Monday, August 30, 2010

Cousins (If you say it enough it sounds funny)

Dear Blog,

Juniper would like you to meet someone very special. This special someone is her beautiful cousin, Maddie.





Maddie is a "big girl" (to Juniper) because she is a few months older.





Juniper loves her and is always looking to her see what her next milestone is.





Juni likes to show Maddie how to ham it up for the camera.






You have both grown so quickly, you practically are ready to move out!





It doesn't look like you like the idea. OK, then slow down on the growing, just a bit.





Sincerely,

Momma & Auntie Wilcock

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Bold Speech from a Wimpish Woman

Post Edit: This is definitely a touchy subject to so many people and I knew that this could possibly offend people if taken the wrong way. That is why I titled this post the way I did. This is bold speech and I am "wimpish" because I don't like confrontation. I don't like offending. I don't want people to think I'm self-righteous. But I realized I had to risk these things to state my message. I have read and re-read this post and I stand by what I said.

I want to clarify some things. This post is first and foremost my opinion. Yes, it's a strong opinion. I am not fighting against women. I am fighting against maternity care in the U.S. and the silly notions society tells us of natural birth. I am not scrutinizing individuals but the whole, the stereotype, and I want that stereotype to change. I do not think mothers and especially children are any less of a person because they had or were born of a medicated birth. I do not think that women who have medicated births love their children less. I do think that there is an "experience" to natural birth that stands alone. It's that experience that I encourage women to have. It is true that I have not had a medicated birth to compare, and I have realized this long ago, but I still feel confident in saying that natural birth is just different than medicated births. This is why I included CJane's reflection because she is one who has had both. I want to support those who are thinking about natural childbirth. I want to make people aware of a way of birthing that they might not have considered, including those who have given birth and want something different the next time.

My personal spiritual experiences are very personal to my experience. I am not saying that I understand better or less than the next person. I was only comparing within myself. I am not saying you can't have any spiritual growth or understand certain principles unless you have natural birth. But I am saying that through trials, no matter what they be, will create growth. My message is not blessed like the missionaries, they are on the Lord's errand and they are set apart with that calling. I am only paralleling sharing something that means so much to oneself, and sharing it with zeal no matter the reply.

I am sorry if I have offended anyone who reads this. It was not my goal. I wish I could be more sensitive in listing the things I have mentioned above but this is simply about laying to rest what can be read between the lines that are not, and never were, implied.

***

Dear Blog,

All I do is think, talk, and breath about babies, pregnancy, and childbearing, and how joyfully spectacular it all is (when it's all said and done. It's rough while in the midst of it.) As silly as it sounds, I feel as though I found one of my callings in life: to be an advocate of natural childbirth. Some people feel the need to share bold speech on the topic of food, health, or lifestyle choices. They do this not to make others feel bad, but to shed light on how society and normalcy keeps us from realizing important information. So I want to share my raw yet refined thoughts on childbirth and what it can be to every woman. Perhaps I feel this way because becoming a mother changed my life, and not just in the obvious ways, like being unable to go on spontaneous dates with your spouse. No, my baby has changed me much more than that and in a positive way too. I am the happiest I have ever been (even though I get much less sleep than ever before!).

OK, so where am I going with this? Well, the other day I was at a wedding reception and I saw some old friends from high school. It was so wonderful to see them. While talking to a few of them I thought that this is the perfect opportunity to talk to them about natural childbirth because they are all married and in those prime childbearing years. Many women my age, or any age, don't realize that they have more options than the epidural at the hospital that can be so much better. So, I built up the courage and put the potential responses out of my head and just said it...

"When you have children, you should consider having a natural childbirth."
Their reaction wasn't surprising. They just laughed out loud and said, "Yeah right!" I sometimes forget that I am of a small demographic who would like to stick it to the man (or pitocin in this case).

Walking through my front door I felt defeated, rejected. Boo hoo.

