Belle is born!

Carolyn Belle Alderks was born at 9: 31 am on Friday May 29, 2009 at home. At birth, she weighed 7 lbs 6 oz and was 20 3/4 inches long.

Here's the story:
At 3:30 am I woke up feeling a mild contraction. At that point, they were seven minutes apart. Within a half hour, they were 3 minutes apart. I decided then that I wouldn't be sleeping anymore that night and got up to ready the house for the birth. I put towels in the washing machine, finished making my laborades (lavender lemonade and sweet rose tea) and started inflating the birth tub. At 4:45, the contractions were getting stronger but still at 3 minutes apart. I decided to wake Peter up and get him to take over inflating the pool. He was completely groggy and too was hoping that the contractions would stop and that we’d be going back to bed. While he pumped up the pool, I straightened and gathered supplies while pausing for contractions.

At 6:30, Willem woke up and “helped” me through contractions. I was on my hands and knees on the floor and he curled up underneath me. When the pool was filled with air, he was ready to get in. We started filling it with water and when it was the depth of a normal bath, Willem and I got in together. He was so excited to be in a “warm bath downstairs with Mama.” Peter started boiling water on the stove and periodically added more water.

Contractions, by then, were 2 minutes apart. Around this time, Peter admitted that this was truly labor and it wasn’t going to stop until the baby was born. Both he and I thought that we would have several more hours. I then remembered that we had been remiss throughout the pregnancy and hadn’t documented it with pregnancy pictures. I had been completely unclothed in the pool so on one trip upstairs to the bathroom, I pulled out the maternity bathing suit that my friend had lent me. On the way downstairs, I told Peter he should start getting some pictures before it was too late.



Between 8:30 and 9:00, Willem started getting antsy in the house so we started preparing him to go to a friends house. This was about the time that I moaned to Peter “I want to take a break. It’d be nice if I could have three minutes between the contractions again.” I don’t really remember his response but I remember it was sympathetic. I think I heard Willem one time say “Mama sad” and I moaned through contractions, and I tried to explain that I wasn’t sad. I was just working hard to get the baby to come out of my body.

Peter was busy getting Willem ready to go to our neighbor's house to play. As they were about to walk out the backdoor, I yelled "her head is crowning!" Peter picked Willem up and they watched as her head emerged, then her shoulders, chest and body. I picked up her out of the water and cradled her against my body. Willem was quiet and very serious as he saw this. Peter described what was happening and Willem said, "baby belle out mama body now." After she started crying and I got the cord unwrapped from her body (she was kind of tangled in it), I got out of the pool. Peter and Willem helped me tie the umbilical cord in two places and then they cut the cord together.



At that point, we realized that it was probably a good time to call the midwives (everything happened so quickly that we didn't before!) and that Willem could go outside and play like he had planned on. That gave Peter some time to attend to me and get me settled on the couch. The midwives arrives around 10:45 and we participated in the newborn exam. Peter guessed her weight exactly. I filled out the mother's and baby's information on the birth certificate and Peter filled out the father's. Willem came back and met his baby sister. Then the midwives helped me get settled in bed upstairs and left with many congratulations and a promise to come back Monday for a follow-up visit.



She has a round face and Peter's slanty eyes (we believe it has passed through his lineage from Mongols who invaded Germany centuries ago). She has a full head of dark hair now, a little lighter than mine and Willem's when he was born. We fully expect it to go blonde at some point too. She's got Peter's dimple in her right cheek, but Peter hasn't seen it yet. And she's got the same butt-chin that Willem has--that's from Peter's mom. So basically, I expect Carolyn Belle to look like a girl version of Willem; which means she's not going to look like me either. And I was hoping...





Maybe I'll be better about updating the blog and adding pictures, ha!

Next for us is to enjoy the next couple of weeks with Belle at home. Peter will go into campus a couple of days a week, but he will mainly be home too. Then in two or three weeks, we'll pack up everyone in the car and drive to Nana's house.

We haven't updated in forever...

Since I defended my thesis, it got submitted and I graduated. Peter passed his general exams. Willem turned 2. We went to Hawaii for a vacation and graduation. And while we were there guess what was seen as I walked into the auditorium for the ceremony? A rainbow. (refer to my last post about its significance)

We also found out that we are having a little girl in mid-January, like I predicted. I'm now two for two on gender predictions. She'll be named after my mom but she will go by the middle name we've chosen for her: Belle.

