Monday, October 12, 2009

Slurpy

A conversation Madeline and I had a few weeks ago regarding Halloween:

M: Is Supergirl scary?
I: Um, no. She helps people. She's not scary.
M: Then why am I being her for Halloween?
I: You don't have to be something scary for Halloween. You can dress up as whoever or whatever you want.
M: No, you're supposed to go out at night and scare people.
I: Oh. Well, what do you want to be then?
M: I could be that slurpy guy.
I: What "slurpy" guy?
M: You know, from Star Wars. The guy who's a big blob with no bones.
I: Jabba the Hut?
M: Yeah. Does Jabba the Hut have bones?
I: I don't know. I guess he looks like he could have no bones.
M: Does he have a wife? Or kids?
I: I don't think so.
M: What about his mom and dad? Does he have a mom and a dad?
I: I guess he must. I've never really thought about it.
M: Who are his mom and dad?
I: I don't know. They're not in the movies. You'll have to ask someone who knows more about Star Wars than me.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Four months!

Our little Izzy is four months old! When Madeline was a baby I sent out pictures and updates every month. Somehow I'm nowhere near as on-the-ball for poor Iz. But here's a 4-month update. The week of her 4-month birthday was a big one for the Izzle. Early in the week she started rolling proficiently. She had rolled (back to front) a few times, but she got really quick at it and now flips over almost as soon as you set her down, even attempting it in the bouncy chair. She's always loved being on her tummy and now she can get there on her own. Around the same time, she discovered her toes. She had to work hard for a couple days to be able to catch and hang on to both feet at the same time, but once she mastered it, it quickly became her second favorite pose. Now she's working on getting those toes to her mouth. On the 19th, she got her first tooth! I had thought she might be teething, but didn't expect to feel those sharp little points so soon. Judging from all the drool and chewing, I'd say number two isn't far behind. Also on the 19th she started scooting all over. She looks like a little inch worm. She puts her head down, gets her knees under her and propels herself forward. We can't believe this little peanut can do so much! We joke that she'll be heading off to school soon.

Isabelle was pronounced wonderfully healthy and happy at her 4 month check up; no surprise to us. She is 26" long and weighs 16 lbs 4 oz. Here are some pictures of our big girl:





Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Sisters


Madeline and Izzy are already getting to be best friends. It just warms my heart to see them interact with each other. Tonight Izzy was fussing while I was making supper. Without me even asking her to, Madeline picked up a little finger puppet and did a puppet show for Izzy. Then she stroked her head and sang her a song. Izzy stopped crying and just watched her big sister intently. Watching their relationship blossom is one of the best parts of being their mom.

Friday, July 10, 2009

Isabelle's Birth Story

It's taken me 7 weeks of one handed typing or stolen moments here and there, but here is Isabelle's birth story...

Around 12:30 a.m. on Monday, May 18, I woke up to a contraction. As I shifted around I felt an unmistakable “pop!” I waited for a minute or so for the telltale gush of fluid. I had a towel next to the bed and put it under me. I lay in bed doing some HypnoBirthing breathing and waiting for the contractions to start. The “popping” sensation immediately took me back to the night I went into labor with Madeline. I remembered how intense the contractions got after that, so I was a little apprehensive, but trying to stay focused and relaxed. Mostly I was excited that this was going to be the night. About 15 minutes later I had my first “real” contraction. They started coming about every 3 minutes after that. I stayed in bed doing my relaxation until about 1:30 a.m. At that point I called my mom so she could get here in plenty of time if we had to leave for the hospital quickly. Then I woke up Al. He started hurrying around packing bags and getting things together. I don’t remember when I called our doula, Angie. Around 2 or 2:30, I think. So many people had told me this one would go fast given how fast Madeline’s birth was. I had a feeling, though, that it would be longer. Still I wanted to be prepared.