But then I thought, "Hey! I did it. I got past my fears and shared something that means so much to me. And though they laughed, they don't think I'm dumb. They just don't know all the facts and see it the way I do. Perhaps they think it's all poppycock now, but maybe I planted the seed." It sounds like I'm trying to share the gospel. Which in a way, I am sharing what I believe to be 'good news'. I actually felt what it would be like to be a missionary. Now if only I can find the zeal in sharing the gospel as I have in sharing my thoughts on childbirth. Moving on.


Now, to tie in my personal experiences with the gospel and childbirth, I just want to share with you some of the "a-ha!" moments following Juniper's arrival.

1. I better understand Eve and being a woman ~Though beguiled, Eve understood why she needed to eat the fruitItalic. She knew that wisdom and joy come through, and trumps, sin and sorrow. As an endowed member of the church, I understand.

2. I better understand scriptures and gospel principles ~I have shared this before but I will share it again. This scripture D & C 121:7 stood out in my mind. My son, peace be unto thy soul; Thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; I realized that if I can go through labor I can do anything. At the time it felt so hard and that it would last forever. But it didn't last and I ended up so much more afterwards than when I started. And that is how it is and will be for every trial in my life.

3. I better understand the Atonement of Jesus Christ ~As women, we are so blessed to have the capability to experience such a sacrifice of ourselves by giving birth. I think no matter what kind of birth a woman has she has sacrificed so much of herself for another being, but feeling it all just solidifies it that much more. Of course we will never fully understand what Christ has gone through, but this will surely give you a glimpse of his pains and his joys. You can actually feel that you are giving your live for another. That your pains are surrendered for the life and physical body of another. Christ did it for our souls and women do it for our bodies.

4. I better understand myself ~I believe this is different for every birth experience. For me, it is something I can't really put into words except that it was healing and has given me a confidence I never knew I had. But what I want to share with you is this beautifully written reflection of a natural home birth done by Courtney of C Jane Enjoy It. I just love her.

Now that I look back on Ever's birth I see things a little more clearly.
The pain?
Hmm. Yes it hurt.
It was pounding and brutal. Then there was the part when
I felt my body split in two . . .
But.
But it wasn't the physical pain that astounded me about that experience. For me, the pain? Meh. It was shortly lived and gone the second the baby left the (fleshy) building.
But.
The pain coupled with the metaphysical?
Holy.
It was the stretching of my spirit that really shook my core. The psychological impact that comes from going to a place where earth meets heaven and tiptoeing along that blurry line of life and death. It was the part where I felt the weight of something so huge, so much bigger and more fantastic than anything I could have ever imagined. It was closing my eyes and seeing a checkerboard sphere rolling around like I was viewing pure energy at a molecular level. It was completely psychedelic and strange and completely awe-some.
And when I think the physical feeling of my body splitting open I also think my spirit was doing the same. In that process, my spirit made more of me to be able to contain all of that experience. Like a hand inside a latex glove, I was filled with humanity, expanding, extending, magnifying. I was more. And I will never get over the residual memories--they still astound me.
Are you kidding me?
I can't wait to do it again.




Wow, this post has developed. I feel like I want to share this with you because my birthing experience was so glorious to me. From so many women at work, church, school and even friends and family I hear of how stressful, awful, not fun and exhausting that giving birth was to them (and they were all medicated!) So why wouldn't I want share with them the possibility of having a happy, positive birth as I did and so many other women who did it naturally?

It is time to take a look at what society tells us about birth and change our expectations. As women, we use the knowledge we have to make the best choices for us and our baby but we must be knowledgeable on more than one kind of birth. Why believe the comments of people who haven't experienced natural birth. Don't let them scare you into thinking it is a stupid wasteful idea and that you can't do it and will be begging for the epidural. There are plenty of women who can testify of the amazing grace of a natural birth and want to do it again and they are all like you!!! They aren't Wonder Woman. Look them up, there are a lot out there.



It is time to give the power of birth back to the laboring mother. Your instincts are real and there for a reason and you give a lot of that up when you are strapped to a bed and take that epidural. Childbirth is a true gift from God. Without it we wouldn't have the added light and knowledge we are so desperately searching for.

