what a year!

It's new year's eve...and I'm a mommy! It's hard to believe Lukah is already nearly three weeks old! I'm still trying to get into this "new normal" while struggling to catch up on sleep, or get anything else done for that matter...besides nursing!
We are all doing so great though...Lukah is growing and healthy and so full of beauty, wisdom and wonder. She reached out for her first item the other day. (her "om" bear that Ali made) She is discovering her voice and says what sounds like "hi" a lot. She follows objects with her eyes, and looks to me or papa when she hears our voices.

Papa goes back to work next week, now full-time at the pre-school! He's been wonderful to have home...cooking scrumptious meals, cleaning the house and changing Lukah at 4am when I wake him up after nursing. He's a natural papa, so gentle and patient and so in love with our daughter.

I am in awe at the transformation that just took place. What a wonder the human body is!!! I am recovering well...feel like physically recovered almost 100%. I have already performed with the troupe at my work solstice party, and will be getting more into regular dance-mode next week. My body mind and soul know now (even more) how important and necessary it is to have dance in my life. It will be a good way to get me out of the house a bit now after Lukah. I've been a hermit since she's been born, but in a good way...I still take showers and brush my hair every once in a while.
Anyways...the main point of this blog was to get more pics up!
Blessings to this year we are saying goodbye to...it has been life-changing. And many many more ahead in the new year.
Have a safe and wonderful 2009!!!

Some of our favorite pics:
Lukah's "graduation pic" ...only 2 days old here!

Lukah 1st Week

Lukah Gracy Ilminen Myers

Full Blue Moon Baby Girl!

Lukah Gracy
Came into this world at 5:12pm, on 12/12

7 lbs. 9 ounces 20 inches

Mama labored for over 25 hours and pushed for only 20 minutes!! Recovering wonderfully.

Lukah is nursing well, just had her first bath and is sleeping great!

Thank you to everyone for prayers, and love. Many Blessings from Mama Leelee & Papa KC

Baby's birthing center picture is up: www.peacehealth.org/baby@lbum

Also, will be adding lots-o-pics to the shutterfly site: leeleekc82.shutterfly.com

Grandma Arrives Today!

...And just maybe that is what our baby is waiting for! Grammy Linda is in the air as I write this, dreaming of holding her first grandchild. I am SO looking forward to her calming presence and nurturing nature. And what a blessing it will be to have her here for the birth after all!!

My weekly baby update tells me my baby is a week old already...hmm, I guess they don't have a past-40-weeks option. We're not worried, just ready. Last weekend I decided dancing would help so I squeezed into a costume and performed with the troupe at Cozmic Pizza. It was quite an amazing thing for people to see...even for me after I watched the video...wow! look at that baby dance! And quite a joyous act for us to do. A good pre-labor test for the girls and me.



Well, today we go in for some monitoring of the baby's heartbeat and some other non-invasive testing. Mom's going to meet us right at the birthing center, as that's when she will be rolling in from PDX. Maybe we'll throw our birth basket into the car...just in case!

I know I said the next blog would have baby pics up, but you'll have to settle for a giant belly picture instead!

Still waiting...

Ahhh...yes, the waiting game continues. I'm thankful for the quiet, the extra time, the peacefulness, the long sleeps, the pre-labor contractions. All in purpose to ready the mind and body for the journey to come.
I am painting my earth mother painting I have been visualizing this whole time. Feels so good to have hours to devote to creative projects. And everyday I am enjoying them like they may be the last (for awhile at least).
The functional preparations are nearly complete. I can honestly say we are ready when the baby is ready. Tomarrow is the 'official' due date as determined by my doctor, and the 2nd is the due date as given by the midwifery center. If the baby is still whithin after that, we shall implement the age-old techiniques we've been hearing all about:
pressure points, massage and nipple stimulation, walking, dancing, lovemaking and riding mechanical bulls.
Grammy Linda will be here a week from Tuesday already! I am so excited to be surrounded by so many loved ones, whether in spirit or physical form. We already feel so much love.
So...I'm betting the next blog will feature the newest member of our family.
Stay tuned my friends!!!
much love, blissful blessings
Not-so-Little Mama LeeLee

Belly Cast!!

Wu-hoo! We got our belly casted!! I'm glad we made it this far, because as of three this morning, I thought this could very well be labor day instead of belly cast day! I woke up with pretty strong contractions (compared to what I had been feeling at least) and was up til about 6:30 breathing thru them wondering if they are the real ones or not. Well, after going back to sleep for a couple hours, the went back to the mild ones, so I don't think the real thing is here QUITE yet.

So instead we got to do the belly cast as planned! We had a beautiful circle of friends over to help create it. Candace (who painted baby belly on Halloween) and Simon from Sundance, Serene and Lakota (our 5 year old little buddy), Heather, Jeannie and Ali.



Papa got some video and we got lots of pics. And now, drying with flowers all around it, is my beautiful pregnant belly to look at always. What a special memory we will have of this time. We may paint it later on, but for now, I enjoy the sun shining thru it and seeing my mama body on display.

I'll let the pics do the talking...

The Waiting Game

I am officially on my maternity leave from work. The first day was a strange one! Maybe it's because I have more time to pay attention to my body, or that I'm not moving as much as I do at work...but it seems like overnight my body went into preparation mode for the labor. I'm much more aware of that crampy feeling that could be those pesky Braxton Hicks contractions, or a lead in to the real thing! I'm trying real hard to get tons of rest, for one because I'm trying to kick a cold that's been hanging on, and also, the obvious...very little "full-nights-sleep" ahead.

