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Disneyland With a Three Year Old

Posted by Carolyn on April 17, 2015 2 Comments

Let me just say it – going to Disneyland with a three year old is pretty much perfect.  I was thinking of doing some sort of ‘tips for Disneyland’ post, but decided against it.  I can’t claim to be an expert, or to assume how other kids would handle Disneyland.  Instead, I will tell you why taking Alma, by herself, to Disneyland was amazing.

Rides 3 And Then TheyShe was young enough that the magic was still fully alive.

Rides 95 And Then TheyShe was old enough that she could really understand the reality of that magic.  When we were flying on Dumbo, she knew what that meant – we had watched the movie and she knew how amazing and fun it was to be on Dumbo.

Rides 1 And Then They Rides 2 And Then TheyShe said she missed Harriet, but I’m pretty sure she actually enjoyed having us all to herself.  We also met my cousin Michael, his wife Michelle, their daughter Avalon, and family friend (and super amazing teenager) Ciara.

Rides 7 And Then TheyWe went on all the great little kid rides (except for Peter Pan, which was sadly closed) and Alma got to see wild animals on a cruise (and the elusive back side of water).  Rides 5 And Then TheyRides 4 And Then They

She got to see kids from all over the small world (we got to see this twice, and once for much longer than we meant – the ride broke down and we were stuck for about a half hour, luckily they turned off the music after about 10 minutes).  Rides 9 And Then TheyRides 91 And Then TheyShe got to fly with Dumbo – twice! Rides 8 And Then TheyShe got to spin in Alice’s giant tea cups.  I don’t know if there’s anything more magical, or more Disney, than that.

Rides 94 And Then TheyShe got to play in Minnie’s house.  The cake in the oven was a serious highlight for this girl.  With Disneyland, and all its wonders all around, I love that this was a favorite.  It’s what she told my mom all about.  “The cake gets bigger, then smaller, then bigger!”Rides 93 And Then They Rides 92 And Then TheyShe got to climb and play in Tarzan’s tree house.

Rides 6 And Then TheyWe did so much more, but it doesn’t matter.  What matters is that these things really did happen for Alma.  She was so in it.  She believed.  She actually met Mickey and Minnie.  She waved at Alice and the princesses.  Cinderella actually blew her a kiss.  It actually became nighttime while we were on the Pirates of the Caribbean.

In addition to all that, she did really well waiting in lines.  She only whined a little bit (and understood the warnings I gave her that if she fought with Avalon, or whined, that we would have to go home).

That’s why three years old is perfect.

[I should say that I really love Harriet.  She’s really fun these days, and getting bigger and smarter every moment.  But, I’m so, so, so glad we didn’t take her.  We saw lots of kids her age, and always commented to each other how glad we were that my parents were watching her.  All the kids her age seemed like they were on the verge, or in the middle of a tantrum.  They didn’t like waiting in lines, they looked really tired, and they had to have their diapers changed.  I was so glad to avoid the changing table – it looked miserable.  Besides all that, she wouldn’t have gotten it.]

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Posted in: a little moment, gave thanks., learned., parented. | Tagged: alma, Disneyland, fun, Parenting

Disneyland is Magic

Posted by Carolyn on April 16, 2015 2 Comments

A dream of mine came true on Sunday.  We took Alma to Disneyland.  She didn’t know what to expect, which made it all the more amazing.  Seeing her face as we walked into the park solidified my opinion that Disneyland is magic.  Truly.

Just standing outside the gates, she could tell she was somewhere special.  I mean, Mickey’s face made out of flowers?  Magic.

Disney Magic 1 And Then ThenWe got there right when the park opened, so it was really empty.  We got to watch all the horse drawn trolleys, and other vehicles filter into the park.  At this point I thought that would be enough.  Alma would have been happy just having seen this.  She had no idea the magic that was yet to come.

Disney Magic 2 And Then They Disney Magic 6 And Then They Disney Magic 5 And Then TheyWe rounded the corner and she saw the castle.

Disney Magic 4 And Then TheyJesse and I got down to ask her what she thought.  She seriously had no words.  Magic.

Disney Magic 3 And Then They Disney Magic 7 And Then TheyThe day went on.  She usually had a look of concentration.  She was trying to figure out what was happening.  She was trying to take it all in.

Disney Magic 8 And Then TheyShe met Mickey, and, I kid you not – she bowed to him.  Her face was serious.  She put one hand behind her back, and one hand on her tummy.  And bowed.  Magic.

Disney Magic 92 And Then TheyWe were at Disneyland for almost 12 hours, and by the end we were all running on the magic.