One thing you must understand is that I am not saying that any mother of a medicated birth has not grown in wisdom and love. She definitely has. Only, she can have it bursting out of the seams, more than what she could imagine, if she takes back what is rightfully hers. Childbirth.

Sincerely,
Emily Wilcock

Friday, August 20, 2010

Please Give a Warm Welcome to...

Dear Blog,

Boy! Do I have a surprise for you!

It's the moment we have all been waiting for.

A moment like no other.

What?! What is it? You ask.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Boys and Girls,

I proudly present to you,

The newest blogger to our community.....

The amazing,

creative,

amiable,

ridiculous,

hilarious,

comical,

and cute.....

*Dah-dun-nuh-daaaahh*


Enjoy....wink!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Heath Wilcock

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Hot, Chaud, Caliente, heet, heiß, горяче, حارّة, 熱

Dear Blog,

Yesterday I picked Heath up from work. We were both starving so he decided to take me to one of his favorite Apache Junction Mexican joints: Los Favoritos Taco Shop. When we pulled up I noticed a large sign above the little restaurant that said, "NOW AIR CONDITIONED."

...Really?

...Only just now?

You mean to tell me that it's 2010 and you just now got air conditioning? Isn't that abuse? Those poor workers. Air conditioning is probably the only "want" in AZ that is actually a necessity. It's like living in a cold, icy weather sans heat. Without it, your life is LES MISERABLES!Fortunately, there is only about another month or so of hot summer heat here. I hope an especially cold winter is coming up.


Despite their delayed advances, Los Favoritos' tacos were very greasy and yummy. If you are ever on Apache Trail West of Ironwood give them a try.

Sincerely,
Emily Wilcock

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Juniper's Favor Pastime

Dear Blog,

Here is more Juniper. I am sorry I usually default to using videos as a post. It is difficult to write interesting things so often so it's easy to fall back on videos because they are quick and easy. I don't know if anyone else enjoys watching these as much as me.





These were recorded a few weeks ago and at the rate she's going, people say she'll be walking in a month or two. YIKES! She is about 8 1/2 months right now. When do you think she'll start walking?

Sincerely,
Emily Wilcock

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Unfamiliar Faces

Dear Blog,


I use Google's Picasa to organize all of my photos. They have had this new feature that recognizes faces and I finally set it up this morning. What they do is basically zoom in on faces and you can put a name to them. Every now and then a face would come up that I wouldn't even recognize and I could not figure out which picture they came from. It was kind of like a Where's Waldo and I found it thoroughly enjoyable. Here are some of the faces I found...

This young lady...

...just happened to sit behind us at a concert

~

This shadowed girl...


...was apparently at my wedding.


~

This little boy...


...celebrated my niece's 2nd Birthday with us.


~

And this man...


...is Jesus Christ.
Or more accurately, played the role of Christ in the Easter Pageant.


~

These dashing young men...

...were also at my wedding. Actually, I know them. They are Heath's buddies. I just thought they looked so suave and "GQ" standing there, secretly wanting to be photographed but acting like they aren't in frame.

After a face has been named than the program tries to gather that face from any other photograph and label it. Most of the time they get it right, but sometimes they get it way wrong.

My Father-in-law, Jeff, was confused for...

My Dad.

~

My brother-in-law, Drew and step-mother, Doris were confused for...
...Grandma Wilcock
And Grandma Wilcock was confused for...
...my brother, Jared.
~
And Heath was Confused for...
...this man.
OK, so it is Heath. But you can never be too sure.
~
And last but not least, Sarah.
Well, Picasa got her right. I just had to add her because isn't she so beautiful.
I know I may be embarrassing you, Sarah, but I couldn't not share this lovely picture.
Oh, this was just too much fun!
Sincerely,
Emily Wilcock

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Inspiration-less

This is quite a long post.

