StarShine Family

The Night Before Christmas

2012-01-07T18:33:00.000-08:00

The boys have been memorizing The Night Before Christmas for our annual hot chocolate recitation on Christmas Eve. December 2011

Jules's Newest Trick

2012-01-07T18:30:00.000-08:00

Jules is my circus boy in training. December 2011

Jules Gets Dizzy

2011-12-17T23:07:00.000-08:00

Jules learns the finer points of fundamental physics by adhering to the law of conservation of angular momentum... and he doesn't throw up... December 2011

Great Wolf Lodge

2011-12-04T15:52:00.000-08:00

We need some more of Orion, so here is one of him at an indoor water park. February 2011

Another Dive

2011-12-04T14:45:00.000-08:00

I can't help it. His dives are so cute I just have to post another one. September 2011

Cold Water

2011-12-04T14:17:00.000-08:00

This was one of our last days of swimming this summer. It was too cold for me to get in, and I had to trick the boys into jumping in with a game. September 2011

Jules Climbing

2011-12-04T14:05:00.000-08:00

Our little climber is still at it. Here he gets himself a drink of water. August 2011

Jules Diving

2011-12-04T13:49:00.000-08:00

Jules is a little dolphin. He started swimming this summer just a few months before his third birthday. July 2011

Steps

2011-12-04T13:35:00.000-08:00

Here is Jules conquering the steps at a gorge near Aunt Melissa's house. I don't know what happened with the color. June 2011

Winter Solstice

2009-12-21T20:12:00.000-08:00

We got out our telescope today to view the skies as a way to celebrate the winter solstice. We viewed some stars, Jupiter and some of its moons, and our moon.

Earthquake

2009-11-23T09:49:00.000-08:00

I experienced my first eathquake last night. I first thought something had crashed into the house. Then I thought earthquake? Looking at the news today confirmed my suspicions. Here is a link to the article. It was a 2.6 on the Richter scale.

Uniquely U

2009-11-08T19:06:00.000-08:00

A local photography studio was doing a food drive on Halloween: free photos of the kids in costume if you bring in a canned good. You can see (and order) the photos at the Uniquely U Photography site. (Click on 'Continue' and it should go to the right photos.) One photo is Sam Gribley from My Side of the Mountain, one is Jules, and one is Sam with a Garden Gnome. Kudos to Melissa, who was the only one to guess who they were dressed as. She emailed me that Orion was the kid from the book he was reading and that Jules was one of the seven dwarfs. Not bad guesses, eh? The photos will only be at the Uniquely U site until December 17, so go see them fast.

Happy Halloween!

2009-11-01T16:16:00.000-08:00

Anyone care to guess what the kids were for Halloween this year?

Jules Turns One!

2009-11-01T10:54:00.000-08:00

Time just flew by and now our baby is one. (Actually it's taken so long for me to post this, that now he is thirteen months old.) Here are some birthday photos. He was sick on his birthday, so we celebrated a few days later, but the reminiscing started a day early. We recreated the feast that put me into labor. As I got into bed I announced with tears in my eyes, this time last year my water was breaking. A week later when Isaac and I just celebrated our sixth year anniversary and we both agreed that Jules's splashy birth has been our fondest memory so far.

Spider Monkey

2009-09-07T12:03:00.000-07:00

Here is Jules, aka Spider Monkey.

He started his climbing career with stairs when he was 8 months old.

Then he moved up to climbing the slide of the kangaroo climber when he was 9 months old.

Ten months old: Without the toy in its place, Spider Monkey would get to the wires behind the sub-woofer. With the toy there he would climb on top. It was a win-win situation for Spider Monkey.

Now he wanted to get onto the bouncer. Perhaps the slide would do the trick.

No, but this will work!

He kept getting to the wires under this end-table, so we surrounded it with toys. Well, we were just asking for it. There are many more goodies on top of the table. We now have it surrounded with a fence. He hasn't conquered it yet.

Here he is at eleven months. I can no longer leave the nursing stool in front of the glider chair.

This is okay, right? He's almost sitting and it is a kiddie chair.

There he goes again!

Godzilla!

He'd been getting into a box of tissues, so they got put on top of the couch. Notice they are not there anymore.

Sometimes you just need a few more inches.

I now have this room barricaded.

That garbage can has now found a new home.

Lately Orion has been asking me to tell him stories. Tales of Tie-dye Boy and Spider Monkey are now in the works. When Jules isn't climbing he is either chewing on something or working on walking. He has been trying to walk since he turned 10 months. He can go about 10 feet now, but is being hindered by a few things. First of all he is pigeon toed and has a hard time not tripping himself. Second, he crawls lightening fast, so walking just slows him down. And third, he would much rather be climbing!

Fishing

2009-08-18T22:03:00.000-07:00

Just a lazy day fishing on the carpet-front

No bites here

Oooh, there's a big Jules fish!

He takes the bait

Reeling him in

He's a keeper!

My Side of the Mountain

2009-07-19T23:42:00.000-07:00

We have discovered some wonderful books by Jean Craighead George. My Side of the Mountain is the first in a series of books about Sam Gribley, a boy who leaves home to live alone in the woods, and the peregrine falcon, Frightful, that he raises. The next two books are On the Far Side of the Mountain and Frightful's Mountain. I found them in the tween section of our public library. There are also two wonderful children's books that continued the series, Frightful's Daughter and Frightful's Daughter Meets the Baron Weasel. These children's books have beautiful illustrations by Daniel San Souci. I have really loved reading these books to Orion. There are so many interesting details about nature and survival that the stories were interesting to us both.

