Wednesday, December 27, 2023

Beaty Family Christmas Letter 2023

 

December 2023

Dear Friends & Family,

It’s always amazing to look back at the year and count all the changes and growth. There’s never a dull moment—or year—in the Beaty family!

January started off memorably. Jake preached at Northwood Chapel in Blaine (a stone’s throw from Canada) on January 1, and shortly thereafter we decided unanimously to make it our church family. We have loved being plugged in there!

After a long hospitalization, Jake’s dad Jim passed away on January 2. The family put together a touching memorial service in March attended by many relatives and friends. We’re glad Thea lives a mile or so from each son and seven of the grandkids, so she’s not ever alone for long!

Jake reached a long-pursued milestone in June when he passed the board exam to become accredited as a pastor with the Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA). He is in his third year of working for Infoman, which involves both work from home and client visits all over Washington. His favorite jobs are of the temporary consulting nature when he can bring structure and organization to a business in chaos. He has several other side businesses including car inspections and buying old trucks for a dealership in Germany. Every evening—by phone if he’s away overnight for a consulting job—he and girls read and study the Bible together. We have an amazing husband and father in Jake!

This year felt very different for me personally. This difficult, and now long, season of desiring but not having a baby in the family means I have more bandwidth than previous years, and in January I decided to jump back into more community and church work. I was welcomed to play piano and guitar at our new church (first time since the week before Sophia was born!), taught beginner Spanish classes to kids at two local libraries, ran a couple of side businesses, and—biggest challenge of all—became director for a new Classical Conversations Campus in Birch Bay. We meet one day a week, just a mile down the road at my parents’ church. And this school year, I spend quite a few hours a day homeschooling my four willing students as they advance in grade level and their capacity for learning increases.    

Joel turned TWENTY in July! Jake and the older girls went to an air show with him at Army/Air Force Base Lewis-McCord, where he is stationed, on his birthday. There is word of deployment early next year, but until then, we’re glad he’s close enough to visit occasionally!  

Michael (also now 20 years old) rents a loft apartment in a nearby city. When not working as a bank teller, he can be seen out and about on his favorite possession - a motorcycle!

Samuel graduated from Job Corps in August. He works as a welder in Astoria, Oregon, has his own Subaru, and we message back and forth. 

Sophia had a big year! In August, after several amazing fundraisers at church, Jake and Sophia traveled to El Salvador for a mission trip with our pastor’s family and a Salvadoran friend. I was itching to be with them but was so glad they got to go and speak Spanish for 10 days. In September, Sophia began Essentials, which is the afternoon grammar and writing class for ages 9-12 at Classical Conversations. She excels in the challenging environment! In October, she turned TEN and was pretty excited about that!

Lydia makes sure Sophia and I don’t stay too serious for long! She is always ready for a laugh or a game. She was the natural choice to accompany Mom on a fun girls trip to Pawhuska, Oklahoma, in October. We had a blast meeting up with Heather (Jennifer’s sister) and touring everything Pioneer Woman related! As the girls grow, I look forward to more trips like this to explore and spend quality time together. Sophia and Lydia competed in a kids triathlon in July!

Callie still needs lots to keep her mind busy and her body out of trouble! She can read multiple chapter books in a day and has read some series many times over. Even though she’s a fast reader, she remembers it all! Artwork, looming bracelets, and bike riding are some of her many interests when she’s not devouring books. Like all the girls, she adores water and lives outside all summer!

Ana Rose has always matured quickly, as she endeavors to join big sisters in whatever is going on, but this year she has really become a little girl instead of a baby. She excels in verbal skills, fine motor skills, thinking skills, and is well on her way to reading. This is her first year as an official CC Foundations student, but she has been training for this moment since she was one and already practicing weekly presentations with her sisters! All four girls love dance lessons and recitals.  

 

Message from Jake: The apostle Paul was so delighted to hear how the Thessalonian Christians had persevered in their faith despite suffering severe persecution. He wrote, “The Lord’s message rang out from you…so your faith in God has become known everywhere.”

Consider how the Lord’s message might ring out from you a little louder this year. The Gospel came to Thessalonica with words—don’t be afraid to mention that you go to church, that your faith in Jesus has been meaningful, or to use the Columbo method with unbelievers. (Read Tactics by Greg Koukl!)

The Gospel came to Thessalonica with Holy Spirit empowerment for service, purity, and endurance. Can you just once this year volunteer at the food bank, or support a missionary? Could you ask for help to eliminate just one impure influence in your life? If you’ve played it safe with your faith and never taken a stand, maybe ask God for the wisdom to recognize the opportunity and His nudge to act or speak, and His strength to hold your ground when the time comes? In so doing, the Lord’s message will ring out from you, and you will become a model to all the believers in your community—your faith in God will become known everywhere. Ring a little louder! (1 Thess 1:1-10)

 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 

Jake & Jennifer
Joel (20), Michael (20), Samuel (19), Sophia (10), Lydia (8 ½), Caledonia (7), Anastasia (4 ½)


 


July 2023

September

Cousins and brothers at Sophia's Birthday in October



Operation Christmas Shoeboxes at Church!


 

Friday, May 26, 2023

Sophia's Mission Trip Letter

 


From Sophia, God’s daughter and Christ’s servant by God’s will, to the saints in Whatcom County, the faithful in Christ Jesus:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus has commissioned me, along with all believers, to go and make disciples of all nations. Together with my dad, I have been given the opportunity to obey this command by going on a short-term mission trip to El Salvador this August.

