that I don't actually know what I want and what's best!

--End panic attack here.--

I know none of this impacts what's actually happened...or what's going to happen. But I wanted to share it, because I know at some point we're all going through something, and want it to go differently. Give yourself permission to be unrealistic! You don't have to figure it out. Really!

So, what's next for the Gayler family? It really doesn't matter. We're already on our way, and it's going to be great! :)

P.S. Seriously, we know we're *probably* headed near our house again, and getting orders some time after January. This post was super helpful, wasn't it?

5 Months!

This month marks the "half way" point! (I put it in quotation marks, because only God knows when little brother will make his grand appearance!).

Today, I had my first "regular" appointment at the Birth Center. I am taking advantage of a special option for care that the center offers. These appointments are called "Prenatal Plus" and are different than traditional check-ups at other facilities.

Perhaps you haven't been pregnant and wonder what I mean! Here's how the typical appointment has gone for me in the past:

-Check in and wait to be called back for your appointment. (Read a few magazines in the office!).

-Have vitals (blood pressure, temperature, and weight) checked and recorded by a member of the nursing staff.

-Answer brief questions about your health that day. (Are you in pain today? Do you drink/smoke? Any changes since your last appointment?).

-Wait for a doctor to visit the room.

-Answer brief questions about your health that day. (Are you in pain today? Have you had a drink or smoked? Any changes or questions since your last appointment?).

-Meet with the doctor and get a fundal height measurement (how big the belly has grown!) and listen to the baby's heartbeat via Doppler.

-Ask any pressing questions. (Or forget them...I have done this before!).

-Go home!

For me, since I had an uncomplicated process, I usually spent a total of about an hour in the office...10 minutes of which was spent with my provider. All in all, very straightforward and "boring"!

At the Birth Center, their Prenatal Plus appointments go a little differently. I am in a group with other mothers that are all due within about a month of each other. Today was the first of these appointments, so the order is a little different than usual, but here's what today's visit looked like:

-Arrive at the Birth Center and begin checking in myself immediately!

-Have assistance taking my own weight & blood pressure...record in my chart myself! (Track my weight on the "growth chart" for my specific BMI. Record blood pressure statistics.)

-Proceed to classroom and visit with other moms in my class while waiting for others to "process."

-Fill out my chart with my "symptoms" for that day. (Pain, diet, fetal movement, etc.).

-Enjoy a discussion/class on the month's topic. This month was healthy lifestyle (diet, exercise, and positive thinking). The class is led by one of the midwives who gives a lot of useful resources. This is also a time where moms share what they have experienced, and talk about information that is helpful for this stage of pregnancy.

-End the class by taking turns visiting with the midwife to track individual growth (fundal height and listening to the heartbeat via Doppler!).

-Go home!

The appointment lasted 2 hours (they always start and end on time), and almost the entire time was spent enjoying the company of other moms in the same phase, being involved in tracking my own health progress, and most importantly gleaning information from my midwife and staff. Far from boring, it was informative and fun! Yes, I learned some things, even the 3rd time!

I enjoy that the Birth Center encourages such active involvement in my own pregnancy/health. I carry my chart with me at the appointments, and can track my own progress! We are provided with a notebook to take home that includes handouts (related to the month's topic) and copies of a couple of the charts for my own personal reference. We are encouraged to write down questions and collect informative handouts and articles for future sharing in this valuable pregnancy resource.

Towards the end of pregnancy, I will have not only the Prenatal Plus class (monthly), but also a few additional check-ups as labor draws ever closer.

Today everything looked great...I am measuring right at 20 1/2 weeks, and little brother's heartbeat was a strong 150 bpm!

I am looking forward to my next appointment already...something I used to dread!

So, here's my 5 months snapshots. It's hard to believe time has flown by so quickly!

In Search of the Perfect Name (Part Two)

I should admit now, I'm not really sure how many parts this will be. But, hopefully you find the journey just as entertaining as we do (at times, anyway)!

We did have some girl names picked out. Many of them rotated on and off the list, but the general "like" list usually contained:

Piper
Ann
Ellie

Of course, that's just for fun...because we know it's a boy now! None of those names quite fits...haha.

Now, we've been going back through the list of boy names. To Matt's chagrin, our original list is full of scratch marks.

Liam - Sounds like Ian with an "L" in front of it.
Connor - Seems like I know a ton of them now!
Benjamin - When you put the nickname in front of our last name, you get Ben-Gay(ler), which sounds like the smelly medicated ointment. This probably isn't a big deal, but I just can't shake the association! I smelled a lot of that stuff as it was Mom's fix to help my growing pains!

So, we're running through the name book again. The primary tactic we've employed to "test drive" names is just reading them out of the book. Mostly I read, and Matt responds. Here's a little sampling of how that discussion goes. For the record, neither of us have anything against any of the names, just not for us. So what we think as we consider them for our little boy doesn't necessarily mean we think it any time we hear the name in general! And, for simplicity's sake, I'm putting Matt's words in italics.

Alec?

Trebeck?
Louis?

Who? How would you spell that anyway?
Maddox?

Great pitcher! Did you know that he had...(insert random sports statistic/rabbit trail here)?

No, ok. No thinking of a pitcher every time you call his name I guess.
Kyle?

NO WAY! SO mean to me in school! Plus, you said no to Kylie for a girl.

Well this is a boy name.

Eh.
Houston?

That's a place, not a name.

Well it's also the name of a place.

He's a boy, not a place.

