New Year!

Aaah! This last year has been a great one, and the one to come I am sure will be full of exciting and wonderful things.
I love the new year. Every year I make fantastical resolutions; not just one, but many. I have always loved the idea of wiping the slate clean and starting fresh.
So today I have a new idea. I am inviting you, my readers to ask me questions about myself or anything else you are curious about that I will later post the answers to. Feel free to ask your questions in the comment section or e mail them to me.
This post is rather short. Have you ever tried typing while holding a warm snuggle bug?

Christmas Eve

It is cold outside, and inside the house not only is it warm, but scented with the fragrance of homemade cookies that my mom and boys have been making this afternoon. A perfect smell to wake up to on Christmas Eve I thought, as the baby and I woke up from our nap. They are freezing some cookies for me to eat in some weeks, as even though it is Christmas I must abstain from anything that has sugar or flour in it. I am on a special yeast fighting diet! Yes... sadly the baby and I developed thrush, (yeast). He first got it in his mouth, and then I got it in my breasts. This is the reason for my long absence from my blog, all energy has gone to the management of this thing. I successfully was able to breastfeed my two elder sons, each for a year. I never thought that I would have any trouble with this one. What a surprise, and oh, what pain! I understand and have such empathy now for the women who choose not to or can't breastfeed their little ones. In a moment of desperation I attempted to give my little one a bottle. He refused it.

In the past few days things have slowly started to get better, meaning I am not gritting my teeth and crying during feedings anymore. My little one is gaining weight rapidly, as the amount of milk is not the problem.

At the advice of someone from the La Leche League we found a pediatrician that works at a hospital in Moncalieri, and she told M what to do for a quick "not quite legitimate" meeting with her. We registered with the Pronto Soccorso, the emergency room, and then when they told us to go to a certain doctor at the pediatric unit on floor two, we were very furbo and went up to floor six to meet with our doctor who was working in the nido, the nursery. While waiting I was joking with M that they would come find us when we never showed up on floor two. I was feeling a little strange, like we would get in trouble for not following directions. He smiled and said, "Yes, but we are in Italy. Here we "arrange" things." I liked that. I liked the doctor very much too, she was very kind to fit us in her busy schedule. She has Luca and I on the strongest anti-yeast medication, so that the breastfeeding can continue.

Through all this drama, my mother has been an absolute life saver. I don't know how we would have managed without her care and strength and support. I am very lucky to have her here now... I know it.
So, now that I have explained why I have been absent from this blog for so long, I can finally tell you:

Merry Christmas!

I wish all my friends, family, and fellow blogging buddies a wonderful time with their loved ones this holiday season!

Winter Bouquet

Baby Luca, five days old

He's here!!

Yes he is born, Tuesday december 4 at 9:50 pm Italian time.

In the picture on the right you can see the three brothers together; in the center: Luca Nicholas.

Some statistics: his weight was 2.66Kg - 5lbs and 14oz (quite small); his length was 47 cm - 18.5in his head circumference was 32cm - 12.6in.

He was born in our house, as we wanted, in a inflatable birth pool, set ... in the kitchen.

Ou family is very happy and Amber is restoring fast. In the next days she will surely blog more giving you more information.

Bye

Woo Hoo!

It looks like the eviction notice worked! I am in labor!

...still waiting

My midwives came to our house today, to do their weekly exam of my tummy. They said that the little guy is still in a perfect birthing position, head down and facing toward my spine... this may not mean a lot to people, but to me it is wonderful news that means posterior/back labor will be something I don't have to worry about. Unless at the last minute he decides to flip-flop.
We went through the birth supply checklist, to make sure that we haven't missed a thing. Ice in the freezer? check. Birth pool ready? check. Midwives phone numbers in an easy to see location? check. Hot water bottle? check. Towels, sheets, plastic? check. Baby's first clothes, diapers, etc? check. Scale to weigh baby? check.
It was fun for my mom to see this informal and friendly appointment, although since it was in Italian I needed to translate. I feel that I am so very fortunate that although here in Italy, I know who my birth attendants will be. That definitely is not the norm here, usually you show up at the hospital, and you get who you get. Instead, I have gotten to know my three midwives over the past nine months, and they know us, and our birth preferences. They will be the ones here with me at the big moment. They are open minded and even culturally sensitive, something that I definitely am not taking for granted. I feel lucky that I found them.
I showed the midwives the lovely baby bunting that my grandmother crocheted for the baby, and two beautiful wool blankets that were made in Oregon, designed by Native Americans and brought to me by my mother.
We are as prepared as we can get, and all is ready... the waiting kind of feels like Christmas, except at least you know what day Christmas lands on!

