rebecca:vavic

Benjamin James...

Has arrived... 

 

 

 

Benjamin James Vavic

born 0110am 29th June 2009

4.68kg, 10 pound 5 ounces

55cm, 22 inches.

Our labour was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G... incredible, all that I could have wished for.

::1hour 10 minute:: active labour, no tearing, no drugs, no incidents what-so-ever... a wonderful birthing experience. 

I relay a bit of it here for our records & may add to it later ...

We went to bed about 1030ish last night, an early one for us as I have been fighting off a cold for a few days and feeling tired in the last stages of pregnancy. Around 1130pm I awoke having a bit of indigestion and a coughing fit. Felt "something" going on, went into the bathroom, thought I could see a bit of a show. After a good few weeks of serious braxton hicks and a "false start" I felt this was the big event about to start...

1202 I called my girlfriend to come over to assist, she said my message says "I think I am in labour" as my contractions were quite mild at that moment (as they had been a few nights earlier & so I wasn't entirely sure they were going to develop into full labour) ... I ran a bath and hopped in.

Nath came in to talk with me and make other necessary phone calls, I started serious contractions. And a bit of crying!

Vanessa arrived and I was having contractions in the lounge room, quite vocally and clearly labour was in full swing. We were still waiting on Kim who was coming over to look after Mikaela and Joshua. I told Nath we had to go NOW.

Just as we were leaving Kim arrived and Vanessa came along with us. We got to the hospital at 1245ish, Benjamin arrived a short time later at 0110am.

So I had a 1 hour 10 minute active labour... no tearing whatsoever.

Shortly after Benjamin was placed into my arms I turned to my friend Vanessa who was filming... and said "that wasn't so bad"...

Funny, cause there were moments when I felt it was quite bad LOL! When the put him on the scales and I saw how much he weighed, I started to cry... I couldn't believe it... I felt like an amazing earth mother :) I still do...

I am so grateful to my midwife who helped me CALMLY breathe through my contractions and assisted me to BREATHE Benjamin into the world with as much ease as is possible.

Nathan was, of course, AMAZING.. he rubbed my back and gave me the exact support and encouragement I needed. He was (and is) the BEST!

Rachel, our doula, was super helpful and did everything we asked of her, she was great support to both Nath & I.

Vanessa and Kim, two of the best friends a girl could ask for... were loving and supportive and exactly what Nath and I needed. We are blessed.

As for Benjamin... well you can see for yourself, he is perfect. Almost an identical to Joshua... only Josh had dark hair and Benjamin has blond. He is calmer than Joshua was, which probably has a great deal to do with his much more beautiful birthing experience. He is peaceful and gorgeous.

We came home some 10hours after Benjamin arrived safely into the world... and now we sit at home, relaxing and enjoying this time together. We had a lovely roast pork tonight and just embraced each other tenderly on the couch throughout the afternoon and early evening before baths and bed routine began.

Mikaela and Joshua have been super excited and really enjoying the new addition to our family. 

Love and Hugs

Bxo

Still Waiting...

For our little bubba to arrive, tho my due date is not for another few days... and we could go over, so the wait may be a few weeks yet.

The thing is that this waiting game is not easy some days... we've already had a couple of false starts.

In the meantime I am trying to keep myself amused, busy... and that, too, is not easy, as my attention span is ZERO !!

Inspired by DQ and her "focus" journal... I have created a "Birthing Book" to inspire me leading up to labour, and perhaps during labour?

THis page I need to add the self portrait from this post...

Lots of inspiration from my books:

These are the 4d images we had taken of our baby some weeks ago...

Nathan, he is everything to me. He supports and understands my needs better than anyone ever could, I am truly blessed {he'll also ignore me being abusive when I am in major pain}...

I had a wonderful active birth with Mikaela, I need to remember this... my body knows how to do this...

Then I had a pretty bad labour experience with Joshua, major pph, required 4 units transfused. This is a reminder to have faith in my instincts, to "BE" the flow... not to force anything {ie. getting induced!} It is also a reminder that I got through that bad experience and that at the end of the day a healthy babe is the most important factor for our family... and that women are amazing, we bounce back :)

Other than that, not much going on. I captured this image tonight after my bath:  Joshua fell asleep sitting up, pretty much, immediately after our bath & Nath and Mikaela playing a new Nintendo game he got for her today, a bit of a hard one...

After the kidlets were put to bed, Nath and I watched this movie... which was beautiful.

I hope you are having a peaceful and relaxing weekend with your loved ones...

Love out

Bxo

Happy Birthday to You...

Dear Kim

I hope you have a fabulous birthday today my beautiful friend!

You are a my tender friend whom I depend... sometimes a bit too much, which I hope you can forgive.

We share many misty moments because we understand each other well... and I never take this for granted, it is such a unique and special gift to have such a connection and bond with another person in this life, especially one who you consider a soul sister, as do you since the day we met !! If only it were sooner :(

You have made me laugh until I cry, you have made me laugh so much... and we've shared a few tears too.

