Big baby!!

OK, so we took Charlie to his four month check up on Friday. He is 18 pounds 4 ounces and 27 inches long.
WOW, big baby. Ethan weighed 18 pounds at a year.
The house is finally getting put together, and I will update the pictures soon. I just got the new camera, so I will run around taking pictures galore.

The House!!!

OK, so we bought a house back in April.. ok well we went under contract in April, didn't actually sign until June. Micah has spent the last month transforming it from what it was (a place I only hardly wanted to fess up to owning, just teasing) to a place that I can't wait to move in to.
Well, I thought I would post the before pictures because as of next week...
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We will be able to finally take the AFTER pictures. Yup, we will be moving into the house next weekend, and I am very ready. I am tired of living out of boxes and tripping over boxes, and packing boxes, and... well you get the picture.
So here they are, the befores:

The House!!

Charlie's Birth Story

My birthing time started Thursday morning at 3AM. I woke up with pressure waves 3 minutes apart lasting 60-90sec. I was pretty excited that this might be the real thing. (since we had several practice sessions over the previous weeks.) They were strong enough that I could not sleep through them, so I used my wonderful Hypnobabies CDs and allowed the experience to fill me. At about 5:30, my husband woke up and I told him he needed to stay home from work because today was the start of our birthing day. They continued to be between 3-5 minutes, and I was able to relax through them wonderfully. I called in my birth support (my doula Marie Johnson and Natalie Permann - my birth photographer) I continued to relax beautifully, and my husband used the “relax” and “release” cues. He was amazed at just how relaxed I would become with the release cue. (which was my favorite) We ended up calling our midwife around 1 because we wanted to be checked, but not at the hospital. We meet her at the office and I told her that I didn't want to know the number of where I was (since that was so emotional for me during my last birth to know how slow I was progressing) I told her if I was less than a 6 to tell me to go home. She checked me and said I was good to go home. (This was hard for my husband, as he really wanted to know where I was at, but he totally respected my wishes not to know.) We went home and continued to have waves all night. They slowed during the night to about 7-10 mins. I thank hypnobabies for the small amount of sleep I did get. I used the shower several times over the course of the morning, but I could feel my waves getting stronger. At about 6am on friday they were about 3 minutes lasting almost 2 mins. I woke my husband and called my doulas back to my house. I felt all the signs of transformation, and I welcomed it. At one point they were only about 2 mins apart lasting over 1 minute long. I know that if it weren't for Hypnobabies, I would not have lasted this long. this 2-3mins apart lasting 90 seconds or more lasted until about two in the afternoon when I told me husband we should head to the midwife to be checked once again. This time I told her I wanted to know where I was at, I felt this was the right thing to do. She informed me that I was about 3cm and almost fully effaced. My baby's head was still high, negative 1 or 2. At this point we talk about our options and decided to break my water to see if we could get his head to move down. My midwife ruptured my membranes and I continued to use my Hypnobabies tracks. My doulas and midwife commented on how my charts on the computer changed when I was listening to my Hypnobabies tracks. My midwife later told me that she was sure it was the Hypnobabies that kept my sons heart rate steady and kept him out of distress the whole time. At about 1am Saturday morning we had made it to a 10, with a small lip, and my midwife allowed me to start pushing. We kept this up for a while, her holding the cervix back, and my birth support team couching and supporting me the whole way. At about 3am he still wasn't moving past the pubic bone and we knew it was time for a repeat cesarean birth.

Our little guy was born happy and healthy, and I was able to hear his first cries. (with my first c/s I was put under a general and wasn't able to nurse my son until he was 3 days old) I was able to hold and nurse him right away. Though we ended with a cesarean birth, this time it was a completely different experience. I was so grateful to be able to work through the birth process with my husband and my birth team. I was grateful to experience pushing and to know I tried everything to have a VBAC.
I had such a wonderful birth, and personally know how well Hypnobabies works. 50 hours of continuous waves and not once even thinking I wanted to quit.
I had a great surgeon who checked my pelvis while he was doing the c/s and gave me more information on the shape of my hips and why my vbac didn't work. This was a great relief for me to know how my body was shaped, and why I had 2 cesarean births.
I loved using Hypnobabies myself, and know it made all the difference in my comfort during my birth.

They grow too fast!

Ok, the other day I had the brilliant idea to go out to the bird refuge. Uh, yeah, it was freezing and there were no birds to be seen. But Ethan enjoyed be out and about all the same. He is getting TOO BIG!!!

Visiting Dad at Work

The other day Micah forgot to bring something to work and asked me to bring it him. When we got there, Ethan and I got the grand tour. Ethan was very excited, and even got to operate the forklift. I love that he gets so excited to be where dad is.
He is such a daddy's boy, and I LOVE that about him.

Baby Yoga!!

Ok, so one of my kicks this pregnancy has been prenatal yoga. And my favorite part, is having Ethan doing it with me. I managed to catch a few pictures. Enjoy!!