So that's the summary: I have the initials M.Ed. at the end of my name. Peter is officially a PhD candidate. Willem is going to be a big brother.

Other than that, its been daily life and preparing for new baby. I should update this blog more often. Now that I've found some real life friends also have blogs I should be more motivated to keep up.

And now its time to make dinner. Noodles and cheese per request of the young child.

Update: How the Defense Went

It went very well today. My committee members described my study as well-thought out, interesting and creative. When using the adjective creative, they were referring to the mixed methodology that I used to describe and gather information regarding my topic. That's the first time I've heard someone's methodology describe as "creative" so I'm proud of that compliment.

I do have some, relatively minor, changes to make so I'll be doing those over the next few days. But I was basically told that my work has been approved and that I will be graduating with my cohort of classmates. Even though the thesis isn't totally finished yet, today pretty much marks the end of my graduate program. That was marked by an occurence I feel is special enough to share.

The background:
So my program is through the University of Hawaii and their "mascot" or symbol for a long time were the Rainbows. That's changed recently, so now they're the Warriors, but a lot of die hard fans and alumni still call them the Bo's, or they are called the Rainbow Warriors by some. Two years ago, in May of 2006, I opened up my acceptance letter to the University of Hawaii. My family took me out to dinner to celebrate and on the way to the restaurant, we saw a rainbow in the sky. We thought it was very fitting, especially as I had prayed before we left to know if I should attend UH. That seemed like a good indication to me (besides the fact that 5 years previously, I had had the impression that someday I would attend school in Hawaii).

And then today, I basically reached the end of my degree program. I was told I was going to graduate and become a Master in Education, that my journey is over and I was successful at my goal. And as my family and I were going out to celebrate, we saw a rainbow in the sky.

Both times I saw these rainbows in connection to the beginning and end of my program, they were remarkably vibrant rainbows, with each color very bold and blending beautifully into the color next to it. My mom, who is not religious or a member of the church, seems to believe more than I do that these were signs from God. I don't count them as coincidences and they do seem to be indications of God's love and approval of my actions and desires.

That's my feel good of the day.

Thesis Defense Today

In a couple of minutes, my final thesis defense and presentation will start. Wish me luck!!

I'll post again about how it went later.

Pomp and Circumstance

Yesterday was a bit of an exciting day for me. I ordered my cap, gown and hood for my graduation ceremony.

And I ordered a kid sized cap and gown for Willem.

Since I started the program, I've said that I'm going to carry him across the stage with me when I'm hooded as a Master in Education and receive my diploma. I'm serious. I'm going to do it. And if anyone tries to stop me, too bad!! The kid deserves the recognition that he put up with many nights of having mama awake while he was asleep, and many days on the switch-shift with daddy and many hours on my lap or playing next to me.

And I am proud that I was a student-mama and that I was able to finish my program over the course of a pregnancy, a newborn and a toddler. I doubt I'll be showing by then, but I'll also being the proud mama of two when I walk across that stage!

A happy birthday to Jenne!

On Saturday, it was my 24 birthday. That's not the remarkable part, its that I really enjoyed it!

Birthdays are just kind of days to me even though I appreciate it when others try to make it special. This year everyone succeeded very well. I think it was helped by being on a Saturday. Everyone's birthday should be on a Saturday.

I was expecially happy to receive the gifts I received. A number of them were books, you know the kind that can be read for enjoyment. Being pretty much finished with my degree program makes me very happy to see a stack of unread books to read.

The books on that list (no birth books, but that may be what I get with the money I was given):

Irish Crystal by Andrew Greeley (in the Nuala Anne McGrail series)
Feeding the Whole Family: Cooking with Whole Foods by Cynthia Lair
Brisingr by Christopher Paolini (book three in the Eragon triology)
Wise Woman's Herbal for the Childbearing Year by Susan Weed
World Without end by Ken Follet (the sequal to my favorite historical novel: Pillars of the Earth)

I was also given a super soft robe and blanket set that has replaced my favorite purple robe. I know I'll be enjoying the comfort of that set for the next few months. I also was given a hand carved nativity set from the Philipenes and a lovely ivory pendant from Alaska. The pendant reminds me of the full beauty of a pregnant belly complete with eternity knot at the top. I will treasure that during my pregnancy.