Bryce?

I don't like the "bry" sound.

Why not? It's just a sound, can't hurt you.

It hurts to say it.

That's just ridiculous.

The name is ridiculous.

You're ridiculous.

Marcus?

That's Ian's middle name!

So?

Uh, we already used it once, isn't there like some rule against that?

I like the name.

That's why we gave it to Ian.

Just kidding.

Miles?

I said I didn't like that name already.

Just checking.

Fernando?

(Poke).

What was that for?

Fernando? Really?

It's a perfectly good name.

Ian, Zoe & Fernando. Seriously, no.

I was just messing with you, stop poking me.

Then stop saying names like that.

Bernardo? (Snickering).

(Poke).

Hey! I said stop poking me!

Sounds like you only changed the first letter. Next.

Owen?

Yeah I kinda like that, you can add it to the list.

It's already on the list.

Oh. Well I like it.

Hopefully you got a laugh out of that. We certainly have had fun reverting to middle schoolers during much of the naming process. It's too bad that every other name Matt can associate with a celebrity of some sort. I think this has been more of an education in pop culture than choosing an actual name at times. But nonetheless, fun!

Speaking of fun...some of the websites are pretty entertaining. I highly recommend Baby Name Genie. Type in your last name and a gender, and "make a wish." Not only do you get a name, but some humorous narrative with it. (Obviously, we're lacking in that department).

At the bottom of their website, they have letters to the genie. I couldn't help but laugh at these.

Judith in WI:

I really like the name Pickle. Can I have suggestions for a middle name? I am definitely naming my son Pickle, so only middle name suggestions please!

Baby Name Genie:
I herby warn you that naming your baby boy Pickle would not be kosher. But since you are against canning it, I reluctantly offer you the middle name Dillon.

Jill in Holland:
I really REALLY like the name Arden Sophia for my daughter. But it seems me and my hubby are the only people that do. How do I convince my friends and family that we love this name and that it WILL suit our little girl? Many thanks in advance.
Baby Name Genie:
First acquire a spool of orange thread, four twisty ties, an empty soda can and two mints. Never mind. Actually, you and they are probably better off if you don't do anything to convince them. Simply name your baby girl what you desire.

Well, I'm off to bed, and will be thinking and praying for the perfect name. No rush, 5 more months! :)

Faces & Sayings

Perhaps this is a semi-Wordless Wednesday. Here's Ian at the beginning of the year (January) making faces & telling us what the family members say. Yes, I am semi-irritating asking him a variation on the same question every 4 seconds, but hey...he's still too cute! :)

The Unavoidable

Well, for all that talk about finding out or keeping it a surprise...if we really wanted a surprise, I would have had to skip seeing the ultrasound altogether. I don't know for sure if it was positioning of the baby, or just having seen enough ultrasounds to know...but I didn't need the tech to tell me it was a boy, or even get the clear angle!

As she was scanning for spine, kidneys, brain measurements, and more, I saw several glimpses and KNEW. So, the entire conversation went out the window as soon as we started looking inside. This little guy was not about keeping a secret! She turned the monitor before asking, "Did you want to know the gender?" I laughed, and Matt said, "Oh yeah!" I'm happy I was already ok with knowing...it was just unavoidable! LOL.

All curled up, it was so fun to peek at the little baby inside.


From head to toe, we love him already! He looks healthy, and everything is as it should be!


It's pretty amazing to get a view of the little one growing inside. We could see him wiggling around just slightly, as he appeared to be napping.


Little Brother, I can't wait to meet you! You've taught me something already...sometimes we just think we're in control, when really some things are just unavoidable! Like, how much love we have for you, even before we laid eyes on you. :)

More Surprises!

So, as soon as I was pregnant, I decided this baby's gender would be a surprise. After all, we found out with Ian and Zoe. It's fun to keep guessing for 9 months! And, I just had this beautiful moment pictured in my head (like on the T.V. shows) where the doctor delivers the baby and announces, "It's a...!" (Insert blissful sigh here).

But, as soon as I was pregnant, Matt had decided we were finding out again.

Matt is a PLANNER. (Notice the all CAPS). He HAD to know. There are many plans that need to be made now...how the kids' rooms will be divvied up, what the name will be, validation (since he insists it's a boy), and what color clothing should be brought to the hospital. To him, there was no other option. We could find out, and we would.

I let it go. He was pretty insistent, and I really didn't care that much. Or did I? Weeks after I agreed we'd find out, I was still telling people that we might keep it a surprise! Or, "Matt wants to find out, but I want a surprise." This just didn't make any sense. After a heart to heart with a wonderful friend, I decided to broach the topic again. I wasn't sold on the deal yet.

We had a wonderful talk about it. I learned more about Matt, and where his heart lies with this baby. I learned more about my own reasoning, and where my heart was, too. In the end, we came full circle...and fully embraced differing opinions of equal importance to ourselves. (This is the fancy way of saying we can discuss and debate endlessly a topic and think the other person is completely nuts...and still love each other for it).

This sounds helpful, doesn't it? Actually it was, really. Not that he agreed with my reasoning, but he conceded to let it be a surprise. (I have mentioned we knew with Ian and Zoe, right? This really helped my case, among other things).

Once I had achieved a moral victory and won the debate, I had the freedom to ponder. And doubt began to sink in...

