My midwife's "goods"

LoVe LoVe LoVe all these remedies and tricks of the trade .... Missing is the Pregnancy Ease Tincture which i took faithfully. If anyone has any questions I would love to discuss some of the things I learned that benefited me abundantly. I am really enjoying meeting new fellow home-birth parents in this area(you've been forwarded to my blog) and feel honored to share any information with you. I know what you are going through trying to find a trusted and experienced midwife around here! I did a lot of leg-work to find the right one for us.

My Girls: "I want the tender soothings of friendship" Mary Wollstonecraft 1786 BIRTH TEAM

Sweet Sweet Heidi was a wonderful assistant

Love you Lambert! You always BELIEVED in me & this experienceWonderful Wonderful Wonderful Nicole giving me a good foot rub Dec 4

The Birth Team -
My midwife Laura and my 2 best friends (not pictured Dave)
A very over-qualified friend indeed, there was no need
for more than friendship & support that night

We have a joke about the floating red cup (with straw) balanced with the placenta in the pink pan -Heidi served it to me joking saying "Here's your strawberry Margarita" it was actually Bernanrd Jensens Natural Chlorophyl (stops bleeding)
although I had very minimal blood loss, she said far less than average, she gives it to all her mothers anyway for
the alfalfa high in vitamin K. It tastes refreshing like green mint .
(Dave was the camera man by this point)

Christmas Stocking

I've sent out Christmas Cards but wanted to share with fellow bloggers

Our BEST Christmas present ever

Welcoming

our little

Nigel David Panton

Born December 5, 2009

at 11:45 pm at Home

8 lbs. 6 oz. 20 inches longHe totally fits the Panton baby mold. We love him to pieces, he is

the calmest baby on the block. We're definitely keepin him!

Love and Blessings this Holiday Season xxxxx

Merry Christmas!

Patience Patience Patience

Placenta still attached and nursing

10:45 pm

Everyone is asking for Pictures Details and Birth Story..... Hold on, it's coming

These things take time :)

Birth doesn't happen in 1 moment it is a process.

The actual birth may happen very quickly for me, BUT I don't want to be quick to share too much about this sacred life event in a setting that just about anyone has access to. I know myself and my passions and If I start talking my heart is so open right now I want to be careful about what I say.

Nigel is a stud! We have never had a baby sooooo calm and sleep so well..... I think I really am starting to believe my midwives that the longer they cook the more peaceful they are as well as how and where they are born. Time will tell, but I did sense a calmness about him, especially at the end when he was literally +1 and I was so dilated for days and days he just wanted to take his time. Thank you Heavenly Father for sending us a good baby ..... At Last

I married

There is no other way to describe him. I married Superman. Through all of this I couldn't start blogging about this wonderful experience without acknowledging my amazing husband. To Thank, David, most importantly, the one who gives everything he has to his family & His DNA :)

The 9 months of support, standing by my side, all the texting, "you are doing the right thing" attitude, and sensitivity. You are truly an amazing father. You do more in one day as Mr. Mom than most Dad's in an entire year. To watch you this week with our new little man in the middle of the night snuggle and cuddle him I realize[time and time again] Wow! I am so lucky. Here's to you mon amour, I raise my glass, we make a pretty good team [and cute babies too!] Ching Ching CHEERS!

Je t'aime forever

I am Thankful for Tina's cooking

Wally carving the BirdKENDON is So Big- graduated to the kids table

I made homemade pies this year

Donnell's little pumpkin Tate Thompson

Sweet Baby Boys

LIghts Up! Inside and Out

We dug into Christmas and got the tree up before Thanksgiving this year. It's fun to see the kids "remember" thier ornaments they have made in school . Starting our own family traditions.

One more day until December!

Belly Casting

Nicole treated me to a jacuzzi bath complete with candles & music

It was my turn for the dripping plaster gauze strips to cast my belly.
My Grandpa Pool is my biggest fan, he thinks it is the neatest
"souvenir" anyone could have. It is pretty amazing what's
inside that mold.

