That Mama Gretchen

Thoughts on Time Magazine, Supporting ALL Mamas, and Advocating for the Motherless

2012-05-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the I Am Mom! Enough! Carnival hosted by Jennifer at Hybrid Rasta Mama and Mandy at Living Peacefully with Children.
This Carnival is dedicated to empowering ALL parents who practice and promote and peaceful, loving, attachment parenting philosophy. We have asked other parents to help us show the critics and the naysayers that attachment parenting is beautiful, uplifting, and unbelievably beneficial and NORMAL!
In addition to the Carnival, Joni from Tales of a Kitchen Witch and Jennifer from True Confessions of a Real Mommy are co-hosting a Linky Party. Please stop by either blog to share any of your posts on the topic.
Please read to the end to find a list of links to the other carnival participants. Post topics are wide and varied, and every one is worth a read.

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What an uproar one picture can create. It can spark controversy. Bring people together or isolate them. It can provoke thought. It made me think, that's for sure ...

It truly is a blessing to join with the natural parenting community to extend a warm welcome to all mamas; mamas who are doing their very best to nurture, care for, and love their children. We're all on the same team. We are all weary of decisions we make. We all pray and hope that we make a positive impact on our children each day. We are all striving to be the best we can be. Wouldn't you agree?

Time Magazine recently asked, "Are You Mom Enough?" in their cover article focused on attachment parenting. My response is, of course, I am mom enough. I. AM. MOM. ENOUGH. period. No question about it. God wouldn't have blessed me with the children I have if he wasn't prepared to equip me to be exactly what they need. I am enough, because He is enough.

I hope other mamas feel the same way. Being mom enough has nothing to do with how you practice parenting, it has much more to do with the perspective you approach it with. Are you doing what is best for your family? Your marriage? Your children? Then, by all means, you are mom enough.

I'm not parenting alone either. I have a wonderful partner by my side sharing in the responsibility. I have parents and in-laws who set a beautiful example of parenting. I learn from their mistakes and grow from their victories. I have siblings who are modeling parenting beside me each day with their own children and two sisters who fill the void only an auntie can. Our little village gives me the support I need to be the best mama every day. When I need a break, they are there. When I need advice or comfort or my fears calmed, I can turn to my village and know that I'm not doing this alone. It's a lovely thing to know that although I bear many of the late nights and snot on my own, I'm not alone in this journey.

On a completely different train of thought, I want to draw attention to Kristen's post, Where Is the Mommy-War for the Motherless Child? When Time's article first came out I felt bound to support the amazing mamas pictured ... I know and respect one dearly (Dionna Ford of Code Name: Mama) and am definitely a supporter of many attachment parenting tenants. I even tweeted:

I think the mama's featured were brave to step out and not only share their story, but pictures of what AP families can look like behind closed doors. Although it is new and different for many to see a toddler or preschooler nursing, it shouldn't induce shock - rather, a new wave of acceptance for what these families choose as best for their children.

But then I read Kristen's post and I re-discovered that there is so much more to motherhood than just deciding to breastfeed or co-sleep. Motherhood is truly a calling. It becomes part of your very being. When children are born to you, they take a hold of your spirit in a beautiful way. This bond evokes power and protectiveness. It causes you pain and discomfort; extraordinary joy; words can barely describe the depths of a mother's love.

And to imagine that many children don't know this love. They are motherless - no advocate, protection, or motherly love. They haven't experienced the bond of someone who cares so deeply, beyond measure.

Kristen wrote:

When it comes to issues of motherhood, there is one issue I care about: some kids don’t have one. All of these petty wars about the choices of capable, loving mothers is just a lot of white noise to me, Quite honestly, I’m often astonished at the non-essential parenting issues I see moms getting their panties in a wad about. Particularly when there are so many kids in this world not being parented at all.

This is the only mommy war I’ll wage. I’m confident that most mothers are doing the best that they can for their kids, even if their choices are different than mine. I think it’s ridiculous that so much energy is spent on debating largely inconsequential parenting decisions when so very little attention is given to the children who DON’T HAVE PARENTS. Why isn’t this causing outrage? Making magazine covers? Inciting ranty twitter posts?

This is the war I’ll be involved in: We, as a society, are not doing enough to protect at-risk and motherless children, both in our country and globally.

