Today my mom, Lulu, Levi and I went down to Olympia, our states capitol to meet with our legislators and to talk with them about the importance of midwifery care. We met other mothers and midwives at a church across the street from the capitol building so we could get into groups and go over the scheduled meetings that were going to take place. We talked about the issues that the midwives were pushing. It was a lot of fun and very educational. I learned a lot today and now when I hear people say "contact your legislator" I know that it's actually quiet easy and could hopefully make a difference.
Here is Lulu waiting so patiently while we met with everyone at 8:30am before going over to the capitol. The first meeting that we were scheduled to go to was at 9:15am with
Senator Dale Brandland. He's not our actual representative but he was the first senator we met and was nice enough to pose for a quick picture......so quick that we only got the back of Lulu's head.
Here is my mom with Lulu and Levi standing out in front of the capitol building. It was just beautiful and we couldn't have asked for a better day!
Lulu standing on the front steps to the capitol building. She looks so tiny!! I was in aww by the size of everything and how much history are in these buildings.
Grandma and Lulu having fun.
And I had to get a picture of Levi. Here he is and behind him is the supreme court building of Washington.
We finally made it inside the capitol building but right as we were getting inside we almost got kicked out.......LOL. Well, what happened was we were told by the lady at the front desk to go down a hall to the elevator (since I had the stroller we couldn't take the stairs) and go to the second floor for the tour we were going to take. So we went down the hall and got on one of the many elevators. When we reached our floor the doors opened up and there was a man standing on the other side waiting to get on. When he saw us he immediately had a look of confusion and said "how did you get in here?" Then two very large guards came up to us and escorted us out. What happened was that we got on a private elevator that needed a card to access it (but not for us) and we ended up in the senate chambers. The one guard that ended up escorting us out into the main rotunda was really nice and told us a bit about where we were. He must have been a dad because he was so friendly and understanding. We had a good laugh and can now say we have been in the senate chambers where only the senators are allowed to be.
Here we are on the steps inside of the capitol building after we got kicked out......don't we look guilty and suspicious? The building was just breathtaking. Not really my style....all marble and concrete, but still very impressive.
We were there just until lunch. The rest of the midwives were going to be staying until 5pm having meetings with legislators the rest of the afternoon but we had a 2 hour drive home so we got a head start. As we were leaving and walking the campus back to the car we passed all these motorcycles, most of them Harley's. They were there to discuss some issues with motorcycles in our state. It was a great turn out for them, there were hundreds of "biker dudes." They were in all the traditional leather gear and revving their engines. Lulu loved this and kept asking to go out in the street to see them.
We had so much fun and learned a lot. I had a great time with my mom who has been my doula for both of my children's birth. You can see my mom's blog
HERE and get her perspective on our day. Supporting the midwives in our state was really important to me since I have had such amazing support from them personally with my births. I love having the option to use a midwife and to homebirth with a midwife and that's why we went to Lobby day today, to show our support and to let our representatives know why midwifery is important to us.
Here is Levi sitting in the high chair today at lunch. He was smiling so much I had to get a picture. After taking a few darling pictures, something felt so familiar about them.............when I looked to find a picture of Lulu in the same high chair the picture I found was her at 4 1/2 months also and sitting in the same spot in our kitchen. Now I can't stop laughing at how different Lulu and Levi are. The biggest difference is that Lulu had hair and Levi is bald! To me Levi looks all boy and Lulu is all girl sitting so nicely while Levi is practically climbing out of the chair
This weekend Mark got to work on his 1965 
Here is my 1973 
Today we spent the early part of the afternoon in our backyard. It's been cold, wet and windy around here so when I saw the blue sky and sun I bundled us up and headed outside.
Lulu had so much fun pretending and playing. She kept knocking on the door of our shed pretending it was a little house. Someday I'm sure the things that are in our shed will need to find a new home because Lulu will probably ask her daddy to make the shed into a play house. And the great daddy Mark is I'm sure it will be painted pink with cute little curtains in the window. 
Here Lulu is playing with the branches that have fallen all over the yard. The big one dragging behind her is her dog and she's taking her dog for a walk.
And Levi had fun watching his sister from the stroller. 
Lulu got a hold of the camera and took a picture of Levi, mommy and the grass. 
Here is Levi enjoying his Johnny Jump Up. He is 4 months old and for the past month and a half all he's wanted to do is jump. When we have him on our lap he just wants to jump up and down. During church I have him on my lap and he just jumps the entire service until he passes out and sleeps the rest of the time. So, Mark hung two boards up on the header in between the kitchen and the living room so we could hang the Johnny Jump Up, up. 
Also this week Levi cut his frist tooth. It's on the lower left (his left) side and I don't think it's bothering him at all. He's such a good baby! I think I have heard him laugh more then I've heard him cry. He sleeps through the night even though he's teething and he smiles at everyone. 
Here is Lulu helping Levi go up and down. She used the Johnny Jump Up maybe twice when she was a baby.....she just wasn't a jumper. It still amazing to me how our children can be so different.
Lulu loves to brush her teeth. We sing a little song and make it fun. She has always liked getting her teeth brushed and now that she can do most of it on her own, it's her favorite thing to do.
Isn't this just too cute?
