August 2016

Downtown Bozeman Chalk on the Walk event

I had the privilege of attending the birth of my dear friend Angie's second daughter. She gave birth at the Bozeman Birth Center where I birthed Ella. Angie filmed Ella's birth and now almost 8 years later I was there to film Kestrel's birth. This was the first out of hospital birth that I got to witness besides my own and it was magical. I am so grateful to Angie and Chris for including me in this special day. It couldn't have been any more beautiful and perfect. Angie is a birthing rockstar. 

We celebrated with Dave's sushi after the birth 

These ladies are some of my favorite people in Bozeman. Amy & I were pregnant with our first children together and Angie attended both of our baby's births. Now we were both there to attend Kestrel's birth. We really went full circle, even starting and ending at the same birth center. These ladies were the first people to open my eyes to the natural birth & breastfeeding community. Because of them I had the most empowering experience of my life, natural birth on my own terms. My passion for empowering women through birth & breastfeeding education led me to a career I love thanks to them! 

The Gallatin Breastfeeding Coalition worked hard putting together "The Big Latch On 2016" 

The Global Big Latch On takes place at a registered locations around the world, where women gather together to breastfeed and offer peer support to each other. Their friends, family and community join this celebration to promote and support breastfeeding. Volunteers from within the community host each location, hosting a Global Big Latch On creates a lasting support network for the community.

It ended up being a huge success! 

Mom & baby yoga during the latch on 

Supportive dads 

Some of the wonderful ladies who made this event happen

Arriving at the latch on with my car so packed I had to drive there like this. 

Sweet Pea Festival 2016

Gordon always likes Nana and Lissa's food better than his own - even if it is the exact same food. 

The sign for the breastfeeding tent that the Gallatin Breastfeeding Coalition set up at Sweet Pea. It's a comfortable spot for moms to rest and nurse in the shade. 

Ella's henna from SLAM fest 

Finn's deep freezer full of breastmilk! 

"This breastpump doesn't work very well" - Gordon 

Hiking in Yellowstone 

Lunch at The River House Grill on the way home from Yellowstone 

Mark packed 2 pairs of pj pants and no shirt so Gordon decided to wear Jeff's shirt & socks on his hands 

Gordon got 10 wasps stings from an in ground wasp nest at the playground - he was fine by the next morning 

Floating the Madison with the math department ladies 

Gordon spent the night at Melissa's and Ella spent the night at Nana's. Date night for us! 

Sweet Pea Parade 

Horse ride while hiking in Yellowstone 

The valley has been very smokey from the forest fires lately - this was the sun on the way to school

Ella's first day of school - we decided to go to our neighborhood school this year. It takes less than 5 minutes to bike there!

We really lucked out with Ella's teacher. She is super sweet and Ella adores her. Ella even listed her as one of her best friends at school. Her teacher also knows a lot of our friends so that's a good sign. Ella is making a lot of friends and is loving it so far. Even though Ella & Gordon are at the same school they don't see each other during the day except in passing. It actually works out great that way. They would be in the same class if we kept them at the Montessori school and that would not have been good for either of them. They are ready to be their own little people without worrying about each other. They get plenty of time together at home! 

Gordon biked to school on his first day. Kindergartners have a slow start. He had 1 hour the first day, 2 hours the second day and a full day on his third day. So far, he loves it and is doing really well. 

Gordon with my boss's son before school

Gordon's classroom - he said he likes his teacher better than me. I'm ok with that! 

Gordon's new form of transportation to school. He was stopping for water and snacks every block when he biked so I put him in my basket out of convenience. 

The first thing Gordon said when he woke up today was, "it's my first full day of Kindergarten, I better get ready!" I was the only one crying at drop off. He pushed me away when I hugged him too long and he was the first kid to get in line. Maybe he is ready?! I told him to ask his teacher if he needed help filling his water bottle or getting lunch and he told me he knows where everything is and can do it himself! 

He got something in his eye right before they were going to walk in and I was so worried about leaving him! Fortunately, our family doctor has a son in Gordon's class so he checked out his eye and gave him the go ahead to head into school. 

Family photos by http://www.midiphotografi.com