hangin' on...

I know that life is starting to feel normal again when I start taking photos again; and not just photos of the babe. 

I saw this snail and was wondered how it had gotten itself in this situation - hanging by a seed of grass. Amazing. 

I guess I feel a little like my slimy friend: How did I get here in this uncertain place?

In my limited life experience I have never felt to humbled as I do now as a mother to a young baby. 

Deep inside I know that I have eveything that it takes to be a good mama in me; a gift passed on from my own mum.

But I am still just so... amazed.

Love Always,

Joan Blondina

so smitten...

...how could you not be? 

I am so completely addicted to this little guy! And why has no one thought to bottle up that amazing baby-head smell and sell it to millions of women around the world? It's amazing.

The two of us are slowly crawling out of a three month newborn-fog and into the real world. We are working on a routine. He has discovered his hands and feet. I am taking time to do some of the things I used to do (like writing, online and on paper). Maybe I will knit a second booty for the pair I started Jeremy two months ago; and hot or not he WILL wear them.

So, please world, be patient with us. If I have not blogged, or called, or e-mailed, or if I missed a major social event in the last little while, know that I rarely even shower these days and even less often do I drink my coffee while it's still hot... but look at this boy and tell me it's not worth it!

Love Always,

Joan Blondina (and King Jeremy)

for every hard day...

there is a beautifully blissful one. Yes, some days are extremely hard with a newborn child. When my little guy wants to nurse for 3 hours straight, cries in pain from a fully belly, and refuses to sleep unless being constantly rocked, normalcy seems impossible. But for every momma tear I shed there is an equally beautiful moment just waiting for me, as long as I trust that it will come. I am so incredibly lucky to have help and support and love from my family and friends. And truly, I am so blessed to have been given this little boy; my new little adventurer and partner in crime. We have a lot of living to look forward to! Here are some photos of some of our adventures so far...

"Ma, I HATE this thing!"

"my first stroller ride"

"love being in my carriers"

"so embarrassing..."

"i wanna go on an adventure!"

"ready for my track meet ma!"

"what is up with this strange world?"



"so eager to be a big boy and sit up on my own!"




"ma, this milk is a-ok!

 Love Always,
Joan Blondina

setteling in....

The reality of life as a mama is setting in fiercely. I am sitting here typing with one hand, holding king Jeremy with the other, taking care not to stop rocking rocking rocking or humming humming humming the hypnotic whale sound I have adopted to help this babe fall asleep after a feast.

Motherhood smells like breast milk and baby pee. It sounds like lullabies and newborn crys. It looks like messy ponytails and dimpled fingers. Motherhood forces me to find the beauty in this new child; otherwise thoughts like "will I ever go to a yoga class again?" and "when will I not have breast milk stains on my shirt?" and "will I ever eat a leisurely meal again?" start to creep in...

Currently amongst the fog of labour, birth and having new baby I am striving to make sense of it all. 

Bear with me as I unpack this beautiful miracle...

Love Always,
Joan Blondina

gone fishing...

I am taking an unplanned break from my blog. Right now I have no interest in being connected, including catching up with e-mails, facebook, text messages... I am so much enjoying my resting time before baby comes and logging on is not high on my list of priorities. Please rest assured that everything is going wonderfully and I am peacefully gestating until this little one decides to come earthside...

Until next time, Love Always

Joan Blondina

a beautiful birthing story...

With only weeks away from childbirth I love to hear a good birthing story, and this one is so unique and beautiful I had to share it. It comes from a woman on a facebook group that I read. The story is told by her 15 year old daughter who, among the other children in the household, witnessed her monther's unnasisted childbirth (unasisted childbirth means that there is no OB or Midwife present at the birth). I just really think that there are others out there that will enjoy this as much as I did.


Titled: My Daughters Version of My Wonderful Unassisted Birth

"The beautiful birth of my little brother: Elliott Risdon

I'm writing this story for my mom who did a wonderful job delivering all of us. We kind of have a connection when it comes to birth and such even though I'm only 15 and have never experienced birth itself. But I witnessed my one and a half year old brother being born as well as the one I'm about to tell you about, my mom reads me TONS of birth stories and I've watched several birth videos.



