Jed & Emily

2008-08-20T19:44:00.002-06:00

I know, I know, it's been too long since we updated the blog. Here are all of the pictures that were cute from the last 6 months. I will have more after Gabriel's party on Sunday. I can't believe how fast this past year has gone.

2008-08-20T19:39:00.001-06:00

Silliness

2008-08-20T19:13:00.002-06:00

Daniel Skiing

Easter

2008-08-20T18:26:00.001-06:00

Daniel's 9th Birthday

2008-02-25T11:22:00.002-07:00

6 Months Old! Gabriel is getting so big. Here are his Stats: 19 Lbs 15 Oz (it would have just been 20 even but he had a diaper before they weighed him); he is 27 3/4 inches and has a 17 inch head.
He is a baby moose. He's so supper snugly and huggable. He's almost always happy and loves to giggle and chew on anything in his path. He is getting two teeth and that has been hard on him. He cries and laughs at the same time, he wants to be happy so bad but it hurts. (it's kinda funny to watch him happy/sad sad/happy)
Last brag: he knows how to drink out of a cup! I didn't have to teach him, I don't give him any think but mommy milk right off the tap so. He just grabbed my cup and started drinking my water. It was really funny.

2008-02-18T21:21:00.004-07:00

Gabriel has his crib put in the room he shares with Olivia. I put him in it for the first time last week. He took his nap in there. When he woke up he was in full on cute baby mode, I had to get some pictures of it and here they are.
Peek-a-boo can you see me momma, I'm in my big bed.
You see me!

2008-02-18T21:00:00.002-07:00

January was a month of passing around colds and feavers. Thankfully we did manage some fun and some very cute moments. Sorry that it's more then half way through Feb before I got any pictures of January. There were no really cute Christmas pictures to put up but if any of the Grandparents send them to me I will post them. Here is what we did in January:
A major building project was under taken.

I finally got Daniel it sit still long enough to get a picture of him.
I think this one is one that Grandma took. Aren't the brothers cute!
Gabriel is nearly as big as Olivia now. He weighed as much at 5 months as she did at 1 a year.
Olivia and Gabriel share a bedroom and if O had her way they would share a bed. They love to snuggle in the mornings.

2007-12-14T17:28:00.000-07:00

For all of you who were wondering if we are still around, yes. Sorry I haven't been so good about blogging hardly think of it these days since I'm not working at a computer all day any more. We had our first snowfall over the past weekend and it was really fun. Last night we got another 3 inches of glorious powder. Jed says it's just mocking him since this year we didn't get snowboarding passes. Here are a few pictures of Gabriel, he is the only one who sits still enough to get a picture of, the other two are entirely too busy for such things.

Staying warm in bed after a bath

Milk drunk baby

Being cute

My personal favorite, what a silly face! He's such a cute chubba wabba. Olivia calls him "baby hungry hippo".

2007-11-05T14:11:00.000-07:00

these are a little dark but so so cute. Daniel wasn't in his costume long enough to get picture but I will I'm sure get one of him soon as they LOVE to play dress up. Halloween isn't the only day my son is a super hero and my daughter is a princess.

2007-10-01T10:21:00.000-06:00

He really is a cutie. This is Gabriel at 5 weeks and 13 lbs. Yes he's a chuncky monkey. I'm feeling guilt for not taken many pictures of the older kids but they are always running around and not sitting for pictures. Gabriel can't run away from me yet so he gets lots of pictures. This week however was Daniel's school pictures so I will be posting a picture of that handsome guy with his new sporty hair cut.

2007-10-01T08:35:00.000-06:00

This was emailed to me, it is so cute I had to post it.

2007-09-23T08:48:00.000-06:00

Week one
Week two
One Month...what a laid back fella
Olivia really loves her baby brother. He looks like he might be starting to cry but really he is cooing and smiling at her. Yes he smile at one month...IT'S NOT JUST GAS!

2007-08-24T11:23:00.000-06:00

Now these are slightly out of order becuase it won't let me up load all of them at once.

Here he is, Gabriel Elias Brinkley. 8lbs, 13oz, 20 3/4". It's a Boy!
Finally some time to hold my baby. I was so happy to be getting some quiet rest.
Olivia was so cute the next day when she got to hold him for the first time.
She started singing him a song because he was fussing. He calmed right down and she was so proud. We have video of it now we just have to figure out how to upload it from the camera.