Dear Blog,

Lately, I have been having a hard time thinking of things to tell you on the blog. I have had the time to write but my mind seems to be deflated. Jill, you asked to see some pictures of Juniper's room and that seemed like a great idea to fall back on. I was meaning to show Juni's room when it was completely finished but I don't think that will happen. So here you are...




I am thinking about taking down that accordion rack and putting up those Disney records that are in the bottom corner. What do you think? I made a simple skirt around the piano just so it doesn't look so out of place being black and all. Also, see that little brown chair next to it? That used to be Heath's when he was a little boy.



I'm not to sure what to do above the closet. I would just leave it alone but we have 9 ft. ceilings and it looks so bare without anything.
As you can see the wall above her crib is plain as can be. I am still trying to figure this one out. I was going to put the records on this wall, then I was planning on putting these cute and quirky stickers from Ikea on there but neither seemed to fit. Any ideas? That little blue striped arm chair was also Heath's as a little boy.
Now for the details...
The middle piece of the boy and girl fishing was basically my inspiration for the room. Heath and I found it at Goodwill and we love how charming it is and that it has that 70's feel. At the time I was really being inspired by the nurseries that Ohdeedoh was highlighting and this fit right in. The smaller cross-stitch I also found at Goodwill. It's of a little girl knitting. The print of the Juniper branch was found in an old library book and was framed and given to us by Heath's mom. She also gave us the adorable little girl with the kitten, the "Juniper" blocks and the old fashioned roller skates.
The heart banner is gone because yours truly is a genius and Juni got a hold of it while I was changing her, she pulled it causing the skate to fall on her head. Yes, that is how she got that gash on her head. I felt awful and stupid.


The chair was also found by my MIL at an antique shop. We recovered the seat.



This is possibly my favorite piece in the whole room. This is a card bouquet that Heath gave to me on Valentine's Day when we were dating. Naturally, it was made by his mom with bamboo sticks and an assortment of Valentine's Day cards, both old and new. It's so cute and different and fits perfectly in Juniper's room.



This is my makeshift front-facing book shelf. I have wanted one but they are very expensive. Like at least $100! So I came up with this. It is an Ikea shelf ($8), a cheap curtain rod from wal-mart ($4), and some L brackets ($2). Easy and cheap! And it hold about 5 books deep, so it can hold just about the same as one bought (usually 3 tiers and 1-2 books deep). Of course, to make them all fit it is like a jigsaw puzzle. When Juniper is older we will add another one above it or something so books will be easier to take out and put back in.



I have to highlight these funny and darling metal toys. A gift from Grammy.



This lamp was an awesome find by Kerri, the Goodwill master. I was keeping my eye out for a lamp and this was precisely what I was looking for. I love it!



These sunflowers are from our wedding. They used to be in our living room before Juniper came and a friend came over one day and said, "Those sunflowers just breathe happiness." And I knew right then that my baby must see those every morning when she wakes up. That is why they are in a kind of funny spot in the room.




Juniper can sit in front of her mirror for a good 15 minutes at a time. It allows me to straighten up her room. She loves to give slobbery kisses. You can see her drool on the mirror in the middle picture. Yummy!

Now, onto that accident I was talking about above. Yes, the roller skate falling on her head. I freaked and Juni freaked and it was a stressful day. Those skates are heavy and can easily pinch or cut if your not careful. I called her doctor and they said to go to the ER just to make sure things were OK. No stitches, no concussion, no butterfly bandages. Just some Tylenol and antibiotic ointment to prevent infection. The doctor said that the mark should last about 6 months, so she will have that mark at her 1st birthday. Boo...
I had to document this unfortunate, yet monumental (for me) event in her life, since it being her first time in a hospital.



Oh, my poor baby girl. I must say though that when we got to the hospital she was all smiles for the nurses. I think she will take after her daddy and be a glass-half-full type of girl...I hope.


Juniper is doing just fine. She is happy and is enjoying pulling herself up on her two feet and cruising around her space station.
I hope the next post will be soon!
Sincerely,
Emily Wilcock