Two Month Videos/Pictures of Lily

Here are a couple videos and a few more pictures of Lily for our families:

These next two are for Grandpa Curtis :)

 

I Need Feedback about Books!

I have decided to start a reading list. Since leaving my coworkers and our book club, I have not been reading as much as I used to. So I decided to combine the top 10 best novels from a number of different lists and include those which were included on multiple lists (I removed the ones I have read already). Here is my final list:

A Tale of Two Cities
Anna Karenina
The Great Gatsby
Catch-22
The Catcher in the Rye
1984
Atlas Shrugged

Have you read any of these? Do you think I should (or should not) read them? I don't like depressing books, and I have heard that Anna Karenina is a tragedy; do you think I should take it off my list?

Also: Lolita was one of the most common titles among the Best Novels lists I looked at. However, after doing some quick research on the subject matter, I was thoroughly mortified at its content and removed it from my list, convinced that it would be very far from an uplifting read, and would probably be seriously disturbing. Does anyone know why this book is so famous??


Thanks for your feedback!

South Carolina Debate Review

I went into the debate last night with a preference for Mitt Romney, a good general opinion of Newt Gingrich, and a slightly bad taste in my mouth regarding Rick Santorum and Rick Perry. I have long thought that Ron Paul is quite extreme and that his ideas are radical, but I have several friends who are so ardently supportive of him, that I decided to watch the debate with an open mind about his ideas, and form a fresh opinion.

My conclusions after the debate: I still prefer Mitt Romney. I feel that his work in the private sector and in government give him the experience that is most relevant to improving the economy and increasing jobs. I also feel that he has a good record for getting conservatives and liberals to agree and work together to get things done, which Congress really needs right now. I also think he is the candidate who is in the best position to defeat Obama, which is the most important factor to me. Finally, in spite off all the criticism surrounding the Super PAC ads, I feel that Romney has been the least critical and antagonistic toward the other candidates, even when he has not been in the lead. I don't appreciate when they play dirty. However, I must mention that I strongly disagree with his statements about the National Defense Authorization Act. I certainly hope we would never have a president who would abuse these powers, by why would we want  to pass legislation that would make it so easy to so? Too late, I guess - it's already done. But in spite of that, I hope Romney wins and I think he has a chance. Nine months ago, I said he didn't have a chance, because I thought America would never elect a Mormon. Perhaps we have gotten past that.

But I was also impressed with Gingrich, Santorum, and Perry. I felt that Gingrich won the debate, hands down, and would be a wonderful debater against Obama. He is also extremely smart, has a huge amount of experience in Congress, and has some very good ideas (although when it came to the Social Security issue, I agreed with Rick Santorum, as much as I would LOVE to see Gingrich's private account idea implemented at some future date). However, I think Gingrich is arrogant, which could be a problem if he won't take advice from anyone else, and I don't really like him that much as a person. I think Romney would inspire a better sense of leadership.

I also got a better impression of Santorum and Perry than before, and came to the following conclusion: I would be happy to vote for any of these four men. I feel that they all have positive things to offer, and all of them would do a MUCH better job of improving our economy, reducing the national debt, implementing effective foreign policy, heading up health-care reform (or un-reform?), and controlling the borders than President Obama has done. 

My opinions of Ron Paul are . . . yet to be determined. Some of the things he says have seemed to make no sense to me, but after some enlightening explanations of his views by a good friend (thank you!), I am willing to keep an open mind. Unfortunately, he is not a good debater, and it seems like one has to have a prior knowledge of his views to understand his arguments in the debates. So I am going to try to obtain that knowledge and see if what he says makes more sense to me in the upcoming months.

Christmas Pictures

Yes, I know this is more pictures than I should post. But I have a good excuse - many relatives who were unable to see their only grandchild/great-grandchild/niece at Christmas. So for those of you who missed her, here are a few pictures:

 

This is the sleeping sock and hat my aunt Danielle made for Lily, which we put her in every time we go outside.

Here is a picture of Lily in a dress that used to be mine:

Lily's first bath:

Christmas day at Papa and Nana's house in Monterey:

Lily wearing the cute hair bow made for her by her aunt Lisa:

We gave Lily some Gentian Violet to get rid of an infection, and it made her lips purple.

Pictures from Lily's blessing day:

 

Lily's Birth

Yes, this event occurred over a month ago, but I have not written anything about it until now.

What can I say? Life has been a little busy. :)

A word of caution before you begin reading: this post talks about giving birth. No, there are no indecent pictures and no extremely gory details, but if you find this sort of thing disgusting, just skip to the next post. Although as I'm sure most parents would agree, after having a baby, almost nothing seems gross.

I had Lily naturally. And it gets even more radical than that - I didn't even have her in a hospital, and I did a water birth! You may think I am crazy if you want, and I won't be offended. Maybe I am crazy. But it worked out great for us.

Why did we decide on all this unconventional hippie-like extremeness? First, I don't like hospitals. I associate them with sick people and diseases and all sorts of unhappiness - not the place I wanted a wonderful event like my daughter's birth to take place. Yes, I know the labor and delivery wards in hospitals are better than they used to be, but that didn't seem to make a dent in my stubborn aversion to them. It is also true that there are infections periodically contracted in hospitals that are not found elsewhere, like MRSA, which I did NOT want anywhere near me or my baby, since several people I know have gotten it after giving birth.

