A new chapter.

I felt compelled to change the look of the blog. It was put together last August, in haste and between hospital visits, as a way to let everyone know what new emergency had popped up to surprise us. I feel like we've now entered into a new chapter in our life with Owen and that the portal needed a bit of a face lift.

Thus far, the story goes...

Preface: Nine months of pregnancy bliss.

Chapter 1: Oh my god, what is happening?

Chapter 2: Okay, we can do this. Despite the challenges and the surreal nature of it all, it is starting to seem normal.

Chapter 3: Yet to be written.

As a midwife-in-training, Louisa was present at Owen's birth. I've been catching up on other's blogs recently, including hers (see sidebar - Mama Mid(Wife) Madness). I was reading through and came upon entries from last July that made reference Owen's birth. It was difficult yet comforting in some strange way to read her thoughts on her experience.

I'm going to finally say it... I still believe in home birth. I labored 21 hours, unmedicated, not to prove anything but rather to give our child what I felt would be the best possible beginning. I still believe in home birth. I believe that a woman's body is made for giving birth and that, in most instances, she can safely deliver her child naturally. This is not to say that there is not a place for interventions - there certainly is. I also very strongly believe that a woman should be allowed to chose where she feels most comfortable giving birth. As Paulo Coehlo says, "It's one thing to feel that you are on the right path, but it's another to think that yours is the only path."

On another subject... blogging has, at times, seemed very self-centered, like somehow our life has more significance than other's lives. Everyone has struggles, joys, things in their life that they want to share, exciting plans to talk about. I think, though, about how much I enjoy reading the other blogs, how they allow me to experience another's perspective (or just get easy access to excellent recipes) and think, well, if I bore you too much, you can just close your browser window. Pretty easy.

So that said, many of you have been asking about the blog, about the lapse in communication, whether there will be a new posting soon, and it pleases me to say that there is not much new to report with Owen. Okay, so with most babies, you'd hear, "Well, he's walking, talking, reaching for objects..." We are just happy that there are no seizures, no infections, no fussiness. He loves riding around in his Phil and Ted's stroller, sitting in his "hot seat" and laying on his back. These are BIG improvements for us. He now weights a whopping 15 pounds!

Janet, Owen and I took a road trip this week to Raintree Nursery, located at the base of Mt. St. Helens. It was the first road trip I've been on since Owen was born. I brought home two kiwi plants, a jasmine, and a "Scabrosa" rose hip. I am so jazzed to get them in the ground.

Of course, I couldn't help jumping out of the car on several occasions to take photos. Highway 508 is gorgeous and the entire landscape looked and smelled of spring. I'm a big fan of old barns and took a few photos of some especially fine ones.

Included also is a photo of Ms. Lillian who turns one year old on May 9th and of Mr. Owen, riding stylish in his Phil and Ted's.



















We've also been making batches of homemade pasta with the pasta maker that dear Natalie bought for us. I asked Janet what we should call the shots of our pasta creations. She suggested "Pasta in the Raw."