The next full moon...

A month ago on the full moon I gave birth to this little treasure.  Here's a few snaps from the last month that has been.  There's been much eye gazing and breastfeeding, sweet moments as she grows and moves and reacts to us...  Many dashes out to the school bus with a freshly awakened baby and attempts to keep those teeny tiny toes and downy soft head warm...

(sixteen days old here)

... and today - our first warm day in a while - great to see those little legs out! 

Happy days to you and yours... xx

Homebirth of Savannah Bronwyn

Sharing something very special here... 

A sublime memoir and a terribly terribly proud moment in my life when I took control of my body and family and did it my way. At home. x 

Super-big love to Lou for capturing it. xx

for slideshow password: paul

for photo post

Come back here and let me know if you made it without a hanky!

xx

One Week

I do declare, we have had a beautiful past week.

My baby girl is now one week old and we are all completely smitten with her.

There has been many moments to savor and cherish.

:: teeny tiny fingers and toes

:: snuffly snorts

:: brotherly and sisterly doting

:: peaceful baths

:: family meals - although most often I prepare it and then sit on the couch feeding while my family and Nanny enjoy it! Not to bother - I'm certainly not going without.

:: itty bitty nappies

:: a couple of outings and coffees

:: lovely messages on the computer

:: a brilliant account of the birth via the amazing Lou (more on this later)

:: beautiful nourishing simple meals prepared by ourselves and 2 dear friends

:: a daddy that gets to see his wife and baby so much more than he would have if we had been stashed away at hospital

:: some very moving moments of respect for having a homebirth

:: the smell of soft velvety newborn hair

:: a bonus 19 hour visit from my bestie (of which in our 12 year friendship have introduced 1 husband and 7 more children over 3 Countries and 3 States and many many smiles and miles and tears...)

:: relishing in those deep eyes while they are open

:: those kisses and cuddles that only a mama and a baby can know that happen at 12, 2 or 4 a.m. 

I was pretty apprehensive about having four children.

I had no idea that the love would just quadruple. 

Lucky us.

xx

Grown.

grown by 2 feet. 

delicious little pink feet!

life is good.

x

24 hours

hello world

Without any further ado... We would like to introduce

Savannah Bronwyn

born at home last night in water into her mama's hands

8lb 8oz

pink and gorgeous

all busy falling in love. 

x

I need a badge.

I need to commission someone clever from etsy to make me a badge.

Today the badge can read:

Yes I am OVERDUE

wish me Happy Birthday instead of hassling me
about still being pregnant.

Oh the pressure of going "overdue."

That date that they oppress us with is merely a guessing point, people.  I have a 30 day cycle - not a 28 day "normal" cycle.  Ugh, I wish that I would just put my due date at 42 weeks from word go and forgo all of this anxiety over producing this baby for everyone.  I was induced with my first and went to 42 weeks with both of the next ones.

I know that people are well meaning when they ask after me, but I think I might just be a little teeny weeny bit sensitive, and explaining ten times over everyday from week 38 to well-wishers why there is still a rather large bump out the front does not do much for the mental state of a highly hormonal walrus lady.  Let me be clear here - it's all those that I encounter at the servo, the grocery store, childcare, etc... friends and family are an obvious acception!

Well, guess what? This is not in my control. In fact - nothing about this pregnancy from it's conception to it's posterior bub to my now oh so convenient posterior cervix are in my control.
So... I yield. I submit. I do not need to control this. My body is controlling exactly what it needs to control exactly when it needs to.

I will encourage but not obsess.
I will calmly yield to this process we call birth, and I will probably be pregnant for nearly a month more than most women.
So what.  I cook gorgeous babies. Yes I do.
Just a bit longer than the average Jo.

Anyhooooo....

So for my birthday......  I told Nic weeks and weeks ago to NOT get my anything - and that I've got my birthday covered.  eeeee!

We're going to see MUMFORD & SONS in Melbourne on 25 October!!

My current theme song:

Their new album has just been released and I'm still falling in love with it.  I've booked us into the Sofitel (posh!) and have a dear friend prepared to cuddle a few weeks old baby on her bosom while we sneak out - just the 2 of us for a couple of hours of music that makes my spine tingle.

Yay! What a birthday!  Now I just have to find a handful of helpers over a 24 hour span to milk the cows (twice), feed the chooks, collect about 4000 eggs, and to care for the other 3 kiddos, but, hey... minor details, right!?

Off to keep on cooking this little baby and to enjoy some of my grandmother's recipe of Rich Rich Cheesecake with my family... xx (...the best cheesecake EVER. seriously. there is no competition. I cannot eat any other kind of cheesecake as they all taste like swill to be fed to swine in comparison...)

P.S. I am such a lovely person that this coveted simple family recipe has been published on my blog here - so that the world does not have to endure CRAP cheesecake any longer.  Enjoy. And as my mother would say... in capitals: USE A DRIP PAN!

Happy days... xx

P.S.S. Please do comment as you feel the need - I'm not that sensitive and hormonal!! I am however, STILL PREGNANT but also now 35 years mature.  x

Before we are 6...

Warning: the following photo may make your ovaries ache:


Have you ever seen anything so adorable?  My gorgeous mother in law has sent 5 pairs of these little handmade cluck worthy booties. We're looking forward to putting them on our new baby soon!

The kids are very excited. You should have seen the look on this one's face when she realised that it was finally September!

Mama is excited too.  Just waiting and nesting like a banshee.  Who knew that the hearth around the fire needed so much scrubbing? And that bathroom ceiling - got that one done with the mop a few days ago.  There's been jewelery sort outs and pantry scrubbing, bathroom cleaning, hairclip organizing, sock sorting, path sweeping, etc.  Try to stop me.  Watch out oven - you're next!

