Home Birth Community Rocks.

So having a home birth comes with getting to be a part of an amazing community of women. I love the women in the group. Stephanie has provided such a great place for us to all support each other and learn. I love the Bellies meetings every other week and I love the facebook group online. So at 37 weeks they do a frame ceremony for the mother at the bellies meeting. I love mine! Before the group starts talking about the subject for that week mothers that are 37 or more weeks at the time tell a little about them and their pregnancy and what they hope for the birth. Then everyone in the group gets to pass around a wooden frame and write on it with a sharpie a word, picture or phrase about what they hope for, or wish for or just as a support to the mother in her labor. It means so much they things people wrote on my frame. They know the drama that has happened with my family with my past pregnancies and the stuff I have gone through with that. They said things like peace, let go and let god, darkness to dawn, smooth. There is something about having people all come together and give you love and support that makes you feel really special and like you can handle anything.

Another thing I love about the home birth community is the tradition of having blessingways. A blessingway is like a baby shower but different haha. Instead of focusing on the new baby coming and getting gifts and getting ready for when baby is here, a blessingway is about the mother and honoring her and getting her ready for labor. My lovely friend Jessica let me have it at her house two weeks ago. I had 8 friends come. It was such a great night with great conversation. I had each friend bring a bead that represented us as a friends, or them or what they hoped for me in my labor and I got to string in on a necklace for me to wear while I'm in labor. That way I can remember the people who love a support me. I also picked out a bead for my mom, dad and my three sisters to string on there, Noah picked out two beads later for him and Rebekah and I have had a few friends that couldn't make it to the party give me beads to string on there as well. I'm so excited to wear it! I also had them write uplifting things on papers for me to put in a cute jar I bought that day for me to read after I have Abigail. Its purpose is for when I'm having a tough day with having a new baby and 3 other children to care for that I can read them and remember the love I have and also just feel good about myself. My favorite thing we did was I got a henna tattoo on my belly! It turned out beautifully. And the best part is all my friends got to get a small one on their hand :) It was so fun to spend time with friends and just celebrate me having a new baby soon.

So my favorite tradition with having a home birth and being in the amazing community I am in because of it is the candle. Stephanie gave me a beautiful candle holder and candle that I get to light while I'm in labor and then its is passed on to other women in the group to use for the same purpose. It is something that unites us all and reminds us of the amazing community we are apart of. The candle holder is three elephants. The story behind the elephants is that while elephants are in labor all the other women in the herd surround the mother the entire labor in a circle to protect her from the wild and give her support. Someone in the group years before I joined made a comment that the women in the group were her elephants and how grateful she is for them. Then it became something that everyone said. We are each others elephants. 

I am in love with home birth and the wonderful women I have met because of the group :) Even after I have Abigail I am going to continue to go to the Bellies meetings and keep my ties with the group. Afterall I'm going to be having lots more babies anyway and you can never get too much love and support :)   

False Labor is dumb

This pregnancy is so different than my pregnancies with Noah and Rebekah. I started having contractions that seem real and like actual labor contractions around 36 weeks. Then the Monday before I turned 37 weeks I had contractions for 6 hours that were 20 min apart. I thought that it could be it but they never got closer together so I wasn't too hopeful but still thought it could be it. Last night was the worst though. I am 38 weeks 4 days today which is the longest I've been pregnant. I know lots of women go past their due dates or at least right up to them and I probably shouldn't complain because so far I haven't had that happen. But when you keep having days you really think its going to happen and then it just doesn't its hard to not get irritable. Plus I had Noah and Rebekah early so its just what I have come to know as the norm for me. Yesterday started out as a pretty great day. Poor Noah has been sick for the last week. He has pink eye in both eyes and a cough. Sean and I haven't been sleeping well since we have been waking up to help unstick Noah's eyes and comfort him when he wakes up. He has eye drops we got to help so hopefully its cleared up in the next day. Any way, Noah has had a tough two weeks. Sean and I are tired and I'm irritable with the pregnancy stuff and Rebekah is in a hitting stage and Calli has been requiring extra attention so Noah has gotten the raw deal and was feeling left out we think. Sean's mom is awesome and took Noah for the day yesterday so he could just have a fun day all about him and I got a break and just had Rebekah for the day. It was so nice to be able to just focus on one child and play. Also I knew Noah was having a great day so I was so happy for him. He got to help in her garden, make pies, visit with his uncles. He had a blast. Noah is such a helper and he loves the outdoors. I'm so glad he got a fun day with Grandma. He was having so much fun he told her "I want to stay here a long time" So Elizabeth let him spend the night.

