Im laying here right next to lincoln, my almost three year old. Just trying to snuggle him for nap time. He can be such a sweet boy!

The Big Move.

Ohio vs NC

 

 
I have been asked many times by my friends and family why we are currently trying to move back to NC. I thought it would only be appropriate to dedicate a blog post to it, and set out some reasons we have discussed that are leading us to the south again.

1. Our dogs are becoming pansy little wimp dogs who just want to prance around in the house and avoid playing outdoors at all costs. I guess that happens when your cooped up inside a house for months at a time, and when the backyard is so teeny tiny they have to run around in circles to get any exercise. They lazy dogs have even resorted to POOPING on the back deck, cause god-forbid they get snow on their precious little (big) dog bellies! Here is a picture of the little brats/sometimes angels (but mostly brats):

                                   Tosko                                                                                  Abby

        2. Do I really even need to mention the weather?  
           Not only the weather, but also the scenery. There is no comparison, the part of Ohio we live in is drab and dull for almost 4 or 5 months of the year. I live in the city in a neighborhood with out much nature or beauty surrounding us. We crave the beauty of NC again. To have a house with a yard for the kids to play, and for us all to be able to enjoy more days outdoors, not bundled up in layer for fear of frostbite every time you walk to the car. Here is a good comparison, the same time frame, outside our house now, and outside Zack's moms house:
                                                                                 NC

                                                                     



                                                                     Ohio (same month)

            Don't get me wrong, Ohio does have it's beautiful areas, and times of the year. Perfect for visiting. I just think NC is gorgeous, especially near the mountains. Ahhh, just thinking of Boone makes me smile.

"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to the body and soul." -John Muir

        3. Family/Friends. While we have great friends and family in both places, we have some wonderful people in NC who miss us dearly, as we do them, and it would be nice for Zack's side of the family to see our kids more often. (Both his brother's live down there, his parents as well) I will dreadfully miss my family here in Ohio, and my best friends and all my mama friends up here!!!!!!
        4. A chance at a change, to start all over. And really change is good! We came here to Ohio at 19 years old and settled down, we have been in the same place-same jobs same house for this whole time, never meaning for that to happen. We just got stuck. So we took the plunge (well Zack did, by quitting his job last month) hoping that something good is going to come when you flip your world upside down.
        5. Southern Hospitality: Sweet tea, yes sirs and no mams, bojangles, four wheeling, fresh air, mountains, oceans, and just good ole southern charm. Can't beat it. 
        6. NC is where our hearts seem to be, we have longed for it for so long. And really I know home is where the heart is. :)

Excuse this house

Some houses try to hide the fact
That children shelter there,
Ours boasts it quite openly,
The signs are everywhere.

For smears are on the windows,
Little smudges are on the doors
I should apologize, I guess
For toys strewn on the floor.

But I sat down with my child
And we played and laughed and read
And if the doorbell doesn’t shine,
His eyes will shine instead.

For when at times I’m forced to choose
The one job or the other,
I’d like to cook and clean and scrub,
But first I’ll be a mother.

-Author Unknown

I pretty much live by this quote. Hehehe. 

Our thoughts on homebirth 3 months postpartum

I wanted to reflect on my thoughts about homebirth 3 months postpartum. Have I changed my mind about it at all? Would I still choose to labor and birth at home if I could go back in time? Read on....

I loved everything about being able to labor and birth in my own home. I felt safe and I loved. I knew that I was doing the best thing for my baby. To be born into a peaceful environment, without the influence of drugs, and into the arms of people who love you. What could be better? Everything about my birth is reflected into Asher's little personality. He is such a loving, sweet sweet little guy. Peaceful and calm until he is hungry. Loves being in my arms and just looking up into my eyes. He is just such an all natural little baby, intact, and growing up on just my breastmilk. It all stems from just being informed on the best things for my baby. I only wish I would have been smart enough to make these decisions with my first, and I will forever live with the "mistakes" I have made (and both my son and I have the scars to prove it). I have grown from them and vowed to do things different with my second.
   If you have the right people surrounding you, a knowledgeable midwife, a helpful doula, loving family and/or friends, and you are a healthy woman with lots of information about birth, then I think homebirth is the best option for you, I know it was for me. I was saying with in days of the birth that I would do it again, all because of that release of hormones that make you feel strong and amazing! I felt like a superwoman/superhero for weeks, and still do. I could take on the world if it meant saving my family.

 

Here are my boys, just hours after Asher's birth. Asleep in their own home. Asher hasn't had any pokes or prodes. No unnecessary injections or blood drawn.  No strange people handling him, or bright lights blinding him. Just family and friends, and love, love, love.

 My Hubby's POV:
From the hubby's point of view i would from now on always do a homebirth.  Being able to enjoy a birth from  the comfort of your own home is a blessing and will always be the preferred method from my family from now on. I felt it was just as safe, if not safer than being in a hospital. I felt so much relief when my boy was born into our arms. I loved helping Jess through her contractions while she was in labor, it was awesome, I felt like I was participating and able to help somehow. 

Growing boy 1,2,3

1 month:

 2 months:

 

3 months:

Can't believe Asher is already 3 months old. I have not been journaling much at home, so I am trying to keep up with the blog. I just got to spend a wonderful 6 days of one on one time with Asher. It was so nice to build that relationship with him, but man I really really missed Lincoln and never want to be away from him for that long again. Asher is always talking to us, cooing and trying really hard to mimic our sounds. He is an avid bubble blower, and he sleeps like nobody's business. What a great great baby he has been. Such an awesome addition to the Pace family, and exactly what we needed.

March 2011 Goals

March 2011 Goals 

• Lose another 10 lbs (Zack)

• Work out at least 3 times a week (Jess)

• Find a security job in NC. Not retail. (Zack)

• Stick to the 30 day challenge for the month of March, no fast food or soda! 

• Get a B on a Patho test

• Get that sweet baby boy Asher latched on the stupid left side boob, dangit. 

•  Work with Lincoln on his colors, and do at least on sit down teaching session a day for 30 minutes, whether it be his ABCs, colors, writing, puzzles, or just learning about the way something works.

• Get Lincoln to sleep in his own toddler bed in our room!

• Apply for scholarships, and send in application for the doula workshop in july :)
  

 

 Review of

February 2011 Goals

Family goals for the month of February, 2011:

•  Read one book off my list of required reading towards becoming a doula. First one on the list is The Birth Partner. (Jess)     Awesome book! Ive started on 2 more books for the doula workshop
• Buy Browns Seasons Tickets (Zack) Put a down payment on em!
  
• Start a chore chart for Lincoln  epic fail. didnt even attempt this
• Go outside and make snow angels, and take pictures   Succesfully took pics in snow, but no snow angels tho
  
• Take at least 200 pictures this month- you really can never take enough when you have little ones growing so fast!!!
• Lose another 10 lbs (Zack)
• Start working out (Jess)  does once count?
• Get a grade of at least a B on a Patho test   seriously, patho will be the death of me
• Try out a toddler gymnastics class at Flytz gym  went to sign him up and they were closed
• Start on Lincoln's 3 year video for his birthday  didnt do it at all
• Get Asher to latch on my left side        almost did, he latched a few times.  He still hates it tho.
• Get Asher's weight up to at least 10 lbs (eat, baby, eat)    Yay, my boy is starting to chub up!! :)
• Work on cleaning as I go, get better at being a "house-wife" (Jess)  Always can work on this tho