Bradley reunion

Saturday, we gathered at Laurel & Kory's house for the reunion of our Bradley birth method class. All four couples -- plus our teacher Kara -- had their babies naturally, without C-section or epidural, the primary goal of the Bradley method.

Here you see the Bradley boys with their respective kids. Fathers play an integral role in the Bradley method as labor coaches, coaxing their wives through painful contractions and time. Word is, we all held up to our part of the bargain. None regretted taking the class, even though it lasted 10 weeks.



Alison (left) and her husband Goce experienced the largest transformation during the class. Originally they planned to deliver at a local hospital, using an older doctor who upon hearing of their decision to try the Bradley method, discouraged them from attending the class. By the end of the classes, they'd switched course entirely and birthed their son Kosta at home in a water tub with no doctor in the room, only midwives.



Kosta (left) and Jude, our teacher's son, were the youngest kids at the party and therefore the sleepiest. They were both born within two days of each other in water tubs in their respective homes.







Michael totes his daughter, Alana, who was born in mid-December. Mike and Carolyn had the speediest delivery -- less than 12 hours, if I recall correctly. Mike, a teacher, will take parental leave in a couple weeks until September, when school resumes. They live nearby. We hope to take our girls hiking together while we're both off work.



Here, Goce (pronounced GO-che) introduces Kosta to Laurel and Liam, the second-oldest child of the bunch. Laurel and Sarah attend a mother's class together at Willamette Falls Hospital, where both Liam and Claire were born. In April, Kosta and family will fly to Macedonia for two months to meet Goce's family.


Near the end of the party, someone suggested a baby lineup. We laid them down on a sofa from youngest to oldest. Flash bulbs went off incessantly.




Claire was flashing smiles the entire time.



And the infants got their own lineup of proud parents.



We're already planning to get together again this summer. Sarah volunteered our house. Better start cleaning.

Bjorn again

You old folks who had us kids don't know what you missed out on. The Baby Bjorn and other variations of the baby sling/pouch are a Godsend. They make childrearing a greater joy.



Not only does the kid love it, dad loves it, which means dad is more engaged in the child rearing. I put Claire in the sling (not pictured) Wednesday morning and walked around the neighborhood with her before going to work. She sat silently, watching everything go by, soaking up the morning scene, emitting her occasional "Hmmm, hmmmmmmmmm" of content. She was so still and so near my chest, I could almost feel her heart beating. It's the closest thing I'll ever come to actually being "with child."



It also provides a hands-free way to shop and do other chores while Claire-sitting. Above, mom and daughter remain Bjorned together following an 1-and-a-half-hour marathon through Winco Foods. This morning, I put Claire in the Bjorn while I made eggs and bacon. She fell asleep facing outward. I ate. She slept. Life was good.

Tummy time two

As I said, Claire can roll over part way, or all the way on a slanted portion of our bed.


She doesn't much like being on her belly yet. She fusses, then hollers and eventually erupts into a full-fledged cry after about two minutes. These pictures caught her in an especially good mood.


Her mom loves her nonetheless. This nuzzle elicited a big laugh.

Tummy time

Get ready to be slayed again by cuteness.



Claire is holding her head up mighty well. She can roll over onto her side mostly on her own.



And smile doing it.





More to come....

One step forward...

This girl is going places. Look at her posture. Not bad for having only been stood up for two weeks. This is one of her favorite things to do behind diaper changes, watching us eat and smiling. What concentration!

Uh-oh

Claire is losing her beautiful hair. This photo was taken a week ago. Note the almost bare splotch. The loss is even more pronounced now. What color of hair will sprout next? Guesses?

Fortunately, her father is not losing hair in concert, even though this photo conveniently hides the grey matter.

Claire also is teething, we think. Note the time of this post. She woke fussing and drooling, fist planted firmly in her mouth. She fussed a while more after feeding rather than falling asleep. Perhaps her string of sleeping through the night is ending, just as we were getting used to it.