2007-08-24T11:00:00.000-06:00

Before
Jed was the best, most faithful labor coach EVER. Even when he was totally spent he didn't leave my side and kept counter pressure during the hard back labor.
He was so glad to see his son. I have better pictures of his reaction but they are not really G rated.
Grandma Vicki was so happy to meet her newest Grandson. Tears were not in short supply that evening. I don't think there was a dry eye in the family.
My dad came just at the right moment he sat in the hall and listened to the birth. The nurses tossed him tissue and let him loiter even though it's "against policy".

2007-08-17T12:35:00.000-06:00

Update-
We are going to go into the hospital on Saturday the 18Th to see if things will actually start this time. My Midwife is back and I have a much better feeling about it. I'm also having contractions every day, they go from every 30 min to every 15 min so my body is practicing al ot. I'm hoping after last weeks dress rehearsal that the big night will go smoothly and quickly. Please keep us in prayer we really wanna meet our son and really hate living in limbo land.

Olivia is so excited to have her new baby brother. She tells me that she wants to help with the diapers and hold him. I know she's gonna be awesome. It's been weird for me to think of her as "not the baby" she's been my baby for 3.5 years now so I'm kinda used to thinking about her like that. I'm so looking forward to my snugly new little one. I can't wait for those sweet noises and and little toes.
I will be taking bets on when it actually happens so if you want in on the action let me know.

2007-08-14T21:56:00.000-06:00

Belly with henna. Sheryl did a great Henna tattoo on my big belly it looked so great and it was a lot of fun.
It didn't last long though because I am so fair skinned and we went to the hot springs when my mother-in-law was in town...The hot springs was worth it. (no the water wasn't too hot the Midwife said it was OK under 101)

2007-08-14T12:55:00.000-06:00

Update-more to come.
Well we tried to get little Gabriel to come on Saturday and made some progress but not enough to actually get labor to start in earnest. I was really hoping for him to come then because Jed has to go back to school on Monday the 20Th and I wanted to be able to spend some quiet time getting to know our baby before the rush of the school year hits us.
I am struggling to surrender fully to the process and allow the Lord and nature to just do as they will.
I know later on I will think I'm nuts for saying this but I am looking forward to labor now. I was afraid that I couldn't do it and it would be too hard. I know that it will be hard but I know I can do it also. On Saturday when we went in for the induction I started a contraction pattern of every 4 minutes with 45 second contractions. Although it was a getting to be painful I was somehow enjoying the rhythm of it like waves at the beach. I think the short dress rehearsal reminder about what labor is like has helped to relieve my fears and get me ready for the big show. I look forward to the process and the end result of getting to see my sweet baby. We are awaiting the joy and can't wait to welcome him into our family.

2007-07-17T21:37:00.000-06:00

Very Very pregnant. I'm large. Olivia loves to hug my belly and kiss it and talk to baby brodder. She can't say Gabriel yet so she calls him Gab rel.

Please pray that He will not be a 20 lbs baby, it feels that way today. I think if we have another baby we need to make sure to plan for a spring baby, summer is very hot when you are large and full of extra blood and fluids.

We also need lots of prayer that he will turn the right way. He is still not head down as of last check and I getting nervous. I know there is still time but finding out that the midwives and the docs the oversee them do not do breach deliveries has been a little up tight. I just don't want anything to get in the way of us being excited to see our little kicker. I can't wait to see him, in part cause I'm tired of being hot and prego.

2007-06-20T13:59:00.000-06:00

For those of you who haven't heard of this movie checkout the trailer to "Pregnant in America". It's a documentary about our health care system and the business of having a baby in this country. I was shocked to learn that 66% of all hospital revenue in the US is from child birth. Here is the link I really hope you will watch it and go see the movie when it comes out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3WWNKurKjA

Just watching the trailer makes me want to have a home birth!

2007-06-05T14:25:00.000-06:00

Fun with kids!

We have been having lots of fun with the kids this week. Daniel and Jed went craw dadding and fishing on Sunday for some great father son time. The kids are having lots of fun playing out side in the sunshine. I can't get the Dora sprinkler to work but they don't seem too upset about it.

Jed bought a State Parks pass for this year so we can go out to the lake and go swim when ever we want. O really loves the water and pretending like she is a shark. Daniel isn't as sure about the water, he seems to have forgotten everything he learned last summer about swimming. I hope I can get him back into swim lessons this year. I would like to get Olivia in them also I think they start at 3 1/ish for learning to blow bubbles and hold their breath.

