Miriam, My Love

2008-06-26T16:00:00.005-06:00

Miriam has been walking for over a month now--I guess I just never got around to posting anything about it. I love that she is walking! And she loves it, too. All she wants to do is walk and walk and walk...and try to escape. Luckily, I am still faster than her.

In other big news, yesterday marks Miriam's first official "temper-tantrum," complete with crying and throwing herself dramatically down on the floor while waving her arms and kicking her feet. Now whenever I take anything away from her that she wants (like my cell phone), she throws herself to the floor and starts kicking. I do my best to ignore it and not laugh. So far no tantrum has lasted longer than about 30 seconds.

These pictures are from about two months ago when we visited an iris farm in Boulder with my grandparents. The first picture is my favorite of my grandpa.

The Story of Miriam's Birth

2008-06-12T09:44:00.004-06:00

I finally wrote out Miriam's birth story (I know, I know...it's been 13 months!). Don't worry, you don't have to read it all...I just needed a place to post it. Related to this is a post on my other blog that I (finally) updated.

My Miriam,
Your due date was Monday, May 7. You had measured small for weeks inside of me and my doctor didn’t want to wait too long to get you out. She decided that she would induce me the Wednesday after my due date. I didn’t want to be induced—I had read a few natural childbirth books, I had scheduled a doula to be there to help me through labor and birth, I didn’t want to use any drugs—so I thought that I should try to get labor started on my own.

On Saturday, May 5, I worked out in the yard pulling weeds off of the fence for several hours. I remember talking to your Grandpa Rob on the phone while I was sweating outside in the Saint Louis summer heat. After a while I just couldn’t take the humidity anymore, so I went inside and walked up and down the stairs to the basement about twenty times. I had been drinking red raspberry leaf tea and cumin seed tea and taking evening primrose oil for days. Around two that afternoon, the contractions began. Your dad and I went on a walk that evening—I had to stop walking every five minutes or so as the contractions became more and more intense. I felt kind of silly stopping and having a contraction along a busy road! Your dad and I tried to go to bed that night, but neither of us slept as the contractions became longer and longer, but less regular. After being five minutes apart for hours, they began spacing out—sometimes as long as eight minutes apart—but they were a minute and a half long. Around one in the morning on May 6, my whole body began shaking and trembling all over and all I could do was cry through my contractions.

We finally decided to head for the hospital at about 2:50 that morning after calling my doula, Sarah. I felt so unsure regarding this decision—I wanted to stay home as long as possible, but I also felt that something was just not right. Your dad called your grandma Kathleen on the way to the hospital and your grandma still tells people how your dad told her, “Daisy isn’t looking very happy.”

It seemed to take forever to get me checked into a room at the hospital. I just sat in a chair in the waiting room with your dad and Sarah feeling absolutely miserable. A nurse finally got me into a triage room so that she could make sure I was really in labor. After being in labor so long already, I felt such a sense of despair when the nurse told me that I was 50 to 60 percent effaced and only one centimeter dilated. She even mentioned that she might have to send me home. I felt like crying—I was in so much pain I could hardly move and the thought of being sent home was completely overwhelming. However, the fetal monitor showed that weren’t moving very much, so the nurse decided to keep me on the monitor for awhile to make sure you were doing ok. The nurse gave me some orange juice and left the room.

By 5:00, you had started to move more, but there was some variability in your heart rate so I was instructed to stay on the monitor, which meant no walking. I felt too miserable to move anyway.

Because your heart rate never improved, my nurse, Barbara, checked me into a labor room at 7:00 that morning. I was so hungry, but Barbara told me I couldn’t eat or drink. I think Sarah snuck me a granola bar after Barbara left the room. By 7:50, my cervix was 90 percent effaced and three centimeters dilated. I couldn’t believe it—after nearly 18 hours of labor I was only 3 centimeters dilated. I think this is when I lost my resolve to this labor without drugs. My doula, Sarah, wrote this about this time (I do not remember it): “Your dad was so sweet to your mother and came and kissed her and told her he loved her and that love takes time.”