Envision El Salvador hosts short-term trips to introduce Christians to God’s work around the world, in this case, La Fuente, meaning in English, The Fountain.  The name is inspired by Jesus’ words to His disciples in John 7:37, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.” La Fuente is a daily after-school youth formation program for at-risk teens from the nearby communities of San Salvador and Apopa. La Fuente also offers educational tutoring, sports, and workshops to improve the teens’ skills.

I have been studying Spanish, and with mom’s help, am learning my testimony in Spanish. Missions is a part of my family heritage: Mom founded and directed homes for babies in Bolivia, and dad was a Compassion sponsor for kids in Central and South America. He met mom on one of his Compassion trips, and I was born in Bolivia.  

I am excited to visit another country, especially a Spanish speaking country. I hope to learn how to speak Spanish better, but I’m also nervous about speaking Spanish to other people. I want to see and learn some of the ways El Salvadorans live, work, play, and eat, especially what they eat. I’m curious about the different foods, but also a little nervous. I’m excited to travel with other people, and my dear old dad.

I will be helping with two church fundraisers, an authentic El Salvadoran meal, and a community yard sale, but we expect to need a little more. I’m hoping to raise $600. Will you please help me participate in this mission trip, spreading God’s Word, and making His kingdom bigger? Checks can be mailed to Northwood Chapel, 580 C St, Blaine, WA 98230, or funds can be given online at http://tithe.ly/give?c=13751. Please put my name in the memo line.

Please ask me or my dad any questions about our trip. I’ll be sure to share with you about my experience when we return.

Thank you so much!

To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

(See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!)


*When we print this out, she signs it Sophia K. B.!

 

Thursday, December 29, 2022

Beaty Family Christmas Letter 2022

Family Picture at Birch Bay State Park, April 2022
Lydia and Ana Rose's joint birthday party!

Dear Friends & Family,

Let’s see if I can keep two years of news to one page! Last year I didn’t have the heart to write a Christmas letter, as we grieved the loss of our twin pregnancy. 

Jake’s big news was a new job working mainly from home in August 2021, then beginning seminary the next month. He enjoyed some dives with his own scuba equipment, participated in a few triathlons, and oversaw buying our house in July (the same one we had been renting). In October 2021, he got to travel south and speak Spanish again, participating in a 10-day mission trip to the Dominican Republic with his Bible College class. This year, he has continued with work, Bible classes and homework, doing lots of projects at his parent’s house, buying vintage trucks all over Washington for a German business, inspecting cars, and preaching at least once a month at different churches. He reads and does family things with us whenever he can. 

I (Jennifer) spend most of my time keeping up with everyone, homeschooling, and running my side business. Since Michael tested out of school and Samuel took the GED, it was exciting to finish the school journey with Joel in March. We presented his high school diploma and transcript to the Air Force, and for the first time in 8 years, I had only the girls left as students! I ramped up the home bakery business, Ana Rose Sweets, to the max this year (unfortunately there’s an income cap in Washington) by participating in Birch Bay’s summer activities, selling at a farm a few miles away that attracts crowds to all their events, and Ferndale’s Farmers Markets every Friday I was available June through October! The oven was always on. 

Three Tuesdays a month, the three big girls and I go to Classical Conversations classes while Ana Rose usually goes to Nana and Pop’s house. This is our third school year and we love the families, the interactive science experiments and demonstrations, artwork projects, tin whistle lessons, public speaking practice, and so much more. We have been so blessed by it! 

Joel joined the Air Force in the spring and went to Basic Military Training in San Antonio, Texas! Jake and I had a blast going to his graduation in July, when it was nice and hot. Even though he was open to travel, he is now stationed at Fort Lewis-McCord in Washington, of all places! He is in electronics training currently, to work on the massive C-17 aircraft. It’s nice that he’s just a few hours away and can visit frequently. 

Michael still lives a few miles from us at Jake’s brother’s family’s house. He takes classes at the community college and has had various jobs: at the local Christian owned ice cream shop, transporting new cars between dealerships, odd jobs for neighbors, selling cell phones, and now he has an opportunity to train at a bank. He pops in for visits occasionally or we see him out and about, and the girls are always so excited to be with him! 

Samuel needed to leave Master’s Ranch, Missouri, last fall, after being a resident since December 1, 2019. Providentially, a spot finally opened on the long waiting list in December 2021 for Job Corps in Astoria, Oregon. He studies welding and looks forward to getting a job when done with the training. JobCorps helped him get a drivers license this year! 

Sophia can either be found in a corner reading a book (Nancy Drew is her favorite, but she has read many, many others) or heading up a game or project or craft with her sisters and neighbors. Nana calls her the “Cruise Director!” She started voice lessons in January this year and really enjoys singing, along with dance classes – ballet, hip hop, and soon contemporary. It was so sweet to watch her be the helper in Ana Rose's ballet class! 

Lydia is our exuberant, energetic social butterfly. She also loves to read and can be found in the middle of all the games. Going to Classical Conversations is a highlight of her week, and she also loves dance classes and performances. Getting her very own complete Bible—instead of the kid versions—was her favorite Christmas gift and she reads it all the time. 

Callie is a sweetheart and loves playing with sisters and friends. She was my youngest to learn to read and I appreciate that she has a new way to entertain herself. She needs to stay busy to keep out of trouble. Her most beloved possession is a deluxe art set she received for her birthday. Our house is covered in the pictures that she draws for us every day. 

Ana Rose is always in the thick of whatever is going on in the house, whether that be a game with the big girls or helping mom in the kitchen or with housework. She has always been our most verbally advanced, so it’s fun to interact with her. She knows all the rules and likes reminding anyone in the house about them a little too much! A bit more introverted than the others, she can entertain herself for hours. 