These stories about Sam and Frightful have led Orion to some imaginative play. Sometimes he would be Sam, I would be Frightful, Jules would be my eyas (falcon chick), and Isaac would be Bando (Sam's friend). My hamper would get placed on its side and become the tree house. Even Orion's stuffed animals would become characters from the book. We would eat acorn pancakes and turtle soup or go fishing.

Isaac and Orion playing Falcon-Dove

We also started playing a game we call Falcon-Dove. Orion would insist on being the falcon and Isaac or I would be the dove. We would run in circles around the living room, the dove saying coo-coo and the falcon in pursuit saying kotchi-kotchi. Sometimes A third would join in as an owl and chase the falcon saying hoo-hoo.

Caught!

These games typically ended with Orion on the floor being tickled.

Our Eyas

Then one day we noticed in our yard at the base of a tree an eyas. Orion was so excited. (I always wanted my own eyas!)

Other eyas

There was another seemingly younger eyas in the nest overhead squawking. The one on the ground was silent and very sad looking. The wildlife people we called said to leave it alone and call them in a few days if it was still there. The next day the eyas was still there, but dead. We were very sad. We continued to notice the other smaller eyas in the nest and saw the parent as well in the next few weeks. Now however they seem to be gone I guess well never know what happened to the little one. I researched birds of prey in Oklahoma and have decided that these birds were likely Cooper's hawks. They are common in Oklahoma and live in wooded areas in nests up in trees. Sometimes they will nest in the same location over and over, so perhaps there will be eyases here again next year.

Once we finished the Sam-Frightful series we went on to read Tree Castle Island, also by George. Now Orion would imagine he was Jack and I was his dog Dizzy. He would walk around with a machette (a kid's toy plastic kitchen knife) and hunt for bears. He started cooking resin in his play kitchen. Mostly, though, he trimmed many imaginary trees and bushes with his machette. One day we were sitting on the back porch and he pointed to a tree and told me that is where he would like to build his home. It was near enough that he would still be able to come visit me.

Now we are reading George's Julie of the Wolves. It's about an Eskimo girl who lives with wolves. We'll see what kind of imaginative play he comes up with next.

Orion Turns Four

2009-05-03T07:45:00.000-07:00

Our Starshine boy is growing up so very fast. Here is how we celebrated his fourth birthday.

His special day started with a birthday version of what I call The Clue Game(*).

He got a birthday card, "To the Birthday Explorer..." and in it was his first clue, "Go look under the TV."

Under the TV was his first present (a backpack with some books in it) and the next clue.

Under the piano he found headphones and a clue telling him to get on his boots. In the place where he keeps his boots there was another present, a new pair of boots,

and a clue telling him to look in the sandbox.

Out in the sandbox was a new shovel and a clue telling him to go water the new lilac bush.

At the lilac bush was a little watering can

and a note telling him that his last gift was in front of the garage. There he found a glider bike (no pedals), a special gift sent from Grandma Y and Aunt Alisa.

For dinner Isaac grilled hamburgers (local ground beef) that was very yummy. For dessert Orion requested an angel food cake(**), so that is what I made. He decorated it himself.

A few days later we had our friend party. We all met at a park for lunch. I provided "cupcakes" (chocolate chip banana muffins) and his friends all got to sing Happy Birthday to Orion. I brought chalk and the kids drew roads on the ground and drove matchbox cars on them. Later we all went for a walk around the park with the big kids all on three wheelers. Is was so much fun for the kids and moms, plus very easy and low stress, so I considered it is big success.

Notes:

* Somehow Orion taught himself to read. We have always read to him a bunch and I guess he just picked it up. I think it was mostly because he has such a great memory. Anyway, I started playing the clue game to give him some fun stuff to read that didn't have too many hard words in it. Our everyday version has just a "prize" at the very end, usually a healthy snack.

** The angel food cake took 11 egg whites. What would you do with 11 leftover egg yolks? I made 5.5 batches of pudding. 2 vanilla, 2 butterscotch and 1.5 chocolate. I ate almost all of it myself. It was quite yummy. Maybe next time I should just toss the yolks.

Fire, Fire Everywhere

2009-04-13T14:31:00.000-07:00

A home less than a mile from ours

Perhaps you've heard about the wildfires in Oklahoma. Here is our story. For us the ending is happy.

On Thursday, April 9, the forecast said WINDY. Not, sunny, cloudy, chance of rain. Just windy. It was the hottest day of the week, with temperatures in the 80s. In the morning I took Jules to see the doctor for his 6 month checkup. Orion went with friends to the Little River Zoo in Norman. Isaac and Ed went shopping, cause it was just too windy for yard work. In the afternoon I picked up Orion at a school playground. As we were leaving we had to duck behind a building to get out of the wind. It was whipping dirt at our bare legs. I think the gusts that day were 50-60 mph. Whatever. It really hurt. When we got home I sarcastically commented to the men that it was a good day for a fire. We have a few burn piles throughout our yard and we'd only had one day in the past week that wasn't too windy for a fire. Today was obviously not a good day for a burn. After I made the comment I remember thinking, unless you ARE the fire.

Our area has many undeveloped lots where the fire consumed the dry underbrush.

Our first clue that there were fires was that the lighting turned yellow. Then the men, who were still outside, smelled smoke and heard sirens. Isaac came in to tell me to prepare to evacuate. We didn't know how close the fire was, or how bad it was, but the wind was blowing it right towards us. The men stayed outside to watch for flames coming from the empty lot behind us. Once I had shoes lined up by the door and the diaper bag packed, I got on the news (and the weather radio and the weather on the internet) and found out that the fire was about 5 miles southwest of us. At this point I should have started packing more stuff, but I guess I was in denial. Surely the fire wouldn't be able to travel 5 miles.