I tried sitting on a birthing ball for awhile, but I was just as miserable there as in bed, so I decided to curl back up in bed. I was so incredibly exhausted that I began to sleep between contractions. It doesn’t make sense that you can sleep between sessions of the most painful experience of your life, but I couldn’t help it—all my body wanted was sleep—and an epidural.

By 8:30, I decided that I couldn’t do it anymore and I asked for an epidural. And I waited…and waited. At 9:45, the anesthesiologist entered. The one thing worse than experiencing an incredibly slow and painful labor is experiencing an incredibly slow and painful labor while waiting for the anesthesiologist for an hour and fifteen minutes, measuring the time contraction by painful contraction.

It was the best feeling of my life: the epidural was sweet heaven for me. I was able to sleep, I was able to smile for the first time in hours. However, I was still only three centimeters dilated by 10:15. Twenty hours, three lousy centimeters. So much for all the natural labor books I had read. Your daddy and I both went to sleep.

At 1:00 in the afternoon, Dr. Super came to check on us. Your heart rate was still not great and I was still only at three centimeters (Twenty-three hours: three centimeters). Dr. Super wanted to put an internal monitor on you so he broke my water at 1:10 (which is a very funny feeling). It was full of meconium, which meant you might be in distress and not tolerating my contractions very well. He had the nurse give me oxygen to see if that would help. After about five minutes, your heart rate dropped dramatically and the doctor said something about my uterus not reacting very well, either. He told me he was going to do a c-section. I started crying and the nurses began to prepare me for the surgery. They gave me a shot that makes labor stop, but it also makes your body shake all over uncontrollably. It is not very pleasant. At 1:20 I was wheeled in my bed out of my room, down the hall, and into an operating room. This all happened so fast, that I don’t remember many details at all. Your dad was not there yet and I was so scared. Because of the extra drugs I was given for the surgery, I could not feel myself breathing, which was terrifying. I remember saying over and over, “I can’t breath, I can’t breath.” The doctor (Dr. Super?) let me know that if I was talking, I was breathing. Plus, I had an oxygen mask on. Another doctor stood on my right and told me that I could hold his hand. I think I must have dug my nails into his hand because he told me to be a bit nicer. Finally your dad arrived and I held his hand, too, all the way through the surgery.

The surgery was the strangest experience. I could feel Dr. Super cutting and pulling on my skin, but I could not feel any pain. My head was uncontrollably turning right and left because of the drugs. It was horribly uncomfortable and really quite scary.

At 1:38 you were born! I didn’t get to see you after Dr. Super pulled you out of me, but I could certainly hear you crying! You cried the whole time the doctors were sewing me up. Your dad left me and went to the other side of the room where you were getting weighed, getting a bath, and being wrapped up. If I looked backward over my left shoulder, I could just see you. You were 6 pounds, 4 ounces, and you had lots of dark hair. Your apgar scores were 7 and 9 at 1 and 5 minutes after birth. A nurse gave you to me as I was being wheeled back to our delivery room at about 2:15. My arms were so numb from the epidural that I thought I was going to drop you. You were so little and your face was swollen and bruised. At first your dad and I wondered if you were really ours since you looked so funny. I loved you the minute I saw you, though…the most beautiful baby on earth even if you were swollen and funny looking.

Sarah, my doula, helped you to nurse for the first time at 2:50. You latched on so well and nursed for 25 minutes. I still couldn’t feel my arms, so she held you up to me. I was still shaking all over, but by 3:30 I was doing better.

We stayed in the hospital for four days to give me time to recover from the surgery. During that time you changed from funny-looking to just plain adorable.

