Paying tribute to #2014, a year that has been as exciting as it was challenging. It has served as the most transformative year of my life marked by travel, pregnancy, change, healing and self-discovery. My journey has had its share of twists and turns but I am grateful for the defining moments of both stillness and chaos and for the incredible people (and animals) who have illuminated me on my path. Looking forward to the adventure the New Year unfolds as we eagerly await our new little sidekick. Come on #2015, bring on Nico! 

Part 1 of my birth story and why I've decided on a natural home birth

Earlier this year, Tanner and I decided to take a break from tech, see the world and volunteer. We purchased one-way tickets to Argentina, quit our jobs, packed our things, moved out of our apartment and began our backpacking adventure through South America. What we did not plan was my pregnancy.

We had been together for over four years and married for three before getting pregnant. The pregnancy came to us by surprise since we had been together for so long and had never used birth control. Having no kids made it easy for us to travel around the world.

My birth story begins in April 2014 while we were volunteering at a wildlife refuge in the Bolivian Amazon. We learned that the local Maca root grown in the Andes was used as a medicine to help boost energy and stamina. We thought it could come in handy while working in the jungle so we brought some with us to try. What we didn’t know was that it was rumored to increase fertility. I guess that in our case, it turned out to be true!

I missed two periods, experienced debilitating nausea on long bus rides, developed an unwelcome aversion for Pollo A La Brasa (a Peruvian favorite), and barely made it out alive on a hike through the Colca Canyon (which is twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, FYI) before we even suspected pregnancy. It was following a serene camping weekend in the Sacred Valley where I craved nothing but vegetarian (which is odd for a carnivore like me) when it dawned on us that I must be pregnant. A pee test and blood test confirmed our suspicions and I was, indeed, two months pregnant. Although it came to us as an untimely surprise, we trusted in divine timing and agreed that we were ready to start a family. Although this put a timeline on our otherwise open-ended trip, it wouldn’t stop us from traveling and volunteering for at least a few more months.

We decided not to tell anyone at home in the US about the news. We didn’t want all the “good advice” that would come from home. We would have been advised to come home immediately. I would have been scolded about all the dangers and difficulties of being pregnant while traveling abroad. We would have been reminded incessantly about the unsuitability of our lifestyle for pregnancy and having a baby.

I don’t believe that pregnancy means that your life has to stop. It is not a disease or a disability. Pregnancy is a gift and it is one that I chose to embrace with a love for life for both myself and my child. With Tanner’s help, I responsibly maintained a well-balanced diet, proper fitness, and educated myself as much as possible on pregnancy and care.

I had my first prenatal checkup at a clinic in Lima, Peru. My due date was determined to be on January 1, 2015, and I couldn’t imagine a more perfect start to the new year! Listening to the heartbeat for the first time was a surreal moment for both of us to truly recognize a life was indeed growing inside of my belly. Although the language barrier was a little challenging, it was such a relief to finally have prenatal care and to learn that everything was going to be okay.

As we continued our travels, I met like-minded mothers (and a father) from across the world who shared their natural birth stories with me which ultimately inspired me to have a home birth. To learn more, we met with medical anthropologist, doula and women’s health educator, Cynthia Ingar, who was an absolute joy to speak with. Her philosophy on birth and motherhood was refreshing considering the culture of fear surrounding childbirth back home in the US. She reminded me that women are strong, that our bodies are perfectly designed to give birth and that birth is a safe and normal process. She opened my eyes and empowered me to embrace pregnancy and birth as natural and transformative. I knew in my heart and in my belly that a natural home birth would be the best option for me and my baby and that being able to give birth at my own pace, free of interventions, and in the privacy and comfort of my home was just what I wanted. I later learned that my mother birthed my sister and I naturally which provided further reassurance and confidence that I could do it, too.

After 6 months of traveling, we returned to the US to visit our families and surprise them with the big news. As expected, our family and friends were both shocked and excited about the news and we couldn’t be more excited to share journey with them. Then we returned to our home base in the Bay area, where a fresh start awaited us: new jobs, a new car, and a new home in preparation for our new family.