All the kids are growing so fast. We try to cherish the time as it flies by! 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 

Jake & Jennifer
Joel (19), Michael (19), Samuel (18), Sophia (9), Lydia (7 ½), Caledonia (6), Anastasia (3 ½)


Family Cabin, Chelan, WA, August 2022

Kona, Hawaii, February 2022

Sophia helping at our Farmer's Market Booth, first of the season (June)

Blue Lake Hike

Mt. St. Helens Visitor Center (mountain in the distance)

At the wedding of Bolivia missionary friends in Oregon

Portland, OR, Rose Garden on July 4

Leavenworth, WA

Saturday, January 2, 2021

Beaty Family Christmas Letter 2020

 Beaty Family Christmas Letter 2020

Dear Family & Friends,

What a year we have all passed through! The struggles and strife of 2020 gave us the unique opportunity to take stock of what really counts, spend more time home as a family, and (at times) slow down. While Jake and I tend to be more introverted and loved the quieter pace throughout the spring and early summer, some of our kids were less than thrilled. I was relieved to already be homeschooling, so no change for us in the education department.   

 Jake worked from home for three months and we all loved it! He still (surprise!) loves his job at Syndel, a fish chemical manufacturer, and got a new title with more responsibilities and people reporting to him this year. Evenings and weekends are often spent on interesting side jobs that have come his way. Soon he might have a chance to save up for the professional edit of Book #2! He made it to the cabin 6 or 7 times the past year, most of those trips with some or all of the family, and that makes him very happy.

Joel, now 17, is working towards his driver’s license (zoom class Driver’s Ed for the win!). Boy Scouts via zoom was NOT a win though, and focus went elsewhere after almost two years with the troop. With approximately one more year of school ahead, Joel begins to look forward at next steps in life. We hope to keep him around awhile yet, as a quiet, stable, helpful, patient member of our home team!  

The news on Michael is not what we would hope to share. I just finished Sally Clarkson’s great new book “Awaking Wonder, Opening Your Child’s Heart to the Beauty of Learning” (highly recommend it!). I grew up with a similar philosophy of instilling a sense of family and curiosity and love of learning in kids, so it’s all familiar to me and something I aim for in our family. Our efforts never took root in Michael, even after seven years of sowing, and his friends continually came ahead of his education and our family. A couple of weeks ago, after increasingly challenging incidents, he decided to leave. God was gracious to all of us by providing nearby relatives (Jake’s brother and family) who were willing to take him in. We would appreciate prayers for that whole situation!

Samuel is doing well overall, but couldn’t help but be affected by another tumultuous year, this time due to no fault of his own. Master’s Ranch West in Washington experienced some legal trouble and false allegations in May, and CPS took in the boys. We were able to regain custody of Samuel and get him on a plane to Memphis, where my parents picked him up and drove him to Master’s Ranch in Missouri. That move was supposed to be temporary, and the Washington boys even spent a couple months at a Bible camp in Idaho waiting to move back to WA...but it never worked out. The Washington boys are back in Missouri, and we remain dependent on God’s provision of $3,800/month.

Our oldest daughter Sophia (7) is a continual delight. We appreciate her maturity and wisdom in interactions with siblings. She calls herself “Nature Girl” and is a big help to me planning our hikes and outdoor experiences, but also loves dance classes, and especially the performances! This spring she took off reading and can often be found curled up with a book. Ana Rose adores her and, if she’s not with me, wants to be in the middle of whatever Sophia is doing!

Lydia turned 5 in April and is our full-on extrovert daughter who has never met a stranger. It was a group effort to keep up with her this summer, as the girls spent their days and evenings outside, bike riding and playing with the many neighbor kids. She loves her family, food, and imaginative play. As soon as she wakes, she comes looking for our other early riser Ana Rose to play. 

Last year, I mentioned the need to constantly keep up with Caledonia, due to her knack for destroying any given item or area in record time. Not a lot has changed in that area, other than rivaling baby sister in her efforts. She loves playing princess, joining in games with big sisters, workbooks, and grandparents. Very smart, very curious, very active, and always talking pretty much sums up the rest!

We joined a local Classical Conversations homeschool group in September. Sophia and Lydia have been excellent listeners and learners, and Callie will start in January now that she’s 4. Ana Rose tags along and—little sponge that she is—can count and say many big numbers, and sing parts of the timeline song (about Ancient History, nonetheless!).

Anastasia, who we call Ana Rose, is a busy toddler now and such a sweetheart! We all love her cuddles and kisses and neck hugs. Like Sophia, she didn’t walk until almost 17 months, but rather put her energies into verbal abilities that surprise everyone. I lost track at 150 words, as she adds daily, but what’s fun are her phrases and to hear her sing songs without missing many words. She constantly entertains us, bosses everyone, and asks to go outside in all weather.    

I started a new business AGAIN this year, finally one that is profitable year-round and possible to do with little ones. “Ana Rose Sweets” launched at Valentine’s Day with cinnamon rolls and cake pops. By May I had gone through the lengthy process of getting a cottage kitchen license through the WA Department of Agriculture, for all sorts of treats! We sold at local farmer’s markets throughout the summer and fall, and a very popular farm stand had me out for busy pop up markets a couple times a month. Orders and holidays in between have meant the oven is rarely off for long!

A fun surprise was to have Jennifer’s parents move to Washington in October! They are back in the Memphis area now with other daughters and businesses but will be back soon. Maybe Pops will finally get the boat he has wanted, living here at the bay. It’s exciting to have them close by again. Our kids are blessed to have TWO sets of grandparents loving and investing on them from nearby.      


Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Jake & Jennifer
Joel (17), Michael (17), Samuel (16½), Sophia (7), Lydia (5 ½), Caledonia (4), Anastasia (20 months)

 

Fall Family Picture Day!