Downstairs Bath Project

Dave busy getting the shower poured
Dad's Helper

So glad I have a "DIY" (Do It Yourself) hubby
Might take a little longer but it has kept him busy-

how he likes it

xxxxxxx

Shout out to my midwife!

This post is LOOOOOOONG overdue........... I started to write this back in November. This is Laura my midwife and she ROCKS! I don't even know where to start when I talk about her. Since giving birth I MISS HER immensely. It's like part of my life has walked away but I know she is still there whenever I want to call her. I can't even describe how much I learned from her. All the books she shared with me, childrens remedies, church history, spiritual midwifery, tinctures, nutrition, family living, emotional healing. You taught by experience. Story after story. She truly is a remarkable woman. One that knows the art of so many things that [hopefully not] will one day be lost. What she does at home is a lost art. I have to remember that just because I have had the baby now that I will still need her when my children are sick, I get burned on the stove ouch! [Now I know what to use for that] or any concern I have with the baby. She is an encyclopedia of information on natural and holistic care. I am so thankful to have been led to her, which in itself was by the hand of God. The care and attention I recieved over this pregnancy, birth and postpardum has surpassed any medical care I have ever been given. She was a mother[of 13 of her own], the midwife, a confident, dr., pharmacist, nicu nurse, pediatrician, and lactation specialist all at once. The phone calls late at night or early in the morning didn't bother her. Her voice was always filled with joy "Whitney, How you Doing?" She loves what she does and it emmulates. The spiritual journey I went on with you, connecting and trusting this baby more than ANYTHING, I will NEVER take FOR GRANTED. Thank You! I know that having kept this Baby in charge more than anything will help me in my future with other women wherever this road is taking me. I could go on and on. But the main thing is GRATITUDE. She taught me if I can be grateful for all the good and the bad things that happen in my life then I will be HAPPY. I LOVE YOU LAURA. I hope the Lord allows you to be amoungst us for many more years. Your physical heart may be weak but like you say there is always more room for Love within it. I can't begin to imagine how many blessings await you for helping Heavenly Father bring so many of his special children into the World. When I met you on the phone we both knew there was something special. You said "oh, I am excited to meet you, I can just tell you are one of my sister friends that I get to help. " From the time you clanked through my front door with all your bags the first time I met you to When you walked away from my doorstep after my last postpardum visitI turned to Dave and we held each other tight. Our Circle was complete. I will never forget you!

I'm not cryin over spilled milk

I'm cryin cause Kendon is so sweet. Any of you fellow moms know spilled milk and juice at lunch are just one of those every day occurances. But yesterday it was different... We were late for preschool and Kendon spilled his milk "on purpose". I didn't have time to clean it up, scolded him (mildly) but wanted to (harshly) and said " when we get back you are helping mommy clean that up!" (Not really expecting that to really happen, I didn't mention it again) We got back home, I went straight to the bathroom (like usual these days have to pee every 10 minutes) and after I was done came to discover this. Kendon had the dishcloth and was on his hands and knees wiping up the puddle of milk... My heart melted like butter and I scooped him up so THANKFUL he is such a nice boy. I grabbed my camera and have to remember to write this in his baby book. It's moments like this that make this job worth it. Can't get the picture to rotate! Grrr....

Welcome "Lightening McQueen!"

My sister just gave birth on Thursday, November 12th at 6:39 pm in 60 minutes flat! They are thinking of calling him "Lightening!"

So here are my scratch notes of how her day was- Mind you she lives in Utah County (Orem) so we did most of this by phone calls and texting

The morning he was born She had a Dr.'s (39 week) appointment at 10 am- Exam conclusion 4.5cm dilated and 100% effaced. Think that's crazy? She was walking around that way for 2 weeks. This is how we do labor. The Dr. tells us "oh, you won't go another week, I'll be really suprised if we see you next week". . . So we leave the office thinking Okay this is going to happen any second! Wrong! Our body prepares over a number of days of cramping and low pelvic pressure. In her case, she had been very very very patient and they decided to strip her membranes. Her baby was at 0 station.