I stayed in bed doing the relaxation exercises until about 4 or 4:30. At that point things seemed to kind of slow down. I think Angie suggested I try something else. I felt like walking, so I just walked around our bedroom. Things picked back up and the contractions got stronger. I knelt by the edge of the bed for a while. I stood up and leaned against the dresser. In these two positions, especially the last, I could really feel the baby moving down. I started to feel some pressure and decided it was time to go to the hospital.

When I got in the car there was a huge gush of fluid and I sent Al back in the house for some towels. With more fluid gone, I was really feeling more pressure and started moaning with each contraction, which made Al drive faster and faster. We got to the hospital around 5:30 a.m. The staff was great. They had read our birth preferences in advance. They had a room all ready for us with the lights dim and music on. They admitted us quickly and left us to do our thing. I stayed in bed for awhile still doing my HypnoBirthing. I’m not sure why, but I didn’t want to listen to the HynpoBirthing CD. It just didn’t appeal to me. The midwife, Cari, came in around 6:30 and checked my progress. I was 5 cm open. I had been hoping it was more, but I knew I hadn’t gotten to transition.

The nurses changed shifts and our new nurse, Karen, came in. I had been a little nervous about getting a “good” nurse who would understand and respect our preference for a natural birth. Upon meeting her it was obvious that she was a natural birth supporter and I was able to let go of that worry.

My memory is a little foggy here, but at some point after Karen came in I got on the birthing ball, resting my head on the foot of the bed. Karen was either still there or came back and started asking me the seemingly hundreds of inane questions they have to ask upon admittance. As it dragged on I got more and more annoyed and had a hard time staying focused on my HypnoBirthing. My contractions started coming further and further apart until they had all but stopped. Finally we were done with the questions and we went for a walk. The contractions picked up right away and I was stopping every few steps, hanging on to the railing along the wall as I breathed and swayed through each contraction with Angie and Al encouraging me.

By the time we got back to our room, things had gotten much more intense. I felt a need to retreat to somewhere dark and quiet. I went into the bathroom, kept the lights out and labored there for quite awhile standing, holding on the railings with Angie at my side. Eventually, I got tired of standing and needed to change position. I tried a few different things, but just couldn’t get comfortable. Finally, I knelt on the bed leaning over the back. My mom and Madeline had arrived and Al brought Madeline in to see me. Madeline had expressed an interest in being there for the birth. So we thought we’d bring her in and see how she did. I was able to talk to her between contractions and was still pretty relaxed during them. But she decided she’d just wait with Grandma in the family lounge until the baby was born.

Kneeling on the bed wasn’t working for me. Angie or Karen suggested I try a shower. I got undressed and Angie set up the shower with “flameless” candles. Angie stayed in the bathroom talking to me while I labored in the shower, dark except for the candles. My legs were still tired from how long I had been standing before. After a few minutes in the shower I got out and got on the birth ball at the foot of the bed. While I had been fairly relaxed and comfortable up to that point using HypnoBirthing techniques, I had been in labor for about 10 hours and was well into transition. I was tired and it was getting more difficult for me to stay on top of my contractions. I threw up and was wondering how much longer I could do this. I knew about the time you start feeling like you can’t do it anymore the end is near. I said something along the lines of “I can’t do this” but I remember feeling like that wasn’t true I just felt I needed to say it. At that point, Dawn, my midwife suggested she check my progress, that it might give me the encouragement I needed to make it the rest of the way. I agreed. I was 8 cm open, but my cervix was not dilating evenly, meaning one side was completely out of the way, but the other still had a couple centimeters to go. She gave me a few options of positions to try to get the other side to open up. I did not want to move again so I opted to stay in bed lying on my side. It was extremely uncomfortable and by far the hardest part of my labor. Instead of the deep moaning I had been doing during contractions, I was whimpering and begging for help. I was having a very difficult time staying relaxed during contractions. Everyone was encouraging me and telling me how great I was doing. I kept thinking, “You are all lying; I am not doing great, I’m a total basket case.” Fortunately, it wasn’t long before I started to feel a lot of pressure and the contractions changed as my body started moving the baby down the birth path. I was determined not to push and let my body do the work. My support team could all tell what was happening and kept asking if I felt like pushing. I’m not even sure I answered. I had my eyes closed and was totally in my birthing place, though I was completely aware of everything they were saying and had an internal monologue going on. They kept saying to each other in hushed tones, “It looks like she’s pushing.” And I was thinking, “I am not pushing!” I was saying things like, “When is this going to be over? I just want this to be over” so my midwife asked again if she could check me. Again I agreed. My cervix was fully open except for a little lip which she massaged out of the way. I was still insisting that I did not want to push, but Dawn said the baby was right there and if I would just push a few times she’d probably be here. I so wanted the baby out and to be done with labor that I said okay. I took me a couple contractions and “practice pushes” to get in a good position—still side lying. Once I did I felt the baby crowning on the next push. A couple more pushes and her head was out. After her head was out, though, baby did not turn. Dawn told me I was going to have to push really hard to birth her shoulders the wide way (which, incidentally, is how Madeline was born also.) I did and she was out! When the midwife caught her, she said, “She must be 9 and a half or ten pounds!”

