And Now We Are Four!

I think I have landed with both feet on the ground. I'm tired but not devastatingly so(yet) and I feel like I've recovered from the birth really well. Although my first crack at birthing was drug and intervention free too, it knocked me around so much more. This time was quick (4 hours all up), intense but also incredibly peaceful. I had a sense of when i was moving into different phases of labour as the sensations and my consciouness changed and i could feel the baby moving down with each powerful, efficient contraction. That, and yoga breathing helped me to stay with it and ride each one like a wave. Isn't the body amazing with its innate capacities and wisdoms?

My midwife, in her wisdom, gave me the space to actually catch my slippery little bub as she birthed. Don't worry. I'm sure she would have been right in there had I needed her to be.

And now I am completely in love with my little Willow and my love for big sister Arie has only deepened since we became a family of four.

I'm occasionally finding my thoughts straying to fantasies of such impossibilities as meals in fancy restaurants, heavy gardening sessions, going back to uni, intrepid holidays, the purchasing of homes, the wearing of gorgeous outfits, oh and getting some housework done, but I bring myself back to the fact that this period of time is so fleeting. I am unlikely to ever have another newborn and I am lucky to be able to be at home with my babies for now. Everything else can wait and i'll be a lot happier if I can surrender to it.

To This

Still sleepy bugalugs, originally uploaded by littlemin downlow.

My sleep deprived brain cannot handle technology right now and I am typing one handed, (there's a tiny bundle of person in my other arm), so my one post has become two. Anyway, when I can organize myself a little better there will be much to report.

Now, off.To. Bed.

From This

Shadow 3, originally uploaded by littlemin downlow.

Happy Solstice

In lieu of building a bonfire or going to a festival I celebrated the return of light to this hemisphere today by going to a chanting group. (And also I thought it might encourage a certain little baby to be born). Blissing out into Sanskrit lyrics that I only vaguely understand the meaning of was very soothing and my current idea of an afternoon in Nirvana.

I hope said little bub didn't get too relaxed by it all because we need some action pretty soon, otherwise the hospital protocols kick in and they get all serious on our arses, talking about induction and drips and more ultrasounds. It's a pity it has to be like that really because it makes me feel a little pressured even though I'm only a week overdue. Time to try the chilli, castor oil, acupuncture, sex, climbing stairs, bumpy car rides me thinks...

Maybe baby has decided that being Cancerian is preferable to Gemini? Or figures that being born on the 23rd might slot in nicely to the family seeing as we already have a 21, 22 and 24 (of various months). Who knows? Maybe Solstice night is the night and tomorrow there'll be another small human in the world. We'll see.

Oopthy Daithy (as my girl would say)!

Oops! I buggered that link. I no understandy computers. I will just do it the easy way and if you're interested, you can cut and paste.

www.meyoutoo.com

If you like cutie pies it really is worth a squiz.

xx

A Moment In Time

We are getting pretty excited here at chez Min. It's not long now before we get to meet our new bub and the countdown's on. My very talented friend who happens to be a professional photographer was keen to document the moment and generously took some shots of the belly and the big sister for us. She's taken other photos for us before and I'm always blown away by the difference between her shots and my dodgy amateur pics on the old digisnapper camera. What a skill! A bit of photoshop knowledge wouldn't go astray either.

Well, off to bed now so i can lie there and not sleep for hours like almost every other night for the last month or so. I remember the same thing happening towards the end of my last pregnancy. How cruel is that? My last chance to stock up on a bit of sleep and i become an insomniac! Oh well. Better get used to it again...

All I Need