Disney Magic 9 And Then TheyWe were leaving when we ran into the parade.  We found a spot to wait for the princesses.  Rapunzel looked right at my girl and waved. Disney Magic 91 And Then TheyCinderella was on the back of the float.  Alma shouted out Cinderella’s name and showed her her own Cinderella dress.  Then Cinderella blew my little Alma a kiss.  I had a lump in my throat.  The magic was too intense.  Alma was in it.  She believed.  And it was magic.

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Posted in: a little moment, gave thanks., learned., parented., photography | Tagged: alma, Disneyland, magic

Joy

Posted by Carolyn on March 25, 2015 Leave a Comment

Above all else, I wish joy for my children.

IMG_6292 IMG_6293 IMG_6294 IMG_6295 IMG_6296I wish that they will always know the joy of playing with a rainbow scarf, barefoot, in a sunny lawn.

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Posted in: a little moment, learned., parented., photography | Tagged: alma, children, joy, play

Sometimes You Just Say Yes

Posted by Carolyn on February 16, 2015 Leave a Comment

IMG_6225Alma kept talking about painting all day yesterday.  When the time was right, I went out to the sunroom, set up her watercolors and paper, and she said, “No! I want to paint the fence!”  I have no idea where she got this idea, but I thought it was a good one.  Why not?  Sometimes you just say ‘yes!’

IMG_6184 IMG_6185 IMG_6188 IMG_6190We started with finger paints and they weren’t working very well, so we switched to tempera.  At one point Jesse came out and asked if it would wash off.  I just shrugged.  Who cares?  It’s art.  It’s memories.  It’s beautiful.  It’s yes.  And truth be told: we’ll probably have to replace this fence this spring anyway.

IMG_6196 IMG_6201 IMG_6203 IMG_6205 IMG_6208 IMG_6210

All the pink spots are lions.  She told me that.  Then she said, “Oh!  One’s falling down!”  Do you see it?IMG_6222 IMG_6224

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Posted in: a little moment, art, created., decorating, garden, gave thanks., learned., painting, parented. | Tagged: alma, art, create, creating, creative, daughter, garden, gratitude, kids, Life, love, motherhood, outside, paint, Parenting

Alma, Ballerina

Posted by Carolyn on January 14, 2015 2 Comments

Alma started ballet classes this past week.  She loves dancing, and has been ready for ballet lessons for a long time now.  I have to admit that I’ve been looking forward to this day for even longer.  I started ballet when I was three years old, and loved it.  I danced into high school, and a little bit in college.

bIMG_5690For Christmas, my dad and step-mom gave Alma the ballet lessons and attire.

On the day of her first class, I got Alma into her tights and leotard, gave her a bun, and watched her.  She ran back to her room (pardon the mess), and just grinned at herself in the mirror.  Yep, this girl is ready for ballet.

bIMG_5674 bIMG_5675 bIMG_5679 bIMG_5686She was definitely the youngest person in her class (she had to be 3 to be in the class, and had turned 3 five days previous), and I think most of the other kids had been taking lessons for a while.

I could watch through a window into the studio, and Alma did a great job.  She would look over at me and grin and wave.  I loved it, and the little glimpse it gave me into a future of ballet recitals, tutus, ballet slippers.

b20150108_110034

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Posted in: gave thanks., parented. | Tagged: alma, ballerina, ballet, dance

Alma’s New Quilt

Posted by Carolyn on September 11, 2014 5 Comments

aIMG_4040Alma just made the transition from her ‘baby bed’ to her ‘big kid bed.’  We actually converted her crib into a twin bed and just had to buy a mattress.  Jesse did a great job building the rails and platform for the bed.  I love having such a handy husband!

I wanted this quilt to be special, so I actually bought, and (mostly) followed a pattern.  All my other quilts have just been of my design and pretty simple.  And quite small.  This quilt is a whole twin sized quilt.  Whoa.

aIMG_4043I bought the Atkinson Designs Morning Noon & Night pattern and used the Scrappy Quilt pattern with more of the Sunrise Quilt color design.  I wanted to transition from the aqua color to the coral-pink color.  I bought the pattern and most of my fabric at my favorite fabric store, Piece by Piece.

aIMG_4038As always, I had times where I would get nervous, but it all came together really beautifully, and quite easily.

aIMG_4035I love to make the backs of my quilts fun and interesting, too.  All these fabrics are fun to look at – fairies, goose rides, hiding kids.  I love it.

aIMG_4045This is by far my biggest sewing project, and totally one of my favorites!

