December 13, 2010

The Birth of Iris Rebecca








     I have been looking forward to the evening when I could sit down and write Iris' birth story. Tonight is the night! She arrived in such a wonderful way. It was another amazing labor and delivery. Thankfully, this time we were able to stay home afterward and enjoy the newness and wonder of our sweet baby girl. Here we are just a few moments after her birth.
    
     I woke up the morning of the 8th, 5 days overdue, and headed to see my craniosacral therapist, Karen, for what I hoped to be my final session for my back. I had been having some back/hip issues once again, but that morning I had more of a massage than body work. I was really looking for something relaxing. Karen also used some acupressure for beginning labor. Perfect! My parents were here in Sarnia with us and with just three days left until they had to return to Minnesota, we were all praying I would go into labor soon! My mom is a birth doula and I desperately wanted her presence, not just for her wealth of natural birthing knowledge, but because she is my mom and she knows just what I need! After my appointment, I headed back home around 9:00 am. Ezra was at a friend's house for a play date, so I answered a few emails and then took a nap around 10:00 am.  Another relaxing addition to the morning ( relaxation is the secret to a great labor :).  I woke up from my nap at 12:15 pm to the sound of Ezra returning home.  By 12:30 my first contractions had begun. For the next hour they came every 10-15 minutes. At that point I decided to give Josh a call and let him know that he didn't need to hurry home, but I was fairly certain "it was on." He came home one hour later and it was then that my water broke. It was 2:30 pm.
     I called my midwife, Cynthia, and she asked that I lay on my side until she arrived. At an earlier check-up, it seems the baby's head was maybe not as engaged in my pelvis as the midwife would have liked to see and she wanted to make sure to take every precaution against having a prolapsed cord, now that my water had broke. I wasn't thrilled about this request, knowing that laying down generally slows down a woman's labor. But I conceded and labored with light contractions around 7-8 minutes apart for the next 45 minutes until my other midwife, Jenna, arrived at 3:15 pm. She checked baby's position and it was head down, so I asked if I could get up and get things moving! She said okay, but wondered if I wanted an exam. I didn't really. I didn't want to know I could possibly be at 1 cm, for example, and I also didn't want the clock to start on my home birth, since my water had broke I would have 24 hours to have the baby at home before we would have to transport to the hospital. At 3:30 pm Cynthia arrived and we all talked about what to do. Turns out that the midwives would not have usually arrived so soon, but because baby's position was in question they came early. Once they determined she was fine, they could have left us at the house to labor on our own, but not without me having an exam. And so we discussed a few options and then decided I would go for a walk with Josh and see where we were at after that. While we talked, my contractions intensified slightly, and we decided that we would head to the back yard instead. Good idea! My dad and Ezra decided it might be a good idea to go to the park at that point (and bring their over-night bags along with them, just in case. Friends of our had offered their spare bedroom in case we needed somewhere for Ezra to go overnight.) They left at 3:40pm.
    
     So off we headed to the back yard. It was a beautiful, sunny day, and the back yard was exactly where I wanted to be. As my contractions progressed, Josh provided me with amazing support. I put my arms around his neck and we swayed back and forth during a few contractions. It wasn't too long until I had a contraction that reminded me of my labor with Ezra. Then it hit me. "Oh yeah, labor." I have to do this again! I remember saying to Josh, "I don't think I want to do this again." A classic sign of transition! And then I threw up. Another tell-all sign! But in my head I was comparing everything to my labor with Ezra and I thought I couldn't possibly be in transition because my contractions were not intense enough yet, nor had they lasted very long at that point. Anyway, Josh began to time them and the first one he timed was just two minutes from the previous contraction. He said, "We need to go inside. They are two minutes apart!" To which I responded, "There is no 'they'- let's get a pattern going and then we'll see." Sure enough, the next contraction was there just two minutes later. Now we had only been outside for about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, my mom and Jenna had come out to check on us and when Jenna saw me on my hands and knees, she went back inside and told Cynthia, "she's on her hands and knees and she's just thrown up," to which Cynthia replied, "We are staying! Let's get ready."
    
     Josh and I came inside at 4:15 and I said to the midwives, "I'm not sure what is happening. They are 2 minutes apart, but they just don't feel that intense yet." I spoke too soon. My next few contractions were timed at lasting for 3 minutes! Turns out that is impossible, but my 90 second contractions were back to back, not giving me a break. I felt I needed to go the bathroom after that. My mom and Josh supported me (literally) in a way that I could bear down and it was then that I felt I had to push! Already? I headed into our bedroom and Jenna told me she needed to check me. I was fully dilated! I began pushing around 4:45 and 10 minutes later, Iris was born. She came into the world perfect, healthy, strong, robust and hungry. She weighed in at 8 pounds, 5 ounces, just one ounce more than her brother. But she matched him in length at 19 3/4” long. She nursed almost immediately. 
   
