Lots of changes in the works (maybe)

Wow, it's been a long time since I blogged.  Besides the fact that we are moving ever closer to a HUGE change - the addition of our second child - we have a few other things in the works.  We are working on our house to put it on the market.  We've stayed here much longer than planned and are outgrowing this house even quicker than we anticipated.  T, H, and I have spent many a weekend afternoon driving around town scoping out houses for sale and we *think* we've found one perfect for us.  At least it might be perfect for us if it's still available when/if our current house sells.  We are hoping so, but who knows how long that will be.

Next weekend is the beginning of my hiatus from Bengal cat breeding.  I know I'm going to miss having kittens around, but it will be a nice break as well.  I'll still have my adults cats of course, but not having kittens means a significant decrease in the amount of cleaning I have to do.  It also means we won't have any cats in the house while we're trying to sell it since my few current adults will be spending the Fall in the outdoor runs.  I'm going to be able to move my office and craft supplies into the former "kitten room" which will be staged as a home office.  That will also create a lot more open play space in the living room. 

H has been moved from the creeper room into the toddler room at daycare.  I can't believe how fast he is growing up.  It's been a rocky transition so far.  Usually he doesn't mind the move since he knows the teachers and kids a little bit before the move.  But for some reason this time has been harder.  He has been upset when I've dropped him off every day.  It's gotten a tiny bit better, but still it is hard.  He's always having fun and happy when I pick him up.  Maybe it's just this age. 

I am nesting hardcore.  Seriously.  It's even more exaggerated by the need to clean/organize and finish up projects to get the house on the market.  It's also made a little more difficult since I don't know when/where/IF? we are going to be able to move.  Baby S is due in late November and we could still be where we are now or we could be in a totally new house.  I have no idea.  It's exciting but also a bit nerve-wracking.  I can't believe I am already 25ish weeks.  It's going by so fast this time!!!

This photo is from about 10 weeks along:

And this is last week at around 24 weeks:

It's a girl!!!

Meet baby S, due around Thanksgiving!  We just had the "big" ultrasound at 19 weeks and are now officially announcing our baby girl.  I have to say I knew immediately upon finding out that I was pregnant that this one would be a girl.  I just had that serious girl vibe going on.  (I would have been totally happy for another boy though.)  So far everything has been going well.  It took a few extra weeks after entering the 2nd tri for me to get my energy back and the headaches to become less frequent.  But now I am feeling pretty great most of the time. We still have so much planning and preparation to do and we should probably get going on it while the 2nd tri lasts.  I know once I get much bigger I'll have trouble getting motivated to do much of anything especially since it's been so HOT here in Alabama and we've still got a lot of Summer left to go.  I've been feeling a lot of movement the past couple of weeks and it seems she is getting stronger by the day.  I love feeling those little kicks and turns :-)

We have been talking about birthing plans.  I am definitely planning to have another natural birth.  Here's an early blog post I did about natural birth and midwifery: http://musingsofabarefootgirl.blogspot.com/2010/12/natural-childbirth-and-midwifery-i.html

H was born just over the state line in Georgia with an awesome midwife in a natural-birth-friendly hospital and we're planning to go that route again.  I just had my records transferred from my local OBGYN to the midwives' clinic so I can call next week for my first appointment there.  I contemplated a homebirth, but unfortunately in Alabama it is illegal for a certified nurse midwife to attend a homebirth and practical midwives are not recognized.  We also have no CNMs at our local hospital and the policies there are not very natural-birth or attachment parenting friendly.  So if I want to have a homebirth, my options are either birth unassisted or hire an "underground" practical midwife.  I personally am not 100% comfortable with birthing unassisted and T was very against the idea.  He remembers being with me during transition last time and how he needed "someone to tell him what to do" even if they told him to go fold laundry so long as someone else was there :-).  I think it's funny for him to say that because I thought he did great during our last birth.  But I of course want him to be comfortable and he is much more comfortable with the hospital setting. 

There is also the option of an underground midwife and I know of one who delivered a friend's baby.  I had spoken with her before my last birth and she wasn't able to take me on as a patient at the time because she already had a couple births lined up around my due date.  I still would have liked to call her and see if she could take us this time, but I know we cannot afford her.  We have excellent health insurance thanks to my job, but no insurance will pay for "illegal" medical treatment.  So that's out.  I'm still happy to be going back to my previous midwives.  I was very happy with them and the hospital last time. My only concern is that my last labor was fairly quick (about 10 hours) and with the Georgia hospital being an hour away and us having little H to find care for during labor, we will have to act pretty quickly once I go into labor.  I am very excited though!  I am so happy to be having another baby and excited to get to experience birth again.  This will probably be our last baby so I am trying to really soak everything in and enjoy the process.