The transition required some patience, hard work and quite a bit of getting used to after being on the road for so many months but I am relieved to reintroduce some stability into our lives. We’ve enlisted two amazing midwives to assist in our homebirth and are currently looking to hire a doula for extra support. We are also preparing our new home for our reunion with Darwin (our cat) and the arrival of our baby. This includes making room for a birth tub to create as comfortable a space as possible for birth. With just 2 months left until my due date, I’m both excited and a little apprehensive for what’s to come but I’m preparing my mind and body as much as I can through yoga, childbirth classes, massage, homeopathy and mindfulness/meditation exercises while Tanner is preparing to be the best birth partner he can be. We still have a lot of work and preparation ahead of us but we couldn’t be more excited for the arrival of our sweet baby!

I’m happy to share my story and any resources that you may find useful if you, too, are considering a home birth or are simply curious to learn more. I highly recommend watching The Business of Being Born for a different perspective on pregnancy and childbirth. Knowledge is power. As women, it is imperative for us to educate ourselves and to understand our options, share our experiences with one another and empower ourselves to take control of our bodies and have whatever birth we want.

Image Credit: Stephanie Dyer

I went looking for my dreams outside of myself and discovered, it's not what the world holds for you, it's what you bring to it. // Anne Shirley

Last week, we spent the week with a shamanic Shipibo tribe deep in the Amazon, dieting and exploring the depths of our consciousness. Tomorrow, I meet with a medical and feminist anthropologist to learn how to tap into my inner medicine woman through Andean feminine wisdom and spirituality. In a few days, we will be staying at an ashram with a Hare Krishna community to deepen our meditation and yoga practice. I guess you could say things are getting a little "weird." But here's to expanding your mind and stepping out of your comfort zone. This is where the real adventure begins.

Everything is connected! I love noticing every synchronicity these days. There are no coincidences, just energy and manifestation. Tune in, you'll see too.

Left the jungle behind and heading for the city but I am still in a dream state; reeling from our experience working at Parque Ambue Ari in the Bolivian Amazon for the past month. I won't soon forget the animals I had the privilege of bonding with, especially the most magnificent jaguar, Juancho, who I will dream about for days and weeks and years to come. Our days were spent playing games, cuddling and singing duets together. During his lazy moments I told stories and sang him lullabies as he fell asleep next to me. He is truly a gentle and soulful jaguar but he is also the toughest opponent I've ever had at tug of war. Our last moments together were the most difficult and there is no doubt in my mind that animals can feel and share energy, all the more reason to love and respect wildlife and their habitats. Saying goodbye to Juancho, our new friends, and the jungle is one of the hardest things I've had to do on this trip so far but I am grateful for the park and the impact it has left on me and the impact it will continue to have on volunteers who have the privilege of working here. I know in my heart that we will be back very soon and I invite you all to join us as the park and the rescued animals could really use our help.

Once one of the richest cities in the world, Cerro Rico mine in Potosi, Bolivia kept Spain running for 300 years. Working conditions were horrible, and still are that it's known as "the mountain that eats men." Laborers were forced to work 18-20 hour days, eating nothing but coca leaves and beans all day, all without pay. Although these days working in the mine is more of a choice, my two hour experience crawling and climbing, shuffling and slipping through tiny tunnels filled with dust, shattered me, and left a part of me with the miners who work here.

Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama

Valparaiso, Chile is an explosion of texture and color. Wandering the city is like a treasure hunt, inspiration at any turn and at every corner.

One of the things I love about 70s Brazilian music is how it can sound simultaneously familiar and foreign at the same time. The familiarity is a result of the heavy influence of British and American music but it's still foreign in the way these musicians melded it with their own musical traditions and culture. For me, it provides a hint of the same excitement that comes from traveling.

This mixtape compiled by Brazilian artist, Penabranca, is a great example of that experience. It is a surprisingly smooth blend of folk, soul, psychedelia, brit influenced pop, rock and traditional Brazilian music. Let this be an introduction, if you haven't already discovered Brazilian music, which I hope will capture your imagination the way it has mine.

Life as One Beautiful Creative Act

I’m attempting to make my life, in as many ways as possible, a beautiful, creative act. This is such a multi-faceted idea to me, and takes many forms. It could be the simple act of making a colorful, handmade meal from scratch. It is the connections we form, the community, support, inspiration, and collaboration we find with our friends, neighbors, family, and with people all over the world. It’s in how we dress and accessorize, how we decorate and inhabit our home, the notes we write and the music we hear, sing, and dance to.