I've talked with families that kept it a surprise. I've heard from dads that kept that knowledge a secret from everyone (even mom)! There are couples that found out, and didn't tell anyone else. Others really got creative in sharing the surprise. My favorite idea was writing the gender on a slip of paper in a sealed envelope and delivering it to the baker. They ice a cake with white frosting and blue or pink tinted cake inside. At the party, cake cutting reveals the surprise to everyone! How cute! What about the couples that tried to see who could last longer and stared at the sealed envelope waiting for one to break down? Oh, so many options...

With Ian and Zoe it was perfect. I didn't miss anything by knowing that labor's end would cumulate with my precious son or daughter. It didn't pain me to answer, "We're having a boy," or "We're having a girl," for 5 months before delivery. And I didn't love them any less or more for knowing. In fact, I enjoyed calling them by name and talking to them. I loved picking out little clothes for them to wear! Smiling with friends and family about the new little boy and girl was great! I can't imagine things any differently with them!

Every family has their own reasons that are right for them...and at one point in history, this bit of information wasn't even an option! Is it really that important? No, hardly! Besides, the whole conversation will go right out the window if it's not possible to tell...or if it ends up being the opposite. (Which won't matter either! We'll love the little bundle just as much!).

And all of these long-winded explanations bring us to tonight. Tonight is the last night before the big ultrasound...The last night it could be a surprise!

And, if it's possible to tell, we would like to know.

Why? Because I realized that I had built up in my own mind what this beautiful little moment of anticipation would be like. When really, seeing and knowing from the ultrasound didn't take away from the anticipation of meeting this little person at all (for me)!

And because for Daddy, knowing if it's a boy or a girl is exciting and the way he would like to share this wonderful journey of life!

So, surprise! Stay tuned for tomorrow for the equivalent of that one gift you get to open on Christmas Eve. It's your last chance to vote, too! (On the right sidebar). Boy or girl?

Even if we don't find out tomorrow for whatever reason, this is still one of the best surprises ever. :)

Surprises

Did you know that your computer is full of surprises!? I did actually know this, but experiencing it again tonight has been so much fun!

I discovered the integrated editing software on Picasa. It's actually pretty amazing all the things you can do to a photo with no charge! In fact, a lot of the features are pretty comparable to what I do with Photoshop Elements, in a simpler format! If you don't have a Picasa Web Album yet, make one! Yes, I am advertising shamelessly. For personal use, the whole system just can't be beat!

Back to this free editing thing. There is a little button you can click once you upload to an album that says, "Edit." Oh wait! Before I try to explain where this button is, I can show you! Because...I had MORE fun discovering "surprise" keyboard shortcuts for the Mac. Press Shift-Command-4, and you can select what part of your screen you'd like to capture (it saves automatically to your desktop). Perfect for instructional purposes:

I added the little arrow and highlight arrow with Picnik. Cool!? Wow, I really like little surprises a lot I guess.

Surprises...right! That's why I was blogging. I was blogging to write about the surprises Matt brought home for the kids. :)

He went on a "field trip" of sorts to Savannah, and they stopped at a candy store. Two little tin lunch boxes full of treats found their way home...

Zoe was transfixed by Tinkerbell!

Ian was thrilled he got Buzz Lightyear.

Zoe held it up and heard the noise of something inside...

But Ian didn't need any assistance getting to the sugary goodness!

This one says it all.

I just LOVE surprises! :)

Dobby

She ran around in circles in the kitchen...

"Dobby! Dobby! Dobby! Mommy! Want Dobby!"

I watched her increasing pace, raising voice, and frantic search for, "Dobby," with increasing humor...then worry. Was something wrong? Did she suddenly become crazy? I joined her in her hunt.

"Where is Dobby?" I pleaded with her.

She pointed everywhere in the kitchen. "DOBBY! Want DOBBY!" Then, she started crying.

Have I mentioned that I have never heard her say the word, "Dobby" or anything like it before? I walked circles around the kitchen pointing to everything in sight, in the search of the elusive Dobby. She grunted negatively at each item.

Finally, I did what any wise parent would do and gave up. Whatever or whoever "Dobby" was, it was just going to have to wait, because I certainly lacked the ability to figure it out.

Zoe cried for a moment, and plopped herself in the middle of the kitchen floor, thumb in her mouth. She glared at me unhappily. It was really quite funny. Sorry, Zoe.

Then I decided to proceed with my morning. It was cold, and I felt like a little pick-me-up...so I started some coffee. (Even decaf has a little caffeine! And no, it won't hurt the baby!). As I poured the grounds into the machine, Zoe ran over to me and started jumping up and down ecstatically. "DOBBBBBYYYYYY!" She smiled, clapped her hands, twirled in a circle, and bounced up and down again. "Dobby," she almost sighed the word in relief.

Coffee. November 3, 2010, my daughter randomly decided she wanted to start drinking coffee. I gave it to her black, for a taste. I figured a taste of some strong, black decaf would squelch her further interest in coffee.

She liked it. No, loved it. "Mmmm. Dobby. Thank you!"

About this time, Ian comes around the corner asking, "Mom! Can I have some tea, too?"

Maybe we need some more work on this whole vocabulary thing? Nah. Coffee, tea, Dobby...still makes for a pleasant morning wake-up (especially in the company of my favorite little people). :)

I Didn't Vote (Revised)

Branching out a little on the updates, aren't I? Well...it seemed like the thing to do at the time!

I wanted to write this because of some things I have seen going on around me...

Because of insults that are flung at those that didn't vote.

Because of the stigma that you must not care about our country or the people that have died for it, if you don't find yourself at the polls.

