Well, here we go again! Once more I’ve been seized with the desire to learn to play the folk harp. This happens occasionally every few years. I’ve always loved the sound of the harp and I remember expressing my great desire to learn to play the harp to my parents in my youth. However, they seemed to think that one instrument, lessons and the required driving about to rehearsals and so on was quite enough. Perhaps also having to purchase a large vehicle to accomodate a harp (which in iteself is pretty pricey) also factored into the obstacles to my desire.
But the folk harp is considerably smaller than it’s big orchestral cousin and I don’t really want to play classical harp music anyway. I want to sing beautiful folk ballads by the fire and perhaps become a wandering bard, knocking on castle doors in Scotland and begging a meal and a meager spot by the hearth to sleep in exchange for my music.
The problem is none of this fits very well into my current lifestyle when I hardly ever have time to even pull out my fiddle or viola. And those I have to keep secured in the closet or else be at risk from certain three-year-olds. So I think I am going to have to wait to buy my harp until we have moved somewhere where I can have my own little studio with room to set up all my various stringed companions and perhaps am not so busy chasing mischevious little persons that I will have time to practice.
I haven’t been doing a very good job posting lately, have I? I do hope you’ll forgive me, I’m trying to figure out how to be a mom of two right now. I think I’ve been doing a stellar job keeping up the kids blog, though. So go over there if you need something more frequently updated.
Aside from the mom-of two-figuring-outing, I’ve been keeping myself busy. Like getting not just one, but two moving violations on the same day after never having a ticket in my entire driving career. At least they were at the same time- it wasn’t as if I got stopped twice on the same day. I was nailed for exceeding 15 mph in a school zone and passing illegally in a school zone- a cop, no less. It’s a really bad idea to thumb your nose at the traffic laws in a school zone, the tickets are extra pricey. Two came out to $420 to be exact. Luckily I have a very sympathetic husband who didn’t have a conniption when I told him the news. I’m not going to go to court since I really can’t think of any reason why I shouldn’t have to pay. Simply forgetting that I was in a school zone doesn’t seem like a very reasonable excuse. The baby wasn’t even crying or anything.
I would try to think of other things to entertain you with concerning how I’ve been keeping myself busy but I just heard the baby cry and that means Marc has been trying to get her to bed for a good hour. I should probably go relieve him.
If you don’t like labor stories… don’t read this post. Just to warn you in advance.
Ahhhh. The baby is asleep. Another mom came and took Elijah to playgroup this morning. My mom is busy organizing my tupperware cupboard. I have just eaten a chocolate chip cookie (baked by said mom). I finally have time to sit down and post! If I’ve had any time at all I’ve been posting over at the kids‘ site. If you haven’t been over there, you can go look at pictures of our new beautiful Princess Brynn and her proud big brother.
So last you knew I was griping and complaining about when was this baby going to come, anyway? Well, Leo can gloat because sure enough, I went into labor the very next day that he predicted I would (see previous comments). It started about lunchtime with a strange pain running up the left side of my belly, like a runner’s cramp. By 2:00 I called Marc to come home and told my midwife I was going to the hospital. We dropped Elijah off with friends and headed in. I really thought things were going to go fast but for all the contractions I was not very dilated and they sent us to walk around and around the labor and delivery floor. I was not particularly encouraged by the fact that behind one of the closed doors there was a woman screaming as if she were being tortured. A nurse walked by and said “Don’t worry, honey, that’s what epidurals are for!” Since I wanted to try a natural delivery this was not the most heartening advice. However, I’d been praying for weeks and preparing myself with Bible scriptures about labor and pregnancy and I just prayed and determined that that would NOT be me. Around dinner time I had a nice bowl of split pea soup and crackers (I loved it that my midwife would let me eat- last time I was only allowed ice chips. Of course, last time I didn’t feel like eating at all. This time I was ravenous). They came in and talked about sending me home. My midwife said I looked at her like I could kill her- I was going to have that baby and there was no two bones about it! Around eleven she broke my water to get things moving. The contractions definitely started to get more intense but all the spiritual preparation really helped. For each contraction I pictured that I was climbing a mountain and Jesus was pulling me up and encouraging me that it was just a few more steps to the top. I could really feel his presence with me.