I knew my mom was pregnant before she told us. I guess I just had this feeling cause I'm so close to her but that day when she sat us down, she looked around at my siblings and I and said, "I have to tell you guys something". My response to her statement? "You're pregnant, aren't you?'' lol. We were all so excited and my mom and I read every story we could get our hands on, watched videos, did research and she called up her old midwife. I was so excited and we spent endless nights outside, just imagining how wonderful the birth would be.

 My mom's water "broke" about a week before she actually had the baby. My dad had come into my room and told me what was going on and to help with the kids as best as I could because we would probably be having a baby really soon. I was so excited and I helped as much as I could, all the while pretending for my other siblings that I had no idea what was going on. She had contractions but she said it was nothing serious. She would just groan for a little and go back to her conversation.


Then, after a while, she got used to them I guess. She kept saying she could feel pressure and that she was opening up but she didn't really think she was in labor. She would just pause and say "I just had one" and that was it for a while. I never thought anything of it.

 The morning of December 17, 2010 at 1 in the morning my dad arrived in my room to wake me up. "Your mom's having contractions and feeling the urge to push. Get up!" I would like to say I jumped out of bed, full of energy but I just rubbed my eyes and tried to go back to sleep. I had had so many dreams of her birth during the pregnancy that I just assumed I was dreaming, but luckily my dad persisted and I got up.


My mom was in the hot tub and she looked just fine. She was talking and laughing like nothing was happening. I knew this happened a lot for homebirths but at one o'clock in the morning, being tired and all, I just figured she was having braxton hicks. But soon my mom started moaning and I did my best to offer help with my one and half year old brother. I then took him out of the room and put him to sleep. My dad told me later that I could go back to sleep.

 I didn't get much sleep then either because I woke up to my mom screaming (vocalizing as my mom calls it, lol) in the bathroom across from my room. I thought about getting up just as my dad came in to get me again. He led me to the hot tub and I watched as my mom went through contractions and kept talking to us. The spaces were fewer between though but I still felt like it was Braxton-Hicks.


But suddenly she seemed to change, and this might sound weird but it was like her animal instinct kicked in. She wasn't talking or really even looking at anyone. She was focusing all her energy on the baby and getting it out. I remember staring at her and being amazed at how well she was doing. She begin throwing up into the cups and trash can my dad and I were constantly handing her and she kept saying things like "I can't do this!" "Does anyone want to trade places with me?" "I'm going to push my legs off!" and I knew that she'd hit transition. I eagerly pulled my 11 year old brother and my 5 year old sister to the side and whispered to them that mom would be having the baby soon. They had smiled excitedly at me and my little sister kicked into doula mood.

 "Mommy, do you want a drink?" she would ask every five seconds, upset that my mom was too in the mode to answer. "Mommy, it's okay... you're just having a baby!" She would say. My little brother kept cold rags on her forehead and (I think) handled the birth surprisingly well... better than I expected, that is.



My mom then looked at my dad (they were both in the hot tub right now, I remember because right before my dad got in, I was thinking of getting in myself) and asked if gravity was helping, I think. My dad said something about it being neutral and my mom flew out of the hot tub onto the rug next to it. She got on her hands and knees and we all crowded around her. She asked for her birthing ball and she rocked herself through contractions on it. Then she pushed the ball away and remained without anything else. She was pushing and then suddenly she begin yelling/ moaning "MY PERINEUM!!! Get some olive oil and really hot water!!! And a rag!!!" My dad scrambled up like a meteor was about to hit him and he ran to the other room. I don't know how he did it, but it seemed like seconds before he was coming back with the steaming water. He held the scalding washcloth to her perineum and my mom told me to touch the baby's head because at this point she was crowning. I hesitated for a minute, I didn't want to get in the way but my poor mother saw that I wasn't moving and told me to touch it now or I wouldn't get to. I quickly hobbled on my knees over there and touched the squishy little head. It was one of the coolest, if not THE coolest things I have ever done.


I pulled my little brother over and my little sister came eagerly. We all sat and watched. Then, my mom grunted a little and the head came out. "Dad, take the time!" "Why? It's not born yet!" "They take the time when the head comes out!" I said. "Oh... " He checked his watch "Six till five! Remember that!" And trust me, I did.


