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    Paul and I are so excited to have Asher here! After 39 weeks of preparing for his arrival I was honestly excited to begin labor. I don’t think I started this pregnancy journey wanting anything extraordinary. I knew I wanted to have a healthy baby and avoid as many unnecessary procedures throughout my pregnancy and birth as I could. Little did I know what this journey would start…after countless hours of research we decided a hospital birth was the last thing we wanted. Not that I am saying a hospital birth is necessarily a bad thing, it has its place. However, I do not believe that the majority of births REQUIRE a hospital. In our case a hospital was not required. Nor were many of the procedures routinely done in a hospital. That is right, Asher hasn’t had an APGAR test, any shots, eye drops, been circumcised, or been taken away from us since he was born. Guess what, our baby is happy (except for diaper changing time), healthy, and a great eater. He was born at home. There were no doctors, bright lights, or loud noises. In fact my labor was exactly what Paul and I wanted. From talking to other mommies this seems to be rare. Some don’t seem to know there are other options, some are afraid of the going outside of the hospital, or trying anything different and very few are genuinely happy about their birthing experience. So while I understand this may not be what everyone wants, here is Asher’s birth story.  For us, it was perfect.
    11:00pm Sunday: I had been so sleepy all day, and had been having light contractions the past 2 days. It turns out my body was indeed getting ready for labor, my water broke when we were about to go to bed. I was beyond excited; finally the day I had been waiting for was here! I fully expected Asher to be born Monday. We called our doula, at that time my contractions were about 6 minutes apart. She decided it would be best to wait until the morning to come to our house with the midwife. Paul set up the birthing tub before we went to bed. 
    
    I slept as much as I could, but between contractions and excitement it wasn’t much.
    
    7:30am Monday: Mi-Yeon (our doula) and Danica (our midwife) arrived at our house. My contractions were about once every 3-4 minutes. Paul and Mi-Yeon filled the tub and I got in, convinced it would only be a matter of hours before Asher was born! You cannot imagine how disappointed I was when Danica told me I was only 2 cm dilated. The good news was Asher was low and my cervix had thinned. Now I just had to wait for it to dilate, that couldn’t take too long right? 

    After about 30 minutes in the tub I got out so labor wouldn’t slow too much. The next day is so much of a blur. I had no sense of time. I tried to sleep but my contractions kept coming pretty regularly. Monday afternoon Mi-Yeon and Danica decided I needed to go outside and walk to see if that would speed labor up some. The contractions had slowed to once every 5 minutes. This was the most difficult walk I have ever taken. I felt like running a marathon would have been easier than trying to go on a walk while I was in labor. It was really a beautiful sunny day so we walked along the hiking trail behind our house. It has a pretty steep hill and when I got to the top I felt Asher drop even further, all I could do was sit down on my knees. I didn’t feel like my hips could stand the pressure anymore! All I wanted was to be back in the tub and be warm. Unfortunately, by the time we got home the water had cooled down to much so instead I opted for the shower when I got back. The water was so relaxing! Paul got into his swimsuit and stood in the shower with me for what I can only guess was about 30 minutes. The rest of the night I felt a very intense pressure on my hips. I had only dilated to 3 cm so it wasn’t nearly close enough to push. Thankfully Mi-Yeon shared a secret with me: 1-5 cm takes the longest after 6 cm it goes quickly and Danica said at 9 cm I could start pushing. I cannot tell you how much I needed to hear that! I had a goal, and I was over half-way to the almost done part. I spent the next few hours lying on the couch trying to watch any funny TV show we could find. This is the part of my labor I don’t know if I would have gotten through without my doula. The pressure during contractions had moved to my lower back, for the next 5 hours, whenever I had a contraction Mi-Yeon would rub that part of my back and help me breathe through the contraction. I don’t remember a lot during this part of my labor, it was the most difficult part and is mostly a blur. I was having trouble keeping much down. Danica and Mi-Yeon would feed me chocolates and ice because I couldn’t stand the thought of eating anything else and I drank a lot of coconut water to stay hydrated. Unfortunately, only about half of it stayed down so I did ask for an IV. I am so thankful I was not in a hospital and Danica only left the IV in for about 30 minutes. While it was in I had to stay lying down and if that was how I would have had to spend my whole labor I don’t think it would have been a natural birth. Once she took the IV out I was able to labor leaning on the couch rocking my hips which felt good, at least for a while. I think it was about an hour later that I was able to get back into the tub. The water felt so good, there wasn’t nearly as much pressure and I was able to relax better through contractions. I was finally able to start pushing!!! Pushing felt good. I didn’t feel like I could push as well as I needed to in the water, and I was exhausted so I moved to the bed to try and rest. My bed had never felt so comfortable. I dozed in and out of sleep between contractions for 20 or so minutes. It was what I needed though, and when I got up I told the midwife I was ready to push again. I pushed in bed for a few contractions and then moved to the bathroom. I found it easiest to push while I sat on the toilet. I had two very strong (not painful at all, but just an overwhelming urge) sensations to push and Asher had crowned! They wanted me to move to the living room but just standing up was enough so I ended up on my hands and knees on the bathroom floor. I was able to see and feel his head, and it was so amazing to think in a few more pushes I would be holding my baby! Once his head was born it was very difficult not to push so he would be born slowly, but it was so worth it since I didn’t have any tearing.
    
