Day 28: Now and Then

Christmas 2011

Christmas 2010

Over the past year I've moved a couple of times and I had another baby. But I don't feel like I've changed very much; I'm simply trying to follow President Hinckley's advice to "try a little harder to be a little better" each day.

Day 27: The Why Behind the Challenge

In 2 days it will be a year since I started this 30 day blogging challenge. Look at me go!

I decided to take this challenge because I felt like I needed something that would motivate me to blog. And it motivated me more than I usually am motivated to blog; even though I'm 11 months behind where I ought to be in this challenge, most of my blog posts are from the challenge. :)

Most Precious

I am grateful for the status update someone (I can't remember who) posted on Facebook a few days ago. She said something along the lines of, "There is nothing so precious as holding your baby."

It was such a commonplace comment that I only noticed it in passing; in fact, I doubt that I even took the time to "like" it. But it keeps coming into my mind, and the simple thought has helped me to more fully appreciate the sweet smiles, to take an extra moment to focus on my beautiful baby, or to simply be thankful for the moment while I'm standing, swaying back and forth as I watch a movie to sooth a bit of fussiness.

So many people tell us to enjoy this crazy, chaotic time while our kids are young because they grow up so fast. And a lot of times that's easy to forget; life is crazy and chaotic. But my friend's post has stuck with me and is helping me to live in the present and appreciate--now, while she's still a baby--my sweet, precious Tavlin.

Day 26: Friends

The actual topic for Day 26 is "What do you think about your friends?" Seriously, who thought that up? I mean, if someone thinks not nice things about her friends, she isn't likely to post it on a blog that anyone, including said friends, can read! And then, there's the other hand, which indicates that if someone has a friend, they like each other. That's the category I think I fall in. I think my friends are great...that's why they're my friends.

So to make this post a teensy bit more interesting, I thought I'd just list a few things that friends have done for me for which I am grateful.

~Providing hugs and shoulders to cry on

~Getting me out of the house

~Watching my kids

~Helping me identify weaknesses that I can then work to improve

~Calling me on the phone just to talk

~Being my role models

~Hanging out/Spending time with me

~Playing with my hair

~Laughing with me

~Throwing showers for me

~Helping me move

~Making gifts from the heart

~Opening my eyes to see the world in a different way

~Loving me

This is just a quick list that came to mind in a few minutes, in no particular order. I am grateful for the blessing of friends in my life.

Tavlin Emma

I like the way a friend of mine posted her birth story: the short version and the long version. I think I will offer the "sincerest form of flattery" by imitating her.

The short version - Two hours after I had my first contraction, Tavlin was born in the living room about 3 feet away from the open front door, outside of which Eldon was strapped in the carseat of the running car.

The long version - Shortly before 6:00 a.m. on Sunday, August 7, 2011 - Eldon climbed into bed with us and woke me up.

6:00 a.m. - I felt my first contraction. I continued to have them every five minutes or so and wondered if (and hoped) I was really going into labor.

6:30 a.m. - I got up and took a shower. I continued to have regular contractions. I started packing my bag to go to the birth center.

7:00 a.m. - I called Mom and told her I thought I was going into labor and that she should probably head down.

I think I ate a bowl of cereal. I read the checklist of things I was supposed to bring to the birth center and realized that I had forgotten to pack anything for the baby.

7:15 a.m. - I called my midwife and told her I'd been having contractions since 6:00. She asked how strong they were, and I told her that I didn't remember them being this strong with Eldon, but I've been saying that about all sorts of things through this whole pregnancy. (As a side note, I think that God gives us amnesia about pregnancy so that we'll have more than one baby.) She told me to keep track of them and to call her back in about 45 minutes.

7:20 a.m. - I tried contacting various people whom I had previously talked to about watching Eldon, but I was unsuccessful in arranging for anyone to take care of him.

My contractions increased in intensity, and I kept worrying about finishing packing the baby things that we needed for the birth center, as well as finding someone to take care of Eldon.

I was surprised by how hard the contractions were and was starting to think I didn't know how I was going to get through the labor...it was so much harder than I remembered!!

I gave up on trying to get anything done and lay on the couch and groaned through several contractions.

7:50 a.m. I felt like pushing and had Joseph call the midwife. He also managed to reach someone to take care of Eldon, pull the car around to the front door, and get Eldon in to the carseat.

My water broke as I was watching him do these things. He kept urging me to get up so we could go. I got up after one contraction and made it to the door, where I leaned on the door frame to deal with another contraction. As I leaned there, I felt the baby's head and said, "I think I'm crowning!"

Though dubious, Joseph helped me step into the living room and kneel at the ottoman to check, and sure enough, the baby's head was peeking out.

7:58 a.m. I pushed once, and the baby's head came out. I pushed twice more and Joseph, who hadn't even wanted to cut the cord, caught the baby as she was born.

Joseph called the midwife to have her come here instead of the birth center, and then he escorted me upstairs and into the bathtub, where I waited with the baby until the midwife arrived while he went and parked the car and got Eldon and dealt with little details like that.

My midwives arrived and checked the baby and me and actually cleaned up a lot of the mess that we'd created and were overall just pretty wonderful.

Tavlin was 8 lbs. 3 oz. and 20 1/4 inches long, and she is just perfect! We are happy to have her here.

Day 25: My Bag

A couple of months ago I went to a Relief Society dinner that had a purse theme. Among the things they did was give prizes for various characteristics of purses (i.e. who had the most items on a list of things like tissues, make-up, something borrowed; who had the largest purse; etc.). I made honorable mention for almost-smallest purse, because I don't carry a purse. (Actually, lately I have been sometimes; I have a pair of maternity pants that sag if I put my wallet in my pocket, but I still only carry what I normally carry in my pocket in my purse.) I carry a wallet, my cell phone, and my keys in my pockets. And in my wallet, I carry insurance cards, credit/debit cards, driver's license, library card (an essential), some cash and coins, a couple of hair ties, stamps, receipts, and a miniature For the Strength of Youth pamphlet. What more do you need? :)

Oops

This is what happened after I left a picture in Eldon's reach and then let him play with a wrench. And I was in the room, too. :)