My mom began touching his head and saying "My little baby. It's okay baby. I'm gonna see you soon" And I couldn't help but feel overwhelmingly lucky to be there. Birth really is a beautiful thing. My mom felt cord then and told my dad she'd need some help with the next push and as she pushed I watched as the baby came flying out. I heard my dad yell "Ha! I told you it was a boy!" And we all gathered around my mom to see the cute little baby boy. He was so beautiful and perfect. I don't know if I cried or not but I'm getting tears in my eyes just typing the story up.


I brought over the birth stool for my mom and she sat on it as my dad and I put wet pads underneath it so she could deliver the placenta. That was cool too. When it finally slid out, It was just a big red glob. I felt the desire to touch it or something but I figured they would've made fun of me. I placed a wet pad between her legs and she walked over to the office chair and sat down there. My dad put the placenta in a bowl and my mom had to carry that too since we were leaving the umbilical cord on until it turned white.


I don't know how long I stared at that baby boy but he was just so beautiful that it didn't seem natural. My mom then made me go to bed even though I wanted to stay up, knowing I wouldn't sleep anyway. I only went to bed because I had school in a couple hours.


The birth of my little brother was so amazing and I wouldn't have had any other way. It was the perfect, unassisted birth I'd always hoped my mom would have. She obviously hadn't called the midwife until after it was over because she didn't accept that she was in labor till she felt the head. I'm very close to my little brother now and everytime I watch my mom give birth, I realize how beautiful it is, how amazing she is, and how silly people are that do in the hospital.



No, it wasn't scarring. I'm not scared of birth. And I'm definitely not mad at my parents for including me. Birth is a beautiful natural thing and I'm so glad I participated in it. I can't wait to tell him the story from MY perspective when he gets older. :)"


I hope you enjoyed the story! I want this girl to attend my birth!

I don't know if I have to credit her, as facebook is public content. Either way the link is HERE. 

Love Always
Joan Blondina

hit a bit of a low point…

Let me start off by saying that I still love being pregnant. Today however is a bit of a low day. I am tired. I’ve been up since 4:30am for NO REASON. I am sore. I feel like a whale. I'm just getting over a winter cold. I want my body back. I am sick of struggling to get my socks and winter boots on. I am tired of being breathless and weezie. I long for jeans with a button and a fly…. I can feel my body changing and preparing to birth this baby and it’s a lot of work.

I have sewing projects to finish, laundry to do, a baby shower blog entry to finish (or alternatively a computer to throw out the window), this on my mind, e-mails to send, thank you letters to make and a long list of things to pick up before the baby comes. All while big and pregnant.

I still have one week of work left. As much as I love my job I can’t wait until I am done. At 37w it’s hard to be efficient at pregnancy and work. My mind is frantically noting all of the things I would like to have organized YESTERDAY. It’s all just a lot to take on. I know, I’m not the first woman to be in this place. I guess this is part of the beautiful, awkward, grunting process…

I must admit, the 3rd trimester, even with this basketball belly and raging heartburn, is still much better than that first, anxious trimester. The first trimester is full of isolation and secrets (don’t tell ANYONE until you safely reach 12w!?) and confusion (should we be buying diapers NOW?) and fear (what is going ON with my body?) and nausea (WHY does EVERYTHING smell like burnt onions?) all the while not looking pregnant; just bloated and sweaty. Compared to those first few months this is nothing.

I hope you don’t mind my rant. I guess it’s just honest. Things will look up tomorrow I’m sure (or maybe the next day). Realistically no one will mind if thank you cards are late. Baby won’t mind if when he gets here I don’t have a fancy nursing bra. Things will get done. Baby will come. All will be right with the world…

Love Always,
Joan Blondina

i can be found in lalaland...

...dreaming about dreams that someday will come true.

I have had the same dream for a while now. Ideas have been brewing in my head on and off. I have moments of obsessing about it's fruition, and longer moments of 'oh, I give up!'. I forgive myself because sometimes dreams happen on a time-line other than the one you would expect.

I dream about having a business on the side that revolves around creativity and inspiration; getting inspiration from the world around me; inspiring others to reach their creative potential.

This business has had several hypothetical business names and products. I have dreamed up various etsy shops and product tags and clientele.

Right now I am asking the universe to show me the next step in making this dream of mine real. I may have made some headway, thanks to a very inspirational person who has come into my life! But I put no pressure on anything. I want this to happen organically.