Nic has discovered some interesting artwork donning the dairy shed walls.
Love that udder!

And this was my lunch - just to rub it in:
Homemade Ricotta Gnocchi
with homemade basil pesto (from last season's harvest)
and two gorgeously perfect poached eggs.

Made a Guinness cake yesterday too.
Decided it needed a peanut butter and date icing. And it did.  Delish!

Confidence, Elation, Calm

Well, here I am. 37 weeks pregnant.

I have just decided officially today that this precious fourth child is destined to be born at home.
In water. Perhaps even outside.  

I have been trusting in the medical system - of which I have a lot of scepticism and question at all times.  We had an easy 36 weeks, but after booking into the hospital the fear flags have been raised and the system that we know in medicine has taken over.  They have no experience or qualification to have a birth in water.  

No way I can give birth in the water there. The end.

For the weeks leading up to where I am now we have been taking the approach of we'll do what we can.  Yes, birthing pool is fine, and I was confident with it. But the fear and "risk factors" have taken over.  Spiritual journey and trust are no where to be seen on that road.

But this is where the journey was meant to go.

Home.  Where we all belong.

Independent midwife booked. 

Pool picking up tomorrow.

Calm.

Quiet.

Comfortable.

Safe in the arms of my family.

In the care of 2 midwives.

In the support of friends.

That is now where I am.

Ripening and anticipating. Bringing this baby into the world with honour.

That makes me very happy, confident and calm.

Fantastic or Freaky!?

Hello there...  Now for you all that were hoping that I'd have some sort of baby news by now - I still have 5 weeks to go, but feeling really well, prepared and excited!  

Instead, today my kitchen is the topic...  

In the past three weeks there has been much happening there...  

Thermomix came, 

Thermomix got a red hot go, 

Thermomix hit the road.

For me and my soon to be family of six, I consistently found that I couldn't make the quantity (usually double) to satisfy my needs.  Now, don't get me wrong, that machine is brilliant, but it just wasn't brilliant for me.  

I think I'm actually the first person on earth that has bought and sold a Thermomix and not been completely in love with it.  I also didn't like the way that it changed MY way of cooking.  You see, I'm not a recipe follower.  I'm a habitual recipe adjuster!  I like control of what I make and to be able to look, see and smell the whole process.  The Thermomix just didn't tick those boxes for me.  For some reason there's just a bit more love in it if you need to chop things that take a bit longer.  There's a bit of love in it to stand over a saucepan and stir for a couple of minutes.  Also - not being a recipe follower and having a nightshade allergy, I found it hard to cook for my family using the new technology.  Just call me old fashioned, I guess!

I did come out unscathed and feel okay that I passed it on.

It's left room to buy these two kitchen appliances that I know for sure will enhance and not change the way that I cook:

One bought locally, one bought online.  Both to land in my kitchen next week. Watch out!

Now, to this photo...  

I posted it on Facebook and didn't get one excited word!  Come on!  Harden up!  

Head over to my other blog Ruby Hills Organics to see what that one is about...

Happy Days to you and yours. xx

Nesting

Hello there…  There has been a bit of creating around our home at the moment.

A bit of nesting for this mama - 8 weeks out from having baby number 4.

And… you guessed it, it's meant to be a she!

I made a little birdie mobile for above the cot lastnight. With some old scrapbook paper and some twigs from the dormant apple tree out in front of the shed.  Five sweet little birdies to gently sway above the little one. 

 

It's been so lovely knowing what we're having so that I can just prepare the once.  This is the change and dressing area in our bedroom.  I love using a fold down wall hung table to change baby on.  We got it from Ikea waaay back when we were expecting my first born, and it's been a great way to change baby for tall me without having to bend right over.  It also allows for optimum nose snuggling and raspberry belly blowing while getting dressed and changed!  A basket of teeny (well for me - they're 000's) jumpsuits to take to the hospital, and some special dressy gear for baby's first outings - hung and at the ready.  

This is the wonderful Merino sleepsuit that Monty used till he was two from Nanny & Grandad - just girlified a wee bit.  

 

The bassinette is in our room with Ruby Red Shoes - gifted from big sister waiting to be chewed and snuggled on.  A knitted blanket from my Grandmother when we had Baxter fits just right. 

And in the kids room - baby's cot all prepared with a mama made qult and pillowcase.

Not long to go now.  Our family is about to be in love all over again!

Indulgent

I'm feeling very extravagant and indulgent at the moment.

Enter: Thermomix

Went to a friend's place for lunch a couple of weeks ago to see what this overpriced food processor was all about. I mean - come on - all the hype! It's like some kind of cult!

I came home a bit ..... let's say unexpectedly completely impressed.

I have had the sexy Kitchenaid on my list to one day invest in since we were married. Almost ten years have gone by and I still have my $30 hand blender that wheezes away and drops bits of old cake mix into the new mix that has been stuck up under the hood rattling away...

And then the food processor - I bought one over a year ago for about a hundred dollars - just to see if I would use it. Well, I do. A lot. And it too now wheezes away with gears crunching and skipping from overuse.

So, as a soon to be mother of 4 - I am swapping the sexy, curvy kitchen-aid and Cusinart for the all-together amazing machine - the Thermomix.

Arrives Tuesday and I find myself waking in the night thinking of it! Look at what it can do!

Ten Weeks

30 weeks and counting till 4th and final baby arrives!
Oh the love…  xx