Because if there are problems in our country, it must be since the person(s) that could have made a difference with a vote, didn't.

Because you must be ignorant if you didn't vote.

Because it's simply unAmerican not to vote.

Because you just don't understand why anyone wouldn't vote.

There are very important reasons; I think you should vote.

Vote. As an American engaged in the processes of our country.

Vote. To keep the people that represent your values moving forward.

Vote. Because it's not only your right, but your privilege as an American.

Vote. Your citizenship has been hard won, and with it your freedoms.

VOTE.

Yet, I didn't vote this year, for my own carefully considered reasons. I'm not saying it to brag, it's not brag-worthy. I hope it doesn't encourage anyone else not to vote. I'm admitting this to be transparent, and avoid hypocrisy. Maybe not everyone has a good reason for not voting...including me. In fact, some are probably pretty "terrible." Would you consider this is your golden opportunity to teach?

Teach through...

Telling about your empowerment, involvement, and American pride.

Explaining the process patiently.

Suggesting how you're making a difference.

Talking about the actual issues and candidates in a knowledgeable way.

Being an example of enjoying and knowing that you took action...with a focus on the positives.

Maybe, you could encourage them to do differently by showing what a positive experience it is. You might draw in a crowd!

I have run across these people this year. THANK YOU. I'm thankful that they speak only in positive terms, and respect me as a fellow American for my own decision...even if they disagree.

Perhaps you will rise above the politics, and accept your fellow Americans on equal footing...whether they voted or not!

----------

Revision Note: I had to rewrite this post because I got a little negative. (Ok, a lot!) Politics is easily one of the most highly charged topics, isn't it? I revised my words, because I want to be part of the positives and light of the country. I want to see us as a people, as a nation, becoming more unified and encouraged. It starts with me and you, doesn't it? :)

Finding Nemo

Maybe some of you know why Nemo is so special to me. Not only is it one of my favorite movies EVER, but tied to it are very special memories.

I sat with my cousin who is autistic, and shared his first experience seeing the movie. In an extraordinary leap of connection, after watching Dory for a few moments, he said, "Look! It's Juwee fish!" I'll never forget that moment!

I worked with a little girl (that I now consider family, too) with developmental delays, and her favorite movie for some time was Finding Nemo. We...the whole family...watched it countless times. I miss those days.

And, another big moment...my labor with Ian, I watched the movie on a loop. When birthing was near, the nurses turned the T.V. off, and I wanted it BACK ON. Ian was born as Marlin was on his own life-changing adventure.

Ian's first birthday party was a Finding Nemo celebration, too. Of course, was there really a better theme?

I remember sitting and holding baby Ian on my lap watching the movie when Matt was deployed. Matt knew I would watch the movie while he was gone, apparently. There was a sticky note inside the cover (he left several in random places that actually took me the entire 7 months to find) that said simply, "Love you."

Fast forward to Matt's Halloween party at work, Harvest Festival, and decisions for what costumes the kids would wear this year. I've never been really big about holidays, and especially not this one. We just never really celebrated it, and it doesn't hold much excitement for me. (Outside of pumpkins. Oh, I do love the pumpkins!). But, I know it's fun for the kids to have an excuse to dress up...so I started asking Ian what he wanted to be in early September.

The VERY FIRST thing he asked to be was Nemo. Strange, because we don't even watch the movie that much any more! He also requested that Matt be a shark, and I would be Marlin. He had to think about Zoe for a moment, and finally announced that she could be Dory. "Sure!" I told him, "That will be fun! I love that movie, and you were born while I was watching Nemo!" He looked at me skeptically.

"I was born, and you watched Finding Nemo?" and he did that eyebrow "thing."

"Yes, you were! And your first birthday party was a Nemo party." So we went to look at pictures. He loved it, and was so excited to see himself as a baby.

Anyway, more of September went by, and Ian answered with various costume ideas as the month progressed. I think only the first two times he said Nemo, and then came up with an alternate list.

The list included a farmer, robot, noodles, a painter, and a few other things I don't remember. Out of all the things he wanted to be (most of those only once), he must have said about 100 times that he wanted to be a flamingo. Honestly, I thought this was about the coolest thing ever. How unique his thought process was! We even looked at all the store costumes, and he was not interested in one of them. He sighed and looked at them dejectedly, "I just want to be a 'mingo, Mom."

But, I procrastinate. And, the day of Matt's party, I still didn't have their costumes together...and not anything that could be thrown together to be a flamingo (at least not a pink one). So, I pulled out his cammies and asked if he wanted to be a Marine like Daddy. Whew. Saved by the random things in the closet. Zoe was the princess (since she had been wearing that dress up dress all week anyway) with her frog prince.

I figured for the Harvest Festival tonight at church, we would just do the same costumes again. But, when I told Ian the plan...he had other ideas. "Mom, but I already went a Marine. You said I could be Nemo." WHAT!? How on earth does this child remember everything?

"Well, what do you want to be? I also said you could be a robot or a flamingo." I reminded him.

He stared at me for a few long seconds. "Mom. No way. You said I could be Nemo. I want to be Nemo, and Zoe is Dory."

"Well, Ian, here's the deal. We don't have a Nemo costume right now."

He smiled and patted me, "That's ok. We'll buy it at the grocery shop."

Of course, I couldn't help but laugh, but had to be realistic, "Ian, they don't have Nemo costumes at the grocery shop." He glared at me. So I quickly began thinking aloud, "Buuuut, they probably have orange shirts and stuff. If we're quick, I guess we could make one."