I don't know exactly what this dream will look like, but I suspect I'll know when the dream has come true.

Love Always,

Joan Blondina

i've got a folksy baby...

The other night I was experimenting with how the little sea monkey responded to different songs on my playlist. I would play a song for a few minutes, observe, and move on to the next song. It turns out that this babe has the same taste in music as his mama. Some songs would make him 'dance' much more than others. He loved anything Rufus Wainright, The Acorn and Nick Drake. But his favorite song of them all? Ressurection Fern by Iron and Wine! Good pick little guy!

(When I told this to Warren he reminded me that my experient was not fair since I don't have much Queen on my i-pod!)

I daydream about my child growing up knowing the words to all of mama's hip music, and dosn't hear the likes of Justin Beiber or Eminem until he's at least old enough to drive.

Please watch this ADORABLE video! My heart is melting! Good job litle girl!

Love Always,

Joan Blondina

bring on the good vibes...

 

The Birth Project

As I am approaching closer and closer to the day I will give birth I am working very hard at understanding my options, hearing positive stories about birth and working on creating good energy and confidence for this summit I am about to climb. However, I can't help but notice the lack of support for a positive, natural birth experience. It's become very clear that most people have a negative view of birth.

I got to thinking about this: when a teenager prepares for a driving test, practicing their signalling, parking and merging, do we tell them horrible stories about car accidents we've been in, or heard about, or saw on the news? Do we feed them statistics about how many people a year die a bloody death in automobile accidents? Do we show them photos of crashed up cars who were hit by drunk drivers? NO! Of course we don't! Because that poor young person would probably get in the car on the day of their exam and have a meltdown!

So why, then, do people feel the need to share with me the horrors of childbirth? Why do people feel the need to tell me all of the reasons I might need a c-section or an induction or an epidural? I don't think it's to educate me. I think it's to share the fear that they themselves have about childbirth. FYI: not helpful people! Please, the next time you are tempted to tell your pregnant friend about a cousin who suddenly birthed her child at 28 weeks or a neighbour who "failed to progress" and was rushed to surgery think about what kind of negative energy you are passing on to her. We've all seen "A Baby Story" and "Knocked Up". We don't need any more of that! Please, a pregnant women should be supported and cheered on!

So, I've got 7 more weeks! Start sending me some positive vibes!

Finally, if anyone is interested, "Birth Without Fear " has been an amazing tool for preparation for birth. I read it all night when I'm awake and everyone else in the house is asleep.
Particularly, read this post!

Love Always,

Joan Blondina

pondering the bump...

7 months pregnant

I hear so many women say "I loved being pregnant" or "I hated being pregnant". For a while now I have been wondering which category I fall into. Do I like being pregnant? Well, if there's one thing I have at my disposal it's several awake hours a night to think about these things. Last night, between the hours at 3am and 7am I thought about where I stand.

If when I thought about pregnancy I considered each sensation, change and challenge as apart from pregnancy I would be miserable. There's the backache, the insomnia, the HEARTBURN (oh god the heartburn), the shortness of breath, the weight gain, the swelling of the hands and feet, the stretching feeling in my groin, the inability to wear regular jeans, the punches to the bladder, the LEG CRAMPS (oh god the leg cramps), the itchy boobs, the stretch marks... any single one of these conditions would be enough to make a non-pregnant person fall in a crying heap to the floor.

But surprisingly, it's really not that bad. It's actually quite amazing and beautiful.

I liken it to travel. In order to go anywhere cool and exotic you need to fly in an airplane. Does anyone really LIKE flying? If your flights runs perfectly smoothly you still have to go through airport security, wait around for hours in a terminal looking at nothing, sit on a plain in a compact little seat possibly beside a stranger with a cold for god-knows-how-long, eat airplane food, use the tiny airplane washroom and adjust to the ever fluctuating too-cold and too-hot temperatures. When you finally arrive to wherever you were headed you have to stand FOREVER in a sea of impatient smelly people to wait for your luggage to show itself along the conveyor belt and most likely you have to go through customs. God help you if after all that you need to catch a taxi to get to where you are going. But, you know what: I love flying! It's exciting. It's adventurous. And typically it leads you to somewhere that you've never been before and new experiences that will forever change who you are. All of the challenges and annoyances are part of the fun. They make you a better, more adaptable and interesting person in my opinion.

