My Relationship with My Body Pt. 1
I grew up hating my body. I grew up seeing every female in my life hating their body. I grew up during what I consider to be the most toxic of times during the “nothing tastes as good as skinny feels” 90s diet culture.
WE MOVED OUT OF THE 5TH WHEEL
Retreat, Rest, Recoup…
“We weren’t meant to work in December. We were meant to hide from wolves, drink, and pray our autumn harvest will last us through the dark months.”
“Unexplained Infertility - My origin
“Just relax and it will happen” “Go on vacation! It will happen!” “Stop trying, that’s when it will happen” “You guys should just get trashed so you can’t stress about it - that’s when it’ll happen!”
2+ Weeks with no BM
It wasn’t until I was closer to 18 that I noticed that my bowel movements had shifted from “irregular” to at my absolute worst going 14+ days without a bowel movement. At that point, I told my mom that I needed to go to the doctor to have this tended to because this pattern had continued for months at this point.
Breastfeeding…My Second Time
Drop the breastfeeding cover, and let others see you use your breasts for what they were designed for. Talk about it! Join a support group, be around other breastfeeding women - especially if you are pregnant for the first time / never breastfed!
Happy 3rd Un-Birthday, Olive
I have no doubt that you would have been mischievous and others would have to keep up with you. Your brief life is an example of that… we’ll catch up to you one day.
Winds in the East…
“Winds in the east, mist coming in, like somethin' is brewin' and bout to begin.”
Dear Orange Blossom,
Three years ago you were not our first choice for a new house. You checked the majority of boxes we needed - closer to Zach’s work, a pool, a larger yard for Luna to run around, open concept, etc. We by no means fell in love with you.
Happy Birthday Olive
Evie has been talking about you more lately and still insists you were her little sister and I think she’s right.
THIRTY
I feel like I have been racing towards this age forever.
Dog Labor Support
Dogs just know. They can feel the energy in the room and know when to be still, calm, and can bring such a peace into the birth space. I am forever grateful for these memories captured of my little (and not so little) ”dog doulas”.
Our Birth Story- Atlas Wade
I started instinctually swirling my hips. I told my midwife that I was feeling the urge to bear down and asked if I was OK to go ahead. She said if your body is telling you to then go ahead.
What’s in a Name: Atlas Wade
I knew at 6 weeks pregnant that I was pregnant with a boy. Maybe it was the masculine energy I felt from him, or the fact that none of the go-to names we had been sitting on for 5+ years felt right.
What’s in a Name: Olive
I loved calling all our babies “Thorpling” but calling our second-born “Thorpling #2” for the rest of my life just didn’t seem too appealing. My mom suggested naming our baby to help bring closure and healing in some capacity.
What’s in a Name: Evangeline Cherie
Naming a child is a HUGE responsibility that we took very seriously when it came to all our babies.
To my husband, and father of our children, Zach
I am unable to express how much I appreciate you. You heard me. You heard my heart, my concerns, my fears, my needs. You rose to the occasion. You have far exceeded my expectations of how supportive you have been during this pregnancy, birth, and 4th trimester…
Healing in Preparation for Birth: Pt. 2
I had this lingering feeling that I need to close the chapter of grieving and mourning Olive in order for me to enter into my next chapter of mother to two living babies. I asked for feedback from my classmates, my sister, and mom and after a lot of conversations and deep-pit-of-my-soul-sobbing, it was finally brought to my attention that I still harbor so much guilt.
Healing in Preparation for Birth: Pt. 1
I had this lingering feeling that I need to close the chapter of grieving and mourning Olive in order for me to enter into my next chapter of mother to two living babies. I asked for feedback from my classmates, my sister, and mom and after a lot of conversations and deep-pit-of-my-soul-sobbing, it was finally brought to my attention that I still harbor so much guilt.
4th Trimester Meal Prep
One of the biggest keys to postpartum care mentioned not only in The First Forty Days but also the training I am currently finishing up is COMMUNITY.