Ani DiFranco interview mentioning her homebirth

This is a quote from Ani DiFranco's interview at Venus Zine. You can see the whole interview here. I thought it was so great that someone in the public eye would be so vocal about the values of homebirth and well-informed hospital births.

I would definitely choose a homebirth again despite the fear mongering of this patriarchal society, which convinces women that they are incapable of having babies without the intervention of men and their machines. I look at societies where women are marginalized and oppressed their whole lives (even covered head to toe in tarps!) but are still in control of birthing practice, in a whole new way now. I mean, who is really more advanced? To take birthing out of women’s hands and deny us the continuum of eons of wisdom and experience is to eject us from the very seat of our power. I believe that women in hospitals are prevented from being able to have normal, healthy birthing experiences because of the intimidation of being on the clock, being pressured to take drugs to make it quicker, being inhibited in their movement and activities, and alienated by a sterile, fluorescent lit, feet-in-the-air type environment. You know the classic “performance anxiety” of not being able to pee or poo because somebody’s watching you? Multiply that by a million! A cervix is a sphincter after all! Then to add tragic insult to injury women are numbed through their great moment of revelation. I believe the act of giving birth to be the single most miraculous thing a human being can do and it is surely the moment when a lot of women finally understand the depth of their power and connection to all of nature. You think it can’t possibly be done, you think you can’t possibly take the pain, and then you do — and afterward you look at yourself in a whole new way. If you can do that, you can do anything. Check out the books on this subject by Ina May Gaskin. She’s one of my great heroes. P.S. I was in labor for 43 hours. Pushed for five hours. It was brutal and scary and prolonged, and if I was in a hospital, they would have definitely cut the baby out of me. I thank the goddesses that I was at home with patient midwives who knew how to go the distance. The memory of pain always recedes. The memory of triumph does not.

Living Like Water

This was from the Daily OM. I just found this site from a fellow mama on MDC.

Fluid Like a River
Living Like Water

The journey of water as it flows upon the earth can be a mirror of our own paths through life. Water begins its residence on Earth as it falls from the sky or melts from ice and cascades down a mountain into a tributary or stream. In the same way, we come into the world and begin our lives on Earth. Like a river that flows within the confines of its banks, we are born with certain defining characteristics that govern our identity. We are born in a particular time and place, into a specific family, and with certain gifts and challenges. Within these parameters, we move through life, encountering many twists, turns, and obstacles along the way—just as a river flows.

Water is a great teacher that shows us how to move through the world with grace, ease, determination, and humility. When a river breaks at a waterfall, it gains energy and moves on. As we encounter our own waterfalls, we may fall hard, but we always keep going. Water can inspire us not to become rigid with fear or hold fast to what is familiar. Water is brave and does not waste time clinging to its past but flows onward without looking back. At the same time, when there is a hole to be filled, water does not flee from it, fearful of the dark; instead, it humbly and bravely fills the empty space. In the same way, we can face the dark moments of our life rather than running away from them.

Eventually, a river will empty into the sea. Water does not hold back from joining with a larger body, nor does it fear a loss of identity or control. It gracefully and humbly tumbles into the vastness by contributing its energy and merging without resistance. Each time we move beyond our individual egos to become part of something bigger, we can try our best to follow the lead of the river.

Bowling, blooms, silliness, and mapping

So, here is my treasure map so far. I've made many magazine collages in my time, but this is my first adult one that focuses on my goals for the new year. It really is interesting to see how it is unfolding. The areas I want to enrich are to simplify, nurture my connection with myself and with my husband, have a healthy pregnancy, be more healthful, and continue to build my tribe. Easy peasy, right?


Just a sweet picture of my almost 3 year old girl. (My how time flies...)



We went bowling for Jimi's birthday. He hadn't been with us when I took her the first time, so it was cute for him to see how much she loves it. This alley actually clocked the speed of the ball. I think E's fastest was 1.5 mph. It was a long game. We all had a lot of fun.





Here is the first bloom from the camellia plant we bought in honor of the baby we lost in February. I chose the red blooms as I bled with the red moon. We have been eagerly awaiting this first bloom.


I have 2 nursing bras that came with these insertable pads to keep the headlights tamed. Well, somehow one pair has become one of my daughter's favorite toys. As I was working on my treasure map, I glanced over and noticed that both my husband and daughter were wearing them as hats as they watched tv. Notice that they are not goofing around or giggling. They are just wearing my boob pads on their heads. Goofballs.

The zoo was a zoo

Well, parking was. And the traffic coming out of the zoo was. But it was great to spend the day with our friends and their kids. All of us watching after each other's children, wiping noses and handing out snacks. And just when we think that we might stay in Eugene! What were we thinking. :) These friends are our home, and hopefully soon we will be living closer to home.


Joi trying to avoid looking directly at the camera. Look at my lovely inked up girls. :)



Leah wiping Kiran's nose, Jimi watching Grey decide between the broccoli and the cauliflower. Breana watching all of the kids run and play in the grass.




My girl, Eleanor eating all of the corn bread from her corn dog.



Leah, by the end of the day. Poor thing just wanted to be home. And she had to wait for all of us to go to the gift shop, and use the bathroom.



This is my favorite picture by far. Mayan is so intently reading the zoo map.



Kiran and Grey hanging out together, waiting for the chicks to be done shopping and using the bathroom.



Rich, the baby wrangler, keeping the littles in one place. (but they didn't stay there for long)



Kiran sifting through the veggie bowl. No one was looking, so he did away with the pesky bowl and dumped them out on the blanket.

Leah's blessing

We came up on Sunday for Leah's mother blessing. It was my first blessing, and I loved it. How awesome to be surrounded by women who love you and hold you up when you need them the most. I have grown up believing that love has conditions to it. And many of these women have proved that belief wrong when my heart has been broken. I was so worried that I would cry at the blessing, even though I knew it would happen.

We gather to envelop the mother with our love and well wishes, in our belief of her strength. But in the same breath we are honoring ourselves as strong women. I have felt so weak at times lately. I didn't know what I could bring to this circle that wasn't already there. How could I give my strength to another woman, when I myself couldn't even be strong?

I am working to let go of my fear of another pregnancy loss. But it is not something you can just let go of. It is something I must work at all of the time. In the constant thought of pregnancy, counting the days past ovulation, taking tests far before they could ever show a second line. Letting go of that fear means I must trust in the process. Which is one of the hardest things I have ever had to do.

It was a beautiful day, and I am honored that I was a part of it. I can't wait to meet this little person, and to watch and see what personality they will bring to Leah's home and family.