They put her on my chest right away. The first thing I noticed was her curly hair. ☺ They wiped her off a little and we marveled at her. Once the cord stopped pulsing, the midwife clamped it and Al cut it. I really wanted to let her find the breast on her own. So we put her tummy-to-tummy with me. Just like I had seen in videos she started sucking/smelling her hand and “crawling” toward the breast. Once she got close I helped her a little get into position, but she latched on all by herself and did it perfectly. It was so amazing! She nursed for the next two hours, through the placenta detaching and being expelled, through all the clean up, through meeting her big sister.

As soon as she was on my chest, the previous couple of hours were a distant memory. Overall, it was a wonderful experience and a beautiful birth. It was everything I hoped it would be. I had awesome support from Al, my doula, my midwife and my nurse. Despite not getting any sleep the night before and being in labor for 12 hours, I felt fantastic, so empowered and inspired.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Cone

Today at Minnehaha Falls Madeline wanted a treat. The options were pretty limited so we got an ice cream cone. I hadn't realized, or even thought about it, that with her dairy sensitivity (which she's now outgrowing) she had never had an ice cream cone. She looked awestruck when I handed it to her. "I've never had one of these." She was beaming as we walked around, hand in hand. She pointed to the cone and asked, "Can I eat this part?" I nodded. After she had eaten down to the cone she kept sticking her fingers into the ice cream. And I kept telling her to take them out. Finally she asked, "Does the ice cream go all the way down?" Ah, so that was what she was doing with her fingers. She took a few bites of the cone then announced, "I like the inside better than the outside," before handing it to me. The mystique of the ice cream cone had vanished. But for a few minutes she felt like the most special girl in the world.

Cat parade

Last night as she was falling asleep, Madeline asked sleepily if we could go to the "cat parade" soon. I thought maybe she was asleep already and dreaming. Cat parade? I wracked my brain trying to figure out what in the world she was talking about. She said she heard me tell Grandma about a cat parade. Really??? Then I remembered. I had told my mom about the Eden Prairie July 4th Kiddie Parade. Madeline heard "kitty" parade. I hope she's not disappointed.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Turkey

As I was getting supper ready last night:

Madeline: Can I have a turkey sandwich?
Ingrid: No, Mads. We're going to eat supper in 5 or 10 minutes. Why don't you have a piece of fruit if you're hungry?
Madeline: How about two pieces of bread with turkey and mayo in between?

Monday, March 2, 2009

Telling Time

Madeline: I'm ready to get up.
Ingrid: What time is it? Can you read me the numbers on the clock?
Madeline: 5-5-6...now 5-5-7.
Ingrid, thinking: Really? Well, 6 isn't so bad.

