Momma Jorje

Transformative Parenting

2013-05-17T07:34:00.000-05:00

Today I'm bringing you a guest post from a genius friend of mine all about a new kind of parenting course. Please welcome Paige! Scroll to the bottom for a short bio. The links below are my affiliate links, but I wouldn't share this information with you if I didn't support the program myself.

I don’t remember the exact moment I realized that gentle parenting was for me. The idea that “children are our future” touted in public didn’t seem to be practiced in reality.

In reality, putting children on the “naughty step” and letting them cry out for comfort without any emotional response from their parent seemed to be the best advice for living with children.

I just knew that felt wrong to me. Finding a community of other parents that believed the radical idea that children are people was so comforting. Here were other parents who were letting go of power and control and parenting from a place of love.

I’ve been very blessed to be part of this movement through Parenting Gently and the annual Carnival of Gentle Discipline. Getting the word out that there is another way to parent and that it works has been very rewarding.

I’ve also been humbled by the parents who come to me for advice on how to handle situations with their children in a gentle manner. I know how much these parents love their kids so to be trusted with helping them is really an honor.

Do you remember the first time you tried a gentle discipline technique and it worked? Did you have that aha moment?

Gentle parenting is kind of like a drug. That first hit is like “wow! I had no idea parenting could be this fun!” and then you’re hooked.

But, do you sometimes feel like you are still speaking a foreign language? That your initial reaction is always punitive and you have to translate or shift gears into “gentle” mode to react like you want?

Maybe in moments of stress you revert back to your old parenting paradigm and later you feel upset about they way you handled a situation?

Plus you might be getting naysayers from all sides telling you “you’re doing it wrong!”

Wouldn’t it be nice to have the gentle response be the first response that pops into your mind? So that without even thinking about it you can handle any issue in a peaceful manner? So that regardless of the opinion of others you feel confident in your choices?

The thing I realized about gentle parenting is that it isn’t just about gentle alternatives to punishment like spanking and time out.

Instead, it is a fundamental shift in how you relate to your kids. A fundamental shift in how you relate to everyone.

And a shift like that doesn’t come from constantly having to translate every situation into a gentle alternative. Sometimes, that can be even more stressful!

When you can find your own authentic voice and drive your parenting from the inside out, suddenly you’re not struggling to translate each situation into a gentle framework.

You find yourself connecting with your kids more and connecting with yourself more. You smile more and feel stressed out less.

Parenting is fun. Life is fun.

It is just pure awesomeness! I want everyone to experience this personal transformation!

What if I could help you look inside and find your own authentic parenting voice and use that to make your parenting choices?

I mean most of us aren’t parenting from deep inside of us. We are parenting on the fly as situations arise. Struggling with subconscious assumptions built on our own upbringing, our own personality and fears, and the silent societal messages about what parenting should be.

You can use alternatives to time out, spanking, or other punishment everyday and never find that comfortable, joyful parenting groove.

That groove that comes from parenting that is rooted in your own values and goals. After all the best parenting is your own authentic parenting.

This is why I’m so excited to be partnering with Everyday Feminism to offer the first ever Transformative Parenting: Finding Your Authentic Parenting Voice online course.

Everyday Feminism is all about transforming your life through feminism and that fits just perfectly with this idea that through self-transformation we can become the best parents we can be.

This online course won’t be hitting you on the head with feminist theory or with gentle parenting doctrine. You don’t need more external lists of do’s and don'ts.

Instead I will walk you through a process of self-exploration that will help you align your parenting choices with your deepest core values.

We’ll look at:

The cultural messages we receive and internalize about parenthood
How our upbringing and personality shape our parenting
How to break out of the cycle of parenting from a place of fear
Finding your own core values and goals for your children and translate them into daily action
How to communicate with compassion even in times of conflict
How to work with your feelings and needs and help your children do the same
And more!

All in a supportive community of fellow parents who want to break the old habits of parenting we see in our society and forge new, connected bonds with our kids.

I know that parenting is a busy task. I’ll use several different methods of delivery so you can find what works best for you. Each lesson should only take 1-2 hours a week and not all at once!

So you can break it up to fit your schedule.

I hope you’ll join me! You won’t regret the time spent on your own self-improvement and you will notice a profound change in your daily life with your kids.

Paige Lucas-Stannard blogs about infertility, parenting, and women’s issues at Baby Dust Diaries as well as being the founder of the gentle discipline site Parenting Gently and co-founder of the breastfeeding rights site Nursing Freedom. She likes to cook and sew and has, in general, become her mother. Happily. Follow her on Twitter @babydust.

Mamatography 2013 - Week 19

2013-05-15T07:16:00.000-05:00

Day 125 - May 5

Sasha loves when we have company.
Despite not knowing Tami, she greeted her with a hug and an "I love you!"

Day 126 - May 6

Spencer's Occupational Therapy Evaluation
He is now on the wait list for weekly OT.

Day 127 - May 7

Sasha felt sickly and had a fever through the weekend.
It turned out to be Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease.

Day 128 - May 8

My friend Angela brought over all my plant starts!
I have my very first garden now!!

Day 129 - May 9

Elmo went to see his daughter for an early Birthday celebration.
She loved the "Doll in a Carrier" we picked out.

Day 130 - May 10

Spencer and I stopped in to visit with my Aunt Pam.

Day 131 - May 11

Despite our efforts to keep the littles apart, Spencer also contracted HFMD.
I thought he was getting down to play, but he went right back to sleep.

This post is part of the Mamatography 2013 Project with Diary of a First Child and Momma Jorje.

We are taking (at least) a photo a day to keep a record of our year. Join us at any point during the year and start sharing your own daily photos!

***

Without further ado, here are the Mama/Papatography 2013 participants!

Diary of a First Child
Earth Mamas World
Baking Momma of Two
Emma's Little World
Quacks and Waddles
Three Counties Mum
Seaside Chelle
gentlemum
The Cutie and The Beauty
Charming Gardener
Pineapples & Artichokes
Jessica's Casserole
Dad of The Monkeys

Momma Jorje
A Nature Mom
Mommy and Little I
too tired to blog
The Family Patch
The Princess Poet's Life Adventures
harley famdamily
Mama Unfurling
the mommy metamorphosis
Mothers Know Best
Quest For Life's Passion
Frugal Brit Witch
Me, Mothering, and Making it All Work

Prepared... or not?

2013-05-14T05:30:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the May 2013 Carnival of Natural Parenting: Emergency Preparedness

This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Carnival of Natural Parenting hosted by Hobo Mama and Code Name: Mama. This month our participants have shared their plans to keep their families safe. Please read to the end to find a list of links to the other carnival participants.

***

We live in Oklahoma; Tornado Alley. We've had floods (including flash floods), tornadoes, earthquakes and snow / ice storms. We get some advanced warning (or "watch") for some of these. We know when a storm is coming that is likely to bring on tornadoes. We know when a nasty snow storm is coming. And people GO. NUTS. If you go to the store, you will find them sold out of water, bread, canned goods... you get the idea. "Its the apocalypse!"

Us... not so much. We are very fly-by-the-seat-of-our-pants kind of people. We even hesitate to commit to social gatherings. And so cometh the weather.

The red truck is us. You see the car next to us? Completely covered in snow drift!

See the car in front of the truck (above)?

It was propped up like this for several days, blocking us from leaving.

We walked to the nearest convenience store, the only thing close-by at all. We were terribly lucky that they were even open! Maybe I'm just lucky? I never buy canned goods or water in advance to prepare for anything! I suppose I set a really bad example here, but we just don't plan ahead like that.

I do want to buy a storm radio, since we don't have television service. Do you prepare for bad weather?

***

Visit Hobo Mama and Code Name: Mama to find out how you can participate in the next Carnival of Natural Parenting!

Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants:

Be Prepared for Emergencies — Becky at Crafty Garden Mama is reviewing Angela England's new ebook, The Untrained Housewife's Guide to Getting Prepared. See what measures she is learning to adopt in her family.
Prepare to Expect a Safe and Beautiful Natural Birth — What do you need to have prepared so that you can have a nice and relaxing birth at home? Lisa at The Squishable Baby shares her list in a guest post at Natural Parents Network.
Fire Boxes for Emergency Preparedness — Jana of Jananas tells why she bought a fire box to store important documents and what is stored in the box.
Firefighter Training Homeschool Curriculum — Kellie at Our Mindful Life helped her homeschooled kids prepare for emergencies through a Firefighter Training unit.
3 Secrets to a Royal Emergency — Jaye Anne at Wide Awake, Half Asleep tells the secret to living like kings during a storm-induced power outage.
Is Your Family Prepared for an Emergency? — Chrystal at Happy Mothering shares an overview of what her family has done to become more prepared for emergencies.
What to Do in an Earthquake — Julia at A Little Bit of All of It gives instructions for staying safe in the event of an earthquake as well as tips for teaching your children to keep safe and where to find information online after an earthquake.
Spring Cleaning & Preparing, Part 2 — Justine at The Lone Home Ranger organizes and replenishes her emergency supply every spring and is learning to add to the food stockpile by preserving year-round.
15 Must-Haves For The Natural Minded Family When Disaster or Emergency Strikes — Jennifer at Hybrid Rasta Mama shares how she prepares for disaster or an emergency as a natural minded mama. Learn what 15 natural items you should consider having on hand!

