A photo journal comprised of my thoughts on motherhood and other life happenings, as well as some of professional work as a photographer. Southern California is home.
Nesting is no joke. I have a home full of clean closets to prove it. And I have nursery room visions racing through my mind at light speed. I have full virtual shopping carts online comprised of a number of gadgets and gizmos to fill this next nursery with. I have DIY projects mounting and fantasies of clearing the spare bedroom so I can fantasize as I stare longingly at my blank canvas. Our plan is to move Hooper’s room to the spare bedroom and give him a little bedroom remodel so he can better achieve big boy status. In turn, I will give his room a wee remodel in preparation for this little bee buzzing around inside me. I can’t wait.
Here’s a little peek at the before. This is Hooper’s room as you’ll find it today. You’ll have to stay tuned for a little while to see the after…
Come on in… Welcome to my room!
Most everything in the room is used. The crib, made by Oeuf, was purchased on craigslist for a fraction of the price. The chair and danish style dresser were also purchased on craiglist. The wooden crates were found at a flea market. Those Spanish posters were purchased in Cuba and I love them. I also love that they were the first thing we bought for the room and that they came from such a dreamy place. You can check out more on our Cuba adventure by clicking here. The rug is from Cost Plus, the floating shelves are from Ikea, and the bookshelf is from pottery barn. Many of the toys were my own as a child. The old cars were my dad’s. I absolutely love his room as it stands now. It’s a mix of nostalgia and mid-century. Can’t wait to design the next one!
As many of my friends and family know, I’m a huge proponent of natural birth. I’ve declared several times that I feel this is the best option for me. Part of having a natural childbirth involves finding ways to deal with or even embrace the pain. I never opted for a natural childbirth because I thought I’d be viewed as a stronger or more capable woman. Instead, it was a personal decision based somewhat on research and somewhat on desire.
Research does show links between epidurals and c-sections as well as links to poor pushing abilities, longer labors, inabilities to move in ways that help labor along, poor breastfeeding/latching with your baby… the list goes on. The validity of these arguments aren’t as important, to me, as the mere fact that these arguments exist. That’s because the decision to go natural was also based on desire.
Yes, I said it. I desired pain. But not entirely. What I really desired was the participation. I didn’t want someone gently tapping me on the shoulder to tell me I was 10cm and ready to push. I wanted to be involved and I wanted to take away the pride in knowing that my body was capable and my mind strong. For myself.
I also lucked out with my first labor in that it was only 8 hours and that at 6cm, when I was secretly hoping my nurse would offer me an epidural, she did not. I had asked her during my admission not to offer me one. An epidural was all that was on my mind at 6cm, but then I was 7 cm, and then I was 9cm and time really just whizzed painfully by.
I question how much about birth and labor I really ought to share on this blog because there are many decisions to be made in the process and they are all personal. In any event, this blog serves as documentation of my journey and these are just stepping stones along the way. For those that chose an epidural or are considering an epidural, this is a good article in support of epidurals. The closing statement is what I really like. It reads:
Woman shouldn’t cave to pressure from either side. They should make informed decisions based on their goals and priorities. I aspired to have a comfortable birth even if it meant being surrounded by nurses and doctors and tubes and incessant beeps; other woman may trade pain for a more intimate birthing experience. Each choice comes with its own benefits and unpleasantries. My unnatural childbirth left me with a memory that does not involve intolerable pain, and that’s exactly what I wanted.
I agree, woman shouldn’t cave to pressure from either side. You can research things until you are blue in the face. If you believe in natural childbirth, you can find loads of information supporting your belief. This article goes to show that if you believe in medical interventions, then there is someone in your corner as well. Unlike the author of this article, my memory of Hooper’s birth is not tainted in the least bit by the pain I endured. In fact, the high I experienced immediately after giving birth is a rush I still crave. That overwhelming feeling of love and acceptance and perseverance. There’s nothing like being fully present and alert in that moment, if you ask me.
When it comes down to it, what I truly believe is not in natural childbirth over a medically enhanced childbirth, but in informed decision based on the goals and priorities of the mother.
In an effort to damn the man and become a little more self sufficient, last year Quinn and I joined a community garden. The experience of growing food from a seed served as a subtle reminder of nature’s goodness. but when the cold weather hit, we had to turn the garden over and retire our newly acquired husbandry skills. This year, when we found out we would be trading in our apartment for a house with a back yard, the greenhouse research began. Here are a few of our ideas to get us through the winter… until we can build our own and garden year round.
I’ve assembled a few photos together to help ya’ll over the hump that is Wednesday. Tell me you’ve visited Awkward Family Photos? Well, here’s a few maternity shots to lighten the load… and a couple others that I just couldn’t resist. And don’t lie, you know you receive a few of these awkward family photos in the mail every year about this time. I have one in particular I am imagining… Too funny.