Eventually, the fire did travel that far. We were evacuated and it wasn't until the boys and I were on the road that I realized the danger we were in. I first tried to get to my friend Brittany's home. She lives pretty close to me and her home was just outside the most recent evacuation area. I didn't make it even a quarter of a mile before I was stopped by a road block. I couldn't see beyond the block, there was too much smoke. I turned around and decided that I would try for Rebecca's house. She lives just outside Choctaw in Harrah. The roads were so crowded. Thank goodness for GPS. I was able to find an alternate route to her house and avoid the congestion.

Not shadows, charred earth

Isaac and Ed didn't leave for a few more hours. By then were were worried that we might have to evacuate Rebecca's house, so the men went to the Johnson's house in Edmond.

It was a sleepless night for the adults. How can you rest when your house may be burning down? I started thinking about all the things I could have packed. Comfort items: toothbrush, contact lens case and solution, glasses, pillows, pjs, etc. Memories: my mother's photo albums, hard drive with all my digital photos. Valuables: my engagement ring, camera, video camera. While I thought about it, I came to the conclusion that I didn't need any of it. Things would be missed, but we were all safe and that was all that mattered. I think the thought of being displaced, of not having my own home, of having to start over, was the scariest. Still we have fire insurance so I knew it would be alright.

Charred fence

In the morning the first thing I did was call home. The answering machine picked up and I did a dance of joy. My house was still there. We all returned home.

But the story doesn't end there.

Charred tree, charred earth, green in between

Saturday we went to the Choctaw Easter Egg hunt. Then we had brunch. It was a nice day. Ed was coming inside from doing some gardening and we noticed the lighting going yellow again. And smoke rising just southeast of us. And the sirens. And helicopters. I tried to put Jules down for a nap but was interupted. The police came down our street to tell us all to evacuate. This time I packed a little more stuff and headed to Brittany's house. The men stayed home and watered the lawn and house. We stayed at Brittany's house for four hours. Finally we were able to get home. A few hours later the blessed rain started.

Jules enjoys some time with Brittany

It's really sad to drive around the area and see all the damage. It seems that the homes were just catching fire so fast that the firefighters couldn't keep up. They had their work cut out for them just trying to keep things from spreading. It seems that any house that caught fire, burned to the ground. Some beautiful houses just less than a mile down the street from us were lost. The fire got even closer than that to us, but fortunately only hit forest and missed the houses.

Isaac and I are so grateful for the support system that we now realize we have. Friends and family both near and far called us to let us know that they could help us if we needed it. We feel very loved. Thank you for all the thoughts and prayers.

I Shot a Turkey!

2009-03-17T17:41:00.001-07:00

with my camera, of course :-)

Here she is trying to figure out how to get away from me.

Here she is on the run.

She was fast! I'm glad she chose flight instead of fight.

We had heard gunshots out behind our house about 30 minutes before I sighted her out my kitchen window. I guess some of our neighbors were hungry. Bad shots, though.

Orion's Corner

2009-03-15T12:00:00.000-07:00

Orion got to take some photos at the end of the photo shoot. Unfortunately for him, Jules was already done.

Photo Shoot

2009-03-14T12:00:00.000-07:00

Which photo is your favorite?

Silly

Happy

Downward Dog

Teddy

Cute

Silly Brothers

Super Silly Brothers

poll by twiigs.com

Spring is Here! Let it Snow?

2009-03-13T10:58:00.000-07:00

The weather was getting warm. We had some days where it reached 85 F. It was beautiful. We put on our shorts and headed outdoors. The flowers started blooming. Orion would go out and pick bouquets of daffodils from our backyard. Isn't he a sweet boy?

Then, yesterday morning, it snowed. Big huge flakes fell from the sky and the daffodils shriveled up. By afternoon it was too warm for snow, but the damage had already been done. I'm so glad we have a few bouquets inside to enjoy, and maybe the daffodils will revive soon. It seems this happens every year. The daffodils get wiped out either by the cold or a thunderstorm. Those beautiful flowers are never around as long as I'd like.

Shhhhhhh...

2009-02-17T14:52:00.000-08:00

The boys are sick so we had a lazy day at home today. Orion painted a picture.

Jules played in the Jumperoo.

Then it was lunch time. Err... nap time? How about both?

Chocolate Covered Pretzels

2009-02-14T13:23:00.000-08:00

I told Orion that we were going to make chocolate covered pretzels. I started getting stuff out. Then I hear him say Mommy, I made chocolate covered pretzels. And he did.

Then we made them for real. Yum!

We also made peanut butter cups. Dee-lish! Isaac brought some to work on Friday and I brought some to my mom's group Friday night. Orion got one piece of each and then had to wait for Valentines Day for any more.

It is tradition in our home that we eat cake for breakfast on Valentines Day. This year I made Hobee's coffee cake and served it with cinnamon tea. I couldn't find blueberries (gasp!) so I used peaches in it instead. It was delicious, not like at Hobee's, but quite possibly better.

I think I'm gonna go crunch up some chocolate covered pretzels and throw them into some vanilla ice cream. (You can start drooling now.)

Wrap but don't re-wrap!

2009-02-09T19:47:00.000-08:00

Here is a video just for Susie ;-) and all my other baby wearing friends out there. If this is as clear as mud, just let me know and I'll try to clarify. I didn't really prepare what I was going to say so perhaps I missed something. ***Warning*** I'm a fast talker!