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Posted in: created., sewing, sewing for my daughters | Tagged: alma, children, daughter, Daughters, kids, Life, Parenting, quilt, sewing

Alma’s First Day of Preschool

Posted by Carolyn on September 8, 2014 4 Comments

Last night Alma was a baby.  Today she’s the biggest kid ever.  She had her first day of school.

aIMG_4103I woke up with butterflies in my stomach.

I love first days.

IMG_4104Alma was excited to get ready and get her backpack on.  She wanted to help get the snack ready.  As families at the preschool, we take turns bringing snacks for the whole class.  I signed us up for the first day because that’s the way I roll.

IMG_4106We ate breakfast and took showers.  Alma let me do her hair without complaint (not a normal occurrence, believe me).  She picked out her outfit.

IMG_4116Then it was time for the first traditional First Day photo.  Hattie had to get in on it.

IMG_4123We got to school.  She walked right in.  She remembered where her cubby was and put her backpack right in.  She started playing with her friend.

IMG_4131Jesse and I said goodbye.  She gave us hugs, kisses.  And we left.  I knew this would happen this way.  Having Rachel there is so wonderful.

IMG_4143When I went to pick her up, she ran to me and said, “I love you!”

IMG_4137Perfect first day.


 

Alma, I am so proud of you.  You are such a happy kid.  I know you are so excited to get to be in school.  To get to be around kids.  And Rachel.  You make me so happy with your desire to play all the time.  You are the best, my dear.  Have a wonderful first year of school!

IMG_4133

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Posted in: a little moment, learned., parented. | Tagged: alma, first day, kids, Parenting, photography, preschool, school

The First of Many

Posted by Carolyn on July 24, 2014 5 Comments

Our first night away from Harriet.

Alma’s first camping trip.

It was quite a trip.  We met my parents at their annual group camp-out.  They go up the river every year and spend a few nights playing music with friends.

We have never actually spent the night at this camp-out.  This year we tried.

We almost made it the whole night.  Jesse got food poisoning and we ended up driving back to the valley in the middle of the night.

Looking back, there were a few signs telling us not the try to camp.  My sister-in-law had a baby that morning (we thought maybe my parents would want to go meet him right away – the decided to wait until the next day).  Our air mattress didn’t fit in the tent (sweet Marsha traded us for her tent).

Oh well.  At least we tried.  And Alma got to experience most of the camping experience.

And Harriet had a great time having a slumber party with my dad.

 

 

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Posted in: learned., nature, parented. | Tagged: alma, camping, music, nature, outdoors

Busy Sewing

Posted by Carolyn on June 18, 2014 1 Comment

Right now I’m working on making a quilt for Alma’s new twin sized bed (!).  She’s still choosing to sleep in her ‘baby bed,’ and we’re not pushing the issue.  Since we got mini cribs for our kids, I was worried that they would outgrow them quickly.  Alma totally fills up her crib, and so I thought she might be uncomfortable.  Apparently she is not, since she keeps choosing to sleep in it.

Anyhow, I’m making her a full twin sized quilt.  I’ve never made a quilt using any sort of sizing guide.  I usually just make a quilt using triangles, squares, strips, or some other shape and sew them together until it’s about the ‘right’ size for a baby quilt.  This time I’m using a real pattern.

I’m using the same blues and pinks and corals that are in Alma’s room and doing a sort of transitional ombre.

Since I’ve been working on the quilt so much, I haven’t had much time to create much else.  Also, I’m trying to get back into the swing of things now that I’m totally not working at all anymore for a few months.  Yay summer vacation!

Here’s a sneak peek of some of the fabrics that are going into the quilt:

IMG_1521

 

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Posted in: created., sewing, sewing, sewing for my daughters | Tagged: alma, quilt, quilting, sewing

A Not-So Long Awaited Story – Harriet’s Birth 8/21/13

Posted by Carolyn on June 9, 2014 4 Comments

Here’s the second (and final) birth story I will write.  This one isn’t as long, or as hard, but it is just as special and just as beautiful.

Here we go:

We did all of our prenatal care with the Birth Center again.  We had such an incredible experience with them that we knew we would use them again if we could.  They give the most loving, intelligent, focused, and respectful care possible.  I have complete trust in all the midwives – that they will help us make the right decisions for our whole family, all along the way.

One of the policies they have is that you can’t deliver at the Birth Center past 41 weeks.  If you pass 41 weeks, you will deliver at the hospital, but still with a midwife.

Once we passed the due date, I felt like the clock started ticking.  We had a couple non-stress tests as we got to the end of the 41st week.  We discussed our options.  We could wait and see, or schedule an easy induction.

