Maternity Pics!

We had so much fun with Ashley Maone Photography!  She was amazing and as you can see, very talented. These are some of my favorites although it was so hard to pick.  The dress I am wearing was my mom's and the top Ila is wearing was mine!  I'm so glad we have these to look at and remember forever!  Check out Ashley's Facebook page and if you are in the Mid-Ohio Valley area, I highly recommend her! Contact her for a session ashelymaone@yahoo.com or 740-236-2259.

I've gotten a lot of compliments on my dress!  Sorry everyone, it was my mom's in the 80s!  You can either go raid your mom's closet and hope she kept some pretty pieces around or I found this super cute dress that is similar and a great price.  If someone doesn't buy it soon, I might have to snatch it up!

To see more of the pictures, check out my Facebook page!

Pin It

Update- 33 Weeks

I was pretty sure a few weeks ago that I had SPD, symphysis pubis dysfunction.  I am now certain that I do.  I am in a lot of pain and have limited mobility which is not good when you have an almost three year old and are trying to get ready for this new baby.  I am going to the chiropractor every week, doing pelvic tilts every day and wearing a super sexy maternity belt to hold my pelvis in place but still going to the grocery store is more than I can handle.  I am trying my best to stay positive but it is hard!

I also think I am developing carpal tunnel syndrome.  The palms of my hands will randomly feel like they are on fire and it radiates out to my fingers.  Just add it to the list!  This baby is trying it's damnedest to make sure it is the last baby that I ever give birth to!  Also, have you noticed how HOT it is?  Well, I have.  It is too hot.

My poor husband has to do everything.  I can't do much walking, bending, lifting, anything really.  He has to do most of the shopping, cleaning, and more cooking than he's used to.  I still do some cooking mostly sitting at the table chopping ingredients while he stands at the stove cooking the ingredients.  He also has to make sure Ila is being played with because I am not much of a playmate these days and he has to take care of me.  He's doing all of this while still working and manages to rub my sore back almost every night that he's here.  He's really stepped up and I'm very appreciative.

On to some positives.  I have made several frozen meals and am working on some more for after baby is here.  I have found the beauty of freezer to slow cooker meals.  I can make four meals in under an hour that are ready to just put in the crock pot the morning we want to eat the meal.  They are full of vegetables and healthy ingredients.  You can find more at another blog which I love, Mama and Baby Love.  So far I've made two sausage, pepper and onion meals, two fajita meals, two teriyaki chicken meals, two savory chicken meals, and three pounds of cooked ground beef with onions, peppers and garlic that I can use for anything from tacos and enchiladas to adding it to marinara or putting it on a pizza.  I'm so excited about this and have at least a dozen more I want to make.  I'm going to come up with a few of my own, too!  It's something I can do while sitting for the most part so I feel accomplished!

I also have a very active baby growing away inside of me.  Sometimes I just see the end of my pregnancy as just that, the end of my pregnancy, but I also will be given a wonderful gift and I have to try and remember that this is all happening for a reason.

Please join me on Facebook for more updates! Pin It

My Birth Bundle- Birthing From Within

Walking the labrynth.

We had our last Birthing From Within class this week. It was a wonderful experience that I believe better prepared me for the birth of this sweet baby and also brought me closer to my husband. Forget those classes that the hospital offers. I highly recommend this class to anybody expecting a baby whether your first or tenth.

On the last day of class, the ladies were asked to bring a birth bundle. It should contain at least three objects. One that represents the mother, one that represents the father, and one that represents the baby. It should be wrapped in a cloth of some sort that has meaning and is all bundled up but can easily be opened. We sat on the floor in a circle and shared out bundles with everyone.

For the motherly object, I chose my birth candle. It is very special to me because it was lit during the birth of two of my friends that I am incredibly inspired by. When I think of motherhood, I think of being lit up. Like being on fire. Motherhood has made me radiate with passion like the flame of a candle so I felt the candle was perfect and it is a sisterhood of support.

For the fatherly object, I chose a tree. A strong oak tree. When I think of Dru, I think of stability, reliability, safety. We got married at eighteen and twenty and are about to celebrate our ten year wedding anniversary. His roots are deep and he is always there to provide comfort and I believe he always will be. He is an introvert that needs to analyze things before diving right in. He is always changing and growing but sometimes it is not noticeable until you look back, similar to when you see a picture of the tree in your back yard from a few years ago and it looks so tiny even though you never noticed it growing. He is my tree and I feel most at home being wrapped in his branches.

