Birth Faith

I'm a natural birth junkie. Even three months after giving birth, I get giddy when I learn something or hear something on the subject. I have mentioned more books to Adam that I want to read on the subject and he wonders out loud, "Dude, you gave birth. What more do you need to know about birth?" I was as skeptical as anyone before I converted to giving birth hippie-style, so I'm proud as punch to be spreading the word a bit by having some parts of my birth story included in two recent posts on the blog Birth Faith. It's an excellent online resource devoted to all things natural birth by "Busca," a mother of three, who's sharing her own experiences and research to help others become more informed. If I had pom-poms, I'd be waving them in the air right now cheering for this blog. It's great. And it ties in the concept of faith, which was the only thing that kept me afloat while I was preparing to give birth naturally in a hospital with a 98% epidural rate, a 30% c-section rate, and with a 100% unsupportive doctor. My birth story reminds me daily that miracles do happen. I had a wonderful, happy birth and I owe it all to God, the worker of all miracles.

Here's part uno of my birth story - The Conversion.

Here's part dos of my birth story - D-Day ... I mean B-Day.

Thanks, Busca, for including me on your fabulous blog. It was fun for me to read about Sienna's birth again ... and I think I'm excited to do it again! Woot!

Beach Bird

The Bird, me and Ariana ventured to the beach today. It was a success all around! Ari carved out a little seat in the sand for my lady and she enjoyed it right fine.

She had a lovely view of the ocean. I explained she was born about 2 miles down the road from this here ocean. She liked that news.

We had a double umbrella day. Gotta take care of that translucent Bird skin.

Ohhh, just chattin' it up mom/daughter style.

A kiss for my Bird.

And ... ZONK. Being outside - the waves, the breeze, the gulls - really tuckers a Bird out.

Blessing

Children are a blessing, aren't they? I am loving my life with our sweet little Sienna and am really trying to do as everyone and their dog advises to "enjoy every second cuz they just grow up suh fast!" (if I had a penny for everytime I heard that...).

We started her life off right with a beautiful blessing given to her by her father a few Sundays ago. In it he said some things that still bring tears to my eyes. He blessed her with some gifts of the Spirit, he blessed her to have a testimony of Christ written on her heart and mind at a young age, he blessed her to use her spritual gifts and knowledge to bring others to Christ, and - my personal favorite - he blessed her that she'd remember her special memories of childhood.

Afterward, I had our friend Tara do a little photo shoot of the darling little morsel in her blessing dress. Is she not such a pioneer in that bonnet? Killing me with cuteness, that child. My sister Heather and I wore that same dress and bonnet when we were blessed as infants, and Heather's daughter Haven also wore it.

You've GOT to check out some of the other photos of Sienna from the shoot in all their glory at Tara's photography website.

Dodger Dogs, Y'all

I was introduced to one of life's great food items recently: the Dodger Dog. Mmmm mmm! I could have eaten five.

Here are the 'rents about to enjoy their Dodger Dogs. Apparently the Dogs have been around even since the days my dad used to go to mortuary school in Glendale. Ahhh, mortuary school. The good ol' days.

Also: garlic fries. Heaven!

Meet Adam the baby smuggler

The Bird surveys the field

Ole!

Goodnight L.A.