Birthdays Galore

Happy Birthdays

My tiny precious boy turned ONE.  Yes, ONE!  WHAT?????????????????  Ugh!  I'm so proud of him and I adore watching him discover new things daily, but does he HAVE to grow up?  NOT COOL!

It doesn't seem possible that it has been a full year since that love entered our lives.  I have posted pictures on FB so head on over there to see the blessed event.  I was going to do "family only" but since a few of our friends are like family I couldn't exclude them.  We celebrated in grand style with a Sock Monkey theme and he had a blast exploring his gift bags and their contents.  He did not, however, have fun at all with the "bash" cake that Aaron so lovingly slammed his little hand into.  He was grossed out by its "stickiness" and not impressed with the flavor.  I'm not sure how he could be my kid if he didn't like that cake...it was fantastic!  He wore a sweet little Sock Monkey hoodie and little-boy overalls which I adore on him.

Of course Reesor's birthday means that my birthday must come as well...29 *sigh

Aaron surprised me with Cirque Du Soleil tickets and we had a total blast!  I have always wanted to go and it really was a fantastic time.  I'm sorry to report that this will be my last birthday.  No, I'm not ill...I simply will never be older than 29.  :)  Thank you all so much for the birthday wishes for both Reesor and I.  A fun time was had by all (I hope) and I look forward to many years of birthday fun for my little man.  

My Tight Rope

Being a mom is like walking on a tight rope I think.  It's a balancing act.  I'm not referring to the insane juggling of all the things that we moms have to do in a 24 hour time frame.  That is a different post all on its own.  The balancing I'm referring to is the one where I decipher how much of myself to sacrifice for the sake of my child.  Still unclear?

Ok, Reesor needs me.  He doesn't just need me emotionally.  He is still an infant and therefor needs me to survive. I know, this isn't rocket science!  But his need for my attention and 100% devotion does take a tole on Zoe-time.  The time where I can just close my eyes and focus on ME.  Or God.  Or SOMETHING other than a dirty diaper, toy mess, and teething.  Even now while I try to have some "me blogging time" I am sitting next to my child on the floor while he rummages through his diaper bag as I attempt to keep him from ingesting diaper cream.  Its never JUST me time!

I had lunch with a friend today who is a mother of FOUR.  She reminded me that I'm a new mom who is still figuring out to preserve the "Zoe Spunk" while also meeting Reesor's physical and emotional needs.  PLUS if I'm not taking care of myself, what is left for me to offer in my marriage?  I'll tell you what:  a grumpy ole hag who is tired all the time, not ever groomed, and snappy!  ;)  Not that I'm speaking from recent experience or anything.  LOL

I am coming up with a few things to help me take care of me the way I did pre-mommy.

1. one evening per week Aaron will keep Reesor and put him to bed while I go out and do whatever I want.  Maybe hang out with a friend or attend some kind of fun doula thing.  The point is that its doing something I love without needing to tend to Reesor.

2.  train for another race.  Not sure if I'm going to do a 10k or half marathon but now that the weather is better I'm going to get back into it.

3.  gonna work on my pre-pregnancy figure and try to get it back as best I can.  I know this will help me feel better about myself and I know the training will help get me there.

Hopefully with these basic things I can learn to walk that tight rope without fear of plummeting to the deep abyss below which is the unkept, unslept, unhappy wife and mommy.  :)  Now back to my screaming kiddo who has been feeling horribly neglected during the 8 minutes it took me to write this post....

Who's Yo Midwife?

I have this opinion about higher education...I know way too many people my age and older who wish very much that they could have a do-over with their choice of degree. There are definitely those who knew what they wanted to do straight out of high school and now do and will always do that very thing.  These are generally the doctors, lawyers, businessmen/women, and teachers etc of our society. (Although even some of THEM aren't practicing in the field they studied either). And so my opinion is that, as a society in general, we often push our children to go straight into college when MOST OF THE TIME 18 years of age is way too inexperienced and not nearly self-aware enough to make a decision about what they want to do for the rest of their lives!

I cringe a little every time somebody asks me what my degree is in...are you ready for this...INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES! That's right folks, I have a degree in NOTHING! Correction; I have FOUR minors and no major. "Why?" you ask....because I had NO CLUE what I wanted to do when I went to school. Well, let me take that back, I wanted to do missions but I didn't know what kind of degree would be practical for that. So here I swim in a sea of school debt and every month I make a payment for an education that I dare say I NEVER use. At least not the curriculam part of it. I undoubtedly DO use the life experience I gained in going through college.

Now for the good part... What would YOU do if you got a re-do? What would you have gone to school for? Wanna know what I would have done if I knew then what I know now?...Instead of a bachelor's of ARTS I would have done SCIENCE. Nursing to be exact. That would have allowed for a future in...drum roll please... MIDWIFERY! It is pretty gutsy to lay it all out here for all you kind folks to read but I will go ahead and tell you that before I am 40, (that's only 11 years away people) I wish to complete a Master's of Science in Nursing with an emphasis in Midwifery.

 First thing's first though and for us right now, that is building our family. Once the baby-making is over and the kids are starting school, if it all works out, I'll hit the books once more and do what I am dreaming of: support women to good health and help them bring their babies into this world.

 Meanwhile back home on the range, gonna go chase after my 9 month old who is making a snack out of a deck of cards...

Done and Done!