     What a wonderful birth! Throughout my labor with Iris, I was thinking about my labor with Ezra. I think because the intensity was never the same, I just couldn't believe that I was already at the pushing stage when I was. And here I was also nervous about having a home birth with a two year old and wondering how that would work out, when all Ezra had to do was go to the park for an hour. My dad said that they had just gotten there when we called to say that Iris was born. Ezra didn't want to leave. My dad eventually coerced him to meet his baby sister back at home:) When he came into our room he said, "She came out! Baby Iris came out!" So cute.    
     And so we spent the rest of the afternoon and evening cooing over this new little girl. It was wonderful to be in the comfort of our own home with my family. I was very much taken care of. My mom and Josh were amazing support throughout my labor and I am so thankful to have had that kind of loving, present support. I really do believe it makes all the difference in a home birth to have the people you love and trust there beside you, encouraging and praising your every effort. Another blessing of this home birth was that my midwife came to the house every other day for the first week to check on both myself and Iris which was amazing as well. I am so grateful for this birth experience and most importantly, our little Miss Iris.


Best birthing partner ever!!

Grandpa Salminen holds Iris shortly after her birth.

Imma and her grand babies:) My mom is a doula, as well. I couldn't have asked for a better team!

Sweet little thing!


Iris Rebecca arrives...checking in at 2 months.

We are pleased to announce the birth of our daughter...


Iris Rebecca Rude
October 8th, 2010
4:55 pm
8 lb. 5 oz
19 3/4"

She is our perfect delight. A lovely little one, happy and strong. It's been 2 months of being the 4 of us, two months of Ezra being a big brother. Two months of challenges and two months of blessings that always seem to rise beyond those said challenges. God has been faithful to me as a mother of now two children. When I have felt weak, there He is strong. I could write and write about the adjustments we are making, but I think I'll just keep it simple and share a few photos. And here I am finally finding the time (making the time) to record just a sliver of these last weeks. I have wrestled with the guilt of not getting to this sooner, but tonight I throw that off and share what I can, in this time I have. Enjoy!


Ezra really is a wonderful big brother. He smothers her with love, literally, and that is our only complaint. Iris is pretty perceptive at this point and when brother comes around she usually displays a nice furrow in her brow...she's nervous to say the least. All those kisses and rubs! Josh and I do our best to balance praising Ezra for being so loving while sternly reminding him not to touch her eyes, squeeze her too hard, lay on her, etc. It's a full time job.


Note the slight dimple on her right cheek. It is a deep beauty of a dimple when she smiles. SO darling.


Our dear, talented friend Jocelyn took these photos of Iris when she was just 8 days old. Thank you so much, Jocelyn!


Here she is at just one month old! November 8th, 2010.


Oh, the love.


And here the happy girl is at two months old! December 8th, 2010.
11 lbs. 10 oz. 23 3/4" long.


She loves to smile and coo. She sleeps well and eats even better.


Notice the look on her face, standard for when Ezra is near. This isn't to say that she doesn't light up when she sees him coming as well, but when contact is made, her expression usually changes! I guess Ezra is looking a little mischievous here, as well.


And this is fairly standard as well. She is so strong! Here we were hoping to take a nice and easy little photo of our two month old, but instead of sitting sweetly, she is happily arching her back and throwing her weight around. Wiggly little thing!


And just like Ezra, she always looks so tiny when Dad is near:)




October 4, 2010

Ezra Swimming Under La-La

We just have to share this little video of Ezra's love of the water. He is our little fish! Here is a minute of him swimming with Grandpa at the cabin, dunking his little face in the water (mouth open) and beaming with pride. Enjoy:)


Ezra Swimming Under La-La from Natalie Rude on Vimeo.

October 3, 2010

One Season Comes To A Close, Another Begins




Hello dear ones! Today is October 3rd, 2010. Baby Girl's official due date. Our lives, as many of you know, have been moving at a steady pace since our move to Canada, and especially since June, when we moved into our new home. These last three months, since our last post, have been rich, full, and fuller still. July was spent at the beach and with friends, as it was Sarnia's hottest summer on record (lovely fun for a pregnant lady, so glad we live by the lake)! August was spent celebrating a wedding of some good friends of ours, and Ezra turned 2 on August 4th. We were blessed to celebrate his big day back in Minnesota with our families. September brought a newness of schedule as the school year began. The students have gotten back into their routines of weekly meetings and retreats with Josh. For myself, all 3 months have inspired a sort of ridiculous nesting urge. Partly due to being pregnant, the other part due to settling into a new home, I have been teetering on the edge of insanity. If you think I'm exaggerating, just ask Josh:) A week ago, my parents arrived from Minnesota in anticipation of the birth and also to lend their talents to helping us get more settled in by painting, building, cleaning, washing, cooking, sheet rocking, playing, biking, reading...the list goes on and on! They have been such a blessing. I'm going to post lots of photos. Hope you have a minute to browse! We should be updating the blog again SOON with more good news:) xo's to you all


