I grew up with the tradition of camping every Memorial Day weekend with my family. It almost always inevitably rained, yet we still went and had bucket loads of wet, muddy fun! I have many silly, happy memories from our family camping trips and now enjoy taking my own children camping.

We just woke up and brrr, what a cold morning! Trying to keep warm with a campfire, blankets, and snuggles.

Family traditions are so important for us to have! “Children benefit tremendously from the feelings of unity and connectedness that are manifested through tradition” (Family Traditions, 2006).

What traditions exist in your family? Will you be enjoying a family tradition or ritual this Memorial Day weekend? Whatever your plans are for the weekend, engaging in old traditions or perhaps starting new ones, may you have a beautiful and blessed time!

-Sarah

Okay, brace yourself for some super sweet newborn babywearing photos! Here goes…

Meet 3 week old Emmalyn out cold in her Moby Wrap…what a little snugglebug!

Meet baby Elizabeth. This was her daddy’s first time wearing her and he wasn’t quite sure how to use the carrier. He has plenty of practice since then and is now a pro.

Here is another of photo Elizabeth (such a little cutie pie!) with her mommy the first time they went shopping together. Mommy learned that shopping with a toddler and a baby wasn’t as scary as she thought thanks to babywearing.

Meet Maddox (LOVE the name!). His daddy is a pilot and away frequently, so his mommy has to get creative in order to take photos of both of them together -such as capturing their reflection in the door after walking the dog.

Meet Jordan’s son. Jordan needed to wash the dishes and baby wanted to snuggle close to mama…back carry in a wrap provided the perfect solution. He looks pretty comfy and cozy to me. And check out his mama’s bright smile and adorable dimple….you almost can’t help but smile back, right?

Meet one month old Gavin sound asleep in his Moby Wrap while his family enjoyed a day at Castle Park. I can’t imagine a better way for a one month old to spend a day at a park than tummy to tummy with his mama! Another bonus is his mama was hands-free and able to easily care for older siblings.

Meet one month old Nathan. This picture is especially near and dear to his mama’s heart because it was the first time she ever wore him. Nathan had colic and mom reports that the discovery of babywearing changed her life!

Meet two week old Peyton in her home made Mei Tai made out of daddy’s uniform top…I’m pretty sure you said ”awwww!” just now. What a super special carrier to wear your baby in, huh?

Meet baby Cora in her Boba 3G. This photo clearly exemplifies the proper babywearing position described as ‘where you can easily kiss the top of baby’s head”. I’m willing to bet baby Cora got a smooch from her mama shortly after this photo was snapped.

Meet 4 week old Logan in his Moby Wrap at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Such a gorgeous photo for a number of reasons. I especially love how well coordinated mama’s outfit is with their Moby Wrap. Lookin’ good mama!

Meet Bri’s daughter. Here she is at 12 days old enjoying story time at the library with her big sister.

Another awesome picture of Bri’s daughter at 2 months old being worn by her 75 year old great aunt. This picture warms my heart to no avail. Seriously love this one! Something about seeing the young and old connected heart to heart is simply delightful.

And one more of Bri’s daughter at 2 months old in the kitchen with daddy. What a lucky little baby to be worn by so many loved ones!

Lastly here’s my 6 week old Abraham on his very first hike. Cannot imagine our lives without babywearing…from household chores to recreational activities, babywearing has been my saving grace and top mothering tool throughout!

A BIG thank you to all this week’s participants.

Each of you will get 25 MILK MILES to thank you for sharing your babywearing photos with us!

Ready for next week’s Fan Photo Friday assignment? Let’s see some photos of your baby’s first food experiences. You know the photos I’m talking about…where they have spaghetti noodles stuck on their head, bodies completely covered in red sauce, and a big ol’ proud smile on their face. Send your Baby’s First Foods picture to sarah@momsmilkboutique.com by Thursday, May 31 and include any information you want shared such as age of baby, type of food, their reaction to the experience, etc.  Then check back on Friday, June 1 to see some seriously messy baby faces! The winner will be awarded 25 MILK MILES!