2008-06-12T09:00:00.000-06:00

Miriam's first ponytail

2008-06-01T22:00:00.002-06:00

Year-Old Baby

2008-05-13T14:23:00.003-06:00

Miriam turned one on May 6! I can't believe I have a one-year-old. She is so precious--I had no idea how wonderful it is to be a mother! Andrew and I are finishing up our year in Colorado. We will return to Saint Louis in August for his final year of seminary. It has definitely been a good year, but I am a bit concerned still about being a "pastor's wife." People make associations with that role, and I don't seem to fit any of them. However, I am excited to make my own place the church in the future--one that doesn't include being the church pianist or children's ministry coordinator!
I am excited to return to Saint Louis. It definitely seems like home now--especially because our house and all our furniture are there! The year will be challenging, however, as I attempt to find a job that I can do without leaving Miriam and as we will try to sell our house in what is looking like it will continue to be a depressed market. For now, I'm just enjoying our final few months of Denver weather and free grandparent babysitters!

Miriam is 11 Months!

2008-04-07T13:09:00.007-06:00

We've been without an internet connection for several weeks--but it's back now, yea! Miriam turned 11 months yesterday and commemorated the event by learning to say "daddy" (a step up from "da-da"). Here are my favorite 11-month photos.

Miriam and Elanor

2008-03-19T15:08:00.005-06:00

Kathleen, my roommate for two years in college and super wonderful friend came for a visit last week from Seattle with her two-month-old, Elanor. Elanor and Miriam were practically the same size! We had so much fun!

Boulder!

2008-03-13T20:56:00.006-06:00

On Tuesday Miriam and I, along with my roommate from college, Kathleen, who was visiting from Seattle with her baby, Elanor, drove up to Boulder to meet Andrew, who was there for a church conference, for a little stroll down Pearl Street (now please diagram that sentence). Here are a few pictures of Miriam with her daddy. Pictures of Elanor will be posted soon!

Miriam is taking a nap, so I started a new blog!

2008-03-03T13:38:00.004-07:00

Ok all you blog readers...I have taken the plunge and started a new blog! I have felt creatively hindered by my baby blog so I created a creative writing based blog (how many times can I use "create" in one sentence?). So, send me a poem and I'll put it up. Or email me a cool picture you've taken or drawn and I'll post that. Or just visit it from time to time if you care to learn some of my thoughts on life. Click here for the blog or click on the link on the left.

2008-03-03T11:38:00.003-07:00

I just finished two more changing pads. My mom is buying them from me to use as baby gifts for friends. My first customer! She actually bought another one from me awhile ago. It was so cool--brown corduroy--but I forgot to take a picture of it.

I'm working on a blanket and a bib now. I'll post pictures soon!

Visit to Great-Grammy and Great-Popadaddy's home in Kansas

2008-02-26T09:47:00.003-07:00

sleep success!

2008-02-21T09:30:00.004-07:00

We fixed our computer and I can do pictures again! My mom, Miriam, and I just got back on Monday from a trip to Kansas where we visited my grandmother and grandfather (Miriam's middle name, Grayce, is my grandmother's name). I was sick, so my mom got up with Miriam at night--which meant no nursing at night! Well our night weaning endeavor was a success. Miraim finally goes all night without nursing (about 11 hours) and has only been waking up once at night. I feel functional again! She has also started taking longer naps! We are finally getting somewhere with this sleep problem of hers.

i've been tagged!

2008-02-12T08:53:00.000-07:00

I have been tagged for the following survey by my friend Laura @ Valley Housewife

A.The rules of the game are posted at the beginning.
B. Each player answers the questions about themselves.
C. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

What I was doing 10 Years Ago:
I was in high school causing my poor mother all sorts of grief.

5 Things on my to-do list today:
1. go to the fabric store
2. finish cleaning the bathroom
3. back up pictures on my computer
4. do some sewing
5. call the City of Saint Louis to ask about property taxes--I can't wait!! (Andrew told me I have to do this, but I keep putting it off)

Snacks I enjoy:
ice cream!

Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
Oh my, that is a lot of money. I would feel completely overwhelmed. I guess I would invest, give lots and lots away, and set up wedding and college funds for my future children. And I would buy a new car to replace my 1987 Subaru!

