Watering the Baby

Now that it is so warm outside, Miles' new favorite pastime is building rivers and waterfalls in the backyard. Basically playing in the mud.  Alvin (the geologist) helps him dig a river in the dirt, then they turn on the hose and drench the earth.  The other day I was inside using the computer when Alvin came in from just such a geology project.

"Where's Clay?" I asked.
"Oh, he's outside in his chair.  Miles is watching him."  I raised my eyebrows, but went back to work.
A few minutes passed, then we heard a shriek from outside.  Then another shriek.
I headed downstairs to assess the situation.  Just as I got to the back door, I met Miles rushing inside.
"Mom!  You have to stay in here while I dry off Clay!  Go get me a towel."
I was flabbergasted (my grandma uses that word a lot).  I tried to continue outside to see just how wet Clay was, but Miles blocked me!
Alvin handed him a towel, shrugged his shoulders at me, and said, "Miles wants to do it himself.  Just let him."  Defeated again.
Well, Miles "dried off" Clay, but the baby was still sopping when we finally got to him.  But not crying - what a good sport of a little brother.

Thank you, Mr. Nibley

This is Miles' favorite bedtime CD.  It's a lovely collection of classical piano music, soothing enough to put a boisterous toddler to sleep.  You can listen to some of it here.  My favorites are #1, #2, and, of course, Clair de Lune #14.  Reid Nibley is a sensitive, accomplished pianist.

Every night before we can leave his room, Miles instructs:
"Hug and kiss and my music on and 'bye.'  And I want the music with the leaf and the rose."

This may not seem related, but . . . I got a piano on Friday!  My future seems so bright and complete now!  I really was pining without a piano.  You know, I took lessons from age 4 to 17, and I even taught a few students over the years.  But I have been without a real piano since 2010.

Since we moved to Oklahoma, I've been thinking about getting a used piano.  And now the timing was right, we had a good tax return, and I found a quality instrument on Craig's List.  The man selling it was asking more than I planned on spending, but as soon as I tried it out and heard the tone quality, I fell in love.  (The seller even turned out to be a piano mover and delivered it to us for free!)  This piano has a mellow, bell-like sound, and the key action is good - not too loose.

Tonight I played Clair de Lune.  My fingers still remember it!  After a few measures, Miles' face lit up, he ran upstairs, then came back carrying his "leaf CD."

"Mom!" he said.  "That's the song on my music!"

What is your job?

Last night Alvin gave a great Family Home Evening lesson on prophets and apostles.  We will listen to modern-day prophets speak at General Conference this Saturday & Sunday, and we're trying to prep Miles to watch and appreciate it.  (Well, watch some of the four 2-hour sessions.  How do you keep young children interested in watching Conference talks?  Or at least keep them from distracting you?)

Presidents Eyring, Monson, and Uchtdorf of
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Alvin concluded his lesson by saying that a prophet's job is to talk about Jesus.  To illustrate what "job" means, Alvin asked Miles about our jobs.  I got a kick out of the dialogue that ensued!

Alvin: What's my job?
Miles: Mmm . . . work!
Alvin: Yep, that's right.  What's Mom's job?
Miles: < pause > To cook and eat.
Alvin: What's your job?
Miles: Obey and do my Morning Chart.
Laura: < laughing hysterically because he really captured the essence of our jobs >

The famed Morning Chart.  It's a great way to keep Miles (and me!) focused on getting dressed and ready for the day.  He likes to put the clips next to each illustration after completing the task.  Miles even asks to do his Morning Chart throughout the day so he can earn back trains that have been banished to the Naughty Bag.

Does pregnancy give you cavities?

Now I will reveal my oral history.  In thirty years I have had 2 cavities: one in a baby tooth, and one in a permanent molar.  I was very proud of my healthy teeth, and thank my mother for diligently administering fluoride tablets to me in my childhood.

Two weeks ago I went to the dentist for a routine cleaning.  I was nothing less than astounded when the hygienist claimed I had 5 cavities.  She said, noting my sidekicks (Clay and Miles), "Yep.  Kids'll do it to you.  They suck all your nutrients.  Plus, you tend to be less diligent about tooth brushing when you are chasing them around all day."

Is that true?!

Whether it is or not, I had 5 cavities filled Thursday.  I suddenly feel ashamed that I laughed at Alvin's limp cheeks when he had dental work done a year ago.  What would you say is the worst torture: the shots, the drilling, or hours of numb, sagging cheeks and tongue?

Leaves are falling all around . . .

We spent a beautiful spring day outside . . . raking leaves!  Yes, I'll admit a few of them were leftovers from last fall.  (Hey, we were busy fixing up our new house and getting ready for a baby.)  But those leaves weren't even soggy after spending a winter on the ground.  (Too dry.)  Most of the leaves we raked today fell from our trees in the last month, only after new blossoms and leaves pushed them out of the way.  Just another crazy thing about living in Oklahoma: some leaves fall in the spring.

Miles is 3!

Happy Birthday, Miles!  Ever since we told him he would be turning three, he's been practicing the fingers: "I will be this many?"  Here he is, ready to check out his loot.  When we showed him his wrapped presents, he said, "Let's open them and see if there's a train inside."  Does that yellow one look like it could be a train?  I guess deductive reasoning skills come after three.  By the way, Amber, he loves the grabber hand!

We had a little birthday party with some kids from Nursery.  I checked out "Children's Parties" from the library and prepared half-a-dozen age-appropriate games.  I might as well have tried to get cats to play my games!  The kids were just as happy when we brought out Miles's toys and let them play on their own.

