sun on the horizon

forgive my absence, please. i've merely been obsessing over my children. child + ren = multiple kids. yes. that's us; now three. we're a wee clan at this point. (interjection: ben is working a lot, which keeps him at home. were he with us, our clan would be four. for now, 'tis we three.) we've stumbled into a routine when it comes to most daily activities. loading up into the car has it's traditions: mama carries baby, alasdair enters driver's seat with keys, door closes, alasdair inputs key into ignition while mama situates desmond, alasdair successfully inputs key and proceeds to climb into his carseat meanwhile minding not to hit sister's head on the way back, mama walks around car to alasdair's door to properly 'install' the child. both children in, mama situates herself and we're on the road. i've also figured out that leaving a door ajar, usually the front passenger door, can avoid potential panic when alasdair locks himself and sister in the car. yes, this happened. fortunately we have a hide-a-key. that's just loading up.

we have established routines for packing snacks + lunch + necessary items prior to loading up, dressing them both (and myself), unloading, shopping, eating. i like our routines. we're all aware of which "stage" we're at, how "far" we have to go. and now i know that empowering alasdair by allowing/encouraging him to get us started by putting the key in the ignition, which i do realize may not be the safest thing, makes him feel a part of it all, somehow enabling us to do anything. if that makes any sense. he digs it, and promptly gets in back without complaint. and i dig that.

alasdair will be two soon. too soon, quite possibly. and desmond, to be 7 weeks in a matter of days. the craziest part is that i look at her and think she can already eat "human" food. what?@! not for another 5+ months, i know, but after having a toddler around it feels like a babe grows so quickly.

news? of news. alasdair fell on monday. nasty zoo fall on the hard concrete. yep. i think i felt a higher degree of panic upon seeing his cut + cries than i did when i realized i was about to give birth in the truck. true story. i was terrified. all was fine and grand when alasdair ran up hill to touch a tree, and on the way back: BAM. more like 'thud,' i guess. forehead to concrete = bloody business and a crying boy. fortunately, crying, as opposed to passed out. the cut:


it was sad, sad. to say the least. and i managed, with two. yesSss... made it through the first of many...

aside from the 15+ days of continuous rain, life is good. grand. be it: wonderful. so long as the rain ceases and sun does shine as it so threatens, i believe we're in for a fantastic summer.

desmond

the story

I wish I were a writer. Fact is, I'm not. And, regretfully, I fear that I'm not going to do Desmond's birth story justice... please keep that in mind as you read on. It was truly amazing + spectacular + awesome + wonderful. It was perfect, as she is.

Desmond's "due" date was somewhere around the 23rd of April. She arrived on the 1st of May, just as my mother, whom we call "HoneY", suspected she would. Much faster than I anticipated, too. At 9:45 the surges began. Ten minutes apart and super mild. I bathed + continued to finish a movie with Alasdair and Ben. I was even able to sleep through the 'breaks' and breath through the surges until nausea set in around 11:45. Around that time I did a lot of pacing, and attempted to sleep for short periods during breaks, which were now about 8 minutes apart. Sometime around 1:45 everything shifted gears. Surges became 2-3 minutes apart, and they came on strong. I told Ben to pack it up and call Vanessa to stay with Alasdair. Vanessa lives about 20 minutes away, via snowmobile. Fortunately we had great weather, so we didn't have that to worry about. Snow was in flurries outside. Just right. When Vanessa arrived, Ben gathered some last minute 'stuff' recommended by the doula: two towels, which were key.

The snowmobile ride to the car, which is only a little over a mile, was actually quite heavenly. The continuous bumps eased the surges. I recommend riding a snowmobile while in labor---late stages of labor, as it were, in fact.

We reached the truck at 2:55 am. I remember asking Ben to tell me I could "do this." I was certain that labor was really just gearing up and that we had a good three-four hours to go. Not so.

About 3 miles into our ride down to Salt Lake, which is 35 miles from home, the surges began to dissipate and they were replaced by a familiar pressure. Down low. Uh-oh. Any mother knows that pressure, followed by "the urge... to push." While relieved that the surges were over, I knew that pressure meant pushing and that meant baby... soon. I attempted to get my sorrels off. I got the left sorrel off. Only two layers of pants to go if I didn't want to birth my baby into my pants. Gross.

I told Ben. He told the doula. Doula said call the midwife back and report. We did. And he drove fast. fast. Not long after, my water exploded. I was stoked to have felt that---I wanted to feel it with Alasdair, no go. I longed to experience it with Desmond, rewarded! Crazy gush so it was.

Ben was on the phone with the midwife when my water broke. She told him to "put on your hazards and drive like hell." I reached down, expecting to feel a bulge. To feel her head. Nothing, yet.

I scrambled to kick my left leg out of two layers. Success.

"She's coming, babe. I think her head's coming out."

"Do we need to pull over?"

"I don't know."

I felt again. That time I felt Desmond. Her head. Before asking again, Ben pulled off into the Jeremy Ranch exit. Side of the road. Into the dirt.

By the time he put that bad boy Chevy in park, jumped out and reached my door, he saw that Desmond's head was out.