I will get some pictures uploaded as soon as I can. I will also upload some video as soon as I can figure out how to do that.

2007-04-24T22:29:00.000-06:00

a belly shot I feel like I'm really huge this time. And no matter how cute the maternity dresses are on the models they are horrible on my body and I end up looking rather like I am wearing a stolen tent.

2007-04-22T19:23:00.000-06:00

I love my sweet hubby!
I'm typing one handed so forgive the typos. I burnt my hand this morning on a pan while rushing to get ready and breakfast. Jed has had double duty today with me being one handed. Poor guy even had to help me get dressed.
We did get to use the pain management techniques we have been learning at the Bradley classes. Jed leaped into action getting me calmed down and telling me it was going to be alright. I have no doubts now about how great he will be during labor. What a guy! I'm so glad everyday that I married him.

Thank you honey!

2007-04-12T11:13:00.000-06:00

IT'S A BOY!
We had our ultra sound today and everything (as far as they could tell) looks healthy. He has a face and two hands and two feet and one you know what. He is for sure a boy because he had his hand on his you know what. Typical! There are 4 normal looking chambers in his heart and a face I couldn't really see but the doctor said was there.

Please pray for me. I'm having a hard time getting used to the idea of a boy. I have just assumed I would have another girl. I have been dreaming it was a boy but Jed said I was only dreaming that cause it was a girl. Please also pray for a name for him. I want something both arty and meaningful. I truly believe names are a life long blessing we give to that child so the meaning is important. I knew Olivia Grace was the name for her I feel like the Lord lead me there.

I will try to get the picture of the cute little blob scanned in.

2007-04-09T08:51:00.000-06:00

My boys

wedding Pictures

2007-04-06T09:14:00.000-06:00

Olivia Grace (AKA worlds best flower girl)
A very long process
Most hansome guys
Some sillyness, Sheryl had to get under my dress to tuck the ties in. I was laughing so hard I almost lost it.
The church

2007-04-05T09:32:00.000-06:00

Testing testing, does anybody read my blog?

Snow day!

2006-11-28T13:43:00.000-07:00

Hurray!
I've been praying and wishing for snow for weeks. Today it's snowing! Now if the wishes for the 3 feet of snow would come true (not likely).

Olivia woke up this morning and was ready to dash into the snow first thing. She wanted to wear her "no" boots with footy pj's and just go play. I believe the direct quote is "ooo Mamma it's nowing, it's big nowing. Momma get my no boots, I wanna pay in the no" I love it. I got her fed and dressed and sent her out to "pay in the no" for a few minutes before we had to go. She was in hog heaven out there rooting around in the snow. When she walked back to the carport her boots had about 4" of snow stuck to the bottoms I thought I was going to die laughing as she tried to get it off stomping her feet and looking very confused.

Now I feel like it's ok to be in the Christmas mood. I bough lights for the eaves in the front of the house and I hope Jed will hang them today, they will looks so good with the snow.

Happy snow day to all!

It's official!! (I got bling baby)

2006-11-13T10:47:00.000-07:00

Here is the ring!