ALL DONE!!!!!!! I'm a bonified, certified doula! Yippy! So, I finished my certification births, all my exams, my book reviews, and coursework. LIFE IS SWEET! I'm so thrilled to start this new chapter where I get to support moms through one of the most exciting and challenging events that life offers. I have already been faced with the sad challenges of this job but I know that, whatever lies ahead, God remains faithful and turns ashes into beauty, somehow, someway. So, I'm going to take my life experience, my doula education, and my passion for birth and use it to His glory and to support mamas! Still don't know what a birth doula is? Click HERE and watch the video on my homepage. :)

Zoe the Politician

Should I feel guilty that I have never been inclined to read up on or study much about politics and current details of government decisions? I don't really FEEL guilty!?! I'm not THAT embarrassed!?! This is going to be laughable to some of you but ya know what...LAUGH AWAY! To sum up some of my favorite verses, without siting them, let me explain my political viewpoint: Christ lives in me, I have not been given a spirit of fear, the life I now live I live by faith, His plans for my life are of hope, now I see through a glass dimly but I will [sooner than later] know as I am known... SO, what does THAT mean Zoe? Whelp, since I'm not, shall we say, politically minded, nor do I understand the lingo of legislature and law (though I'm sure I could if I studied hard enough and researched long enough) I pray about things, do the minimal research that I feel necessary, and then go with my "gut" instinct. This post is coming at a time when we are surrounded by belly button opinions. What's a belly button opinion? Well.....opinions are like belly buttons, everybody's got one and they don't do much good! :) I'm NOT talking about the experts out there who's HOURS of studying qualify them to give truly educated and experienced opinions. I'm just talking about the average "zoe". Instead of arguing my minimally educated opinion with friends and family to no achievable end, all I'm going to say is that I have had a lump-in-the-throat feeling about our government and where its headed for a LONG time now. And yesterday's Supreme Court decision was no deviation from the growing elephant in the room. Sorry if this upsets all you Obama lovers but the moment I heard Obama's voice years ago the hairs on my intuition stood straight up and do so every time I see his face. He makes me uneasy. Its like my spirit throws up just a little every time I have to hear a speech or read about some new thing he's trying to pass. I can't explain it and I'm not sure I'm supposed to. Maybe you moms out there could compare it to a mother's intuition but come Nov......well, he ain't got my vote! And there you have it: the deep and meaningful political views of Zoe Das. :) I'm not ashamed to speak my truth in love and hopefully you can receive it as such.

5 de mayo

You know you're a parent when....you spend your 5 de mayo saturday night sitting at home watching your husband watch a soccer match and blogging. LOL Things have been insane for the three Das' lately, let me just tell you. I finished doula training, had a birth where the mom was in labor for six days that ended in me almost missing the birth (SO glad I didn't miss it!) Tragedy struck Aaron's family last week as his cousin went into labor that heartbreakingly resulted in a stillborn. She wasn't my client but I was there for a lot of her labor, just not the emergency C-section. I spent days mourning the loss and trying to recover. At the same time, one day after little Jude went to be with Jesus, we had to move out of our first home together which is difficult in and of itself. Sheesh. NOW I'm sitting here waiting for another mama client to have her baby. Poor thing has been in labor for 2 days now. But I'm confident it'll be any hour now and I couldn't be more ready for another doula experience. I'm loving it! Up ahead we will have to move again as we are in, shall we say, "temporary housing" and I have that just looming over me. I was unpacking our things thinking to myself "what's the point, we'll just pack them up again in 6-8 weeks." Despite the craziness and constant change in our life I have ZERO to complain about. My son is healthy and happy, I love Aaron more than ever (I hope he feels the same) ;) and we are employed, fed, housed, and have MORE than enough of everything. Those are the things that matter so I'm focusing on my blessings instead of the craziness spinning all around. Keep in touch with us friends and please keep Aaron's family in your hearts and prayers as they continue to grieve the loss of their son.

I'm a Doula! (almost)

A DOULA? What's a Doula?

A Doula is, in sort, h coach. Her role is to facilitate a mom through her pregnancy, during the birth, and post-partum. She is educated in anatomy and the physiology of birth as well as in pain-management techniques that can be applied during labor. She also is trained in communication skills to better interact with clients and the medical staff during births. And on a side note let me just say that I USED TO think I was a good communicator but my course has shown me otherwise. :( O-well, lots to learn!

A Doula is NOT medically trained and cannot perform any type of medical procedure whatsoever. She also does not give medical advice.

So here I am getting my Birth Doula Certification through an organization called Childbirth International. If you have read Reesor's birth story you know that I had a doula at my birth and am positive that she is a major contributor to why I was able to have the birth experience I had planned for.

Doulas can attend any type of birth (home-birth, waterbirth, epidural, c-section etc) but are generally hired by women who seek a natural birth. I have become passionate about the "birth scene" here in GA and about supporting moms, particularly those who are looking for an unmedicated birth experience. So, come this summer I will be officially certified to assist in births and will be looking to take on clients. Know anybody who is pregnant in the Atlanta area? I'd LOVE to talk to them!

I'm currently working on my website but once it is launched you can direct them to zoedas.com. For now, they can contact me at zoedasdoula@gmail.com.

2012 and Moving

I have spent my morning searching, searching, searching for a place to move all from the comfort of my couch! Gotta love the world wide web! Know what I don't love?...MOVING! Who does? I love a change and the cleanliness and organization that come with a new place but I do not love the moving process. Never tried it with an infant before, that should be interesting.

We have spent 2 1/2 amazing years in our quaint basement apartment. I couldn't have asked for anything better. The home owners, the location, the privacy, and the price have been nothing but blessings! This home will always hold a very special place in my heart as it is where Aaron and I settled into our marriage and where we brought our son home to for the first time. Isn't it amazing how we attach such emotion to a dwelling place? But really what do we have at the end of life? Not our first couch or mattress. Not the left-overs from our favorite meal nor our first pet. No, we have our memories! And what sweet memories I have of this place called "our first home". So we move on and we move out into the HUGE unknown.

Aaron and I have a lot of decisions to make in the next few months and I'm just so curious as to what 2012 is going to hold for us. Stay tuned.....