Emergency Preparedness: Cosleeping, Cheezits, Chocolate — Kristine at All the Things in the World was happy to have cosleeping in her emergency tool kit during Hurricane Sandy.
Being Prepared For Personal Disasters — Luschka at Diary of a First Child draws on her own recent experiences and considers five things every parent should have in place to ease the burden when sudden disaster strikes.
The Natural Emergency Kit That I Always Carry in My Diaper Bag — Charise at I Thought I Knew Mama shares the four green and natural items in her emergency kit that she can't do without when she's out and about with her little ones.
Prepared... or not? — Is it dangerous to not prepare? Jorje of Momma Jorje shares whether her family prepares…or not.
Pack a car safety kit: 25 must-have items for emergencies — Whether you're out for a leisurely drive or fleeing a disaster, Lauren at Hobo Mama offers tips on stocking your car with emergency supplies that will tide you over if you're stranded.
Teaching My Children About Tornados — Destany at They Are All of Me writes about preparing her children for tornado season.
Preparing our children for emergencies — Preparing for emergencies means preparing your children, and Robbie at Going Green Mama shares ways on how to empower kids when it comes to emergencies.
Emergency Preparedness in Sub-Saharan Africa — After living in Sub-Saharan Africa for 7 years, emergency preparedness is not just a concept any more to Laura from Authentic Parenting.
Five Ideas to Keep Babies and Toddlers Safe from Choking — Do you have a baby or toddler who likes to put everything (and I mean *everything*) in her mouth? Dionna at Code Name: Mama does, and today she's sharing a story and some tips on how to keep your little ones safe from choking.

May Taboo Carnival Call for Submissions

2013-05-13T07:02:00.000-05:00

Jorje from Momma Jorje and Jennifer from Hybrid Rasta Mama are pleased to announce The Taboo Carnival. This Carnival will be held four times yearly (February, May, August, and November). The topics will be wide and varied but focused on subjects that are typically not discussed in the natural parenting/mindful living world of bloggers.

The May Taboo Carnival topic is: “I Miss My Life”

Any parent will tell you that life after children is much, much different than life before children. As well it should be. After all, you are entrusted with the life of another human being and are no longer making decisions based on your own personal whims and desires. There are millions of little details to take into account for even the simplest of tasks…like going grocery shopping. And gone are the days of dropping everything, packing an overnight bag, and taking a girl’s trip to the City!

This month’s Carnival was created to liberate you and to allow you to openly discuss your true feelings about how motherhood has flipped your world upside down. While this topic might seem rather broad, we would like to offer some suggestions for post topics:

What do you miss most about your life before having children? Anything in particular or is it broader than one or two things?
Do you regret not doing something in particular before having children?
Do you ever get jealous of your single, childless friends? Why? What makes their life so much more attractive to you?
How do you FEEL about missing parts of your life pre-children? Do you feel guilt over it? Do you embrace it as normal? How do you cope with your feelings around this?
Have you ever admitted that you miss your pre-child life or that you are jealous of your non-mama friends? What reaction did you receive?

Remember, these are just our thoughts and idea to get your creative juices flowing. You are welcome to write about anything related to not always liking your child.

We understand that some of these topics might be sensitive or too personal to share on your own blog. Therefore, we will have a “post swap” option where another blogger will host your post anonymously and you in turn will host another blogger’s post. We will handle all of the details of the post trade once we receive your submission. The host blogger will never know who wrote the post.

Submissions Deadline: Thursday, May 23, 2013.

Fill out the webform (at the bottom of this post) and email your submission to jorje {at} mommajorje{dot}com AND jennifer {at} hybridrastamama {dot}com by 11:59 p.m. Pacific time.

Carnival date: Tuesday, May 28, 2012.

Before you post, we will send you an email with a little blurb in html to paste into your submission that will introduce the carnival. You will publish your post on May 28th before 8am PST and email us the link if you haven’t done so already. Once everyone’s posts are published, we will send out a finalized list of all the participants’ links to generate lots of link love for your site. We’ll include full instructions in the email we send before the posting date.

A few housekeeping items:

• Please write a new, previously unpublished post for the carnival.
• We will email you with specific instructions on posting before carnival day.
• Please do not post your article until the carnival date.
• We reserve the right to accept submissions based on relevance to the topic and quality of writing.
• Please refrain from using profanity, poor spelling and grammar, and vicious personal attacks.
• We will NOT be editing your post so please proofread and run a spelling and grammar check.

If you have any questions, you are welcome to contact us via email!

Copy the Taboo Carnival badge and add it to your sidebar:

To stay connected:

Subscribe to Momma Jorje via RSS feed
Subscribe to Hybrid Rasta Mama via RSS and/or email
Like Momma Jorje and Hybrid Rasta Mama on Facebook

We are so looking forward to reading all the contributions for the Carnival!

~ Jorje and Jennifer

Giveaway: Organic Boba Carrier 3G – $160 ARV {5.25; US}

2013-05-12T00:34:00.001-05:00

This is a joint giveaway with Momma Jorje and Natural Parents Network. You may enter at one site only. Please find the section marked "Win it!" for the mandatory entry and optional bonus entries.

This is a giveaway from Boba, a baby carrier company which is offering our readers a giveaway of an Organic Boba Carrier 3G, a value of $160.

The Boba Carrier may be converted to a newborn carrier without an infant insert or any additional items and used well into toddlerhood. This carrier can be used for children ranging in size from 7-45 pounds!

My Organic Boba Carrier 3G arrived, neatly folded in a pretty box with a full color instruction manual including step-by-step photographs (also available online). This photo does not do the colors justice.

It is a beautiful carrier.

The carrier has several different adjustments you can make, but it wasn't overwhelming. It only took a few minutes to have it on and ready to load with a child. You'll want help the first few times you load a baby on your back, but with practice I mastered loading a back carry alone.

Spencer was cozy back there. He could get his hands up and out to play with my hair, have them go through the straps or just tuck them in close to his body. The carrier totally supports his body. His legs were higher than his bum (it is not a "crotch dangler.")

Spencer is about 20 pounds and is fairly easy to load onto my back. Sasha gets a bit jealous of him, though. On this day, she was sad and needing some reconnect time with me. She is 3½ years old and about 30 pounds, but I managed to load her on my back by myself after having practiced with Spencer. As you can see, she was thrilled to be on my back. She gets to sit on the counter and cook with me, but this was miles better!

This photo from the Boba site shows the colors better as well as a front carry. According to their manual, this carry is fine from 15-30 pounds. You see how these two are face-to-face? I found that even carrying Spencer (20 pounds, remember), he was too tall. I had to look around his head and would also hit my chin on him.

The back carry is for children from 20-45 pounds. I love that there is overlap there, so you can use it with whichever carry is right for you.

The Boba will also work as a Newborn Carrier (7-15 pounds) by snapping the bottom (no attachments or inserts necessary). It works great as a newborn carrier, but I don't like the snap placement when I carry Spencer because he winds up with these little circle indentations on his legs. This may not be an issue if you keep your baby clothed, but I tend to give him lots of naked time. (Wearing a naked baby is a great way to hone your Elimination Communication skills.)

I've used hiking backpacks, ring slings, mei tais and other carriers. This is absolutely my favorite carrier. I loved my wrap for Spencer when he was a newborn, but the Boba 3G is so versatile, holding babies from 7-45 pounds!

Boba Inc. is a group of dedicated people all working together to support babywearing, family travel, alternative learning, natural parenting, and other practices of secure bonding and attachment so that every parent can deepen their conscious understanding and appreciation of their relationship with their children. We recognize that there is no single formula to meet each particular child’s individual challenges and respect a mother’s innate ability to trust and know what is right for her own.

If that doesn't sound like a very "Natural Parents Network" kind of company, I don't know what does! The company supports a lot of organizations that support natural parenting ideals (including Attachment Parenting International, among others).

BUY IT!

You can purchase your own Organic Boba Carrier 3G at Boba for $160. There are 3 different organic fabric combinations or you can choose from adorable prints if you don't choose organic. Boba's other soft structured carriers range in price from $120 to $125, and they have wraps from $38 to $60. You can also find Boba carriers on Amazon.

