Pretty Pink Dress

Found here


I absolutely love this dress! So beautiful. It's hanging on a tree for a wedding. Gorgeous.

Another Non Hormonal Birth Control Option

I'm amazed at learning about the various non hormonal birth control options out there. Things that I've never heard of before. I'm wondering why they aren't promoted more.

I learned about VCF(Vaginal Contraceptive Film) on a forum, and I was intrigued by it, and googled it. It is a film that is inserted into the vagina and dissolves in seconds, and lasts for hours.

There are no side effects.

Supposedly you or your husband cannot feel it.

Requires no prescription to use, and can be found at any local drugstore.

You can go to their website and get a free sample and coupon. I just received my samples in the mail, and I will see how I like it, but it sounds like a wonderful product.

I've never heard anyone say that they have used this for birth control, but it sounds like a great option.

Using Babywise

Yesterday my little princess had her 2 month check up. She weighs 13 lbs, 5 oz. The little chubster!

She continues to sleep better at night. She usually sleeps around 5 hours straight before waking. I haven't read Babywise, but I've read the blog Babywise Mom, and I've gleaned a lot of information from it about establishing a sleep schedule and such.

I haven't rigidly followed it, but I have to some degree. I do not have the heart to let my baby cry it out, so I'm not going that route. But, purposing to encourage her to stay up longer during the day and feeding her more in the evening is my way of helping her to sleep through the night.

I found a great resource for using Babywise with no crying it out at Jess's blog Making Home. You can go here to read her posts on using Babywise. It's a great series!

My first two children didn't sleep all the way through the night until around 13-14 months old. They always woke up at least once through the night. So, I'm giving this a try to see if I can get little princess to sleep through the night in the next few weeks or so.

Fingers crossed. . .

Blessings of Baby # 3

I am so thankful for my precious baby. So thankful. Everytime I look at her I am filled with joy and gratitude that God blessed me with her.

To think that I knew better, and was not overjoyed upon learning that I was expecting #3 UNPLANNED! Finances were tight, I had considered working outside the home, and didn't feel quite so guilty since my children were 3 and 4, and I had laid the foundation by being home with them in the early years. My husband and I thought the timing was all wrong for a new little one.

But, God knew better.

Sometimes you have to be reminded that children are truly a gift from God. Even when you had other plans, God's ways are best. Even when you think there's no way to provide for another baby. . . God does provide.

Having Alexa has brought me such joy and has made me a better woman. I feel more feminine for some reason. I've been more patient overall, especially with my other two. I am sooooo grateful and thankful for the opportunity to have had a vaginal birth. The difference in recovery is AMAZING!!!!!

I have come to realize that my agenda is not that important in comparison to raising my children properly. Usually when I put the children to bed that is my time to watch TV, write, spend time with hubby, etc. But, for the past two weeks that has been Alexa's time to be wide awake!

She sleeps great all day, and then from 8:30 to around 11:30 she is wide awake. I was frustrated at first, but then I came to enjoy having that time just for her. I just went with the flow.

She's doing better in that regard, though. Having her made me think of all mothers who get pregnant when it seems like the wrong time. Of young women who consider abortion because they don't think they can handle having a baby. I feel even stronger that when a baby is conceived God will provide. And, the blessings of having that baby will far outweigh any discomfort or change of plans that had to occur to adjust to a new life.

Baby # 3 opened my eyes even more to the fact that God always knows best.


Linking up with Women Living Well.

Back to Fertility

This is probably TMI, but last week Aunt Flo (AF) showed up. I couldn't believe it! I was only 7 weeks postpartum, which is the earliest that it has ever shown up.

But, I was kind of happy, because then I didn't have to worry about the birth control thing. I was stressing about the birth control situation because with me nursing I wouldn't be able to tell when my fertile days were.

Now, I don't have to worry about that so much. I want to purchase a Pearly or Lady Comp, which will tell me when my fertile days are and then I can judge myself accordingly. That sounds wonderful! :)

Out of fear I deliberated just getting on the minipill. When I had my 6 week check up, the nurse midwife, who is a young, warm-hearted young woman, told me that she would definitely get on the minipill after she has her baby, and then back on the pill. She told me this after I asked her what birth control option she used. She is 12 weeks pregnant, and she told me it's the furthest that she has gotten in a pregnancy so far.

She told me that she has had several miscarriages in the past. That just fed into my fear that taking hormonal birth control might lead to problems getting pregnant when I might want more children. I do realize that many women have miscarriages without having been on the pill before, but it is a fear of mine.

