We had a lot of fun this year for Halloween. We enjoyed playing games at the local Spooktacular. We had fun carving/painting pumpkins. And, Jader had fun changing into different costumes with each different activity. She had three costumes to choose from: A pumpkin, bat (not shown), and a lady bug.She loved everything scary, and was quite excited for all of the candy she was given.
Austin and I didn't dress up this year....I know, boring. I have plans to do something fun as a family next year, especially after seeing Lynae's great pictures. I have good intentions of being creative, but it comes down to procrastinating/not feeling well enough.
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I don't know why, but these pregnancy hormones are kicking my butt*. I am experiencing some severe mood swings, an inability or no desire to accomplish much (this occurs every fifth or sixth day), and a feeling of being overwhelmed. I can't explain the feelings, they are just there. Most days I do really well, but on other days, my hormones rule.
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Speaking of butt's*, I thought I had Jader potty trained. I'm talking no accidents for four days, but on Saturday, she was having a hay day with the accidents. She pooped in her pants twice, and peed once. It was very frustrating. It seems that if we are home, she is accident free, but if we try to leave the house, she just goes in her pants (regardless of how many times we take her to the potty to try to avoid the accidents). So, we are still working on it. I just hope she is a champion at it by January, and that she doesn't do any backsliding when the baby arrives.
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I have been entertaining the idea of having a natural, chemical-free birth with my son. And, I am even thinking about using cloth diapers instead of disposable diapers. I have a lot of reasons to do both, but I didn't do either with Jader, so I have to change my way of thinking and prepare myself for the change. Those of you that have done either need to share your words of encouragement with me.
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I've been canning apple and pear juice lately. I know I said I was done canning (twice!), but we went to test drive a truck being sold by a private party, and found five apple trees full of apples and the owners weren't doing anything(?!*?!) with them. I felt bad (and guilty) letting the fruit go to waste, so we picked quite a bit to process into juice. The pears we picked a while ago never really ripened. I don't think they were watered enough. They are mealy. Even though they taste okay fresh, they are even better juiced.
The process to juice fruit is a lot easier and less taxing on me than the other times I've canned. Do any of you have a favorite recipe for mixing home canned apple juice or pear juice?
6 comments:
I'm no help with either the natural delivery or the cloth diapers, although I've considered the natural delivery before. My best friend always goes natural and she read a book on hypnobirthing and listened to a CD as well on hypnobirthing. Don't know a lot about it, but I guess it just taught her how to achieve a deep state of relaxation amidst severe labor pain!!! Good luck! Oh yeah, my deepest sympathy on the potty accidents! Don't they just make you crazy???
I would have loved to have had a completely drug-free, at-home birth...maybe in a birthing tub, this last time, but Camden had to come c-section, little stinker! I did have Tristen without any pain meds and both he and Jarek were delivered by mid-wives. Having gone all three ways (natural, spinal block, and c-section)...I would still recommend going drug-free. Just keep reminding yourself that your body was made to do this. You can do it!
Potty training just stinks! I haven't even really attempted it with Camden...but I need to soon.
I debated on going the cloth diaper route on a few of my kids, I just think there are so many things to be done these days, that the time it would take to clean them all the time would be better spent doing something else, however I do absolutely love the seventh generation chlorine free diapers, they are an organic color.... I love them. Good luck with the hormones. it's true some days are better then others, but keep plugging away!!!
Oh, and I agree with the drug-free way of birth, I haven't ever done it without it, but I always wanted to! Now that I've had 5 kids, they say the chances of an epideral actually working now is slim, so maybe I'll experience it sometime....who knows! I've heard hypno-birthing is good.
I personally have no first hand experience with chemical free birthing, but as a nurse I have witnessed the full spectrum. If it is truely a goal, I say go for it but it has to a full commitment from you and Austin. The stress level is a chemical free room as compared to one in which pain meds are used it quite startling. But if the husband is as with it as the wife then it is a lot better. As far as the cloth diapers and a second kid, I don't think I could do it. The second kid is not an additive change it is a synergistic change. Time is everything. We will be out to Utah the 16th of December through the 3rd of January with the last half of that in Vernal. Would love to see you guys, we will keep in touch or feel free to call Jenny, Levi is never around (school is nuts-o-busy).
Julie,
I know all about the hormones, the anxiety, the tiredness, the not wanting to do anything.... It is all still so fresh in my mind. It is normal, I totally had crazy anxiety about how I was going to handle two kids with Jackson being so demanding and not taking naps anymore and getting up with a baby at night. Good news though, in my opinion you are never as tired as you are than when you are pregnant. Yes, you are tired and it is hard having two kids, but believe me after you have your baby you will have so much more energy. It is still hard, but you just do it. :) Please, Please don't add washing cloth diapers on to your plate. Take a nap instead or just cuddle your new baby. If you want to go natural, try to find the most organic disposable diapers you can. :) :)
About the natural child birth I have many friends who have done it and they loved it. I hear it is the hardest thing they have ever done, but as soon as it is over the recovery is almost instant. But on the other note, I do think Levi has a good point about the delivery being more stressful for everyone involved with it being natural. But I think if it is your goal than go for it! Anyway, sorry for the novel. We just need to chat on the phone or IM sometime. So much to say! :)
Jenny
Hi! I can't say exactly when I started following your blog but I think it was because of your emergency preparedness posts. Thanks for all the good info!
Anyway, I've had three natural births and my experiences were really good. I mean it wasn't "good times" but it was really empowering. We hired a doula to birth with us and it's amazing what they know to do to help manage the pain without meds.
And about cloth diapers. They're not as much work as everyone seems to think. My advise though is to use disposable for the first few weeks till your wee one's "jobs" are more of the yellow seedy version. Also I keep a bag of eco/healthy diapers on hand for those days I just didn't get to the diaper pail.
I hope this is helpful!
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