    

    We 

    moved from the bathroom to the bedroom once Asher was    born.  There I was able to lay in my bed and admire my precious baby!  I had been seeing Dr. Chung throughout my pregnancy and I was thrilled to find out he had driven all the way up to our house (about a 1.5 hour drive) to check on Asher and me!  After a couple of hours everyone left and we were all able to get some great rest.  I feel like having Asher at home helped us to adjust to life with him.  
    Now, less than two weeks later I am going back to the gym, Paul has taken to being a dad, Izzy is back to sleeping (only getting up on occasion to check on Asher).  Life is great!  I can't imagine Asher not being here.

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One Step At A Time

It looks like 38 isn't Asher's lucky number...maybe he likes 39 better?  I'm not going to lie, this last week has been rough.  I had it in my head Asher would be here sometime during the 38th week, that didn't happen.  Everyday that went by was so discouraging.  I know baby will come when baby is ready.  But knowing one thing and feeling one thing are so completely different!!!!  So what better way to de-stress than to get on Jacob's ladder...well, there might be more relaxing ways, but after 30 minutes of climbing there isn't any stress left!  I always feel better after a good workout, plus today a Jordan Sparks song came on and it was just what I needed to hear:
"Hurry up and wait so close but so far away...Now your feeling more and more frustrated and your getting all kind of impatient, waiting We live and we learn to take one step at a time, there's no need to rush...When you can't wait any longer, But there's no end in sight, It's your faith that makes you stronger, The only way to get there is one step at a time."
For some reason that just made everything click in my mind.  Just relax and enjoy the time I have left being pregnant.  Before I know it Asher will be here.  Now not only do I know this, but I feel it too.  So for the next 1 day to 3 weeks I will be enjoying every minute I have left of pregnancy, taking it one step at a time.

After the Christmas Party we felt so happy and so exhausted.  No way was I about to post a picture of how we looked...but I figured this picture just about sums it up.  We spent the next couple days in hibernation.  

 We spent Christmas Eve skiing and I think the fresh air did us some good because we were both up early on Christmas Day to call our families and open some presents!

I think the best way to welcome in a new year is by ending the old one on a good note.  So we made a wonderful healthy pizza, thats right whole wheat crust and lots of veggies!

Some yummy and very refreshing cranberry apple lime juice.

And took a nice hike up the trail behind our house!  7 months pregnant and still going strong!

I love the view from our living room window when it snows!  Well except the garden that I should have taken better care of before the snow....oops

Ahhh 2011 was a great year!  So many changes in our family, we moved to Korea, found out we are going to have a baby boy, Paul learned to cook, and I learned how to ski (yes these last two are very important!!!!), just to name a few.  But now on to 2012!!!!!!  I can't wait to see what this year has in store for us.  We can't wait to hold Asher, obviously that is at the top of our "What We Are Excited For In 2012" list.  We have started planning our trip to Thailand, I can't wait to be at the beach again!  In preparation for Thailand I have planned baby swimming lessons for Asher.  If you have never seen babies swim it is amazing!    

As you can tell Paul is determined to improve his golf swing this year...he isn't letting the snow stop him!  We went to play screen golf for his birthday.  I thought it would be easier than real golf...I thought wrong, turns out I just liked putting here too.  But, at least with screen golf they bring juice and water to drink while you play (or don't play, as I quickly let Paul take over for me) and there is a couch to sit on and watch.  So as a spectator, and designated putter person, I much prefer this form of golf!     

I guess I should start with an update about how our Christmas Party went...it was wonderful!  Seriously, I think it is one of the best Christmas memories I have.  The best part was having everyone over who was helping the night before.  Let me tell you they peeled more apples and potatoes than I have ever seen peeled!  The guys who came out to help had the best attitudes.  I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard.  Seeing a bunch of guys (who barley knew how to peel potatoes when we started) attempt to bake an apple pie was the highlight of my Christmas.  There are some very loyal soldiers out there too, because when they heard that one of the apple pies was baked by Mr. Rob they all had to have a slice!  

