Show and Tell Friday
Today, on Show and Tell Friday, I wanted to share with you some pictures of my new apron. It is a vintage apron from the 1950's, and it is so delightful to wear! I love how it ties in the back, and the way it covers a lot more than a simple barbecue-style apron. For more Show and Tell Fridays, visit Kelli's blog.
13 Reasons why I prefer Midwifery Care:
1. Prenatal Visits are often long, because midwives take the time to really discuss things with you.Time spent in the waiting room is usually very short.My midwife treated my husband like he was a critical person in planning our birth. My ob/gyns often treated my husband as though he was insignificant, to say the least.My midwife was just as eager to answer any questions and concerns that he had, as she was to help me.
2.During labor,my midwife encouraged me to eat and drink.This gave me a lot of endurance and energy, though I was tired.
3.My midwife let my have an intervention-free labor and delivery. There was no iv, electronic fetal monitor, or drugs of any sort to interfere with my baby's birth.
4.My midwife believes that birth is a natural process, not a medical procedure. Therefore, she let everything occur naturally. Her actions follow her beliefs.
5. She encouraged me to utilize several different positions during labor. She let me stay vertical, which helps speed labor by at least 28%. If I had been stuck in a bed, I am certain that my labor would have been much longer.
6.She came to my residence when I was in labor, rather than me riding in my van (which always tended to make me puke while in labor) to go to the hospital.
7. She remained during the entire labor and delivery and for a few hours, postpartum. There were no shift changes nor did she just come for the last 5 minutes, to catch the baby, and leave.I was her only focus during those 12 hours that she was there for my labor and delivery.
8.She was as "hands on" or as "hands off" as I wanted her to be.My first internal was during labor! Woohoo!Also, when the baby was born, I got to nurse her and hold her, right away. She weighed and measured the baby only when I was ready.For the first time after birth, I truly felt like my baby belonged to me, rather than the hospital. (The way they always whisked my babies away.)
9.She lets you invite as few or as many people to your birth, as you want.(There will be no medical interns wanting to observe a homebirth.) If I ever want my other children there, she is supportive of that, as well.
10.Rather than making mama and baby leave the home during the early postpartum time, most midwives make home visits on days 1, 3, and 7.
11.My midwife was extremely patient, even when my labor seemed to stall for quite some time! When I was tired, she just encouraged me to rest on my side for a while, and then to walk.
12.For complete and utter freedom in choosing laboring and birthing positions and locations. (tub, shower, floor, bed,birth stool, squatting,kneeling,)
13.When I first spoke with my midwife, I was worried that I could not handle the pain of natural birth. But she gave me a confidence that all would be well, and that I could do it. She never wavered, no matter how worrisome I was. She is a great blessing to me.
Anyone who has experienced natural birth, particularly in a home setting, is forever changed by the experience. Having had 2 hospital births prior to my homebirth, I was utterly amazed at how much I prefer birthing at home. My midwife is also very knowledgeable about what a true birthing emergency is, and she would guide us to the hospital if that was ever necessary.(She would stay with us through the birth.) I am grateful that I live relatively close to a hospital, if there was a true complication, but for a normal, healthy birth, I always want to birth at home.Blessings!
