blueberry picking

more botanical gardens

botanical gardens

lilly pad gazing

three girl pile up

storytime on the logs

letting baby sherpa have some space without a leash

introductions...a truce?

candle dipping at williamsburg

Last Spring, we went to the May Faire at our local Waldorf school. It's so much fun each year but this year was especially awesome because ez really enjoyed making a hand-dipped beeswax candle. We circled around a table alternating between wax and cold water dipping a string between each tub of liquid. On our recent trip to Williamsburg, she got to dip some candles just to color them.

We are looking at the dye color options.

My mom likes a certain candle company store, or should i say 'experience'? the place is huge with a changing sky and snowfall within one part of the compound that houses christmas decor. There is a coupon book full of crazy tourist trap stuff. Well, dipping candles is free with a coupon! Totally free. We were even encouraged (by an employee!) to tear out more coupons from the books at the front door if we wanted to do a couple of candles. Fabulous.

while listening to the instructions, we were very focused.

the first dip. don't you love the guy's face in the background, too? i thought about cutting it out but it really captures delight at watching a focused child learn and create. we could all use a little more joy like that.

the person behind the counter was so patient, kind and considerate with ez. it made me very grateful.

she chose her favorite color, purple! my mom looks on proudly. she was sooooo glad to share the whole weekend with us.

a bali baby

when we were in bali, i worked very closely with a nurse unlike any nurse i had ever seen. here is a picture on one of my last days at the clinic. a second later he told me that it's bad luck to take a picture with only two people. i had no idea and feel kinda bad b/c it was me that asked if i could have a picture.

somehow, he was capable of doing more in a day than i ever thought possible. he was always present to help in any way. i cannot tell you all how many times i thought, "why is he doing that? isn't that somebody else's job?" this nurse had skills but was not proud, at all. he smiled a lot and really seemed to enjoy his job...or jobs. he would start an IV and work to manage a severe post-partum hemmorage. he would do nipple stimulation until the mom's contractions were steady and she was pushing. one day, i even watched him clean out the fish pond! he always sterilized instruments after a birth. he would clean the tubs quickly after the water births. he would gather flowers for the moms while they labored in the tub; these flowers where then placed on top of the connected placenta in the bowl where it rested next to the babe and mom as the wee one nursed for the first time.

well, this amazing person became a father earlier this spring. His wife was so taken care of in labor, i will bet you. congratulations, mimi and liman!

From the Bumi Sehat newsletter:

"Mimi, our dear translator spent three days and nights in labor. Another mom comes in and has her second baby very quickly. Her first had been born at Bumi Sehat in the early days following the Tsunami, when our clinic was but a shack.

Finally Mimi’s courage and determination pay off, she and Liman have a beautiful daughter born at Bumi Sehat. They named her Talitha Nadif Halilah Wijaya. I felt like my time in Aceh was complete… I had delivered the baby of my loyal staff, this baby is like a granddaughter to me.

Bumi staff nurse Liman proudly planting a mango tree along with his newborn daughter’s placenta."

williamsburg

it's august?

Clearly, we have been busy little bees. Often, hubby and I wonder when life will slooowwwwww dooowwwwwwwnnnnnn for us.

We joined a new homeschool co-op last month that meets once a week at a cabin on 7 acres for wide open play.
We go on some sort of field trip (from bowling to the chocolate exhibit at a local museum) once a week, as well. There are about 14 families which split the days of the week that they come to the cabin so it doesn't get too crowded.

It's been fabulous for us all. The girls are having fun and I find myself growing emotionally by being part of the group.
We've wanted to join this awesome group of people for almost two years now!

We drove up to Williamsburg, VA for my mom's birthday. We had a blast at the water park there. The bear was so brave; she wanted to climb up all the kid slides again and again. She really enjoyed sliding down and landing in the water. People kept asking how old she was. Both she and her sister enjoyed seeing Granny J so much!!! They love that lady in a way that I never imagined my children would. It's so healing and redemptive to see those three together; they definately have the love bubble around them. We went out for italian food and the accordian player sang songs to my mom as they gifted her with dessert. So much fun. Somehow, we still haven't mailed her gift, yet!

A midwife from The Farm in TN came to Peace Tree Village for a workshop. I spent 4 days learning midwifery skills on a very introductory and broad level. It was fabulously inspiring. The women I sat with became dear friends or dearer friends. I am stoked to have lots more learning and training as I pursue the practice of midwifery. Yes, folks, it is officially time for me to go for it! Our state needs more midwives and I want to be one of them. It will still be a long road before i am certified but I am glad to finally be very intentional about walking that road.

Hubby and I celebrated 11 years of marriage this month! We are so thankful to have made it through all the storms and trials to be met with joy and happiness over and over, again. Our love for each other is strong, clearly.

off to brush their teeth...more later

i will wait with you.

just waiting on a baby...waiting for that phone call that spikes adrenaline through my entire being and has me tearing through the house for water, a snack, my doula bag then jumping into the jeep. peace and excitement mingle as i drive to their house or wherever they plan on giving birth. love it.

i was thinking about how my doula clients wait, wait, wait on their babies to come. it can be challenging when they see the calender days pass that were indicators their pregnancy would come to a close as they pushed a babe into their arms. they often wait for labor to progress before they call me. everyone is waiting for the bags of waters to break. their whole families wait to hear news of pounds and ounces. their good friends wait for pictures to be uploaded to a blog. there is a lot of waiting.

but, today, i was thinking about how i wait, also which is something i had not thought a lot about. i get to go through the process of waiting on labor signals with them. it's hard not knowing what is happening; i like to be in the midst of the action with my clients. i like to assure them that it's okay to wait but i like to hear and see what it going on with them.

i am learning patience and trust just like they are...through waiting. what a gift to have a job where i am still learning such important values as patience. what an honor to get to do this over and over, again with wonderful families. i am so thankful that they invite me into their moments.

see you soon, precious child!

spoons

the fort couch