Right Wing Mom

I’m not big on “ME” time.

Let me rephrase that - I love ME time, but I don’t really see the need for it often or in big chunks. Instead I prefer little snips of time. A quick trip to the store by myself usually does wonders!

Well, last Saturday, I was feeling a little crazy and wanted some of that ME time.

Marc had been to McDonalds a little earlier and had ordered an extra chicken sandwich.

The kids were all occupied, playing and watching a movie… I saw an opportunity!

I escaped to the bathroom with the sandwich and the laptop. I jumped into a bubblebath, ate my chicken sandwich and watched a little Netflix.

Ahhhhhh - bliss. Weird, but wonderful bliss.

That’s how I do “ME” time. What about you? What’s your ME time look like? What’s the weirdest way you’ve relaxed?

I’m not quiet sure the title is appropriate as we haven’t experienced it yet - But I have gotten a few questions from friends and family that I thought I would address while waiting for Luke to make his grand appearance!

First off is a question that, although I have not gotten a lot, I know its on many peoples mind:

“Why a Home Birth?”

Hmmm, I usually stumble through some answers about it being safe, and having quick labor and deliveries, cheaper than a hospital etc… But I really found it hard to put into words the EXACT reason why I wanted a home birth.

A few weeks ago I was talking to a dear friend of mine, Romanda. She is a wonderful friend who shares a lot of the same beliefs and principals as my]e. She is also a SAHM, homeschooler and just so happens to be a Pediatrician too (Yeah, she pretty much rocks!) Anyway, we were talking about the subject of “Why home birth” and her reason was right on the money… “WHY NOT?”

“WHY NOT?” Yep - that was the answer I was looking for that I just couldn’t seem to put into words. Here I was trying to explain to people why we were choosing a home birth in terms that I thought were kind of PC. You know? But there it was all along, “Why Not?’

Why not home birth? Ok, it may not be for everyone. But I think it is such a great option for SO MANY woman and their families! You have so much more control over your birth!

You get to chose: To eat or drink during labor, Who witnesses the birth (party anyone?) Want to rock out on some loud music? In the dark? All the lights on? In the tub? On the bed? Standing up? Squatting? Naked? By candlelight?

No IV’s, Not strapped to the bed, constantly monitored, being given an internal every 5 minutes, having to wear a lovely hospital gown.

I’ll have to get some informational links together about the safety of home births. Its eye opening to say the least!

Ok - Next question… “Who will be at our birth?”

Right now we are planning on, (aside from the obvious - Me, Marc and the midwife!) The midwife’s assistant, Kaitie and Mandy, Romanda and her 3 daughters (who may or may not want to watch) and my sister in law Haley who will documenting the labor and birth for us with photos, video and “tweeting” the birth on Twitter. (Cool huh?)

“Where will be having the birth?”

We have gotten a birth tub from Cathy, our midwife. I’m not quiet sure if I want to actually deliver in the tub, but laboring in it sure sounds nice I am planning on just rolling with the punches as far as the labor and delivery goes. I’ve tried to visualize what I want and expect, but seriously… I’m just not sure what to expect! I know I am in competent hands with Cathy and that puts me at ease

Thats really all I can think of at the moment. Do you have any questions? I would love to answer them! Just let me know! Also, do you want to see the tub and birth kit? I’d be more than happy to post some pics!

(look at me! 2 posts in 2 days! WOO-HOO!)

I read a book

I used to love reading, like seriously love it! I was a voracious reader! But, sometimes it is just so hard to find time to sit and read. Sure, I read the paper (sometimes) and magazines, I have a lot of Dr Seuss memorized and I love History of the World. I am talking about a “grown-up” book. Purely for entertainment kind of book. No home school book, no bible study book, no parenting book - just something rather “fluffy” and fun.

The crazy thing is that I did not read one book. Nope! I just finished my 3rd this week I am so proud of myself and feel so happy that I have kind of rediscovered reading.

So - what did I read?

Well, a confession first. A few years ago I discovered a weird, sub-category of fiction. Culinary Mystery. Ok, yeah it sounds a little weird, but I love them!!!! Up till this week I had only read from one author - Diane Mott Davidson. Abut 8 years ago, Marc and I used to drive from Louisiana to Texas (about 7hrs each way) every other week to see his “little” brother play football. It was his Senior year and we had been in Japan for the previous 3 years - so we had to do it!

Anyway, (me get off track?) Marc and I started getting audiobooks from Cracker Barrel to help pass the time. Well, we got her first book “Catering to Nobody.” I was hooked! I loved it!!!