It was a very sweet proposal and the best birthday to date. Jed took me out for dinner on Thursday (my b-day) at a great French restaurant down town. We had a wonderful and yummy dinner. We talked and relaxed it was really nice to go out as grown ups with out having to hurry or worry about the kids. We talked about what to do after dinner since having a baby sitter is rare and we wanted to stay out and have some fun. He suggested batting cages, I suggested the Monument.
Dinner was over and we were finishing up our coffee, I suggested that we go and he said first I want to give you this... And he pushes this little gold box tied with a blue ribbon across the table at me. I got so red thinking oh my gosh he's going to do it here in the restaurant in front of people. But I opened the box slowly and peeked in. There was a small paper inside I quickly pulled it out and shut the box and didn't look inside just incase the ring was in there I wanted to read the not first. It was a sweet note that just told me how much he loved me and that he was not going to give me the ring tonight. When I was done reading it he said that the jeweler messed up and didn't get the ring made and that he was sorry and had planned to give it to me but couldn't. So after dinner we drove up to the Monument and looked for a nice over look to stop at and chat. He drove all the way over to the Fuita side and stopped at a great over look. I got out and it was FREEZING! So beautiful looking down on the lights so cold, I was hopping around to try and keep warm. Jed asked me if I wanted my Birthday present and of course I shreeked YES! He opened the trunk and pulled out a box from amazon.com and I opened it, it was a book I had been wanting. I noticed that there was a large warm looking blanket in the trunk and asked if it was clean and if I could wrap up in it. He put it around me and we sat down on the rock wall and looked at the lights of the city. It was nice sitting up there and snuggling and looking at the city and listening to music. Then the music changed and it was really bad angry chick music so Jed got up to change it. He came back and sat down next to me and put his arm around me and said so... do you want to make it official?... "what!!!" was all I could say. Then he pulls out a little white box and says what I really wanted to give you was this (or something like that cause at that moment my ears were ringing and I really couldn't hear anything). He handed me the box and then says wait just a sec and I see this thing coming at my head (pitch black other then the city lights) and when he puts it on my head it felt like a sports sweat band but then he turned it on and it was a head lamp. He said ok now open it and I did and it was my beautiful ring that I thought I wasn't getting. As I'm tearing open the box and putting the ring on at fast then light speed, he says to me so.. Will you marry me? I shreeked YES about a thousand times and through off my blanket and smooched him repeatedly anywhere I could get him, while blinding him with the LED head lamp. So thoughtful, so prepared and he got me...those of you who have tried to surprise me know it's not easy.

Happy Birthday to ME!!!

2006-11-10T14:49:00.000-07:00

I had a GREAT birthday. I am now officially old in the eyes of myself when I was four. I remember my mothers 28th birthday and finding out that she was 28 years old. I thought to my slef that 28 was really really old. I was actually embarrassed for my mother being SOOO old. Well I guess this now is my punishment. Ah well

New house

2006-10-25T10:18:00.000-06:00

Hey- I haven't posted in a while, not sure anyone still reads it. We have been moving and unpacking and what not. Our new house is so cute. It's not very big but there is an extra room so that Daniel will have is bedroom when he's with us after Jed and I get married. Olivia loves the new house and the big back yard. I love that I can send her out to play and not worry about anything more then a possible skinned knee. Jed loves that there is a nice big garden area and has been busy getting it ready for next spring. We have started a compost bin, which has become Jed’s new obsession. I'm totally all for the compost, but I could live with out the worm farming that is going along with it (yuck). I will post pictures of our new cute house and Olivia in the leaf pile as soon as I get them off the camera.

Jed and Daneil at the Grand Canyon

2006-09-19T16:02:00.000-06:00

2006-09-19T15:55:00.000-06:00

Olivia at Disneyland

In case anyone checks my blog anymore

2006-09-19T15:37:00.000-06:00

Well I didn't have a whole lot to say for a while and then was too busy to say anything for a longer while. So here I am saying something.

I AM GETTING MARRIED!!

March 10, 2007

Jed and I have been seeing eachother since feb. vallentine's day was our first date. He had "the talk" with my dad a couple of weeks ago.

We had been talking about marriage but were saying more like fall of 2007 then we went on vacation together this summer to Disney land and realized that we like spending that much time together in a small car. So he told me when we got back that he didn't want to wait till fall of 2007 he wanted to do it more like December of 2006 but we settled for spring break for the sake of planning and what not.

Hurray!!

2005-12-01T15:31:00.000-07:00

Well I haven't been blogging much inpart becuase we have been busy and my work has changed my schedule quite a bit.
This past weekend Olivia and I moved into our own apartment. I promise to send pick and more details at a later time.

Hello from the far side of busy

2005-08-30T14:03:00.000-06:00

I'm sorry to those of you who actually find reading my blog interesting. I have been very neglectful. I as you may know have gotten a new job as of the being of this month and have been jumping over the hurdle of the learning curve. I find starting a new job about as "fun" as you all might feel about a tooth extraction. Needless to say I am over joyed and very thankful to have a job regardless of how hard it is for the moment.

And in other news:
Olivia has pink eye.
Emily Hates Olivia's daycare for giving her pink eye.
Olivia hates pink eye medicine and would rather just live with "owie mine eye".Olivia has however, lost her bid to remain infected and has circum to her mothers will to not get pink eye.

Prayers are answered

2005-08-08T11:30:00.000-06:00

Well sorry I haven't been posting much lately, I haven't been at my computer for a while. I found a job last week finally! I am working for a real estate appraisal service. It seems like it will be a good company to work for and I will get my very own office for the first time ever. I've been asking some snoopy questions to make sure for my own peace of mind that it is an ethical company and it really seems to be. They are going to be paying me the same salary as Dr. Shane. What a blessing to get to keep my lifestyle, I really like that gym membership and the downtown daycare.

