Violet Emily Rose

It's been a long time since I've blogged.  I was reminded last week by a new friend who visited my blog and pointed this out to me.  Well, let's see... do I have any news??!!!

.... WE HAVE A NEW BABY GIRL!!!

Her name is Violet Emily Rose.  She was born on July 13th, at 8lbs 7 ozs.  She is such a joy and she makes my heart melt.  It is amazing how different your life becomes when you have a child.  Right now I am trying to type this quickly before she wakes up.  We have big plans of canning some salsa today.  She likes to sit in her bumbo chair and watch me as I do things. 

We have also moved to Missouri, in the middle of nowhere.  I kinda like it though, espeically with the baby.  I need to start blogging about my adventures with her as an online journal to look back on.  She is growing and learning so quickly, it is astonishing.  I love to watch her as she figures out something new and watching that look of realization on her face.  Yesterday I watched her as she stared at her hand, then guided her hand to the toy hanging above her.  She had been randomly hitting the toy and has stared at it for weeks.  She has finally figured out how her arm works, in relation to what she sees.  It is amazing to see how her hand/eye coordination develops as she learns new things.

Well, I hope to have time to post more about my little one.  I feel that I should change the name of my blog to Everything about Violet.. but I won't.  I need to hang on to some things of my pre-baby self (my figure is certainly not one of those things... yet!!).

Her favorite position in my belly, except upside down:

Our very happy girl:

All grown up with jeans on:

I think I'm really starting to like this furry creature Mommy:

Babies.. babies.. babies..

It seems like my whole life now revolves around a little baby growing in my belly.  I am currently reading 5 books on babies, they are all with different perspectives.  I research for about an hour or more a day on the birth, the right furniture and baby names.  We did narrow the name search down last month.  We now only need to look at GIRL names... yeah!!!  I'm excited about having a girl.  The baby has taken up so much of my attention that I don't know what I did before.. and she isn't even born yet?  I never thought that I would feel so excited about little feet moving in my belly.  I love it when I press in on my belly and it seems like she starts to push back and play with my hand.  Last night James read to her with a microphone placed on my belly and she moved the instant he spoke.  She kept moving for about 10 mints so she must really like his voice.    

I am planning on having an active natural birth, following the Bradley method.  The Bradley method focuses on the father being the doula, or coach.  I am happy to have a husband who is excited about the natural birth.  He actually researched home births and suggested that we try it.  I think I'll pass on that for now.  I want natural, yet I want to be able to spin my bed down to the surgery section if something happens.  I am currently working on the birth plan and have made most of the decisions as to what I want.  I have contacted a doula to participate in my birth, yet I may request a midwife at the hospital instead.  One thing determining my decision is that the mid wife is free, the doula is not. If anyone has any experience with either, please let me know. 

As for furniture... Wow, did you know that most baby furniture is finished with chemical based paint or stain and the glue has formaldehyde in it?  Baby furniture radiates low levels of formaldehyde which apparently is ok.  Personally, I think that NO levels of any toxin is ok for a baby.  It took me weeks to find a brand that was natural, non-toxic and had water based glue, it's called Pali for those of you searching for good furniture.  The furniture cost a fortune but I waited patiently on craigslist and found it for a fraction of the original price.  I purchased a $1000 set (crib and change table) for $300.  I think it's important to get non-toxic furniture (unlike our government who apparently doesn't seem to care that our babies are sleeping in furniture that has formaldehyde), but I also think spending $1000 on a basic crib is crazy.  So, me being the thrifty shopper that I am, found exactly what I wanted without the price tag.  Another type of furniture that we are looking into is Amish furniture.  It is completely natural and non-toxic.

Baby names... well, lets just say that I've read about 20,000 and still can't seem to find the right name.  We will have a name when she is born, we hope!  I'm open to suggestions!

It's a girl!!  She is at 19 weeks here: Amazing!

I am at 19 - 20 weeks here:

This is at 22 weeks:  I have officially gained 18 lbs at this point.  I like my ice cream, what can I say!

