New years resolution

This year I am doing things a little bit different. Every January I sit down and write my goals for the up coming year. I usually make categories and make lists under each one. Last year I even made a book dedicated to my new year's resolutions. Not this year....this year I am setting ONE goal. It is weird everyday I see things about myself that I want to change and I think to myself "that should be a goal this year", but I am not adding any more to my list this year. 2011 is different. I bet you are dying of suspense wondering what my one goal is, right?
I have decided that this year I am going to only speak KINDLY of women. Last year I thought a lot about how our society has trained women to hate each other. I think it is so sad. In my world that is going to change! If you are a woman, then I am on your team. I may not agree with you on everything, but I will respect you. Men and children are great too, but I really feel like women need to stick up for one another and help each other out. Seriously, what is better than having a great girlfriend that you can tell anything to and you know that she will not judge you or think differently of you? What if ALL women treated each other that way? Wouldn't our world be such a better place? What if instead of gossip, and backbiting and all the other horrible things women can be so good at; we replaced those things with friendship, kindness and understanding, all the things that women are even BETTER at? Well, I know that the whole world will probably not jump on this band wagon, but I am going to. I may slip up, but I am dedicated to this goal (otherwise I would not be sharing it here) I think this will be a great year for me and I hope it is for you to. What do YOU think?

Baby Leo

I know this is really late, but I guess better late than never, right? My due date with Leo was May 18. Since both of my girls came early I was really expecting that he would come early as well. May 18 came and I was still pregnant. I really believe in natural childbirth and I have the philosophy that babies will come when they are ready to come. Well, ELEVEN days later he still had not decided that he was ready to be born. So, I went in to see my midwife (it was Saturday at 1:00 pm) and she tried stripping the membranes. At that point I was dilated to 6 and he was just about as low as he could be, so there really wasn't much left to strip.
My mom had taken my girls for the day so Connor and I went home and thought we would be having a baby within a few hours. Oh, I should also mention that I have my babies at home. Around 6:00 that evening my midwife came over because she too thought that I would be having the baby any time. So, the hours passed and nothing happened. Around midnight we all decided to go to bed. My midwife (Heather) slept on the couch. We all woke up around 8:00 the next morning and there was still no signs that it would happen anytime soon. I had been having contractions for 2 days, but they apparently weren't doing much. I told my midwife she should go home and call me when she gets home from church. Heather kept telling me that she would gladly break the bag of waters and she really felt like that would push me right into active labor. I kept telling her that I will just wait. Finally, Sunday night around 9:00 Connor called Heather and told her to come because he thinks it will be soon. She got here and I had her check to see how far dilated I was. I was only at dilated to 7! I was so discouraged. I felt like I was going to be in labor forever, so I finally agreed to let her break the bag of water.
She broke my water at 10:00 and I immediately went and got back in the birthing pool. Leo was out at exactly 10:20. Those twenty minutes were pretty intense, but it was so worth it. As soon as he came out Connor caught him and then handed him to me. It was one of the most wonderful moments of my life. Connor and I both cried with happiness and relief. Everything went great. He was healthy and weighed a whopping 9 pounds 12 ounces. I couldn't believe I gave birth to such a huge baby!
After he was born Connor and Leo and I went and laid down on our bed and spent the night nursing and bonding. It was such an incredible and beautiful experience I will never forget. I am so grateful for my little (huge) Leo. I love him so much! I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who has blessed me with such wonderful children and such wonderful experiences. Without Him I could not do it!