A birth story (but not mine)

So having two kids is hard. Well, having them is not too bad. Surviving the day without wanting to throw something is harder. That is my excuse for not finishing the summary of Sky's birth. But I will someday in the near future.

But in the meantime, I have a link to another woman's story. If you scroll back a few days, you can find Part One of the labor story. Part Three should be on its way soon. I found this blogger a few weeks before Sky was born and read about a year's worth of posting in one evening.

Dear Grammie,

Dear Grammie,
Thank you for coming to play with me this past month. I had so much fun going on adventures with you, playing in your room in the mornings, showing you around my yard, drawing all over the house with chalk (thanks Mom!), walking up the road to get the mail, taking you to playgroup and the playground, reading tons of books, riding in the shopping basket when we got groceries and so many other things.

But then little brother came and I wasn't sure how he would fit into my family. Would I have less time to play with you?

No way! We went to the blueberry farm while Mama stayed home.

We explored the sea animals at the HSU aquarium.

We played at the river!

I kissed a goat at the zoo! (again, thanks Mom!)

Sometimes you tried to sneak away and hold my little brother, but I always got you back.

I was sad to see you go, but before you drove away we did one last project together. I hope you will think of our time this summer when you look outside and see your new pot of flowers. I miss you already. When Mama and I went into your room to close up the windows, I asked, "Grammie?" I can't wait to see you in October. I want show Sky how to brush your cats and get your mail and go on adventures in your town!

I love you and will see you soon. Thank you so much for coming to visit and helping us when brother was born.

Love, North (and Trisha and Reed)

1- 2- 3- Sand fleas!

Skyler 4 days old

Skyler's first wrap carry and his placenta

Can you see him?

Mom and North went to the farmer's market this morning so it was just Skyler and me at the house. I wrapped Sky up in the Moby Wrap and we headed outside to check on the chickens.

This is the fetal side of his placenta. The maternal side is a dark red with a meaty texture. Reed and I made some prints of both sides last night.

Skyler Lyric Sanders-Gatton has arrived

Skyler looks worried in these close-ups, but he is showing a tendency to be a very calm baby. He is aware of our voices and reacts as he spends most of his hours sleeping in our arms.

And that's all for now. I am enjoying laying around and staring at my baby. North has been so interested in Skyler, he wants to "pet brother" all the time. We all are adjusting well; although I suspect Reed was happy to go into work today =) He has caught the post-pregnancy hormone change before me, this time!

I will write of the labor and birth and everything else wonderful at a later time.

The pictures that were to be posted on Tuesday evening

In the last few days we have been:

Visiting Eddy's farm to pick up veggies

Cooking with the fresh food (best meal so far, fish tacos with Eddy's purple cabbage)

Hanging out on the bed in the living room.

The baby and I will use this space to rest after the birth. I don't want to be locked away in the bedroom upstairs and I think that having easily accessible resting space makes for a happy newborn and mama.

Mom and I toured a beautiful rose garden/nursery.


This (Tuesday) evening, we bought sandwiches and had a picnic by the river.

Reed and North ventured in for a little swimming.

So sitting on the rocks, I thought to myself, " I am really uncomfortable, I wish I had a lawn chair". But then I dismissed the thought because the whole idea of going to the river that evening was to not be grumpy!

Post updated (July 19th): After the river, we went home, cleaned up and I downloaded pictures. I put North down to sleep for the night and the first contraction hit me. But I really didn't believe I could be starting labor. I truly thought that my waters breaking would be the first sign. I sat down to write this post and the contractions kept coming. Finally, I went to find Reed so he could time them more accurately for me. Labor had started!

So I was going to post a whiny, "I hate waiting" post about being officially overdue with the pregnancy due date, but as I was surfing around I found this you tube video posted on another blog. It is from the "Ukraine Got Talent" tv show. I haven't watched much of these talent shows, but this woman is an amazing artist. There are other videos of her work to watch although I haven't done that yet.

Maybe a whiny post will be posted tomorrow. Now I feel like playing outside in the sun.

Birthday dinner

My birthday was last week, but as my mom was coming to town, Reed and I waited for her to arrive before going out to a celebratory dinner. Turn down free childcare, who would do that?


Our favorite restaurant changes the menu every two weeks based upon the growing seasons and the local food supply. Even if we are not planning a night out soon, I will sometimes stop and read the menu as I am walking by. The dishes are always so creative. Some dishes stay on the menu for awhile as they have become crowd favorites, but generally going to eat at this place is to be tempted by new flavors and food combinations with each visit. All of the produce is organic and comes from local farms. The meat is grass fed/hormone free and is usually locally based as well. The effort the chef makes in both acquiring and combining the fresh food always makes a great tasting meal.

Tonight I was going to order the brie, apricot jam and salami pizza, as I just wasn't feeling the flavors from the other menu selections. The pizza is cooked in a wood-fired brick oven and is absolutely outstanding. However, the waitress came over to tell us of the nightly special (the staff changes their menu bi-weekly and have nightly specials! Did I mention that the chef is highly creative?). The vegetarian special was a morel mushroom bread pudding with baby greens and roasted beets. I also ordered a salad of baby lettuce, blackberries, and strawberries with a serving of chevre rolled in toasted almonds as an appetizer.

The plating was beautifully done. The picture is from Reed's cell phone; it just doesn't do the colors and textures justice. I couldn't figure out what the little chunks around the morel pudding were. They tasted fruity, yet root-y also. I should have asked but I was too busy eating everything.

The wine list is locally based as well. Reed is always able to pick out a great bottle of wine that complements both of our meals. I knew I wouldn't drink any wine tonight, but I didn't want to drink anything that was too sweet as I knew my meal would have strong flavors. So I tried the bottled grape juice. Oh my god! The juice, in Reed's words, "smelled of sex". The scent was so floral and delicate I was almost afraid to take a first sip, but the flavor was just as amazing as the smell. I have been missing alcohol throughout most of this pregnancy, but drinking this grape juice almost makes up for all the time without. I have to find my own supply of this juice. It is just so amazing.

Reed and I had wanted to go to this restaurant for dinner after our wedding, but it happened to be closed that night. We always enjoy taking friends and family to this place to share in the great food, but tonight with just the two of us, the meal was more about the food and the atmosphere. It was one of our last nights before we begin our life with another new baby. Our time as a couple and then as parents of North has been so wonderful, it was nice to have the space to reflect upon all the positive changes that have come into our lives .

(Who us? Two kids and a marriage?)

4th of July and a Carriage ride

My mom has arrived.

Saturday we went to the Plaza for the farmers market/craft fair.



We saw jugglers and hula-hoops. North snuck over and grabbed a hula-hoop. He wouldn't jump over the hoop, instead he would hold his hands up and dive through while landing on his belly.

The fire department was out in full force. North was impressed with the big water hose.

We rode on a 1920 fire truck. North and I rode in the front where it was very windy and we didn't have seat belts. It made me very nervous, but somehow we both survived.

Later on that evening, we lit fireworks at our house. Reed picked out the low noise, less scary ones as we didn't want to scar North for life on his first 4th!

As it was, we didn't have to worry!

Monday we drove into Eureka. Earlier in the month, I had read in the local paper of a man who would take tourists around Old Town with a horse and carriage. I thought that Mom and North could do this while I got a pedicure.

North was very impressed with horse. During the ride he stared at the horse while the driver told Mom lots of local history. North loved giving the horse a carrot after the ride.