I had really wanted to have a natural, non-medical birth with as few interventions as possible.  Once I knew we would be out of the tranquil Birth Center atmosphere, I felt like it didn’t really matter anymore.  At our non-stress test appointment on August 19th, we talked to Emily, the midwife, about what everything would look like.  Here’s the thing – the midwives all take turns being on-call.  Whomever is on-call while you are in labor is the midwife who is present for the birth.  As I have said, I respect and have faith in all the midwives.  But, there is one who I never really felt like I meshed well with.  She was always sort of negative in our appointments, and that rubbed me the wrong way.  I had loved how positive and supportive both Hilary and Patricia had been during Alma’s labor and delivery.  I wanted that kind of support again, and wasn’t sure this midwife could provide that.  I looked at the calendar and saw that she wouldn’t be on-call until much later in the week.  So with all the information Emily gave me, and the on-call schedule, we decided to induce the following night.

The schedule looked perfect.  First, when we would be checking in, would be Hilary.  Then Chris would come on early the next morning, then Hilary again.  I think Patricia was after Hilary.  I figured there was no way on Earth I could go longer than that, especially with an induction.  We left the appointment excited and feeling ready.  We knew that it would be mere days until we would meet Harriet.

August 20th, 2013

All day long I had been feeling contractions, but I figured they weren’t real.  I had thought I was going into labor the week before, so I was determined to be more patient.  I also knew that we’d be heading to the hospital later that night, so I might as well just wait and see.  I didn’t tell anyone I was feeling the intense, increasingly obviously-labor contractions all day.

We had dinner at my dad’s house.  The contractions were getting pretty intense during dinner, but I still tried to ignore them and wait and see.

We left Alma with my dad and step-mom.  It was strange saying goodbye to her.  I knew we wouldn’t see her again until we had her sister in our arms.  I felt sad saying goodbye.

Jesse and I went home to finish packing up.  We were expecting a new Kindle to be delivered that night, and really wanted it for the downtime during and after labor.  Luckily, it was delivered while we were at my dad’s.  We got it all set up and headed down to the hospital.  It’s funny, the things we think are important in these big life moments.

When we got the hospital, we didn’t really know what to do.  It was about 9:30 at night, so the lobby was pretty quiet.  I remember that by this point the contractions were pretty hard.  I wanted to lean against the counter, but I was still trying to play it cool.  There were some people talking to the information guy who would check in.  They kept talking and talking and talking.  I remember thinking, “Come on, people!  Don’t you see this enormously pregnant woman standing here with bags?  Isn’t it obvious we have places to go and people to bring into the world?!?!”  Finally he checked us in and called a Labor and Delivery person down to escort us up.

When she got down to the lobby, she acted all put out that we were there.  Apparently she hadn’t been notified about the induction and said something like, “Well, since you’re here, I guess you can come up.”  I couldn’t believe it.  Here we were, all excited and happy.

We got to our room, which happened to be right next door to where Alma was born.  We could hear another baby being born in that room.

We got checked in, they got an IV port in my hand, and checked my progress.  I was already at 4 cms, and the monitor showed a big contraction every seven minutes, with another small one somewhere between the big ones.  The nurse agreed that I was definitely in early labor and called Hilary to see what she suggested.  Hilary decided that we should hold off on the induction, and that we could go home to labor if we wanted.  I figured – since I was given the choice, and I already had been poked and hooked up to things, and I hated the back and forth during Alma’s labor – that we would just stay.

They put the wireless monitors on me and told us both to go to sleep.  This was about 10:30 pm.  I told Jesse he should sleep, and I did my best to sleep as well.  I’m pretty sure Jesse got a couple good hours of sleep.  I dozed and tried, but I never really fell asleep.

August 21, 2013

I woke up around midnight feeling like labor was really, truly upon me.  While I know that some people are against constant monitoring, I sort of loved watching the contractions coming and going.  It was a clear, tangible sign of what I was feeling.  And I loved the comfort of hearing the constant whoosh of Harriet’s little heartbeat.  I had a strong sense that we were in this together, and loved to hear her.  Sometimes she would move a little bit, and I would lose her heartbeat.  I loved moving the monitor around until I found her again.  We were both working really hard to get into each others’ arms, and I could feel that energy flowing.

I was trying to concentrate on just breathing during each contraction.  I didn’t visualize anything like I did with Alma.  I would just find a point in the room to focus on, and breathe deeply until the contraction passed.  I often looked at a doorstop high up on the wall.

I thought it was interesting that I wanted to do it on my own.  I loved that Jesse was able to sleep.  I knew I would need him later, when things got serious, so I wanted him to rest as much as possible.  With Alma, I always wanted an outside helper, rubbing my back, talking me through contractions.  This time around, I just wanted to be alone, turn inward, be with Harriet.