And my door was locked. Whip.
I knew it, and unlocked it just as Ben reached in to deliver our little lady before she hit the floor.

It was 3:24 am. A short 30 minutes after we had reached the truck. An even shorter two hours of true, active labor.

Holy.

Immediately, I got turned around, watching for the umbillical cord, and pulled her to my chest, wrapping her in the two towels. She cried. Ben jumped back in the driver seat and picked up the phone to greet the midwife who'd remained on the phone the whole time.

"I heard her cry. Wonderful. Now hang up, call 911, and I'll see you at the hospital."

We sat in silence for a few seconds.

"Holy shit. HOLY SHIT. Did we really just have our baby? Right here? In the truck?"

Ben called 911. Drove to the gas station. Ambulance arrived, took Desmond and I on the gurny... all was good. All was perfect, actually. So perfect that it only took Ben three baby wipes to clean up the mess in the truck.

Desmond was perfectly healthy. Just a bit cold, which was easily remedied.

7lbs 10oz. 19.5 inches. Bits of dark hair. Lovely almond eyes. Sweet olive skin.
Sleepy, sleepy lady so she is.

We spent a night in the hospital, arriving back home Saturday afternoon.

That is her story. Born in a Chevy 2500 on the side of the highway.

desmond jane mclenna

... her story is coming soon. 'tis a good one, too.

cozy she must be

i think i'm what they call a "42 weeker." or less, with her, i hope.
soon. soOn. very soon. maybe tomorrow to coincide with my date of birth, the 29th. i would love that. 4.29.09. yes. i like.
a few photos:
alasdair + papa playing their 'heE-tars'

alasdair sporting little lady's lovely new hat, made by our good friend jamie.

ben + i enjoyed a lovely, and much needed, date night last friday while rye rye and birdy (sariah + dana) were in town. thank you, sisters. we were able to enjoy TWO AND A HALF hours of sushi dinner. so nice.

an update, of sorts

no lady, yet... and to be honest, I think we're in for another week :)


staying positive.

trying. to. stay. positive.

keep the goodness + baby vibes coming! hope to post photos of our sweet lady soon. soon.
soon enough, it will be.

ode, to be a lady

In the first months of pregnancy I claimed a late April, early May due date. As more and more time passed, it became the 29th of April... the 24th... now, the 21st. The "official" "due" date. Why, why do I do that to myself, knowing well that the likelihood of her kicking it for an extra 10 days past the "due" date is probable. Well, I did do it. I am doing it. The whole "I'm due in 5 days" bit has got me thinking and hoping she could choose to come any day now.
I guess I don't quite recall the 15 days of waiting for Alasdair. Past his "due" date.
I write this to say to all of you lovely people reading this: please send energies and goodness to the wee lady, will her decent + welcome her smile on the 22nd, if she would so comply. Earth Day. Would be dreamy.
Whenever she chooses will be grand, of course.
It's amazing how much I feel like I've forgotten, or chosen to stash away in piles of memories, regarding the world of having a new baby. The late, nay--early---nights. The all-nighters. The helplessness of a teeny human being. The beauty of that helplessness. The painful nipples and aching back. The minutes turned to hours spent staring at your new babe when you should be sleeping. Identifying every finger and nail and hair and inch of your babe's body. Counting toes. Fingers. Almost watching as their eyelashes grow.
I am so eager to meet this sweet being of a lady. So eager to watch her and Alasdair interact.
And, to realize how Alasdair's world is about to change so dramatically is wild. Never again will he be the only baby. Just as special and lovely, yes, but never again the only one. He is feeling change. He is acting out---waking up at all hours of the night, for hours in the night. Sweet as pie during the day. Channeling sister's wakeful nights, I think---prepping us. I love to think of their communication, he and the lady. I imagine their eyes locking upon first meet outside--in this world. Eager for that.
Saw the midwife today, and the chiropracter---whom I've been seeing weekly for about a month now, a few times prior to that, too. I imagine I will see them both again in a week....
but.
We're still under snow. In a lot more since Tuesday/Wednesday's craziness of a snow storm. Three+ feet of heavy snow made for 8 feet of drifts over the road, which made for road closures. Literally snowed in yesterday. No work, sorry---it's late April and I can't get to town. Nice to be forced to don the comfy pants and do some screening instead. Made for a lovely day at home with the boys.
Well, I hope next time I post.... no, I'll say this: I know that next time I post I'll be closer to meeting this sweetness--and possibly posting photos. The sun is due---ah, the "due" word again---to shine come Saturday. and to shine shine shine. Along with my babe. A welcoming.