This is how I see my pregnancy. I have a long list of discomforts but if you ask me how I'm feeling I say "I feel great!", because I do. Each pregnancy related ailment is an adventure in it's own. Each discomfort I feel tells me that there is a beeb growing away, and my body has sacrificed its comfort for the comfort that he needs and deserves. I listen closely to each sensation. Pain tells me to rest. Discomfort tells me to move. Fatigue usually tells me to eat something nutritious. Insomnia is preparing me for the sleep deprivation I will have once this baby is out and needs me every hour of the day until he moves out of the house.Pregnancy is messy, but it's oh-so-wonderful too.

So, I guess what I'm saying is I love pregnancy not despite all of the discomforts, but because of them. And you know what else? There are so many great things about being pregnant: I get to wear all of my flowey empire waist tops that I never liked wearing before because they "made me look pregnant"! I get to feel my baby move around inside of me all day long! I have strangers smile at me just for being round and full of life! I get to buy cute little onesies, and receive adorable gifts from friends and family. I get to make something unexplainably beautiful for my husband, and give my parents a grandchild.

So, here's to celebrating this amazing miracle that I am very blessed to have inside of me.

Love Always,
Joan Blondina

may the new year bring...

...love. peace. contentment. adventure. 

In years past the sleepy time between boxing day and new years eve has been a low time for me. I can often be found weepy on the couch for some unexplainable reason. I presume it has a lot to do with the knowledge that within the next few days all of the beauty of Christmas will be packed away for next year, and we will be left with a cold, lifeless winter until spring comes who-knows-when. Depressing to think about, I know. But this year I realized that New Years Day had come and gone and not once did I have that sick feeling in my stomach about the months to come. Probably, and I am just guessing here, because we have an early spring gift on the way. The stork will be delivering our little spring chick no later than early March! How can I feel depressed about that? It's amazing how much this little one has changed me and he doesn't even know it. He has no idea what we have in store for his little life. Until his time to see the world and all it's beauty, I take comfort in knowing that while he lives in my belly he is the most cozy and safe he will ever be.

 "Rest up little guy while you can. It's a beautiful world and I want to show you everything!"

Happy New Year!

New Years Eve 2010

Love Always

Joan Blondina

holiday gifting...

...our way!

I ADORE the holidays! I know that there are lots of people out there who have a hard time at Christmas, but the commercialism, gluttony and over-spending don't really get to me because I see so much beauty at this time of year. In our little corner of the globe December means lights, glitter and bows (certainly we all need some motivation with creating beauty outside in Onterrible). It means considering those in your life who you love, and spending countless shopping hours thinking about what might make them smile. In December we are held accountable for all that we have, and asked to give thanks. Only at this time of year do we see so much charity and consideration for others. We cook and bake from scratch, and make time for the people in our lives. Regardless of one's belief about Christmas,  it's undeniable that December is a magical month here in North America. 

This year Warren and I decided to make use of our love of creating beautiful and delicious things. Actually, the hours that went into knitting about 20 tiny sweaters, cooking six batches of holiday granola, and delicately roiling countless chocolate truffles far surpasses the hours it would take to go out and buy presents. Warren and I are so incredibly lucky to know so many people who need nothing! We all have so many things! We didn't think anyone would mind not getting another sweater or DVD. To top it all off we came out of December with no financial debt! It's a win-win holiday situation really!

Here are some photos of some of the gifts we gave. I didn't get a chance to photograph everything because frequently I was sewing in ends or tagging gifts on my way out the door to see the recipient! That's how it goes in the handmade world!

healthy home-made holiday granola

not-so-healthy chocolate truffles in chili-chocolate, coconut and peppermint

tiny handknit sweaters make adorable tree ornaments!  

how did I make so many tiny sweaters without pulling my hair our? with the magic of Christmas!

i love rubber stamps over store-bought gift tags!

i often snipped a sprig of our "real" christmas tree too decorate gifts rather than throw-away bows

i wrapped my gifts in brown paper (LCBO bags turned inside out work too!) and yarn...

I hope your holiday season was filled with beauty and love!