I did this for about a half hour before I decided to get into the tub.  I remember the hot water being great at managing my pain during my first labor.

Jesse came in and sat with me while I was in the tub.  I think I was in the bath from about 12:30- 1 or 1:30.  I was able to doze a little bit between contractions, then I would grab Jesse’s hand and focus on the faucet during the contractions.

When I got out of the bath, I went to stand by the sink.  I knew I was doing it, I was handling things well, I was focused.  Things were moving more quickly than with Alma – much more quickly.  By 2 I was already 6 cms, and contractions were coming quickly and lasting a long time.  They were coming one after another.

There was a moment where I was having a contraction and I thought to myself, “Why am I doing this?”  Why was I putting myself through the pain?  Here’s the thing – I had seen the Rikki Lake movie just like everyone, so I knew the risks of intervention.  But I also had the perspective of our birth class instructor who told us that there is a time and a place for all the interventions.  I knew that without the epidural and pitocin that I got with Alma, it might have ended quite differently.

It was the middle of the night, and I was tired.  I asked for an epidural at 2:30.  I got the epidural at 3:00.  I had the same moment of panic and loss of control that I had once I decided to get the epidural.  It’s pretty horrible – you finally make the decision that will lead to not having to feel the pain anymore – then you have to wait, all the while feeling contractions.  It’s hard not to lose focus. Hilary came in and we talked about how it was going very well.  She agreed that an epidural would be a good thing.  I was able to sleep a little bit, and Jesse was able to sleep well.

I kept waking up and checking the clock.  I knew that Hilary was going off her shift at 7, so I really wanted to have Harriet before then.  Sometime in this stretch my water broke.

At 5:00, Hilary came in and checked me.  Only 8 cm.

At 7:00, Hilary and Chris were both there for the shift change.  They found that I was almost ready, but that my cervix was swollen, but that I was at 9 or 10 cm.  Hilary gave me a hug, wished me luck, and left me in Chris’s hands.

At 8:00, Chris had me do a couple practice pushes.  She worked on my cervix to get it out of the way since it was still a little swollen.

At 8:45, Jesse was awake and it was time for me to start pushing for real.  Chris guessed it would take about a half an hour.  I was so encouraged and ready.  I remembered some of the good, powerful pushes from my first labor.  I was determined to make all my pushes as strong.  I would often push 4 or 5 times, sometimes more.

By 9:15, I was wondering why it was taking so long.  Chris thought that Harriet was turned in a funny way, and that her shoulder might be in the wrong position.  She called to have the OB on call wait outside the door (this happened to be the wife of an old friend from high school, and I was happy to sort of know the OB who might be helping out).

At 9:45, I finally pushed Harriet’s head out.  She had her hand up by her face when she came out, so I think that’s why it was harder, and taking longer.  I helped catch her, and brought her right to my chest.  She was beautiful, but a little bit blue.  She wasn’t making much noise, and was pretty limp and somewhat unresponsive.  I had wanted to delay cutting the cord until stopped pulsing, but Chris thought Harriet needed some help.  She had Jesse cut the cord, then took Harriet into a little room right next to the delivery room.  I looked at Jesse and told him to go with her.  Chris also told the nurse to call the NICU team down.  At this point, I got pretty nervous.  It was strange to have Harriet taken away right away.  I was just very happy that Jesse was with her.

After a couple minutes, Jesse came out and gave me the thumbs up and told me she was okay.  I knew she would be, but it was still scary.  In fact, she was fine by the time the NICU team was there.  Chris just waved the oxygen mask in front of Harriet’s mouth and nose and she perked up.

She came back to me, and nursed right away.  She was so beautiful, and perfect, and different.

Mom brought Alma back to the room.  Alma seemed upset and confused.  I think it was strange to see me in the strange bed, holding another baby.  It was amazing to me to see her as someone else.  She went from being my baby Alma, to being a big girl, a big sister.

And Then We Were Four.

That’s the end of the story, but it’s also the beginning.  That’s the story of how we became the family that we are now.

Hilary and Chris were both able to come visit us during the day.  One of my regrets from Alma’s birth was that I didn’t get a picture of Hilary holding her.  I decided that having a photo of Hilary holding Harriet would be almost as good.  So below, you can see our wonderful, beautiful, loving, supportive, incredible midwives.  Hilary and Chris.  They will always be a special part of our daughters’ stories, so will always be important to us.

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Posted in: created., parented. | Tagged: alma, baby, birth, birth story, harriet, midwives, motherhood, Parenting
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If God said, ‘Rumi pay homage to everything that has helped you enter my arms,’ there would not be one experience of my life, not one thought, not one feeling, nor any act, I would not bow to. -Rumi

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