Moonshine Junkyard

disclaimer:  this is a long story because i am detail oriented and i want to remember it all. it will probably only appeal to those who are fascinated by childbirth, as I am. if you want to know the truth, it's actually just a very run-of-the-mill birth story, if there can be such a thing. but it's mine and i love it with all my heart. both my daughters' births are sacred to me now, different as they are; they are the stories that make up the most vital and moving parts of my life so far and I am proud to carry them. i post my birth story here in case it helps inform other mamas or anyone at all who is interested in childbirth. Mine is unique only in that it was a VBAC and that i stuck to my plan to go all-natural. also, i've been typing this over many days and i am tired so there may be many errors and typos. i apologize in advance. i want to get this post up so i'm going to publish it without proofreading.  i hope you'll forgive me ;) Early labor : ...

i am thrilled to introduce you to our new little baby,  Polly Diana Spring. Born Sunday January 5, 2014, at 1:52 a.m.  7 lb 4 oz, 20 inches long \she is just the sweetest little thing.  i had her via natural VBAC just as i'd hoped. i am looking forward to posting my whole birth story; it was a really incredible, powerful and sacred experience for me, raw and intense beyond words. i will be doing my best to write it up soon while it's all still so fresh. now we are going about the business of establishing this little family of four. i have a one year old over here who is very, very excited.  i can tell lucy and polly are going to be best of friends.

i have four or five holidays posts i was supposed to write, haha. but for now i am just busy waiting for the baby to come, and soaking up the joy of this bright bright girl who is about to become a big sister. she charms me and blows me away every single day. this was the first day of our brand new year: a couple days before that, she wore piggy tails for the first time. a true little big girl! hung out with her nana that day. her newest absolute obsession is drawing and coloring. here she is saying "mama! daw! daw!" such a  busy busy girl. after naptime, rosy cheeked, taking her socks off. she loves to do her own undressing. and dressing in anything she can pull over her head. nana got her an elmo for christmas, and her favorite game is to throw him down, the little rascal. her bigger cousins thought that was hilarious so she quickly learned to relish the game. today is my due date. 40 weeks pregnant. there is so much i fe...

yesterday i had my little new baby celebration. at first i wondered if i should even have a "shower" for a second baby, but it seemed like a nice way to honor and celebrate this particular birth and child. i have been planning it for a while now, even had to postpone it one week due to the ice and snow last weekend. i'd had a wintry vision in mind for my little midwinter newborn on her way, and the cozy scene turned out delightful and pretty much just like i'd planned.  feeling pretty crafty these last few weeks, i made the simple burlap and felt banner and strung it along some fallen branches from my front yard. i was hoping for a kind of earthy wintry vibe, originating from the idea of winter's forest creatures. not too straight-up christmassy but with a welcoming, soft feeling of a cozy midwinter den, filled with warmth and light. i also made a little burlap and lace forest, but next year i want to learn to hand felt so i can create a litt...