 

Easter Sunday at Home

   

Dance Recital Day - also at home! Grandparents were able to watch our driveway performance


Sophia was a great help selling at our weekly farmer's market


Scenic overpass on the drive back from the family cabin in Chelan


Annual Christmas Pajama Picture Pose by the Tree!

Friday, January 3, 2020

Beaty Family Christmas Letter 2019


Beaty Family Christmas Letter 2019

Dear Family & Friends,

I always begin my annual Christmas letters by re-reading former versions. I’m always surprised by how similar the descriptions are of each of us (can’t I just copy and paste?!) and secondly, how much change takes place each year.

Beginning with our family’s leader, Jake would say not ENOUGH change happens each year. His current dream involves how to have the family sailing around the world ASAP...or when the younger set of kids is 10 years older. When he’s not watching videos or reading Facebook group posts of how other families sail full-time, he’s greatly enjoying his job at fish chemical manufacturer Syndel—the job that brought us from Tennessee to Washington last fall. Officially, he heads up inventory, but he thrives finding issues and implementing change in every department. At home, he works on his second book (The Youngest Captain, a memoir), always has projects going in the garage, trains for triathlons, and leads at our church. Oh, and all the kids adore him! He has zero elbow room when trying to eat dinner.

Joel turned 16 in July! He is a good student in our homeschool but lives to play. He is a Patrol Leader and the Knot Master at Boy Scouts and enjoys the hikes more now. The door-to-door fundraisers for Boy Scout Summer Camp have stretched his social abilities, which we consider a good thing. Ferndale Alliance Church Youth Group has become a favorite thing this year, and our girls like ribbing him about how many girlfriends he has!

Michael turned 16 in August. He asks about driving, but we need to see certain signs of maturity and responsibility in both of them before THAT adventure begins. Michael has never been a fan of school, but he plugs away in our continual efforts to catch up. (They began learning English and homeschool 6 year ago this month!) Michael also loves Boy Scouts and would live with the Youth Group if that were possible. This spring, we found out both boys need glasses. The glasses store probably knows Michael by name! Side effects from Youth Group—like a head concussion in October and broken wrist in November—keep life interesting.

Even though both boys have a busy social life in Washington, they pitch in a lot at home and we are so grateful!

Samuel turned 15 in June, while with the experienced adoptive family giving us respite care in Colorado. His behavior continued to unravel over the course of the year, until he was admitted to a psychiatric hospital in early September. The next week, the family decided his needs outpaced their resources and told us they would not pick him up. By mid-November, insurance was no longer covering his care, and he was escorted to Washington, a state he had never lived in, with a list of 8 medications and a week’s supply of one, with proven dangerous behavior to himself and others. Even after months of efforts alone and with authorities, we had no place for him to go. God has shown us grace after grace in this extremely trying time. Thanks to the incredible generosity of friends and family, he is currently at Master’s Ranch West in the SE corner of the state and doing well—so many miracles! And we continue to watch one unfold as God provides $3,800/month for him to be able to stay.

As I mention every year, Sophia (6) still adores dressing up and playing princesses or mommy with her little sisters, but she’s also become a huge fan of the outdoors! She took off riding her bike in the spring this year, loves visiting the Beaty cabin in Chelan, and is up for any outdoor adventure. I love working with her in school and we have a wide span of subjects.

Lydia turned 4 in April, and with a lot of advance planning, we somehow pulled off a beautiful, long-requested “Belle birthday party” (Beauty and the Beast) just 10 days after the baby was born. She can usually be found in dress up clothes, is a morning person, always has pretty songs or stories playing on her CD player, and has never met a stranger!

Caledonia is growing up so fast and easily relinquished her spot as baby of the family. As I wrote last year, her verbal abilities continually amaze us—as well as her knack at completely destroying any given area in record time! I make sure I know where she is at all times, and if it gets quiet, well....beware! I chalk it up to her intelligence and curiosity. She is just about the cutest thing ever!

All three girls thoroughly enjoyed dance classes last semester, especially the performances! Lydia and Callie did tap/ballet and it was adorable. Sophia took Jazz for the first time, and will do both jazz and ballet next. She will probably live at the dance studio when she’s older!

As I write this with a chubby strawberry blonde baby playing happily at my feet, my heart nearly bursts! We were surprised with a fourth daughter in a row, born at home in the wee hours of April 7—my third born on a Sunday, as well as my third born a few hours before dawn. Anastasia Rose was our first shy and sensitive baby, but very similar to Sophia with her eating struggles and aversion to sleep. The years and experience helped us immensely this go round though, and she has grown into a delightful, sweet, smiley baby who now does better with strangers and extended family. She has everyone wrapped around her little finger!  

My days (and nights) are even more non-stop than before on the home front. I teach all three of the girls together every morning, as Callie begs to do school and would probably even work on it longer than the other two. They love outings and park visits so we have lots of those, too, and will soon have Nexus cards for easier ventures into Canada. A couple days before Ana Rose’s due date, Jake and I hatched a new business idea, which came to be “Bay Pops”. From May to September, we sold gourmet fruit and cream-based popsicles from recipes I developed. It was a LOT of fun, and a LOT of work! Now in the winter, I’m back to Elderberry Syrup products as my side gig. If there’s one thing I know about 2020, it will be interesting keeping up with all my people!


Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Jake & Jennifer and the crew: Joel (16), Michael (16), Samuel (15½), Sophia (6), Lydia (4 ½ ), Caledonia (3), Anastasia (almost 9 months)


I've always wanted lifestyle pictures like this, and we had a fun session with a local photographer when Ana Rose was 10 days old, the day of Lydia's birthday party!


Some cute kids, right there!!


Love these outfits from Nana!