Second, when we moved here, I had some misgivings about having a baby in a place where I knew essentially nobody (we have made some friends since then, don't worry!), and I felt like I would need a lot more support with my baby than a doctor usually gives. So we found a great midwife nearby who has really been an amazing resource. Instead of 10 minutes, she spent an hour with us at every appointment. I asked her every question I could think of during our appointment, and texted her numerous other questions outside of our appointments. She even made a house call to visit me several days after the birth.

Finally, the biggest reason we chose to have Lily naturally is that we feel like it was better for her and for me. I didn't want meds being pumped into her, making her lethargic at birth. I feel that these can have lasting effects. For me, I really did not want to have a C-section. Of course, I would not object in an emergency, but I feel that they are performed much too often in hospitals. The national C-section rate is 32% in the U.S., whereas fewer than 10% of births attended by my midwife (who has overseen hundreds of births over the past 30 years) end up being transported too the hospital. Of course the C-section rate in hospitals is higher in part because all high-risk births must happen there, but since less than 10% of pregnancies are high risk, this does not account for much of the difference.

I feel that much of this difference is because of over-medicalization of birth and problems caused by the drugs routinely used in hospitals. Pitocin, for example (which is used in over 80% of U.S hospital births), creates contractions that are stronger than normal, which can lead to fetal distress. In addition, a cervix that is being forced to open before it is ready can sometimes become swollen, which stops progression and often leads to a C-section. I have had numerous friends who have told me about their C-sections which were performed simply because they weren't progressing. I did not want to have to deal with that. This article describes some of the reasons I chose not to have an epidural: http://www.adjustbacktohealth.com/articles/aa332.htm.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think that all hospital birth procedures are necessarily bad or that C-sections don't save many lives that would otherwise be lost. But I just didn't feel that was the best option for us.

There were trade-offs, however. Obviously, it was hard. I was up most of the night before Lily was born with false contractions. My water broke at 4 am, and regular contractions began immediately. We arrived at the birth center at 7 am. I had spent A LOT of time practicing relaxation techniques, and with focus, I stayed somewhat comfortable until the early afternoon. But at some point, it became all I could do to remember to breathe, let alone breathe deeply and slowly. At about 4:00, I couldn't stand the suspense, and had Debbie, my midwife check my dilation, and I was at a 7 (I wanted to avoid checking if possible, since this introduces bacteria which could lead to infection if labor stops for a while or is delayed).

What a relief! It was nice to know that we were getting somewhere, although I am glad I didn't know then that it would still be almost 5 hours before it would be over. Meeting my baby just seemed like an added bonus at that point; all I could think about was "PLEASE GET THIS OVER WITH ASAP!" Over the next few hours, Adam was very wonderful and supportive, and I was not so wonderful. I yelled various things at him such as, "You did this to me!" and "Next time you get to do this part!" He readily agreed, and also made a number of promises, such as changing ALL of Lily's diapers (that didn't last too long). He was very supportive and kept telling me that I was doing great and getting close, and I kept insisting that he was lying.

But eventually, when I honestly thought it was never going to end, I started pushing. My midwife told me to slow down so I wouldn't tear, so I tried to hold things back. At one point, she let me feel the top of Lily's head, and I started to cry. That was my baby! I couldn't believe it - she was actually real! Then I was motivated. But when I finally pushed her out, it was the strangest experience of my life. Was that purple round thing in the water really my baby's head? And then, was that alien-looking thing with arms stretched out in zombie-fashion really my baby? It was surreal . . . not exactly what I had envisioned so many times during the previous nine months.

But then it was wonderful. I couldn't believe how much love I felt felt for this tiny little person. And suddenly my understanding of God's love for us expanded. I loved my daughter not for anything she had done, or because of any favorable character trait, skill, or talent. I simply loved her, and still love her, because she is mine, just as I know Heavenly Father loves all of His children. What an amazing thing to experience! I had no idea being a parent would be so beautiful.

Lily was completely alert, calm, and wide-eyed when she was born, and did not cry, except when the midwife made her cry a little in order to clear her airways. She was wide awake for several hours before sleeping, and stared at me with a piercing gaze from the moment we took her out of the water.

Now. I know what you are probably thinking: "Giving birth in a tub of water?! That sounds disgusting! I wouldn't want to be sitting in a pool of blood and nastiness!" Well, I wouldn't either! It was actually quite clean. There was almost no blood until well after she was born, and by then the tub was drained. (It was such a nice Whirlpool tub; man I want one of those at my house!)

I had some frustrating complications afterwards. Fortunately, and I hope because of lots of preparation, I did not tear. But I did have some retained placenta, which was a problem, and I lost a lot of blood so I was dizzy and could hardly sit up. At one point, because of a slight misunderstanding, my midwife said she was just going to call an ambulance to take me to the hospital. But then she realized things weren't as bad as she thought, so I didn't have to go (thank heaven!). Some pitocin resolved the retained placenta, and I started feeling better. There were some other issues that I won't describe, but I ended up having to stay awake almost all night. I was so tired!