-Sarah

Recent observations of cloth diapering families has revealed what specialists now refer to as a “Cloth Diapering Addiction”.  Here are a few of the associated symptoms:

1. Your significant other frequently comments that he/she thought cloth diapers were supposed to SAVE money.

2. You coordinate your baby’s outfits with his/her cloth diapers.

3. You could go easily go two or more weeks without washing diapers and still have clean diapers for baby to use.

4. When people go to your home and see your stash they say “Oh, I didn’t know you ran a cloth diapering business”.

5. You have holiday-themed cloth diapers

6. You can correctly identify various brands of  cloth diapers when a bit of fluff peeks out from other babies’ pants in public.

7. Your child’s name is embroidered on several diapers in your stash.

8. When people ask what to get your baby for a holiday or birthday you gift, you send them a link to your cloth diaper registry.

9. You can correctly decode the following: AIO, AI2, PUL, RLR, CD, CPF, H&L, BG, and FB.

10. You belong to and actively participate on multiple cloth diapering forums.

Diagnosis:

If you can answer “YES” to 3-5 of the above you have a mild case of cloth diaper addiction.

If you can answer ”YES” to 6-8 of the above you have a moderate case of cloth diaper addiction.

If you can answer ”YES” to more than 8 of the above you have a serious case of cloth diaper addiction.

Treatment options:

Successful treatment for cloth diapering addiction is limited. In fact the only known cure is for your child to be potty trained. In which case some addicts will have another baby just so they can continue to use cloth diapers.

-Sarah

PS. Don’t forget tomorrow May 25 is Fan Photo Friday. If you haven’t submitted a newborn babywearing photo yet do so by tonight to get your 25 Milk Miles!

Last week our first Fan Photo Friday was a big hit!

It was fun to see a variety of diaper stashes from some of our faithful readers.

Here’s an additional submission that didn’t make it to my inbox quite in time to include on Friday, but is way too cute not share! This is Felicity’s awesome stash!

If you look closely enough you’ll see she even has the diapers organized and labeled according to brand. Felicity, will you come organize my stash…or actually my whole house, lol! Also I love the pattern on the changing pad. In fact I would love to see pictures of the entire nursery…I bet it’s darling! Thanks Felicity for sharing.

Now mamas it’s time to take out your cameras or search through pictures on your computer so you can participate in this week’s Fan Photo Friday. This week’s topic is Newborn Babywearing in honor of my own baby fever! Want us to gush over your cutie patootie newborn and show off your favorite baby carrier? Then be sure to email your favorite newborn babywearing photo to sarah@momsmilkboutique.com by Thursday, May 24 and include any information you want shared such as age of baby, type of carrier, location, etc.  Then check back on Friday, May 25 to see some serious cuteness guaranteed to make you go “aaawwwww!”.

Oh and here’s the best part of this week’s Fan Photo Friday…we decided each participant should get 25 MILK MILES! Woohoo! In case you are not familiar with Milk Miles, it’s the generous reward program at Mom’s Milk Boutique. Fan Photo Friday is another fun way for those Milk Miles to add up fast so you can purchase those items on your Mom’s Milk Boutique wish list! If you submit a photo and it’s shared on May 25′s Fan Photo Friday’s post, 25 Milk Miles will be deposited into your account shortly after. Pretty sweet, huh?!?

Looking forward to seeing your newborn babywearing photos!!

-Sarah

sarah@momsmilkboutique.com

Veggie Stir Fry is my favorite last minute go-to meals. It’s a simple, quick yet healthy meal that I can whip together in under 30 minutes. Plus I almost always have the ingredients at home on any given day. Although stiry fry is very forgiving so it’s easy to utilize whatever ingredients you have on hand to create a delicous meal. One trick to speed up cooking time (and for added protein) is to use quinoa instead of rice. Quinoa is a faster cooking grain and offers different nutrients than rice.

