3 Years to 35

Inspired by my sweet friend Sarah Kay I've created a list of 105 things to do in 1095 days, or more generically these next 3 years until I turn 35 years old (whoa!)
Check out her amazing post (admission- many of her ideas I have copied! such great suggestions!) http://www.sarahkayhoffman.com/2015/02/10/105-things-1095-days/

105 Things in 1,095 Days

1. Come up with a list of 105 things (February 13, 2015)
2. Inspire someone to write their own list of 105 things
3. Organize a family reunion
4. Watch a friend’s child(ren) so they can have a few hours to just be
5. Study Desperate: Hope for the mom who needs to breathe with a small group
6. Sponsor a child
7. Help Camille sponsor a child
8. Send a surprise package to someone
9. Teach Camille the 10-10-80 principle
10. Use my massage gift certificate
11. Create a genealogy tree
12. Complete the Insanity 60 day challenge
13. Begin writing a book
14. Host a tea party (hats & all!)
15. Host a costume party/masquerade
16. Read my grandmother’s autobiography
17. Remove all plastic from the kitchen
18. Visit my mother-in-law
19. Visit my father-in-law
20. Visit my mom
21. Learn to line-dry my clothes
22. Visit a new National Park each year
23. Speak at a conference/meeting
24. Finish reading One Thousand Gifts
25. Record 1000 gifts
26. Read through the entire Bible
27. Go wine tasting
28. Listen to the entire Bible on CD
29. Get away overnight with Wes
30. Plan & save for our 10^th Anniversary trip
31. Start planning our 25^th Anniversary trip
32. Make & release a floating lantern
33. Send snail mail (just because)
34. Cry when I feel like crying
35. Smile when I feel like crying
36. Watch the sunset from the coast
37. Watch the sunrise from the mountains
38. Take an photography class
39. Unplug completely for an entire day
40. Organize all digital photos
41. Fish in the ocean with my husband
42. Memorize the book of James
43. Sing in a band/worship team
44. Sing Karaoke
45. Go on a girl’s-only trip/retreat
46. Have a girls night out
47. Visit a National Park out of state
48. Blog every week for one year
49. Make 25 homeless kits to pass out on hand
50. Go horseback riding
51. Mentor someone
52. Find a mentor
53. Donate my hair (February 12, 2015)
54. Invite someone to church
55. Write a letter to someone who made a difference in my life
56. Have a garage sale to clean out the house, and donate half the proceeds
57. Surprise Wes with a day trip
58. Take my husband to a concert
59. Be in our forever home (or have a plan for it)
60. Complete a triathlon (mini)
61. Make a recipe box filled with my favorite recipes and/or handed down family recipes
62. Make something to bring & deliver to a local nursing home
63. Make & bring Bone Broth to a sick friend
64. Say a prayer for someone I don’t necessarily agree with and/or like all that much
65. Begin the day with a glass of water + lemon every day for 2 weeks
66. WALK a half marathon with a friend
67. Go on a family mission trip
68. Paint master bedroom
69. Paint girls’ room
70. Build a Gingerbread House
71. Do mommy ‘n me yoga with my girls
72. Send flowers to my mom (just because)
73. Send flowers to my mother-in-law (just because)
74. Make a vision board
75. Buy a house
76. Fully tithe one paycheck 100%
77. Serve a meal to homeless as a family
78. Make my MIL’s famous noodles/Learn from her if possible
79. Eat sardines
80. For 7 days straight, begin the day by reading my Bible, followed by 5 minutes of meditation (before ever looking at my phone, turning on computer)
81. Cut down our own Christmas tree
82. Learn to sew/Use a sewing machine
83. Grow a vegetable garden
84. Write my autobiography
85. Say “no” to something I typically say “yes” to
86. Sleep in until 9am
87. Homeschool
88. Scrapbook/Birthday book to date for Camille
89. Scrapbook/Birthday book to date for Daphne
90. Kitchen de-clutter and organization
91. Home office de-clutter and organization
92. Girls’ room de-clutter and organization
93. Master bedroom de-clutter and organization
94. Begin an herb garden
95. Get a pen pal
96. Solo day/weekend getaway
97. Avoid the scale for an entire year
98. Begin Bible Study/church study Journal #1
99. Teach someone to line dance
100. Camp out in my backyard
101. Make my own sushi
102. Build a snowman
103. Host Neighbors Table gathering
104. Organize a block party
105. Simplify/Purge each family members wardrobe

  Here's to 35! Then on to 40!

Dedicating Children...

Psalm 8:1

Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory
    in the heavens.
² Through the praise of children and infants
    you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
    to silence the foe and the avenger.