At around 6:00 am I started to think “I think I’d like to have an epidural now.” I felt very pleased with how things had gone so far and that I had gone 18 hours without any medicated assistance. But now I was completely exhausted and only 6-7 cm dilated. I began to think that I’d really like to enjoy Brynn’s birth and not be at the end of my rope. So I went for it. No shame. Ahhh, that wonderful warm tingly feeling… I went right to sleep and when I woke up at about 10 the nurse said “you’re ready to push now!” Everyone sprang into action and after two contractions of pushing, she was out. Marc and I were crying and little Brynn was perfect. Not purple or scratched or swollen- perfect rosy color, letting out some nice screams. 10:22 am, 8 lbs 6 oz, 21″ long. Exactly the same as her brother but half an inch shorter, I think.
So I am completely satisfied with my whole birth experience. I am so happy that my body went into labor on its own this time and that I did not have to be induced again. My midwife was positively wonderful (Janice Bovee, at Boojum Tree OBGYN in Chandler, if you are looking). The nurses were fabulous. The hospital was lovely and they were nice enough to find a room for me the extra night that Brynn had to stay in the nursery under the phototherapy lights, and give me meal vouchers for the cafeteria.
And the timing worked out perfectly- the last day of Marc’s paternity leave was when my Mom and Oma arrived to help out. What blessings all around. I love my family and these two little gifts of children that have been bestowed on us. Brynn has been a very good sleeper so far and giving us some long stretches at night. Elijah loves his sister. It’s a good life!
Okay, not the best picture, but it’s hard to get these things right when you have the camera propped up on a shelf in the closet and are trying to set the self-timer. I feel more cheery than I look. And I think you get a good idea of my size these days, right? Yep, I am now officially 2 days overdue. But I feel pretty good so aside from the normal amount of impatience I can’t really complain. I get to go in to see my lovely midwife twice this week and will have an ultrasound to check on things on Friday. If I am still pregnant, that is, and I am really rooting for NOT being pregnant by then. I don’t feel like doing much and that’s hard for the active little guy in the house. But he is being very good and his birthday presents are doing wonders at keeping him well occupied. I’m keeping myself occupied by reading, cleaning and trying to figure out the impossibly confusing propositions in the Arizona ballot booklet that I am supposed to make some intelligent decision about come election day. It’s such a privilege to vote, but sometimes I have to admit I just don’t feel qualified to decide on certain matters. As for the big dogs in this election, I think I am finally leaning toward a candidate. I was going to vote third party, being so disgusted by all the goings-ons, but I’m starting to think I may actually vote for one of the “two.” A little more research is needed. I may or may not announce my official endorsement. That’s the beauty of it all, though, I don’t have to tell you, do I?
I usually don’t think I miss high school that much. Generally I much preferred getting out of the social ridiculousness of it all to college. But there is one thing I do miss: my great friends. I keep in touch with a few of them and even see one or two once in a blue moon, but you know how it is. Life moves on. I had a fantastic group of friends. Here’s two of them demonstrating the tango, I think, at my seventeenth birthday party (yes, everyone was required to dress formally and bring some kind of entertainment to contribute). This morning I woke up missing them. Perhaps it’s because I had a whacky dream last night that someone dressed up Michael Palin and slipped him in Sarah’s place. This is just the sort of humor I’d enjoy sharing with Suze during homeroom in the morning. Also, I am fully aware that autumn is blazing in all its glory in that part of the country and I’d like to be back with a few of my stellar girlfriends tromping the path through the brilliant woods over the old railroad tracks behind Suze’s house. And then we’d go back inside as it got dark and tea would be ready for the taking by the fire (if we were really lucky, Andrea, Suze’s mother, would have baked scones and had out her rasberry jam from that summer along with clotted cream- but those were particularly special occasions). I wouldn’t trade my high school friends for anything. I have been blessed to make amazing friends wherever I’ve lived but I’ve never quite come across their brand of intellectual silliness since. And they were loving and supportive to boot. Who could ask for more?
