baby vanity sizing?

Okay, so maybe it isn’t vanity sizing, it’s the opposite? I was putting away some of Elias’ 0-3 month clothes (because they are a little short in the body) and pulling out some larger sizes. He can actually wear some of the 6-9 month clothing (at less than 3 months) and he isn’t at all a chubby kid. I think it is primarily that he is long and the cloth diaper makes his torso a little longer even.

in love

Matt and I are in love with each other of course but more recently we’ve fallen in love with our too cute little guy. This is so fun, to see him becoming his own person, becoming more interactive every day. Last night he delivered a twenty minute monologue to Mr. Pig. We tried to take a video but he was done talking by that time.

I feel like I’ve also become better able to meet his needs these last few weeks as we’ve been following a basic routine. I can more easily anticipate what he needs, and this has saved Matt, Elias, and myself a lot of frustration. He has become much more of a smiler, I think especially as he has gotten more sleep. I picked up a boppy pillow at a garage sale for a dollar and he loves to fall asleep on it. He is even sometimes able to fall asleep on his own, something we love.

We are so thankful for our precious little guy! He is such a gift.

Moving out

…of our bed. I’m lying on the floor of Eli’s bedroom because he is sleeping in his crib (not in my arms) for the first time ever. It seems so far away and I can’t hear his breathing from my bed so I need to hang out here, at least for a while.

I’m thankful that he can sleep in the crib, and I know it is for the best but I hadn’t tried too hard to make it happen before now. I love him and I love having him near me.

Double Life

It’s been challenging of late to try to act wisely in our lives here all the while preparing for a life abroad.  At work today I must have smelled something that reminded me of our survey trip.  It reminded me how wonderful a time we had and made me think long and hard about how deeply I (we) want to be used to bring the gospel to another people group. 

These past few months we’ve toyed with the idea of going on a longer medium duration trip to SE Asia, but just last week we decided it really wouldn’t be a good idea to plan too far ahead until we can sell our house and eliminate our debt.  It’s discouraging to think of how much we have left to do and so much here keeps us so busy.

Sometimes it feels like just the getting there part is trial enough to prepare us for being there, but I suppose we’ll never know unless it happens.

We have had a very difficult last year and a half. I don’t want to go into a lot of detail, but probably the second most challenging element of our experience has been others’ responses when we share our struggles. I read this post today, and found it resonated with much of what I’d felt. We didn’t experience the loss of a child but we did experience more pain than we could have imagined. I know that when we were at the worst place almost all words felt trite, even when intentions were good.  Actually, I just found this post I wrote about it. We appreciate so much those who just sat with us, especially Scott and Anna.

getting bigger

101_0945

Originally uploaded by victoria_mia.

I’m thinking that someday we won’t only post pictures of our son here but for now we’re pretty enamored so mostly it’s pictures of Elias! Here are a few recent ones, none nearly as cute as these though.

little friends

101_0927

Originally uploaded by victoria_mia.

Eli with his little friend, who is usually much more of a smiler. I just couldn’t get a smiling pic.

dancing boys

dancing boys

Originally uploaded by victoria_mia.

Elias is two months old as of yesterday. It has been such a joy to see him grow, amazing to watch him learn and develop. I thought I’d be a little sad when he wasn’t a newborn, tiny and sweet, but it has been great even in his short life to enjoy daily development (along with daily screaming and daily sleeplessness). We really love him so much and have enjoyed every day of this privilege.

Some of Eli’s favorite things (determined by smiling or at least not screaming) are dancing with Papa while Papa sings silly songs, playing the standing game (in which we hold him in a standing position), and going for walks. He still is a bit fussy, probably a combination of colic and reflux. He is growing well though, weighing in at 12 lbs even. He is now 24 inches long, apparently a little tall for his age. We are guessing that doesn’t stick though since he has very untall parents.

Elias comes to town

Just born

Originally uploaded by victoria_mia.

 

 

 

Friends of ours just had a little girl and posted their birth story. We had recorded Eli’s story for him right after he was born but I thought it would be fun to post now. I really enjoy reading others’ experiences. I also love telling our story; birthing is a powerful experience. Definitely skip this if you are not into details.

 

Elias,
Getting you born was quite an adventure. Because there are risks associated with babies staying in their mamas too long, we began doing certain things to encourage you to come out. According to our estimations, you were due to be born February 18. You were born March 6. Mama really wasn’t too uncomfortable with you inside her longer than planned and she knew you were healthy in there; she also knew that if you weren’t born soon enough, we might not be able to birth you at home. We love you so much, Elias, and are so thankful for all the time we have spent with you, inside and outside of mama. Here is the story of your birth.

Birth Story
February 26
Acupuncture to induce labor. My mom came with, I felt a little crampy after but no contractions.