Peter also was very good to me that day. He made me breakfast. It would have been in bed but I got up before he finishied making it. Then we took a walk as a family to the park and then napped when we got home. I really enjoyed cuddling with Willem and getting a birthday nap. I highly recommend it! After we woke up, we were greeted with dinner (coconut curry chicken) and a fresh baked cheesecake. Many thanks to Peter for making my birthday special and to the family members who sent thoughtful gifts that I enjoy.

Kernel news!

I'm getting around to officially anouncing this news here!

At the end of May next year (2009), we'll be welcoming our second little one into our family. We have affectionately nicknamed this pregnancy Kernel (like a small kernel of corn) and for a little joke I've tacked on Mustard, which to me signifies having the faith of a mustard seed for a healthy pregnancy.

We found out that I am pregnant while we were in Texas visiting Peter's parents. I have been feeling great. I'm not nauseous, just needing to drink water and eat frequently and go to bed earlier at night.

I feel strongly that this is a girl, and if that is the case, her name is Carolyn Belle. Naming a daughter Carolyn is a tradition that will span 8 generations of my mother's family if we name a daughter of ours Carolyn. She will likely go by the name Belle because my mother really didn't like being called "Little Carolyn" her whole life.

We of course are very happy to be pregnant again and we are looking forward to this being an surprisingly easy (morning-sickness wise) pregnancy. We expect that we'll enjoy the journey and be thankful for the opportunity to welcome another of Heavenly Father's spirits into our family.

Jenne and Peter News

Last I updated that I finished the writing on my thesis. Now the news is that I've submitted it!

Last Friday, I printed off 4 copies of all 125 pages and mailed them to my committee members.

It is such a relief to have that over with. My defense is on October 20 and I really hope that my committee's suggestions for changes will not be very major (especially after all the revisions that my advisor has already made!)

Peter is busying studying for his General Exams (the ones that advance him to PhD Candidacy and mark the end of his required coursework). They will take place the same week as my defense (Eeek!). The test is 4 hours a day for 4 days straight and a 1 hour oral examination with his committee. We are hoping and praying that he's studying enough of the information he needs to know so he can pass.

He and I will both be very relieved to have me be officially graduated and for him to be officially a PhD candidate. Its an imporant month for us!

Willem News

There have been a few Willem anecdotes from the last few days that I've been particularly impressed with so I'm sharing them here:

The other night, Peter, Willem and I were getting ready for bed by sharing a bit of chocolate. We finished the chocolate bar and we had the resulting wrapper. I handed the wrapper to Willem and told him to go throw it in the trash can in the bathroom (one room away). He held onto it, climbed of the bed and walked out of the room. He came back into the room a short bit later without the wrapper. Both Peter and I knew it could be anywhere--the toilet, the other bedroom, the floor in the hallwa--and we knew that when we got up in the morning, we'd find out where it ended up. The next morning, I found the wrapper...guess where? The trash can! Way to go, Willem!

Yesterday, I was busy with something online and Willem was telling me he wanted to go outside. He brought me his shoes but he was only wearing a diaper and a shirt. I told him that he needed socks and pants. The next thing I knew he was gone from my knee and had gone off somewhere. Then I heard him coming down the stairs, he came over to me and handed me 3 socks. Two of them matched well enough and I put them on. I was impressed that he would follow such complex directions and bring me socks!

We have kind of started potty learning with Willem. He will let me when he needs a new diaper (if his diaper is off) or that he needs a diaper change after he's used the diaper he's wearing. He also will sometimes sit on the potty that we have for him. Today while I was making lunch, I looked up and saw him sitting on his potty in the living, reading a book. He had a diaper on but he was doing exactly what I've been trying to show him. Other times that he's sat on the potty, he's sat perfectly well without a diaper on, but he still hasn't actually relieved himself into it. That will come with time. I'm wondering if I should get some of those cloth training pants that he could pull down by himself (no pull-ups around here!).