Elizabeth Pantley, New Book

OK, so I completely LOVE the No Cry Sleep Solution. And now Elizabeth Pantley has a new book called The No-Cry Separation Anxiety Solution. This is what the book review says:
"BOOK SUMMARY FROM THE PUBLISHER

A tear-free approach to child separation blues—from the bestselling No Cry author a generation of parents have come to trust

Almost every child suffers some sort of anxiety during their first six years of life. Babies cry when grandparents hold them, toddlers cling to mommy’s leg, children weep when their parent leaves them at daycare, at school, or to go to work. This can cause frustration, sadness and stress in an already too-busy day and can break a parent’s heart.

Trusted parenting author Elizabeth Pantley brings you another winning no-cry formula that helps you solve these common separation issues. Pantley helps you identify the source of anxiety and offers simple but proven solutions.

In this exciting addition to the series, she ingeniously includes a free “magic” bracelet inside the book as a special tool for children to feel close to their parents—even when they’re not together. This successful method gives anxious children something to remind them their parents aren’t too far away—instantly providing them with the comfort and reassurance they need."

All I know, is that I love her books, I have ordered the No-Cry potty training solution, and cannot wait for it to arrive.
Check out her website: http://www.pantley.com/elizabeth/
I just like to share the good reads I find

What a day!!!

So today we had our cousins over to play. Well, while I was in the bathroom, they decided that they needed to dup 2 boxes of Mac and Cheese, a bag of Goldfish, and a large bag of Purple sprinkles on the bedroom floor.
Needless to say, Ethan's floor is very clean now.
Look at the pictures.

birth tub!!

Well we have decide to rent a tub rather than buy one. We are renting a La Bassine birth tub from a midwife friend of mine. No, we are not birthing at home, but since I am a VBAC, the hospital will not allow me to get in the tub once I arrive. I will be put on continuous monitoring (BLEH!!!!)
Since we are planning on staying home as long as possible, and the pitiful tub I have in my bathroom will not cut it come the big day, we went with renting a birth tub. I am actually really excited, water is considered natures epidural, so this should hopefully help with the natural birth plan we have.

hmmm, it has been a while!

Well it has been a while since I last got on here. We are currently sick here in the Lloyd household. NOT fun. But on the good side, baby is getting bigger and bigger, and little man is getting more and more excited about meeting him. He told me the other day that he was excited to share a room with the baby so then he could play with HIS toys.
We are also currently playing the name game, trying to figure out exactly what we will call this monkey, once I can no longer get a way with calling him monkey. It is fun, and a little frustrating at the same time. It is hard to say "here child, this will be your name for the rest of your life, hope you like it." Plus, I think middle names are easier than first names. And my bigger hitch, nicknames. Every name we find, I think of all the many nicknames we could have. Since I hate certain nicknames, this makes it tricky.
That's ok, we still have time, right?

IT'S A BOY

Ok, so life is busy, and so updating my blog is slow. We had an ultrasound and it confirmed, we are having another little guy. We are so excited. Now the real fun begins, picking out names :) It is so hard to pick a good name. It took us so long with our first, that who knows how long it will take with this one.
Ethan, is taking to the idea of a brother quiet well. He enjoys talking to my belly, and often will shout "Wha-choo doing?" It is so CUTE!!
It will be fun to welcome this new little addition to our family in the spring.

new website

Ran across this VBAC website, thought it was amazing.
"Are VBACs High Risk? Quite simply, no. Bruce Flamm, MD states in Birth After Cesarean: The Medical Facts, that VBAC parents “have been erroneously told that they are in a very high-risk group” as well as “the chance that a VBAC candidate will require emergency surgery is, for all practical purposes, no higher than that of any other pregnant woman” and “the risk of VBAC is not substantially greater than the risk of any type of childbirth.” He also states, “Midwives generally give care to low-risk or ‘normal’ pregnant women. However, VBAC mothers are not excluded. Numerous medical reports have revealed that VBAC is not associated with substantially more risk than any other childbirth.”
If more VBAC moms only understood this. We are constantly being told me are "high-risk" when really, I am not different that any other mother. (with the exception of a small percent for complication)
the site is: http://vbacfacts.com/vbac/
I love it!

I am looking forward to my VBAC. I know that I am taking all the best steps possible help ensure a VBAC. Your body is only part of the equation, the other parts are knowledge (educating yourself) and your care provider. You can plan and learn everything, but if you don't have a care provider who is willing to go the VBAC route with you, then you are setting yourself up for a hard ride.

Taking my own Advise!!