WIN IT!

For your own chance to win an Organic Boba Carrier 3G, enter by leaving a comment and using our Rafflecopter system below.

The winner will receive an Organic Boba Carrier 3G. Contest is open to residents of the US only.

MANDATORY ENTRY: Visit Boba and tell us one thing you have learned about the company! You must enter your name and email address in the Rafflecopter entry system for your entry to count, after leaving a comment on this blog post.

Leave a valid email address so we can contact you if you win. Email addresses in Rafflecopter are not made publicly visible. Please leave the same valid email address in your mandatory comment so we can verify entries.

This is a joint giveaway with Momma Jorje and Natural Parents Network. You may enter at one site only, and we'll be recording IP addresses to ensure that there are no duplicate entries. That said, please do visit and enjoy both sites!

BONUS ENTRIES:
See the Rafflecopter entry system for bonus entries to increase your chance of winning after completing the mandatory entry. All bonus entries are entered directly into Rafflecopter. Give it a try, and email or leave a comment if you have any questions!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Contest closes May 25, 2013 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

Disclosure: Our reviewer received a sample product for review purposes.
Amazon links are affiliate links.
We try to seek out only products we think you would find
relevant and useful to your life as a natural parent.
If we don't like a product, we won't be recommending it to you.
See our full disclosure policy here.

Monster Smoothie

2013-05-09T07:37:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the Festival of Food Carnival. This month, we celebrate foods with kid-appeal! Hosted by Diary of a First Child and Hybrid Rasta Mama, you're welcome to join us next time, or if you have a previously published recipe you'd like to share, add it to the linky below.

This is my variation on a recipe my mother originally found in the local paper. I think children can help with most recipes if we just let them. I often have a hard time with the patience for it, but it is so worth the effort! This one is easy because its just a matter of throwing ingredients into the bowl (or blender pitcher) and the amounts are really flexible.

2-3 Cups of spinach
I don't know about you, but I have no idea how much to cram spinach into a cup to measure it. So... I just use a LOT of spinach!

Approx 1 Cup strawberries (I use frozen) & Approx 1 Cup of juice (whatever flavor)

2 Tblsp Agave or Honey (more or less, to taste)

A chopped banana - use more if its your favorite. Sometimes I use frozen.

Now blend. This might be the parent-only part, depending on your kids and kitchen tools.
You will probably have to add water to have enough liquid.

It may take a while. If you're using an immersion blender like me, I've found its quicker to chop the spinach in advance. I haven't tried frozen spinach yet.

Now, if you make this recipe the way that I make this recipe (very flexible and adding extra of stuff), it makes a lot of Monster Smoothie.

If your kid hesitates to ingest green things, try what I did - call it a Monster Smoothie, even referencing Elmo or The Grouch. This piqued my preschooler's interest.

Since we blended ours in a bowl, this particular day we grabbed 3 straws and shared it in the floor! It was silly and fun.

We all love our Monster Smoothies!

How would you adjust this recipe for your family?

Please take a moment to visit the blogs of our other Festival of Food participants. The links in this list will be live by the end of the day, as participants are all in different time zones.

Jennifer at Hybrid Rasta Mama shares Coconut Milk Popsicles, a super easy creation that is customizable! You can also find Jennifer on Facebook.
Luschka at Keeper of the Kitchen shares a wonderful Raspberry Frozen Yoghurt. A fabulous summer ice cream alternative, easy for children to make, easy to store and easy to eat, this frozen yoghurt recipe can be adapted to taste and is a guilt-free snack for hot,hot days. You can also find Luschka on Facebook.
Lindy at Poppy Soap Company shares some super tasty, super easy Granola Delight Bars inspired by her sweet son. You can also find Lindy on Facebook.
Mercedes at Project Procrastinot shares a comfort-food recipe sure to be a future family favorite. Don’t miss this Grown-Up Mac & Cheese for You and Baby to Love. You can also find Mercedes on Facebook.
Jorje at Momma Jorje has fun throwing together Monster Smoothies with her girls. The key is in the flexibility. You can also find Momma Jorje on Facebook.

Stay connected! Be sure to "Like" the Festival of Food Carnival Facebook page.

Mamatography 2013 - Week 18

2013-05-08T06:38:00.000-05:00

Day 118 - April 28

My baby brother, basically sleep eating birthday cake while
holding his sleepy daughter and his lovely baby mama in his lap.

Day 119 - April 29

These kids... they do love to be on Daddy.

Day 120 - April 30

Last day of our Zoo membership, had to make a trip!
We'll be getting a new one for Mother's Day.

Day 121 - May 1

Sasha's "tap, tap, tap your feet" dance (Daddy's favorite)
has become a waiting-for-the-doctor tradition.

Day 122 - May 2

Sasha, petting the cat she made with blocks
She has gotten much more creative with blocks lately.

Day 123 - May 3

It occurred to me... if anything were to happen to me, no one would know which
meds to give to Spencer and when! So... I made sticky notes for reference.

Day 124 - May 4

Tyler's friend dyed her hair for her... black this time!

***

Without further ado, here are the Mama/Papatography 2013 participants!

Momma Jorje
A Nature Mom
Mommy and Little I
too tired to blog
The Family Patch
The Princess Poet's Life Adventures
harley famdamily
Mama Unfurling
the mommy metamorphosis
Mothers Know Best
Quest For Life's Passion
Frugal Brit Witch
Me, Mothering, and Making it All Work

Visitation Rights

2013-05-03T08:17:00.000-05:00

Every once in a while, I share photos of my husband's daughter. The reason it is rare: we don't have very many photos of her. Elmo gets to visit her for maybe 2 hours once per week, in a grocery store. This is all the time that Sasha gets to spend with her sister, too. They're very close in age, so they usually get along quite well. His daughter has seen Spencer... once? twice? ever. We joke about loading up the entire family to go to Walmart Visitation.

Thursdays are visitation days. Sasha is quite smitten with her half-sister and misses her between visits. (Yes, they are in a Walmart.)

Anyway, "Baby Mama" seems to think this is fair. Meanwhile, he is kept in the dark about a lot of things... things that, by law, he has a right to know. He once got a text message that his daughter was in the ER, but then he couldn't get an answer about which one or why.

I could go on and on, truly I could. But let me try to get to my point. We had plans to use a large chunk ($1,500) of this year's tax return to retain a lawyer. Then the state took $5,000 of his tax return and gave it to her (eventually... I think she is still waiting due to an audit). We've had a couple weeks of visitation cancellations, but he actually got to take Sasha to see her sister yesterday. Elmo is a good daddy and deserves more time with his daughter. He deserves to get that time without being chaperoned by an ex-girlfriend and without the aid of a shopping cart.

Visitation Day & Sasha got to go!

We've been pushed and pushed and pushed and I hate to see him have to wait until next tax season. I created a Fundly Campaign to get Elmo his Visitation Rights. I'm sorry that some of the info there is recap from here, but I'm hoping we can raise enough money to retain the attorney in time for Father's Day. How wonderful would that be? What better gift? I did ask his permission before setting up the campaign. Six months ago, he didn't even want an attorney. He didn't want to confront her or rock the boat, he just wants to be a part of his daughter's life. Then she backed out of bringing his daughter over for Christmas. That was the last straw for him.

Sasha & sister Samantha bonding. Again.
Back then they only saw each other at Giftmas.

Elmo's legal rights in our state are not being met. He is going to need a court order to get them. If you can spare even a few dollars toward this goal, it would mean a great deal to him and our entire family. Please click over to see more of the story (and photos of him with his girls).

What would you do if your Visitation Rights weren't being met?

Mamatography 2013 - Week 17

2013-05-01T08:10:00.000-05:00

Day 111 - April 21

I can not recall what these are called, but basically its composting planting pots! I've put leaves (instructions said sticks) topped with kitchen scraps and then added my mix of potting soil, top soil and humus. These 4 pots are for flowers on the front porch.

EDIT: They're called Hugelpots, short for Hugelkultur.

Day 112 - April 22

I took Spencer to meet the lead cardiologist, the man that would be doing the heart cath and ASD repair the following day. These are the device options they have available for repairing the hole. Spencer got one like the one on the right.

Day 113 - April 23

Spencer, waking just enough to bat at his favorite toy.

Day 114 - April 24

Waiting to go home the day after the procedure! They put him in a double layer of disposable diapers to keep pressure on the puncture site (from the procedure). He had to wear them for 24 hours, but we still rocked the EC.

Day 115 - April 25

We love our silly girl!

Day 116 - April 26

He doesn't look very happy here, but he was just
lying in the floor chattering away and playing.

Day 117 - April 27

Eight more pots, prepared for transplanting food plants!
I did them the same way, with compost stuff layered inside.

