Carmel-by-the-Sea

Having lived in San Diego, I thought I'd seen beaches. Nice with the beautiful view of the ocean. I seem to have forgotten that even better beaches do, in fact, exist. (Sorry, San Diego, oh and LA especially!). Josh said Carmel beach would be pretty but I underestimated his statement. As we drove down Ocean Ave towards the Pacific Ocean I suddenly realized why people think Carmel is sooooooooo special. I first noticed the ocean as it peaked through the tree-lined streets and bled into the sky. As we drove closer, the water became teal as it approached the beach. The sand is white-ish (I think it's imported) and there are beautiful hillsides that frame this mile-long beach. It is quite captivating. Oh and just above the beach is a sandy area that overlooks the water and would be PERFECT for a wedding! or our vow renewal in a couple of decades! What captured me even more was that this is an international tourist spot...i can't believe we live 30 minutes from it! Wow! Not only is the ocean soooo close but when you are just seconds inland it feels like you are up in the Colorado mountains. Huge Pine trees line the streets and highways! What a great combo-pack!

This was our first official beach day and I think Lincoln has dedicated himself to beach living. I could tell he loves the feel of the sand against his feet just like I do! He even loved it so much that he was dipping his animal crackers in it! MMMMMMM!

Here are some pictures of our adventure today:

june pictures!

peek-a-boo!

"help daddy"

sweaty baby!

jammin' with dad!

i love these men

quick doula update!

i had my second client give birth last sunday. this is how much i dislike hospitals...the rn said to her "here's your pitocin shot" (post-birth after clamping the cord much sooner than client wished). client said "wait, what? why do i need that?" rn said "everyone gets one, if you had had an iv (client refused!) we would have given it to you and you wouldn't have even known." and "the doc ordered it." she also said that this was the only chance she had to get the pitocin, even if she does bleed. after being hassled into getting the unnecessary dose of pitocin for the off-chance that she bleeds out, my client and i were quite thrown off by this wretched rn. hospitals have procedures but everything is an option unless you are unconscious. most women are not unconscious after giving birth so why are they not informed that they are getting pitocin after delivery??? just because "everyone gets it" and "the doc ordered it" doesn't mean she can't refuse it. birth centers and home birth midwives have pitocin shots on hand to use WHEN NECESSARY! people...i plead to you...trust your body. don't take everything your doc or rn says as an absolute. while they may give you an impression that it is an absolute, 9 times out of 10 there is another, probably healthier, more personalized option. so many people say they hate doctors...then why trust them with the birth of another life. unless you have a high-risk pregnancy there is no need to be in a hospital. midwives are trained to allow the mother to do her body's work through labor, pushing and delivery. they are also trained to handle medical emergencies during labor and delivery JUST IN CASE. midwives do not assume that every birth will entail an emergency like hospitals do. hospitals are for the very sick and those in need of emergent care.

please rethink your trust in hospitals!