Rebekah and I went out with my mom yesterday morning and got our nails done and went to lunch. She had so much fun sticking her feet in the water while I got a pedicure and wandering around the salon. Everyone there just kept saying out cute and silly she is. I just love my Bekah babe. She pushed chairs around and played with the carts with supplies. She is cute so she gets a way with a lot haha. After lunch we came home and she took a nap. My friend Emily came over and we hung out for awhile. Then Sean came home from work right as Miss Rebekah woke up from her nap. The three of us played and had fun. Then at 3pm I picked up my friend Adriana and her two children and we went to the mall to walk around and buy shoes. Another friend, Brianna, met us there as well. We walked around for almost 2 hours and by the end I started having contractions. They weren't regular yet but they were getting more and more uncomfortable each one. we went back to my house and they kept coming. I was getting excited that it could be the start of actual labor but I didn't want to be too hopeful. Adriana left around 7pm. Brianna stayed for most of the night. At 7:30pm I started having contractions that were 10 minutes apart. From there they got closer and closer to 5 minutes apart for hours. Sean started thinking this was really it. He decided to go take a nap so he could be well rested to help me when things got more real. Brianna and I went for a walk around my block and the contractions kept coming and getting stronger. Elizabeth even came and picked up Rebekah and took her home too. Brianna left around 10pm and I kept having contractions. Sean and I watched some tv. I was still in denial that it was happening and kept thinking the contractions were going to stop so it was nice to have the distraction of tv. The contractions kept coming at 5 min apart and were more pinching and hurting more and more. It still didn't hurt a whole lot so I decided to go to bed at 11:30pm. I couldn't sleep because they were still uncomfortable. Then at around 2:30am they just stopped. I was beyond irritated. I finally fell asleep after 3am. This morning I woke up at 7am and I'm just so distraught that I'm still pregnant. I feel like an idiot for getting my hopes up and then it just stopped. You would think that by the third pregnancy you would know. But each one is so different! With Noah I didn't know for sure if it was it til hours after I started having contractions and they slowly got closer together as the day went on and they didn't hurt for hours, with Rebekah it was right away 5 min apart and they hurt right away. This time I have no clue what its going to be like. I just hope when I do actually go into labor this time I will know it. I also just hope I have time to get everything ready at home. 

Today is going to be a lazy, eat lots of ice cream and napping kind of day. I'm glad at least the kids had a great day yesterday. They are my favorite. 

35 weeks-38 weeks

Life is busy with three kids and one on the way. Here is an instagram update on my pregnancy.  

Weekend fun!

Noah and Rebekah were sick for a few days last week and were miserable. We were so happy when they finally started to feel better. Friday Sean texted me and did he wanted to do something fun with the kids when he gets home from work. We decided to go have a picnic in the park for dinner. We invited Grandma Howell to go with us. We all had such a fun time. We went to Freestone Park. It's one of my favorite. There is a little carnival there that has always been closed when I've been but it was opened that day! We fed the ducks bread, ate dinner, played on the playground and then went to the carnival area. Noah had been on a log ride last year when we went to the wild life zoo with my family so this was his second time going on a ride. It was Rebekah's first time going on a ride. I was surprised how much they both loved it! The ski jet ride went pretty quickly but neither of them got scared. Noah kept yelling out to me "I'm not scared mommy! I'm not even scared!" Rebkeah kept pushing the handles wanting to to go faster. Haha. I teared up a little watching them. They are so big! They also rode in the carousel and the train that goes around the entire park. 