3 of my bad habits:
1. freaking out when the apartment gets too messy and causing Andrew to say, "Daisy, don't be obsessed."
2. leaving poopy cloth diapers laying around instead of dealing with them right away (I know, I know, that is really gross--I'll work on this one!)
3. not making phone calls in a timely manner (sorry to all of you I need to call! I will do it soon, I promise!)

5 places I have lived:
1. Colorado (Centennial, Arvada, Boulder, and Colorado Springs)
2. Seattle, Washington (Queen Anne, Ballard, and Capitol Hill)
3. Baku, Azerbaijan
4. Port Orchard, Washington
5. Saint Louis, Missouri

5 jobs I have had (of many):
1. Writer/Editor/Accountant at Caleb Project (non-profit missionary curriculum provider) (I didn't actually get paid for this job, but it was lots of fun)
2. Barista at Starbucks
3. Head Custodian at Macky Auditorium at the University of Colorado, Boulder
4. Child Study report writer at Boulder County Department of Social Services
5. ESL teacher in Seattle and Baku

5 things people don't know about me:
1. I eat ice cream every night. When I stop nursing I am in big trouble!
2. I have decided to go "no 'poo," or, decided to stop using shampoo. Instead I use baking soda and vinegar. Click here to read more if you think I'm crazy. I am definitely going through the "icky hair" phase as my hair adjusts, but if this works, I'm going to save tons of money!
3. While watching a few minutes of the Grammys a few nights ago, I realized that I missed my true calling of being a back-up dancer for Beyonce (just kidding--but it did look like fun!).
4. My cat of 20 years (I got her when I was 7!) will probably have to be put down in a few days. She lives with my parents, so it won't be as hard, but I am definitely going to miss my Smokey.
5. I love to read (well-written, quality) novels. From August through October I think I read something like 17 novels. I have slowed down quite a bit since then because Miriam won't let me read while she nurses anymore.

I would like to tag:
Lisa - Nora Noelle
Lindsay the Honns
Amanda - Swick Family
Lisa H. - Life is always a journey with Lisa
Maria - My Hearts Moments

Grow, baby, grow!!

2008-02-08T09:34:00.000-07:00

Once again I can't upload pictures to this blog from my computer. That's why these pictures are not the greatest quality (they are copied from another site). We can't seem to get rid of whatever is afflicting our computer. I am about ready to throw it out the window. Miriam, too. Just kidding. She got three shots two days ago and had a fever all day yesterday. Last night she would only sleep laying down if she was snuggled right next to me in bed. Sweet, yes, but it meant a sleepless night for me. She seems perfectly fine now, though. Miriam got weighed at the pediatrician's and the poor little thing only weighs 16 pounds (she's 9 months). She is in the 5th percentile for her weight and about that for her height. Her doctor says she's never going to be tall. Well, I could have guessed that! She is happy, laughs all the time, and crawls like mad, so I guess she is just small! And on a positive note, she rarely outgrows her clothes.

2008-01-22T20:03:00.001-07:00

Yeah! Our internet connection is working again! These are from about two weeks ago when Miriam first started standing in her crib. Now she is pulling up on everything in our apartment.

Miriam is crawling...ahhhhh!

2008-01-16T16:20:00.001-07:00

Well, I haven't gotten anything started with my home business yet. I'm partly procrastinating, but really, I have almost no time to myself now that Miriam has decided to try to give up napping altogether. And as she is waking up 3 to 5 times a night, my days are just a foggy blur anyway. On the bright side, Miriam started crawling 10 days ago and learned how to pull herself to standing a few days before that. Now I spend my days chasing her around the house. And keeping her from licking the toilet. For videos and pictures of the little steam engine, visit http://picasaweb.google.com/daisyfarhat/CrawlingAndStanding . Our internet connection is all messed up (we use our neighbor's wireless) and so I can't upload pictures right now.

Christmas with Grandma Ferial and Grandpa Bill

2007-12-30T15:24:00.001-07:00

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-25T20:52:00.000-07:00

Baby feet are so sweet...

2007-12-19T17:48:00.001-07:00

this picture is a little dark, but still sweet...