Ingredients:

3 cups water

1.5 cups quinoa

Olive Oil

1 onion, chopped

4 cloves of garlic, sliced

1/2 inch to inch section of fresh ginger, minced

1 red pepper, chopped

1 zucchini, chopped

1 bunch of broccoli, chopped

1/3 cup Soy Sauce ( I use Bragg’s Liquid Aminos)

1/4 cup sesame oil

1/4 cup rice vinegar

1 Tablespoon honey

pinch of red pepper flakes

3/4 cup raw cashews

optional topping: chopped green onion and/or cilantro

Directions:

1. Bring 3 cups of water to a full boil. Add 1.5 cups of quinoa. Bring to a boil. Lower heat and cover. Allow to gently simmer for 15 minutes.

2. While quinoa cooks, saute garlic, ginger, and onions in olive oil over medium heat for approx 5 minutes.

3. Add zucchini and red pepper. Saute for 5 minutes.

4. Mix soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, and red pepper flakes in a small bowl. Set aside.

5. Add broccoli and cashews to sauteed vegetables. Cover for 3-5 minutes until broccoli turns bright green.

6. Pour soy sauce mixture over veggies and allow to cook for a few more minutes until thoroughly heated.

Serve over cooked quinoa with optional toppings of cilantro and/or green onion. Enjoy!

What’s your favorite quick and healthy go-to dinner?

-Sarah

I love seeing pregnant mamas at the beach or pool, showing off their baby belly. Such radiance seems to abound from a beautiful round belly full of life. I know that during my pregnancies I loved being in the water for both relaxation and exercise. A comfortable maternity bathing suit is a must have item for pregnant mamas, particularly if a bulk of your pregnancy will take place during the warm summer months. A dip in the pool is a great way to beat the summer pregnancy heat as well as release stress on joints!

Mom’s Milk Boutique now carries this gorgeous Maternity Swimsuit by Carriwell. It’s designed to be adjustable to accommodate your growing belly! The halter top allows you to adjust the top area accordingly as needed. It also comes with removable breast forms for added shape.

Would you like to win a Carriwell Maternity Swimsuit? Then be sure to enter this week’s giveaway today!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

See that little sign there….”Please Touch!”. Such a refreshing change to experience a place that honors children’s curiosities and the need to physically connect with objects to fully understand them. The very best part was many of these were delicate objects that children were invited to touch…they know that often when children are treated as competent and capable of being careful…they are! Hooray for awesome kid-friendly spaces!

What hands-on adventures await your family this weekend?

Sarah

Welcome to our very first FAN PHOTO FRIDAY! Today’s topic is “Show off your stash!”. We had some awesome photos submitted by some awesome mamas! Check them out…

This is Jolene’s stash…pretty impressive, huh? Not just due to the number of diapers, but the organization of it is incredible too! She’s says her stash is “proudly displayed in my living room for everyone to see.” Which totally made me chuckle…I would LOVE walking into a friend’s house and seeing this wonderful display of fluff, wouldn’t you?

This is Rebecca’s stash. She describes herself as a “tried and true FLIP stash mama”. Don’t you just love the celebration of cloth in her backyard with the Tibetan diaper flags? So cool!

This is Amanda’s stash. She calls her stash “tiny” and is hoping to grow her stash soon (aren’t we all! ). I think it’s an awesome stash and love all the prefolds. Such a great diaper choice!

This is Megan’s stash. Her sweet little monkey fell asleep before she could snap of photo of him with his colorful diaper stash so she improvised with a stuffed monkey.  Can’t help but smile at this goofy little monkey surrounded by RumpaRooz!

And here’s my stash…yes, I’m keeping it real for you mamas with a snapshot of my dirty diapers! Haha! This is what my stash actually looks like most of the time.

