I think I may be setting myself up for disaster.. 3 posts in 2 days is going to make anyone that reads this blog think I have time to keep doing this. Fact is, I don't. I don't even know how I managed to squeeze in enough time to post this.. but I'm not about to refuse a gift horse.

I made an envelope style newborn shirt for Raven today! No pattern, just measured her and winged it.

The neck is a tad bit too small, but since it's envelope style and I used a soft plush FOE to bind, it will be just fine.

The best part is she has 2 newborn diapers in the same print and another OS for when she's bigger (which Luke uses even though it's girly!). Now to dig through my knits and make shirts to match all her dipes!

I think she likes it!

If anyone has any questions as to how I did this, please ask away.. I'll scan the pattern I drafted for it and add instructions when I have more time.

10am at my OB's office. Just a routine 'yep yur still pregnant' visit. Odd thing happened to me the night before though, I woke up round 2:30am and was throwing up! Doc said that sounded like something that happens at the start of silent labor. Huh! Who knew? Turned out I was about 4-5cm dilated and he wanted me to head straight to the hospital.

Of course I had things to do so I went back home to get things done first. Once I actually felt my previously useless contractions getting stronger and more regular I figured it was time to head to the hospital.

3pm St. Mary's Hospital. Something about even nearing a hospital makes me ill. Despite wanting to head back home, Rye dropped me off at the door and I waltzed on up to Labor & Delivery while he parked the car. We kinda got separated which added to my agitation but once we found eachother I felt much better. Or I thought I did.. after becoming decidedly uncomfortable with my nurse while settling into the labor room, we were finally alone.

We sat there discussing all the bullshit we were just fed - like how you can't eat or drink during labor.. HAHA what a joke... or how I had to be on a constant fetal monitor.. yeah that came off and stayed off. Honestly, why do hospitals insist on making laboring mothers as UNcomfortable as possible? No food or drink? Stay strapped to a bed in the most uncomfortable laboring position on earth while attached to a bunch of monitors and drips? Exactly how is a woman supposed to keep her much needed strength up in those torturous conditions? Being starved, dehydrated and tied down never helped a single human do anything!

6:30pm laboring in my hospital room. Rye an I shared some food and coffee while I slowly progressed, chatting and watching TV. Occasionally giving the ole smile and nod to the nurse if she came in. By the time my doc showed up it was shift change for the nurses and I was blessed with an even more uncomforting nurse lacking a personality and the ability to smile. But I didn't let her ruin my day and continued to endure my increasing contractions.

10pm still in labor. Doc decided to break my water, which brought on full active labor with useful contractions. I think I handled them pretty well until the last few when I 'thought' I was gonna crack. Thankfully we were left alone until Rye got the doc as the head was crowning. If there had been a crowd around me I'd have completely lost my focus and might have missed my selfish goal of giving birth on Friday the 13th.. haha but I made it happen drug and intervention free.. again!

11:35pm I was handed my beautiful Raven and could barely contain my joy! We couldn't believe she has red hair like Willow! She nursed almost immediately and for quite a while before we were transferred out of L&D and into a room.

I had some minor issues that nearly turned sour with certain 'hospital policies', but I made them see things my way and both Raven and I were discharged and home by Saturday afternoon.

What have I been up to since I've been home?
No rest for the weary as they say! Right back into the swing of things without missing too many beats.. course I'm tired but I feel wonderful and complete.

I had to make myself some more mamacloth because I ran through the 20 or so pads I previously made before I could get to do wash... which I didn't even end up having to do myself - didn't have to cook either (THANKS MOM!) since there were a few trays of food sitting in my fridge! I even made a diaper today! While I was cleaning and reorganizing the bedroom I came across an old Fear Factory tee that was just begging to be turned into a prototype diaper I'd been tossing around in my head.. and so it was...

(excuse the crappy cellphone pic, camera is still broken)

Hope everyone else out there is faring well!

Some things I've learned in my meager 15 years as a mother. For whatever reason these things have been bouncing around in my head for the past week.. do with them what you will :)

I'll probably edit this and add things to it over time.. don't be surprised if I repost it at some point... I just need to get it posted before I forget again, while I have a second before starting dinner!

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Be consistent.
Whatever you do, whatever you say - follow through. Don't say things like "if you do that again I'm going to kill you", and then not follow through. Yes I'm serious, one day the child that heard that one a few times will respond to you with "no you wont, you say that all the time". Trust me, being consistent is something kids notice especially when you consistently do or say something wrong.

People everywhere will know you are a mom, forever.
3 pregnancies in a row will leave vast areas of your skin looking like Freddy Krueger's face. Even if no one ever sees you naked and you manage to get out of the house without waffles in your hair, they will still know you are a mom. Case in point: A few weeks ago while walking through a grocery store alone with my big pregnant belly, a woman came up to me smiling and said "not your first is it?". I said "no, how did you know?" to which she replied "you have a little baby powder handprint on the back of your shirt!" and I laughed through the rest of the store.

I am not phased by finding crumbs in my bra.
Or an apple core in my shoe. Or even Polly Pocket accessories while rinsing out poopy diapers. Fact is, not much can make me even say 'ick' anymore.

Consequences are a kids best friend.
Kids need boundaries and structure. When they veer outside the lines you've set, you need to have set consequences as well. Otherwise the lines will blur and they will never respect you.

Television is your enemy.
Nothing is worse than having a child addicted to the television and it's accessories. Some will tell you that it is a godsend when wanting to get things done. Some will tell you it is harmless and every child watches television all the time. I've learned the hard way that television WILL rot the brain and it may or may not be reversible. I've since found that children don't need the television at all and learn way more from me than any educational show that will ever be produced.

Alone time is a joke.
Me time will go from a few hours out or some leisurely reading on the couch to successfully making it through a trip to the potty uninterrupted. Personally I treasure that 30 seconds on the toilet, no matter how messy the bathroom is.

Cleanliness is next to nothing.
Your idea of clean will not be shared with any of your children. It most likely won't be shared by anyone in the house and you need to get a handle on that lest you drive yourself insane. Always remember at some point you WILL have time to get your house in order again.

Patience comes in varying degrees and categories.
There are people that know me that say "man you have no patience at all", and there are others that say "you've got the patience of a saint". Fact is, both statements will be true througout your entire parenting career.

Honesty is the best policy.
There are no situations where lying to your child will benefit you or them. Be it Santa Claus or the death of a loved one, the truth is the best way to go. Lies only beget lies and create the need to explain those lies and eventually tell the truth anyway! Children can handle the truth and deserve it at all times!