Oliver in Alaska, 2010

At Grandma and Grandpa's, Oliver loved the swings:

...and the greenhouse

...and the dirt and grass

...and drawing on the driveway

and the ocean/beach of course:

 

He got plenty of "purple uppy" rides too:

 

And he loved playing with Auntie and Uncle A:

Babies galore!

It was a busy baby month for Nurturing Hearts! Stephanie and I attended six births between September 3 and September 18 - and we have another mama who is eagerly awaiting her first baby any day now.

The stats and highlights:

4 girls, 2 boys 

(and another girl on deck)

weights ranging from 7lb 5 oz to 10lb

Birth orders: 2 first, 3 second, and a fourth

3 land births, 2 water births, 1 surgical birth

Sorry, no detailed birth stories this month...I'll have to get back in the habit of documenting as they happen. Briefly...

1. First-time mama, upright throughout labor, ended up on the birth stool...pushed a bit over an hour and helped Steph and her husband catch their baby girl and bring her up to her chest. Her smile, holding her baby, was a mile wide...

2. Second-time mama, first home birth...drew on the love of her husband during intense labor, ended up in the tub. Pushed her little boy into daddy's hands in no time, and immediately looked up to declare all the labor was so worth it, to enjoy the birth of her baby that much...she also expressed a new-found appreciation of her body, for what it can do.

3. Another second-time mama with a first homebirth...strong...amazed at the power she possessed and declared she wanted to do it just like that again next time.

4. Second-time mama, second homebirth. Peaceful, calm, hard to tell she was in labor...until the soft sounds of Harry Connick Jr. annoyed her and she started pushing. Her 10 pound daughter was born in the tub, surrounded by family. This baby needed some help getting started, but proved as strong as her mama and is thriving on mama's milk...much to her family's delight, after a hard nursing relationship with baby one!

5. Fourth-time mama, first baby girl. Labored calmly through the night, birthed her daughter on her bed, with her husband at her side. This baby has more hair than I've ever seen on any baby, anywhere! 

6. And finally, first-time mama who labored and labored, and gamely tried everything she (and we) could come up with to birth her daughter...but alas, exhaustion won, and after three days, mama knew it was time for a transfer. With an epidural in place, she fought for hours more at the hospital before making the decision to proceed with a surgical birth. Her strength and dedication were noteworthy...mama was already talking VBAC while making the final decision to head to surgery!

As always, I must note my appreciation to these families, for the honor of witnessing such incredible strength, love, and determination. 

Heading North

Wow - where does the time go? I obviously didn't get to update from Alaska...so here's the quick run-down:


Successfully packed for five people for five weeks in two checked bags, one carry-on, and a backpack for each girl:

The plane ride was rather uneventful...brought our two ipods for video-watching, kept Ollie in the car seat most of the time, ate snacks, and we were there.

 

If you've never flown to Alaska, here's what you've missed (thanks to Ashish for capturing the view):

(click on pictures for full-size viewing)

   

In the past, we've always driven from Anchorage to Homer (220 miles), but fortunately this time, we hopped the half-hour flight on the puddle-jumper and saved the six hours in the car...

Finally made it home:

The kids did great, and were so excited to see Grandma and Grandpa. We had about 10 days before Anna and Ashish arrived for the big wedding party...many more pics to come.

Trip Time

I leave on Monday morning with the kids...five weeks of half-the-heat (seriously, it was 112 here yesterday, and 56 there!)...five weeks of no husband.

This week we have been swimming a ton, watching a few too many movies/shows, and really just laying low. I have been to a bunch of yoga classes (addictive, I tell you).

We had the (getting big: 9-15, 9-7, and 9-2) babies on Thursday

Elfie was my super-helper!

We are watching a friend of Elfie's all weekend; took all the kids to an Aquatic Center yesterday; heading to a birthday party today...and somehow tomorrow I will pack for the five of us for five weeks, in as few bags as possible so as to avoid the ridiculous airline fees (not a single free bag!).

I'll try to post from Alaska...send happy travel vibes our way please!

Weekend in the pines

Another photo-heavy tale for your (I hope) enjoyment.

Friday after the girls' art camp, we headed Northeast, out of the Valley and into the land of the tall pines...we strapped the kiddos in the rental van (felt just a little self-righteous about my four harnessed kids), passed out snacks, and drove for four hours through Payson and Show Low into Pinetop.

Thanks to Beth and a friend with a "cabin," we stayed in high style...three bedrooms, two baths, and seclusion in the trees made for lots of outdoor play, and good sleep for all.

Check out the back yard:

Saturday morning, the kids feasted on watermelon,

played horseshoes,

then went traipsing down to a small pond nearby, hoping to find some some creatures..

We saw a couple lizards, some gorgeous roses, a faux-teepee, but no fish.

Since we lost the back-rider to a nap (Kindercarry toddler-sized mei tai, for those who care), we recharged at the cabin and waited for Beth and her crew to return, before heading to a stocked pond for some trout fishing!

Clara caught a couple fish

and had a ball...I think she'll have to try some real fishing in Alaska next month!

Oliver had fun taking care of his cousins while the big kids were catching dinner:

He has become this super-sweet, kiss-giving, attentive "big kid" around the babies...it's amazing to watch!

We played at a playground for a while - a rare treat for Phoenix kids in the summer - before heading back to the cabin for dinner. On the short drive, we lost Evelyn...for the rest of the night!

She slept in her seat from about 5 to 7 (another impossibility here in the Valley, with the heat), at which point I moved her into the house (sure she'd wake up)...and she STAYED ASLEEP until almost 7 the next morning!

Shocking.

Meanwhile, the other three kept busy...

Liam the corn-shucker (must have been the Iowa conception),

and next golf pro;

Oliver the charming blond,

who discovered the giant marshmallows;

and Clara, the sharp-shooter

and master baby-carrier.

Sunday morning we headed farther East and ended up in the White Mountain Apache Reservation, at Hawley Lake (elevation 8200 ft). The kids love catching crawdads/crayfish (catch and release only in this house), so we set them loose on the shore with nets and buckets.

Daddy helped catch and play show-and-tell:

(This mama doesn't DO crustaceans (nasty arachnid-like creatures). Blech.)

 

Beth and Memo joined us, bringing along fishing poles and worms...so the new fisher-girl put her skills to work (no bites, but lots of effort).

Finally, we finished the day with a family picture (thanks Beth)! 

Just for kicks...the progression:

Most of us

Coaxing Mr. Three to come join us...even if takes jumping like a frog over 

every.

single.

rock.

But Look! Payoff! 

Six Basses, ONE picture!

We drove home via the strip-mining pit lovely town of Globe...and not too far outside of the town, we pulled off the road for a potty break...I was just strapping back in with the girls while daddy had a turn...when Elfie exclaimed, "BEAR!"

Sure enough, not 30 feet behind Dan stood a black bear, staring straight at us. I knocked on my window, and  in utter shock pointed behind him...Dan turned, the bear got one look and bounded off back into the woods. We had just been talking about bear safety on the drive to the lake that morning...so it was a fun final chapter to the weekend's adventures!