Brothers!  Miles was watching some YouTube train movies while I fed Clay.  (He feels very empowered with the computer now that he can work the mouse.)  When I said to Clay, "Are you all done eating?" Miles answered, "No, he's still hungry.  You need to feed him some more, Mom."  He knew when Clay was done, his time on the computer would be done, too. :)

I sure love you, Miles!  Two has been so fun, especially since you have learned to talk so well!  I love the things you think of to say all by yourself.  You have a good memory and you like to remind us about random incidents that happened months ago, like when you went to the cabin with Dad, or when you burned your finger making pancakes.  You say, "'Member that, guys?"  You can recite the 1st and 2nd Articles of Faith all by yourself, you can go potty all by yourself, you read the numbers printed on packaging and book pages, and you like riding your big yellow bike inside the house.  We are so glad you are in our family.  I can't wait to see what new things you learn and do when you are three!  Love, Mom

Clay's Birth Story

I knew Clay’s birth story would not start on December 16, 2011, his estimated due date.  After all, his older brother Miles was born 11 days after his due date.  But when Christmas came and went with no new baby, I worried. 

I wanted a natural childbirth, so I dreaded being induced.  I did not want to be tethered to an IV during labor; I didn’t want to experience Pitocin-intense contractions; I didn’t want to need an epidural; I didn’t want to start a chain of medical interventions that could lead to a cesarean birth.  However, under pressure from my midwife, I scheduled an induction at the hospital for December 29. 

On December 29, I woke up at 5 am to get ready for my appointment.  I was vaguely aware of some contractions, and at 6:09 I started timing them.  One hour and 12 contractions later, I decided I was in labor.  I felt guiltily happy, like a kid who gets to stay home from school because he’s sick. 

Laboring at home, before things got rough

Alvin dropped off Miles as planned, and I notified the midwife that I was in labor.  She said I could stay home for a few hours.  I sent some emails, went for a slow walk through the woods with Alvin, knelt over the birth ball and practiced my “slow breathing” during contractions.  We made a mad dash to the hospital when contractions suddenly became more intense and frequent.  

We arrived at 11:00 and met my doula, Nikki, at Labor and Delivery on the 4^th floor.  Apparently it was a very popular day to have a baby because there were no rooms available.  I clung to a bar on the wall while nurses discussed where to put me.  I must have looked like I was about to have this baby in the hall, because they found me a room.

For the next couple hours, I camped out on the birth ball, first on the floor, then on the bed.  Kneeling over it really felt like the best position: supported, no weight on my back or hips, and I could roll my torso around on the ball for a little massage.  Alvin said, “Remember to breathe in relaxation,” a few times, but mostly he kept some distance, especially after I ordered, “Don’t hover.” 

By 1:30 my water still hadn’t broken, and I felt miserable.  These contractions hurt like crazy, and I was sure pushing the baby out was not going to feel any better.  Nine months of mental preparation for pain had been exhausted.  I really doubted my ability to continue.  Then an idea flew into my head.  Maybe feeling no pain was an option.  I asked the nurse, “What would have to happen for me to have an epidural?”

My doula explained that first I would have to receive a bag of IV fluids, then I would have to lie on my side while the anesthesiologist inserted a needle in my lower back.  I would have to hold still during a contraction even if I felt like pushing.  It sounded like it would take a long time.  But after another contraction, I said, “I want one.” 

So the nurse started my IV while I knelt over the birth ball.  I remember thinking how wonderful that needle felt going in my arm.  It was a step toward major pain relief.  More contractions.  More misery.  The anesthesiologists came in.  They explained that positioning was crucial, and I would have to lie on my side.  I didn’t feel like moving at all. 

The midwife checked me and announced I was completely dilated and ready to push.

The anesthesiologists were still waiting.  I still hadn’t budged.  The midwife suggested that I make a decision – either get the epidural or decide to push the baby out. 

“How long after I get the epidural will I feel pain relief?” I asked.  They said, “We like to give it 30 minutes.” 

“What?!” I felt like screaming.  “It’s not instant?”  By 30 minutes the baby might be born anyway!  Fine.  I’ll just push the baby out.

For the next half hour I pushed.  Each time I felt a contraction coming, I grabbed onto the rails of the bed, took a deep 20-second breath, and pushed.  I cried out for the pain.  I could feel the baby getting closer to coming out, and I could feel him slide back in when I stopped pushing.  Finally I heard the midwife tell Alvin that it would be one or two more pushes.  I pushed as hard as I could, and I wanted to die.  Alvin said I let out a great warrior cry. 

I felt tremendous pressure, then a sliding, gushing sensation.  The baby’s head made it out, and the rest of his body quickly followed.  It was 2:53 pm.  He landed on the bed beneath me, trailing his umbilical cord. 

I felt a rush of emotion.  I nearly wept for joy that it was over!  And that I had a baby!  I awkwardly tried to maneuver off the birth ball and turn around to sit on the bed and hold my baby.  His umbilical cord tugged and bumped against me.  We were both a bloody mess.  Finally I got situated, the nurse clamped and cut the cord, and she handed me the baby.  I wasn’t sure I remembered how to hold such a tiny baby, and he was slippery.  Someone wrapped a blanket around him and dried him off in my arms.  I was exhausted and emotional. 

Clay's debut

I examined his scrunched-up old man face – so funny – and instantly fell in love.  His chin jutted out, and his lower lick was sucked into his mouth.  Nine months of pregnancy and nine hours of labor were all over, and my baby had arrived.  I was in heaven just looking at and holding this new little creature. 

We made it!

Two hours later, Alvin settled on the name “Clay.”  

The proud father