mamas gather

glowing faces

round bellies and bright-eyed babies

smiles and laughter

light hearts

loving midwives

delectable food

enlightened conversation

birth stories shared

gifts given

bonds and friendships forged

a perfect afternoon

I had the privilege of assisting and photographing at my dear friend, Julia’s homebirth in September. I didn’t take nearly the amount of pictures I thought I would due to the fact that it was a fast labor and it was SO quiet! The camera was not quiet however, and neither was the 100mm lens I used occasionally. So instead of around 500 photos, I took just under 300. Don’t worry, I only picked my favorites for the slideshow. My friend Tamra, lent me her baby (read: one of her DSLR cameras and all but one of her lenses), while she was on vacation in California. Julia’s little one happened to wait until Tamra got back, but due to a mis-communication, I was still photographer. Our midwife (I say our, because she’s also my midwife), had called her assistant shortly after I arrived, but the baby came so fast, that I ended up being assistant as well.

I was in awe the whole time. Julia was amazing to watch. Her home was so peaceful, and so was she. She needed no interference or help. She trusted her body and listened to her heart. It was such an honor to be there. I told her that I loved the whole experience. I love birth and babies! Thank you, Julia, for allowing me to be a part of this sacred occasion.

I’ve been busy lately with so many things, I can hardly write about them all. So, I’ll try to summarize it…

Knights of Freedom Summit is through! It was an amazing experience, and I was so excited to meet new people and get out of my comfort zone. I was Volunteer Coordinator, and although it took a lot of leg work, it paid off in the end. With very few exceptions, it went off extremely well! We had very few problems, and nothing we couldn’t handle. I could feel the excitement and the awesome impact that the event was having on these 130 boys and everyone else who volunteered–from a distance from it all! It was simply awe-inspiring. Thank you, Emily, for asking me to help. I truly needed and appreciated it! If you want to know more about the event click here, and if you want to see the wonderful photos taken by my friend, Tamra, click .

I’m still getting into the AYLI Secretary thing. I had been so caught up in the KOF Summit, that the other stuff has gone to the wayside. So, I’m playing catch-up. Gratefully, it’s not a huge deal. I’ll be working on updating the database which will be quite the task. I think it’ll take longer than Diann wants it to, but I have a family life too. I can’t spend all day calling hundreds of people. She knows that, however, so I’m not even worried about it.

I may be released from my ERSA position as secretary this month. We’ll see. They may just vote me into another position. I won’t mind either way. I can’t give it up! I’d have to move far away to give it up again. By the way, for those who don’t know, ERSA is the Eliza R. Snow Association, and it’s the wonderful book group I belong to…and I mean, belong!

I haven’t posted many pics of the kids this summer. We’ve been hanging out at home a lot and working on our school work…because they want to! David has been home a lot this summer because of unemployment. So, we occasionally go out and about as a family. David’s working on his writing. He’d like to become a syndicated writer and write a book. It’ll be exciting to see what he does with it!

I have a garden this year…amazing, I know! We’ve grown tons of zucchini and tomatoes. We also have had radishes, beets, carrots, cucumbers, pumpkins, and my favorites: peaches and watermelons. I get at least 3-4 medium-size zucchini a day off of my 8 plants. I get lots of pear tomatoes, and some romas and beefsteaks too. I get at least one cucumber every-other day. We just harvested our second extra-yummy watermelon today. It was so exquisitely tasty! I need to harvest some of my pie pumpkins to cook and freeze. I’ve shredded some zucchini in 2 cup amounts for breads and such later in the year. I froze almost all of my peaches, but I did bottle 9 quarts in sucanat syrup instead of the refined sugar syrup. I made tons of apricot jam (as previously posted) and some strawberry jam earlier this year. I look forward to getting more tomatoes and apples for bottling. My friend, , gave me a bunch of her concord grapes to juice–which reminds me I need to borrow a juicer tomorrow! I’ve been abundantly blessed with a bounty of food this year! I’m so grateful!

My friend, Tamra, went on vacation this week, and she asked me to take her baby (aka Digital SLR Camera and lenses) while she was gone. It’s not only to take care of her equipment, but so I can photograph our friend Julia’s birth if she goes into labor while Tamra is gone. Is it selfish of me to want her to go into labor this week? I’ve played with the camera and lenses a bit. It’s been fun, and it only makes my excitement and desire for my own DSLR someday stronger! So, that being said, I’ve been combing the internet for birth photography and looking back on my own attempt at photographing Tamra’s birth. I wanted to get some ideas for labor and birth shots. I went to Tamra’s birth barely knowing how to use her camera and played everything by ear, literally. I didn’t look at anyone else’s pictures for ideas, and I used auto on the camera. This time I know the basics of her camera and I can use the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO settings without freaking out about it. I thought it would be fun to get some ideas about what else to take pictures of. My midwife, Cathy, is Julia’s midwife too this time around. I’m excited to be able to work with her again! Both her and Tamra trust me to not mess up the photography, and knowing Tamra’s abilities, that says a lot! If the photography thing doesn’t work out, well, I still may be assisting at Julia’s birth as Cathy’s assistant. We’ll see. No pressure, Julia, I promise! You know I love ya!