Ian was elated! "Yep! You're right!"

We all got dressed and headed to the store. I'm big on doing what I say, all the time...and I didtell him he could be Nemo. My backup plan? Honestly? Printing out a picture of Nemo and taping it to his shirt. Don't judge. You'd do it to make your child happy too.

Of course, every other time we have been to the store, they have had 10 billion different orange shirts and pants. After all, 'tis the season for orange anything. But nooooo, not this time. After walking around the clothing section for the 15th time, I was about to call it. Suddenly, Ian practically leapt out of the cart and grabbed a shirt off the clearance rack. "MOM! It's my Nemo shirt!" And it sure was.

Ian reminded me, "Nemo needs a tail, too." So, I grabbed some foam to make their tails. Sure hope this works. I had no idea what I was doing, I will be the first to admit. And somehow, it did.

Before this post turns into a full on book, I'll leave off with some pictures. But not before saying how much I truly enjoyed the night, hearing Ian tell anyone that would listen, "I'm Nemo. My sister is Dory. My mom is our jellyfish." (He told me I had to be something from Finding Nemo, and I spotted the pink tutu across the room. Sometimes, I can be kind of quick on my feet).

And my fault on the bad pictures. I handed Matt the camera with the auto focus off. Oops. Hopefully, you could still find Nemo. :)

The Right Kind of Salt and Light

So, this doesn't really have to do with any of the family in the usual, direct way. But as I was finishing a project tonight, I heard something so thought-provoking on the radio I had to share. Consider this a mental update? :)

And bear with me. I promise it's not a sermon. It's more of a sharing something that was something like a defibrillator (and yes, I had to look up how to spell that) to my self-image. It was shocking and jump-starting for my whole thought process.

I'm sure you have heard someone repeat the essence of Matthew 5:13-16. Jesus says we're the salt of the earth...the light of the world. Personally, the phrase has gotten a little worn out in my ears because of it's misuse...and overuse.

I know many people that say they are going to be a light to the world. That they are going to salt it and season it with their actions. They're going to (yawn) make the world a better place.

And, the guy on the radio said it so very powerfully. They definitely are light and salt.

Salt on a wound.

Glaring light that makes you cover your eyes and look the other way.

Oh yeah? Ouch.

I'm here to admit, I probably have been that salt and light before. And, if it's been towards you, I'm sorry.

Without bitterness towards what Jesus meant when He said that if we follow Him, we're to be salt and light...I really do want to make the world a better place. But I want to be one of those people that when I say it, it doesn't make you yawn, cringe, or look away. When I say it, I want you to know that I mean it! Not to be cheesy, or cliche. Who doesn't want to improve the world because of their existence exactly? I'm not special because of that.

Bottom line, it made me think about how I might come across at times. I'm just living life one step at a time, trying to be the right kind of salt and light...and being me. And, my faith is the deepest part of me.

I'm not here to rub you the wrong way with my "salt," or be obnoxious about my faith and blind you with the "light" I'm trying to share. Hopefully, you'll help hold me to that. And, the only way I know is if you tell me. Sometimes, I blink and miss the yawning. :)

Before Pumpkin Pie

I had some more fun with iMovie...and we're all having a lot of fun with these pumpkins! Tonight, we're going to start the process for pumpkin pie with Zoe's. We'll leave Ian's around for a few more days. And, I am really looking forward to toasted pumpkin seeds! :)

Knock, Knock!

Who's there? Two best friends that like to run in and out of the little house at the cutest little park! (Ok, I know this is not the best knock, knock joke!).

Running endlessly in and out of that little treehouse was the best game ever. The best thing to me about it was how much Ian was interested in keeping Zoe involved in the game. He would follow after her and say, "Come back, Zoe! Don't you want to play? Come play in the house with me." He even obliged me for a photo op with her. Although he was trying to be cute and put his arm around her, she took it as him trying to hold her down.

If you haven't already noticed, Ian's smirk...oh, there just aren't words. And, that eyebrow thing he gets from Matt. Yes, it's most certainly from Matt. You should see my face when I try to do it!

Zoe tried climbing the cargo netting all by herself. While Ian was still getting to the third (rung? layer?), Zoe had made it almost halfway...with no help. Ian happily ran around making jokes and smiling just for the sake of well, nothing in particular. Zoe studiously inspected her surroundings and occasionally chased Ian out of the way. Oh, and stood at the top shouting, "EEEEEE-NNNN!!! EEEEE-NNNN!!! No! No! No!"

Just another random trip to the park...and more insight into the little people they are growing up to be. Sometimes I wish I could freeze time like a picture. Like nap time, too.

Knock, knock.

...(Who's there?)

Bed.

...(Bed who?)

Bed you're glad I'm only going to share one more knock, knock joke. :)

Boy or Girl?

So, there are only about 300 million different myths about how you can tell if it's a boy or a girl...

Carrying high? Girl. Carrying low? Boy. (Or is it the reverse?! I guess it depends who you ask!).

High and low heart rates, morning sickness or not...they could all provide a clue for the baby's gender! (One with a 50/50 chance of being right!).