Mostly we share an optimism and a belief in the good and beauty of this world of ours.

You care when most don't, you try when most won't... you shine when most can not. 

We share our truths, our faults and our desire to do better... and an unconditional love and acceptance that we may not be perfect, but an honesty and ability that we do not need to try to be.

We just be ourselves... together.

That is enough.

We speak the same language... you are a friend that always makes me feel loved, 

safe and special.

I love you, and on your special day I would like to let you know I feel very 

blessed by you and that your friendship enriches my life so much!

Thank you also for being such a wonderful God Mother to Joshua. You know my entire family adore you just as I do!

Thank you for being - the world needs *YOU*

Hugs

Bxo

Nursery Tour...

Here we are in Joshua and the Bubba's newly decorated {and now mostly complete} room which is right beside ours and used to be Nath's study (he has swapped with Joshua's old room) ...

From the door you see Joshua's cot, which has been converted into a toddler bed...

Three original paintings I did for the nursery are hung above Joshua's bed:

Also above is a birdcage decal by FlatBird. Winnie and the Pooh and Eyore were given to Mikaela by my younger sister Katie, when Mikaela was born... so they're about 8 years old now:

I love that we have big windows all throughout our home to let in lots of light and sunshine:

I covered the rocking chair and change table in a very light aqua micro fleece, it is so soft and lovely:

I got lots of baskets from here to go in the cupboards and with the change table and the little BarBar soft toy on the chair is another gift from Katie, tho that one is on permanent loan until she has her own bubba's... it is so sweet, winds up and plays a tune, it's head moves ever so slightly:

I'll have to post a pic of Bubba's cupboard later, his/hers is closest to the change table, we got the Aneboda chest of drawers from Ikea, there is a cute little monkey - yet another Katie item (my other sisters buy the kidlets tonnes of clothes):

Then Joshua's... he has a lot more "stuff" than Bubba:

Beside the cupboard is the butterfly mobile I made:

This is Bubba's bassinet; contemporary and simple:

A couple of prints I got from Etsy and a few watercolour paintings I did myself:

 

I also made a cot blanket for Joshua, bassinet blankie for bubba and a cover for my contour pregnancy pillow, which will soon become a breastfeeding pillow, or just relax on the couch pillow.

So that is about it... nursery is done. Big difference from the one {a different room} we'd set up for Joshua 21 months ago now.

Love out

Bxo

HUGE...

QUICK.... click away if the Gorgeous Goddess that is the PREGNANT BODY offends you !!! ...

Photo enhanced in Adobe Photoshop. Frame is "Sloppy5x75" by IttyBitty Actions. Quote brush one from the set of BabyWord Art No1 by Ali Edwards for Designer Digitals {and Ali says "no worries at all" about me using her brush for this shot :)}

So here I am at almost 39 weeks, and surprise, surprise... not getting any smaller just yet...

Some people see my big round voluptuousness that is impending motherhood and exclaim "oh you are big" or "oh you are huge" or "Are you sure you're not having twins??" Even my Mother, yesterday!!

These comments leave me, at times, a little bewildered... I think "did you not get the Memo... that I am Pregnant ?? !!!" It' s not FAT you know! Okay... well some is :)

I guess sometimes people think they are being funny, or witty... or don't think, or not sure what to say? I'm not sure... most the time I do find it amusing, AND...

Flip side to such comments are my sisterhood, including the gorgeous Martha (who does have twins), they all exclaim: oh look at you gorgeousness, look at that big round beautiful miracle belly... you look amazing...

With positive or negative comments... I still feel the same... I feel amazing! I feel like the Goddess Woman I AM ... doing what I have been created to do, what I am designed to do, made to do.

I feel blessed and in a total state of grace. I feel at one with my sisterhood of faith... I do have my moments and days were I am feeling totally exhausted... but for the main part I am loving these last weeks...

I am a bit teary as I write this post... I love being pregnant so much, I love the miracle that is the female body, I love that I am fortunate to be doing this a third time... I am not sure if we will have another {we hope to, but not sure}... I mourn for the end of another amazing pregnancy... another incredible, blessed experience... I mourn especially because it may be my last.

I prepare for what I hope will be a wonderful birth, grateful that I have my belly casts and a few photos to show exactly how much I adored carrying life inside of me and how very blessed I feel to be able to do so.

I never take this for granted & think often and pray for my sisterhood still on their journey to becoming Mother... I know the day will be soon.

I share this lovely site > I have the book and CD and it has been a beautiful gift. 

I have taken to leaving voice messages beginning with "Its Bek, I'm not in labour...." and answering the phone as "Gorgeous Pregnant woman speaking..." gave my younger sister Lee a great laugh yesterday afternoon. 

Love out...