18 Months Old

It's been awhile since I've done one of these updates on H.  I am constantly amazed by how fast he is growing up.  The time just flies.  I remember as a kid how slow time seemed to pass.  A day was so long - Summer vacation lasted almost forever.  I felt like I was waiting, waiting, waiting...Then I grew up and things started moving.  I guess that's what happens when you have responsibilities and a job and most days are pretty similar.  Then I had a baby and I couldn't believe how much time seemed to disappear - now a week feels more like a day.  Anyhow, H just turned 19 months old a few days ago so here's some updates on what he was doing for the past month:

His vocabulary has increased dramatically - he only had a few words just a month ago.  He knew most of the time what we were saying but most of what he said himself was still just word-like sounds.  He could say Dada, ball, dog, cat, bubble, block, nose, and maybe a couple more.  He is now finally saying Mama with some consistency (he had said it just a handful of times since last Summer and it had disappeared a couple months back).  He has also added cracker, color, shoe, yeah, no, and will repeat (or at least attempt) almost any words that we will ask him to say.  Last weekend he was investigating T's toolbox and I asked him to say "tool" and he did right away.  He can identify a lot of body parts on himself and others - nose, head, toe, eye, ear, belly button, etc.

He knows what he wants and will tell us.  This is more than just throwing a tantrum if we take something away.  It's going to the fridge and saying yeah or no as we point out and offer various things.  He really really REALLY likes yogurt.  He eats it first thing in the morning, usually with T while I am showering.  This is very important to him.  One morning we were out of yogurt and it was major meltdown time - not a good way to start the day!  But most of the time I love being able to know what he wants.  If he wants to color with crayons, he will say "color" instead of just pointing where he thinks the crayons are and whining.  It's a very nice improvement in communication :-)

His manual dexterity is a lot better.  He is eating pretty well with a spoon and fork now, though he still makes a mess.  He LOVES being able to do this himself.  Sometimes T is hesitant to let him and still wants to just feed him, but usually I am all for letting H feed himself and make a mess as long as it's during a time when we can clean it up.  Speaking of food - he has gotten a lot pickier.  He doesn't eat many vegetables and mostly all he wants to eat is dairy products and crackers.  Thankfully he still eats peas and avocados with consistency.  Bananas used to be a go-to but he hasn't been that into them lately.  He is much more willing to actually let us brush his teeth whereas he used to just want to grab the brush and chew on it. 

He mimics even more and is starting to pretend.  He loves to copy just about anything we do.  It's been going on for months, but is even more obvious now.  For example, he has a cloth bag with a handle that looks kind of like an animal cracker box and has small stuffed animals that go in it.  He will pick it up and put it over his shoulder like a purse and then pretend to be leaving the house or he'll take it with him and get on his little riding car like he's leaving.  He loves to color with crayons So cute!

H is still happy most of the time, though when we have to take something away or make him do something he doesn't want to do (like come inside when he wants to keep playing) it can turn into a major tantrum - screaming, crying, rolling on the floor, kicking, etc... it's not pleasant.  It would be nice to be able to reason with him that if he's going to throw the blocks at the TV or at mom or dad we have to put them away.  I know that's going to be an ongoing struggle for the next few (like 18!) years.  Overall though 18 months is a really fun and exciting age and as always I am a little sad to see him growing up so fast, but also impressed and excited by what he learns next.

A few other updates for the month - we had an awesome time house/pet sitting for some friends that have an amazing historic home with a pool.  We got to swim and H loved playing with the dogs.  It was fun to have a sort of "staycation" without leaving town.  I've also started feeling baby # 2 move which is amazing and wonderful.  We know what we're having!  That announcement and more about my current pregnancy to be shared in a new post later this week.

Fun Vintage Finds!

I've been starting to get interested - okay, obsessed - with vintage glassware lately...in particular Anchor Hocking Fire King glassware and 1950's Pyrex.  I've always had a thing for glass.  I have lots of random glass vases and bowls of various shapes around the house that I've collected over the years.  Most of them are from Target or Crate and Barrel and are pretty, but not particularly special.  I do have an old glass milk jug that I found in my grandmother's basement.  I love that piece and wish I'd taken the lot - she had 8 or 10 of them.  I guess the rest went to the estate sale.  Somehow I stumbled upon some Etsy listings for jadeite pieces, like a McKee measuring cup and some Pyrex refrigerator boxes and now I'm hooked.  I found some Fire King Jadeite mugs at the local antique market and they became my first sale in my new Etsy shop for vintage stuff BarefootgirlVintage.  I've listed some of my antique metal card catalog drawers as well though I am still keeping a bunch of them cause they are so perfect for storing my craft stuff.  Last weekend while we were in Tennessee I went to an awesome antique shop with my sister and her hubby and scored some really neat stuff including 2 little square blue Fire King Charm mugs.  I'm trying to decide what to keep for myself and what to sell - it's hard!  I love the thrill of finding a good deal on a beautiful old piece of glassware and I love that they are so functional as well as beautiful.  The Pyrex refrigerator boxes are perfect for me since I love leftovers and HATE plastic :-)  Pyrex also makes some small casserole dishes that are perfect for dinner for two.  In the past I've made an 8 X 10 casserole only to have T and I not be able to finish it cause we're sick of it after 2 days.  Here's some pics of what's in my shop now: 

small red Pyrex refrigerator box

 Fire King delphite mixing bowl

 Hazel Atlas set of 3 mixing bowls

 Fire King peach lustre custard cups

canning jar with locking lid

Stop and take a break.