Week 18

   It has been so long since I last posted.  I have been reading your blogs and try to comment on them when I have time.  Things are busy for James and I.  I am getting bigger by the week and he is busy getting ready to go to a new school for three months.  I am currently 18 weeks preggo and we will find out the sex of the baby next week.  I know, we should wait but we just want to know now.  James thinks it's a boy, I think it's a girl.  The baby is due on July 6th, but we are hoping for a 4th of July baby.  I would also be happy with a 1st of July baby ( for those of you Canucks, you know why). I haven't had any morning sickness and the only thing is that I get tired after a long day at work.  Who doesn't get tired after 8 hours with elementary students?  I do get the occasional headache, which is highly unusual for me but they pass.

   I have been eating lots of fruits and veggies (organic) but I also have a daily yearning for ice cream (not so organic).  My favorite food to eat right now is Mexican and James and I patronize the local Mexican place so much that the girl knows what I'm going to order (veggie quesadilla and so not organic).  Food has been tasting so good to me!  I don't mind the extra padding of fat because I am confidant that I will lose it when the baby is born (is that what all women say?).  I'm loving being pregnant, I feel like everyone treats me so wonderfully.  James waits on me hand and foot (ok, that's not entirely true but he does do a lot for me).  James likes me being pregnant too, he likes to feel my belly.. that and he likes that my butt is bigger (among other things).

Here is the little peanut at 11 weeks. 

Here I am at 12 weeks:  Ben is wondering what is in my belly.

Me and my buddy Ben at 15.5 weeks

The Pregnancy!

The pregnancy is coming along great!  I am now two months and I feel great!  I have had no morning sickness and I've gained 4 pounds.  I do feel a lot fatter than 4 pounds though, I can't fit into my pants as well as I once could.  I have been reading several books about pregnancy, "how to have an organic pregnancy", "the pregnancy bible", and yet another, what to expect when you are expecting".  They are all great books but I feel that the best knowledge comes from others who have had a baby.  So far the comment that comes to mind when I'm lying in bed at night is "it is the worse pain of your life", or "oh I wouldn't want to go back and do that again".  Each time I tell someone that I am going to have the baby "au natural", they laugh and tell me to make sure the doctor has the epidural on hand for when I change my mind.  Ladies, is it really that bad? 

I really do want to have a natural baby.  I have pretty much gone all organic with my food (minus the food that I eat when I crave junk) and use natural cleaning products.  I have made sure my shower curtain contains no harmful chemicals and I have started using organic face products and my pimples are loving being free of medication.  For the record, natural deodorant does not work as well.  I feel like I have already invested a lot into this baby so why would it be so hard to just give up the pain medication for a couple hours of pain?  I ask this, yet deep down I am afraid that I will scream at the doctor and tell him/her that he/she is a damn fool for listening to me.  Many women before me have gone without pain medication, it really can't be that hard to do right? 

Right now I am looking forward to the baby showing so that people know that I'm pregnant.  James says that I'm not fat, just curvier.  He likes it!  I don't mind the weight gain, I know that right now my body is creating a baby and it feels pretty cool.  I knew within a week that my body was being taken over by a ball of tissue.  Life truly does start at conception!  We are going in to see our little peanut after Thanksgiving, so I'll get my first look at the future Hill then.  Isn't life a miracle!?

Update..

I know it's been a long time since I've updated.  I don't have as much time with James being home.  It seems like it's one thing, than another.  We did have some great things happen lately.  James was promoted and he was accepted into a new position in the Military.  He is now going to be an Information Operations Officer.  This basically means that he will be sort of a marketing executive in the military.  He really wanted this position and there are only just a little over 300 IO Officers in the military. 

As for me, I am loving my job.  It is busy.  I also get to stay until June to finish out the year.  At this time we will be pcsing to another post but I am glad that I get to stay until then.  We thought that we might have to leave in December.  It looks like it will be only James leaving in February for a school, which I can't go to. 

We both have some other great news..... we are going to have a baby!!!  Yes, we are pregnant, with child, carrying a live baby that probably looks like a peanut.  We are super excited, especially considering we got it in the first try. 

Life is good... great... fantastic....... the best it has ever been!