On a related note...
Apparently you cannot make a video with a three year old in the room. In the first take, Orion decided to cross in front of the camera to go to the sink for some water. Then he sat down next to the camera and started singing. In the second take he started talking about the birth of Jules, since the tripod was set up in the tub where Jules was born. During the third take he started talking to Jules. For the forth and final take he was kicked out of the bathroom :-)

Haircuts!

2009-02-04T13:26:00.000-08:00

Orion's hair was getting in his eyes so I decided it was time to cut it. I made the mistake of doing it while I was alone with the boys. Jules was napping so I thought I'd go ahead and give Orion a haircut. Then Jules woke up. I was covered in little bits of hair. I got Jules back to sleep and came back to finish the cut. Suddenly I was worried that I wouldn't be able to finish before Jules decided to wake up for good. So I asked Orion if I could just buzz the whole thing. He agreed. It actually didn't save me much time since his hair lies so flat it wasn't very easy to buzz. I didn't like it much and neither did Orion, but now I think he looks cute. I love his cowlick. Orion would tell people, It's too short, but it will grow. It took him a week to realize that it wasn't going to grow out very fast. He wants it longer in the front because he likes pushing it back.

Anyway, here he is talking on the phone to a grandparent. It is really fun to listen in on his conversations and watch his facial expressions.

I got my hair cut, too!

My hair was down to my butt. I had it all chopped off and I will be sending it to Locks of Love. I now weigh a quarter pound less.

What do you think? I am quite pleased with the results. Perhaps next time I will be even more daring. Haircuts are fun!!!

Side view.

Julesey Poolsey

2009-01-24T14:00:00.000-08:00

When you name your child Jules, there's no need for a nickname, but they happen anyway. I started calling him Julesey, then Julesey Poolsey (pudding and pie, kissed the girls and made them cry). Then Orion decided that we were the Berenstain Bears and that Jules was Honey Bear. (If you haven't read the Berenstain Bears in a while, they eventually have another girl cub.) When we aren't the Berenstain Bears, then we are trains, except for Orion who is Mr. Conductor. I get to be Henry, Isaac is Gordon, and currently Jules is James Percy. (They are all friends of Thomas the Tank Engine. James and Percy are two separate engines.)

Jules sleeps pretty well. He is is having tummy time. No, wait! He is napping. This is his first spontaneous nap. Orion didn't do this until, hmm..., December 24, 2008. (See the last post.)

Jules talks whenever he can. He loves to babble and we love to listen to it. All you have to do is look and him, say a few words and then give him a chance to respond and off he goes. He seems to understand how conversation works, so if you keep talking then he stays quiet. He doesn't want to butt in.

EC is going well. We are only fastening the diapers onto him when we are away from home. Even Isaac has relaxed about the whole nakey butt thing. It helps that he gets virtually all of his poops in the potty. (At this age babys tend to be obvious about when they need to poop. We'll see what happens in a month or so. That's when Orion stopped being obvious.) Pees are hit or miss; it depends on how much attention I give him. I have learned the art of positioning a baby over a diaper, so that when I miss his cues we don't get a mess. Right now the game is communication, because without it we will not do so well once he starts crawling.

Happy 2009!

2009-01-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

We started off the holiday season by trimming the tree. Orion enjoyed helping this year. He likes to cluster all the ornaments in one spot. Isaac prefers them all equidistant. It was a constant battle that Orion was completely unaware of.

It just isn't a holiday without sharing it with friends. We had the Lambies over for the first night of Hanukkah. Our dinner was a success, but the jelly donuts were a bit raw in the middle. We had over Isaac's work friend, Dr. Dennis, for Hanukkah a few nights later and finally got the donuts right. We also tried making our own latkes and they were great, too. Ooh, and the homemade applesauce was so yummy. Next year I want to add pretzels to our Hanukkah fare.

This year Orion got to light his own menorah. He got some help the first few nights, but was doing it on his own by the eighth night. He also loved picking out what color candles to go into his menorah.

I had romantic notions of a Christmas Eve spent around the fire, sipping hot chocolate, eating cookies and reciting The Night Before Christmas. The fire got started a bit late, and when I came out with the hot chocolate I found a little boy with a chocolate mouth asleep on the couch. No waiting up for Santa this year.

The boys on Christmas morning. Jules's outfit reads My First Christmas.

My dad and step-mother arrived in time for dinner on Christmas and will be heading to the airport in a few hours. We had a great time with them and they got to see Jules for the first time.

The happy family on the last night of Hanukkah. Well, 3 out of 4 isn't so bad.

The boys and the guests are all in bed for the night, so Isaac and I are alone with Ryan Seacrest to bring in the new year. 2008 was great and we are looking forward to even better things in 2009. Happy New Year!

Front Torso Cross Carry

2008-12-09T15:35:00.000-08:00

Susie from Magic City Slingers recently made and posted a video JUST FOR ME ;-) to demonstrate this carry, so I had to post a photo. It is strapless, so I'll be doing it more when the weather warms. I know, it just got cold. And windy. We actually had some snow here last night. Like one or two flakes. So anyway, I don't know if you can see it in the photo, but Jules was hanging on for dear life with his right hand. Of course he is completely secure, but he is a grabber. He can be hard to put down at times. I guess he doesn't trust me. Sheesh! I've only dropped him once so far.

Our Thanksgiving

2008-12-09T15:17:00.001-08:00

We spent this Thanksgiving with the Johnsons- Ally, Dan, Paul and Phillip. They just moved into a lovely new home (on Jules's birthday, sorry we can't help with the move, but...) and so we brought them a housewarming gift/centerpiece for the dinner table. It was all my idea, but completely executed by Isaac and Orion. Doesn't it look all Martha Stewart? All the folliage was from our yard.