And for the record, I have absolutely no idea. I know some moms just "know," and this is so fascinating to me! A few friends that did have a feeling were right! Wow! For a little bit, I thought maybe it was a girl, but that feeling has drifted away. It has left behind pleasant musings of what it would be like to have either another brother or a sister in our family. I wonder what it would be like to have such a powerful feeling of knowing this little person inside. I know they are starting to get more active...and we can easily feel little kicks and bumps on the outside around 9:30 every night! Whether they are feminine or masculine prods, I just couldn't say!

Which brings us to what we want...Matt of course, very set on having another boy. But, he called Zoe by the name Zachary for the first 5 months, and has now learned to just wait and see! I can totally see us having either, and I continue to pray for happy and healthy! I won't even guess, because I really have no idea! Do you?

I'm curious how many different things have been suggested as helpful in predicting gender. Specific cravings? Not being able to spell? A preference for the cool side of the pillow? If you have a moment, share what you've heard or make something up!

Oh, and while you're thinking about it...I posted a poll to the blog. Will the newest Gayler be a boy or a girl? :)

In Search of the Perfect Name (Part One)

Matt and I have agreed at the moment (albeit the former party, reluctantly) to keep the gender of this baby a surprise. After all, we have a boy AND a girl, both born the same season...which means, plenty of clothing and accessories for this little one, no matter the gender. My point is that we have found out mid-pregnancy twice, why not have a surprise at the birth this time? (Among other reasons, anyway). I know this is probably not what you wanted to hear! Just think, it's a surprise anyway...just one you'll have to wait for a bit longer! Oh, and we're waiting too. It's no fair squandering away such precious knowledge!

In the meantime, we still get to have fun with names! Oh, and we get to have the most interesting discussions about names! The history, popularity, meaning, and silliness of all that is wrapped up into a name is quite an elaborate topic! The perceptions of Matt and I are definitely worthy of conversation, and it gets even more provocative when involving other people. There is a lot involved in considering the perfect name.

I've heard this process referred to as "name shopping," and I really do understand why it's gained this label. It really is comparable to how Matt and I shop! While I prefer to compare and ever-expand the possibilities before settling on a final choice, Matt likes to proceed directly to the first item(s) that fit the bill. However, he'll follow me around the store sportingly, and remind me that in the end he will be right, and I'll go back to one of the original options. He is often exactly correct, but sometimes the research turns up something more suitable. If nothing else, I find the hunt entertaining! And there just might be something better out there...even though it might take some time to find it.

Timing...oh yes, that factors into naming too! I very much understand why some cultures wait to name their babies. Besides the obvious factor that not everyone has the ability to know the gender before birth, what if little baby boy just does not look like a Robert, or an Edward? Would it hurt to observe this little person before bestowing such a powerful source of identity?

God has known us from the very beginning...even in my belly, he knows this child (Psalm 139)! He must know their name too! Maybe for every parent, we "stumble" on the right name at a different time because of unseen leading? Or He just knows what our parents will call us?

We'll be ready with a list no doubt, but this time, much less attached to the name. After all, we haven't had 5 months to choose, fall in love with, and repeatedly call the little one inside by one name! We can sound out the possibilities and have fun with nicknames. One day "little bean" might be Sloane. Or maybe "kickypants" might turn out to be Coleman. I don't think he or she will mind what happens in the meantime, will they? Perhaps our prepared list of options will drift out the window when we hold the baby for the first time!

Do you think a child by any other name still becomes the same person? Would Ian still be the same boy if his name was Langley, Mason, or Pierce? Would dear Zoe be as obsessed with shoes if she were indeed Eliana, Gertrude, or Jordan? I wonder...especially because the name could change!

What if later on, they just don't like their name, or want to change it to suit a new identity or purpose? Modern day artists have changed their names. Think about Norma Jean Baker, Leonard Slyle, Annie Mae Bullock, and Caryn Johnson. (Trivia time!) Their parents surely thought they had found the perfect name, and it played out differently...why stress it so much?

I do believe the name in the present does indeed matter, even if it might change. And, I won't worry too much about those potential changes down the road. A name embodies you...at that moment! So yes, we'll mull it over a bit. A name is a meaningful thing in the present tense!

My mind drifts to Biblical examples when thinking about meaning. At a life-altering crossroad, Abram (exalted father) became Abraham (father of a multitude). After wrestling the angel, Jacob (supplanter) became Israel (having power with God). God says he will give a new name on the day of redemption to those that overcome (Rev. 2:17). Clearly a name is a powerful thing, God has taken interest in it!

My own name I believe reflects me rather well by definition. Julie means youthful. I think that is one great way of describing me! It is also cited as "downy-bearded youth"...and since I don't have a beard (and hopefully never will), I have attributed this to my Dad. He was in his youth when he had me, at least spiritually and psychologically. Marie has origins mainly reflecting "sea of sorrow" or "sea of bitterness." Although not a bitter person, I do have inner workings that reflect this trait deeply.

Matthew means "insufferable sarcastic mess." Oh wait, no it doesn't. (We should definitely change his name). Actually, it means "gift of God." And although it certainly could apply to many people, of course it applies to him.

But what if your name really doesn't mean anything at all related to you? The answer to that one is simple. Regardless of a name, the person who owns it defines the meaning as they live. But, I still can't wrap my head around naming a girl Cecily...because it means "blind." I could stretch it to say that she would be "blind to trouble," or just skip it. Yeah, skip. The meaning of the name (even though it will embody something entirely unique with the individual) is a big factor!