Bxo

Mandala Inspired...

most recently again by super talented Corrine, one of my students in my last term of Mixed Media classes. I have found quite a few that I just love and can't wait to use to create some of my own art pieces with these:

This inspiration coincided with an article in my latest WellBeing Magazine

where they describe Mandala's as "not just tantalising works of art but a spiritual tool that has been used by various traditions as a first step on the journey towards self."

Here is an interesting video on the subject:

This is a fabulous site too.

Milliande Creativity Club also has a Ning Group you can join for inspiration and prompts... "The Mandala Maidens"

Mandala art is an activity that Mikaela and I have enjoyed over the years and now introducing to Joshua so we can all enjoy together. 

I'll share our recent creations soon. 

Love & Peace 

Bxo

Creative Dreaming...

Here are a few projects I have found lately and am inspired to add to my there is no time frame "to-do" {also known as a WISH} list:

I intend to make a cot quilt using this idea from Moda BakeShop: 

Take a look at this delightful quilt by Bari J... that would take me some time to complete, but imagine how amazing it would be, I adore the collage border:

Then there is this cute little number from Kari - you can make it, so sweet:

I can never get sick of these flowers, I found this new tutorial from Sis Boom:

I believe I posted this tutorial before, but it is a good one, so I share again... by Portobellopixie.

I love lots of things at Janelle's site, this one I'll make for Miss Mikaela:

What about a few of these cute t-shirts by Store & Style:

And a few gorgeous ruffle skirts (I figure summer is a few months away, I may get a couple done):

 

Of course Owl's are adorable and I really love them, so I add this to my list too:

This cute owl handbag would be for moi:

 

Now this post, and my surfing and interests are all seeming rather girly to me at the moment... makes me think that our wee babe is a girl? ... still who knows?... I may just as likely be having a boy. 

It just seems all rather girly inspired. 

Regardless, I will hardly have any time to do any of this stuff for a while yet... just nice to remind myself when I do get a bit of spare time there is all of this to get into LOL!

Love out...

Bxo

She is back...

And we are SUPER DELIGHTED...

None more-so than her GodSon {or her own boys} I am sure... but I would have be a pretty close second. 

I am super glad she arrived home before bubba #3 decided to join us. The thought of going into labour while she was in another country was a bit much for me :)

Kim my tender soul sister... I'm so grateful you are home. I missed you very much!

Hugs

Bxo

Scrapbooking Sharsie...

Well more like a sneak peak, here's a look at some scrapping I have done recently for my DT role at entreARTistes Magazine:

I also created a fab little mini album & here is a peek of that:

I quite enjoyed doing some scrapbooking... and looking forward to doing some more once I feel all my "baby preparation & nesting" projects are complete, tho I am not sure when that may be LOL!

Love out

Bxo

38 weeks...

Yesterday:

Hey Baby...

I wonder when you will come... in the middle of the night? In the day? 

I wonder if you are a boy or a girl?

I wonder so many things...

Recently I'd been going to bed thinking "tonight might be the night"... but not so much these past few nights... I realise you will come when you are ready.

Each morning I wake and I am grateful for another full and deep sleep .... *smile* 

I know too well that soon we are in for very big changes, mind you... I can not really "see" those changes into what they will mean as an "actuality" for our family of 4 about to become 5...

I feel as though my body is in full preparation and near readiness: I have back ache, cramps... lots of braxton hicks & tenderness... but I am aware that this could remain for days or even a couple of weeks before you decide it is time to join us.

Thankfully I am feeling relaxed and patient, nothing like I was with Joshua... I am happy to go 2 weeks over our due date, which will take us to 16th July, so some time off yet. I can't imagine I'd be a "joy" to be around... but I will wait for you to come when you are ready.

Lucky for me your Dad is super supportive, I think his love for me and you far out weighs any moods I can have... tho I think my moods are pretty good :) of course! Naturally anyone who has been through pregnancy is far more compassionate and considerate because they just "get" it and it is not easy to "explain" the series of emotions from joy to complete exhaustion a heavily pregnant woman goes through in a matter of minutes. Lucky for me I have lots of super supportive girlfriends who are here for me so lovingly, particularly Kim, Martha and Vanessa have been wonderful. It does help that most of the time I am one of those "glowing" pregnant women and the pregnancy itself I adore, I love feeling you move inside me, I love the anticipation... I am lucky to not suffer many ill side effects as I know can be horrible for some...

Also helps that your Dad is so great, I think he is just beside himself with joy to becoming a Dad again. Sometimes when we are in the bath... and your Dad sits in (the bathroom, not the bath... there is no room LOL) to chat with us... I see him gazing at you {my big belly}... he has this grin and stare and it makes me feel like we are living a dream. We know we are very blessed to have found each other and created this gorgeous family we have... with all the ups and downs. Life is beautiful. 

Soon enough you will be here and we will be gazing adoringly at you with love, awe and fascination.

Love out

Bxo