Meeting Hobbs

While we were away last week we had the opportunity to hook up with my friend Mery. Her husband Eric used to work with Carl and I also had the privilege of having them in my birthing class. I was so anxious to meet little Hobbs (ahem, and catch up with Mery.) For months I've been craving a snuggle with him. More accurately I wanted to squeeze, pinch, nuzzle, sniff, rock, cuddle, smooch, and all other manners of over-zealous babyloving affection.

Mery is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside. She tells great stories full of sunshine.

I especially love the one about the arrival of Hobbs. Go read it. Serious. It will bless you. Mery has the most inspiring perspective on Hobb's extra chromosome. She graciously answered some "in your face" questions that I threw at her about their journey up to this point. Mery is so strong and so vulnerable at the same time. She is real about the emotions that she finds herself in the midst of. She is facing fears with such courage and openness. I'm learning so much from her.

I fought tears as I held him and felt so grateful to be in the presence of his sweet soul. In our conversation Mery shared that she wouldn't change the fact that she didn't know ahead of time about Hobb's Down's Syndrome. She says the fact that he arrived in the way he did reaffirmed her belief that he was a gift, hand-picked to be theirs. There was no worrying or fretting or asking "Why us? Why our baby?" Just acceptance. Amazing.

(They also have the coolest pad that I've been to in a long time!)

I got a good fix, though I'm not sure how long it will last me. We were also charmed by big brother Otto.

He had us just cracking up! Hilarious kid. 

Ian was all, "What's the big deal with this kid?" 

Otto and Laurel had a thing going on. Otto is my kind of guy.

Watch this! He can even fly.

We also had time to sneak in some reading, and dancing (which I was too busy participating in to photograph). We left feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. When we got back into the car the girls gave a collective sigh, breathing out something like, "Well that was fun". Being with Mery and the boys just does that to you. We'll be back soon Hobbs. We simply can't stay away for too long.

coming and going

Another baby this morning...

Sometimes it feels like I'm going to work and coming home to work. There isn't always a lot of rest in between. The birth center, the house, the schoolwork, the housework, welcoming little babies, loving on my own-- keeps me moving most of the time. Oh well. It's all a miracle. It's all a gift. I'm thankful to be counted worthy and that I'm healthy and strong!

Thank goodness for strong coffee, pretty yogurt, hot showers, and helpful kids.

We're digging in as the day begins. Bible and chalkboards.

Be back soon.

waiting on a baby

(looking out the back window)

I spent Sunday waiting. Actually, it started Saturday night.  I had gone bed early expecting to be called to the birth center after only a few hours of sleep.  I was surprised to wake up after a whole night's sleep in my own bed. What a gift that was.

As hard as it is for us to understand, babies come in their own time- especially in the midwifery model of care when they are allowed to come in their own time.

Patience, castor oil, patience, castor oil....waiting for labor to kick in. We waited in our own separate spaces- Mama, Midwife and me.

Sometimes the waiting can be hard. It can feel unproductive.  I can't go too far, get too involved, start anything, finish anything, constantly checking my phone...but I did manage to make the best of my time and accomplish a few things:

*I sorted, washed, folded, and put away 3 loads of laundry- that's all there was! I'm totally caught up.  You should see my laundry room. It's gleaming! Whose house is this? 

*Roasted a butternut squash for soup later in the week. The best butternut soup I ever had was about 3 years ago. I learned from the person who made it that the secret to good butternut soup is to roast the squash in truffle oil and to use half and half when blending it. I've been craving it lately.

*Finished a crochet project. I took a picture before I wrapped it for mailing. I'll post it a little later.

*Watched episode 3 of Downton Abbey. Everything is so good right now...I'm afraid to go on to episode 4. Will Matthew and Mary just get together already? Is it weird that they are cousins? I'm glad Bates is back, will he get rid of his awful wife? And why am I starting to like Edith? Maybe I should stop watching. 

*Played around on pinterest. Found this picture.  It made me smile and think of young love. It's like "I-have-to-touch-you-but-maybe-I-shouldn't-or-maybe-now-is-not-the-time-maybe-I-can-I-pass-this-off-as-accidental?" Sweet.

*Laminated and cut out three-part cards for school. I'm addicted to laminating.

*Cleaned the kitchen and refrigerator. I have a weird thing about needing to do this before I bring home groceries. I hate bringing in and unpacking food into a messy kitchen. 

*Spent $300 on groceries at Costco. Where does all the food go? The kids seem to be hungry all the time! Maybe they're growing? All of them? At once?

I bailed on a hike that I had planned, missed dinner with friends...and just kept waiting.

Wanna know the funny thing? In the end, the baby didn't wait for me. I flew out the door and sped down the the birth center only to find him wrapped snugly in his mama's arms. All of them (midwife, mom, dad and baby) looking at me as I burst through the door.  When he was ready he just came-- sweet thing. All that waiting and there he was. 

*Smile*