We took Lily home the following evening. After several days at home, I noticed an intense pain in the area of my right rib. My ribs had seemed bruised around the time of Lily's birth, so I assumed one was broken. But after several weeks of no improvement, and some online research, I realized that it was gallbladder pain.

So now, after 7 weeks, I am doing a gallbladder and liver cleanse with the hopes that it will be an adequate solution to my affliction. It certainly seems to have worked - I feel MUCH better. Again, call me radical, but I am not willing to have surgery if I don't have to, plus I don't think removing your organs is generally a good idea. I think God knew what He was doing when He put them in there!

I didn't expect to still be resolving issues from giving birth almost two months later, but it is all worth it to have our precious Lily. Sometimes it makes me cry just to look at her, I love her so much. I felt for a long time as we were trying to get pregnant that a little girl was waiting to come to our family. I am so grateful that she is finally here! I do hope, however, that the next time around is a little easier! Supposedly, the first time is the hardest by far, but I guess I will have to find out (someday!). I'll cross my fingers.

Soup, Salad, and . . . Latkes?

So Adam and I have made some very yummy dishes the last two days. We made two different kinds of soup and a yummy salad all from Martha Stewart's Everyday Food magazine. They were just so good I want to share them with the world!

Winter Vegetable Soup

from http://www.marthastewart.com/336693/winter-vegetable-soup

This yummy vegetarian soup is much better than I expected. The squash is the key ingredient. Serves 4.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 medium onion, cut into 1/2-inch dice
• 2 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 1 pound acorn squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch chunks
• 1 bunch kale ( 3/4 pound), ribs cut away and discarded, leaves torn
• 5 1/2 cups (43.5 ounces) low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 can (14 ounces) cannellini beans, rinsed
• 3 sprigs thyme
• Grated Parmesan, for serving (optional)

Directions

1. In a large Dutch oven or heavy pot, melt butter over medium. Cook onion and garlic until fragrant, 3 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Add squash and kale and cook until kale is wilted, about 3 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Add broth, beans, and thyme. Bring to a simmer and cook until squash and kale are tender, about 12 minutes. Season soup with salt and pepper and serve with Parmesan, if desired.

Chicken and Chickpea Soup

from http://www.marthastewart.com/318142/chicken-and-chickpea-soup

Cinnamon, coriander, and cilantro make this soup taste really yummy, and it has a sort of Moroccan flavor. Serves 6.

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 1 large yellow onion, halved and thinly sliced
• 3 teaspoons minced garlic
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 3/4 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 medium carrots, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
• 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas, rinsed and drained (I used garbanzo beans, which are almost the same thing)

• Zest and juice of 1 lemon
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro leaves

Directions

1. In a large Dutch oven or heavy pot, heat oil over medium-high. Season chicken with salt and pepper and cook, skin side down, until skin is browned and crisp, about 6 minutes. Flip chicken and cook until browned, 6 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate.
2. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon fat from pot. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 4 minutes. Add 2 teaspoons garlic and spices; cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in carrots and return chicken to pot. Stir in broth.
3. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a medium simmer, partially cover, and cook until chicken is falling off the bone, 50 minutes.
4. Remove chicken from soup. When cool enough to handle, tear chicken into large pieces, discarding skin and bones. Return meat to pot. Add chickpeas and season with salt, pepper, and lemon juice. In a small bowl, stir together 1 teaspoon garlic, lemon zest, and cilantro; sprinkle over soup before serving.

Escarole Salad with Apples

from http://www.marthastewart.com/312496/wilted-escarole-with-apples

This salad is so good, and really easy. You basically only need lettuce, apples, and an onion.

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 shallot, diced small (1/4 onion works too)
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 1-inch pieces
• 3 tablespoons cider vinegar
• 1 bunch (about 1 pound) escarole (I just used green leaf lettuce)

Directions

1. In a small saucepan, heat extra-virgin olive oil over medium-high. Add shallot and season with coarse salt and ground pepper; cook until soft, about 4 minutes. Add apples and cook until beginning to soften, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in cider vinegar. In a large bowl, toss escarole, roughly chopped, with apple mixture; season with salt and pepper.

Latkes

Latkes are potato pancakes served traditionally at Hannukah. I am not Jewish, but I have never made them before and it sounded fun. :) I just peeled and grated 3 Russet potatoes, and seasoned them with salt and pepper (generously). I also added a good amount of dried minced onion because I thought it would make them more interesting (it definitely did!). Let it sit for a while (at least 10 minutes) and mix the juices in so they will stick together. Then heat a few teaspoons of oil in a large pan and place spoonfuls of potato in the pan, flattening with a spatula. Cook on both sides until they are done.

I think they are usually served with sour cream, but we didn't have any, so we ate them with cottage cheese. It turned out great. I hope you like them too!

Pictures of Lily!

This post is dedicated to my grandma and my daddy, because I know they are always so excited to see pictures of Lily. These were taken when she was 10 days old.