Saturday morning I took the kids to the Phoenix Zoo with my friend Jessica and her son Sam. The weather was perfect for a day at the zoo. Jessica is officially my favorite person to go to the zoo with. She is like me with not caring what we see. We just followed the kids and walked casually around. I loved not feeling rushed or having to see certain things. We walked around for about two hours and had lunch then went home. Noah's favorite part of the zoo was the baboons. He thought their butts were so funny and he didn't want to leave. Rebekah's favorite was the lion. She roared at the lion and kept pointing at it wanting it to roar back.  Sam loved the lion too. I enjoyed watching their reactions to the animals. They are growing up so much. I actually just let them walk around most of the time. The stroller mostly just served as a carrier for my diaper bag and lunch. They were so good with staying close by and listening. Afterward Jessica came home with us and we hung out til the evening when her husband picked her up. 

I'm so glad we got to have such a fun weekend with them before Abigail comes. It was nice being able to give them so much one on one attention. Their little personalities are growing and they are such sweet children. They make me so happy. I'm so blessed to be their mom :) 

I've been a bad blogger

Wow it has been months since I have updated my blog. I've missed thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and many pregnancy updates and stories about the kids. I keep meaning to write lately but I feel overwhelmed needing to write about all of those things. It's so much!! So instead I'm just going to give the readers digest version of most of it and do a lot of Instagram blogging. 

Thanksgiving/ Onda visit - Ondalynn came in town for a week for thanksgiving! It was one of the best weeks of the year! I love my tiny Onda sister. I have missed her so much since she moved to New York. Noah and Rebekah just love her! She was melting at all the sweet things they do. Thanksgiving day Sean had to work but he got off at 2pm. He went and picked up Onda from the airport. Me and the kids spent the morning at Elizabeth's house. Then Elizabeth, Scott me and the kids and Nele went on a hike up superstition mountain. The weather was perfect! Noah was so interested in all the plants. Scott told him all the names of the plants and a little about them. Rebekah just wanted to walk around and touch everything. Jim came into town too! He has been in Idaho for school. Since Nele and Constinte (German exchange students staying with Elizabeth and Scott) hadn't ever had turkey we made three different types! We had a roasted, fire pit and grilled. It was all delicious.  The rest of the week was spent hanging out with Onda! We went to the park, played outside and just enjoyed our time together. 

Christmas- We had a great day! Sean had to work Christmas Eve from 2pm-10pm so I took the kids out to Robyn's in laws house. We had a fun night. Noah and Rebekah just love Robyn. They unwrapped the gifts they got from Grandpa Mitch and Joan and from our neighbors. Then Christmas morning Sean and I watched them unwrap the gifts from us. We also did Google video chat with Sean's whole family. Seth got to call from his mission in Hong Kong. After he had to go we chatted more with Jason and Melissa and their family. Elizabeth (Seans mom) was in Maryland visiting them. We miss those kids so much! Rachel Alden and Noelle are so big now! I hope we get to see them sometime this year. Later that morning we went to Amanda's new house and did breakfast with my family. Carlos and Robyn made a fun game for us to play too. They wrapped a gift inside a box, covered it with boxing tape, then put that box in a box with a gift and a bunch of tissue paper and did it with three layers. Then everyone sat in a circle and took turns rolling two dice. When they got doubles they got to put socks on their hands and beat the box to try to get it to open until someone else got doubles. After we all opened gifts we went home for the kids to nap. That evening we had dinner at Scott's (Elizabeth's boyfriend) house with Seans brothers and Scott's daughter and her family. I love how easy going the day was. We didn't have any particular time we had to be anywhere so we didn't feel rushed and we got to just enjoy the day. Noah and Rebekah loved their gifts and had such a fun time seeing everyone. 

New Years- It was basically another night haha. Sean and I stayed home and watched tv while the kids slept. We were in bed by 9:30pm. I woke up when I heard the fireworks and they woke up Rebekah. I'm not a fan of fireworks when I'm sleeping haha. 

