I've just heard that Jaime (mrsmaynard) has just given birth to Evangeline!!!! Congratulations and many blessings of health and happiness to you and your rainbow babe, Jaime and Dave!!
Natashia will be updating Jaime's blog tomorrow, but I will update any news! Natashia says she is little but so so beautiful :)

My heart is just exploding right now. Two years and one month, to the DAY of her brother Evan's death... Thank you, God and the universe, for bringing this light back to Jaime and Dave.

Jen (mandella0021) just called me - they're on their way to the emergency room with Eli (Sofia's kindred spirit and betrothed) because the urgent care recommended it based on the suspicion of pneumonia and possibly RSV.

Eli, of course, is acting pretty normal! Just a bit of a cough and drooly, so obviously he's not in too much discomfort at the moment, thank God.

Understandably, Jen is stressed and concerned and pretty close to freaking out. She's asked me to please request your thoughts and prayers for Lijee's swift recovery.

She's not sure if they have Wifi at the hospital, but I'm sure she'll appreciate all comments, emails, or facebook messages of support and love.

Please send up your prayers, most importantly - this family and that little boy and his mama mean the absolute world to me. We walked our paths of babyloss together, then pregnancies, and now motherhood to our beautiful rainbow bebes. They are such a generous and loving family, I really feel my life is blessed for knowing them, and I know many of you feel the same.

All your good thoughts, prayers, and love will be so appreciated, so Lijeeboo can get home healthy and no worse for the wear ASAP.

Thank youu
Maria

Tomorrow is a DITL day! Everyone please mark your calendars, set your alarms, write yourself post-its on the bathroom mirror, and charge your camera batteries!

I am hoping the majority of the people on my Friends List will participate - please don't worry about having a boring day/life or dirty house/underwear - I assure you it will be fascinating to at LEAST me!

Please please please do it! I am so curious and eager to scroll through two dozen DITLs of people I love and know and to see what everyone did on THE SAME DAY. Seriously, how sweet would that be??

So, come on, do itttttttttttttttttt.

Thank you!

(For more information about the event, please visit ditl!)

Fuck. I think Sofia has an attached upper frenulum :/

city_love, check your email!

Gerber onesies - run big or small? Consider big cloth diaper baby bum.
She's in 3-6mo. Carter's, ON, Gap, etc. very comfortably.

I need some long-sleeve onesies! Found a 4-pack for $10, just need to make sure the size is right.

At their hotel today.



An exorbitant amount of photographs and reflections to follow.

Our infinitely awaited, sweet, beautiful Sofia Belen was born at 7:14pm on February 25th, weighing 7 pounds, 12.6 ounces and measuring 19.5 inches long. She came out alert, quiet and seemingly very aware of the poetic poignance of her birth. I pulled her from me onto my chest after almost 24 hours of being in the hospital and about 8 hours of active, incredible labor. She blinked a few times and stared wonderfully at me, with big, bright eyes, as I wept with joy and sorrow and amazement at how pink and alive she was.

A to Z meme.
accent: I hear a trace of an American accent when I speak Spanish, but most native-speakers are surprised to learn I'm not native to Argentina.
booze: wine - malbec or cabernet sauvignon; beer - Guinness; liquor - gin martini.
chore I hate: if I had to choose, it'd be scooping cat litter and cleaning the microwave.
dogs/cats: canines - Didi and Puggy Pug; felines - Lupita (Lulu), Chulie (Choo-choo), and Mama's Boy.
electronics: Laptop and mobile phone.
fragrance: Whatever EO is nearby or I'm feeling peckish for. I also love the smell of laundry detergent, lilacs, and John's deodorant.
gold/silver: White gold or platinum (for function more than form, to be honest)
hometown: Nyack, NY.
insomnia: frequently due to anxiety or stress.
job title: Currently in between student/housewife and mother/housewife, previously veterinary technician/housewife.
kids: Julia - angel born still 1/17/08; To-be-named - waiting with great anticipation, February 2009.
living arrangements: sunny, spacious 70's apartment with John, fur-babies, and soon-to-be, God willing, a living child.
most admired trait: Compassion.
nickname: Belu, Cutie McDougal/Kooky Malookie.
overnight hospital stays: Julia's induction.
phobia: claustro.
quote: "The only way out is through."
religion: None. My relationship with God can't be compartmentalized into one box or one religion.
siblings: Tomas, three years my junior.
time I usually wake up: 7am on weekdays, with John's alarm; weekends, around 9am.
unusual talent: 1. amazing spitty-slurpy distance, 2. I can isolate and bend my fingers at the first knuckle by themselves, 3. I can scoop up over ten poops with one plastic shopping bag. 4. I can carry in all the groceries in one trip.
vegetable I refuse to eat: This one is hard, I love vegetables. Not terribly fond of... fried vegetables?
worst habit: There are so many. Procrastination is probably the worst. I also twist and twirl my hair, pick at my cuticles, snap my fingernails, and be uncautiously optimistic.
x-rays: Hands (fingers), knees, shoulders, ankle, and one chest x-ray for international visa clearance.
yummy foods I make: All of it, but I make a mean roasted chicken, split pea soup, and vegetarian chili. Also, pears in wine reduction sauce, which I am craving like mad but am too embarassed to buy wine at the liquor store this pregnant.
zodiac sign: cusp of Aquarius and Pisces. Total water child.