One of my favorite holiday traditions is making butter. Just put some whipping cream in a jar and shake. First it makes whipped cream, but if you continue to shake then it separates into butter and milk. We added honey afterwards for some yummy honey butter to go with my homemade dinner rolls. (You know, the ones that sent me into labor.)

These photos were taken before the boys were tired out from all the shaking.

Making centerpieces, making butter.... what's left? Oh, yeah. Making trouble ;-)

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-26T20:45:00.000-08:00

We are thankful for Jules, 2 months old.

We are thankful for Orion, 3 years and 7 months old.

Why can't they smile at the same time?

Heads Up!

2008-11-23T20:32:00.001-08:00

Sometimes Jules lifts his head up really high.

Orion is really good at it.

I love this outfit.

Going for the hand again. This one is always hungry.

Mama's Helper

2008-11-18T14:53:00.000-08:00

We'll be having chicken pot pie for dinner tonight. This is what it looks like. What? Your chicken pot pies don't look like this? You must not have the help of a 3-year-old.

Jules - 7 Weeks

2008-11-14T13:41:00.001-08:00

Holy moly! Where does time go? Wasn't it just yesterday that I was catching him in the tub? Now look at him. He is getting so fat! He was at 10.5 lbs a week ago. I'll need to step on a scale with him again soon.

I need to try to get some smiley photos of Jules. He really is a happy baby, he just hasn't started preforming for the camera yet.

Elimination Communication

2008-11-12T19:07:00.000-08:00

It's also known as diaper free baby, natural infant hygiene, and infant potty training, or just EC for short. EC is a modern interpretation of handling your baby's pottying needs without (or with limited use of) diapers.

If you didn't already think I was crazy, you may start now. I thought EC was crazy when I first heard of it, but since giving it a try with Orion, I became a convert to the ideas of EC.

We started ECing Jules as soon as he was born. At first it was mostly observation. We kept a diaper on Jules for the first two weeks. The diaper came off during feedings and I held him over a potty bowl while he nursed. If I noticed him peeing I would make a pssss sound, and for poos I would grunt. Eventually we learned to understand one another. If he was squirmy he needed to go potty. If he needed to burp he would stick his tongue out. If he was hungry he would either chomp on his hand, or peck around with his mouth open in a little oval. (Sometimes we would call him chicken boy because of this.) Now at six weeks he is rarely in a diaper. If we are going out or if I am busy with dinner then he gets a diaper, otherwise he is free. Now that does not mean that we aren't using diapers. he lays on top of diapers and when we hold him there is a diaper under him, but they are not secured in place. The main reason is to make it easier to take him to potty at a moment's notice.

Since I am the main one handling Jules it has all become quite simple to me. I forget that handling a non-diapered baby is not obvious to everyone else. So, to help Isaac and other people around me, I come up with EC rules to help them.

EC rule #1: When the baby wakes up, pee him first.

Like really, who doesn't need to pee when they wake up? If you pick up a baby and don't pee him, he will pee on you, or at least wet the diaper you are holding on him. Or maybe both. Or when he starts to fuss and you hand him to mom to feed, he will pee all over her as soon as he latches on and she will look at you and ask, "so you didn't pee him?"

So anyway, Abuela was visiting and she thought the EC lingo of "peeing the baby" was really funny. On her first day visiting we had our worst EC day. I was peed on twice and pooped on once. I also got covered in spit up. I went through three outfits. My mom said, "wouldn't it be easier to just put a diaper on him?" The ECing went better for the rest of her stay. She even peed Jules a few times and I really think she got a kick out of it.

Isn't it messy? It can be. I mentioned my three outfit bad day. Most days are not like that. Actually, so far I think things have been less messy than they were diapering Orion. With Orion he would pee all over us during every diaper change. Every one. Without fail. I tried so many things to keep it from making a mess, but he would always wait for me to lower my guard before letting go. Once he pooped during a change and it sprayed the wall, curtains and a plant. And he would fill up a diaper with pee and we wouldn't have a clue until the diaper started leaking on us. His poos could explode out of a diaper getting all over his clothing, my clothing, furniture. Babies are messy whether or not you use diapers, especially with your first child in the early months when you are still figuring everything out.

Now, eventually Jules is going to start crawling, and that is going to bring with it some EC challenges. EC is not about avoiding these challenges. It is not about potty training your baby before everyone else. It is simply about handling the baby's elimination in another way. A way that is gentle and environmental. People who EC say that it is about the journey, not the destination. There will be bumps along the way. We may end up putting him in diapers much more often. Who knows where the road will lead us?

A Winner!

2008-11-12T18:59:00.000-08:00

Jules got second place in the Halloween costume contest. I don't know how judges can award a prize to a sleeping newborn and not the excited 3 year old, but that is what happened. Luckily, Orion didn't seem to notice that Jules was the winner and not all of us. We all went home happy.

Southern belle was first place and OU cheerleader was third place. It sure is hard to beat a cute little girl in these contests.

Trick-or-Treat

2008-11-01T15:02:00.000-07:00

Pirate Booty (i.e. Jules is Jewels)

Congratulations to my sister, Melissa, who figured it out just yesterday. Here is an excerpt from her email: I'm trying to figure out what you are in that photo- a treasure chest? Jules is jewels! I get it!

We still don't have a winner in the Only you, only I contest. Mel, Carly, Gpa Todd? Anyone?

We trick-or-treated with Brittany, Kasilof and Gwennie.

I Love My Mummy

After trick-or-treating we played Wii.