This week I read one of her latest (she has one newer one that I don’t have yet) Dark Torte. It was fun, it was light and fluffy - I loved every bit of it!

The second book I read was another journey into a culinary mystery: “Two Cooks A-Killing” by Joanne Pence. It wasn’t as good, I think, as Diane Mott Davidsons books, but that could be a little biased there. I did enjoy it though, and will be more than likely picking up some other books by the author.

Last, but certainly not least, a non-fuffy book - lest you think all I read is fluff. Pride ad Prejudice. Oh how I love the story. I have seen just about every version of the movie made. I have seen the one made in 1940, the latest one (with Keira Knightly), the A&E version, the Bollywood version (Andrea S. Have you seen this?), even the Mormon version! But, sadly I had yet to read the book. (so day, I know)

I bought the book a few months ago and started it, but put it down and forgot about it. That all changed this week! I picked it up yesterday and tore right through it!

Verdict? Oh man! I loved it!!! It was, as almost always the case, better than the movie. Like way better! I really enjoyed it.

So - do you ready fluffy books? Not-so-fluffy books? Do you read at all? Any good recommendations?

I was thinking the other day - reflecting really, about how much I have changed and how weird I have gotten. Now, this is mostly relating to food and such, so I don’t want to her any feedback about how weird ya’ll knew I was the moment you met me ( or read a post if we have yet to meet IRL) OK?

I think it all began when I was pregnant with Kaitie and Mandy. Marc brought up breast feeding and mentioned that he really thought I should do it. Umm me? Breast feeding? You’re joking right? I mean, I guess I knew what those things on my chest were for, I had plenty to go around, it was free.. oh alright, I’ll give it a shot. A funny thing happened. I don’t know weather I had to prove something to myself, or to those people that looked at me like I was INSANE to nurse twins but I did it. Rather successfully too I might add. Oh, we had our trouble - the (seemingly) never ending case of thrush, supply issues, a (semi) hostile work environment, but we did it, for 10 months. Weird.

Then came the baby food thing. What in the world possessed me to want to make our own baby food? I am going to go with temporary insanity. It had to be! No, in all seriousness, it was guilt. Yep, former-Catholic, young Mamma guilt - a classic case. I worked 12-13 hour days, Marc worked 12-13 hour days, my girls were so itty-bitty and in day care so many hours a day. So I decided to give it a whirl. You know what I found out? It was simple! And cheap! I felt like I was finally doing something Mom like for my girls (oh yes, tons of guilt back then - darn Marine Corps!)

Then came home schooling? That (nI thought back then) was REALLY weird. I didn’t even know anyone at that time that home schooled. All my friends thought I was weird. I guess they were right.

Ok, at this point I stopped increasing my weirdness for awhile. But then… oh then I started going off the deep end. I got on an Organic kick. It started with milk. I had seen some reports about early onset puberty being linked with milk. Hmm - 8 year old and periods? Not my idea of a good time. We did soy milk for few months, then went to organic. Slightly weird now, weirder 7 years ago.

There have been more steps to weirdness the past few years. One thing I have noticed is that I have bumped my weirdness factor up significantly the past two years or so. A quick rundown on the 1-10 weirdness scale (totally made -up of course (does that make me weird?))

Midwife birth (4)
wanting a home birth (8)
Unmedicated birth (6)
Breast feeding (2)
Drinking raw milk (9)
Drinking raw kefir (9)
Drinking green smoothies (7)
Going “green” on my cleaners (5)

hmmm - I am sure there is more. But, it is getting late and it is time to get my weird self to bed.

So, on the Alicia’s weirdness scale - how weird are you? And what do you think would constitute a 10? Hmm… how weird can one get?

Marc’s phone has been dying a very slow, painful death. Saturday he decided it was time to get a new phone. I freaked out when he said he was getting an I-Phone! I can’t believe my former “Mac’s stink” man is quickly coming over to the “dark side” lol!!! What really floored me was when he said he was getting me one too! So exciting!!!!!

Here she is:

Complete with a hot pink hard case, cause every girl needs a hot pink case to her cell phone right?

I have been having way too much fun with it. Its got tons of little applications you can download. I’ve downloaded some games and even a Bible app! Yep - got my daily bible reading in! Ha-Ha! So crazy!

Now… I need your help. I have to find a good ring tone. It’s some some decent ones already on it, but I am thinking about a song. I have always wanted a song for a ring tone. But, I have no clue!

So - based on what you know about me, what would YOU pick for my “theme song?” What would you pick for YOUR theme song?