Late October – month 3 – AUTUMN!

Treats of Late Fall...

Momma & Livie

Fall has arrived and Olivia loves going outdoors and looking at trees as usual. It seems she is noticing the bright color changes to the leaves. There is a beautifully fiery red and orange sugar maple tree just outside our bedroom window and we look at it every morning to observe changes in color and leaf loss. This is the season to be like the fall and “let go – with abandon.” Our walks are quiet except for the crunch of fallen leaves underfoot. The squirrels are busy preparing for darker and colder months ahead, and there is a hustle in the forest as the animals harvest what has come and prepare for the deepening of winter.

Even our domesticated dogs prepare in their own way! Ready for cozy hibernation!!

What did the tree Let Go??

Got it!

Enjoy the Harvest, and let something go that no longer serves...

In Good Medicine,

Momma Mae & Olivia Rain

Early October – month 2-3 – Hiking with Mama!

Noticing...

Olivia is deer tracking already! She's very good with animal sign and she's quieter than a mouse out in Nature. :)

We love getting outside and our daily walks and hikes provide fresh air for both of us and plenty of exercise for Mama Mae. This quiet time for the two of us is sacred, and it is a daily practice of moving meditation for us. This is a time for us to listen, move slowly, and be even slower to speak.sleepy hiker

Stopping to rest and greet the Great Oak...

Get out there & enjoy!

In Good Medicine,

Momma Mae & Olivia Rain

September – Month 1-2 - CAMPING OUT!

sleepy camper

dada love!

Our annual Family Camping in Upstate NY on Lake Ontario is Olivia’s FIRST CAMPING TRIP! She enjoyed being outside for the whole weekend, bundling up due to the fall chill in the air further North, and meeting family (including her 5 month old cousin, Rylee Shea). Time by the fire with Dada was precious. This is the beginning of a lot of memories…

Here's hoping you've hugged your tree today!

In Good Medicine,

Momma Mae & Olivia Rain

July & August - Month 0-1 Olivia Rain

Precious...

Hang time in the hammock snoozing...

Aaaah, summertime! We are adjusting to life as a family with Miss Olivia and ensuring she is out in Nature daily, rain or shine, day and night. It is a beautiful, quiet time together.

Fire time is the best...

Here's hoping you had some wonderful summer days and nights and are creating memories every moment of your life and that you are LIVING it!

In Good Medicine,

Mama Mae

Welcome Home, Little One!

Olivia Rain has arrived!

Since coming home, Olivia Rain has had the opportunity to be outside every single day! She has enjoyed Nature daily, rain or shine. Miss Olivia has napped in the hammock, bathed in the sun, felt Wind's breeze brush her cheek, and felt Rain kiss her face. She's a Natural Nature baby. When we brought her outside in the moonlight, she stared up towards the Moon and was enraptured, wide-eyed and quiet, and beautiful.

Above is a picture of Olivia in the belly cast I made while pregnant with her. Here she is 2 1/2 weeks old, and already outgrowing the womb! She is rolling over onto her tummy already and we imagine we'll have to stay on our toes to keep up with her. She is full of smiles and brightens our every day.

In Good Medicine,

Mae (Momma Mae, I can now say!) :o)

Bragging Rights...

Did you think I was going to brag about my 41 week big belly? I have no bragging rights there - I am simply the hostess to the baby with the mostest! :-) I bet all moms-to-be say that...

I am writing to brag about my dearest husband, my perfect mate! I discovered while at the midwife's office that he is one of a very few, very select group of husbands that accompanies his wife to every single appointment! While I knew I had it "good," I had no idea that many other husbands do not go with their pregnant wives to the baby appointments, and there are MANY to attend! So I am shouting out my appreciation for this fine man here and now - THANK YOU UNDREA my Love! What a fine daddy indeed, vested from the very beginning and investing in the future of his legacy... I am grateful.

Our appointment went well - a bit longer than usual; we did a non-stress test to ensure baby is doing fine and just seems to be taking his/her time in preparing for the outside world. All is well and baby is in a great birthing position, and is responding to stimuli in a positive manner... we are on Baby Time, and are reveling in the un-knowing of it all! It's a really wonderful experience to simply BE together as a family with this person, and not rush and not have a clock-date ticking away as a goal...

YOU MOVE

You move

You move me

Like Water, my belly flows

Ripples and waves

You move me

as you move

Like Earth, hard masses

and contractions,

holding fast and firm

to the World

You move

you move me

Like Air,

flutters and breezes

carefree and flitting

fleeting motion

You move me

as you move

Like Fire,

Intense and Hot

inferno of motion

and emotion

I wait to meet you

to greet you and

you move

You move me

in the meantime.

~ Valerie Mae

This may well be the last belly pic - more pics to come, but they will look different! Thank you for sharing and caring.

In Good Medicine,

Mae

40 weeks and counting!

Greetings!

Well, the "due date" has come and gone.... babies are not like assignments - they don't get handed in on time! They come when they want to, when they are ready.
I am enjoying the time and not feeling impatient, which I am grateful for. It does help that I have a LOT of projects and homework to do and Baby is giving me more time to accomplish some of these items prior to his/her arrival...
I wish I had more time to spend outside, but I have accommodated my desire to be out in Nature by setting up my computer back by the fence in the shade (where there is no glare on my screen) and working out here while enjoying the birdsongs, fresh air, and environment in general.
Yesterday I noticed for the first time this season a hummingbird visited our yard! I am so glad they returned; their small wings fluttering fast are reminiscent of a certain someone's heartbeat fluttering inside my womb. It is pure joy to watch these tiny, beautiful creatures flitting about from bloom to bloom looking for nectar and nourishment. :o) I did not get up and take a picture because I did not have my camera and didn't want to disturb the hummingbird, so you'll have to take my word for it...

... and the pups say hello as well!

In Good Medicine,

Mae, Baby, & Family