Love Always, 

Joan Blondina

an exercise in self disclosure...

I wonder if part of my love of journaling has something do to with the fact that I have built a career on tuning into other people's needs. Early in my career I learned pretty quickly that compassion fatigue can lead to resentment which can lead to a pretty painful day at work.


When I graduated from my undergraduate program I began working full time, in two separate jobs, seven days a week, both day shifts, afternoon shifts and night shifts. I was also applying to graduate school, planning a wedding, and pretty well living on my own while Warren was away at army training. I had no life other than trying to build a future. At that time I worked as a case manager in a transitional housing program supporting the needs of women with various mental health and substance use disorders and helping them move forward. Many of these women were my age or close to it. When the women would spend their days in their pajamas reading a book, take really long luxurious showers, go out for coffee with friends, or go on dates I would get extremely jealous; I had no time for any of these things. When I would spend hours on end each day talking through emotional problems and coaching them to address symptoms of depression and anxiety I would feel resentful that I didn't have the same access to professional support (some days we all need it!) All of this resentment did not mean that these women had an easier life than I; far from it. It was a sign that I was not tuned in to my own needs.


This resentment that I was experiencing didn't last very long. I eventually learned how to have a better balance between the needs of others and the needs of myself. This is ongoing learning. As my career progresses I am still taken back by how self-disclosure comes to easily to some people. I can sit and listen to someone tell me there story for a whole hour without needing to say anything, and could probably write a pretty good biography on their life afterward. Just the act of sharing with a trustworthy and supportive person is powerfully therapeutic. I am pretty blessed to have a job where people come to me with emotional pain and leave feeling hopeful.


When it comes to my comfort with talking about myself, well, I'm not very comfortable with it. I will sometimes talk about my feelings with others, but it doesn't ever feel natural. I had a colleague one time earlier in my career who (in a very critical way) said that the reason that I can't talk about myself to clients is that I have no life experience to talk about. I disagree. I have lots of thoughts and insights and I have very relevant life experience that relate to what my clients are telling me but I don't need to disclose this in order to sustain a therapeutic relationship; my empathy comes through in other ways. This is the same for my personal life.


Returning to the topic of journaling, I suspect that my desire to write and have others read is a way of experiencing this transparency that my "clients" practice when they come to me. I observe very real changes in their demeanor once they have had an hour to unload with me - whether I was actually helpful in affecting their circumstances or not. Sharing is good, people! 


I do also have some pretty reasonable fears around this transparency. The likelihood of someone out there taking what I write, finding fault, and criticizing my thoughts is very likely (ie. She's crazy if she things she's going to have an orgasmic birth). Do I care? Yes, a little bit. But I also know that it takes a lot of courage to be open to criticism which is a pretty admirable thing. 


Finally, to finish my thought, having a public journal like this is actually pretty self serving in my case. I don't know how long I will find it enjoyable, but for now it's my little bit of air time to share with others where I come from. This is for me, but I still hope you enjoy.


Love Always, 
Joan Blondina

this would be a lovely room to spend hours in...



www.soulemama.com

 Love Always,
Joan Blondina

like a very tall elf...

I'm knitting my fingers to the bone getting ready for Christmas. I hope I get it all done!

Love Always,
Joan Blondina

mondays are good days (learning how to have an orgasmic birth)...

Lately I have been looking forward to Monday all weekend long. Monday is the night where Warren and I have an early supper, pop in to Starbucks for a London Fog or Americano, and hightail it up the mountain to our prenatal classes. We have an amazing instructor. Shannon is a certified Doula, is active in the local Le Leche League, and just generally so knowledgeable about birth and new babies. Somehow luck was on our side and we scored private classes. For three hours, Warren, Shannon and I talk about childbirth. It's riveting, I swear! As it turns out, I love talking about childbirth.

I always thought I would be afraid of giving birth; being in the hospital, being strapped to a bed and connected to fetal monitors, sweating, throwing up, and screaming... I think many women are afraid of childbirth, but we haven't been told the whole 'baby story'. Learning about natural childbirth (minimal or no medical interventions) has given me the confidence to not only know that I can do it, but actually look forward to it. Shannon has taught us a lot about what to expect, and why it happens. Childbirth (barring no serious complications) does not have to be seen as medicalized. It will be difficult at times, we have been advised, but we don't have to see it as just a terrible and traumatic means to an end. Childbirth can be a process that we experience at every moment, every contraction and every dose of those amazing natural chemicals. 