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T12:18:00.000-07:00

So as you can see, we have a pirate theme this year. Last night we went for some kiddie trick-or-treating at our town park. Then we went for our third (yes, third!) hayride of the season. There actually wasn't any hay in the trailer. Anyway, we forgot Jules's costume, so you can still try to guess what he is going to be. I can't believe no one has guessed so far.

Tonight we will be trick-or-treating in Brittany's neighborhood. Then tomorrow night is the costume contest at the town park. Then Halloween season closes :-(

Pumpkin Carving

2008-10-30T15:19:00.000-07:00

Isaac carved our pumpkin this year.

Doesn't it look just like Orion?

It's a pirate!

Spooky!

Only you, only I

2008-10-26T21:17:00.001-07:00

Far from day, far from night,
Out of time, out of sight,
In between earth and sea,
We shall fly; follow me.
Dry the rain, warm the snow;
Where the winds never go
Follow me, follow me, follow me
To a cave by a sapphire shore
Where we'll walk through an emerald door,
And for thousands of breathless evermores my life you shall be.
Only you, only I,
World farewell, world goodbye.
To our home 'neath the sea
We shall fly; follow me.
Follow me, follow me, follow me.

Can you believe Jules is one month old already?! Time just seems to fly by. Not long after Jules was born, this song got stuck in my head. I sang the last verse to him over and over while we nursed all by ourselves during the night. Finally I had to look up the words online and found that I was not butchering the song all that much. Anyway, the song is from one of Isaac's least favorite musicals. Anyone know what musical? No cheating by searching online.

Photo Shoot

2008-10-22T13:23:00.000-07:00

Jules had his first photo shoot:

Yup, that's a naked baby on my couch.

Look how high he holds his head up!

Uh, oh! He's hungry!

Sweet baby :-)

Clothes make him grumpy :-/

Big brother had to join the shoot, too.

Orion's Corner

2008-10-22T12:43:00.000-07:00

Well, Orion says he wants to tell everybody nothing. He says he is waiting for Halloween. Here are some photos of Orion being paternal:

Here he joins Mommy and Jules at the couch. He didn't nurse the baby doll, but he did carry it while supporting the head.

He wanted to take a walk and when I told him yes he immediately got his stroller. He didn't want to bring his doll, though. He opted instead for a flamingo.

The main reason he wanted to take a walk was to see the caterpillars that are all around a tree down the street. He likes to poke them with a stick.

Here he is teaching Jules how to play peekaboo. Cute, huh?

The Gram Cam

2008-10-21T14:03:00.000-07:00

Grandma Y just visited the StarShine family and while she was here we barely touched our camera. Good thing she brought hers along! Here are some of the better shots from her camera:

She bought some binoculars for Orion and took photos of him all around the house. In every photo he looks exactly like this, only the backgrounds are different. It's kinda spooky.

Orion got to go to Pumpkin Fest, just down the road, with Daddy and Grandma. They were out of pumpkins :-( but Orion got this season's candy stash started and Daddy won a door prize.

Mommy and Jules try out a new wrap. We like the colors, but think the non-stretchy wrap may get put away until Jules develops some more head control.

Here is a little Halloween preview. Mommy came up with the theme, but the costumes have been entirely created (and bought) by Daddy. Any guess as to what Jules will be? (No fair guessing Gma Y.)

Another Halloween means another trip to the Maize Maze. The first order of business when we got there was a barrel ride.

Then a hay ride.

Then we got lost in the maize.

Aah, Mommy and Jules.

Then, after playing in a big mound of dirt and petting some farm animals, it was time to pick out a pumpkin.

Daddy Duty

2008-10-11T12:15:00.001-07:00

In this house, Daddy changes diapers at least twice a week.

Orion's Corner

2008-10-09T16:39:00.001-07:00

This is the first post to Orion's Corner. Orion gets to pick out the photo and I'll write what he wants. Here goes...

"I want to write my ABCs and my numbers."
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
1234567890
"I listen to John Deere tractors and Thomas." (He is referring to watching John Deere and Thomas the Tank Engine movies on You Tube, which he hasn't actually done in quite a while.)

Well, that's all he wants to share for now. Oh, wait. Now he wants me to tell everyone that he can walk like a crab. And I got this photo of him demonstrating.

He's a Keeper!

2008-10-06T16:03:00.000-07:00

A picture of health

Jules had his first pediatrician's appointment today. The doc declared him a keeper! He said that he might have a white tongue, but it is not thrush. Yeah! His gunky eye is not gunky today. Yeah! They did a blood test for jaundice. No jaundice. Yeah! His cord stump had been bleeding. The doc put some stuff on it to help it along. Yeah! He is heavier than his birth weight. Yeah! He is half an inch shorter? Hmm... Not to worry, just due to different measuring techniques.

Jules without the Slime

2008-10-04T14:23:00.000-07:00

Here he is all cleaned up.

Details about Jules...

He is a quiet baby. He communicates in a few different ways. One is a pig-like squeal when he is about to pee. If he grunts then he is trying to poop, unless he is sticking his tongue out, then the is trying to burp. If he is crying then I've missed his signal, or I'm changing a diaper. Mostly, though, he is asleep.

He was born knowing how to get his hand into his mouth. Latching him on for the first few days was hard because anytime his mouth was open, his hands were trying to get in. Now he seems to have mastered nursing and it could be my mommy eyes, but he already seems to be beefing up.

When he was born his left ear was curled up inside itself, as if he had be laying on it for the last few months. It is mostly uncurled now. It no longer looks weird, but is not quite as flat as the other ear.

Jules also seems so aware. He is content to just look around even though I don't think he should be able to see very far yet. His neck has great control and if he is laying on his belly he will lift up his head and look around for a few seconds.

