How to have a baby Canadian style

After giving birth to my son Tommy in Washington DC I was pretty sure we were done having children.  I was getting older, the gap between Tommy and another sibling seemed too large (5 years) and further more I just didn't know if I had it in me to endure one more bout of morning sickness which only leads towards being as large as a hippo, and ultimately giving birth.  But sometimes things just happened and when I finally realized I was pregnant again I think it hit me like a ton of bricks.  I swear there were many times when I felt dying would be the more humane thing for myself than throwing up all day long, or when I just wanted to sit in a pool because I felt like a 500lbs. hippo.  But alas the day finally arrived when little Georgiana was born and I think her birth was the perfect punctuation mark for our little family.  After having a terrible experience at the hospital in Washington DC I knew this time around I was going to go total granola.  Here in Canada they have a midwifery program that is integrated into their mainstream health care.

So I decided to throw caution to the wind and have the baby all hippy-dippy at home.  Here are my fabulous midwives who were so wonderful during all the action.  The birth went smoothly and I found being at home to be so comfortable and relaxing.  And here is the book my sister Adriane gave me to read when I was in Arizona over the summer.

Adriane warned me when she gave it to me that it was a little "out there" but that the information was totally priceless for a natural home birth.  

When I read it I laughed my pants off.  The wordage reads like an episode of the Brady Bunch.  Everything is psychadelic, heavy, or telepathic.  Granted it was written by women who gave birth in the 1970's, so it just seems funny now.  When I read excerpts to Derek I could tell he was worried that I'd totally succumb to the dark side and encourage him to become a woodcutter and live in a converted school bus by a river.  But I digress,  when my hour of need arose and I was right there staring natural, home birth in the face, this psychadelic, hippy-dippy, book made SOOOOO much sense.  I will never laugh at it again--well not as much as I did before.  

Derek took a lot of revolting post birth photos of baby and I.  This one is semi-decent.

No that is not sasquatch, that is me the day of the birth of our little munchkin.  If anyone wants to know the secret of going into labor just make your way to Gatineau Park and hike the King Mountain Trail the day after your due date.  You'll get home and be in labor within minutes, worked for me at least.

The kids have adjusted well to having a new baby.  Tommy is especially enamoured with being a "big brother".  He is so offended when I won't let him hold little Georgiana.  In fact he's a little bit of a bully when it comes to holding her.  I have like a gazillion pictures of Tommy holding the baby, because he'll whine, lie, and cheat just to hold her.

 We have managed to squeeze in a few other people with little Georgie.  All the kids have been super helpful and loving and I consider myself one lucky Momma to have the kids that I do.

Derek's been a trooper too.  One nice thing about being in Canada is that his co-workers here would be more offended if he tried to go back to work rather than stay home with us.  It's nice to feel like people actually want you to spend time with your family.  Also he has endured my post baby mood swings like a champ.  We've mostly weathered my bad/happy moods by watching this guy be grumpy.

Ahhh...Good old Doc Martin.  He's sure to make you think twice about acting like a total jerk.  I don't know how Lew-eeser puts up with him.   Plus watching this show makes you want to go to Cornwall and hang out at Large and Son's restaurant, watch the scenery and wait for someone to pass out.

I feel so blessed to have had the experience of carrying and giving birth to little Georgiana.  She is the sweetest little newborn.  We have opened our hearts even wider to make space for this little one and miracle of miracles there is always room for more love.