She's Too Smart For My Own Good

My Lily is brimming with potential.


The potential to be an Olympic discus thrower, that is.


She practices her impeccable technique a minimum of three times per day...during mealtimes. Which means that I have spent most of those mealtimes under the table, balled up in an attempt to shield my vulnerable body parts from the resulting shrapnel. Needless to say, toddler dishes are an endangered species in this house.


My mother (bless her heart) gifted us a lovely little set of BPA-free bowls with suction cups attached to the bottom. Upon serving Lily her first meal in her new bowls, I cackled with triumph and glee, certain that I had won.



But in my premature celebration of victory, I failed to include Lily's potential to also become MacGyver in my calculations.



Within thirty seconds, she realized that if the bowl could not be dislodged from the top layer of her tray, she would simply have to remove the entire layer in order to cast it to the floor.



Undaunted, I reverted to "Plan B;" I attached the bowl to her tray without the top layer!



Score one for Mami!


Or not.



With dizzying speed and precision, she assessed her new predicament, and deduced that she could use her utensils to break the suction.





She's just too smart for my own good.

Every Mother Has It

"There is only one pretty child in the world,
and every mother has it."


~Chinese Proverb

Weekend Thoughts - A Pregnancy Update, Selfishness, and Mercy

Today, I am rejoicing in, and meditating on God's loving kindness to me.


Since learning of baby Lichen's unfortunate position, I have been praying for God's help. Help with my nerves, with my weakness in fearing for my own comfort, and primarily, for Lichen's safety.


I realize that my previous post on the subject may have come across as extremely selfish. Yes, I was overwhelmed by the concept enduring the procedure, and the prospect of the Cesarean birth. I believe that is what appeared to be the focus of my post. But in my heart, I was ultimately concerned that our family would be facing another situation akin to Rose's birth.


And so we prayed. I prayed that God would protect Lichen.


Jordan and I arrived at the hospital this morning, tentative about the day's planned events, but with our confidence bolstered by the incredible support of friends and family (including all of you).


Our nurse fitted me with the appropriate monitors, and noticed that there had been no orders entered for my IV lines. While she was out of the room, attempting to locate a doctor to enter the appropriate information into the computer system, a Resident doctor entered with an ultrasound machine. Within seconds of commencing, she exclaimed, "look, there's the head...right where it should be!"

Image Credit

It would be euphemistic to say that we were utterly jubilant upon hearing the news!


I should have known. I should have known the whole time that the Lord would not only bless my baby with safety, but also to teach my tumultuous heart (yet again) to trust and abide in His love. That in His great mercy (in even the smallest areas of our lives) he would spare me the assault on my paranoia concerning needles.


And also that He would place just the right people around us, to lift our family up in prayer. So again, I thank you!

Driftin' Sand

First of all, I would like to thank all of you for your prayers, consolation, and support concerning my procedure tomorrow! While I am still nervous, I feel much better, having been in prayer. And your outpouring of encouragement has done wonders for me!


But now, on with our regularly scheduled weekly flashback!


I have never met a child who doesn't love the beach. Growing up, my sister and I were certainly no exception. My parents took us to Rehoboth Beach, DE nearly every summer for our annual family vacation.


We have myriad memories that we all treasure, including staying at the same hotel each year, feasting at the local seafood restaurants, strolling down the boardwalk in the evenings...


...and of course, playing in the sand!

Does your family have a traditional vacation spot?

A Breech Of Etiquette

If you follow me on Twitter, you may have noticed that I was feeling a tad despondent after my return from yesterday's OB appointment.


The baby still appears to be healthy, and aside from your usual 2cm dilation, constant Braxton Hicks and intense, I-think-my-intestines-may-fall-out pressure, I am feeling fine. My appointment went reasonably well, but I could tell from my doctor's facial expression while listening to Lichen's heart that something was amiss.


Evidently, my little boy is determined to begin his career as a trouble-maker as early as possible. While he should be locked and loaded for his big debut at this point, he does not seem to be interested in a conventional arrival.

(Image Credit)

Upon hearing the news, I may have created the illusion that I was the very embodiment of graceful composure, but in my mind I was tearing my clothing and covering my head with ashes.


Now, before you roll your eyes and accuse me of being over dramatic, allow me to explain. I have an intense fear of being punctured. I recoil at the very thought of needles and/or blades - I actually become nauseated, and have been known to faint, at the slightest injury. The prospect of submitting to a Cesarean Section has me hyperventilating in a near-panic-attack state (cue the weeping and gnashing of teeth).


Knowing this, along with my desire to give birth in the naturally intended manner, my doctor scheduled an appointment for me to undergo an External Cephalic Version on Friday morning. If you are unfamiliar with the concept of a "version," it is essentially a process in which a doctor attempts to manually turn a baby inside the mother's body, hopefully changing his mind about which way he should be sitting, and increasing the chance of a natural delivery.


I have only heard a version described as extremely painful. In fact, some women are administered epidurals in order to cope with the pain!! Speaking of which, have I mentioned that I have fibromyagia, and therefore feel pain with far greater intensity than a normal person??


While there is approximately a 50% chance that this medically sanctioned form of battery could point Lichen in the proper direction, there are certain risks involved...such as damage to the umbilical cord (which can compromise the baby's oxygen supply), or injury to his tiny little body. To make a very long story (drawn out by my neurosis) short, we are prepared to welcome Lichen via emergency C-Section if necessary.


While I am fully aware that this whole mess is under God's soveriegnty, and that He is in complete control, I am still overcome with disquietude. A mother never wants to feel the uncertainty associated with an unclear outcome for her baby. So I ask that you would please pray for us, dear friends.


As I mentioned previously, the procedure will occur this Friday morning. I promise to Tweet updates from the hospital as frequently as I can!

Wordless/Wordful Wednesday - A New Title

I just can't believe that she won't be "the baby" much longer...




...she'll have the new title of "big sister!"

(Click over to 7 Clown Circus and 5 Minutes For Mom for more WW!)

Sing, Sing, Sing With A Sling

(Or, you know, some other form of infant carrier...)


I am a happy baby wearing mama.



Well, I was when this photo was taken anyway...back when my sweet Lily was still small and snuggly, and not growing up before my very eyes, demanding her freedom to explore the world in that annoying way that kids do.


*Sigh.*


Fortunately enough for me, Lichen will be here before I know it, and I have every intention of wearing him as much as possible.


I carried both girls around in a Baby Bjorn carrier, which at the time, suited my needs indubitably. The one issue I have with wearing my carrier is that I am a somewhat compact person, meaning that I am remarkably, *ahem,* not-tall.


My torso is short, so having a baby in my current carrying apparatus restricts my mobility, limiting the activities I am able to engage in while wearing my little one. (Jordan, also an avid wearer of our offspring, does not have this same issue, as he is taller than I am. We still love our Baby Bjorn carrier, and plan to continue to use it!)


Because I plan to wear Lichen with greater frequency and duration than with the girls, we are hoping to acquire a different style of baby carrier, that will hopefully suit my body type a bit more gracefully.


I'm partial to the the carriers available from ERGObaby, as I like the versatility of the front-or-back design. But then again, I also see the advantages of a sling-style carrier, such as those available from New Native.

So my question to you, is which style to do prefer? What advantages or drawbacks have you experienced?