She called me throughout the day as she shopped ALL DAY! She's nuts! Leave it to my mother "who we call Marathon Shopper Woman". At about 2 pm she said I feel like this baby would shoot out of me if they broke my water. Yeah, pretty much, it would. I told her to go home and rest for heaven's sake!

4:03 They called me from a shoppe in American Fork where the Hospital is located and wanted to know if I wanted a blessing outfit for our new baby. She was fine. Having a lot of low pressure but still shopping! Okay Kendon was born in an hour too but I wasn't out shopping an hour before. I was home in my bathtub for 2 hours and then went to the hospital.

5:30 I get a text from my mom saying they just got to the hospital , her cramps were getting stronger. They checked her and she was 6cm and getting the shakes. I sent back a text telling her I loved her, she was going to do awesome and I was turning OFF my phone. Time to concentrate now!

6:20 My brother in law called and said She was already 8 cm and wanted some pain relief- "Too late now" I said. It's gonna be over. I sat down my phone and prayed "they'll never get it in in time...."

6:39 Her water broke onto the Dr.'s lap (of course typical scenerio just as he barely got into the room to sit down) as she pushed her baby out. 6 lbs 15 oz Tiny little thing!

Way to go Don! You did it! We still haven't had time to talk about it from her perspective. I'm sure she'll say it was fine. Her husband said ha ha!! "Well that was easy, maybe we should have another one!" Look out- Be careful what you say ; that just might be the case!

Lucy , Picachu & Cookie Monster

Our Narnia Lucy

Our Poser!

Kendon is so sweet I could Eat Him!

I'm not sure we need to Trick or Treat tonight the kids have already

had soooo much candy from Trunk or Treat last week.

Having all these sweets around is killing me!

Our Pumpkin safe and warm inside. 3 more weeks Cook

baby Cook~ I'm not ready for a baby yet, it's been the

first time I haven't been ready to have a baby at 35 weeks

Hope it stays a bright sunny day not rainy like yesterday

Brrrr..........

Late Night at our House

Last night Chloe had her best friends over for a late night. It's pretty fun to listen to what they giggle about and how they act. Must have been how my mom must have felt listening to us when i didn't know she was paying attention. It's all pretty new for Dave and he can't believe his little girl talks about who she is going to marry already. We made breakfast for dinner: Pancakes, Eggs, Sausage and it cracks me up how they compete how much they can eat and how fast. They obviously are only 7, and 10 ! I also realize how many times my mom had to clean up the basement after us- Pillows, Sleeping Bags, Dress ups, Popcorn, Movies, empty ice cream bowls.... But it makes me smile because everyone always wanted to stay the night at my house and I hope Chloe will feel like that for a few more years. The best part is we switch and the Boys (Kevin thier little brother) invites Iain over to play the Wii so there is no fighting or "No BoYs AllOwEd" problems which seems to be Iain's dilemma with his Sister and her friends.

I absolutly LoVe Julianna she is at the age where babysitting is fun and cool. She is so good with Kendon "they are little buddies"... He got bored watching the Disney Princess Protection Program movie so Julianna took Kendon upstairs and they watched one of his favorites "Tinkerbell" on Chloes bed.... So cute!

They were all wearing cheerleading costumes (thanks nellie & tatum) blasting "Party in the USA"with the lyrics "and the britney song is on"............. and that other one "she wears high heels ...I wear sneakers I'm on the bleachers She's the cheer captain ...na na na .... " I don't try to "coddle" her but I guess they just settle into quickly growing up with main stream media even if you don't have cable TV or buy them all the stuff on special at Walmart this week.

Itty Bitty Tiny Onesies

I washed the baby's basic Layette. It never ceases to amaze me how small the diapers and onesies look. Is it really true the other ones really started out that tiny? Getting excited for this preious little heavenly being. Crazy!