For the object to symbolize the baby, I chose sunshine. When I began bleeding this pregnancy after recently miscarrying a baby, I was devastated. We all were. I would sit and cry and sing to my baby. Ila would comfort me and sing with me. We would sing, “You are my sunshine.” I would always bawl my eyes out at “please don't take my sunshine away.” We found out we had lost a twin which was really hard but we also found out we had a healthy baby whose heart was beating away. This baby is our sunshine and we are so aware of how blessed we are.

Funny story on how I got the actual object. I couldn't find anything at home that represented sunshine so I headed to the store. I asked Ila if she wanted anything and she said, “bowling”. During our four week class, our friends graciously watched Ila for us so we could get this experience. Ila played bowling there so I decided it was a good gift for me to pick up for her. While walking the ENTIRE store, I couldn't find anything to represent sunshine. I was about to leave and I looked down at the bowling set box and right on it was a picture of a sun that said, “My Sunshine” right on it. Just a moment that I felt that I was exactly where I was supposed to be doing exactly what I was supposed to be doing.

I added one more object to my bundle. The moonstone I wore while I was in labor with Ila. My mom gave it to me and I will wear it or at least bring it to this birth. I just felt it needed to be included.

For the cloth that bundled it all together, I used a sleeve from my great grandmother's robe and a scarf that belonged to my other great grandmother. Two very special pieces.

It was emotional to share my bundle but I'm so glad that I got the opportunity. The guys had surprises for us to end the class but I'll keep that a secret in case you are going to be attending. It was wonderful!

Did you take a birth class?

If you are in the Charleston, SC and interested in Birthing From Within classes, please check out http://www.boygirlbirthsupport.com.


Check out my Facebook page!

Pin It

The Way He Looks at Her

 I've seen that look before,
That's the way he looks at me.
Now I know for sure,
He's in love with her I see.

I don't know who could blame him,
She's a beauty in everyway.
I didn't know I'd feel like this,
Seeing him this way.

I hope she comes to know,
How special his love is,
All I see is happiness,
In those eyes of his.

That's the way he looks at me
Now that's the way he looks at her.

                                              I'm the luckiest girl in the whole wide world

Cause we're both in love
With our baby girl!

Pin It

Pass the Placenta, Please!

What if you heard of a magical pill that was made just for you that helped ward off postpartum depression?  What if you learned it also helped with postpartum recovery such as bleeding and helping your uterus return to its original size quicker?  Milk production?  Yep, it helps increase it!  It also helps balance your entire system and replenishes nutrients lost during childbirth.  It gives you energy and just helps you have a happier postpartum period.  It could even help you adjust to menopause!  The best part, no scary side effects!

 Sounds great right?  You would take it in a heartbeat if it were prescribed by a doctor.  Well, what if you found out it was your placenta?  Now, when I first envisioned eating a placenta it looked like a bloody scene from a Rob Zombie movie.  A creepy stepford housewife sitting in her beautiful dining room wearing a floral dress with a fresh placenta on her plate and fork and knife in hand, with blood dripping from her too perfect smile.  Okay, maybe that was too far but it definitely was not something I ever thought I would do in my life. I thought it was just a crazy cultural thing that was more spiritual than anything else.   It was fine for other women but not for me.

 I then started learning more and more about ingesting your placenta.  You don’t have to actually eat it although some women do.  I am having mine made into capsules so they will look just like any other pill or supplement.  You can take them as needed.  The only side effects I can find are that if you take too many, you may get a headache and that you could have an abundance of milk which to me is not a bad thing.  Most other mammals eat their placentas.  However, most of them eat their own poop on occasion so I guess that’s not a very good point.

 I contemplated doing it myself but after talking it over with some other mamas, I decided to have someone else do it for me.  I am going to have a brand new baby and I'm not even going to cook for awhile.  I certainly don't want to be trying to figure out how to encapsulate my placenta! 

