unassisted birth

Today I was reading a blog entry about unassisted birth.
The blog writer expressed that she didn't feel like she had a bond with her son because, even though it was a natural birth, she had the help of a midwife.... and this is the response I shared on her blog entry:
- I think I understand what you're expressing in this entry. And because everyone is entitled to their own way of thinking I'd like to share with you that I disagree with "I really don't think most moms own their babies". The fact that someone (whether it's a midwife, doctor, husband, etc.) holds your baby as he exits your body and then hands him over to you has nothing to do with ownership. In the same way that having someone else helping you with the birthing process does not mean you're less involved,or less in control.
God did not put us here on earth for us to do everything alone. And in fact being able to do things alone does not mean one is stronger. We are all brothers and sisters, who should work as a team. I believe that it is as much a blessing to give birth to a baby as it is to allow someone else to be involved with the birth of 'your' baby.
I've read a few things about home births, natural births and the like. And I like the idea! I will continue reading about it and contemplating it for myself with this pregnancy (even though my dear husband really dislikes the idea of not having the baby at a hospital). However, I will never think any less of myself, of my bond with my baby, or of my role as this baby's Mama if I decide to have the baby in a hospital, or to have an epidural, or to have the help of others during the birth. I believe that we all have different gifts and doctors and midwives and doulas have a gift when it comes to knowledge and what to do during the birth of a baby. There is nothing wrong about allowing these people to help you (and serve you) with the gifts that they have been given.
I compare it to my gift. I love, love, love reading and learning about health and fitness and proper nutrition. And I'm now working in the fitness industry. There is nothing wrong in another person allowing me to help them in their workout routine (it's my job). When others allow me to help them with their exercise it doesn't mean that they don't own their own health or body, or that they are less in control. They are just allowing someone else (who has a gift in that particular area) to help them.
It seems like so many mothers who do unassisted birth feel like they are better mothers just for that reason. When unassisted birth doesn't necessarily correlate with giving more affection, love, time, patience, etc to a baby.

Sometimes it's easy, but then, sometimes it's hard

So I used to tell myself over and over again that if I got pregnant I would for sure go 100% raw because that would be the best for the baby and for my own body, of course. I kept thinking that having a new being being formed inside of me would be THE BEST motivator to eating healthy all the time, and whenever I would attempt to eat raw but would later fail I just always rationalized that I wasn't motivated enough to do this if it was just for me, BUT if there was another life involved (baby) that I could do it.

Well, I am pregnant! : )
And I have been eating mostly raw fruits. Sometimes it's really easy to eat healthy and to leave aside all the junk that has no nutritional value, however, sometimes it's hard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've been feeling nausea and lots of times nothing, I mean nothing feels appealing to me. The problem is that if I don't eat then I feel weak and then when I do get super hungry I want high caloric foods - and unfortunately, we all know that fruits and vegetables are very low on calories.
There are days when I eat all fruit in the morning and then some vegetables for lunch, but by the time dinner comes around I WANT SOMETHING COOKED!!!
Plus, I think that one factor that is making it hard for me to want to eat all raw is that fact that it's cold! I get cold very easily and fruit or salads are not appealing because thy do not warm me up.
I'm still eating a vegan diet (except for the *&*^%^%$# pizza hut that I had the other day - I was craving it like crazy!!! And the four pieces of beef I had today from Panda!)
Man, sometimes I think I'm a failure. But I know I shouldn't think like that. After all I am taking better care of my body than most people, and I know that it's not Heavenly Father's way of thinking. Satan is the one that wants me to think that it's either all or nothing and if I make any types of mistakes I'm a looser.
I will just keep making good choices about the food I eat, and I will love my body, my spirit and my soul. The things I do well - I will celebrate, and the things I don't do as well - I will work on improving.

Sofia

savory veggie stews

I get emails from Roger Heaskee regularly and I'm super curious about his savory veggie stews, but there's no way I can afford $97 for a 27 minute  downloadable video that will show me how to make these. At least not now...

So, I've done some searches and these are the only recipes I've come across. The first one I found on a site and it's not one of Roger's original stews (but I'm going to try it this week). The second one I got in an email from Roger and it's by his wife/girlfriend (and I want to try it too).

If anyone out there has a good recipe for a tasty RAW STEW - please share it with me : ) I would send you lots of love and positive energy in return : )

 

You can easily create your own stew based off ingredients you have/like. You can also take any soup recipe and make it chunky by not blending it smoothly or adding in toppings afterward. You can make a stew a combination of sweet and savory by adding dates, sweetener or mild fruit. Here's an example:

1-2 Celery, stalks
4 cups Greens
2 Tomatoes
Carrots, chopped
Green Beans, chopped
1-2 Garlic cloves
Cayenne and/or Curry Powder
2-3 cup Water
Optional: Dash Salt, 2-5 soaked Dates or 2 tsp Agave or honey
Blend Celery, Greens, Tomatoes. Top w/tomatoes, carrots, beans.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Taste Of Asia Gazpacho

By Karmyn Malone

Preparation Time: 10-Minutes or Less

One Large Serving:

2 cups diced tomato (4 roma tomatoes or 1 super large tomato (4"
diameter) will make two cups)

1/4 cup diced red onion

1/2 cup diced red bell pepper

2 tbsp raw honey or raw agave (you can also substitute soaked dried
fruit like raisins or dates)

1 2-inch Thai red hot pepper (to taste or substitute your favorite
hot pepper or omit if you don't like spicy food)

1 teaspoon of fresh ginger

1 cup diced, peeled cucumber

Preparation:

Put 1 cup of the diced tomatoes in a large bowl and mix with 1 cup
of diced cucumber.  Set aside.

Add 1 cup of the diced tomatoes (2 plum or 1/2 super large tomato)
to Vitamix or any blender along with onion, bell pepper, hot pepper
and ginger and quickly liquefy in your blender.

Add the 2 tbsp raw honey and blend until the honey is mixed in.

Pour sauce from the blender over the choppings (tomato and
cucumber) in the bowl.  Stir gently until well mixed and serve
immediately.

Just thankful for Jay

I am just thankful for the simple things in life. I am thankful for my husband. He's the best looking guy I know, and we just work well together. I'm thankful that he has a really good sense of humor and mostly laughs when I'm cranky or emotional. We have a very normal life together. Our love for each other doesn't have much to do with "Hollywood love". We don't eat eachother's face (kissing) after spending some time apart - we would rather hug tightly and show a much more tender type of love, versus the extremely physical type of love Hollywood promotes. Jay doesn't always have the most eloquent, breathless phrases to share with me, but he does tell me he loves me in a simple, direct way, numerous times a day!
I am nothing but myself around him. I guess I could say I'm 'raw' around him : )
I am inlove with him, and I want to not only grow old with Jay but I also want to grow wise and enjoy the eternities with him.
Jay isn't perfect, I am not perfect AND we are not perfect together. But that's OK.

I am so thankful to have Jay in my life. He is a blessing. I know he helps me be a better person, I know he loves his Savior and his Father in Heaven, and I think he is truly the best Papa Gabi and Tiago could have.

whenever i'm alone with you
you make me feel like i am home again
whenever i'm alone with you
you make me feel like i am whole again

whenever i'm alone with you
you make me feel like i am young again
whenever i'm alone with you
you make me feel like i am fun again

however far away
i will always love you
however long i stay
i will always love you
whatever words i say
i will always love you
i will always love you

whenever i'm alone with you
you make me feel like i am free again
whenever i'm alone with you
you make me feel like i am clean again

however far away
i will always love you
however long i stay
i will always love you
whatever words i say
i will always love you
i will always love you