***

Without further ado, here are the Mama/Papatography 2013 participants!

Momma Jorje
A Nature Mom
Mommy and Little I
too tired to blog
The Family Patch
The Princess Poet's Life Adventures
harley famdamily
Mama Unfurling
the mommy metamorphosis
Mothers Know Best
Quest For Life's Passion
Frugal Brit Witch
Me, Mothering, and Making it All Work

Book Review: Bloom: Finding Beauty in the Unexpected

2013-04-30T10:42:00.003-05:00

I was excited when TLC Tours asked if I'd like to participate in Kelle Hampton's Blog Tour. I've read her blog, Enjoying the Small Things, you see. And so I accepted and received (free of charge, for review purposes) a copy of Bloom: Finding Beauty in the Unexpected.

"From the outside looking in, Kelle Hampton had the perfect life: a beautiful two-year-old daughter, a loving husband, and a thriving photography career. When she learned she was pregnant with their second child, they were ecstatic. But when their new daughter was placed in her arms in the delivery room, Kelle knew instantly that something was wrong. Nella looked different than her sister, Lainey, had at birth. As her friends and family celebrated, a terrified Kelle was certain that Nella had Down syndrome—a fear her pediatrician soon confirmed. Yet gradually Kelle embraced the realization that she had been chosen to experience an extraordinary and special gift."

I have said, many times, that I was very lucky to have received Spencer's diagnosis of Down syndrome during pregnancy. I was given the opportunity to grieve, accept and prepare - all before actually meeting our son. I've shared birth stories with my friends of children with DS, but I don't think I ever realized just how awful it could be, the shock of it.

Before I even got through the prologue, I was crying with Kelle. I'd already read Nella's birth story on her blog before, but she shared that grief with her readers in the book... you can't help but travel her journey with her! I admire Kelle's willingness to bare it ALL for you, something I try to do in my own writing. I have a lot of respect for Kelle for her bare-it-all attitude in her writing. In this memoir, she shares her absolutely most ugly moments. She shares her awkward moments, too. And she share her healing.

If you're not the mother of a child with DS, reading this book is as close as you can get to going through the experience, without actually going through it. And if you have gone through it, you may find it validates a lot of your own feelings along your journey. That may be the biggest service of this book, relieving the Momma Guilt so many women are carrying.

All that said, Kelle admits she is overly emotional. It absolutely shows. This is one woman who is seriously over the top with emotions. It makes her seem a bit more like a character, though every bit was believable as non-fiction. I can relate to Kelle in a few ways, though. We're both bloggers. We're both mothers of multiple children, including babies with DS. I can relate to her desire for ceremony. And what's not to love about people that are very "high on life?" She appreciates the benefit of the hard times and hard emotions. She sees how the push us to grow, to bloom.

I enjoyed crying along with Kelle in many of the chapters, even full-on silently sobbing while my own son with Down syndrome slept nearby. But I also found myself a bit jealous of Kelle's tribe. I certainly have friends that love me, but I've never felt as supported as she presents herself to be in this book. I don't think I currently have a "drop everything" friend... ok, maybe one (and I love you, sis!). I got lots of offers of support when we got the news. They were all encouraging words and several offers to connect me with someone who knew someone who had Down syndrome. I don't have friends that drop everything to fly across the country to be at my side for days, possibly weeks at a time.

Also, Kelle is a great photographer. This book is chock full of beautiful photos of her family. Her children are adorable. As you read about major events along her journey, you get to see those actual events! And if you enjoy the book club thing, this book includes a questions for discussion section.

From reading reviews on Amazon, it seems people had some other expectation from this book. It is a memoir. It is Kelle's memoir of her first year as the mother to a child with Down syndrome. This book is not about Nella. This book is not a reference source for new parents. If you enjoy reading memoirs, though, and living emotions vicariously, then you will love this book!

You don't have to take my word for it, though. Here are the other blog stops on the tour this month:

Writer and photographer Kelle Hampton chronicles the simple joys of motherhood and daily life on her popular blog, Enjoying the Small Things. An advocate for individuals with Down syndrome, she has been honored by both the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) and the National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC), receiving the NDSC National Media Award in 2010. Kelle lives in Naples, Florida, with her husband, Brett; their three children, Lainey, Nella, and Dashel; and her stepsons, Austyn and Brandyn.

Medicating our Babies

2013-04-26T07:05:00.000-05:00

First, I feel that I should explain: This is not a post about giving Benedryl to babies to get them to sleep or even rubbing whiskey on their gums for teething. No, this is about actual medication needed and benefiting our babies and how the hell to dose it out!

As of this week, Spencer takes 4 different medications. In the evening he takes Oxy Powder, that was how it started. He's been known to drink it from a ramekin or take it from a syringe. He started out being very "good" at taking his medicine. Some nights were more difficult than others. Then we added his Atenelol (half a pill), which is a beta blocker he takes for his hyperthyroidism. I just add it in with the Oxy Powder.

Yes, I have to first cut a pill in half, then crush it.
I put it into a ramekin and hand-express breastmilk into it.

In the morning, now, he takes 1.2mg of Loratadine (Claritin) as well as half of a baby aspirin (also cut and crushed like above). I can mix the orange powder into the loratadine and still even add breastmilk to make it a little less thick and hopefully easier to take.

He is figuring out that medicine can be gross. The Atenelol does not taste good. Sometimes we can trick him into opening his mouth for an imaginary teething tablet. I've sometimes had luck getting him to look UP at a toy or book and sneaking the syringe into his mouth. Sometimes we have to literally hold his arms down and pry his mouth open. It pains me to write that.

I really, really hate having to be so forceful with him. I hate it. Its awful. :( But... without the Oxy Powder, his bowel movements make him scream and cry. He needs the thyroid medication to keep his hormones in check. Without the allergy medicine, his eyes get glued shut and he can barely breathe. And he definitely needs to take the aspirin, for 6 months. It is to prevent any clotting while his heart heals over the device used to close the hole in his heart. (I'm sure I'll write about THAT sometime, too.)

What to do? No, seriously, what do I do? I'm really looking for some solutions here. What has worked for you? When Tyler was little, I'd dangle a maraschino cherry behind the spoon of nasty medicine, a promise to get that taste out of her mouth immediately. But Spencer isn't old enough to eat a cherry, nor to understand the ~~bribe~~ deal.

How do you help the medicine go down?

Mamatography 2013 - Week 16

2013-04-24T06:47:00.000-05:00

Day 106 - April 14

The kids just about stripped Daddy during play time!

April 15

Tiny is really growing!

April 16

A sweet sisterly moment!

April 17

I saw this idea to use a laundry basket in the tub, but didn't have one. Still, using this plastic tote Spencer was able to take his first bath alone! He loved it!

April 18

This is the PT Rachel that we prefer.
(We have gotten the wrong PT Rachel a couple of times.)

April 19

Sasha was so excited to find this when she woke up!
A friend handed it down to us. Yay!

April 20

I've been in Busy Bag mode!
The littles had a grand time shaking these and screaming their heads off... and giggling!

***

Without further ado, here are the Mama/Papatography 2013 participants!

Momma Jorje
A Nature Mom
Mommy and Little I
too tired to blog
The Family Patch
The Princess Poet's Life Adventures
harley famdamily
Mama Unfurling
the mommy metamorphosis
Mothers Know Best
Quest For Life's Passion
Frugal Brit Witch
Me, Mothering, and Making it All Work

The Downs Lady

2013-04-19T07:30:00.000-05:00

Aside from "The Downs Lady" not being proper people-first language, there is something odd about becoming "that Down syndrome Mom" or whatever you want to call it.

I realize we (or at least I) organize data. If I see a photo of an otter, I share it with my friend that loves otters. I have a couple friends with whom I share cool shoes posts. My friends share spider posts with me, knowing I'm a tarantula buff. Now, however, I get all the DS news.

If someone with DS is wronged in a restaurant and some waiter stands up for him, I see that news clip at least in several of the DS communities to which I belong. But then I also get shares from many people. Funny, I don't think anyone has shared any of the stories of the adult with DS that was killed by a police officer.

Its just... weird. I mean, I get it. But its weird to just have a bunch of people showing me every DS item that happens across their screen. I feel like I've now become "The Down Syndrome Lady" to each of those people.

Please don't stop half-way through this one!

That was the entirety of my ideas I'd jotted down for this post several weeks ago. And then this evening... it all came around full circle and somehow feels extra right. A bloggy acquaintance just got the diagnosis for her infant son, he has Down syndrome. We got our diagnosis while I was still pregnant, but I otherwise know the position she's in. It seemed to me that everyone I knew knew someone touched by DS. They were all giving me names and phone numbers of people to contact for support. I know they all meant well, but I had to work up the nerve to attend a Down Syndrome Association meeting, I sure as hell wasn't up for calling a complete stranger! (And I'm an extrovert!)