A Mother's Musings
Whoever said "Sleep when your baby sleeps", obviously only had one child. lol Anastasia eats a lot during the night, and often, when morning rolls around, I feel ready to hit the hay. But by that time, I have a very exuberant and energetic 4 year old and 2 year old, running laps through my house. So, it is best that I get up, whether I feel like it or not. :) I have tried to set them up with an activity or movie, and then sneak into my bed for a little bit of a nap. But within a few minutes, everything is simply going haywire. (Particularly a very active little boy, who likes to climb walls around here.) Yesterday, I was exhausted, and in quite a fog, so I decided to try to rest even though Lily and Stevie were not able to nap. I set them up with a movie, and laid down to rest with Anastasia. No sooner had I laid my head on the pillow, then I heard Stevie's feet pounding on the living room and kitchen floor. I did not want to yell out to him to stop running, or Annie would wake up. So I got a bright idea; yup, a huge light bulb was shining over my head! I grabbed my cell phone, which was right next to me, and I called our home phone, so Lily and Stevie could hear me. I was hoping it might stun them that their mother, who was supposedly resting in her bed, seemed to be everywhere. :) So I left a message on my answering machine saying something to the effect of, "Lily and Stevie, this is your mother calling from her bedroom. I am quite tired and I am trying to get some rest. Please stop running through the house, and sit down and behave." Well, this did little to help them to behave, so that was it for my nap. But it was a good idea, I might even try it again. Maybe next time, I can do impersonations on the answering machine.lol I am recording this here, not for pity, not for advice, but simply to share and remember this funny mommy moment. I know one day, when I am old and gray and sitting on my front porch, I will laugh at this, and it will be a bittersweet memory. For then, my sweet little blonde boy, will be grown and I will ache for him. I will long for just one more day of seeing him climb my walls, and trek his muddy shoes through my house. These are the things that I must remember when I am in the throes of raising my little ones. With motherhood, they say the days are long, but the years are short. Time is already flying as I watch my little ones grow. They truly are my greatest treasures. I must go....I hear a chair sliding in the kitchen; Stevie has found the Oreos! May you cherish your treasures, today. Blessings!
The Beauty of Aprons
Aprons are a new love to me, they provide both a sense of nostalgia and service.I was first introduced to aprons by my (late) Grandmother, and they remind me of the precious times I cooked with her. The modern feminist will look at aprons with immense detestation; but to me, they are a reminder of the joy of sacrificing for loved ones. Whether I am donning an apron to clean my house, or to bake an apple crisp, I rejoice in caring for those in my household. The Proverbs 31 woman is a diligent worker, and we are to "roll up our sleeves" and work hard, and our aprons are a sign that we are busy at work. Mrs.Catherine wrote an excellent post, last week, on the importance of wearing aprons. Lorrie Matthews also has written a lovely article called "The Return of the Apron." She owns the lovely Amelia's Aprons Website. I bought a very lovely 1950's vintage apron on Ebay for $11. I am so grateful that there are so many affordable and attractive aprons. What does your favorite apron look like and what is its primary use? Though I don't own one, I like Edwardian Aprons best, both for attractiveness and utility purposes. Blessings, dear friends.
Image available from art.com
Birth Control Pills Contaminating Drinking water
My mother-in-law first alerted me to this scary information.Environmentalists remain silent on this subject, which is quite disturbing.
Apple Pizza
Last night, we tried this scrumptious apple pizza for the first time.It was a lovely dessert for pizza night. It was quite delicious, though I know I should not indulge in it too often! I think the old adage is true in this case, "A moment on the lips, forever on the hips." Blessings!
WFMW: Painless Phonics
Teaching phonics to littles can be challenging, and is often best retained when it is taught in a pleasantly, delightful way. Worksheets can be useful, but often frustrate little children if they are overused. So far, in our journey of teaching phonics to my littles, I have come across a few helpful tools. My children and I love the Leap Frog Talking Letters Factory and Leap Frog Talking Words videos. While watching the Talking Letters Factory, in a few short weeks, my daughter learned all of the alphabet sounds for each letter. It was such a painless way to learn! The second video is great for helping little ones to read short words. When I need a bit of variety in teaching, I often grab a bucket of chalk and write words on the sidewalk with my children. They enjoy sounding them out, and they do not realize that they are learning. Sometimes, I write a list of words on the fridge with a dry erase marker. I often teach a phonics rule and a word family at a time. We keep reviewing until they come naturally to my daughter. For example, right now, Lily is learning the "at" words. So I write bat, cat, fat, hat, mat, pat, and sat, often, for her to read. I write "at" in one color, and the first letter is in a different color, so she notices the patterns. Sometimes, I make a page for her to read, with new words that she has learned. (Example- The fat cat sat on a mat.) She can then read it and color it. This works for my daughter so much better than simply drudging through a boring workbook. For the times she can use a worksheet, sites like this, with a downloadable workbook, really help! Phonics on the Web is a great site, if you need a reference to phonics rules. Also, a page with lovely printable phonograms can be found here. I like to print the pages out and put them in my daughter's homemade ABC book.Making learning fun and effective definitely works for me. For more Works for me Wednesdays, visit Shannon.