Notice of Eviction

Dear Sir:

In approximately ten days our contract will expire, and so this is your official eviction notice. Management has kept a close eye on you during the time of our contract, and has noticed that although your space was fully sufficient for much of the term, you are clearly now outgrowing the spatial capacity of your home. This is a major part of the reason you must vacate the premises, not only because the contractual time is nearly over. This contract is non-negotiable. You cannot appeal. If you try to stay longer you will be expelled.

Sincerely,
the Management

P.S. Your mother and father and older brothers are anxiously awaiting your arrival. The move will entail many benefits to you such as free rent for at least 18 years, a college education, free snacks and three meals a day each day, lots of hugs and kisses, and a lifetime of new experiences. In light of this we the Management are strongly encouraging you to make the move on the date the contract is over, if not before. Thank you.

Feeling thankful

This time of year I find myself reminded by the holiday "Thanksgiving" to examine my life and feel grateful for my blessings. In no apparent order they manifest themselves, and in quality and quantity I have to say, I am blessed.

Have you ever had a kitty cat climb on your tummy and begin to knead with its paws? I haven't held a cat in this way for years, but in the last week I have felt this sensation daily. While lying on my back I can feel my unborn son, moving to a rhythm of his own, in weight it feels like a cat on my tummy, he moves slow and strong, the kneading movements are within me. The first morning I felt this sensation I was half in a dream surrounded by purring and contentment sure that I held a cat. How strange to wake to silence, and instead of a cat, a belly full of baby. This baby, a new part of me, and someone whose face I have yet to see. What a blessing.

My mother is here now, as she has been by my side during my previous births. This is a blessing.

Gabriel with his chocolate brown eyes, and deep sweet soul, my firstborn son... my forever love. This is a blessing.

Matthew my baby, who knows he will always be my baby no matter how old he is, and no matter that there will be a new one soon. This is a blessing.

My grandmother who birthed ten children naturally; who set a great example in every way. This is a blessing.

Learning that with another child, love never is divided, but miraculously it multiplies... this is a blessing.

Cold wet doggy kisses in the mornings, the utterly undeserved adoration in her eyes, the wagging tail... this is a blessing.

New friends and old, the chance to share our souls and minds and hearts... this is a blessing.

Being loved, and loving in return... the greatest blessing.

Thank you God, for all the ways you bless me.

waiting

"Come out and play, baby brother!"

He makes my heart melt...

with his large hazel eyes, and ever ready smile.

With his active imagination, he always plays better with props. See exhibit A:

Exhibit B:

and Exhibit C:

Ah... the joy of Nutella! Perhaps this is why he likes to cook.

Some days it is all I can do to keep this little Cowboy fenced in!

Hey Mamma, look! A leaf was floating down and I got it with the dart!

I have to hold on to these moments. They grow too quickly!

Friends

Dear friends, family and readers, I have a request of you today. If you have a moment of time please send a prayer for my friend Liz, or your kind thoughts or good vibes. She could use our strength and best wishes now as she is in the hospital. Thank you!

Bad Dawg!

While my little one, not yet born, is resting in his watery coccoon, this drama was played out over 5,000 miles away.

Grandma and Grandpa were sitting in their easy chairs watching tv with the dog resting between them at their feet.

Suddenly Grandma heard a strange smacking and chewing sound. And this is what she saw:

"Hey big guy, what ya got there? Uh oh. Is that...?

Yes it is. The baby's slipper! Well, what is left of it anyway. Oh no!"

"Ummm... I have been a bad dawg? I'm sorry. You still love me, right?"

And that is the true story of how this baby lost his first pair of slippers to a dog, even before he was born!

A Saturday...

After waking I rubbed my bleary eyes and made my way into the kitchen to make some coffee which I am now able to drink again without the cursed pregnancy nausea. My youngest son jumped up to give me a hug. He had been sitting at the kitchen table doing his homework. Before breakfast.
Wow!
My oldest son arranged to do homework later in the day with a new friend from his class. I didn't have to cajole or threaten; where are they getting this sense of responsibility?
Then, a blissful hour of perusing my favorite blogs while sitting in a spot of weak sunshine contentedly curled up on the sofa like an immense pregnant cat.
Shopping...lists, and crowds of people.
Home again, lunch, then a long nap. Yawn.
Oops, someone forgot to tell us they needed more school supplies. Out shopping again.
While shopping my littlest was practicing his karate moves in my tummy. Talk about distracting!
Dinner, and do you know what I did? I am a bad girl who cheated on my pregnancy diet! I made crepes, and mine was drizzled in Nutella and whipped cream, mmm. And you know what? It was worth it.