But now I'm on the other side of that phone / web. I've got a year of being a mother to a child with DS under my belt. And this new momma felt comfortable contacting me. I felt excited! I have lots of information to share! Yes, I would love to discuss our babies! She and I have barely crossed paths in blog carnivals, so I was not a friend. I was definitely an acquaintance. I'm so glad that was enough!

I don't feel like I write about DS on my blog a lot, but I definitely consider myself an advocate for awareness! The same carries over to my Facebook page. And if that makes parents feel comfortable reaching out to me for support, that is awesome and totally outweighs the weirdness of being told about DS in the news 20 times every time something happens!

Please, feel free to share with me anything that you feel is share-worthy. And by all means, PLEASE, feel comfortable reaching out to me regarding any topic on which I'm obviously knowledgeable and/or experienced! You can contact me on my "Contact" page, through my Facebook page, or even through a comment here!

Mamatography 2013 - Week 15

2013-04-17T06:04:00.000-05:00

Day 106 - April 7

This is my favorite shirt. I tie dyed it while pregnant with Sasha. I'll miss it when Spencer outgrows it and will definitely save it for grandbabies!

Day 107 - April 8

Sasha playing in the Dining Room / Play area.

Day 108 - April 9

Wait... its a Daddy pic and a sleeping baby pic?! Cuteness overload!

Day 109 - April 10

Uncle B with the littles!

Day 110- April 11

Spencer loves "playing" with our Child Development Specialist
from the Sooner Start (state program), Kristin.

Day 111 - April 12

Now that we're back to sleeping in our own bed, I've moved the pallet for good napping.

Day 112 - April 13

My goofy friends were showing Sasha how to scrunch up paper really tight for the fire... apparently it works better if you make an angry face.

***

Without further ado, here are the Mama/Papatography 2013 participants!

Momma Jorje
A Nature Mom
Mommy and Little I
too tired to blog
The Family Patch
The Princess Poet's Life Adventures
harley famdamily
Mama Unfurling
the mommy metamorphosis
Mothers Know Best
Quest For Life's Passion
Frugal Brit Witch
Me, Mothering, and Making it All Work

Adjusted Expectations

2013-04-12T05:34:00.000-05:00

Everyone has always been so impressed with my attitude toward Spencer and his diagnosis. I've insisted that I expect typical milestones from him, and that we'd adjust and work as necessary. I'd been told that the first year was much like any other baby. We were working toward the usual milestones. Spencer had very few hurdles during that first year, considering he has Down syndrome.

Lennon (16mo) standing next to Spencer (15mo)

I recently saw Spencer next to typical babies at 14 & 16mo. One of them (not pictured) was, admittedly, larger than average. Still... it was a bit of a shock to see these big babies up and walking next to him. I mean, I know Sasha walked at 10 months and Tyler at about 13, but I don't really compare. I just watch Spencer working on his milestones and am proud. It was almost a slap to the face, a wake up slap. A couple days later we were at a meeting with just babies that have DS and everything just seemed so much more "normal." These babies are all close to Spencer in age and they are all hitting their milestones in their own time. We all support each other and celebrate each other's kids' milestones, even the ones that our own babies haven't reached yet. Just having them all be smaller, though, was a big thing. They're all good sized (healthy)... based on the Down syndrome growth chart.

Lily is 3 weeks older than Spencer.

So I've had to adjust my expectations. Spencer is still catching up with talking after having fluid in his ears. He is going to Speech Therapy once per week and it is going great! He is going to Physical Therapy once per month to just watch his development. He needs a little work due to his hyper-flexibility. His knees and feet point out. He often stands from a squat. Its impressive, but they want him to kneel then stand, in a healthier way. We're going soon for an Occupational Therapy evaluation to see if he could benefit from help there, too. In case you aren't familiar with OT, it helps the client / patient with daily life skills, even adjusting the environment if that is what is needed.

Mamatography 2013 - Week 14

2013-04-10T06:08:00.000-05:00

Day 99 - March 31

Easter Goodies: Sasha's basket put back out, Tyler's lost bucket
replaced and Spencer's first basket (he was too young last year).

Day 100 - April 1

Every so often, Daddy just has to reorganize his DVDs...

Day 101 - April 2

We picked up and installed this little shelf so Daddy could display these Zombies.

Day 102 - April 3

Must destroy Daddy's face!
Spencer's favorite game!

Day 103- April 4

For more "Hugs" pics, check out today's
Wordless Wednesday: Hugs on Natural Parents Network.

Day 104 - April 5

Spencer usually wakes for 2-3 hours in the late evening.
If Mommy's bed is already out, he loves to play on it!

Day 105 - April 6

We attended a birthday party for the Fat Bottom Babies baby.
Things got ugly when it was time to go; a sign the party was too much fun.

***

Without further ado, here are the Mama/Papatography 2013 participants!

Momma Jorje
A Nature Mom
Mommy and Little I
too tired to blog
The Family Patch
The Princess Poet's Life Adventures
harley famdamily
Mama Unfurling
the mommy metamorphosis
Mothers Know Best
Quest For Life's Passion
Frugal Brit Witch
Me, Mothering, and Making it All Work

Family Comfort Food

2013-04-09T07:15:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the April 2013 Carnival of Natural Parenting: Family Recipes

This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Carnival of Natural Parenting hosted by Code Name: Mama and Hobo Mama. This month our participants are sharing their recipes, their stories, their pictures, and their memories.

***

My mother used to have me cook a double batch of Tuna Casserole while I was at her place, and then send half of it home with me. In my book, it is the ultimate in comfort food, without turning to sweets. We considered it very decadent and no, it is not a healthy recipe. Sometimes you just gotta live on the wild side! This recipe was my Granny Green's and probably my great grandmother's before that.

2 Cups Macaroni
1 can (7oz) Flaked Tuna
1 can (10.5oz) Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup
Salt

1 Cup Diced Velveeta®
2 Tbsp Butter
1 Cup Milk
Pepper

Cook macaroni (to almost done). Add Velveeta®, tuna, butter, soup and milk. Add salt & pepper to taste. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes.

I love to eat it with Club® Crackers! It reheats well with a little milk added. I also prefer to add EXTRA Velveeta® to my own bowl, especially when reheating. You can actually substitute Cream of Chicken Soup and Canned Chicken for an entirely different flavor.

Do you have an old family favorite comfort food recipe?

***

Visit Code Name: Mama and Hobo Mama to find out how you can participate in the next Carnival of Natural Parenting!

Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants:

German Red Cabbage: A Family Tradition — At Living Peacefully with Children, Mandy shares her favorite dish and a part of her family's history.
Rotisserie Chicken Recipes for Meal Planning — Becky at Crafty Garden Mama shares a new recipe that is in her family's meal-planning rotation. Check out how she uses a rotisserie chicken to get through the week.
Grandma Wicken's Sugar Cookies — Jana Falls at Jananas talks about how special her Grandma's sugar cookies made her feel.
Recipe: Seed and Bean Burgers — ANonyMous at Radical Ramblings shares one of her favourite frugal recipes that is also super-healthy and totally delicious.
PULLING Dinner Together For the Kids – Crockpot Pulled Pork — Lisa at The Squishable Baby PULLS dinner together for the kids.
The Best Banana Muffin Recipe (Gluten Free & Vegan) — Dionna of Code Name: Mama's adventures in gluten free baking have not been 100% successful. But today she is guest posting at Fine and Fair to share a banana muffin recipe that will knock your socks off!
The Pierogie Mama Whips Up Strawberry Pierogies! — Bianca at The Pierogie Mama shares her family's recipe for strawberry pierogies…a sweet, summery version of the Polish dumplings that she affectionately named her daughter after.
Mom's Cookbook — Tree at Mom Grooves digs into the big book her mom created for her six daughters and shares a favorite family recipe.
Crispy Duck Confit — Jennifer at Hybrid Rasta Mama takes the liberty of starting a family recipe tradition with this super simple, totally delicious crispy duck confit.
Stovetop BBQ Chicken — Amy at Me, Mothering, and Making it All Work shares a yummy BBQ chicken recipe that you can make on the stovetop in less than 25 minutes, fridge to table!
Twice-Baked Sweet Potato Casserole w/Bacon — Martine at Whey Beyond the Naked Truth shares a naked food twist on an old family favorite!
Strawberry Panna Cotta — KerryAnn at CookingTF.com shows you her favorite dessert, a quick and easy Strawberry Panna Cotta that she enjoys so much, she had it instead of a birthday cake this year.
Special crepes for a special day — Mikko at Hobo Mama is learning to cook his grandma's signature holiday meal alongside his dad.