While I am on a recipe roll, I’ll put up this fantastic muffin recipe. It was in the latest issue of the Taste of Home cooking magazine, brought to us by Sandy Szerenci of Masontown, PA. We had these on a recent Saturday morning and they were absolutely delicious! I’m sure they would be just as tasty with whole-wheat flour and an alternative sweetener like agave nectar (my favorite!).
1/4 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
1 c (8 oz) sour cream (plain yogurt worked well too)
1 c. shredded carrots
1 c. shredded coconut
1/2 c. raisins
1 1/2 c. flour
1 t. baking soda
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 c. chopped nuts (pecans, in my case)
In a small mixing bowl, cream butter and brown sugar. Add eggs and sour cream; beat well. Stir in the carrots, cocout and raisins. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and cinnamon, stir into the wet mixture until just moistened. Fold in nuts. Fill greased muffin cups 3/4 full. Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan. Makes 1 dozen.
I had a recipe request for these so I thought I’d just type it out here where you all can enjoy. I was having a craving to bake something sweet, chocolatey and peanut-buttery yesterday and these hit the spot. I made the oatmeal variety: reduce the flour to 1 cup and stir in 3/4 cup oats with the peanuts. This recipe is from Better Homes and Gardens: Homemade Cookies. I got it when I was about ten for Christmas and it has served me very nicely as a cookie cookbook.
3/4 c. peanut butter
1/4 c. cooking oil
1.5 c. flour
1 c. packed brown sugar
2 eggs
3/4 c. milk
1/2 t. baking powder
1/4 t. baking soda
1/2 c. chocolate chips (I put a lot more in!)
1/3 c. choipped peanuts (I forgot these and it came out fine)
Mix the peanut butter and oil till combined. Add about half the flour, the brown sugar, eggs, half the milk, baking powder, baking soda and stir thoroughly. Stir in the remaining flour and milk. Stir in the chocolate chips and peanuts. Spread batter into a greased 13×9x2 pan. Bake in a 350 oven for 25-30 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan, cut into bars. I bet it would be really yummy to drizzle melted chocolate over the top too. The more chocolate the better!
Many of the “green links ” (see my link in the upper right of the page) on my green links page came out of a good book I read recently called Gorgeously Green, by Sophie Uliano. Lots of practical ideas focused on going green. This morning I discovered I couldn’t renew it from the library again so I madly went through the book and wrote down all the webpages she mentions that I haven’t had time to check out yet. One of them was: http://renu.citizenre.com. I just spent some time looking around this site and I am really fascinated by the idea. This company rents you a solar energy system for your house- you pay a flat monthly fee which varies depending on how many years you sign up for- and it provides your electricity. You have to pay a security deposit but beyond that it’s just the monthly rate. So you don’t have to go to all the work of buying and installing a whole system yourself. They come out and analyze your energy needs and design a system for your house. If you need more energy on a given month, you get it from the usual source- the power company- but if the system supplies you more than you need you get credits. They try to work it so that you get exactly what you need. It appears- I’m not positive- that your rent is calculated to be the same as what you are paying on average for your energy needs per month now. Except if you sign up for a 5 year or 25 year deal, it continues to be the same flat fixed rate- so you you experience some significant savings. Sounds like a great idea to me!
My google pregnancy calendar informs me I have 4 days to go to my “official” due date. According to my calculations I am actually due Thursday. But we’ll let the docs keep the 18th. That gives me a little more time before I hit the must-be-induced date. However, I am praying that things will get moving on their own! Alas, no noticeable progress in that direction yet. Luckily I feel pretty good. It’s another scrumptious day, quite cool this morning with an expected afternoon high of 84. Elijah and I are going to go to the library and then poke around the Riparian Reserve, which the library sits on. Time to stop lazing around on the internet and get on with the day!