Our friend Jocelyn gifted us with an afternoon family portrait session:) Fun to document this season, before it changes. Thank you, Jocelyn!




Must post this one...Ezra is wearing his new Vans, a birthday gift from his Uncle Ben (skateboarder extraordinaire). He calls them his "Uncle Ben Shoes."

Ezra loves to jump! Though this is to document the last day of his baby hair. A blazing mullet.

A boy and his dad.

Ezra turns 2! (and also sports his first tuxedo)

"Excited! Minnesota!" this was Ezra's famed quote for the summer. He was excited and so were we. Josh married our good friends Joel and Megan back at Covenant Pines. It was great seeing old and new staff alike and visiting camp and our friends in McGregor. We are really lacking for photos, however. Oops! After the wedding, we celebrated Ezra's 2nd birthday at the cabin relaxing, playing with family. Ezra really became a little fish over our vacation. I have a video that I'll upload hopefully soon.

Two! Two! Two!
Another happy birthday.


We finally got to meet our little buddy, Oscar. What a handsome baby. Way to go, Jenn and Ian. You sure make 'em cute.

Cooling off after yet another great sauna.

Ezra donning his tuxedo. If you want, you can see more (darling) wedding photos of Ezra as the perfect ring bearer and of the beautiful bride and groom on our Facebook page.



Houseboat!


What a treat it was to spend time on Kristen and Tom's houseboat. We had a grand crew with the cousins and grandparents. We adventured to Voyageurs National Park. A preggo's dream: boundary waters feel with a toilet and bed! We seemed to have lost some photos along the way...no shots of the houseboat, but some shots of the good times.

Playing, fishing, climbing on the rocks. Way to go, Josie! Already a bouldering master.

Ezra received his very own fishing pole, as well as Josh's childhood tackle box for his birthday from Grandma and Grandpa. Here he is trying it all out.

Ezra, Kaja, and Josie. It is a special time when they get to be together these days.

Captain Josie!

Off to pick blueberries (right where we camped)!


June 30, 2010

The sweetest boy... and almost 2!

Hello! Here are a few photos from Josh's phone of our new home (though always highlighting Ezra:) Our camera is still missing in action! I was hoping it would turn up by now...



Here is our little cottage (Lake Huron speak) just blocks from the lake. We have many projects that we hope to do and some have started already. The fence that you see in this photo that connects to the back of the house? Josh has already moved that to the front of the house. And those windows on the side? We would like to turn that into patio doors so that we have direct access to the yard from the house. Right now we have to go down the driveway and open a gate to access the back yard. That's just one project we hope to accomplish this summer:) We now know how home owner's feel! We see how it could be possibly never ending...But we are so grateful for this little spot and love being here.


This photo was from the day we made the offer. Thanks Becky and Jerry for taking this photo. We now have some beautiful flowers (a sweet house warming gift) on the deck. Making it ours...


There is a wonderful strawberry patch next to the house, as well as many other gardens. The entire month of June, Ezra would wake up saying "strawberries!" ("rawbees" in Ezra speak) and we would trek outside to pick a juicy bowl-full. Here I had been feeling so blessed by God with this house and seeing Ezra picking one of his favorite fruits made me realize that not only was God looking out for Josh and me by providing this home, but He also stocked it full of blessings just for Ezra. He is so good! On another note, the strawberry season is over already and it's not even July! Reminds me we are not in Minnesota anymore.


The house has also come with a piano and it's free for the taking. Anyone?


Yesterday marked a big day for a big boy. A big boy bed! We'll say bye-bye to the crib for a few months before the baby arrrives to help Ezra adjust. Last night he transitioned wonderfully and tonight he did stellar once again! What a guy.


It's hard for me to believe my baby is out of his crib...


I know I've written already about the animal farm just a few blocks away, but it really is a gem. Here is Ezra and his "hee-haw."