Well so far things have been pretty uneventful this pregnancy, and I am grateful for that. I originally planned to return to the OB/GYN that we used last time. Well on my first visit with her, I immediately knew that something had changed. She was not the warm caring women that I knew 2 years ago. She was cold and indifferent. When I expressed my desire to have a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) she seemed impartial. She told me I only had a 50% chance of that actually working. And "Considering you weren't favorable for birth last time, it doesn't look to good this time. But we will see." (my last appt. with her I was 50% effaced and 1/2 cm dilated....but I was also just SHY of 40 weeks) I was put off at first, then decided that it didn't matter, I was birthing this baby, and she would just be around to catch the baby.
Well over the next month the thought of changing care providers kept coming up in my mind. I realized that she really wasn't supporting my birth, not really. She was only giving me a 50% try and even at that, she didn't have confidence in my body. Not that this affected me, I know my body. But I realized that if she didn't support me now, she would have no extra desire to help me when the time came to birth my baby. So I kept thinking about changing, but it was still just a thought.
Well at my appointment yesterday, I was offended, and finally realized that she had NO faith in me, and why was I paying her for that?
...a little info, so you better understand... I am not a skinny girl, I know this. But I would never consider myself fat. I have a little extra, yes, but still healthy in my opinion.
At my appointment she tells me 3 big things:
1- You've gained 6 pounds, I don't want you to gain ANY more the rest of your pregnancy.
ok, I am not quiet half way, and you want me to gain NO more, so basically for everything my baby gains, and all the extra blood, etc, I have to loose that much weight? ok!!
2- She tells me to eat less than 1300 calories.
I am not morbidly obese, and even if I was, I need to allow my baby to grow. But I am somehow very unhealthy. 1300 calories is not enough for a pregnant lady. Yes, that is the low end of what I normally eat sometimes, but to eat LESS than that, would be absurd.
3- You know, heavy girls don't have successful VBACs.
Um, OK!!! I would like to see the study that says that my weight effects my pelvis outlet and my perineum. Oh wait, I have doula-ed for several heavier women whom birthed their babies JUST fine, vaginally.

So I left my appointment deflated. I was so upset, my care provider basically told me I was too fat to have a baby, and needed to starve myself the rest of my pregnancy. After a good hour of crying, and talking to my sister and husband. I realized that this was stupid. Why stick with a women who only sees your flaws.
This among all the other things I was feeling was too much. As a Hypnobabies instructor I am always telling my moms that if they don't feel that their care provider is 100% supporting their birth, they should consider switching. So, I have decided to take my own advise. I have made an appointment with a local Midwife, whom I have meet before, and will meet with one other.

You must feel fully supported in your birth, of there will be tension. And when there is tension, it will inevitably cause mom to tighten up, and that is the last thing you need while trying to birth your baby.

On a happier note, we will have an ultrasound on Saturday the 19th, just a simple one to learn the gender. We are excited, but planning to keep the gender a secret until Christmas (wish me luck)

Chiropractic and Pregnancy

Well, I've done a lot of research on women who had successful VBACs, and a common theme, chiropractic. So I made my first appt with Dr. Stitcher, and WOW. She is an amazing lady, and I can tell how chiropractics would help to have an easier birth. I am excited, and truthfully it has relieved quite a bit of fear for me. When she explain how my hips were misaligned, I could see why we had such a long birth the last time.

I have my first OB appointment today, that makes me happy too. So very ready to hear the heart beat. I have a doppler, but still waiting on my gel, so I can't listen at home yet.

The size of a grapefruit....hmmm

ok, so today I feel huge, but according to my weeks, my uterus is the size of a grapefruit. Maybe I have one of those massive grapefruits, who knows. All I know is that I feel like I am four or five months pregnant.
But on the upside, I have my first doctor appointment on the 23rd, and I am pretty excited about that.
I told Ethan the other day that there was a baby in my belly, and he politely asked me to open my belly up so he could see it. It was really cute, and he didn't quiet understand why I couldn't. So instead, he gave my belly a kiss and left.
He know keeps asking to see "the baby" and lifts up my shirt. Oh kids are so funny.

Blah, big ol belly

Ok, so I swear I am monstrously huge already. My belly feels like it is already poking out, but micah says he can only tell a little bit. WHAT!! Seven weeks and I should not be showing.
Oh well, all the joy of having a baby. I had a dream a few nights ago that I was preggo with Triplets, YIKES!! Oh the strange things that happen when you are pregnant. Only 2 more weeks til we get to hear that little heart beat, and only three weeks til the big reveal. YEAH!!

Well it begins, the start of baby #2

Well it has officially begun, we are starting the further expansion of the Lloyd family. We are expecting baby #2, due May 2010. We are all pretty excited, though I am not sure Ethan fully understands what is going to happen.
As you all know, I had a cesarean birth with Ethan. Totally not what I had planned on, but beautiful anyway. We are planning a VBAC (vaginal birth after c-birth) I am very excited about the whole thing. Micah is excited too!
We have chosen to nick-name the little one Bean Two, since Ethan was Bean.
Well, I will keep you posted as things continue.