Finally, who else has this name? Maybe there are 10,000 other Julies in the world and 1 million Matthews. But only one of each of us. I happen to know only one other Julie personally, and don't run into others very often. Matt? Um, he's been referred to as "Gayler" a lot, and it's not just because of the military. You have to make some distinction between all the Matthews. Did it matter very much how popular our names were?

We're on the same quest as all the other parents out there (at least most I guess?). Our child needs a name that's just popular enough not to sound ridiculous in our family and circle of friends, but still rare and extraordinary. It may not matter how many children have ever had the name, but it matters that it sounds just unique enough to be theirs alone. At least until they happen to run into another little Quinn.

I hope you've enjoyed reading my little ramble, and I'd love to hear your thoughts. What do you think about your own name and how it defines you? Would you change it? If you have children, did any of these things cross your mind? How did you sort out meaning and the power of names?

What makes naming a baby so complicated? There is certainly almost too much to consider at once. And, probably not everyone even thinks about it! There's nothing wrong with scanning down a list for something that sounds pretty or looks "cool" or even flipping a coin! Somehow, your name is you. And it becomes you when you get it. And you become your name! So amazing!

I'll end the night rubbing my tummy and becoming lost in thought of all the possibilities. For me this process is less about us choosing the right name and more about discovering the perfect name he or she already owns. :)

Are you bored and want to learn the meaning of your name or other statistics about it? My favorite site for almost everything there is to wonder about names...Baby Name Wizard. You can even see how popular names are by state. Fascinating!

Excited about Birth!

At the appointment today, the baby was extremely active...moving in every direction to avoid us listening to the heart beat! In the end, we heard a very strong beating at around 150bpm. I am measuring right at 16 weeks...that's 4 months! Wow, suddenly this is going very quickly!

Here's what little baby looks like (approximately anyway). At 4 1/2 inches long, and 3 1/2 ounces, little avocado-sized baby is starting to get more noticeable with the little thumps and bumps in there!

Today was also my last appointment at Naval Hospital Beaufort. After much prayer and research, I'm so excited that paperwork has now been filed, and we have switched care to the Midwife Group and Birth Center in Savannah, Georgia.

For those of you that wondered why, read on and I'll try to summarize my thoughts somewhat cohesively!

God provided us with a wonderful experience both times...and most importantly, two healthy babies! However, there were certain aspects of pregnancy and labor that didn't flow as well as they could have.

When procedures were optional but suggested, I was belittled for choosing the option to not have the procedure. I was given drugs without being informed or giving consent, and the nurse refused to remove them when I was having a strong reaction to them. The staff was in "observational mode" during labor. They were there to offer drugs for pain, check my progress, and then disappeared behind the nurse's desk to watch my vital signs from afar.

After both labors, I was like a "freak show," and nurses and doctors were simply amazed I gave birth without an epidural. I didn't do it for praise or to earn some special "Mommy Labor Medal." (To be perfectly honest with you, I'm more afraid of the needle than pain). My labor was normal, and nothing worthy of praise or admiration. I certainly didn't do it without help (God literally delivered me, but that's another story for another time), just without drugs. It was NORMAL.

Let me reiterate that both of my births were a truly blessed experience. As much as I could have (with a few exceptions), I actually enjoyed my labor. I am incredibly thankful for Matt's help and support...he's irreplaceable in that function! And, God was WITH US both times, provided the right circumstances for His plan, and delivered to us two beautiful babies.

And, let me also say that I have nothing in the world against interventions when they are medically necessary. Pitocin, epidurals, continuous fetal monitoring, c-sections and more...these medical procedures all have their place. My personal preference is to avoid these interventions as part of a routine, and reserve them as a response to a medical condition or emergency that requires their use. In fact, I was a c-section baby, and that procedure saved my life. I'm thankful the technology is present for the cases that require it. Medicine is not something to be avoided, it's a tool to save lives. If this baby or I needs help, I will eagerly allow the life-saving procedure(s).

If medically, different approaches could be used to achieve the same result of a HEALTHY BABY & MOM...wouldn't you choose the environment that provided you with physical, mental, and spiritual support?

That's what the Birth Center represents to us...a place of care and support for this normal process of pregnancy and labor.

This doesn't mean it's the right choice for everyone. There are far too many different personalities, environments, doctors, and situations. Regardless of where the birth takes place (hospital, birth center, home, or car), I know there isn't a woman out there looking for a bad experience! All moms just want a healthy, happy baby! We all want the best, and for different people, this can take different forms based on risk factors, comfort level, and education.

I address all this because I don't want you, the reader, regardless of your own personal experience to think that I look down on anyone (or, the reverse, think more of others) because of their circumstances or choice of doctor! It's none of my business, and it's not about you...it's about my family! :)


The Naval Hospital gave me two nearly ideal normal birth scenarios, so why the change? I long to see a provider that addresses the nature of pregnancy and childbirth as a part of life to be celebrated. We want our choices to be supported, and not be a "special case" because we'd like to operate outside of routine. All of us want this to be a positive experience where the doctor can offer wisdom and medical expertise, and the family can make informed decisions.

I know that many papers and opinion pieces circulate about the "natural birth" movement. Many people suggest that more emphasis is being placed on the "experience" of natural labor over the "result" of a healthy baby. I can't speak for anyone but myself on this matter, and certainly can't engage in a lengthy scientific debate. But I will tell you right now the health of my baby comes first before any "experience" ever could!

We're not trading medical expertise for a desired labor experience. We're headed to a birth center with medical professionals that will help support our wishes for a normal, healthy delivery...and again, most importantly, a healthy baby!

