amamasblog : MyBlogHer Profile

I am Heather, mama to two boys, Ryan, age 5, and Cole age 3.    

When I have  spare time, I enjoy blogging at my blog, A Mama's Blog, reading, walking, exercising, gardening, listening to music, cooking, and learning about health and fitness.   I work part-time, one and a half days a week.  I work for an accounting firm, doing bookkeeping and business management.  I feel very privileged that our circumstances allow this flexible schedule, since our children are so young. I feel like I have the best of both worlds- I get to be with my children 90% of the week, and I also get to be with adults and use my professional skills too.

I also have an on-line store, Little Pumpkin Sweet Pea Designs, specializing in babies, kids, maternity, and women's wear-mostly t-shirts and onesies.  It is a nice creative outlet for me, and it is fun!

About 6 months after Ryan was born, I became very interested in Attachment Parenting, and was surprised to see the way I was parenting actually had a name.  I was just following my instincts on what seemed like what was best for Ryan. 

I also became very interested in breastfeeding and how our society views it.  Fortunately, I have been able to breastfeed both my boys with no major problems.  With Ryan, it was harder, since he was my first, and I had a c-section, but I was committed to giving it my all.  One of the things that my mother recommend to me, that I have to say helped me the most, was reading La Leche League's breastfeeding book, The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, several months before Ryan was born.  It gave me the confidence to know I could succeed in providing the best nutrition for my baby, while following in the footsteps of millions of mothers before me.

Having had a c-section with Ryan, and having a terrible recovery from it, I became interested in VBAC birth (vaginal birth after cesarean), and after a lot of research, seeking out a supportive OB, practice, and doula, I was thrilled that I was able to have a successful VBAC with my second son, Cole.  I felt better after 3 days post-partum after Cole's birth, than I did after 8 weeks with the c-section birth.  I am a huge supporter and believer that VBAC's are possible, and safe (in most cases).  It was an amazing, and powerful experience for me.

I recently wrote an in-depth post about my experince with my C-section.  I mainly wanted to start a blog so I could keep track of the daily happenings with my boys, and life in general. The time goes by so fast, and this is helping me slow down and savor each day.  On the days I can write, it is so I can preserve a little sliver of time, that one day I can look back on and share with my children.