1. I don't need to put on shoes.
2. Or socks.
3. Or a bra.
4. Or pants.
5. I don't have to brush my teeth.
6. Or scrape ice off my car.
7. Or check time schedules.
8. Or pay a fee.
9. I can take unhindered, unlimited pee breaks.
10. Food and drink allowed.

My favourite discount vitamin/mineral/herb/supplement/EO supplier, Puritan's Pride always has amazing deals (like buy 1 get 1 free, or buy 2, get 3 free). I think I've mentioned them before but I have to mention them again because I just discovered they're offering free shipping on all domestic orders until January 31st.

I am pretty well-stocked, for the most part, but I went there this morning looking to replenish my supply of Evening Primrose Oil. I am not looking for a huge amount, but still, the least cost-effective deal is two 100-count bottles of 500mg capsules for $8. I'm also coming away with a couple tubes of arnica gel (2.5oz plus a tube of sublingual pellets for $9) and calendula cream (2.5oz. for $7), as well as a box of nettle leaf tea ($3). I'm waffling between getting some chlorophyll tincture or spirulina or not.

Seriously, if you need anything, go. They have everything.

(p.s. If you are: babycatcher33, maine_girl, rock_grrl or mrsmaynard and need anything but wouldn't order because you're in Canada and don't want to pay the shipping - let me know and I will order for you as I'll be sending something or other to you in the next couple of weeks anyway).

We chose a name tonight!
It's perfect for her, really perfect.
Of course we won't be sharing it with anyone until she arrives (sorry!), but the fact that we were able to choose a name together (quite quickly, given how little we've actually discussed it) is a huge huge thing and that alone makes me very excited.

Things are slowly falling into place, in exactly the way they should.
I'm so happy!

One

Two

Three - this one in particular is about posterior positioning and back labor.

Four

Five

http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/natinduc.html - Good one!

For my fellow clothdiapering junkies (particularly rock_grrl and sublime29girlie):

Goodmama wipes!

and I also want to share a great deal that I discovered back in July from clothdiaper.com. The unbleached (bleached, too, if that's your fancy) flannel wipes are fabulous and a really good bargain, probably the best you'll find unless you make them yourselves: $8/15 wipes and if you buy at least three sets, they are $7/15 wipes - I bought four sets and probably will buy more as time goes on. Oh, and I've used them and can personally attest to their goodness! (p.s. This website is also where I got my factory-seconds prefold diapers - they run out very quickly, so keep checking back. I think I got four dozen for about $30.)

I have two, slightly used (less than 7 weeks each) Medela Swing single breast pumps for sale. I used them while I pumped and donated after Julia died. They've been very well taken care of, cleaned as thoroughly as possible, and come with bottles, microwave bag, and the whole shebang. I'd like to offer them up here before I list on Craigslist and Ebay. They retail(ed) for $125+tax. They are simple and fabulous pumps - can be used with batteries and are small enough to walk around with clipped to your pants/shirt, but very strong and reliable. They have the double-phase suction technology.

Make me an offer - I'd like them to go to a good home :)

Can I use Dr. Bronner's in a front-loader?