*e*

love is an understatement

here he is :)

here he is, sweet thing! we can't believe he is finally here - although at the same time it feels like he always has been...

friday night we were sitting in our living room with mick's brother phill and his wife jane (who will be providing my children with a cousin in 11 weeks time, yay!) by the fire chatting away. i had literally just said to jane 'oh, my waters won't break - that only happens in the movies' as we were talking labour and baby talk, and then suddenly POP - um...my waters just broke! mick thought i was joking...then quickly called my midwife when he realised i was not!

it all began very quickly after that - my lovely midwife michelle arrived and all the worry of the head being in a funny position was put to rest - time to get on with labour! i spent some time in the kitchen by the fire leaning and singing and rolling my hips - someone pressing on my back during a contraction was very helpful. mum and mick were busy filling the tub in the living room and it was bliss to finally get in it after a few hours.

as it got more and more intense i noticed my shadow on the wall in the candlelight - crazy dreadlocks sticking out everywhere, i thought i looked like a lioness and used that energy to roar my way through! it was crazy and painful but empowering and wonderful at the same time - i am still trying to process it all, what an amazing experience. as his (gigantic!) head emerged, mum woke the girls to come and see their little brother entering the world - surrounded by love.

it has been a real healing for me as i planned to birth ivy in the very same room almost 7 years ago but ended up with a hospital transfer (yindi was also born in hospital in LA)...i can't begin to explain how lovely it is to stay in my own home and feel cosy with my family.

thankyou so much for all the well-wishes! mum printed them off for me to read and i will bind them into my pregnancy journal to keep forever!

(ivy the baby whisperer - singing banjo off to sleep - i may have to wake her at 3am to bust out a tune and let me get some rest tonight!)

"Big Banjo"

Hi everyone, Tara here, updating for Em.

Banjo William was born very very early in the morning at home. All went well!

Emily labored for five hours and gave birth to him in the birthing pool.

He was 10 pounds 8 ounces, with brown hair, and a very very chubby neck.

Ivy, upon waking, proclaimed to her mumma: 'what a very very good job she did pushing out "Big Banjo!"

xo

Yindi Willow is here

(photo in her sisters arms and rotated for a better look)

hi folks, tara here bringing you an update! Yindi Willow has entered the world...

stats: 8 pounds 6 oz, 20.5 inches long, born about 10 to 3pm today!

i was sooooooo lucky to be there for the birth-this is yindi straight out of the womb, placed on mommys tummy:

and mommy and baby, happily snuggling after some food for both of them.

everything went beautifully. emily was amazing. i will let her tell more when she can! happy birthday to yindi!