This past Friday we gathered with our extended family who were in town for the Thanksgiving holiday and we dedicated our children to the Lord.

My husband and I with our two daughters as well as my brother and his wife with their daughter. Together each couple committed before God and family that we would raise our girls to know Jesus, setting an example for them with our lives and ultimately acknowledging that our girls were designed and made by our Creator, who knows and loves them intimately and whose they truly belong to.

My dad, the patriarch of our family, along with his bride, our other sister and brother as well as our cousin and his wife via Skype and our grandmother via speaker phone, joined with us, committing themselves to our daughters, to love and lead them continually back to Christ with their lives and examples. And standing to say they will support us as parents in our quest and challenge to raise these beauties.

It was a time filled with joy and some tears and plenty of welcome interruptions from the 3 year old, 8 month old and 4 week old daughters of our King. Scriptures were read by all and through them we heard God's heart for the little ones, charging us to step out in faith, press into Him in the inevitable hard times, and accept the challenge of teaching our girls to walk with Jesus, honor their bodies, minds and souls, and ultimately go against the flow of this world, shining as lights in the darkness. 

We will commit ourselves once again, in front of our local congregation of community and friends in January, but this decision to dedicate our daughters in front of family was truly beautiful and encouraging.

We're thankful to have a family of faith.

"Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many.."

Deuteronomy 11:18-19

Thankful Thankful Lord knows I'm Thankful!

On this final day of the Thanksgiving weekend, I have SO much to be thankful for!
I originally thought I'd share my thanks on Facebook, but then realized that the post would be far too long, so I'd better write a blog post instead!
We celebrated Thanksgiving with two meals - one on Thursday and then a traditional meal on Friday, both were blessed to have family here with us.
As we went around the table on Friday while eating our turkey dinner, it was amazing to hear what each person was thankful for. The depth of thanks to our Lord and the way He has provided such gifts in the lives of my immediate family was awesome.
And so I'd like to share what my answer to the question "What are you thankful for this year?"
First I'm thankful that God answered our prayers for another child. Daphne Louise is a gift to our family and, born at 42 weeks, she was worth waiting for! I'm thankful I was able to have the natural birth we desired for our littlest one, born in peace and joy at home. 
Next I'm thankful for our family members that, for the past month, have traveled to come and stay with us and help us. They have cleaned our home from top to bottom, given Camille extra love and attention during this time of HUGE transition for her, and supported me as I've needed extra rest, time to shower, and even made me meals (often bringing them to me in bed!). My family has been truly amazing and I cannot express our thanks enough for their support in this time!
Finally and most importantly, I'm thankful for my husband who has been truly amazing. Throughout my pregnancy, especially at the end, he went above and beyond to take care of me and take care of our eldest daughter. His support since the birth has been phenomenal - constantly getting me food and drinks, taking our daughter for walks, taking the baby when I need time to connect with our eldest, keeping our house clean, and even doing most of the cooking for our Thanksgiving meals this weekend.
He is simply amazing.
We are so grateful to our local community of friends who have brought us meals, groceries and so much love and support.
This year I am truly full of thanks!
So in the words of our favorite Thanksgiving song: " I'm thankful, thankful, Lord knows I'm thankful! Happy Thanksgiving Hap Happy Thanksgiving!"
Hap Happy Thanksgiving 

Daphne's Birth Story

*Warning: Some images include blood, placenta and umbilical cord. All private parts are covered or cropped.*

October 30th was our 42 week mark of pregnancy with baby Daphne.
The day started out much the same without any birthing signs happening. For the two weeks prior birthing waves had been coming and going but nothing regular.
I had an appointment with the midwife scheduled for that day and she had said she would bring some herbs to see if we could regulate some contractions and she planned to stay for a few hours.
11:00a.m. I asked my sweet friend Candace, who is trained in massage therapy, wants to be a doula and has had both of her children unassisted at home, to come over to do some massage and pressure points.
She brought her two kids who played with Camille while she massaged me & did pressure points for about an hour.
When she left, Camille & I had lunch & then went upstairs for some quiet/nap time. I used the opportunity to listen to my HypnoBabies track while Camille slept in my bed & soon pressure waves were coming 5 minutes apart and increasing in intensity & power.
I texted my midwife and husband to keep them updated, knowing my midwife was coming over soon anyways.