He was looking a little jaundiced for a few days, but that has almost cleared. I think he has thrush because his tongue is white, but it doesn't seem to bother him or me yet. His right eye gets gunky, so I'm thinking he's got a clogged tear duct, but I have been keeping it clean so he can always open his eye. We see the pediatrician on Monday and we'll see what he says about all that (and more).

Big Brother

2008-10-04T14:03:00.001-07:00

Orion: I'm not a little man!
Mommy: No? What are you then?
Orion: I'm a big brother!

Big brother, Orion, thinks Jules is so cute.

He likes to read him stories.

He likes to watch the faces he makes.

It's important to start reading to your child at a young age.

Orion has been doing well with the transition to big brother. He thinks his baby brother is cute and likes to give him lots of kisses. He is so gentle with him. He is also continuing to be a helper, getting things for me when I can't get up (diapers, food, books, games, etc.). He is no longer getting regular naps, so we have the typical problems of dealing with an overtired 3 year old at the end of the day. For now daddy is off from work, so that is a big help. We'll see how things go in a few weeks.

In Splashes Baby Jules: A Birth Story

2008-09-28T16:53:00.000-07:00

The birth of our firstborn, Orion, went so smoothly that it was hard for us to imagine a better birth for our second child. Still, we set our hopes high and planned a home birth. The hospital setting was our only complaint when Orion was born, so this time around we wanted to stay at home if possible. Even though things did not go exactly as intended, we learned the lesson that some of the best things in life just can't be planned.

On Thursday, September 25th, Orion, Great Grandma Muriel (Isaac's mother's mother) and I set off for the OKC Zoo. We were supposed to go the day before with friends, but Orion had been sick so we went on our own the next day instead. It was probably a good thing because I was tired and waddled around very slowly. I rested on many benches throughout the park while Muriel and Orion enjoyed the animals. (* see notes for zoo story) When we got home from the zoo Orion took a nap while I set about making a feast for dinner that night. I made ribs, steamed broccoli, baked potatoes, homemade dinner rolls (I recently got a bread machine!) and apple pie (served with vanilla ice cream, of course). It was a huge meal and I was stuffed. I was also very tired. Lucky for me Muriel was there to do most of the clean up. We (Orion, Muriel, Grandpa Yarchenko and I) played Candy Land. Grandpa won. Next thing I knew it was late and Orion still was up so I started getting him to sleep. With all the guests in the house he was sleeping with me and I told him that I was so tired that I would just go to sleep with him rather than staying up with the other adults.

As I rolled over in bed I felt a weird feeling inside of me and thought that my water may have just broken. Getting up out of bed confirmed this and I dashed for a toilet, not eager to drip all over the carpet. The problem is that the water doesn't just all come out at once so it is really awkward to get around without making a mess. I called for Orion who still hadn't gone to sleep and asked him to get Isaac. Orion came back and I asked him to tell me what numbers were on the clock. He came back saying "It's all ones!" 11:11PM. Isaac came and we called the midwife to give her the heads up. She told us to go to bed and to give her a call when contractions had started. Isaac and Orion went out to sleep on the couches and I tried my best to go to sleep but was too excited.

An hour later I was up and I called my dear friend Brittany and left a message on her voicemail that I was in labor. I figured she wouldn't get the message until the morning and would end up missing the whole thing. An hour later I called the midwife again and told her I was having mild contractions, about 7-8 minutes apart, lasting about 30 seconds. She told me to call again when they were lasting a minute. As soon as I got off the phone with her my phone rang. It was Brittany. "I'm here! Which door should I come in?" I let her in and she she started in on being the best friend a woman in labor could have.

First she cleaned my bathtub, in case I wanted to use it for the birth. Then she French braided my hair. She got me fresh clothes(** see notes) as I took a shower. She took photos as I prettied myself. (I wanted to look GOOD in the birth photos.) She started keeping record of my contractions. In between contractions we chatted and had a great time. It was like an impromptu pajama party.

Once I had had a few contractions that lasted a minute I called the midwife again. "You sound too chipper," she said. Of course I was! I was going to meet my baby soon and I was having a great time. She told me to call back when I was in more active labor.

I thought about how labor had progressed with Orion. As contractions with him had intensified there were other signs that it was nearing time to push. I started to bleed, I had hot and cold flashes and I almost vomited a few times. Then I went through transition, a few freaky contractions where I had a hard time even remembering to breathe. After all that I still had to push for 45 minutes to get him out. So in my mind there were many signs to wait for. If any one of them happened I would call the midwife and insist that she come. And after the huge meal I had eaten I was sure I would not be able to avoid vomiting this time around.

The problem is that none of those things happened. My contractions just got stronger and closer together. Eventually they were coming on fast and strong and so when I called the midwife I decided I would have to be all business. All I said to her was "I want you to come now." She needed to get her kids to a babysitter and then was on her way to my home. Still, it was a half hour drive for her to my home, and thus it was that my midwife missed the delivery.

After waiting half an hour, Brittany went out to keep watch for the midwife. I was hoping to slow the contractions down and so I laid down in bed. It felt so good on my back - until I had a contraction. There was no way I could stay in bed for another. On the next contraction I could tell the baby was making his way out. I stepped into the empty tub, removed my underwear and saw blood. Finally! I turned on the water and started to fill the tub and rinse off my legs. I called loudly for Isaac who was still asleep on the couch. Then another contraction but still no Isaac. I called again and he finally heard me and woke up. He came in surprised to see me so far along. I asked him to get Brittany and to just leave a door open and an outdoor light on for the midwife. I told him the baby was coming out. The problem was that I didn't tell him to be FAST. He was gone for five minutes looking for Brittany down by the gate, while she was waiting for the midwife in the back. And thus it was that Isaac missed the delivery.