Yep those bags are full of potatoes, apples, along with other ingredients for the party...and this is only half of what we had!

This lovely lady was a life saver!  She hemmed all of my table cloths in about 15 minutes!  I am sure going to miss Korea when we have to leave

One of the centerpieces, those pine branches and pine cones are real.  That's right not only did the guys have to peel potatoes, I sent them off into the forest to collect greenery for the tables.  The room smelled divine!

 

The tables are all set up and ready!  We had 3 rows of tables like this and a few couches, when it came time to eat every chair was full!      

I ended up baking over 150 cookies!  Some went to the mailroom, and the rest are all packaged to hand out to the soldiers. 

I love this picture, after weeks of planning, cooking, making decorations, it all came together.  To see the guys serving and giving their time to their soldiers meant so much.  I think this is our new Christmas tradition.  From now on, we are going to try and give back in one way or another.  Not only is it more fun than simply opening a Christmas present and then forgetting about it in a couple weeks, but other people benefit as well.  I also want Asher to learn to put others before himself.  It would make me happier than anyone could ever know for him to tell me how he wants to help others, instead of bringing me a list of presents he wants.

Tis the Season

13 more days until Christmas, 12 more days until our ski trip, and here's the scary one...11 more days until our Christmas Party!  I am not sure if I feel excited or like I want to go hide under the covers and cry because of what I have gotten myself into this time.  Normally I would be beyond excited to host a Christmas Party, but this Christmas Party is not what I would describe as normal.  Paul and I decided to organize a Christmas Party for all of the soldiers in his Platoon, thankfully the other LTs have decided to help too.  However, even with all of their help the cooking has been left up to me.
You see, I know I could just have all of the food ordered and sit back and maybe make a dish or two, but that defeats the purpose of why we decided this party was such a good idea.  We are blessed, I am able to live here with Paul and our house feels like home.  Of course we miss our families, but we still have that feeling of family here.  Paul and I get to enjoy home-cooked meals every night (every night I feel like cooking that is!).  The soldiers who don't have their families here are required to live on post in barracks, and the food available here gets old quick!  So this year we are going to try and give them a Christmas meal and a few hours that will make them feel like they are back home.  This means I am cooking for 30 people, organizing games, and trying to find holiday decorations that will make plastic tables and chairs look like a family table.  If only Martha Stewart could come and help!  I know she could make it work!
But alas there is no Martha here, so I will take it day by day....My goal today: bake at least 60 cookies, hopefully more.  I am excited about this party, I will just feel better once I see it coming together.

I love Fall!!!

We found a quiet spot to eat at the Rock Festival

Fall in Korea is absolutely fabulous!  The sun is shinning, its just cool enough for a sweater in the mornings, and during the day all I want to do is be outside!  This last week we really were able to take advantage of this weather because we were dog sitting one of our favorite dogs!  Zara had a great time visiting Soyosan for the Rock Festival, I think she may have liked all the attention more than the music though!  
I have also been keeping busy working out.  Maybe its the second trimester or maybe its the weather but I have been so motivated to get out to the gym!  Swimming has become my favorite cardio (we did 32 laps tonight)!  I am still able to beat Paul rowing!  Hiking is so great this time of year I just wish I could do everything everyday!  If Korea were like this year round I would never leave.

14 weeks 4 days

 

I'm pregnant not paralyzed!

Finally my normal energy level is back (unfortunately for Paul I am back to getting up early even on the weekends!), the weather is amazing, and I am so excited to workout!!!!  However, I have found not everyone is as excited for pregnant women to be working out...  I understand people are concerned for the safety of the baby, but I am not going to push myself so hard that it is uncomfortable.  That being said, I STILL WANT A WORKOUT!!!!!  I guess I need to vent.  Do not tell me to go to physical therapy because I am pregnant...there is nothing wrong with my body.  Last time I checked it was designed to do this whole pregnancy thing.  So if you don't think I can handle your fitness class fine, but don't think that is going to stop me from working out the way I like and doing what feels good to me.
I still have a little bit of hope left.  I am meeting a trainer on Tuesday and I will give her a month, I am going to be very honest with her.  I want a workout not a brisk walk, and a few old granny strength exercises.  I want to feel good after my workout, and I want it to be WORK!
For extra inspiration I have found my new favorite blog!  http://onefitmom.ca/