Another church picture - our annual Thanksgiving Family pose




Friday, April 12, 2019

Anastasia Rose's Birth Story

So....this is the shortened internet version, and it’s still long! Feel free to just look at the pictures and some bulleted highlights at the end. :) 

The four sisters!!

Since the beginning, although the due date was March 28 or 31 depending on how it was calculated, I had prepared myself to go until April 3 or 4. That would follow the pattern of 40 weeks plus a few days, like the last two babies. However, all along I had so many less signs of impending labor the previous weeks, and yet was so much more uncomfortable (or even in pain, with my pelvic floor issues), it felt like baby had zero idea of vacating any time soon.

My mom came all the way from Tennessee via Canada when I was 39-40 weeks, then back the day before 41 weeks for another week. It had seemed unthinkable she wouldn’t hold a baby during all that time, but here we were, day after uneventful day. I had wound everything down by now, partially because my body was just DONE. The tiredness and aches and pains and barely staying mobile in between chiropractic visits... Ugh. Each day seemed like two.

Trip to the bay at low tide about a week before the birth

Another relaxing visit to Birch Bay State Park, the day before going into labor

As the weekend approached, I desperately hoped something would happen while Jake was home from work. Two out of three had been Sunday babies, so chances seemed good!

On Saturday, April 6, Jake and I had an extremely rare morning of waking together quietly and calmly...and rested! Thanks to Nana, who had taken everyone downstairs and somehow kept them quiet for us. Jake remarked it was his best night’s sleep since kids!  

I made my version of pancakes and play-doh for the girls. They played for hours with Nana supervising, which bought Jake and I time for rare computer work. He did our taxes start to finish, yeah! Another thing out of the way before baby. I washed our sheets. There was an essential oils meeting at our pastor’s house over lunch. It had sounded appealing the day before, but now I decided the last thing I wanted was to chat with people normally! It was also terribly uncomfortable to squeeze into the car and drive. So, I cut Jake’s hair, which took about an hour because our hard working clippers died after just a few runs.

Then, he cut the grass with the reel mower while I googled “labor inducing foods”. What crazy dishes and stories!! I sent an article to Jake and he said there were several ideas during a work meeting the day before. Jump on a trampoline, eat Chinese food, eat Eggplant Parmigiana (worked for someone)...

I got a good hour long nap in the afternoon. So great I got all the rest! Afterwards, I told Jake there was no food delivery company that delivered to our address. I said I was thinking I should try Eggplant Parmigiana. He immediately started looking for restaurants. We found it on Olive Garden’s menu. Mom came up and we told her what we were doing. She offered to either pick it up and bring it home, or to make some homemade. I said we had too many leftovers. She offered to keep the girls while we ran out to Olive Garden – bingo! Our thoughts exactly.

Leslie, the midwife, had said at the 40 week prenatal (2 back) that maybe we needed another date night before baby showed. She actually messaged while we planned the outing, asking how my day was going. I had been so grateful she wasn’t writing me constantly, which I would have felt as pressure. This was maybe the first time she was checking in. I told her about the busy, productive day, and that we were going out for Eggplant Parmigiana! She gushed that she was glad I was enjoying the last days of being pregnant, that all of this was part of the baby’s birth story! I thought yeah...wouldn’t that be great. (And here it is!!)  

Jake was rushing me to go, but I had to find something decent to fit my body, sigh. Black maternity dress from back of the closet...so he changed to a black shirt. As we pulled out, I told him resorting to food was either a crazy idea, or the best idea ever - if it worked! Cloudy drive to Bellingham...quoted 15 minute wait but seemed more... Easy order! Jake ordered from the specials card, and I was relieved they had Eggplant Parmigiana. Can’t imagine it’s popular, although it was in the “classics” section of menu. Enjoyed the salad and breadsticks and I was still hungry by the time it arrived. I checked the time at some point and it was 6:28. SO TASTY!! I ate just over half of the eggplant (fried! hot! cheesy! marinara sauce!) and none of the pasta, which was half the plate. I was hoping I hadn’t overdone it, but wanted enough to do the labor trick, ha. And then Jake splurged by ordering us the Chocolate Brownie Lasagna, which was uh-mazing. Hit the spot! I was just pleasantly stuffed as we left in the rain.

We got back and the girls were watching their promised movie. Boys were on their way back from a church youth concert and fun day in Seattle. Nana asked if anything had happened, and I reminded her (same as Jake in the car) that it seems you have to allow up to 48 hours. She then asked a bit desperately if we could go out for ice cream, they were stir crazy. It was bath night for the littles, but that sounded more fun, even though I had already had my dessert. It was maybe 7:30 and dusky when we left again. Even though it was a chilly night, the parking lot was full and there was a long line. Our crew got a lot of stares...

When we got home, the boys were back from Seattle and their friend was there, too. Jake began talking to him right inside the door about old cars and soon they were in the garage revving Jake’s. Nana and I got the girls down.

At 9:30, Callie was already quiet, so Nana and Sophia signed off. Mom asked if anything was up, and of course NOW I wished I had sounded more optimistic, but at the time I just said, “I feel some things, but I’m not going to say anything, because everyone thinks it’s imminent then”. And, “Oh, baby has hiccups!” Every night, I already hurt so much, occasionally with Braxton Hicks, that it was hard to say if it was anything more promising.

Lydia called me back to her room, and I was with her until around 9:45. Jake finished with the boys and we sat and chatted. As I maneuvered myself up from the bed, he asked how I was doing. I said “Hm. [long pause] That one was more painful. And maybe in my back.” I said I was missing my long relaxing baths, but would continue to shower only (to not stop potential labor). I also observed the sign that had been missing until now—baby was quiet, what mine always do before labor starts, even though night is the most active time.