After laying in bed as long as Madeline will allow, Ingrid gets up and puts her glasses on, glances at the clock. It's 5:36. Note to self, work on differentiating between a digital "5" and "2."

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Sisters

One of the best things, maybe even the best thing, about this pregnancy is getting to share it with Madeline. She is so excited to be a big sister. She loves hugging and kissing my belly, rubbing lotion on my belly and talking to the baby. She always gives my belly a big hug and says, "Oh baby, I love you so much!!!" Now baby is starting to respond to Madeline as well. She seems to anticipate her "massage" after my shower. And no matter how quiet she's been, as soon as she hears Madeline's voice, she starts wiggling around. But then she settles right down, almost as if she's listening intently to every word Madeline has to say. I can't wait until she arrives and to watch this bond grow throughout the years.

(This would be where I'd put a picture of Madeline talking to my belly. Except I don't have any.)

Friday, January 30, 2009

25 Random Things

For my faithful readers who are not on Facebook.

1. I miss Ann Arbor, a lot.
2. I love my daughter more than anything, but I miss my life before kids.
3. I wonder sometimes what happened to that girl I was 10-15 years ago.
4. I used to marvel at the machine my body had become, lean and muscular, able to complete triathlons and marathons.
5. My body is still an amazing machine, but one that grows and nourishes life.
6. As of February, 2009 I will have been pregnant or nursing for 4 straight years. I don’t think I’ve ever done anything for that long.
7. Except watch Days of Our Lives. I started watching with my grandparents when I was 3. I started watching it daily in 1986 and have more or less continued ever since.
8. My favorite book is Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein, probably as much for the impressionable time in my life at which I first read it as for the quality of the book.
9. A book I think everyone should read is The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan. It will change how you look at food.
10. I don’t want to like Dora the Explorer, but I do.
11. I’m trying to live more sustainably, but still have a long way to go.
12. In college I was a “member” of an “organization” called the Infant Cannibals. (Eat babies!) For quite some time my involvement in that organization was the first thing that popped up when you Googled me. I had a fun time explaining that to people…like my boss.
13. One summer two friends and I built a fort in half of an old farm building. My brothers had their own fort in the other half. We protected our turf with rubberband guns we made.
14. I grew up on a farm, of the hobby variety. While I didn’t always love it at the time, I appreciate now all the time spent playing outside, learning how things work, knowing where my food comes from, understanding the seasons in a way I’m not sure many city kids do.
15. Within minutes of meeting my husband I thought, “Wow, this is exactly the kind of guy I could see myself marrying.” Turns out my first impression of him was way off. But he still ended up being the kind of guy I could marry. ☺
16. I’m hoping if it takes me long enough to finish this (going on about a week now) 25 people will have tagged me and I won’t have to come up with anyone else to tag.
17. I have never devoted myself to anything as entirely as I have to parenting.
18. I wish as a society we valued parenting more.
19. I used to wear a swimming suit under my clothes when I went to parties in college because I knew as soon as I got drunk I’d start taking my clothes off.
20. I’ve only lived in states that start with M.
21. I have two patents.
22. I’m a lot more comfortable with men than women. It makes it hard to make friends as a stay-at-home mom.
23. I can’t believe how different my second pregnancy is than my first and how different this baby is than Madeline even in utero. I know this baby is a completely different person, but it still seems weird.
24. I hate throwing anything away. And it’s more environmental than sentimental. I sell/give away/recycle as much as I can, but every time I put something in the garbage I picture it in a landfill 100 years from now and am filled with guilt.
25. I’m a perfectionist. The kind who would rather not do something for fear of not doing it perfectly than just do it and get it over with. Which is why this took waaaaaay too long.

Friday, January 16, 2009

But what about the goose?

Last night, Al was showing Madeline pictures of the US Airways plane in the Hudson River and explaining what had happened. Madeline looked and listened with great interest then asked, "What happened to the goose?"