Legend of the "Thieves"

This essential oil blend is called Pandora's Hope:
wild oregano, lemon,rosemary,euculyptus,thyme,cinnamon,cloves

It is an oil blend of essential oils based on the legend of the Thieves during the Dark Ages. The thieves who robbed the bodies of those who had died of the Plagues would wear around thier necks a bag of potent spices to protect them from becoming infected with airborn plagues (live virus' like today's swine flu) . It is antiviral, an immune stimulant and helpful for respitory illness, flu, sore throat and colds.. The most effective use of Pandora's Hope is to breathe it in or inhale it. This protects a person from catching airborne disease which is how 97% of viral infections are spread. It is very pleasant to smell. The kids each have thier own inhaler (at different potency) and call them thier "sniffer thing"...... So far so good. Dave uses his about every hour at work, he's been pretty concerned with people around him getting sick at Qwest.The most dominant spice that I smell in it is cinnamon oil - perfect for this time of year. "Holidays". Chloe now loves the way it smells....

HELP! It's just a NAME!

Okay. So It's getting down to the wire and we still have not even come up with A names we both can picture naming our SON. Any suggestions would be warmly welcomed. The name we like I'm afraid is Nigel and I guess most people think it is horrid. Like naming your little baby "Bertha" or "Melvin" I think it's nice and it means "CHAMPION". There is a variation of "Neal" which is okay too. One of our problems is the whole "international" background. Haaving lived somewher else in the world, we have been influenced by culture. I like classic names and French ones but they are NOT pronounced the same. Dave has his way of making them sound good when he says them or really bad on purpose!!!!! Like the other day I came home after hearing in the store a mom call her boy "Carter" but when Dave said it he of course said "no" it sounds like Kaw-Ta. Alright already Mr. Panton! He is never going to lose his british way of saying vowels....

DAVE's PICKS since 2002 He hasn't added any new ones:
SIMON
NIGEL
CHRISTOPHER
LOUIS
COLLIN
CRAIG
JOSEPH
THOMAS
SAMUEL
GEOFFERY

WHIT's PICKS mine change daily usually hourly:
NIGEL
THOMAS (not Tom!- Tommy is okay)
MARCUS
JOSEPH
JACOB
COLLIN
COLE
VINCENT
CALLUM

Post your vote in the comment link!
If we get enough influence that our child will be harmed for life because of his old fashioned name maybe we will reconsider. It's pretty bad when your husband in childbirth class when talking about fears in delivery, He can't come up with one scarey thing that could happen but says "i'm more afraid of not coming up with a name for our baby" when the other dad's are saying "I'm afraid that my wife is going to die or the pain will be too great..."... LOL! I love you to pieces mon David!

Ceremonial Mothers Blessing

Foot bath with Jasmine oil. Smelled so good~ My Aunt Vickie rubbing my shoulders
Massaging my hands.
She said her girlfriends were having
thier babies in the 70's in the back of VW buses when she lived in San Fransisco

I'm Reading the meaning and symbolizm of

my "birth bundle" on my lap

Whoever had my camera good job on the candid shots

I'm so glad I got some pictures

Yay, Baby is head down... I felt him turn last week, even

MORE pelvic pressure. Love to hear his strong steady heartbeat

xxxxx

Elder Panton & Soeur Gaved Reunion Pics

President Dansie with 2 Marseille Missionaries- Who would have ever known we'd hook up Destiny

Sweet Soeur Dansie- still so pure & gracious

Amy Cottle (Taurra) in the black print & I had plenty to talk about

She has had all 4 of her babies at home

Soeur Smith- One of my favs

(I need to dig out a pic of us in 1998)

We had a great great companionship in a ville on the Italian border

Biggest personal growth area for me; she is one amazing Sister!

Soeur Jones finished up in Martigues

(where Georges and Henry live) She was the highlight

of the night for me filling her in on my visit to the branch last year. I wished we

could have served together!

2 of my companions. Good times in Perpignan on the Barcelona

Spain border- Viva Espana!