Two nights ago I had a dream that I went into labor today. My mom and sisters were in town and we all went to the birthing center together. I had one of those huge rolling suitcases overpacked with who-knows-what. We arrived and walked past the birthing group I was supposed to be attending. My favorite midwife was working! But all the bedrooms were being used so we had to go down to the basement to give birth! Not a nice cozy basement, but this musty old 'that 70's show'' style basement with ripped up furniture and a moldy smell.

Hmmm...I'm not going to read into that one too much...I'll take to good from it, like my family will be with me in spirit, and that perhaps Patricia my favorite midwife will be on call when the time comes. Luckily I don't think the birthing center has a basement.



A 'self-portrait' taken in the bedroom mirror. Note the belly, and papa in the background.

KC and I both have a strong feeling that baby is going to be an early arrival (start your bets now!) In the mean time, I am using my time wisely, multi-tasking around the house organizing and cleaning. My logical mind is trying hard to get everything checked off that preparation list, get all ready for when baby is here and logic is far away and it's just babymoon time.



Slowly I am falling into that trance that must be compared to the calm before the storm. My cozmic mind is pushing the logical one aside and allowing me to just be in the moment and space of my fullmoon body, to reach in and connect with the bright glowing light within me, growing brighter each day. I want to start a painting to go over our bed based on a sketch I did several months ago. KC and I are going to create an alter to help create an umbrella of love, abundance and good health around us as we settle in as three this winter. This will also help me to stop worrying too much about finances and the 'what-ifs'...to just melt into our positive intentions and know that we will all be taken care of by the universe. This child knew the right time to arrive and it is now and meant to be.

BLESSED BE!!!!

The official count is ten days...we all shall see very soon!
Thank you for keeping us in your thoughts and you shall all be hearing from us soon!

Baby's First Halloween Costume!

My last public performance was last night at the World Cafe with us Lumi's and the Conjugal Visitors (who were just voted BEST acoustice band in Eugene) Well, I couldn't go out with out a bang, so decided my costume would be the baby...painted onto my belly, with it's own costume. It was quite a success and was wonderful to see the little on undulating right along with my movements!


Here are some pics of how it all went down:

My friend and co-worker Candance was the artist, using a growth chart we were given at the birthing center. Baby is just entering the 9th month, so that's the one we used. She did an amazing job!!!


We did two sets that night, so two costumes. Here is number one, kind of a "Mists of Avelon" theme.





Costume number two was a bit more playful. We were more in gypsy/vaudeville more, dancing live to the Visitors music. Ali and I were studly men, and Lila and Jeannie were the frilly ladies. We actually whipped out some 'ballroom dancing' fusion. I thought it was fitting to be a man in my condition!

Harvest Time

We've had sucha beautiful fall here...an unusual amount of sunshine for the Willamette Valley has brought out more colors than I've seen in a long time. We've been very lucky!

Here are some pics from the Middle Eastern Dance Guide of Eugene's Fall Festival. It was quite a busy day for me! Luminessah taught a workshop in the morning, I then volunteered at the festival, performed a solo in the afternoon, and then performed with our troupe in the evening show!


We got these awsome eyelashes as a trade from a workshop we did last month. They were actually more comfortable to wear than some of the smaller ones I have.


The evening performance ended up being one of our best ever. It was a great way to end a really long day.


Here is some of the harvest abundance at Sundance.

We all made little pumpkins to display in the produce department.


Every year we get a giant pumpkin and have a 'guess my weight' contest. winner gets to take the pumpkin home if they can figure out a way top do that. This year, we're weighing in at 357!! (The pumpkin, not me!)


Randomly, this house was towed down our steet last Sunday. It was quite a sight to see...invloving many police officers on motorcycles, many worker guys, and the moving of street signs and trimming of trees.

My nesting masterpiece...

I finally finished the crib canopy! I've been working on it for some time, visualizing an enchanting, peaceful and ethereal experience for the baby every time we lay it's head down to dream. The material came mostly from thrifting, and the deep purple from Lisa when she gifted me with her old sewing machine. The center hanging rainbow is a locally made wind streamer, each string hand-dyed. This one in particular matches up with the seven chakra colors and is intended to bring healing and comfort.

View from the bed...


View from bedroom door...


Looking in....


Baby's view...

After putting it up, our bedroom seems trasnformed into a mystical and restful dream space. We both look very forward to hibernating with our new baby very soon!


These are the creatings I made with all the beads from my blessing at the baby shower! All the little charms went on a bracelet. Some of the more earthy beads I made into a necklace for me to wear. The remaining I made into a string of rainbow/chakra beads to hang over the baby's changing table. It feels good to have them all around us now, as a reminder of how much love and well-wishes were created for us during that ritual. Thanks again to all of you!!

random love-filled wackiness...

Here are some fun pics of our little life in Oregon...most don't need explanations, so just sit back and enjoy!

Luminessah in September...



Passed out papa...


Chico and I demonstrate baby-holding 101...

Um...still practicing!


Onnie gets to wear a collar with a little bell on it now that he's mastered to art of escaping from the yard!


Barry, our yard squirrl...so named because he gets a 'blackberry beard' he eats so many!


A perfect breakfast: fresh mango, blueberries and tropical dragonfruit!