We chatted and got ready for bed while I noted that the “Braxton Hicks” had a sharp edge to them, and were maybe even becoming regular. I still wasn’t calling it or anything. We had the birth pool and pump in our room now, from two nights ago when things seemed promising after a big evening playing outside with the kids, but I didn’t think it should be put up yet. As usual! Jake laughed at me while brushing his teeth. But I left my makeup on, remembering how off guard I was caught with Callie’s quick nighttime arrival.


At 11:18, Jake got in bed, and I decided to get the midwife in the loop. I told her I hadn’t timed them, but they were becoming rhythmic and painful, sometimes stretching to different parts of my torso.

When I laid down, I felt what was going on even more. Jake got up to get the heating pad out of my doula bag for me while I went to the bathroom again. It was probably 11:40 before we stopped talking, and I was just going to get overheated with the pad. Now was feeling like I’d be waking him soon to help! In all honesty, I didn’t want him to “leave” me to sleep, as I faced what was ahead, but he would do better getting some sleep.... I kept thinking of Callie’s birth, as this nearly mimicked the timing exactly. The story was, “Jake sleeps until birth time!” Could I do it again?

I was surprised at how amped I was, either just thinking about it or literally hormonally, to be able to relax enough to sleep. Plus, it was just too hard with the contractions. So...I started timing them! I deleted the set from a doula client, and after 7 contractions, I had every 4 minutes, lasting exactly 1 minute. I figured it would be kept up for an hour...time to head to hospital! Only, I was heading downstairs to thaw some stuff and get ready for a joyous postpartum at home!

Then, back to bed. COULD. NOT. SLEEP. Come ON!! I pushed terrifying thoughts out of my head of Lydia’s marathon birth. This simply had to be a Callie version now, if I couldn’t rest first. I really wasn’t exhausted that night though, with the uplifting fun evening after feeling so depressed, and a good night the night before + hour nap. Thankfully!! I kept thinking of things I could be telling/asking someone to do. Doula brain!

So around 1, I gave up and went downstairs for a labor popsicle, then put up my hair how I wanted it. I was pleased that again everyone was in their normal spot, totally unaware of birth taking place. The boys were probably tuckered after their road trip. They had actually been gone the two previous nights, to the cousins (on spring break) and Seattle. I pondered if showering would wake Jake, and as they again piled one on top of the other when I got active, taking my breath away, AND I’d had bloody show, I decided to go ahead and wake him. But first, write the midwife before things got crazier!

Me at 1:14am: I’m going to go ahead and call it! It’s real labor. Contractions are EXACTLY like with the last, who also had to rotate from my right to left side. I think/hope that’s what’s going on now.

After some back and forth, where I also marveled that instead of the slow 6-10pm warm up like with Callie, I jumped straight into the deep end, she said “Sounds good. I’m happy to head your way when you need me. Sounds like you feel this is actual labor.”

Jake rolled over as I wrote and I thought he opened his eyes, so I took advantage to mention I already needed him. Just over 1 ½ hours rest this time! He had said that when/if I woke him, his first task would be filling the pool, so he began, and we hoped the loud pump wouldn’t wake anyone. (It didn’t!)

I replied at 1:25am “I’ve woken Jake and he’s working on the pool. I’m going to time next but they are quite close together
I’d say to come”

I looked at my “when in labor list”. Most had been done. Then I decided I really needed to try water relief/distraction, although I was none too optimistic by this point. So Jake diverted the flow back to the shower. I put down my bath mat so I could kneel and conserve my rapidly waning (or, redirected) energy. I couldn’t talk easily. Things were picking up, for sure. I timed contractions a bit. They were one after another (I think 2 ½ minutes apart and lasting over a minute), even in the water. I tried to check dilation and decided it was maybe a 4 or 5. Was that all? I’d already called the birth team. What if I was still that far off? I decided to disregard everything and just focus on labor, ha. At least baby was FINALLY COMING, however long or short it took!

After not long, I realized that at this rate the tub would never be filled, because I wasn’t going to get out. I explained to Jake in between rushes that I could have the water beating on my back IN the tub and kill two birds with one stone. I was also seeing how I was going to get way overheated quickly, so this was going to be interesting. Maybe I’d just not fill it much, since I was also conscious of waiting until the right time to get in. I had experienced some shaking a couple of times already though, so I thought I might be in transition.

Stepping into the tub (1:45am?), even just a couple of inches, was a cool feeling, and we reminisced how it had been 4 years this month since I had! From there, seeking good distraction, I turned on “Birth In the Glory”, but couldn’t hear it over the spraying water. Jake turned on ocean sounds, our plan after listening to crashing waves at the bay Friday night. He mainly sat by me now, as I had plenty of requests, even though it took great effort to communicate now as I moved into Laborland.

He opened the window (was probably 45 degrees or cooler outside!), got me a second labor popsicle at some point, a cold rag for my neck, and blew the little blue fan on me that I’d asked mom to get me from Target, sensing I would get overheated for this birth. And yet I wanted the water hot on my back. After a while, I was surprised that I didn’t want it hot on my back. I signaled no more fan at some point. Then yes, but to the side, not right on my face.
 
I kept marveling at it myself. Maybe because I’ve served 6 women in labor since my last, and I have lots of ideas of comfort measures? Whatever the reason, when I thanked/apologized to Jake afterwards for keeping him so busy, and also changing my mind somewhat quickly throughout labor as things intensified, he thanked ME for all the direct commands! Says he thrives on them. Should make this his very favorite birth, ha!

I was surprised to feel baby STILL moving around and stretching into my ribs. Such familiar feelings—her “moves and grooves”, as Leslie put it at all of our prenatals. Other than Lydia having hiccups, I can’t remember feeling movement during labor.