2007-12-19T17:45:00.000-07:00

Toy Time

2007-12-14T13:11:00.000-07:00

We woke up to more snow this morning and it has been snowing all day. The snow is so pretty, but Miriam and I like to admire it from the window. We've been playing with her toys all morning...maybe we'll venture out to play in the snow this afternoon.

In other Miriam news, I think she is about to learn to crawl! She has been forgoing her naps to practice on her hands and knees in her crib. She gets up on all fours and then rocks back and forth. She hasn't quite figured out how to move forward yet.

Snowy Day

2007-12-12T11:54:00.001-07:00

yesterday was a very snowy day...

(the view from our apartment window)

...so I made cupcakes for a Christmas party I was going to last night.

They are snowflake cupcakes!

Miriam is seven months!

2007-12-07T11:40:00.001-07:00

Happy Thanksgiving!!

2007-11-30T11:24:00.000-07:00

I'm about to go insane...

2007-11-19T16:11:00.001-07:00

You can't tell from this picture, but Miriam has been crying ALL DAY today and nursing incessantly. She is refusing to eat any solids and I don't think she's napped more than 15 minutes at a time. Either she is going through a growth spurt, or I'm running out of milk. All you mothers out there, can that happen?

Project #1 - Travel Changing Mat

2007-11-16T14:49:00.000-07:00

This is the mat rolled up and ready to travel:

This is the side the baby lays on to get changed:

Like this!:

This is the outside of the mat:

Miriam is not too sure about it. She'll like it when she feels how soft it is--not like that icky plastic thing I've been using.

I have been waiting to start on my sewing projects because the organic flannel I want to make diapers from is temporarily out of stock at my favorite online organic fabric store (http://www.organiccottonplus.com/). However, I discovered an awesome web store a few days ago where you can buy and sell homemade stuff--www.etsy.com (check it out for fun, inexpensive, homemade Christmas presents!!)--and I felt inspired by all baby items there to get going with my sewing machine (actually, my mom's machine--mine is in my basement in Saint Louis). So I made a trip to good old Jo-Ann's Fabrics and picked up supplies. Definitely not the quality organic fabrics that I would like to work with, but it is probably a good idea to try everything out with cheap non-organic fabrics first. And indeed, I did discover a few useful tidbits while working on this changing mat. #1: Chenille (the fuzzy pink fabric) is a pain to work with. There are fuzzy pink bits of it all over our apartment and after you cut it it seems to magically change shape. #2: I still hate hand sewing. I had to hand-sew one of the edges to this, but after I was done I thought of a way I could have done it with the machine instead. Otherwise, it was fun and I'm excited to start on my next project!

Sweet Baby

2007-11-16T14:44:00.001-07:00

today's pictures

2007-11-07T15:53:00.001-07:00

My back is feeling better today, so I popped on Miriam's hat so we could go out for a bit. But then I realized how cute she looked...

thoughts from the sick bed

2007-11-06T14:52:00.001-07:00

I am sitting on my couch today with not much to do (well, plenty to do, but my back went out two days ago and hasn't improved since, so I'm trying to take it easy for awhile). Miriam has been so good today, just playing quietly on my bed with her toys while I have been glued to the last Harry Potter book with an ice pack on my back. There's not much I'm able to do in the way of chores today, so I tore myself away from The Deathly Hallows to write a quick post.

I've been thinking a lot of pregnancy and childbirth lately. And not just because I went through it recently. I guess I am really scared of getting pregnant again. I don't just mean now is not a good time, we should wait awhile longer, etc. I mean I am scared of getting pregnant again, ever. I have been overcome with the perilousness of it since becoming pregnant myself. I always just thought women just got pregnant, went to the hospital, and had a baby. Painful, yes...dangerous, no.