I believe deeply that the best way to serve the world is to fully, and without reservation, become the happiest, truest version of yourself.

Do what inspires you, what makes you feel fulfilled, and do it now.

"live life."

Eco-Volunteering in South America

“We do not own the world, but the world owns us; we are guardians of nature's assets, not owners.” =========================

In 2014, Tanner and I will be giving up our jobs and our home for travel and adventure in South America. In effort to help preserve and give back to the natural wonders we visit and to promote sustainable change, we will be donating our time and efforts to volunteer in wildlife protection and sustainable agricultural projects scattered throughout the continent. Our plan is to spend at least 2 months in the Amazon rainforest volunteering with wildlife rescue centers where we will look after endangered animals like monkeys, cats, tapirs and parrots that have been rescued off of deforested land or from black market animal trafficking.  We will spend at least 1 month volunteering on organic farms to learn and explore methods in sustainable farming and eco-construction while also involving the local children and community in learning about environmental issues. During our stay we would like to contribute as much as possible to these organizations and so we are calling upon our family, friends, and friends of friends to help us help them.  If you would like to assist us in supporting these causes, please donate. All the money we raise will be divided and passed on to each of the organizations directly and not our travel expenses.  These organizations are non-profit and volunteer-based and rely on donations and volunteer fees to survive. No donation is too little or too much, every penny would go to a great cause and your help would mean a lot to us and the wildlife you'd be helping us to protect. 

================================================== Who are you helping? ==================================================

Inti Wari Yassi

Comunidad Inti Wara Yassi (CIWY) is a Bolivian non-governmental organization dedicated to rescuing, caring for and rehabilitating sick, mistreated and abandoned wildlife. There are several species of monkey, sloths, pumas, jaguars, ocelots, tehons and an expanding bird center that works with toucans, parrots, and other bird species. CIWY also teaches Bolivians about the importance of leaving wildlife in its natural habitat and the negative effects of the animal trade. 

The organization is run by permanent staff and supported by the generosity and hard work of international volunteers. Volunteer work can vary from construction, administration and local education programs to working directly with all the species in the park.

http://www.intiwarayassi.org/

Rio Muchacho

Rio Muchacho is a working organic farm nestled in a small valley on the coast of Ecuador that is open to all volunteers who want to learn about eco-practices and sustainable living. The farm demonstrates a combination of organic agriculture, permaculture, traditional moon cycles, alternative energy, recycling, and reuse. The farm promotes sustainable community development by means of local participation in tourism, production of crafts with local materials and creation and coordination of an environmental primary school.  The main project of the farm is The Community Environmental School which serves 40 children, ages 4-13. The aim of the school is provide a good broad education and raise students awareness on environmental issues. Supported by parents and the organic farm, tourists, friends, family and volunteers the school fosters an understanding of how future generations can manage their natural resources sustainably. http://www.riomuchacho.com/

Merazonia

Merazonia is a dynamic rescue and rehabilitation centre for trafficked and abused Amazonian animals, located in Mera, Ecuador. Animals confiscated by the Ministry of Environment and the police, are brought to Merazonia. The organization cares for monkeys, kinkajous, cats, other mammals and parrots. Volunteers help care for the animals, as well as continue to construct enclosures and trails to improve the center. Merazonia works on both rehabilitating and providing release programs for the animals. If animals are too injured or imprinted for this, they will give them a chance to live as naturally and comfortably as possible.

http://www.merazonia.org/

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Thanks for much for taking the time to read this. We are excited to have this opportunity to contribute and to be able to raise money and see it directly impact the organizations and the animals we are volunteering with. We truly appreciate any thing you can do for us whether it be donating or spreading the word to people you know.

Muchas gracias!

<3 Roxanne & Tanner

================================================== DONATE HERE http://www.gofundme.com/roxanner-volunteering ==================================================

Real talk people, I cannot understand how education is not a priority.  Without it what kind of future will this country have?  What kind of future will we have?

A self portrait

The problem is… You have a separation mindset.

You see yourself as being separate from everyone around you. You view people you don’t know with this “me vs. you” outlook.

Everyone can connect with each other in one way or another… All you need to do is stop looking for the disconnects and you will begin to see.

“Don't you think it would be wonderful to get rid of everything and just go some place where you don't know a soul?” ―Haruki Murakami

(Photo: Gazing at the Bayon Temple in Angkor, Cambodia)