If I had a mantra this time, I think it was simply telling myself “These are manageable, it’s manageable, manageable...”, trying to not focus on the previous or upcoming contraction, but simply the current. I thought of clients who had chanted something during contractions, but I couldn’t talk then, except keep up a positive internal dialogue. A couple of times I "checked in" to see if I needed to breathe better, or release any tension below/remind myself to relax (common challenges), but that really wasn’t an issue. Journeying through some “Birthing From Within” pain management methods kept me entertained, if you can call it that. I focused on the pain and how it was—finding it’s edges, the center, studying how it felt—but I think my favorite was the Non-Focused Awareness. I wished for more sounds around to observe, but still used it for several contractions. For a couple, I focused on the wave video instead of my body. I was often breathing hard and very focused in between contractions. I was starting to get sleepy, but nothing as miserable as I’ve felt at times. I think the speed at which everything was happening was keeping me alert, even with no sleep!

At some point, Jake said my mom was up and sitting at the top of the stairs. She woke when Sophia went to the bathroom at some point, and realized something was happening so got up.

Around 2:10 maybe, I checked my phone to see when I had written Leslie, feeling like she should be here by now, even living 45 minutes away (day time drive). I learned later that Jake did the same thing at some point. I had managed to message her at 1:57 in between contractions that the door was unlocked, something I’d reminded Jake to do on a trip downstairs. 

Sometime after 2, I got more vocal and some involuntary new sounds came. Jake recognized the shift, experienced birth partner that he is, and for the first time I got nervous that we were doing this alone again. I kept looking up through the bathroom door to the bedroom door to see it open and in walk Leslie and/or Rosette. Partly it seemed like an intimate, middle-of-the-night thing we had going on, and I wanted to be prepared for someone to suddenly enter our space and maybe upset our balance or change the routine. It helped to chant “OH OH OH” through the peaks of some strong long ones.

Leslie slipped in quietly at 2:30, stooping down at the bathroom door and giving a happy little wave. A welcome sight! Rosette, former RN and her assistant, came in shortly after as they continued to set up in the bedroom. I could barely ask Jake “Does my mom want to come in? She can”. He reported back that she did not want to, was fine waiting outside. She later told me she was praying and timing contractions.

I figured Leslie would have a list to work down of things to check on me and baby. I had the thought “FINALLY, I experience what a US midwife does in labor!” However, she is quite hands off, which is why I chose her. It was awhile before she came in and asked if she could check baby’s heart tones, and that was all. She stayed outside, saying Jake and I were working beautifully together. Later she said that when she arrives to such an active labor, she doesn’t want or need to interrupt.

At some point near the end I thought Jake should know, “It hurts all the time, even in between, I’m just too worn out to make sounds!” My body was working hard and fast.

After a few minutes, I could finally verbalize a growing thought to Jake “Does she need to come in and do anything?” He went out and asked her. She came in and asked how I was doing, if I needed anything. I looked up at her dazed and said “I just like to know when I can push, to not do it too early...” She immediately replied “Then don’t push. Just let your body do it’s thing, and breathe the baby out. If there is a lip of a cervix, there will be a pinched feeling, and you just wait.” Oh yes, right! That’s been my game plan since the last baby, and it sure worked with her. I was glad for the reminder.    

I also assured her, “I don’t think it’s time yet, I’m not quite there”. I think it wasn’t but one or two rushes later when I might have even mentioned out loud to Jake that I wasn’t sure if my uterus had changed how it was contracting. Sure enough, it was! Amazing to remember feeling that obvious change to Stage Two! I also sensed it with Callie, but was too out of it to realize with the first two. I felt a ton of pressure and downward movement, and that long powerful contraction busted my water! I was kneeling at the edge of the tub and opened my eyes to the shocking site of the water moving out from under me like from a whirlpool jet. It took two tries to gasp it out “Water...Broke!”

There was that familiar stretching and bulging! Yep, this was getting real, really fast! I barely got out to Jake with a wave of my hand while my eyes were closed and focusing—GO! GET! SOPHIA! He blasted up from the tub ledge as if shot from a rocket. The picture of her walking in, rubbing her eyes with the light, and hair all crazy... My dream was happening, and Sophia’s much hoped for moment, too—she was at her next sibling’s birth!! I suppose that’s when my mom came in.

After that first push down, I felt like knees was not the way to be for some reason, so I threw myself around into a sitting position. Good I had the soft back of the tub to rest on. Otherwise, my whole bottom was screaming at me! Felt like it was already been torn to shreds. I think there was another contraction that seemed to bring the head right there. Maybe I even felt the head, but it wasn’t out. I realized it was big and would need another contraction. I’m not sure if I was pushing with them or just carried away with what my body was already doing. Either way, I knew I needed a ton of force to get this one out. Definitely not a “butter birth”, painless Callie experience, where I didn’t even realize she was already being born. This one took monumental effort and my body was working HARD. A couple of times the pool spun under me and I hoped I wasn't blacking out. Not sure what that was—from pain, or tiredness, or hormones. I kept thinking about all of the advice to back things down and work slowly so that tissues can stretch. But man, I was feeling stretched beyond the max already, and the pain.... All I could think of was both the joy and relief delivering the head would bring, and didn’t have to wait long! There was some debate and deliberating afterwards how her head delivered. At some point it was face up, a bigger probability due to the anterior placenta.

We waited a while for the next push, and I remembered waiting for Lydia’s body to be born. Now I was just starting to think “AHHHH BOY OR GIRL?!?!?!” I was so over waiting for the surprise.

