Elliott: Three Months

Three months! This past month has been fantastic. I feel as though we are finally figuring things out a little bit, and it seems like things are getting easier. I'm sure part of that is that Elliott is a little less demanding (eats less frequently, can be entertained easier) but also has a lot to do with us learning more about what makes him tick. Now, when he gets fussy, I often know why and can rectify the problem pretty quickly. Chris also, is a lot more confident in not only knowing why he is upset, but also in knowing how to easily soothe him. For me, this has been the most exciting change. I now enjoy nice long hot showers (without straining to hear of he is screaming) trips to the grocery store alone, and lunches/outings by myself. I can't tell you how amazing that is for my emotional health!

Be The Help He Needs

Chris and I wake up in very different ways. Once I am out of bed, I'm up. I'm ready for the day. Before Elliott arrived, half the time I would make the bed before I even went to the washroom. (These days, for obvious reasons, the bed gets made a little bit later) Chris always comments on how quickly I move in the mornings - I can make coffee and breakfast, all while tidying the living room and kitchen from the night before.

Chris on the other hand, needs a little more time to fully wake up. If I'm still in bed when his alarm goes off he'll press snooze and move to the couch so the next alarm (or two or three!) don't wake me up. Then at the very last moment possible he'll slowly drag himself to the washroom, get dressed and hurry out the door. Often sleep takes precedence over breakfast, and sometimes over making lunch as well.

Babies Cry (Who Knew?)

Can we talk about how hard it is to not make excuses for your crying child?

"He didn't get a good nap this morning"
"Maybe he has gas"
"Oh, he's just out of sorts today"
"I think he's too hot"

The truth is that one or all of these might be right, but most of the time I have no idea.

Light, Darkness, and House Plants

I have never had a house plant before. I know, I know, it sounds crazy and silly. I've lived on my own since I was 19 (well, minus the couple of times I moved back in with my Mom, but those are stories for another day.) I have always assumed I would be no good at keeping them alive, and so when people asked why I had no plants I would just fib and say that I kill them all, and there's no point. This is all a precursor to explain my naivety when it comes to plants, which is probably why this is a brand new concept to me...

A few weeks ago I brought home my very first house plant. I planted it myself in a pot that I painted myself (well, partially. I mean, I totally helped paint it) The first few days I was diligent in watering it. It had a few tiny flowers on it when I first brought it home, and I was excited when a few more popped up. I was rocking at this plant thing! Until... I forgot about it. I don't know what happened, but I'm pretty sure I should have watered it more.

Elliott: Two Months

Two months already? Time is literally flying by. It's amazing how much this little man has grown and changed in the last month. I've been jotting down notes as the weeks go by which I am so thankful for because I'm not sure I would remember what happened in weeks 4-5 if I hadn't!

Why I Chose A Midwife (And Why I Would Do It Again!)

I don't know exactly when it happened, but sometime in my early twenties I found myself leaning towards a more natural lifestyle. You might call me a bit of a hippy, or "crunchy" as they call it these days. I prefer to eat natural, whole foods (organic when possible/affordable.) I look for eco friendly products, and/or use natural products (vinegar) to clean with instead of chemical laden alternatives. I make my own granola bars rather than buy the ones in the stores that are choc full of preservatives and ingredients I can't pronounce. Also, Chris and I see a Naturopath- in many cases we feel this approach to our health that we feel is more effective than traditional medicine alone.  I'm not 100% with any of this, but it's something I try to be intentional about, and something that I enjoy.

When we started thinking seriously about having a baby, I had a couple of friends who had experiences with midwifery vs. doctors and I was intrigued. After asking a couple of questions, the reasons they had for choosing a midwife over a doctor seemed to line up with my beliefs and way of living.

"Is He A Good Baby?"

I can't count how many people have asked me this question. Young and old alike, it seems they all want to know:

"Is he a good baby?"

Oh dear friend. There are so many things I want to say when you ask this...

Is he a good baby? Well, he is a good and perfect gift from above, if that is what you are asking. He is perfect in his parent's, and more importantly in his Creator's eyes. We could not imagine hoping for or wishing for anything to be different about him. Is he good? Oh yes friends. He is good. Could you really picture me, his mother, answering any other way??