The Deep End

February 26, 2009

Cute things I want to remember

"KK, why does your car always talk about John McCain?" -Owen to Katie during the ride to preschool during election season

Owen to Caroline at bedtime on her birthday (in a big-brother tone, mind you):
"Tomorrow you won't be the birthday girl anymore. You'll just be the girl."

"Care-la-line" -how Caroline pronounces her own name.
Caroline having me individually wrap and gift tag tiny little seashells for each student in her class so she could give them presents.

Bethy singing her abc's at 15 months, the way she cries for Owen in the morning, how just about everything she says is extremely cute to me!

| By amy | 2:56 AM | Comments (0)

June 3, 2008

Caroline's Tricks

So I put Caroline into bed about 20 minutes ago, and she just now starts hollerin' "Maaamaa! Mommy! " over and over. I finally go in to see what she wants and this is what I saw:

I'm sure taking pictures only encourages this type of behavior, but it was too cute to pass up. She is definitely our party girl.

| By amy | 8:27 PM | Comments (1)

May 30, 2008

Just a few minutes ago before eating our Shredded Wheat, Owen offered to pray. He
usually looks around while praying and thanks God for
whatever catches his eye (the trees, the grass,the piano, the
fish, etc.) This morning I told him to try and
close his eyes and think about God in his
heart and thank Him for the things in his life that
he really enjoys. This was his emphatic, heartfelt
prayer:

"Dear God,
PLEASE tell Santa to bring me a real Hot Wheels.
Amen."

He must have some innate God/Santa connection.

| By amy | 8:34 AM | Comments (1)

May 18, 2008

Discussion Questions for "The Business of Being Born" movie

Over the past 2 weekends I have viewed the movie "The Business of Being Born" with friends. I searched online for some questions we could use to fuel our post-viewing discussion but could find none. So, I decided to create some of my own. Feel free to use these questions, modify them or add to them. If you find this helpful, please post a comment and let me know. Whatever you do, see this movie and encourage others to do the same. Women deserve to know the truth about childbirth and how amazing the experience can be.

How do you define "natural" childbirth? How do you think doctors may define it?

The "natural" births in the video are all home births. Is it possible for a woman to have this type of birth in a hospital? What is needed to help that to happen?

What in the movie did you find most shocking?

There are two sides to every story. What are some factors that the movie may have overlooked?

Where does the mentioned "so what" attitude that some women have toward childbirth come from?

What are some of the differences you noticed between the "natural" births of the women in the video and the majority of births portrayed elsewhere in the media?

Do you think that a woman's body knows what it is doing in regards to childbirth?

How would you describe the overall atmosphere/scenes of the homebirths shown in the movie? What emotions do you see from the mothers during labor and after the births?

What stereotypes surround a homebirth today?
What stereotypes surround a woman who wants to give birth "naturally" (unmedicated).

What will it take to change the general view of childbirth in our country?

How is having a "natural" unmedicated birth empowering to a woman? How can it be beneficial to her?

Discuss your own birthing experiences. Remember that every birth is special, but that doesn't mean that it was necessarily the experience hoped for. Sharing your experience honestly will help yourself and others.

How can you share the message of this film with others?

| By amy | 2:58 PM | Comments (2)

May 12, 2008

7 years

In honor of our 7th anniversary today, I thought I'd share one of our favorite wedding scenes as of late.

| By amy | 1:47 PM | Comments (1)

April 13, 2008

The Beach

We have just returned from five days in Hilton Head. We traded in our usual week of spring break oceanside camping for a week in an oceanside villa. We certainly missed our old spot in Florida but it was much easier to have beds and showers for the children, and we also enjoyed a few days of cable. Grandma and Grandpa CaCa met us there so we actually outnumbered the children which always helps. The weather was only beach-worthy two of the days, but we rented bikes and hit the indoor pool. Here are some pictures in the sun and the sand.