Yay....I am getting an Ergo!
Ever since I first read about Ergos in an Above Rubies magazine, I have wanted one.They have received rave reviews, yet they are a bit pricey. So, needless to say, I waited to find a better deal. Today, My favorite baby carrier website finally got some more used Ergos on their website. These are $79 with free shipping. This is the link, if you are interested in checking them out. They are selling like hotcakes; for most colors, they have less than 5 used Ergos. If I am not happy with it, I have 90 days to return it for a complete refund; that is how much the owner of My Favorite Baby Carrier shop believes in the Ergo.This is what my carrier looks like. I am so eager to try it out! What is your favorite sling or carrier for your little sweeties?
On the Paths of Jesus
During His earthly life, our Savior beckoned others to follow Him, immediately. Delaying to "bury mother or father", or a million other excuses, was unacceptable. Jesus desired nothing more than complete and absolute submission. He beckons us today with the same call, "Follow me." He is a Lord who wants complete dominion over ever facet in our lives. We are called to be His faithful servants. Sometimes, amidst all of the difficulties in this "shadow of death", our way seems so bleak. It can be challenging to remain faithful in following Him. But Jesus Himself, is the greatest reward, of those who follow Him without reserve. He expected a lot out of His disciples then, but remember His great and intimate love towards them. As they followed the footsteps of Jesus, the disciples' feet were wounded; they were bloody and broken. Life's difficulties often leave us feeling this way; we find hardship after hardship, and it weakens us. But, then we remember the intimate love that Jesus has for all who follow Him. Our Savior held all of his disciples' feet, brushed the dirt off, and cleansed each wound from their journey. In the same way, when we cling to Him, despite undergoing many sorrows, He lovingly cleanses our every wound. The joy of intimacy with Him makes this life bearable, and brings great joy as we anticipate our lives with Him in glory.
"Blessed is everyone that feareth the Lord; that walketh in His ways." -Psalm 128:1
Graphic available from www.allposters.com
Pray for Shelby
Please pray for our dear sister in Christ, Shelby, who is enduring a miscarriage. She is such a godly woman who keeps her gaze upon Jesus. My heart goes out to you, dear friend.
E-mail address
A few of you have wanted my e-mail address, so I set up a new account for anyone who wants to, to e-mail me at. It is aprongirl (at) gmail.com. Blessings!
Online Contraction Timer A few months ago,this would have been very helpful to me. What a great idea!
Contests
Montana Mama is hosting a contest to win a free Created to be His Helpmeet book and corresponding journal. The contest ends September 21 at 6 a.m. I have heard great things about this book, and I know that whoever wins it will be greatly blessed.
Christine is having a baby sling giveaway from this shop.
Menu Plan Monday
Monday- September 17- Toasted Barbecue Sandwiches
Tuesday- September 18- Grilled Chicken Salad
Wednesday-September 19- off- Dinner with extended family
Thursday- September 20- Beef Nachos
Friday- September 21- Homemade Pizza and Dessert Apple Pizza
Saturday- September 22- Chicken Stir Fry
Sunday- September 23- Breakfast (eggs, grits, and bacon)
For more menu plans, visit Laura.
Treasures from the County Fair
On Friday, we enjoyed a nice evening at our county fair. It was not overcrowded, and was quite enjoyable. We enjoyed bringing home a few lovely things. Stephen bought two jars of raw honey, which will be a true treat! We go through honey so fast around here; we love it in everything from hot tea to malt a meal. I bought Stephen the Stonewall Jackson mug. My dear husband is a true Southern gentleman who truly admires Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson's faith and courage. Stephen blessed me with the Southern Belle sticker. Thank you, honey, I will always treasure it.
Fair Fun
A kind lady let the children and I ride for free! It was a great blessing and a lot of fun !
Lily, very bravely, got to ride on a horse for the first time.
Daddy kept our little sweetie close to him in the baby carrier.