February 28
Non stress test with Catherine, midwife
Dilated 2cm
Prostaglandin gel on the cervix, membranes swept
Very crampy with low back pain for about 10 hours
I used breast pump for 2 hours (15 on/15 off)
No contractions, crampiness resolved that evening

February 29
Lost mucus plug.

March 3
Acupuncture with Mary, Anna took me
Slight crampiness for a few hours, resolved

March 4
Matt takes off work for the rest of week…baby is supposed to come today
Non stress test, everything still great
12 hours of contractions beginning at 10am with prostaglandin gel on cervix
Contractions every two minutes for several hours
Catherine came to house to check on us, only dilated to 3cm
Several walks around the golf course
Petered out that night

March 5
Ultrasound, it’s a boy! who looks terrific even though he is stubborn
Liz and Mom D. stopped by, walk with Liz, lunch from Mom
Mom L. stopped by with dinner

March 6, 2008
0930am midwife broke waters
Lots of gushing, meconium in waters but WNL for gestational age
Baby’s heartrate remains in 120-130’s after water broken, midwife tells us to call when we need her
Tori has more pressure, some crampiness starting about 1000
About 1030 contractions start in earnest, hard and strong
Contractions are about two minutes apart from the beginning
We try lots of different positions. Hands and knees under the hot shower feels best but still very painful. We call the midwife around 1130. Contractions continue every 2 minutes, sometimes one right after another. All the pain is in the lower abd/pelvic area, different than expected.
Midwife and two assistants arrived between 12 and 12:30
Contractions continued every 1-2 minutes, increasingly more intense. Tori wass vomiting, sweaty, irritable, not feeling very well! Continuing to try different positions, still without relief. Mostly pacing in the bathroom, lots of low groans/screams with the occasionally wall pounding. Matt inflated and filled the birthing tub (hard job) and Tori tried to use it but was only able to tolerate about two contractions in it. Tori asked C. a few times when she thought it would be over as Tori didn’t feel like she could tolerate it much longer and C. tactfully replied that she was doing great. Tori felt like she had to urinate but just couldn’t go so C. straight cathed her around 1400. This helped a little bit with discomfort. Around 1430, C. checked and Tori was dilated to 6 cm; C. said that was great, Tori was a little disappointed. Matt was feeling a little anxious throughout. He was trying really hard to help in all the ways we’d discussed in our birth class – positioning, encouragement, offering fluids – but Tori mostly just wanted to be alone and not be touched. Matt said at one point there were at least five full glasses of water scattered around the house because Tori kept refusing it.
Pushing starts around 1550. Tori does a few tentative pushes before midwife checks dilation. Fully 10cm! Tori starts pushing on hands and knees but C. recommends trying squatting position. Tori pushed in a squatting position at the end of our bed with Matt supporting her. This is the first time she wanted to let Matt (or anyone) touch her in a long while! The squatting position was very helpful actually, more comfortable for both Matt and Tori.
Baby’s heart rate slowed during pushing (60-100 bpm), C. said we need to push hard to get this baby out now. Tori was given O2 via nonrebreather between contractions to support baby who appeared to be having some distress. C. had Tori push without making a sound to get the most out of each push, Tori pushed about three times during each contraction. There was so much pressure that Tori couldn’t help pushing between contractions.
Baby gushed out at 1633. Papa thinks he saw a little road rash.
Initial apgar (air score) was 5, baby was having trouble breathing, but midwives initiated blow by oxygen and bagged for a few minutes, suctioned his upper airway and he figured it out. Tori and Matt stimulated his hands and feet and encouraged him while the midwives helped him to breath. Second apgar of 8.
Baby came out with excellent muscle tone and color and wasn’t too cone-headed. We thought he looked perfect. As soon as he perked up and started breathing on his own, Elias was placed on Tori’s chest. Where he promptly passed his first stool.
Tori ‘delivered’ the placenta (which felt great) about 25 minutes after the birth of Elias. The midwives then helped Tori back to bed and left the new little family alone for about 30 minutes to bond. Elias breastfed for a few minutes and Tori and Matt just stared at him. He then peed on both of us. We called our families to let them know the good news…the whole labor had been too intense to call for Tori’s mom to come as we had planned.
The midwives came back and checked Tori’s perineum for tearing; there was a second degree tear that M. (naturopath midwife student) stitched, her first perineal stitching ever.
Tori then took a shower with a little assistance from K., other naturopath student; this felt so great. The other midwives changed the sheets while Matt cuddled his brand new son. The midwives also cleaned up and started some laundry for us. Our families arrived about this time (1745-1800) so everyone got to admire Elias. The midwives performed the newborn exam about this time. Elias looked great, weighed 7lb 14 oz and was 20in long. By 2100 our families and the midwives had all left and we were just our little family for the night.