Pregnancy Instagram updates/ my midwife rocks- 

I can't believe the last time I blogged I was 27 weeks! I'm now 35 weeks tomorrow! I'm almost to full term :) Little Abigail will be here soon ! I'm feeling pretty good. I have been feeling more Braxton hicks but the heartburn isn't as bad. Little miss has been head down at every prenatal appointment I have had lately. It's always a good sign. I had my home visit with Stepahine my midwife and her assistant Amy and the other I have invited to be at my birth. My mom, Adriana (photos), Myrna ( video) and Tawna and Emily. And of course Sean! It was such a great appointment. I showed her the house. Which took like one minute since it's so tiny haha.  The kids played with Sean while Stephaine talked with me and everyone. My favorite part was when she did the normal prenatal check part. I laid in bed and everyone came into the room and got to listen to Abigail's heartbeat. Noah even got to hold the Doppler wand which he thought was so cool. Rebekah laid her head on my belly and kissed it. Then when Stephanie told me where Abigail was positioned Noah got excited and started to pat her butt. Since then everyday Noah loves patting my belly and saying hi to her. 

These are two memes I created. 

How goes this Pregnancy

RI'm not doing so great on updates on the blog. It's a busy life when you have two children and one borrowed child during the day and all else that goes on in life. I do want to keep a good record for each of of my sweet children though so I will try to do better. I think the last pregnacy update was about the gender reveal which was months ago! My morning sickness finally went away around 18 or so weeks I believe. It has been replaced with heart burn instead. I much prefer that though as it's not as bad. Abigail is a lively soul who moves around with great force. Haha. I think she will have a lot of energy when she comes earth side. Rebekah still loves pulling up my shirt and poking my belly. Noah enjoys telling Abigail stories and making sure she is coming with us when we go places. Haha not sure where else she would go. I love that the kids love her so much already. They are going to be so good to her when she comes. She is a lucky little girl. I'm almost to the third and final trimester! I will be 27 weeks on Wednesday. We have everything ready for her arrival. The birth pool is rented, placenta encapsulator is picked and the birth kit has arrived and everything else we need for the birth and all of her things are set up and ready. Now we just get to wait patiently until it is time for her to come.

I'm kind of sad because the student midwife who had been at all of my parental appointments with my midwife Stephanie has decided to not work for her anymore. She has other plans and needs and opportunities which I'm sure will be best for her but she will be missed. She still goes to the bellies group every other week so it's great to see her there. That is something that I really am enjoying with this pregnancy is the home birth community. I love the group and the facebook group online and the support we all give one another in all aspects of life not just homebirth topics. Being a mom and wife can be trying sometimes and it's so wonderful to have people who understand and can give advice and love and support. I am excited for the new assistant Stephanie will have now. Her name is Amy Roberts. She is actually the one I am renting the birth pool from and she is going to be encapsulating my placenta. Im so happy she will be there to help with my birth. Sean loves that I have this group as well. He says that not only is a it a great support and outlet for me but also its best for networking. He is happy I found someone to rent the tub from for so cheap. Also I'm trading a massage for the placenta pills. He is really supportive of me doing the pills too. He said anything that helps me be me and heal after the baby he is in support of.

Stephaine is an amazing midwife. She is so empowering and kind and nonjudgmental. I like her hands off approach. Im excited to habe her there for me when I have Abigail.

So here are some belly pictures. I think it's basically the same as the other two pregnancies. I make cookie cutter babies haha.

Back to Cloth Diapers

As you may remember we had a bad experience with cloth diapering with Noah and never tried it with Rebekah. It started out ok with Noah but he started to get rashes all the time and also we just got tired of carrying a bag around that smelled like pee. Also they leaked all the freaking time!

This time has been a different experience so far. We tried out a few different brands and asked around to a lot of friends what they liked best. We decided on using Flip diaper covers and bamboo inserts as well as bumgenius all in one diapers. We are careful to not use anything with microfiber that touches baby's skin. We are pretty sure that's what caused all the smell and rashes with Noah. Also we have decided we will only do cloth when we are at home and short trips. If we are going to be out of the house all day or on a bug trip like the zoo or something we will just do disposables to be convenient. Sean is happy with our choice in diaper brands as well. He likes the simplicity of the covers and how trim they are. We used a different brand before that was really bulky and made his butt looks huge. These ones we have now are nice and slim and look like a disposable. Rebekah doesn't really notice a difference. It will be so great to be back to saving money and not buying disposables every month and basically throwing money in the trash.