Three Favorite Family Recipes: To Eat, To Wash, To Play — Kristin at Intrepid Murmurings is back with three family favorites: gluten-free vanilla orange sugar cookies, DIY powdered laundry detergent, and something fun for the kids: homemade "Flubber"!
Black Bean Soup Forever — Mercedes at Project Procrastinot shares a soup recipe that's been around forever.
Do you want to know a secret? — SRB at Little Chicken Nuggets lets go of her mac and cheese recipe, a comfort food favourite for friends and family for years.
Creating Our Own Family Recipes — Emily at S.A.H.M. i AM shares how she's trying to create meals that her girls will want to pass down to their own children some day.
Vranameer Chicken: A Family Recipe — Luschka at Diary of a First Child shares a recipe that reminds her of childhood and more specifically, of her mother. It's a South African take on sweet and sour chicken and what it lacks in healthy it makes up for in tantalising to the taste buds.
One Recipe, Three Uses: Dishwasher Liquid Detergent, Dish Soap, and Hand Soap — If you love saving money and time, you'll love this green recipe from Jennifer at Hybrid Rasta Mama, guest posting at Natural Parents Network.
Our Family's Favorite Pies — Abbie at Farmer's Daughter shares recipes and tutorials for the quintessential American dessert.
Deliciously Easy Crock Pot Chili — Lactating Girl shares her crock pot chili that is not only quick and easy, but awesome.
All-Purpose Crock Pot Pork — Crunchy Con Mommy's simple "recipe" for cooking perfect pork in the crock pot is for whatever mood her family is in!
Family Rules: A Recipe for Harmony — Cooped-up kids + winter weather + frazzled parents can all blend together into a recipe for disaster. Dionna at Code Name: Mama shares what brought back the peace in her house.
Favorite Healthy Family Recipes — Deb Chitwood at Living Montessori Now shares her family’s healthy eating experiences along with links to free printable vegetarian recipes that her family has created with love.
Grandma's Banana Bread — Megan at The Boho Mama has early and fond memories of her grandma's banana bread. It's love in a loaf!
Family Comfort Food — Jorje of Momma Jorje shares a recipe handed down that moms have made for their kids, for regular meals as well as to comfort.

Myringotomy

2013-04-05T09:02:00.000-05:00

Spencer failed his 7 month follow-up hearing test last year. (It is actually 6 month, but everything has been a month off after staying in the NICU.) We spoke to the pediatrician about it and thought it might just be congestion. We waited 6 weeks and revisited the audiologist. Meanwhile, we started noticing the he wasn't copying any consonant sounds. He also yelled a lot back then. Spencer's second test was even worse. The audiologist couldn't even see his ear drums due to his tiny ear canals.

We went to see our Ear Nose & Throat specialist. He found a lot of fluid in Spencer's ears and recommended a very common procedure: myringotomy (tubes). Strangely, this procedure didn't scare me nearly as bad as the idea of a heart cath (which we narrowly dodged... for the time being). The procedure is so common that I had already researched it and was expecting the recommendation.

Spencer, awaiting his Myringotomy last November...

I took Spencer to the hospital with an empty stomach. (It is really hard to not feed a baby!) They checked his vitals and put us in a pre-op room (see photo above). The crib was so novel to Spencer, he'd never been in one at all! I had thought (because I'd been told) they would give him a drug to make him drowsy before taking him back, but he was too young. Eventually a nurse came to collect him. We were in the children's hospital where the nurse literally held him and carried him back. I think this is so much nicer than being rolled in a crib. I got to follow part of the way. Spencer has dealt with a lot of strangers in his medical appointments, so this sort of thing is rarely an issue.

Spencer fell asleep while waiting for his turn.

They did explain to me that the anesthesiologist would hold the mask close to Spencer's face (rather than put it on him) until he got drowsy, which alleviated my fear that Spencer would freak out about the mask. It was also reassuring to know that the anesthesiologist would be staying with Spencer the entire time (its often left to a nurse) because of his heart problems. His heart makes him a "special case."

I went to the waiting room and poked around on Facebook on my phone. I was anxious to have Spencer back, but not worried. The procedure itself only takes about 15 minutes. Our doctor came to see me and let me know that things went fine. However, Spencer's ear canals are so tiny that he had to put a smaller tube in one of his ears. He had planned to put a "12 month" tube in both ears, but one ear has a 6-9 month tube. (The time is an estimate of how long it stays, not of the child's age, I think.)

Next, a nurse came to take me back to Spencer in post-op. I could hear him crying as we approached. There was a nurse holding him, trying to console him. He was just starving and probably not happy to waking up to strangers. I sat down in the rocking chair provided and immediately offered the breast. He chowed!

Immediately after surgery and nursing

We were escorted to a recovery room (just like a pre-op room) to wait until we were released. Spencer was fussy. Once we (the nurse and I) decided that he did, in fact, need a little something for the pain, she went to get some Infant Tylenol. I requested dye-free and she checked, but they don't have any. Ugh. By the time she brought the drugs, Spencer had fallen asleep in my arms. We still felt that he would need it and started to give it to him with a syringe. Talk about a rude awakening! Still, we got the medicine into him and were soon released.

They drain the fluid in surgery, too, so hearing improvement is instantaneous. Other than resting a little extra, Spencer was his usual self that evening. We were told to return in 2 weeks for a follow-up, but had to wait 3 to get an appointment. Alas, another post...

Mamatography 2013 - Week 13

2013-04-03T07:16:00.000-05:00

Day 83 - March 24

Have I mentioned I'm a sucker for "Daddy Pics?"
I'm actually a sucker for Daddy bonding moments. They make me grab the camera.

Day 84 - March 25

Attended a meeting / presentation / play date with our local "babies with DS" group.
Cracked us up that Spencer was sitting in Lily's lap!

Day 85 - March 26

Session 3 of Speech Therapy - discovered the perfect room for Spencer!
He also started to really work with our SLP! I was verklempt!

Day 86 - March 27

Surprise baby shower for Lily's mommy!
Later Spencer had his 15 month WCC.

Day 87 - March 28

These post-visitation naps throw a wrench in our nights.

Day 88 - March 29

...holding his foot in his sleep...
later he rolled over onto his belly, still holding that foot

Day 89 - March 30

Annual egg dying at Grandma & Grandpa's house!

***

Without further ado, here are the Mama/Papatography 2013 participants!

Momma Jorje
A Nature Mom
Mommy and Little I
too tired to blog
The Family Patch
The Princess Poet's Life Adventures
harley famdamily
Mama Unfurling
the mommy metamorphosis
Mothers Know Best
Quest For Life's Passion
Frugal Brit Witch
Me, Mothering, and Making it All Work

SUPPORT for Breastfeeding!

2013-04-02T07:30:00.000-05:00

On Thursday, bloggers from around the world came together in a show of support for breastfeeding mothers. New mothers have enough challenges without having to feel guilty for how they feed their baby, especially when they are choosing the most natural of means - breastfeeding.

2 month old Sasha at my breast, swaddled

Over the last few days there has been a lot of heated debates, controversial posts, and social media outcry against the position that the Weston A. Price Foundation takes on breastfeeding. While they do present sound information on the ideal diet for breastfeeding mothers, they do so in a manner that brings about guilt, fear and confusion.

Sasha woke up and crawled over to meet Spencer for the first time.

The bloggers who participated in the Breastfeeding Support Blog Party are not trying to create a divide between mothers. They simply want to offer support, in the form of blog posts, as to why breastfeeding should always be the first choice both for baby and mama.

Breastfeeding Spencer in the NICU

We hope you take some time to read the posts that were written as part of the Blog Party. There are also over 140 posts linked up as part of this. Take some time to check them out here or link up your own breastfeeding support post!

Nursing in Public with Dionna from Code Name: Mama

Dionna at Code Name: Mama has come up with 40 ways that family, friends, coworkers and employers can support mothers who pump breastmilk, along with a ton of resources for you and the pumping mom in your life. There are also some fun graphics you can print and pass out, with 70% of all proceeds going to buy pumps for moms in domestic violence shelters!

Destany at They Are All of Me writes about ten common breastfeeding myths that scare women out of breastfeeding.

Jennifer at Hybrid Rasta Mama discusses how her diet wasn't WAPF perfect, but she still breastfed a perfectly healthy baby.

Christine at African Babies Don't Cry is passionate about breastfeeding, here are her 101 reasons why!

Kelly at Becoming Crunchy discusses the question of whether you should still nurse - even if your diet isn't 'right'.

Jorje of Momma Jorje has enough pressure in her life, she is glad she doesn't have to worry about what, when and how much food she feeds her son since he is also still nursing.