 I am very excited about this!  This amazing organ that I grew in my own body kept my baby alive and healthy, will continue to bless us.  I am anxious to compare postpartum experiences between my daughter which I did not ingest the placenta and this time.  I did not experience postpartum depression with my daughter however I do think I might have had some slight baby blues around the one month mark.  I also could have used an energy boost and a speedier recovery.

 I completely understand that placenta encapsulation is not for everyone.  I by no means expect you to ingest your placenta.  I am just sharing why I am doing so.

 Did you encapsulate your placenta?  How was your experience?  Would you consider placenta encapsulation?  Do you have any other advice I might want to know or any benefits that I missed?

Want to learn more?
http://placentabenefits.info/
http://www.drmomma.org/2010/08/happy-pills-placenta-encapsulation.html

Pin It

Some Thoughts on Our Sweet Baby's Due Date

There are many times of the year following a miscarriage that are hard. Today is one of them for me. My sweet baby's due date. I did pretty good on Mother's Day. I only was sad for a few moments. I was proud to be all of my children's mother: the one that's here, the two that no longer are, and the one that I can't wait to meet.

Every woman and every family is different. Almost as soon as I miscarried, I decided that I needed to be pregnant before my due date came. I felt somehow that would help me cope because I would have a baby in my life that I loved that wouldn't be here if I hadn't miscarried. Some women can't stand the thought of the pregnancies overlapping, some just need time to cope with the loss of their baby, and some decide they are no longer want to be pregnant. There is no wrong way to approach this. Whatever works for your family is what is right.

Women that are due around when my sweet baby was due are complaining about how uncomfortable they are and how they can't wait to meet their baby. I don't blame them. I know how uncomfortable it is at the end and how anxious I was. I just wish I was complaining, too. Some women have already had their babies and are holding and loving them and figuring out this new life. I'm so happy for them but I wish I were holding my baby, too.

I never really felt any jealousy or resentment towards other pregnant mothers. I was still incredibly happy for them. What has bothered me are the parents that seem to think their children are inconveniences. The ones that yell at their children and make them feel small and insignificant. I just want to scream at them, “Don't you know what a miracle he/she is? You are so blessed and your sweet children just want your love and attention!” Now I'm not perfect and I get frustrated and lose my cool with my daughter sometimes. I'm talking about the parents that are rude, disrespectful, and seems their number one goal is to break their poor child's beautiful spirit.

I am trying to be patient and graceful as I wait three more months to hold my baby. I will be spending today holding my miracle, as much as she'll let me. Please, go and hold your miracle(s). Appreciate how amazing they are. If you are still waiting for a miracle of your own, please notice all of the miracles around you and find the love you have in this world.

Pin It

A Sling and My Boobs

Ila's Room.  Many hours spent rocking in this chair.
Not many sleeping in the crib.

Well, I think it might be true what they say. It is just different with a second child. We had everything under the sun that a baby could possibly need/want weeks before Ila was born. We had a huge baby shower where we got so much stuff, we couldn't fit it all in the car to take home and had to have our families bring some of it with them. We had a nursery decorated and furnished with a crib, comfy rocking chair, changing table and everything we thought we needed. She had so many clothes that she didn't end up wearing a lot of them. When I think about how much money was wasted, I cringe.

Look at all this stuff.  This isn't even half of it.

This time around is completely different. This baby is not getting a nursery at all. We are not getting a crib or any other furniture really. Ila never really slept in her crib so we are not purchasing a large item until we know that this baby will use it. We will put all of the baby's clothes and other items in Ila's room and closet. We did pretty good getting most things gender neutral with Ila so we don't need many supplies at all. We used cloth diapers so we don't even need diapers! All we really need for this baby for the first part of his/her life is a new sling and my boobs.

Even though we don't need much for awhile, we decided to register anyways for any friends or family members that would like to get us something to help us out. We found quite a few things that are not necessary but that would help make our life a little easier. If you would like to check it out, we are registered at myregistry.com under Dru or Brandi Wolfe.   I used other mom's registries as a guide to making ours.

Although we don't need a lot of things, we still want to celebrate the fact that we are a bringing a baby into this world!  We are doing this by having blessingway-type celebrations.  We are not asking for gifts but more for support and love.  Figuring out what we need is making me very excited and I can't wait to get together with our family and friends to celebrate! 

How did you/are you going to celebrate the upcoming arrival of your baby?  What do you think is essential for a baby registry? 

Pin It