Yet I was terrified my whole pregnancy. I was scared I would miscarry for the first half, terrified I wouldn't come home with a baby the second half. I even kept tags on many baby gifts because I thought I might have to take them back. How sick is that?? Nothing went too wrong during my pregnancy, but for the first 12 weeks I took progesterone because mine was too low...too low to sustain a pregnancy, my doctor said. Articles on the internet (don't EVER look on the internet for this kind of stuff) said that progesterone would only make a pregnancy destined to fail last a little longer. And it didn't help that over about the past two years, a total of seven friends (not just people I casually know...all good friends and my neighbor) have had miscarriages.

And yet, my pregnancy continued. At about 30 weeks, I went to the ER with contractions. When my contractions were coming about five minutes apart, a nurse gave me a shot to stop labor. It made my body shake and tremble for a few hours. I went home and quit my job.

At an OBGYN visit at about 35 weeks, my doctor said my belly was measuring too small. She sent me to get an ultrasound. The baby was an ok size, but my amniotic fluid was low. Andrew asked the doctor reviewing the ultrasound results what this could mean if it continued. "Stillbirth," he answered. The jerk.

I went in for ultrasounds once a week until I went into labor the day before my due date. After about twenty hours of crazy painful contractions, I had only dilated to three centimeters and the doctor took me in for a c-section because Miriam's heart rate kept plummeting. At the end of it all, she was fine, I was fine. A healthy baby. I praise God for her everyday.

But I always wanted a lot of kids. Myfirst thought after my c-section was, "I want more kids, but how can I ever go through that again." I felt really devastated. Since then the terror of my labor and c-section has faded, but new fears have surfaced. If I opt to try a vaginal delivery next baby, there is a risk of uterine rupture. I have no desire to go into labor again, so an elective c-section sounds quite a bit more appealing. However, c-sections are not without their own risks. I found this in a recent new article:"Compared with vaginal deliveries, cesarean deliveries have twice the risk of complications and deaths of both infants and mothers when the fetus is in the normal, head-down position, according to findings from a study conducted in Latin America."

A pregnant friend called me today. She told me of her recent ER visit. She had a kidney infection and went into early labor, all because her doctor didn't diagnose an ongoing urinary tract infection. But she wasn't calling about her. She was calling to tell me about another friend of ours who gave birth a couple weeks ago. Her baby went into the hospital yesterday because he had lost about two and a half pounds since birth and his sodium reading was through the roof. I don't know much more than that--Lord Jesus, let him be ok.

If I get pregnant again, I know I will just have to go through it and trust in God's care to preserve my life and the baby's, but I am scared all the same. Every day I look at my baby and think of what a gift she is--more precious than I ever imagined. And every time I hear that a friend is in labor, my heart starts to beat quickly, my hands get clammy, and I can't think of much else until I hear that the baby has been born. God has infinitely blessed women with the ability to bear children, for I have known no greater joy, but I have know no greater fear, either. For me, the two have always been combined.

the pumkin patch

2007-10-28T20:51:00.000-06:00

Fall Pictures

2007-10-23T17:24:00.000-06:00

Today was so warm and beautiful, so Miriam and I went and played in the park for awhile. I am still trying to figure out my mom's camera that I am borrowing, but I got a few cute shots. Miriam loved sitting on the ground (she can sit up!) and grabbing for dirt and leaves.

2007-10-23T17:00:00.000-06:00

Highlights of the Week:

2007-10-20T15:01:00.000-06:00

Miriam FINALLY rolled over, front to back. At every pediatrician visit over the past few months: "Has she rolled over yet?" "Nope." "Oh...well...it will probably be soon." Thanks. However, she rolled over on Tuesday. It is now Saturday and she has not figured out how to do it again. Actually I think it was quite an accident on Tuesday--she looked startled when it happened. Or maybe it was just me squealing and clapping my hands that made her look like that. Other than her one accidental flip, she just flails her arms and legs and whimpers when I put her down on her stomach. So much for tummy time.

I made $20 off an old punk band shirt I sold on ebay. Let the home business begin!

Actually, I can't begin quite yet. I ordered fabric samples on October 5 and I got an email yesterday (th 19th) that they had just been shipped. Slow as molasses.