I have several other friends, besides Julia, waiting to welcome their babies into the world in the next few weeks. I wish all of them immense joy and peace during their birthing times. Know I’m praying and thinking about you and your families, my dear friends!

P.S. I fixed the theme again. I hope it stays this time.

Some disorganized rambling thoughts of mine –

I’ve been thinking about the last few weeks of pregnancy with my now 5mo since one of my best friends, Tamra, is due with her fourth biological child next week.

I remember how difficult it was to wait for my body to begin labor, especially after a week beyond my due date.  The only people I really wanted to talk to were my best friends and midwife who knew what to say and what not to.   I knew they could sympathize without making me doubt my abilities to birth my baby without medical “help.”  It “seemed” as if everyone else was so concerned that something was going to go wrong.  It “seemed” as if very few people trusted in my ability to receive revelation for myself and my baby (although I do have to say that these people may not have seen it in this light).   I was irked by it all, but I tried to stay happy and calm despite the negative feelings I received from a few people.   The Spirit is what helped me keep my sanity when Satan was working at making me doubt what I knew was right.

David was a tremendous help, but even he began to wonder if all would be well.   He was ready to check me into the hospital at the first day of week 42.   I wasn’t, however.   I have to say, though, that I couldn’t have had such a wonderful experience during and after the birth if he hadn’t been there for me.  He was such a comfort.   Thank you honey!

My midwife, Cathy, was so calm and trusting of me and my body.   She was an extreme calm in my storm of frustration.   She was always reassuring and willing to help or sit back and watch.   She didn’t seem alarmed at anything.   I think she was too kind when she said I was the nicest overdue mom she’d dealt with.   :)

My close friends were also very reassuring and willing to help in any way possible, whether it be babysitting or just lending a listening ear.   I wouldn’t have made it to week 41 if it hadn’t been for their help.   They always knew what I needed to hear to keep me going.

We had difficulties hearing the heartbeat at the beginning of the pregnancy, yet I didn’t feel like I needed an ultrasound.   I knew that homebirth was right for this baby’s birth as well.   I don’t recall a time in any of my other pregnancies where I trusted the Lord so much.   He gave me comfort and uplifted me when I felt at my lowest.   My recent post on Joy would have been a HUGE help at that time.   I understand, now, that I wouldn’t have felt the immense joy I did, had I not felt the deep sorrow.

I guess I should go into more detail as to what I mean…   I went had a whole day of prodromal labor the week before Wendy was born.   My midwife and friends all came over, but despite our efforts, the contractions stopped and everyone went home so I could rest.   The next week was extremely hard to deal with.   I wanted my baby in my arms so badly.   Well meaning family and friends would ask about how I was doing, what was I going to do if the baby didn’t come soon, how long was I going to wait until going to the hospital, etc…   I was tired of the same questions from different people.   I began screening my calls after a while.   On General Conference Sunday, I didn’t go to a family breakfast because I wasn’t looking forward to more questions.   I stayed home and rested and cried, rested and cried.   I was so emotional, but I hung on.   After getting the kids in bed, David and I talked for a while.   He voiced his concerns, and I voiced mine.   We didn’t argue or anything, just cried together.   After a very emotional discussion I asked for a priesthood blessing.   I felt better and more at peace (like I had prior to the doubting thoughts snuck in by Satan–he doesn’t have a problem with getting someone when their vulnerable).   I listened to a hypnobirthing CD and fell asleep.   I woke up early with contractions.   Baby Wendy was born later that afternoon after 14 hours of labor (not all active labor) and no difficulties.

So my point…I knew with all my heart, that the Lord would bless me with my desire for a homebirth and that all would be well.   If I hadn’t been in the depths of despair (so to speak), I would never have had the incredible joy I experienced when she finally made her arrival that calm, beautiful day in April.   It gives me hope for the next pregnancy and birth.   I know I can do it, and I know that the Lord will always help me if I’m living righteously and listening to the Spirit.

Well, I saw my midwife today for my 37 week checkup.  My urine is clear (hurray!), blood pressure is great (109/70), I lost half a pound, and measure only 1 cm larger than last week’s 46 cm.  I feel good except for a few minor aches and pains, but those are mainly from sleeping.

It looks like I’ll still be in the same house when the baby is born.  I have my birth kit, and we’re pretty much ready for the baby to come anytime.  I wish I hadn’t taken all the pictures down and packed them away though.  The house isn’t as homey as it used to be, but hey, it’s still my home!  At least that’s out of the way. It’s a relief that I know where the birth will be, and yet we NEED to sell the house.  We can’t move until it’s sold.  At least David will be here for the birth.  I really need him, and it’s nice to plan on him being here for it.  Maybe everything will happen much faster after the baby is born, and David will get out to Connecticut (it’ll be better weather for driving across the country too) and find a job quick.  That would be terrific!

Anyway, that’s about it for me.  I need to get off the computer.  I’m spending way too much time on it.  Thanks for reading!