Anyways, I'm thankful that I can now use a fertility monitor to help me with natural methods of birth control.

Natural Family Planning

My daughter is 6 weeks old and I have my checkup soon. I have really been at a crossroads lately thinking about birth control and what would be the best option for me.

After I had my son I was prescribed birth control pills, and I just didn't have the heart to take them. I felt like I was telling my future unborn children that I didn't want them. I laugh at that when I think back on it. Then 2 1/2 months later I got pregnant with my daughter. But, I didn't regret not taking birth control pills.

This time I'm at a different place. I feel content with three children, but I definitely do not want to have another child quickly after. The three years between my two daughters feels perfect. I was able to fully baby my first daughter in a way that I didn't do with my son. When I was pregnant this time around I felt like it was a good time, I had time to miss having a baby around, etc.

This is my first time thoroughly researching birth control options, because the alternative way that my husband and I practiced birth control led to baby # 3. So, I'm a little nervous. I do not want to take hormonal birth control.

I've learned about the nonhormonal IUD, Paraguard, which is made of copper, which is supposed to kill sperm. This sounds like a good option, but I'm nervous about having that inserted. The side effects are heavy cramping and bleeding during your periods.

I've also discovered LadyComp and Pearly, fertility monitors that predict ovulation so you know which days to abstain or use barrier methods.

I would love to use LadyComp or Pearly, because it would be completely noninvasive and natural. The only problem is that I'm breastfeeding, and I'm not sure if it will work effectively without me having a cycle.

I recently read on Making Home blog about Albert Mohler's article about birth control. Jess says, Dr. Al Mohler writes about the direct verifiable link between "breeding and believing"... the fact that the religious-ness of a woman is statistically linked to whether or not she'll have children, and the number of children she'll have, world-wide.

So I guess the more Godly a woman is the more open she is to having children. I won't completely disagree with that. I have accepted that I'm not as Godly as I need to be, and I selfishly want to enjoy the three children I have for right now.

But, . . . I do want more in the future, which is why I'm scared to take hormonal birth control, because I fear that it could interfere with my fertility.

Anyways, these are just some things I've been mulling over as I decide which way to go. I'm leaning toward just using a fertility monitor and having faith that breastfeeding will offer a lot of protection from having another baby quickly. We'll see.

I would love to get feedback from others. What contraception options do you use or recommend?

My daughter, Alexa, was born Tuesday, March 27th. I praise God that I was able to have a successful vaginal birth!!! I'm still in awe that I was able to birth naturally. I experienced prodromal labor, which is when you are in pre-labor for a few days or more.

I had been having painful contractions from Thursday to Monday. Monday morning I couldn't sleep hardly at all because I had contractions starting around 1 a.m. until around 5:30 a.m., coming around every 10-15 minutes. I was sooooo tired!!! Once I officially woke up for the day the contractions came at a slower pace. I was so exhausted, so my Dad came to pick up my older two children to watch them so I could get some rest.

Well, I felt depressed. I was so tired of experiencing contractions that seemed to lead nowhere. I began thinking to myself, what if this goes on for another week? I will be dead to the world, I can't take it. In this moment of depression I called my husband to vent. I started crying about how exhausted I was, and I was so ready for the baby to come. He tried to soothe me over the phone, and I felt a little bit better to get my frustrations off my chest.

About an hour later while I was sitting on my bed watching a Lifetime movie my water broke! I jumped off the bed and ran to the bathroom, and I was extremely excited that my labor had officially started. Yay!!

About two hours later my husband and I checked into the hospital. When the nurse checked me I was 5 centimeters. This was around 5 p.m. Well, I labored on through the evening, walking around, sitting on a birthing ball, leaning on my husband.

I was EXHAUSTED!! I had had no sleep basically for the entire day, and all I wanted to do was rest. My doula encouraged me that I needed to move around to make my labor progress. But, I managed to take naps here and there when I could.

Around midnight I began to lose hope that the baby would ever come out of me naturally. I just. wanted. to. go. to. sleep!!!

Finally around 3 a.m. the doctor said that I was complete!! I honestly was starting to give up and didn't think I would have any energy to push. But, somehow hearing that it was time gave me a boost of energy out of nowhere!

I began pushing, and the doctor said that I wasn't pushing effectively. After a couple of pushes, I realized that pushing a baby out is quite similar to pushing when doing number 2. I thought I was supposed to push in the vaginal area, but really it's more pushing in your bottom. Lesson learned.

My daughter was born at 3:46 a.m., and I just couldn't believe that I actually had a successful VBAC! It was all worth it as I held my precious little baby girl.