He's also learned where Grandpa and Grandma live. The other night, Peter and I were talking and I mentioned a town in Texas. Willem heard the reference and immediately said (and signed) Baba (his way of saying Grandpa). He hasn't said Texas yet, but he knows that's where his grandparents are! He'll also point to airplanes that fly over head and say Baba and Nana. I'm pretty sure that means he wants to get on the airplane and fly to Texas to see them.

He is also starting to show empathy. On Saturday, I came home from an Irish dance performance with sock glue residue on my leg. The fuzz and lint from my pants stuck to the glue and I had these furry rings on my calves. Willem say them, touched it gently and said "Uh-oh! Oww..." He also gives kisses to ouches, like when Peter had some road rash from a bike accident. Willem would gently kiss Peter's elbow. Willem also kisses his knees when they have scrapes on them. One time, something fell on my toe and he kissed it for me.

He also is starting to think symbolically. He "pretends" that blocks are cars or that his finger is an airplane.

He's also learning to pray. Last night, I told him it was time to pray and he folded his arms across his chest. I started the prayer and then asked him who he wanted to pray for. I started with Grandpa, and he said Baba and then Nana and then Daddy and then Mama. I finished the prayer and at the end when I said Amen. He said May-may (which is what he calls our neighbor Eamon).

I am happy that Willem is learning skills that are needed to be successful in life. Following directions, empathy, praying, dressing oneself and toileting are important milestones that he needs to learn and I'm impressed that he is working on some many of those skills at his age.

His language (as seen from above) is coming along and he is learning new words frequently, including the signs for many of those words. His favorite newest sign is seal--clapping your hands together like a seal clapping its flippers.

Where have we been?

Its been pretty silent on our blog for the last few months. It has been very much neglected as I spent the last month intently working on my thesis, before that it was Hawaii, California, and Oregon. Today I'm posting to say that I just finished my Discussion section!!!!

Yay!!

Now its time to hear my advisor's thoughts and suggestions for changes that will take place, because of course there will be those. I just am hoping that they won't be too major. Little tweaks I can handle and still graduate on time. Big revisions and bye-bye graduation ceremony and 2 week vacation to Hawaii....

After my family and I got back from California in August, we spent a week at a conference in Oregon (on acoustic communication, for my husband's research). There we celebrated our 4 year anniversary. We ate dinner at an awesome bakery in Corvallis Oregon called New Morning Bakery. Then after dinner, we were strolling around the streets downtown and we found The Pottery Place where the three of us painted a platter commemorating the occasion. Since we forgot to pick up when we left town, we are waiting for it to be mailed to us. Maybe I'll post pictures when we get it.

When we finally got back home (oh how excited we were to sleep in our bed!), I turned to thesis writing. Our schedule basically consisted of waking up and then I would get to work while Peter and Willem went around to whereever they could find to play. I got between 3 and 4 hours a day to work. I pounded out the results section, updated my literature review, formatted according to the APA and UH style guides and then wrote the discussion of my results. Maybe later I'll post a summary of the findings.

I really cannot wait to go back to normal life. When school starts for Peter again, it'll just be me and Chunka doing our thing. I hope to introduce Signing Time to the kid and get back to working with the Birth Survey and Solace for Mothers.

In January, I'll also be applying to the University of Washington's PhD program in health services with an emphasis in maternal and child health . I'm considering registering for some of the webinars offered through Conscious Woman on the topic.

Other planned adventures are a trip to Texas so Willem can see his grandparents and see where his daddy grew up, a trip to Washington DC for a conference where Peter will present some of his research and we will also visit Peter's aunt and grandparents, a trip to the Cal-Stanfurd Big Game (because no one puts the FU in Stanfurd like Cal does) and a trip to Hawaii for GRADUATION!!!!!

It will be the first time I'll have a vacation in Hawaii. Every other time I've gone has been for "work" either performing with my dance company or taking classes for school. On this trip, we'll be there two weeks and hope to fly to the neighbor islands of Kauai and Hawai'i, we'll hike Diamond Head, Peter will scuba dive, Willem will play in the ocean again. We haven't figured out everything we want to do, but it will definitely be a good trip. My mom and best friend will fly out for the graduation ceremony and we'll party at the Waikiki Aquarium afterwards.

All in all, there are good times behind us and good times before us. I am blessed.