Angela at EarthMamas World discusses a few of the most common problems that a mama may encounter while breastfeeding. Angela also shares natural remedies for each of these breastfeeding problems!

That Mama Gretchen reflects on the beautiful bond breastfeeding has created as her two children have transitioned from their womb experience to their earth side one.

Julia at A Little Bit of All of It shares ways breastfeeding and breastmilk are unique and special in a way only they can be.

Amy W. at Natural Parents Network shares 5 scientific reasons that mother's milk is an unequaled form of nutrition and nurture: so awesome, and so unique!

Laura at Authentic Parenting shares solid information on iron intake for the breastfed baby.

Charise at I Thought I Knew Mama shares the questions (and answers) about breastfeeding she wished she had a friend to answer for her before becoming a mama.

Abbie at Farmer's Daughter choose to breastfeed her children in part because it’s easier than bottle feeding, not to mention that it is the best nutrition for babies, that it has health benefits for both mother and child, that it encourages bonding, and of course that it’s free! Basically breastmilk is the ultimate convenience food.

KerryAnn at Cooking Traditional Foods shares how the rush to recommend raw milk formula actually harms mothers.

Starlene at GAPS Diet Journey shares her experience with nursing and why she feels it is an important piece of the your baby's health.

At Living Peacefully with Children, Mandy draws a connection between how formula companies market and how women are treated by society.

Amy at Anktangle outlines a few of the many ways breastfeeding benefits both mom and child—aside from providing excellent nutrition.

Adrienne at Whole New Mom shares Part One and Part Two of 100 Reasons Why Breast Is Best.

Dawn at Cultured Mama shares her personal breastfeeding journey and how she overcame low supply issues and successfully tandemed nursed with only one breast.

Newborn Sasha, snuggled up to my breast

What is your favorite aspect of breastfeeding?

In Crowd or Outcast, March to Your Own Beat

2013-03-29T07:39:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the March 2013 Authentic Parenting Blog Carnival: Self-Expression and Conformity

This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Authentic Parenting Blog Carnival hosted by Authentic Parenting and Living Peacefully with Children. This month our participants have written about authenticity through self-expression. We hope you enjoy this month's posts and consider joining us next month when we share about Peaceful Parenting Applied.

***

I moved about once per year as a kid. I didn't move to new towns, just new neighborhoods and schools. I made friends fast or I wouldn't have made friends at all. That said, and I'm not sure what it was about my childhood or if it was perhaps just my personality, but I always strove to be different. I was never popular and rarely made efforts to conform.

Actually, I think I occasionally did things to conform to my own clique of friends. I remember my year at Monte Cassino Catholic School that it was cool to wear your socks scrunched down. At All Saints Diocesan School we wore Keds, but they could not be new white! I remember kicking dirt onto new shoes. Man, we do some weird stuff as kids to fit in, don't we? My mom was so mad at me for messing up my new shoes!

Photo Credit: alessandra luvisotto

I'm kind of old, but these days... kids want to get piercings to fit in with the crowd. I've had a piercing and I have tattoos. I didn't even let my daughter get her ears pierced until her father and I felt she was old enough to tend to the piercings herself.

My teenage daughter, on the other hand... Well, she wants to fit in with someone but also doesn't seem to strive to be "popular." She has her own set of friends and does her own "weird" stuff as part of that group. She likes to cosplay.

My daughter the Panda.

As long as she isn't wearing clothing that I feel is too revealing, I've been totally supportive of her imagination when it comes to her style as well as her cosplay dress-up. I've been impressed with her ingenuity when she wants a costume piece right now (she always wants it right now!) and she has to come up with something from nothing.

I don't understand being embarrassed by what your child chooses to wear. I don't feel that her clothing choices are a reflection of me as a person or as a parent at all. I don't want to stifle her creativity or imagination. So... she looks "weird" sometimes. She sure has fun with it!

Do your kids do anything that makes them seem weird to the average passerby?
Does it make you uncomfortable or proud?

***

Visit Living Peacefully with Children and Authentic Parenting to find out how you can participate in next month's Authentic Parenting Blog Carnival!

Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants:

No Tattoos! (yet) - Jana Falls at Jananas is okay with tattoos. You just have to wait until you're 18.
The Chains of Conformity -Destany at They are All of Me writes about teaching her children to be true to their own authenticity and... screw conformity, it's for sheep.
Supporting Self-Expression in Children - At Living Peacefully with Children, Mandy encourages her children to be themselves and express themselves accordingly.
Encouraging Good Examples -Amy W. at Me, Mothering, and Making it All Work encourages her spirited preschooler to choose good examples to copy in order to discourage inappropriate learned behaviors.
Supporting Your Child's Self Expression - Jennifer at Hybrid Rasta Mama discusses how she support's her daughter's desire to be herself despite objections from Rasta Daddy.
Can a "good" child be noncompliant? - Lauren at Hobo Mama has a sweet-natured child who is anything but obedient. She likes him just fine, but his grandmother's not sure what to make of him.
In Crowd or Outcast, March to Your Own Beat - Jorje of Momma Jorje compares some of the odd fashions of her own youth to some of the crazy stuff kids, and her teen in particular, are doing these days.
Their bodies are their own - At Authentic Parenting, Laura questions society's claims on children.

No Pressure

2013-03-28T07:59:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the Breastfeeding Support Blog Party! Bloggers around the world have gathered together to share posts which provide current or soon-to-be breastfeeding mothers with a wealth of well-researched information, personal stories, and statistics designed to help you have the most successful breastfeeding experience possible. Be sure to scroll to the bottom of this post to learn more about this movement as well as to link to and read more informative breastfeeding support posts.

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I really like the ideas behind child led introduction to solids. I give Spencer some of whatever we're eating. He may or may not manage to chew and swallow much, that depends on what we have and how much he likes it. This gives me another reason to appreciate child led weaning. Some days, especially if Spencer naps through a mealtime, he doesn't get offered much food. Since Spencer is still getting most of his nutrition from breastmilk, I'm not pressured to worry over what, how much, and in what balance of food he actually ingests. I know Spencer is getting what he needs, regardless of what and how much he eats.

Sasha loves cantaloupe! (at 7mo and still at 3½yo)
Spencer just tried cantaloupe last night, wish I'd taken pics!

When Spencer has been sick, breastmilk is the easiest thing to keep down. It is nutrition and hydration, all in one. It can't be beat! I once asked a doctor if I needed to give my sick baby a pediatric electrolyte drink. He said that it couldn't beat breastmilk and to just keep doing what I was doing!

Spencer, waiting to see the Endocrinologist

The comfort of child led weaning is also important to me. Spencer has several extra medical appointments for health problems. Sometimes the procedures are unpleasant or Spencer just doesn't like people messing with him. I always have the most comfort-providing activity / comfort food available to him. Sometimes I even nurse him while a doctor checks him. It keeps him still and content. Nothing else would be as soothing, not even being held by me.

I am so thankful that I've been able to nurse all of my children. I am thankful for their health. And I am thankful for the bond provided by nursing my babies.

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This gathering of breastfeeding support comes in response to the Weston A. Price Foundation’s (WAPF) continued stance on breastfeeding, with which we all have great concern. While the WAPF does support breastfeeding as the best option for feeding babies, it does so with a caveat. Breastfeeding mothers must follow the strict tenants of the WAPF diet and mothers who are not following their nutrient dense diet recommendations would be better off feeding their babies homemade formula (based on the WAPF recipe). In addition, they are outspoken against using donor milk.

The bloggers sharing posts today are concerned with the confusion this may cause breastfeeding mothers. Not only does research support the myriad of health benefits of breast milk for babies regardless of the mother’s diet, it also outlines additional benefits of breastfeeding such as better bonding, deeper trust, and a long list of other emotional benefits. Let’s not forget the health benefits for moms!

We will have a complete list of all the blog posts published today (as part of this Blog Party) in a separate post on Sunday, March 31st. We welcome you to join this blog party by linking up your own new and previously published posts which focus on any positive aspect of breastfeeding and breast milk. Please enter using the Linky Tool which can be found at Hybrid Rasta Mama, Cooking Traditional Foods, Whole New Mom, Alternative Parenting, or African Babies Don’t Cry. (All links will be subject to moderation. Any link not following the spirit of the Blog Party will be removed.)

Mamatography 2013 - Week 12

2013-03-27T07:20:00.000-05:00

Day 76 - March 17

Tyler brought a watermelon home from volunteering Friday.
She carved it into this rose!

Day 77 - March 18

I made finger paints! They turned out a lot thicker than planned, but they were usable.
It took some time for her to warm up to getting messy, but she has a blast!
She used them ALL! Time to make more!

