Progress
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Well, it looks like we just have a picky eater on our hands. I tried peaches yesterday with Beckett and he gobbled up two cubes in less than five minutes. Fed them to him again this morning, and he went for three cubes and probably would have eaten more. Wouldn't you know that his favorite food would be the one that is a pain to make. But seeing the way he enjoyed it instead of spewing it down his front was priceless and I'll slave away in the kitchen every weekend if I have to so he can have his peaches.
Yesterday I also made pureed plums, mangos and carrots. Those went into the freezer with the nectarines, pears, squash and the already dwindling supply of peaches. This weekend I'll make pumpkin, green beans, peas, sweet potatoes and apples. That should last us a couple months, and by that time he will be old enough to introduce spices and I can start making mixtures of things as whole meals. Pureed garlic chicken with carrots, anyone?
Last night Beckett and I made the 45-minute drive up to the north side to attend the Central Indiana homebirth support group. This was our second time attending and I'm really enjoying it. I can't explain how nice it is to be in the company of people who don't look at you cross-eyed when you say that your placenta is in your freezer.
I really thrive on interaction with other like-minded mamas, because very few people understand why I do things the way I do. DH told me yesterday that a woman at the office shook her head in disgust and told him it was "gross!" that I'm still breastfeeding our 6-month-old. It's attitudes like that that make it hard for me to venture out beyond these concentrated groups that are my comfort zone.
I've been wanting to attend a Holistic Moms meeting but they too are on the north side, even further than the one last night was. It would be an hour drive for me one way, and their meetings don't start until 7pm. With Beckett's bed time at 8 and the odds looking like we wouldn't get home until around 10, I'm not thinking it would be a very pleasant experience. I'm contemplating leaving him with DH and a supply of pumped milk, but I really like taking him with me when I meet new people. Kids are always an ice-breaker, you know. So we'll see.
I don't think I've mentioned it here before, but I've been toying with the idea of beginning training to become a birth doula for awhile now. Since having the boys and feeling within myself that our family is complete, I've been struggling with the question of what I will do with "the rest of my life." Eventually these boys will be in school and old enough that they don't need their mama doting on them all day long, and I know that I'll be at a loss as to what to do with myself when that time comes.
Birth has always fascinated me and since experiencing it myself, it has become my passion. I've read every word on the DONA website and it just calls to me. I think it would be amazing to get into midwifery and I feel like being a doula for awhile first would be a helpful stepping stone in that direction. There is a workshop coming up in January that I'm really excited to sign up for. I've been talking about it with DH and I think I'll go ahead and sign up soon, and also apply for my certification packet to make it official. I'll have two years from the date I get the certification packet to complete it. I've never been this excited about anything career-wise in my life and I can't wait to move forward and start making things happen.
13 comments:
Derek's mom is a Midwife and absolutely loves it. She also regularly takes trips to places like Africa and Haiti to assist in birthing babies; it's amazing. Trust me when I tell you, that is one profession that will never leave you without an interesting story to tell. :D
Thu Oct 04, 01:37:00 PM EDT
Jaclyn -- does she do home or hospital births? I'm surprised you didn't use her with Lucas!
Thu Oct 04, 01:38:00 PM EDT
It's kind of like you read my mind...I've been toying with the idea of taking the Doula courses too - I am VERY unhappy in my job, and feel like I need to be doing something meaningful, instead of sales. Yick. Being a postpartum doula is what interests me - I loved my midwives but felt a little lost when they cut the cord (so to speak!) on me and my son at 6 weeks. I think new Moms need WAAAY more support than that, and we often can't find it through our traditional MD's (or don't like their alternatives.) I think if more new moms got support all the way through the first year, there would be less of us teetering on the edge (or falling into the pit of!) PPD.
Thu Oct 04, 02:02:00 PM EDT
I believe she works mostly with hospitals. It's funny you say that because right when Derek and I started dating was when I started regretting going the OB route. I'm not sure if she'd want to deliver her daughter-in-law's baby, though. My next bab[ies] will definitely be with a midwife. I remember when I was admitted into the hospital and they started the Pitocin drip I told Derek to call his mom and tell her to meet me in the alley to deliver Lucas, haha. :x Who knows, maybe next time Grandma will be the baby catcher!
Thu Oct 04, 02:06:00 PM EDT
I think that's awesome that you are going to attend the classe to become a doula!!! I've actually been toying w/ the idea myself. I'm hoping legislation will get passed in 2008 to allow midwives to practice in my state--and if that happens, I will definetly be pursuing it.
Best of luck w/ it Alica!!
Oh--and wanted to add that it's great that you found something that Beckett likes!!! Yum peaches!! I just bought some today to make for McKenna! So far we've only done apples, banana's and sweet potatoes--and she loves them all!
Thu Oct 04, 02:29:00 PM EDT
Okay, I lied. Derek said she does home births, too. :]
Thu Oct 04, 09:31:00 PM EDT
Oh, Alicia, you know I would love to have you at my birth. When we were in CO, Jerome's sister had the nerve to tell me when we were talking about homebirth & circ'ing, that she "hopes I have to recover from a c section so that our kids don't have to go through that". WTF. She is anti-homebirth and pro-circumsion. She's a dumbas* that doesn't know anything any way.
I think you would make an AWESOME doula. I'll hire you!!!
Thu Oct 04, 09:40:00 PM EDT
That would be awesome Alicia! I've been wanting to look into being a LC and maybe even a midwife one day, but Im not done having babies yet so it will have to wait. I can't wait to hear about your journey in becoming a Doula!
Fri Oct 05, 03:31:00 AM EDT
It was so fun getting to feed Beckett yesterday. Takes me back to the days when I'd come home and get to feed Sawyer in our old house. Amazing how quickly the time goes.
Fri Oct 05, 08:54:00 AM EDT
I think you and I would be great friends in real life. Once my boys are older I am planning on training to be a Lactation Consultant, Doula and Childbirth educator.
If I had my 20's to do over again I would have trained to be a midwife.
Fri Oct 05, 10:09:00 AM EDT
I've never heard anything about homebirths or doulas.
Or placentas in the freezer.
Looks like I'll be scouring your archives for more info.
Fri Oct 05, 10:26:00 AM EDT
Oh, good luck girl! I wish you were a little tiny bit closer, I would love to have you at any future births I may be blessed with. My mw is 1 1/2 hours away now. lol
Fri Oct 05, 11:41:00 PM EDT
I've been thinking about becoming a doula as well...Good luck!
Sun Oct 07, 12:18:00 AM EDT