2:52am: That feeling of the body moving through and twisting is like none other, and that’s an understatement! I remembered that I wanted to bring the head up slowly and did it as slowly as I could while so excited to find out if we had a son or daughter, and feel that little body on the OUTSIDE finally!

She's here!!!!!



In the pictures, it’s huge smiles all around. My main thought was how different this little person looked, like I didn’t know him/her at all. Guess I was expecting a repeat?! Such a unique face, with more vernix than any of the others, which was unexpected given the “over baking”. I didn’t waste any time saying “Let’s look!” and Jake helped me maneuver her slippery body and the big pulsing cord to where we could peek. ANOTHER GIRL!!! Wow, how in the world. Not following my grandmother and mother’s paths of 3 girls then boy. Jake was ecstatic, it was just what he most wanted. FOUR girls. We were set for that! He greeted her by name, Anastasia.

Baby was a bit fussy, occasionally screaming out. Okkaayyy...definitely more feisty than Callie, and more like the first two! (She was calm the rest of the day.) Also now began the no fun part of waiting for the placenta, with Leslie asking for more towels for baby, helping adjust her and keep her above the water, which was at least low, and me grimacing with after pains. Finally, I was feeling faint so Leslie called for a clamp and Jake took the honor of cutting the cord about 25 minutes post delivery. He got a turn with baby while I got settled and was given some tasty tea. I had juiced oranges for afterwards, and this was added to cramp bark tea for a tasty warm concoction.  

Jake put the placenta, which he said looked a good size, in the fridge to encapsulate later. Now to cuddle baby again! Finally the pain was subsiding and I wondered if maybe I had emerged unscathed from that intense birth and delivery process. The “after pains” were no joke though. I did actually have a small tear, but no stitches needed.

It seemed like everyone was running around for hours to clean up! Talk of sump pumps and hoses and towels and gauze... And regular vital checks for me and baby. The newborn exam happened a little over an hour after birth. During that I saw the sun coming up through the bathroom window. A new day, without wondering when baby would arrive!

The weight of 8 pounds, 14 ounces, has been questioned. The midwife is trying to unravel the mystery of her scale, so I’ll report back. She might have been closer to 8 pounds, 7 ounces. The last two were 8 pounds 1 ounce, and I know she was more than that. Her head circumference was 14.5 inches—¾ inch bigger than the last baby (Callie’s HC was average).

*After comparing her birth scale and the scale she brought to postpartum visits, the midwife determined birth weight to be 8 pounds, 9 ounces.

Newborn exam with midwife, big sister looking on

Nana and Sophia had gone back to bed around 5:30 and got in several hours before the other kids woke. For some (great) reason, they went longer on this birth night/morn.

The midwife and assistant were packed up and left around 6:15, 3 ½ hours after baby’s birth. Their one concern had been baby’s high-ish temperature, so they checked it one more time before leaving, having left the door open for cooler air circulation while loading their stuff, and it was lower. I was told to take it every few hours and leave her unwrapped and in diaper only. Poor babe! I’m not Bolivian in my clothing methods, but I did feel sorry for her and her cool skin, although her temp often was around 99. After a couple of days, Leslie decided it was not sign of an infection. She just runs hot, like her dada!
Sweet Sleep

Speaking of, our resident nail-cutter-expert (Jake) was already cutting her little claws at 6am. He went back to sleep at 6:35.
My adrenaline was still so high, I didn’t sleep much. Baby Ana did, but I did the “light sleep baby by my side” number. Shortly after 9, the girls had finished breakfast and Jake woke the boys. Everyone trooped in to see/meet baby! My first meal was oatmeal, which I’ve had every day at some point in the births of all four. 


The kids coming in Sunday morning

Checking someone out

Nana getting a good look

Grandparents and cousins meeting the newest little one!

Aunt Amy meeting Ana

After all of the stress in having to change from my dear doula/midwife friend in Tennessee, with a doula assistant and friend I also admire (a dozen children between them!), I am so glad that our pastor’s wife here told me about Leslie. She has been super attentive to us these last weeks, and her role at the birth was how I’d hoped. I birthed my baby with Jake’s support. She was there as an expert on hand, if needed. Fun fact: she began midwifery school and got pregnant with her first the same year I was born. That’s some experience, right there!

Other Fun Notes:

  •          The four have been born at:
38 Weeks + 1 Day
40 W + 3 D
40 W + 4 D
41 W + 3 D (going with a later possible due date gets 41 W exactly)
  • ·         We now have two spring birthdays (April) and two fall birthdays, plus 5 summer birthdays (parents and boys).
  • ·         #1, 3, and 4 were born on Sundays
  • ·         #2, 3, 4 were born at 3:45am, 2:44am, and 2:52am respectively. Apparently, I’m a night birther ever since having other children in the house!
  • ·         The first inkling I had it might be labor was 10pm, not being entirely sure for another couple of hours. She was born just under 5 hours after that first slightly painful twinge though. 
  • Fast labors ARE more intense, for sure. I see how it could have been overwhelming. Thankfully, this wasn't my first rodeo and I had lots of "tricks in my tool bag", so to speak!
     
  • ·         The midwife and assistant arrived just 15 minutes before her head was delivered. I don’t like to make anyone wait! 😊  
  • ·         She came in the middle of the night of the middle night (4th of 7) of my mom’s visit!!
All of the girls have been great with the transition, but Sophia, almost 5 1/2, has been a super big helper!

We welcome Anastasia Rose
Born April 7, 2019, at 2:52AM
Weight: 8 pounds 9 ounces
Length: 21 inches

Our crew! Joel (15 1/2), Michael (15 1/2), Sophia (5 1/2 this month), Lydia (4 this month), Caledonia (2 1/2 next month), Anastasia (4 days)


The NEW little sister!