2:30-3p.m. Midwife arrived and we chatted for a bit while she observed my focus & breathing during waves. She checked my dilation, which was 4cm & did some light cervical massage which was very easy since my cervix was very soft and pliable. She said my water bag was bulging through my cervix, very taut, and could break very easily.
We then went downstairs & she gave me some herbs with water which were meant to augment/regulate contractions. After she tied a scarf around my belly to help Daphne move down we then went in the backyard to walk for awhile. Camille played, kicking the ball and running around while I walked, listening to my birthing day affirmations on my iPod, walking through waves, which continued to increase in power, needing to stop and breathe through some. I also chose to sweep our back walkway while I was at it.
We decided that we would wait to check again until Wes got home from work. He picked up thai food on his way home.
5:30p.m. We all ate dinner together and then Wes and Camille went outside to carve a jack-o-lantern while Jessica & I went upstairs to check things out and decide whether to break my water.

6:55p.m. I was now dilated to 5cm and the water bag was bulging and very taut, with Daphne's head even lower and ready to go. We decided to go ahead and gently break the water bag and it was very comfortable, warm and just easily trickling out.
There was some old yellow meconium in the water, but thankfully she hadn't inhaled any. It was probably from my having the flu a few weeks prior, which may have stressed her out.
I sat up and cleaned up a bit while Jessica went downstairs to have Wes start filling the birthing tub with water. The next waves came powerfully and I knelt by the side of the bed. I could hear Camille calling me to come and see the pumpkin but needed to make it to the bathroom as a gush of water came out.
Once on the toilet I knew I wasn't getting up for awhile. Some meconium filled fluid ended upon Camille's step stool in the bathroom,which she was very concerned about getting cleaned  up when she saw it. Funny kid.
The waves came so powerfully and quickly that I called out for Jessica because I felt faint. It was hot in the bathroom so we opened a window and I had to close my eyes and focus on breathing through each wave. I did pass out for a few seconds while she and Camille fanned me and wiped my face,arm sand chest with a wet washcloth. Heather,the backup midwife arrived during this time and after I began to vocally moan they helped me move back to the bed. They laid down some towels and plastic sheets to protect the bed.
I moved onto my hands & knees and remained in that position. The waves were coming one after another and they asked if I wanted to try to go downstairs and get in the tub. I knew I wouldn't make it down the stairs.
I was breathing in and in a deep voice "Oh"ing out. Camille got on the bed on her hands and knees and was joyfully Oh'ing also which made me smile and laugh.
I quickly felt nauseous & they set a bowl in front of me. I never did throw up but instead was belching often,which is another sign of transition.
In minutes I was pushing. As Daphne was crowning they called Wes and Camille upstairs. Jessica told me to reach down and feel her head,which really inspired me
Camille wanted to be right in the action and stood over Jessica's shoulder as Daphne's head came out.
Daphne was talking immediately and I could hear her baby noises. I really had to focus to push out her shoulders and she came out onto the bed and they told me to pick her up.  Camille was so excited and laughing.
8:31p.m. I picked up my baby girl and was so joyful! She just laid her head on my chest and quietly looked around.

The midwives cleaned up around my knees and I was able to lay back on my own pillows in my own bed and wait for the cord to stop pulsing, which seemed like15 minutes.

Camille crawled right up to see her sister and kiss her.

 

She knew it was her time to cut the umbilical cord and asked the midwives for gloves like they were wearing. This kid! Future midwife for sure! Ha!
After the cord lengthened, I pushed out the placenta after a few tries (I was tired of pushing!). The midwife assistant, Jennifer, put it in the bowl that I didn't use and Jessica guided Camille in cutting the cord.

They helped get me cleaned up and to the other side of the bed. Daphne and Camille nursed together and Daphne latched on like a pro!

Camille had changed into her swimsuit and was eager to go in the birth tub, so at least someone got to use it!

Everyone went downstairs and Daphne and I had some time to rest and bond before measurements were taken and she was checked out.

Daphne Louise McClain weighed in at 9 pounds 6 ounces and her length at 22 1/2 inches. Her head was 14cm and her chest/shoulders were 15cm. She is our newest little love and our birthing time was so beautiful.

We have arrived...

Today we have arrived at the second of the estimated due dates!
Today is the date we've been going by according to my last menstrual period.
Yesterday was the date estimated by the first ultrasound.
Two days from now will be the final estimated date according to our most recent ultrasound in our third trimester.
So, here we are. And baby girl just wants to keep on keeping on in there!
I had my appointment with my midwife today and all looks good. She has dropped since last week, which is a good sign. Blood pressure, weight gain, heartbeat - all is good. Just waiting.
And waiting.
And waiting.
My midwife is hopeful that she'll be here before we hit 41 weeks next Thursday, so that at least narrows it down a bit.
Been feeling lots of pressure today and baby is moving around consistently.
I didn't get a nap today so will probably go and rest before hubby gets home.
It's all in God's hands and I'm continually surrendering to His will and His timing.