I know I have some new pictures of Olivia doing something cute and I will post them soon.
Thank you all for the prayers

Searching for more.

2005-07-21T10:39:00.000-06:00

Well as some of you may know the Rheumatologist that I work for is going to be moving to Japan to be the medical affairs director for the drug company that makes Remicade. It's a once in a life time offer for him and so he's got to take it. What that means for me however is that I will be jobless very soon, next week to be exact. I have been faxing resumes all over the know earth (west slope of Co and moab UT). I am open to what ever the Lord has for me and I am willing to move where I need to inorder to find the right job. This is really scary for me; as some of you may know I'm a total control freak and uncertainty really really scares me. I know that God will take care of me, but it seems like He is always right on time and I like to be early.

I have a prayer request for you all. Please pray with me that God will send me the perfect job very soon!

And in other news: Olivia has turned 18 months and with that milestone has become a toddler (woopy) . So things are getting rougher for her. She just switched from the baby room to the toddler room at day care and is having a hard time adjusting to the change in routine and staff, she's no longer seeing the people she saw every day for the last 9 months.
Please pray for us that she will make a smoother transition we (or should I say "I") need a break from the attitude that has started since the change.

2005-07-08T15:05:00.000-06:00

She even wore herself out.

2005-07-08T15:01:00.001-06:00

After lunch she played dress up.

2005-07-08T15:01:00.000-06:00

Olivia is good at lots of things, espically wearing people out.

2005-07-08T14:59:00.000-06:00

Then it was time to help make lunch. Yummy!

2005-07-08T14:58:00.001-06:00

And she danced with Jessica.

2005-07-08T14:58:00.000-06:00

On the 5th Jessica and Rob watched Olivia so that I could look for a new job. She had lots of fun. Uncle Rob taught her how to play the guitar.

2005-07-08T14:55:00.000-06:00

She was pretty down to her toes

2005-07-08T14:54:00.000-06:00

The Fouth of July at Jessica's. Olivia was red white and bluetiful!

Bad hot dog!

2005-06-30T12:35:00.000-06:00

Three nights ago Olivia was finishing her dinner when Sheryl got home and made herself a hot dog. Livi was of course right there wanting a bite of it so Sheryl made her one of her own (cut into very small pieces).Sheryl told her it was a hot dog. Livi kept saying dog while pointing to the back yard. Sheryl corrected her and told her it was a hot dog, Livi the said hot dog a few dozen times while dipping her the pieces into the ketchup and eating it happily.
The Next morning Gracy (the boxer puppy) was being a bad dog and doing something naughty so Sheryl yelled out the back door "grace bad dog". Olivia hearing this ran to the back door and put her hand out expressively and yelled ba ho dog (bad hot dog).
I'm still not sure what to make of this but I think she may have thought that we feed her one of the dogs for dinner and she seemed ok with that. What do you think?

God really cares, WOW!

2005-06-23T10:28:00.000-06:00

Just now driving to work I was trying to find a radio station and nothing good was on so I scanned the dial and it stopped on the Christian radio station. It happened to be a song that I liked so I left it there. As I was driving through the gotta get to work traffic, I started thinking about everything I have to do today and that lead to every thing I have to do in my life (ouch). I was recently informed that Dr. Shane (the doctor that I work for) has gotten a job in Japan and is leaving his practice here. I will have no job in Aug. and that really scares me especially now that I am more than just me and I have to feed and house another person. I was thinking about how I have no money and maybe I won't find a job in time and that I'm never going to get to live my dream life because of all of the stupid mistakes I have made; and that all I have ever wanted is to be loved and safe. At the very moment when I was about to really loose it beating myself up the song changed (even though I am walking through the valley of the shadow, I will hold the hand of the one how will take care of me) and it was like God swooped into my car and put His arms around me and reminded me of all of the promises He has made and that He will keep them. He reminded me that He would be Olivia's father and He will provide for us both. He told me He sent me to this valley and that He will help me walk through it. Best of all He told me that He loves me.
I just had to share this with you because this kinda stuff has only happened to me a handful of times and each of those times God has been faithful to keep His word to me. Please pray with me that God will provide and that I will find a new job oh yeah maybe a fella cause that would be really nice. I am still misty eyed and amazed at how much God does love us.
I hope that this makes since to anyone else.

