Hi there! I'm Sheaffer. I chimed in on the Due Date Roll Call thread, but here's a little more about me and my family...
I'm 36, and expecting my 4th. I have two daughters from a previous relationship (if one can even call it that) that thankfully I was able to end after too many years of turmoil and struggle. I am so grateful to have my daughters, but man oh man, do I sometimes wish I could turn back that clock! I manifested the man of my dreams after years of dreaming about him, and sure enough, after I'd given up on relationships for the long term! We met thru friends at a Phish show (I know, I know...hippie dippie...) but seriously, connected like we'd been waiting for each other our entire lives! Pretty magical, and romantic. After dating for a few months, he met my girls, we all fell in love, and poof! we got married and started this amazing life together! We had our son in Aug 2012, and really tightened our bond as a family. We are all excited about the addition of another
The girls were both born in the hospital, with attending midwives, which I didn't feel was any different than an Ob/Gyn really. They popped in when they had a minute, and then when it was time to push. Our boy was born at home, with all of us in bed together, and that is our plan this time as well!!! This baby should come sometime late Aug/early Sept.
The girls are 10.5 and 5. Our oldest (Cancer) is a dancer, aerial artist, writer, and avid reader. She's very affectionate, and isn't much into doing things on her own. She needs a lot of positive reinforcement, which can be exhausting for me as a parent, but I'm trying my best to balance it so she can gain some real confidence. She has truly amazing gifts! The middle girl (Virgo) is a spit-fire, highly creative, energetic child who loves to create art in as many mediums as possible! She's very perceptive, with great common sense (something our older girl is challenged with!) She also loves to dance, get wrapped up in the aerial silks, and has a wonderful sense of humor. She has explosive meltdowns which we are always learning how to navigate. I know that her strong will and focus will serve her well someday. It's been an interesting learning experience with her from the beginning...induction at 42 wks, 32 hr labor which ended in an epidural but a vaginal delivery, not the best nursing baby but we did last 9 months. She was happier with a bottle of raw goats' milk that she could hold on her own- go figure. Our current littlest (Leo/Virgo), is happy, happy, happy! Very loving and affectionate, but independent and ALL BOY! Loves tools, and how things work, reading books (over and over and over....), climbing, holding rocks, watching birds, and being outside or on the breast! We just night weaned, and it went better than I thought. I'm sure I got him just at the perfect moment. Score for mama!
AFM (Scorpio), most days I feel like a maid, but I remind myself that these days will be over all too soon, and I should try to enjoy each day for all of it's dishes, diapers, laundry, tears, smiles, kisses, and laughter. I love to cook, research recipes, read (when I can- currently reading Raising Your Spirited Child, and a free novel on my Kindle), travel, camp, work in the garden, being artsy craftsy, and eating! I My most amazing husband (Cancer) is a Jack of all trades- seriously, he can do anything from building a house, to creating jewelry. He is an avid gardener, outdoorsman, Phish-loving hippie type, with a northeasty attitude( originaly from PA) and a loving provider, and protector. We both are able to be home, and love raising our family together. We grow herbs, food, and flowers to sustain our health and lifestyle in Northern California. Sometimes we sell products made from said herbs (teas, chapstick, oils), and during the growing season our girls can be found in the town square selling plants, and veggies
Looking forward to this journey with you all, even if it means some silver locks