While Isaac was gone looking for Brittany, Brittany came back. I pointed between my legs and told her the baby was coming out. From her view she could only see blood, she couldn't see the head crowning. I asked her to get Isaac. The problem was that I didn't tell her to be FAST. And thus it was that Brittany missed the delivery.

And so without my midwife, my husband, or my dear friend who had helped me through most of the labor, I delivered Jules myself while standing in a tub that only had a few inches of water in it. He came out on his own, with only my contractions and gravity to move him out. I did not need to help push at all. After catching him I laid him down in the tub and he calmly stared up at me. I sat down and placed him in my lap. I was in awe over what I had just done and what I was now holding. It was approximately 4:45 AM, Friday September 26th.

A few minutes later, Brittany and Orion came in and were surprised by the sight in the tub. Next came Isaac and not long after that, the midwife. The midwife took one look at me and said, "You don't look like someone who just had a baby."

I don't feel like someone who just had a baby. Well, I'm losing sleep, but my, ahem, lower female parts don't feel like they are about to fall off as they did after Orion was born. And this time around I barely tore. It was so small that it had already healed by the time I got around to using the toilet.

Our house guests slept peacefully though the whole event.

I was worried that Isaac and Brittany may have been mad to have missed the birth. Isaac would have like to be there, but he says that it makes a better story the way it unfolded. Brittany seemed more worried that I would be mad at her for not being there in the end. How could I be mad? I love how everything turned out. I would have liked to be able to share the memories of that event with someone. I would have liked to have photos or videos. Still, if anyone else had been there I don't think things would have happened the way they did. I doubt I would have caught Jules myself. And I probably would have had trouble listening to my body and so fully trusting my instincts if someone had been there for me to ask "what should I do?" We don't always give ourselves the chance to see what we are capable of. Apparently I am capable of birthing a baby all by myself. And I am so pleased to have found out.

*When you are pregnant and really big, people can't help but stop you and say, "Wow! You look like you are about to pop!" Since I got big quite early this time, I had the entire conversation in my head and it would play out the same every time. I would respond with "well, I feel like I'm about to pop." Then I would tell them my due date, watch for their surprise that is was so far away (this stopped happening when about 3 weeks remained) and then let them awkwardly wish me luck. So at the zoo on the 25th I got stopped and the woman told me, as expected, that I looked about ready to pop. This time though, tired out from our trip to the zoo, I just responded "yes," and walked away. I think I finally agreed and so did Jules.

**On the 25th I got a package in the mail from my sister, Melissa. In it was a maternity shirt that she had forgotten to loan me. She said at least I would have a few weeks to wear it. Oops! Still, I decided that it would be the perfect labor shirt, A black tank top with a cartoon baby on the belly. I would have a painful contraction and I would catch a glimpse of myself in a mirror and the sight of that silly baby would make me smile. My other sister, Carly was pleased as punch to hear this, as she was the one who bought the shirt for Melissa.

Jules Patrick

2008-09-28T11:18:00.001-07:00

Introducing Jules Patrick, the newest member of the StarShine Family. He made his splashy entrance at approximately 4:45 AM Friday, September 26th. He weighs in at 7 lbs and is 20.5 inches long. Mom and babe are doing great. More details of his wondrous birth will be posted as time allows.

Belly Pics!!!

2008-08-20T15:57:00.001-07:00

What is harder than taking your self portrait? Having your three-year-old help you take your self portrait. Vote for your favorite pic in the comments section.

My view of Baby Tree

2008-08-14T13:40:00.000-07:00

This is what I see when I look down. Notice that my feet are not in the photo. When I was pregnant with Orion we played a game at my baby shower where everyone tried to guess my circumference by snipping a piece of yarn that would fit perfectly around my belly. Well, I made the mistake of getting that yarn out and IT WAS TOO SMALL! The yarn was snipped, 28 days before Orion's due date, 24 days before he was born. Here I am with two months to go and I am already that big, plus some. I mean, I knew I was bigger this time around, but seeing the yarn not reaching around me really shocked me. Anyway, my midwives are pleased with my "growth" and I have not yet showed any signs of gestational diabetes, so I am trying not to worry that much about it. Orion was only 6 lbs 8 oz, so this baby could be a bit larger and still not be a big baby.

Are we naming the baby Tree? NO WAY! This is the name that Orion calls the baby. After months of giving the baby nonsensical names that changed each time you asked, he started sticking with the name Tree, so that is what we call him for now. We have suggested Sappling, in place of Baby Tree, but Orion won't stand for that.

The Ultrasound

2008-06-20T13:46:00.000-07:00

We finally had the ultrasound today. The baby was cooperative with finding out the gender. We have a boy!

He was not so cooperative, however, with the head shots. We got some nice profiles, but he had his fists right in front of his face the whole time. Then towards the end of our session, he decided to put his feet up there, too. Oh well, we'll see his pretty face soon enough.

Ok, so now you know the gender. Don't ask about names, though. We aren't telling :-P

Super Size Me

2008-06-13T13:07:00.000-07:00

Here I am at 5 months and 1 day pregnant. How many do you think are in there? Orion keeps telling me there are 3 boys inside! Let's hope he's wrong. I don't need to be outnumbered that much. I still haven't had an ultrasound, so quit asking to know the gender. I'll tell you when I know :-)

Surprise!

2008-02-29T13:07:00.000-08:00

Yes, that is a positive result. Estimated Due Date Oct. 11, 2008