What a helper

2005-05-31T13:27:00.000-06:00

OK so the subject of what a unique and rare child my sweet Olivia is is getting kind of old but...She is! This weekend was Memorial Day and since we didn't have any plans we cleaned the house. Usually when I say we I mean me but this time she helped. How amazing, how can that be you say to me the squinty eyes looking for wholes in my parental brag? I promise I am telling you the truth.
I was on my hands and knees with a swifter carrying out genocide on the dust bunnies and fishing for stray pacifiers and cat toys; when along came Olivia with the long handled fish net (icky thing used to scoop dead fish out of the tank) and she got down on her hands and knees along side of me and started clean the floor with it. So taking my wise mothers advice I jumped up, grabbed, extra swifter cloth and clipped it over the net and off to work she went. She got around the base of the couch and chairs and under the shelves by the door she was a cleaning machine. I'm not sure where those genes come from perhaps they are from me some long repressed urge to keep a spotless house. In any case I won't be outdone by my 16 month old.

2005-05-23T11:32:00.000-06:00

When it got too hot it was time for the pool. Life in the park is very good.

2005-05-23T11:25:00.000-06:00

Olivia shared the fun with Jessica.

2005-05-23T11:17:00.000-06:00

Olivia saw a turtle laying eggs in Jessica's garden.

2005-05-23T11:13:00.000-06:00

Olivia learned how to smell the flowers. Then she learned how to paint mommy with poppy pollen.

2005-05-23T11:07:00.000-06:00

We had fun playing in the garden. Olivia thought she found another worm, but alas there were none.

Over the desert and through the canyons, to Jessica's house we went.

2005-05-23T11:03:00.000-06:00

Olivia and I had a great time this weekend getting lots of sun and fresh air at Jessica's house. The park was in full bloom. It was a nice place to spend a hot weekend. Olivia got to do lots of new things and see new things too. Here are a few pictures of all the fun stuff we did. Thank you Aunt Jessi for a really fun weekend!

A girls best friends

2005-05-19T15:06:00.000-06:00

Remember the song that taught us all the diamonds are a girls best friends? Well Olivia has a revision to make she would say that worms and dirt are a girls best friends. This week I got up the energy to plant a few pots of colorful flowers for my front porch and Olivia was right there to help. She dove (literally) right in and was more than happy to "help" me put the dirt into the pots and into her hair and into my pockets and also dip her pacifier; which was given to her to keep her from eating dirt; into the dirt. All of this was done with a huge grin and a barrage of approving and happy babble interspersed with one or two intelligible words. Thankfully I intervened before she had a chance to taste the fat little worm she found in one of the pots from Jessica. It was found with a squeal of delight and amazement, “surely this will taste as good as it looks” she thought to herself, right before I shouted, “YUCKY!”, from somewhere deep down inside of me that told me I actually knew what a worm would taste like. All and all it was a successful planting and the porch is now awash in vibrant summer colors and I don’t feel so guilty for having the dead bodies of the plants from last year strewn about around the front door, not a very welcoming welcome.
(pictures to follow)

2005-05-17T12:16:00.000-06:00

here she is so cute

Check out the Decemberists

2005-05-11T14:46:00.000-06:00

Well some of you may already know who this group is. I just found this today and thought it was cool enough to pass on to you. I hope you enjoy.

Play it now with your RealPlayer: http://switchboard.real.com/player/email.html?PV=6.0.12&&title=20050506%5Fasc%5Fdecemberists%26mediaType%3DRM&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.npr.org%2Fdmg%2Fdmg.php%3FmediaURL%3D%2Fasc%2Flive%2F20050506%5Fasc%5Fdecemberists%26mediaType%3DRM
Note: This content may require the latest RealPlayer, which is not available on Windows 95, Mac OS9 or Linux systems.

2005-05-10T12:15:00.000-06:00

Olivia and the apple tree

Is there anything sweeter?

2005-05-10T10:08:00.000-06:00

Perhaps it's just me but I think that there is nothing on earth sweeter than the little elf with sparkling eyes looking up at me from the green bathtub water. In a sing song voice filled with delight she called out to me "M--o--m--m--y". My silly little elf was beckoning me closer to the tub; the closer I got the bigger the grin got, with a shout of glee that she had gotten me into her trap the splashing began. The ordinary bath tub turned in to a wild churning green sea tossing the toy boat and drowning its poor plastic captain. The sweet little elf turned into a horrible giggling sea monster tossing its elated limbs in every direction. It was too late for me to escape the torrent of laughter and tub water raining down from what seemed like every direction.