Day 78 - March 19

Second Speech Therapy session, with Jordan.
Still seems a little chaotic and get-to-know-you... ish.
"buh, buh, buh, BUBBLES"

Day 79 - March 20

We're half way between well child checks, but I had some concerns for the pediatrician.
Sasha still loves going, thinks its something special. The extra attention helps, too.

Day 80 - March 21

I made play dough, too! The girls had fun. Tyler made a rose here, too.

Day 81 - March 22

I have finally started letting Sasha spin the chair, as long as Spencer is asleep.

Day 82 - March 23

I have, so far, stuck with hosting some sort of social event once per month.
Here is my kitchen, looking nice before our "Heathen Hang Out."

***

Without further ado, here are the Mama/Papatography 2013 participants!

Momma Jorje
A Nature Mom
Mommy and Little I
too tired to blog
The Family Patch
The Princess Poet's Life Adventures
harley famdamily
Mama Unfurling
the mommy metamorphosis
Mothers Know Best
Quest For Life's Passion
Frugal Brit Witch
Me, Mothering, and Making it All Work

Six Final Thoughts

2013-03-26T12:00:00.000-05:00

Join the Six Ingredient Challenge hosted by Hobo Mama and Anktangle!

We're on a six-week path to eat more whole foods, guided by one simple rule: Buy foods with six ingredients or fewer. And we're blogging about our journey on the way.

This week we're answering the question: What are your final thoughts and reflections as we wrap up this challenge? Do you have any new-found wisdom to share?

You can see all the responses to this question on the link-up post.

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Ha! I really managed to come up with 6 thoughts to list. I loved the title and was determined to make it work.

I really found that when my life is in turmoil (such as a child with a new restlessness problem that keeps me up many a night) is not the time to successfully make lifestyle changes, even fairly small ones.
I was reminded that stress leads to crappy eating habits which leads to feeling even crappier. Healthy eating seems to be that much more important when you don't feel up to cooking healthy meals.
I learned that I really can find a middle ground with my family. It doesn't have to be all or nothing. Our favorite marinade has more than 6 ingredients and one of them is High Fructose Corn Syrup. I think I can live with this.
I found I have minimal will power when it comes to food given to us. Tyler volunteers handing out food to residents up the street and she always brings goodies home. She usually brings lots of breads, sweets and then maybe some fresh food, too.
I learned not to assume my husband is unwilling to make some small changes. Sometimes he was agreeable!
I learned ingredient limits as possibly a better way to improve our diets. I was trying to cut out one ingredient (HFCS) at a time. Ingredient limits seems like a small enough step to manage with faster results.

Elmo still eats lots of cookies, but I make them fresh from scratch now.
I know it still isn't the healthiest snack choice, but I see it as an improvement.

What bite sized changes have you been able to make to your household diet?

Naked Yoga: Gaining Body Acceptance

2013-03-22T07:44:00.000-05:00

Today I'm sharing a guest post from a friend on Naked Yoga. (Please scroll to the bottom for a bio.) I hadn't really heard of it before as a "thing," but totally support anything that can improve women's self image!

Here's a shocker: I don't have a perfect body. Crazy, right? Who'd have thought that at age 34, after birthing 4 kids, my body might not be fit for a fashion runway or swimsuit modeling?

Watching my body age and stretch, sag and dimple has been disheartening. In my twenties I enjoyed a certain “status” as a genuinely skinny person. Even though I had some stretch marks from my pregnancies and a wee bit of cellulite, I could run around in a bikini in front of others and be perfectly comfortable with my status as a hottie.

When I reached my 30's I also gave up smoking and a funny thing happens when you start eating your breakfast instead of lighting it up: you put on weight. Another shocker. I have been in a yo-yo pattern ever since, and the padding and shrinking is only increasing the sag in my belly and the cottage cheese on my backside.

It has been an emotional struggle getting used to my new size. I like my hips, the fact that I finally have a trunk to have junk in, my large boobies. But seeing thin women held up in the media as the physical elite, I still feel a pang of nostalgia and an unshakable notion that I'm supposed to be one of them.

Worse, is looking at myself in front of a mirror. It's not only society's impression on my psyche telling me that I've no longer “got it,” it's what I see. It's what I feel when I glimpse myself stepping out of the shower, affected by my own ideas of what I find aesthetically pleasing.

The spidery parallel lines arching from the top of my thighs downward; the fact that my now gigantic nipples point towards my toes; the darkened veins of my breasts. My belly droops like a flesh colored fanny pack and while I'm happy to finally have a tush it has already begun it's determined decent towards the middle of my thighs. I am not that old, but motherhood and weight fluctuation have done things to my body that age alone would take decades longer to accomplish.

Redefining parameters of beauty has been a goal of mine for some time. I strive to look past the definition that the media hands us, into the withered faces of the very old and see the miracle of age. I celebrate the differences in skin tone, from alabaster to ebony; admire textures of all hair; appreciate the gentle curves of a large set of hips, as well as the form of the very thin. I created a board on Pinterest dubbed “Best Beauty,” in which I compile images of both men and women who I find have an intriguing form of beauty. But redirecting that acceptance towards myself has been hard.

Photo Credit: Jason Jones

When I first saw images of naked yoga, I was fascinated. Of course, this model is gorgeous but that's not the point. I imagined it would be a liberating experience and so I tried it. One day after my morning run in the privacy of my own bedroom, I stripped off my clothes to prepare for a quick shower. My bones were stiff that day, and I felt like a quick yoga session. Yoga is something I turn to when I ache as I find it alleviates my joint pain. Not wanting to put on clean clothes when I was hot and sweaty and minutes away from a refreshing cool shower, I did some yoga poses in the buff.

The feeling was as free as I suspected, and much more intimate than I had imagined. In yoga, you bend and contort and parts of you meet other parts of you that don't generally align. Imagine this when you're nude and becoming familiar with bits of yourself to which you may not have been properly introduced!

I began practicing naked yoga every day thereafter and looked forward to it while out on my runs. I realized I was being more attentive to myself as I became increasingly aware of my physical nature. I also began feeling more comfortable with myself as a naked individual the more I became familiar with my form.

One day I was feeling a little brave. I had been avoiding the mirror in the corner of the bedroom. I didn't need to see myself so compromised while fully exposed. But I was curious. I was filled with apprehension, but compelled nonetheless – and determined to find something in that mirror to feel good about. I slowly walked to the mirror and struck a pose. The dancer pose, it was. And I wasn't revolted.

Finally! An excuse to use this gorgeous image!
Photo Credit: Daughter of the Sun

I was surprised by my reaction, to tell the truth. My body was still my body. It hadn't mysteriously appeared smoother or slimmer or perkier. It was just me. Naturally, perfectly me. Me with rolls and rumples, puckers and droops. I stared at my form in curiosity and wonder. I assumed the inverted triangle and marveled at the way my breasts slid to one side and the new shape they took on. I smiled inwardly at the fact that my belly followed suit. I entered the Warrior III pose and was pleasantly surprised to see some muscle definition peeking through the fat.

The more postures I assumed, the more I noted my muscles beneath the skin and the padding, working and performing. I began to feel a sense of pride that had been missing for some time. I felt a surge of gratitude suddenly for what my bones, my guts, my skin and my flesh could do. It was raw, ethereal and deeply spiritual. It was also oddly scientific as I observed myself with casual reverence, with wonder and a renewed appreciation.

This was my body. It didn't suddenly become beautiful, it didn't change at all. I also didn't redefine my idea of beauty in terms of myself in that moment. The difference was that in doing yoga, I wasn't subconsciously assuming positions to try and see myself in a more flattering angle. I wasn't looking at it in comparison to any presumed standard. I wasn't looking at it in shame or remorse, either.

Assuming yoga positions, in the nude, in front of a mirror allowed me to see my body from a different perspective than I ever had before, and one where I had no traditional model of comparison. It was a very honest and unabashed look at myself and probably the first time I had ever done so objectively. With the purpose of discovery and learning more about myself physically, there was no room for criticism. What was previously “gross” and “embarrassing” was now simply interesting and even amusing. I felt more natural in my own skin than I have in a very long time. As I continue to familiarize myself with... myself, I find I am growing more comfortable and even a bit impressed.

Destany is an artist who works from home while raising her four kids, who range in age from teens to littles. A self proclaimed cheapskate and “maker-queen,” her do-it-yourself attitude compels her to promote self-education, frugality, and taking responsibility for our global community. She is attentive to her children and works to foster and maintain a deep connection with each one, while finding harmony within herself and remembering to take time for her husband. When she is not painting, cooking, gardening, knitting or playing with her kids – even the big ones, she is blogging about her life at They Are All of Me, where she shares crafts, recipes, and crazy mama mishaps that are bound to crop up when living with pets, teenagers and little ones.