One thing that was wonderful is the special room that they had for breastfeeding mothers. It was full of Cracker Barrel rocking chairs and cozy footstools. It was so nice to just go back to a comfortable room when I needed to nurse Anastasia! It saved me from making a million trips to our van! I would love more stores and events to facilitate breastfeeding for mothers; it would be so wonderful. Blessings!
Frugal Friday
I really like Fuzzi Bunz diapers, but we were having a little bit of leakage because my daughter is too little for the mediums. It is hard to fork over $17.95 a diaper for smalls, when she is going to outgrow them soon. So, what has worked for us is putting a prefold on her, and then using the Fuzzi Bunz as a cover. We still keep the insert inside the pouch, for extra protection. Just laying it in the middle of the diaper (folded in thirds) or using a Snappi fastener works wonders. Last night, using a medium Fuzzi Bunz and one pre-fold, my sweet girl was able to stay dry for several hours during the night. This has saved us from having to spend a small fortune on small diapers. For more Frugal Fridays, visit Crystal's website. Blessings!
Today, we received three sample Fuzzi Bunz diapers for Anastasia, which we had ordered on Friday. Diapers this easy are one of the main reasons that cloth is making a comeback. They have a variety of really cool colors- our sample diapers were a bit cheaper than average, so we did not have much of a choice in the color there. If I order more, I am hoping to get some nice neutrals like yellow and cream. These diapers don't come cheap, but they are a worthy investment. These are extremely easy to use- they have the lovely features of a disposable, yet all you have to do is wash them; no soaking is necessary. We still plan on using disposables when we are out and about, but throwing a load of diapers in the wash really is no big deal for everyday wear. Maybe this will help us from having to make a mad dash to Walmart when we realize that we are down to our last diaper! (Quite a scary feeling I must say! he he)
Menu Plan Monday
Monday- Chicken Stir Fry
Tuesday- Kielbasa Casserole
Wednesday- off- Extended Family Meal
Thursday- Chicken Penne
Friday- Homemade Pizza
Saturday- Breakfast Foods (eggs, bacon, pancakes)
Sunday- (Church Fellowship Meal) Mexican Rice Casserole
I have been asked a few times for my Kielbasa Casserole recipe, which is quite easy to make. I make some mashed potatoes, and beat in two eggs. I then stir in cut up Kielbasa pieces and some cheddar cheese. I cook it in the oven at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. I top with cheddar cheese, and cook for 15 more minutes.It is definitely a comfort food dish! For more Menu plans, visit Laura.
Simple Pleasures
I am enjoying an evening of lovely domestic comforts. I have been doing a bit of handiwork; I have been crocheting a dishcloth after this pattern. I have the comforts of my Bible and the second book in the Mitford series, A Light in the Window, on my little nightstand, ready to be perused. I am enjoying a cup of French Vanilla coffee, a rare treat, but it is a lovely social drink to enjoy with my husband. (That is my excuse, and I am sticking to it! lol) I am being soothed by the beautiful Christian music from Abiding Radio, as my little girl keeps receiving nourishment from her Mama. In a little while, I will assemble the pancake batter for the morning, so our Sunday is more restful. It is in these moments that I realize how it is the lovely, simple things in life, which are the most delightful. These are the moments that are a balm and comfort to the soul. I pray that you are enjoying some simple comforts and joys, this evening. May you have a delightful Sunday, as you worship the Lord.
The current Bible verse that I am challenged and encouraged by:
"She openeth her mouth with wisdom: and in her tongue is the law of kindness." -Prov. 31:26
(emphasis mine)
Print available from allposters.com Afternoon Tea
Friday Funny
Those of you who have been reading my blog for a while, know that I am passionate about natural birth.My Bradley classes gave me the mental "food for thought" , so that I was able to birth without pain medications, when I had Anastasia. My midwife had mentioned how funny the Bill Cosby clips were regarding natural birth. These really are too funny and I wanted to share them with you. I hope they give you a good laugh, as they did for me.(The breathing exercises part just kills me- I am so glad that my class did not teach that stuff.)
