for my friend

Happy 30th Birthday Erin!  I looked for hours for pictures that I could post to embarrass you.  It seems that every picture of you has me in it.  I think that is telling of our friendship don't you?  Anyways, I don't see a need for any sort of "pay back" on your blog because these pictures are equally humiliating to me.  But, just for a laugh- here we go.


Happy bday erin fishing 


Our fishing adventure with a whopping outcome!


Happy bday erin braces 


Leather jackets and braces!


Happy bday erin 8th grade 


First day of 7th or 8th grade (you'll remember which one I'm sure) and sweet new outfits!


Happy birthday erin malibu 


Our fifty bazillion hour trip up to Malibu (and my home-economics project: self-sewn boxer shorts).


Happy bday erin piano 


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Happy bday erin boat 


And you, always up for fun, (always leaving later than you promised to meet me on my bike so that I would have to ride further!) always finding ways to make me laugh-- always my friend. 


Happy Birthday Sweet Friend.

Must Haves

So my friends from high school have been posting their "10 must haves" and I decided that I too would share mine.  It turned out to be harder for me that I thought it would be.  I mean c'mon, if I were making a real list it would have things like: my family, my health, food/water, a house, a car, a dishwasher, air conditioning, and toilet paper. Those are the things I really can't live without, however, they are not very fun to read about or look at.  So I give you the "10 Can't- Live- Without Must- Haves (if my other basic needs are met)" List.  Enjoy.


Number 1:


Must haves coffee01 


I cut out caffeine during my first pregnancy and after the withdrawal symptoms subsided I swore I would never go back.  For the most part (minus a few 36 hours w/o sleep stretches) I haven't.  However, I do really, really, really love my decaf.  I make it with a stove-top espresso maker and foamy milk.  No latte stand, no Starbucks can rival what I whip up at home.  I love it!


Number 2:


Must haves mag01 


Ninety-Five percent of what I cook/bake comes out of this little magazine-- helps me so much.


Number 3:


Must haves charts01 


Just recently we have started using a Fertility Awareness Method over other forms of birth control.  I feel so much better being free of synthetic hormones.  This thermometer and chart are vital tools.  See my sidebar to the right for the book I have been reading.


Number 4:


Must haves mda01   


Mary Kay Microdermabrasion.  I know what your thinking.  Mary Kay?  I used to think that Mary Kay was for middle aged women in the south who wore tacky jewelry and preferred pink eye shadow (please don't take offense). Recently, my point of view was altered.  I now have a friend who plugs in my hair/skin/eye color to her computer, prints out the appropriate color schemes, assembles them in beautiful compacts, and delivers them to my door!!! Plus, I have the peace-of-mind knowing that my money is supporting a friend's business and not a department store.  It works for me.  Microdermabrasion is a must when you are flaky and old like me.


Number 5:


Must haves netflix01 


Totally addicted.  Most recently watched this. Excellent.


Number 6:


Must haves beco01 


Beco Baby Carrier. Use it all the time.  See it action here. I made dinner with Laurel in it tonight.


Number 7:


Must haves bath01 


My bathtub.  I make a beeline towards it every night after tucking the girls in bed. Always a nice little get-away.


Number 8:


Must haves sheets01 


(Its driving me nuts that the sheets are wrinkly in this picture.  Apparently, I didn't hear the buzzer on the dryer and they sat all afternoon- too lazy to iron them.)


Somewhere along the line I have developed really expensive taste in bed linens.  Why not?  You spend half your life there (well, maybe a little less if you are me).  Oddly enough, my favorite set came from Cotsco.  500+ threadcount required!


Number 9:


Must haves rice sock01 


My rice pack.  Instructions for making your own here.  I have terribly cold feet. All. The. Time.  Not sure that there is even blood flowing to that part of my body.  Carl barricades himself with pillows at night so as to protect himself from them.  A few minutes in the microwave and a couple drops of lavender essential oil makes this pack heavenly!


Number 10:


Must haves camera01 


You guessed it.  My camera.

A whole lot of happy

Yesterday afternoon I sat with Isaiah in his Mom's bedroom.  She was not there because she was in the bathroom, or the bathtub more specifically, laboring.  I had never met 4 year old Isaiah before, but in an instant we were friends.  I told him all about the special tools I brought with me to help get ready for his new baby.  He especially liked the "booger" machine (for suctioning baby).  He was nervous, I could tell, and flung around the room chattering on and on.  His sisters were in the front room watching Cinderella waiting for their Grandparents to come by to pick them up before all the action began. Isaiah was very informed.  He know just how the oxygen came out of the tank, what button turned on the "booger machine" and why I was warming baby blankets on a heating pad.  He even explained to me what a contraction was.  I was very impressed. 


Somewhere in the middle of all this discussion, he stopped in mid-sentence and turned towards the doorway.  He could see the TV from where he was sitting and suddenly became transfixed.  He said, "Wait, wait, don't talk.  This is my favorite part."  Being very familiar with the movie myself I asked about what part was playing.  His voice suddenly changed from a very excited, boisterous tone to a soft and dreamy one.  He said the end of the movie was his favorite part, (Cinderella and her Prince were marrying). I asked him why that part was his favorite and he so eloquently put it this way: "Because in the end there is a whole lot of happy".


Well it wasn't long before Isaiah and his sisters were whisked away by their Grandparents and his mother got right down to the business of having a baby.  She was on the bed now and starting to push.  I felt a little ho-hum about all of it and even found myself daydreaming a few times.


The next few minutes were a bit of a blur.   I should leave out most of the details to protect the privacy of the family, but let's just say this baby proceeded to be born in a very unexpected and unconventional way for most home-births.  There were several very tense moments and for a few of them I wanted to run away.  Thankfully, I work beside a wonderful, experienced (25 years) Midwife who handled the situation beautifully.  It was tricky, but the baby came out...and his little cry (after 30 LONG seconds) was music to my ears.  After thorough inspection and without using the "booger machine" the baby was uninjured, pink and snuggling against his mother's warm chest.


A whole of happy01 


As I drove home I couldn't help but replay the birth over and over again in my mind. I thanked God for hearing my desperate prayers during the scariest moments.  I also thanked Him for Isaiah and his sweet words that reminded me, "In the end there is a whole lot of happy."