2005-05-09T11:16:00.000-06:00

So you think you're crunchy? Well how crunchy are you?

1. Do you have homebirths?

15 points for "yes" (unassisted)
10 points for "yes" (with a midwife in attendance)
5 points for alternative birthing center
2 points for "thinking about/would like homebirth"
0 for "no" (wouldn't consider it)

2. Will you circumcise future sons?

5 points for "no"
-5 points for "yes".

3. Do you use cloth diapers?

20 point if you do Elimination Communication (nodiapers)
15 points if "yes" (wash and make your own)
10 points if "yes" (wash your own)
5 points if "yes" (diaper service)
2 points if "thinking about it"
0 points if "no" (wouldn't consider it).

4. Do you observe your fertility signals usingNatural FamilyPlanning/Fertility Awareness and use that for birthcontrol/trying toconceive?

10 points for "yes" (observe and use for birthcontrol/ttc) or you useecological breastfeeding/lactational amnorrhea
5 points for "yes" (observe for trying to conceive)
2 points "thinking about it"0 points for "no" (wouldn't consider it).

5. Do you breastfeed exclusively for the first 6+months?

10 points if "yes"
5 points for "no" (use occasional bottles ofexpressed breastmilk)
2 points for "no" (use occasional bottles offormula)
0 for "no" (don't breastfeed by choice).

6. Do you co-sleep?

10 points for "yes" (all night every night)
5 points for "yes" (part/all of most nights)
2 points for "thinking about it"
0 points for "no".

7. Do you use a sling/soft carrier?

5 points for "yes"
2 points for "thinking about it"
0 points for "no" (wouldn't consider it).

8. Do you believe in/practice child-led weaning(even if that meansbreastfeeding for several years)?

15 points for "yes" (complete child-led weaning)
10 points for "yes" (up to 3 years)
5 points for "yes" (up to 2 years)
2 points for "thinking about it"
0 points for "no" (you'll wean the baby at 1 year or
earlier).

9. Do you tandem nurse/nurse during your pregnancy?

10 points for "yes" (nurse during pgcy and tandemnurse)
5 points for "yes" (nurse during pgcy, but weanbefore birth)
2 points for "thinking about it"
0 points for "no"(wouldn't consider it).

10. Do you eat organic/whole/natural foods and limityour meat?

15 points for "yes" (grow own/buy organic, shop onlyat health foodstore, grind own wheat, vegetarian, etc.)
10 points for "yes" (grow some of own food, buyorganic, use wholewheat flour, bake own bread, eat some meatoccasionally)
5 points for "yes" (try to buy natural, whole grainfoods, etc.)
2 points for "thinking about it"
0 points for "no" (wouldn't consider it).

11. Do you use herbal/homeopathic remedies?

10 points if "yes" (very rarely see a regulardoctor)
5 points if "yes" (but use a doctor occasionally)
2 points if "thinking about it" (see a doc for now)
0 points for "no" (wouldn't consider it).

12. Do you homeschool?

10 points if "yes" (currently homeschool)
5 points for "yes" (will homeschool)
2 points for "thinking about it"
0 points for "no" (wouldn't consider it).

13. What's your take on childhood vaccinations?

15 points for no vaccines
10 for delayed, selective vaccination
5 points for selective, on schedule vaccination
2 points for thinking about not vaccinating
0 points for vaxing on schedule.

14. Would you/have you ever breastfeed/fed someoneelse's baby or havesomeone else bf your child?

10 points if yes (have or someone has bf your baby)
5 points if yes (would)
2 points if maybe
0 if no (wouldn't consider it).

15. Do you use cloth/re-usable products for mom?

10 points if yes (make own)
5 points if yes (buy own)
2 points if thinking about it
0 points if no.

Ratings
120 ・140 Super Nutty, Ultra-Crunchy Granola EarthMama
90 ・119 Mmm! Love that whole-grain crunch!
60 ・89 Pretty Crispy
20 ・59 Sprinkled with Granola
5 ・19 Instant Oatmeal

Here goes nothin'

2005-05-08T19:58:00.000-06:00

Here's our first try at our very own blog. I hope you all enjoy reading about our lives and adventures.