Our birth story (the short version)

Wed. Aug. 22nd our little boy arrived, his name is River (named after the Mekong River..) 

Although most of my expat friends thought I was crazy, I had a natural non-medicated birth in a Lao hospital. But Lao hospitals, perhaps because the lack the resources of the hospitals in the West are actually very accommodating to birthing mothers. I love my doctor :) My labor was 11 hours, most of it walking and standing, squatting letting gravity do it's thing. Meditations and visualizations helped more than I can say with working through the pain. Only during the actual delivery did I lay down. I also was able to have both my husband and my doula in the room with me and La was able to help "catch" River.

Since I was one of the first foreigners to have a baby at this hospital, soon afterward River was celebrity with the nurses and their cameras. :D I must admit, language was the biggest challenge. I'm not 100% sure I'd give birth in a hospital again where I can't freely communicate. (Being fluent in a language is one thing, but hospital speak is it's own language.)

After River was born we stayed in the hospital 1 night then came home to grandma and her postpartum care. (Hot herbal baths and Herbal teas.) Originally I was going to also observe the 2 week tradition of laying near the fire (literally) but for me personally, I wanted to be the one taking care of my baby at all times. Also, to be honest, I wasn't fond of the idea of sleeping in my outdoor Lao kitchen, the same place we found a cobra 2 months ago. :/ If I could have been indoors, then maybe. 

This photo is making the traditional herbal bathwater. Mom's bath for at least 15 days with this. (no soap, no rinsing.) We also drink medicinal teas to help promote milk flow during that time. No cold drinks allowed. There are also food restrictions, but these vary according to province. Khamla bought be special free range chicken from the neighbors that I ate with ginger and sticky rice. I did however consume some "falang" (western food) during this time.. after all this girl needs a pizza now and then. ; ) 

Meet River!

If all has been quiet on the Frog and Moon front it's because Wednesday August 22nd our little man arrived after 11 hours of labor. (Wonderful natural childbirth in Lao hospital, but that's another post...when I have a little more time)

River
3.2 kilos
Current hobbies: Feeding, Sleeping, Pooping, repeat........ :)

Pre-Natal Herbal Medicine - Hmong Style

Hmong herb vendors outside Talat Sao (Morning) Market, Vientiane. They set up everyday and are quiet popular with the locals. Actually most markets have one or two traditional medicinal vendors, however this area usually has around 8 or 9 set up.

Yesterday I had go pay some bills and couldn't resist looking. Ended up buying one for making birth easier, but only because I felt bad that La was taking so many photos.  Since I've already got a huge supply of traditional Lao herbs from M, my mother-in-law, I picked the one I could plant. :-)

This woman had medicine to help birth easier, medicine for more milk and medicine to poop easier after  childbirth... along with medicine women who want to conceive. 

 

(And yes, I'm in the b/w polkadot dress... again.... at 39+ weeks it's one of the few comfortable things I can wear..)

Montessori Monday - LAOS! Giveaway for your Asia Continent Bags!

Back in July I started making Continent Baskets for our school. These baskets hold items relating to each continent, including maps, stamps, money, books, small treasures...all things to explore. I had a great time making them with our teachers, and hope in the coming school year to add to them. (I also hope to transition from paper covered baskets to fabric bags like the ones from Counting Coconuts)

Recently, I had another Montessori teacher in an online forum I post in ask "Excuse my ignorance, but where is Laos?" It's not the first time I've been asked that. It's between Thailand and Vietnam. Depending on your map, it's purple or grey on the Montessori Asia puzzle.

Because I love this corner of the world so much and want others to know about it too..
I'm offering a small Montessori GIVEAWAY from Laos!  

There are 2 options.

1.)  For those of you that would like a little small "something" from Laos to add to your Montessori ASIA continent bag / basket / box drop me a line at kellyinlaos (at) gmail with your mailing address and I'd be happy to send you a postcard. It'd be really nice if you wanted to do the same and send us one. (hint hint)

or

2.) If you are interested in doing something more exciting, I'd be happy to do a TRADE with you and send you a few small traditional Lao items in exchange for somethings from your country.

No expiration date on this one. :-)

With love from Laos!

For more MONTESSORI MONDAY links:
Living Montessori Now

Goodnight Grandpa

I've been mentally processing this for the past few weeks. My maternal/paternal grandfathers passed years ago, and now my other "grandfather" has passed. This is the second time since I've been in Lao someone close to me has passed. Times like these the space between feels very very large. Ironic that I'm now living in his homeland, and he was living in mine.

Thank you for teaching me about Lao culture.
Thank you for making me laugh with your antics. (Yes, of course, we can collect frogs from the local park..)
Thank you for making me try snake soup.
Thank you for trusting me to help you with your medicine and mail.
Thank you for opening my eyes.

Sleep well.

Grandpa Khammanh

Little Picasso

My nephew painting in his dad's studio. He painted the one above the one he's working on too. They live next to us and he was proud to show off his new creations.
Wonder if little River will be doing the same in a few years?

Creating Baby's Space - Montessori Style

So, in a few short weeks I’m going to be a mom. Oddly enough, before I moved to Laos I never envisioned myself having children. I liked them. But they were for other people to have. Maybe living here it’s impossible not to feel the call of motherhood, as the culture loves children so much. Not to mention there are 3 routine questions you are asked by every stranger: How old are you? Are you married? Do you have children?

Now that I am finally on maternity leave, we have started setting up a space for River. All  my  Montessori training is coming out in River’s spaces. He won’t have his own room in this house as there just isn’t the space. (We are in the process of building a house.) There is an extra bedroom here but La uses it as his art studio, and we both agree it’s too important to confine oil paints, thinners, cutters, chemical smells and all other supplies that make a parent cringe in a safely locked no baby entry space.

We are doing co-sleeping, so I’m setting up that area for him. He won’t actually sleep in the same bed as us, but next to the bed on his own little mat. I’ve never personally been fond of cribs, as to me they look a bit like zoo cages, but in Laos, they are even more unheard of. There is no debate here about co-sleeping; it’s how every baby sleeps and you’d be called a bad parent by locals to try otherwise. He will also get his own mosquito net, which I have to buy this week. Yes, they make baby size models.

In the main area of the house, I’ve set up one bamboo shelf for his supplies that we need to use everyday. I was going to keep it in our bedroom, but with MIL coming to live, I need it to be accessible to all. There is also a soft woven fabric mat for the floor and I will buy another small bed mat this week. La’s friend at Vientiane frame shop is making us a big mirror Montessori style, for the wall. That way during tummy time he can explore his environment and himself. La is painting the story of the frog and moon also to be hung low on the wall to introduce River to artwork. I plan to make a simple mobile, hopefully have that finished also in the coming week.

There is just SOO much info on the web about Montessori parenting, but I have a few blogs that continue to be sources of inspiration:

http://www.howwemontessori.com

Sew Liberated - This is my all time favorite go to blog for Montessori / creative parenting. I've read her for years for teaching inspiration and now I see it as Mama inspiration. 

One book I have found really helpful with regards Montessori and Infants is: 

Montessori from the Start: The Child at Home, from Birth to Age Three

http://www.amazon.com/Montessori-Start-Child-Birth-Three/dp/0805211128 

Photos to come, I’ve got a lot of work to do first!! Ha, maternity leave. OK, I’m not teaching in a Montessori pre-school of 41 for the next 3 months, but it feels like I have an even bigger task with 1 soon to be newborn!