'tis true

TWENTY-ONE days!!!! what?!

funny man..

alasdair cracks me up. not daily. not hourly. i'm talking minute to minute. his words are turning into flows of gibberish, which often produce strings of 'normal' sounding phrases. so wild to watch as his language develops, so interesting to hear which words he chooses to incorporate in his explanations + observations of the world.
we recently purchased him a bed. a twin, which is sweet because ben +/or myself can climb in bed with him during the transition. (way to wait until the last minute...) see photos below. when he's old enough to rock the top bunk, we'll flip the frame upside down to create a bed up top, fort below. imagine it. good times for little people. and me.
we've also---no, my ridiculously generous + lovely pc friends + mama---purchased a much desired baby hammock for the little lady. those photos will be posted later today when we hang that bad boy. you can check it out at: www.kanoe.us
the bed.

we call this one 'sitting horse.' he's into riding his animals :)

the styled 'cicle-cyle' ride around the house.

smiley self, per usual.

mama + the babes.

alasdair + brynn rock, rockin' it.

brevity

hi. photos will have to tell a bit of the story once again because i have little time to pack and only minutes to post. last tuesday we returned from our 12-day adventure to the south (east). we arrived in nashville, stayed 5 days, drove east to charlotte, passing through asheville (which i would move to in a matter of days were it out west), stayed 5 days, back to nashville and then home. today we are headed down south for ben's water conference. let's hope for warm(er) weather :)
we are all doing well + wonderful. alasdair is a riot... as photos project. and this little lady is growing, growing, which also means her kicks and jolts have much more 'gusto' --- night-waking for mama, already. so soon and we'll meet her. i need to prepare.

flyer, of the day

Visit us at: inkpony.com and at inkpony.blogspot.com

solo shoot

this boy knows how to ride.

EIGHTY-FIVE DAYS...

are you kidding me?! wow. 85 days (or possibly 100 if she's anything like alasdair) until we meet this sweet little low-kicking lady. that's wild and exciting... so so exciting. It's time for another little baby in this house. I'm almost starting to understand the dozen-kid bit. I imagine that it's easy to keep wanting to have babies... sweet, little babies. The enjoyment of a child is indescribable. BUT, BUT... that said, I think we'll stick to two :)
Remember the dress I posted a while back? When we found out she is a girl? Bought it... yessSS.ss.s.... well, requested it in a size 2T, first (I can't wait until she fits a 4T to see that goodness on her). I've also been washing/arranging her clothes. Her wardrobe is already larger than mine, thanks to generous friends, sisters and a particularly excited grandmother (thanks, marci). Yes, 85 days. or less. or more.

Family news...
alasdair: is officially a toddler. I know, I know, I was told it would happen. just didn't realize how abruptly. He repeats any and every word and would almost prefer playing with friends as opposed to mama + papa. Almost. Sleeping like a champ, finally. Eating when he's hungry, as you do. and crying, screaming, whailing when he can't go outside and play in the snow for hours on end. He loves the snow... "N-ho!!"

ju + ben: (and alasdair) we're off to nashville in a couple of weeks. Headed over on the 12th to visit Ben's mama, then in the car, up and over, to see my mama. I'm so psyched. so so so psyched.

inkpony: is progressing! We've just put our first "batch" of stuff into a local store... Paisley Pomegranate (located near the junction, in Redstone). It's kind of a catch-all shop---cool, unique stuff ranging from lamps to baby clothes. My understanding is that it's one of the only places in town to pick up stylish baby gifts, so I hope we do well. We'll see. I've started an inkpony blog, which we'll try to update at least once a week, at: inkpony.wordpress.com
check us out, add us to your links, follow us... please :)
I hope to update the site with great Etsy finds, information, ideas... random goodness (all of the things this blog would be were I to focus on anything aside from alasdair).

ju: is going to work! yep, 85 days prior to the birth of the little lady, I've decided to work a bit at a local children's boutique: Baby Nee Nee. The owner is super young, energetic, cool, interesting... and the shop is in a great location, pretty mellow. I always head in there for gifts (they carry all of the Plan Toys toys + Melissa and Dough + other eco-friendly, fairly-priced stuff). I went in the other day and she approached me... I was flattered. Talked to Ben. Decided to give it a shot.

snow: is on the horizon, and we need it. The difference between this year and last is crazy. Bluebird days by the dozen, whereas last year we were hunkered down in the storms for a period of months. Nice change, but needing snow... at least we got a couple feet in the last couple of days. I love seeing the white.

inkpony photo shoot

yep... pretty cute. featuring: alasdair (18m) + ajna (12m)... little lovers, best friends, and kind enough to pose (even j.crew style in the first photo) for us.




it was on a whim, so the background isn't the most ideal... however, we couldn't resist the shots we did get.

filling you in...

on the world of etsy. e-t-s-y. all things handmade. visit the site and you'll find unique, original goods made by people from all across the world. below is a small collection of things I've deemed "favorites."

photo post

night night. he says.
big news in the snowmobiling world: alasdair now rides up front when the weather is nice. so much fun, and much easier, too---especially with the growing belly.
a mini uncle jonas.
loving the camelback. tsss.
goggles. one of his other favorite things.
alasdair and josie---dooley's niece, visiting over the holidays. osha had someone to kiss for new year's. and he did. just strolling in the boots...
lucky (mark) and birdy (dana) gifted alasdair this sweet trike for christmas. this is his first run... just need to add one more block.
and this is the mounting process.
almost to the seat
osha's new legs, which you all know i dig---we made him some last year, too. i bought these from a fellow etsian: mamarunswithscissors (if you search under usernames on etsy, you'll find her---ridiculously cute stuff).