Part One
Part Two
Recently, I happened upon a very inspirational blog, which has been a true blessing to me. Sheri, is a godly wife, homeschooling mother, and has a ministry of encouraging young girls to be pure. She was Miss Iowa when she was younger, and her beauty most definitely comes from the inside, out; she radiates the love of Christ. She recently had a back to school giveaway, which I entered in, since God had laid it on my heart to give the gift to my sister-in-law if I won. It was a lovely package of books on purity, as well as back to school goodies. In God's benevolence, I won this lovely package, which I gave last night to my sister-in-law. The timing was absolutely perfect. I told my sister-in-law that this package is from her Heavenly Father, I am merely the messenger. I could see joy in her eyes. She said, "This is a Godsend." I am so grateful today, first for the working of God in His children's lives and for the generosity of Sheri. The two books which Sheri gave can be seen here. The book written by Sheri herself, How to Be A Super Model: A Guide To Inner Beauty, looks so incredibly interesting. After my sister-in-law opened it, I was leafing through it, and was amazed by how captivating it was. What a great gift for any young lady!For more Thankful Thursdays, visit Iris.
Homemade Breakfast Biscuits
Today was my first venture in making homemade biscuits. I made a few breakfasts biscuits, as they are easy to heat and go, for my dear Hubby.
Baking Powder Biscuits (from a 1933 Recipe)
Ingredients:
2 cups sifted flour
2 tsp. baking powder
4 tablespoons butter or shortening
1/2 tsp. salt
about 3/4 cup milk
Sift Flour once, measure, add baking powder and salt, and sift again. Cut in shortening or butter. (this is where I use my hands by rubbing the butter into the flour). Add milk gradually, stirring until soft dough is formed. Turn out on slightly floured board and lightly "knead" for 30 seconds, enough to shape. Roll 1/2 inch thick and cut with 2 inch floured biscuit cutter. Bake on ungreased sheet in a 400 degree oven for 12-15 minutes. Makes 12 biscuits. You can also make tiny tea biscuits that are only 1 1/2 inches wide with a small cutter or glass bottom. These are great served with tea, jam or honey. Makes 24.
I then scambled a few eggs and added a hint of cheddar cheese. I placed one sausage patty on top of the eggs. Another yummy variation is eggs and bacon. I am hoping that dear hubby will enjoy this frugal breakfast meal. Blessings!
Lovely Labor Day Weekend
Aren't three day weekends the best? I am still fatigued, as I am in a slight baby fog, but we truly had a wonderful family weekend. Stephen, Lily, Stevie, and I have been trying to exercise a lot. Yesterday, we took a family jog, and the children each got to go on a special jog with Daddy, today. Stevie was so precious; he thought he was a big guy running with his Daddy.
I also was able to catch up with some friends on the phone, this weekend, which was a true blessing. My Bradley teacher is nearly due, and we had a nice chat. Her husband came home from overseas, so he will definitely be there for the birth. I am so happy for her. I could not imagine birthing without my hubby. This is her third baby and she is having a homebirth. Last night, I was happily surprised for a friend, whom I had met in my Bradley class. She had her baby 3 1/2 weeks early. She had about a 30 hour labor, and she is thrilled with her precious baby girl. Out of five couples in our class, there are 2 boys and 3 girls. Once my Bradley teacher has her baby and is recovered, we will be able to have a reunion. I am so grateful for all that I learned in that class and for the friends that I have made.
I have also been working on tweaking a schedule so that our days have a bit more order to them. Right now, sweet Anastasia is nursing quite a bit, and I am not a big fan of scheduling nursing babies. In my opinion, nutritionally, young babies need to nurse when they are hungry. She usually takes a few good naps, and that will be a big help, for getting some household tasks accomplished. I have felt called to have a bit more structure in my day, with the other children. If you would like to take a look at my schedule, check here. There will be many days where we cannot follow it, but I am looking forward to following it, whenever possible. I tried to make my schedule feasible for us to follow. Do you follow a schedule in your household? If so, has it been helpful to you?
I hope that you had a very blessed Labor Day Weekend!
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