Or else it looks like this:

Occasionally (such as the one time I wrote a blog post about diaper storage solutions) it looks like this:

Thanks a bunch to the mamas who sent in photos of their stash to share! It’s fun to see a variety of stashes because it provides readers and prospective cloth diapering families a feel for how to make cloth diapering work for them! Some families have a rather eclectic stash and others find a favorite and stick to it.

Alright now it’s time to start collecting pictures for next week’s Fan Photo Friday!  And because I have a serious case of baby fever over here, I would love to see some cutie patootie newborn babywearing photos. Anyone have a favorite picture of themselves (or their partner) wearing their wee little baby? If so email it to sarah@momsmilkboutique.com by Thursday, May 24 and include any information you want shared such as age of baby, type of carrier, location, etc.  Then be sure to check back on Friday, May 25 to see some serious cuteness guaranteed to make you go “aaawwwww!”.

-Sarah

While having a low milk supply can be challenging and frustrating, it does not always necessitate supplementation. There are several simple things you can try at home to help boost your milk production.

1. Nurse your baby – Because breast milk production is a supply and demand process, typically one of the most effective ways to increase your milk supply is to increase the frequency at which you nurse your baby. Allow baby to nurse on demand or even offer frequently to assist in establishing a plentiful milk supply.

2. Examine Latch – Of course increasing the frequency at which you nurse your baby is only effective if baby is latching properly. A proper latch results in a more efficient supply and demand process. When baby is latched properly the breast receives adequate stimulation to signal milk production.

3. Nourish yourself – Making breast milk is a lot of work for your body. Be sure you are fueling your body with healthy foods, staying well hydrated, and well rested in order to maintain an optimal milk supply.  Consume foods that are known for increasing a mother’s milk supply such as oatmeal or Brewer’s yeast. Make yourself a yummy batch of Lactation Bars to enjoy. Or better yet, ask your partner or a friend to make them for you so you can focus on nursing baby and resting.

4. Avoid Use of Artificial Nipples – Babies, particularly newborns like to suck. It is calming and organizing for them to do so, hence the popularity of pacifiers. However allowing baby to engage in non-nutritive sucking at the breast as a source of comfort (as opposed to use of a pacifier) can be beneficial to the overall breastfeeding relationship and avoids any potential nipple confusion.

5. Consider Using herbs and/or Medications – If you have tried basic ways to increase milk production (such as the ideas listed above) without a positive impact on your milk supply, you might consider use of herbs and/or medications under the guidance of a health care provider. The most commonly used herbs to help increase a mother’s milk supply are fenugreek, blessed thistle, and alfalfa. There are also a few prescription drugs available to increase milk supply, however these are typically reserved as last resort options if natural methods have not been successful.

Have you experienced breast milk supply issues? If so what helped you be able to maintain an adequate milk supply for your nursling?

-Sarah

PS. Don’t forgot to submit your picture for tomorrow’s Fan Photo Friday!

Have you ever noticed the discrepancy of energy levels between a mother and her children? In other words, kids seems to have endless amounts of energy while most moms are operating on rather low energy reserves. One easy way to BOOST your energy levels is through FOODS! Try this smoothie recipe for a quick, healthy, PURE energy boost. This smoothie is a perfect way to start your day in place of caffeine or for when you hit that 2:00pm slump we are all too familiar with. It only takes minutes to make and can turn your day around in an instant. What gives this smoothie an energy boosting kick? Well actually ALL of the ingredients do! Check it out…

Ingredients:

1 cup of water

1/2 ripe banana

1 generous Tablespoon almond butter (preferably raw)

2 dates (be sure to remove the seed)

2 Tablespoons Hemp Seed

2 Tablespoons Cacao Nibs

2 ice cubes

Blend for two minutes and enjoy! This recipe makes one generous serving (you’ll find this smoothie surprisingly filling) so if your kids are going to want some (like mine always do) you might consider making extra.

What helps give you an extra energy boost? Would love to hear some more ideas from readers!

-Sarah