By the time our three hours is over, I am ready to go for three more. When we get in the car, Warren and I immediately start processing our feelings about what we have learned. We stop somewhere for a snack to bring home and spend the next couple of hours talking about how relevant it all is to us. Right now we are juggling with our feelings around where is the best place for our son to be born. We are open to a hospital tour, but are also open to the possibility of birthing him at home. We are also making decisions about what will happen to the baby once he is born (we don't want him taken away, bathed or swaddled until he has had enough time to bond with us and breastfeed), vaccinations, unnecessary procedures or interventions, co-sleeping... We have also learned that modern western medical practices are not always in the best interest of the baby, and that we don't have to do anything we don't want to. We have control over everything, and we want to do what feels right for our little family.

The really significant piece for me is that the information we learn about natural childbirth is not common knowledge among women or mothers. I have had lots and lots of women doubt my ability to have a natural childbirth without pain medication. I have been warned by well-meaning women that I have no idea what my pain threshold will be. Fortunately, we have the information and support from our Midwife and childbirth educator to make the right decisions for us and our son. I just know that Warren is going to be the best birth coach I could ever imagine, and a strong advocate for our baby.

Before I was pregnant I watched the documentary "The Business of Being Born" and I recommend it to anyone and everyone, not just people planning families. It's a documentary that everyone should be interested in about the perspective we have on childbirth in our society. We also watched "The Orgasmic Birth" which was amazing too. Do yourself a favour and watch both of these trailers. If you want more watch this and this (skip to 2:15 for the best part!)and this.

I am quickly learning that the topic of natural childbirth can be controversial for several reasons that I wont go into. It's a bit of a gamble to come out publicly about our decisions, especially because we have never given birth before. I appreciate that there are other perspectives, and think that they are all valid as long as people have been given all the information necessary to make their decisions. For this I am very thankful for our childbirth educator and her support and knowledge as we plan what I hope to be the best, most adventurous day(s) of our lives.


Thanks Shannon!

read this and tell me that we're not all connected...

remember this?

http://joanblondina.blogspot.com/2010/10/sometimes-life-is-really-hard.html

now read this.

http://mandysuzannereid.blogspot.com/2010/11/pregnant-emotional-overload-post.html

"...but it is bittersweet to leave a place where I have the best memories of my entire life in. We may have been completely broke financially-- but I have never been happier in my life. I wouldn't change one moment."



We are never alone in our journey through life. Our feelings, thoughts and expectations are not unique to only ourselves. It's a small world and in many ways we are all the same...


Love Always,
Joan Blondina

there's always a silver lining...

... and I love to discover its whereabouts. 

Our recent re-location means that I can't walk to work anymore. Now I drive in every day to work, and it's certainly not as relaxing or enjoyable. However, driving means that I do get 10 minutes of either beloved a.m. public radio banter or some in-the-car-from-the-heart-belting-out of whatever CD I have laying around. So, there you have it: a silver lining!

Another amazing thing about driving to work is that if I make one small detour, Starbucks becomes part of my rout. How convenient! Few things lift my mood like a well made Soy Latte, and Starbucks makes one of the best. I am a bit of a Soy Latte connoisseur (if I thought about it I could probably list my top 5 favorite places in the world to get one). So once a week I dart in with the rest of the crazy people who love paying $8 for a coffee and slice of pumpkin loaf and arrive at work feeling luxurious and at peace with the world.

There's nothing like finding the silver lining.

Love Always,

Joan Blondina

  

there's more than one way to make a baby...

I knit this little guy up for our little guy. At 6 months, I suspect this is about how big he is right now. I have made a few toys before, but this one is by far my biggest accomplishment. All those body parts to sew together made it feel like dolly surgery. It was knit with organic cotton, and feels so soft and squishy! I am super happy with how he turned out.


With the leftover yarn I had, I knit up a little hat and a puppy-dog. Cute!

Baby knitting aside, the knitting gifts continues as I have Christmas on the way. But, I can't promise that there wont be a whole ton of knit toys in this baby's future!


Love Always,
Joan Blondina