Some of the elements of care at the Midwife Center will begin very soon and continue through birth:

-Expert, certified medical professional care. The midwifes all hold masters in nursing, and work in collaboration with OB/GYN physicians. They have over 60 years of experience combined, and the Birth Center has been open 23 1/2 years.
-A more personal and welcoming approach to our involvement in making informed choices for me and the baby.
-No routine medical interventions, only carefully planned and considered care based on our circumstances.
-Approaching pregnancy and childbirth as normal, and including the whole family.
-The ability to develop and talk about a birth plan, with the respect of the staff in our decisions.
-During labor, the support and assistance of staff in a personalized scenario.
-Rapid access to a hospital for further assistance if necessary.
-Encouraged freedom of movement during labor to aid pain management.
-The ability to stay with our baby after labor the entire time with all medical care taking place with us present.
-Continuous support of experience midwifes working with a physician to provide the best care for me and the baby.
-The attitude of respect for our role as parents and our decision-making for our family.

I'm excited that with the faith in God's amazing provision and care (because ultimately, He is the head physician), this entire birth, no matter what happens, will be a process to bring Him glory, and that we all can enjoy and treasure the new life entrusted in our care.

Just as before, I'm so excited about welcoming this baby into the world! I'm excited about birth! :)

If you want to learn more about the Birth Center's specific goals and approach, you can visit their website to learn more.

Summer 2010 Photo Book

My labor of love...and the best attempt at condensing a summer full of pictures! I hope you enjoy the preview! :)

Click here to view this photo book larger

A Walk near the Water

I admit it, I was actually bored yesterday evening...amidst the cluttered to-do list of the century. So, I loaded the kids up and headed for the waterfront!

We stopped on Bay Street first, and sat on the hill watching the boats. I captured a sweet moment between Zoe and Ian.


Then, we had to move on because...well, it was a hill, and Zoe was in a roaming mood! We ended up walking near the docks for a while, spotting boats out on the water (to Ian, they do not count unless they are not moored at the docks).


I love the swings near the water. We spent a lot of our time sitting, swinging, and talking. Mostly, Ian wanted to know why all the boats were not out. He said all of the people should get on their boats and go. When I explained that some people live on their boats, and might not want to go anywhere at that very moment, he decided to take over the lesson. "Mommy, boats are for GOING on the WATER, not for living in." Reassuring him that some people do indeed live on boats he conceded, "Oh, you're right. But, they should go."


Much of our time was also spent running around the pavilion area. Zoe chasing Ian, Ian chasing Zoe...Mommy chasing both kids! I love how quiet it is on a week night. We had the entire grounds to ourselves practically! (All the other kids were on the playground, where I figured we would eventually go).


Zoe spent most of her time running around crazily, or power walking. The remainder of the time was spent trying to pry the shells from the pavement. She's persistent, I'll give her that one.


I really wanted some good pictures because the lighting was so gorgeous, and the kids were having so much fun. This is mostly what my "roll" consisted of with Zoe. She is a lady on the move.


When I tried to get pictures of Ian, he would stop and talk with me about things. Mostly, about money. He had the extra change from the meter, and he was very concerned we should go back and put more in it. He kept pulling his money out of his pockets to count it, and reminding me if we didn't put money in it, we would get a ticket.


Our afternoon was also filled with sly smiles that were eerily similar.


I love their smiles. All of them.


The highlight of the evening ocurred just as we reached the playground. There was a man shrimping off the sea wall. Both kids instantly decided this was much better entertainment than the aforementioned kid-zone. They both climbed into the swing to watch, very excited.


Patiently, the shrimper cast out his net...


And brought up just a few shrimp every other time or so. I was not expecting them to be so big! Many of them were thrown back, because he said they were still having babies. We all learned that shrimp are quite feisty, which was why he left them on the pavement for a moment before going to throw them in his 5 gallon bucket. Several times, we saw a simple flick of the tail launch one up to a foot in the air. We also learned that these particular shrimp have "horns" on the front of their head, which are to be avoided! (We did not have to learn this the hard way, no shrimp handling today).


Zoe got bored after a while, but was very happy to climb up and down the benches. Ian elicited several smiles from the man as he asked questions and eagerly observed. It was so relaxing and interesting to watch him work. The setting sun was a gorgeous backdrop for a perfect evening.


Although we have lived in Beaufort for over a year, this was my first sunset on the water. None of the photos are retouched (except the last, 2 points of exposure/brightness), it was a magnificent sunset! A beautiful end to a blessed day near the water.




I can't help but stand in awe of God's beautiful creation. Sunset is simply a more powerful time of beauty as the light changes and does its dance of color across the water. In moments like these, I am thankful for my gift of sight to see my beautiful children and experience such beauty as this...day-dreaming of the hints of Heaven's splendor. :)

He spreads out the northern skies over empty space.
He hangs the earth over nothing.
He wraps up water in his clouds.
They are heavy, but they don't burst.
He covers the face of the full moon.
He spreads his clouds over it.
He marks out the place where the sky meets the sea.
He marks out the boundary between light and darkness.
The pillars of the heavens shake.
They are terrified when his anger blazes out.
With his power he stirred up the oceans.
In his wisdom he cut the sea monster Rahab to pieces.
His breath made the skies bright and clear.
His hand wounded the serpent that glides through the sea.
Those are only on the edges of what he does.
They are only the soft whispers that we hear from him.
So who can understand how very powerful he is?
-Job 26:7-14