2007-10-17T16:18:00.002-06:00

2007-10-14T17:32:00.001-06:00

Reinstating the blog

2007-10-12T13:39:00.000-06:00

I don't have time to blog...I really, really don't. As all my friends know, I don't even have time to answer emails. I don't even know if anyone really reads other people's blogs. Miriam has woken up from her nap and is crying in the other room, I have clothes strewn across the apartment because I woke up half and hour before I was supposed to be at a Bible study at church (YOU try showering, dressing, eating, changing the baby's diaper, feeding the baby, dressing the baby, washing spit-up off the baby's face, making sure there are diapers in the diaper bag, making sure there are extra clothes in the diaper bag in case the baby has explosive poop, making it down the treacherous apartment stairs with a baby and overloaded diaper bag, and getting the baby in the car seat in half an hour! I was only five minutes late to church...I'd say that's pretty good). I need to make dinner for tonight, I have a few errands to run, I need to fold clean diapers, do a few loads of laundry, finish cleaning the toilet that I began cleaning yesterday, etc, etc. I did want to be a housewife...

On top of blogging, I now hope add the ventures of WAHM to SAHM ("work-at-home mom" and "stay-at-home mom," to the uninitiated). I have to figure out a way to make money and not put Miriam into daycare by next August. My ideas so far have been: cake making, writing, and selling everything I own on ebay. I have tried to get into cake making, but I am just not motivated to practice. And since my last cake was really quite ugly, I haven't felt inspired to try again. My sister has an awesome idea for a children's book she wants me to help write and my stepbrother to illustrate, but as a I know absolutely nothing about writing for children, she might fire me. Selling everything I own on ebay would only last so long. My newest idea is making organic cotton diapers and nursing covers and selling them on the internet. I already know how to sew, so this would involve only finding a fabric supplier, experimenting with different fabrics, and learning the best way to sell them on the web. I could start with ebay and then try to sell to natural baby stores if I find that there is a market. If nothing else, at least I will know how to make my own diapers!

I'll try to update this blog frequently with the successes and failures of my upcoming business, with pictures of the cutest baby ever, and with whatever else I feel like at the time. So if you are one of those people that reads blogs, here begins the reinstatement of the blog.

Our new love

2007-05-11T13:49:00.000-06:00

Miriam Grayce. Born May 6, 2007, at 1:38 in the afternoon. Weighed 6 lbs., 4 oz., 19 1/2 inches long. Please visit http://picasaweb.google.com/daisyfarhat for pictures of Miriam.

2007-04-27T19:59:00.000-06:00

We are moving!

2007-04-26T08:21:00.000-06:00

In mid-August, Andrew will begin serving at Peace Lutheran Church in Arvada, Colorado. We will be living in Colorado for one year and after that, it is back to Saint Louis for Andrew's final year of Seminary. We are so excited to serve at this wonderful church!

Baby Shower!

2007-04-25T13:00:00.000-06:00

On Sunday some ladies from our church in Saint Louis, Historic Trinity Lutheran, threw Andrew and me a surprise baby shower (it was a surprise to me--Andrew was in on it!). We received some wonderful baby supplies at the shower!

Baby Farhat is coming soon!!

2007-04-14T13:27:00.000-06:00

Almost 37 weeks!

2007-04-14T13:20:00.000-06:00

Our 32-week old baby!

2007-03-16T11:39:00.000-06:00

She's now over four pounds. Just a few more pounds to go! I went in for this ultrasound because my belly measured a bit small at my last doctor's visit. All's well, however--the ultrasound showed that Baby Farhat is in the 43rd percentile for her weight--so she's just perfect!

my mom can't believe it!!

2007-03-06T20:23:00.000-07:00

For all those who have been waiting..."Daisy With Belly"

2007-03-06T20:19:00.000-07:00

Baby at 20 weeks (12-20-06)

2006-12-21T14:08:00.000-07:00

2006-12-12T15:55:00.000-07:00

This is Baby Farhat on October 2. She's less than an inch long!