Sweet baby girl. She's around 2 pounds now. And moving like a busy bee. Hmmm, more like "busy truck." And as for me, I am HUGE. I am not exaggerating when I tell you that every time I'm out in public, someone comes up to me to ask when am I due and when I say October either their eyes bug out, they ask if there's two in there, or they quickly give me looks of pity (usually accompanied by comments about how long the summer is going to be for me). For example, yesterday Ezra and I were at the playground when approached by a kind looking woman. She said to me, "You are the same size as my granddaughter! She's due on the 10th. When are you due?" To which I [now] laugh and tell her not for another 3 months. Her jaw dropped, just like all the others. Sigh. I will have to slow down and even out at some point. Right?



Lots of love to you all...

June 1, 2010

Lots of exciting news...


Hello dear ones,

Well, a quick update chalk full of super news.

#1) We bought a house! After 4 months, 3 moves, 2 previous offers, and 1 giant hope to have a place of our own, we found ourselves a little cottage just 2 blocks from the beach and a great park. We could not be happier about this blessing. It wasn't without some trials along the way, but those trials have served a great purpose: we are even more grateful than ever before. Now, if we could just find the camera (it's been packed a little too well).
We moved in this weekend, so we are still amidst many, many boxes. This is due in part to the fact that I am doing an art festival here in Sarnia this weekend. Always a lot going on at once these days! We moved in, unpacked the kitchen, and the rest is on hold until Monday.


#2) We are pregnant! Just weeks after moving here we discovered a little Canadian growing in my belly. Due date: October 3rd.


#3) It's a girl! This time around we opted to find out what this little bambino is made of and it looks like sugar and spice. Spice giving me heartburn and come to think of it, sugar, too. She is a mover...at 22 weeks and around 1 pound, I have to say I'm a little (a lot) nervous about the acrobatic feats she will attempt within me when she is 6 or 7 or 8 times bigger! I'm not afraid to say that I'm scared. I am.

We'll return with pictures of Grandma and Grandpa Rude's visit (so fun!), the house, growing Ezra, growing pregnant lady, and a few more just for fun, when we find that camera.

Our love to you all, Natalie + Josh + Ezra + Baby-on-the-way

April 24, 2010

March and April 2010 Update


On the shores of the Georgian Bay


Hello to our dear friends and family! Yes, it has been too long since our last post. Hope you can forgive us! We do have lots to share, but we are down to one computer and that computer goes with Josh to work. And so when it is home, that means Josh is too, and the decision of who to spend time with is an easy one!

But here we are on a Saturday afternoon, just walking into the door after a full (or empty, depending on who you are talking to) past 30 hours. Josh and the students from Lighthouse, along with another youth group in Sarnia, took part in World Vision's 30 Hour Famine. This "international youth movement to fight world hunger" asks that participants go without food for 30 hours and in turn raise money to fight hunger. A heart and eye opening event.

So, needless to say, as lock-ins usually demand, Josh was up until the wee hours of the night. Josh and Ezra have gone down for naps and I could certainly, easily, do the same, but this equation (solitude+computer+ the fact it's earlier than 10 pm= blog)


We were blessed to have Josh's brother, Micah, and his wife Cassie, come out for their spring break. We had such a great time...during which we went up to the Bruce Peninsula. "The Bruce" as locals call it, is a peninsula of land the juts between Lake Huron and the Georgian Bay (about 5 hours north of us). At the very tip of it amazing cliffs, stone arches, beaches, and 500 miles of hiking begged to be explored. And the water! A brilliant turquoise. Though it bordered on winter camping with the snow, we managed to stay warm-ish:) and had a super time. Thanks Micah and Cassie for such a wonderful, super week.





Another adventure outside of Sarnia was to the world-class city of Toronto. We had a great, albeit tiny, getaway with Glenn, Bekah and Ella. Can't wait to go back!



More fun...Imma and Grandpa Salminen came a few weeks ago. What fun we all had! I think Ezra was in true toddler heaven. We miss you guys:) Below is a photo of Ezra and Grandpa down on the St. Clair river throwing rocks. The river divides the States from Canada and opens up into Lake Huron. It's a comforting place for me, as it is very reminiscent of the Duluth harbor. 1,000 footers floating by, flocks of gulls, crowds with the sun...

Imma and Ezra getting ready for yet another outdoor adventure. "Side, side, side!" he pleads.

.
And we even took a little day trip to Niagara Falls!


Playing fort. Or "hut" as Ezra calls it.


Here's a heart-breaker.


Lots coming up for us. Josh's parents come for their first visit, Josh and I take a weekend jaunt to Calgary for Canada's Covenant Annual Meeting, we will move again into some temporary housing (until we can find something more permanent), and that's all going to happen over the next week and a half! We are busy. We are doing well. Adjusting, adventuring, loving our new friends and church. Thanks for reading. xo's