Ellie has wanted to be a bit closer to us, so instead of just holding her and immobilising myself all day long, I took out her carrier, the Baby K’Tan, and went hands-free. It’s fantastic: she’s close, which we both like and I can get stuff done. Win-win.
Category: Family & Friends
Ellie spending time with her nearest and dearest
Back to work
Tomorrow, I’m finally heading back to work. I’ve been off since the day she was born, so that’s about two and a half weeks now and I highly encourage fathers to do this.
This precious time is not only critical for bonding with your child and family as a whole, but it will strengthen your marriage, by helping one another out with the every day essentials and admiring one another in your newfound roles as mother and father.
I’ve been blessed to have been able to take off as much time as I have, and I would encourage anyone doing the same to truly leave work behind. Life will continue on without you and it’s so much better to leave it behind and not give it a second thought, as I have: I’m not even sure what I need to be doing tomorrow, which is an awesome place to be in.
I’m regretting having to go back (can’t someone just pay my salary and let me stay home with my family?), but it’s a necessary step. I’m just wondering how long I can hold out before I break down and FaceTime Ellie & Martina…
The wine conundrum
I’m in a weird situation, because I really want a glass of wine when I think about the texture and the flavor and the smell, but then, aside from not having a breast pump, I just realize that I’ll fall straight asleep.
Test
Week 1 photo roundup
Rather than upload every single photo in a new post and start overwhelming people, I figured I’d hold back a little and collect them into small galleries so that you get a whole bunch of cuteness all at once. So enjoy this little gallery of photos from the past week or so.
1 week
Weight: 8lbs 10oz (80th percentile)
Home births are safer than hospital births
It’s nice to see some mainstream media acknowledging that home births are actually safer than hospital births. Being advocates for home birth, and having had one ourselves, Martina and I are very open for discussion if you have any questions about it.
The sounds of my heart
Martina saw this on Pinterest and we thought it would be a perfect piece of art for Ellie’s room.
My extremely long dissertation on the birth and events leading up to the birth of Ellie Grace
The birth story of Ellie Grace Clements doesn’t begin on 6/25/13 for me. It began in the living room of our pastor, Terri Dieter, with Terri, Michelle Demus, Katie Stermer, Dave and I. I had just been through a bunker night with them, with God setting me free from some things, many hurts, and so many lies. It was close to Labor Day of 2011.
We were chatting in the living room before saying goodnight and Katie said something about us having children. I said, “Dave and I aren’t having kids. We have decided it is just not for us and its not who we are. It may be selfish but we just don’t feel like we want to have children”. In typical Katie fashion she laughed and said “well God showed me that you ARE totally having kids.” We chatted a bit more and Katie just laughed and said “I know you two are having children…I saw you with them!” Michelle and Terri both had GIANT grins and Michelle agreed and Terri said she believed we were going to have children as well. At this point in time, both Dave and I were adament that there was NO child or children anywhere in our future. Continue reading “My extremely long dissertation on the birth and events leading up to the birth of Ellie Grace”
Our experience with Katrina Hollon, Holistic Maternity
We were very excited when we first met and hired Katrina as our midwife. She just fit our personality types very well (laid back, sensible, professional, nature-driven) and we knew that it was a good fit.
Well, here we are now, over 7 months later with a baby in our hands, so I thought I’d write a little about our overall experience.
Katrina was wonderful throughout Marti’s pregnancy. She was always gentle, informative, flexible and friendly. No question was ever too stupid, no concern ever too trivial and no need ever unmet. Continue reading “Our experience with Katrina Hollon, Holistic Maternity”
Eyes for Daddy
Ellie definitely has eyes for her Daddy (although, in fairness, she doesn’t have much choice since I shoved my big noggin in her face!)
Martina and Ellie doing great
Martina and Ellie are both doing very well. I’ve never loved Martina more and I’ve found a whole new love in my gorgeous Ellie.