I have soooo much to do today. My to-do list is a mile long. But H is sick with a fever and sore throat, so instead we are hanging out at home. We're been doing low-key stuff like stacking blocks, reading books. at watching TV. I've kissed his warm head a million times, fed him soft foods, and tried to get him to drink extra fluids. His shirt is sopping wet from him drooling.  I've changed it several times, but I don't remember where I put the bibs. I hate that he's feeling bad, but it is nice to get to spend some extra time with him and take a break from all the running around we've been doing.

2nd Trimester, whoop whoop!

I am 13 weeks and 1 day pregnant, at least that's what the ultrasound measurements said so that's what we're going with (I never had a post partum period).  So that means I am officially in the 2nd trimester now!!!  I am really excited to put the first tri behind me.  I actually had some morning (all day) sickness this time unlike my last pregnancy.  I've had a lot of headaches and been exhausted most of the time.  Both headaches and exhaustion plagued me during H's pregnancy, but let me tell you those are much worse when trying to keep up with a toddler.  I've been feeling better the last week or so and am hoping to get my energy and motivation back soon.  I am willing to bet 3rd tri will also be exhausting so I need to get my to-do list in order and get moving while I do have the time (haha, what time???) and energy.

Some to-do's:
1.  Get caught up with my financial records for my home business - I have all my receipts and invoices, etc but I need to plug the last few months into my spreadsheet.
2.  Get with T and clean up our yard - put away the random tools and empty pots sitting around, plant my herbs, and pressure wash the deck and porch.
3.  Make the cute applique onesies I've been planning.
4.  Organize my desk, craft supplies, and current inventory.

What's done:
1.  Took all the bags of cans to recycle!  I had a bunch just sitting by the side of the house.  Now I'm caught up and each bag is going to the drop-off as it is filled.
2.  Organized the baby clothes.
3.  Pulled stuff from my closet to donate.
4.  Cleaned out the medicine drawer (pretty much everything was expired!) and the pantry.

TIME Magazine - going for shock value

I am really disappointed by the recent cover of TIME magazine.  The picture of a mother breastfeeding her three-year-old is used supposedly to illustrate an article about Williams Sears, popular author and advocate of attachment parenting.  I am 100% pro-breastfeeding and I don't see anything wrong with extended breastfeeding.  I fully believe that many of the United States' health problems could be decreased dramatically if more women breastfed their babies exclusively for the first six months and continued breastfeeding along with feeding health age-appropriate foods from 6 months and beyond.

But this cover really bothers me.

Let's start with the photo.  This is not what an actual nursing relationship looks like, no matter the age of the child.  This is a ridiculous nursing position.  I think they posed it this way to draw attention to how tall the child is.  The mom is glaring at the camera as if issuing a challenge to non-extend-breastfeeding moms.  In addition, the mom is a pretty model wearing skinny jeans and a skimpy tank top.  I guess you can look at it in the "oh pretty girls breastfeed too" kind of way, but I think TIME chose a good-looking mom with her breast all the way out in order to sexualize the act.  Here's a few photos of H and I example of what a real breastfeeding moment looks like.  My H was only about 5-6 months old in these photos, but we nursed in the same position to almost 18 months (we just recently weaned, more on that later).  Notice how little of my breast is showing in the forward facing photo, even though it's a close up.  I would cover up even more than that when we were out in public.

I do wish I had a photo of us nursing from more recently.  But in recent months H was mostly only nursing at naptime and bedtime.  That's another thing - moms who nurse older babies and toddlers aren't necessarily whipping a boob out every five minutes in public.  I suspect that there are quite a few mothers who nurse past a year but go unnoticed because they don't talk about it and no one sees it.  H and I hadn't nursed in public since he was about 11-12 months - not because I was afraid to, just because it wasn't really needed. He's been eating solids and drinking from a sippy cup for awhile, so nursing became less frequent.

The other thing that bothers me about the TIME cover is the phrase "ARE YOU MOM ENOUGH?"  It quite purposely invokes a defensive reaction.  I think every (or almost every) mother questions if they are doing a good job as a mother.  This question raises hackles and puts moms on the defensive before they've even read the article.  It stokes the fires of the mommy wars between working moms and stay-at-home moms, attachment mothers and mainstream mothers.  The important thing is that every mother does her best for her children, herself, and her family.  There is no one right way for everyone.  I consider myself and T to be attachment parenting, but in a much more relaxed way that the TIME article talks about.  The article seeks to put attachment parenting in some kind of extremist box - mothers who are crippling their children by coddling.  In my opinion, attachment parenting is the opposite.  We are striving to create bonds with our children that allow them to feel safe and comfortable with venturing away from us as they are ready.  I hope that the article does create legitimate curiousity about attachment parenting and extended breastfeeding, but I fear that it will just draw attention to us as some kind of extreme weirdos.