Before I found out I was expecting brother I was preparing to begin foster to adopt training. It is something Dominic and I feel called to do and therefore, it was one of my 2012 goals to complete training and be on the list to welcome a little man or little lady into our home ... hopefully forever. The Lord had other plans though. This leads me to believe even more that He has the perfect timeline for our family. So glad to know I don't have to plan out each and every detail on my own :) Brother is coming first and we couldn't more thrilled! Training is on hold as we welcome brother and mold as a family of four. But soon, we'll be ready for another, and I can't wait for that journey to begin. It will hold new mothering challenges for sure, but I know the blessings with be insurmountable.

Many days as I cradle Jemma and rub my belly I think about my other children. I have such immense love for Jemma and her brother. It brings me to tears to think that the others, the ones who aren't in my arms yet could be feeling alone or unwanted. I want to find them. I want to bring them home, wipe their tears, and hold them all night. I want them to feel the peace and joy of being with their mama.

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Whether you are called as a mother to raise biological children or others you grow to call your own I hope you will hold the motherless especially dear to your heart. Pray for them, advocate for them when you can, support families who are pursuing adoption, and if you feel led, welcome them into your home and hearts.

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Thank you for visiting the I Am Mom! Enough! Carnival hosted by hosted by Jennifer at Hybrid Rasta Mama and Mandy at Living Peacefully with Children.Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants and check out previous posts at the linky party hosted by Joni from Tales of a Kitchen Witch and Jennifer from True Confessions of a Real Mommy: (This list will be live and updated by afternoon May 28 with all the carnival links.)

Good Enough? — Jennifer at True Confessions of a Real Mommy writes about how Good Enough is not Good Enough, if you use it as an excuse to stop trying.
The High Cost of High Expectations JeninCanada at Fat and Not Afraid shares what it's like to NOT feel 'mom enough' and wanting to always do better for herself and family.
TIME to Be You! — Becky at Old New Legacy encourages everyone to be true to themselves and live their core values.
I am mom and I have had ENOUGH — A mother had had ENOUGH of the mommy wars.
Motherhood vs. Feminism — Doula Julia at juliamannes.com encourages feminists to embrace the real needs and cycles and strengths of women.
There Is No Universal Truth When It Comes To Parenting — Jennifer at Hybrid Rasta Mama discusses how parenting looks around the world and why there is no universal parenting philosophy.
Attachment Parenting Assumptions — ANonyMous at Radical Ramblings argues that attachment parenting is not just for the affluent middle-classes, and that as parents we all need to stop worrying about our differences and start supporting each other.
Thoughts on Time Magazine, Supporting ALL Mamas, and Advocating for the Motherless — Time Magazine led That Mama Gretchen to think about her calling as a mother and how adoption will play an important role in growing her family.
Attachment Parenting: the Renewed Face of Feminism — Mandy at Living Peacefully with Children embraces her inner feminist as she examines how the principles of attachment parenting support the equal treatment of all.
What a Mom Wants! — Clancy Harrison from Healthy Baby Beans writes about how women need to support each other in their different paths to get to the same destination.
Attachment Parenting: What One Family Wants You To Know — Jennifer, Kris, 4 year old Owen and 2 year old Sydney share the realities of attachment parenting, and how very different it looks than the media's portrayal.
We ALL Are Mom Enough — Amy W. of Amy Willa: Me, Mothering, and Making It All Work thinks that all mothers should walk together through parenthood and explores her feelings in prose.
A Typical Day Kat at Loving {Almost} Every Moment shares what a typical day with her attached family looks like...all in the hopes to shed light on what Attachment Parenting is, what it's not and that it's unique within each family!
The Proof is in the (organic, all-natural) Pudding — Kym at Our Crazy Corner of the World talks about how, contrary to what the critics say, the proof that attachment parenting works in visible in the children who are parented that way.
I am mom and I have had ENOUGH A mother had had ENOUGH of the mommy wars.
Time Magazine & Mommy Wars: Enough! What Really Matters? — Abbie at Farmer's Daughter encourages moms to stop fighting with each other, and start alongside each other.
Attachment parenting is about respect — Lauren at Hobo Mama breaks down what attachment parenting means to her to its simplest level.
I am an AP mom, regardless... — Jorje ponders how she has been an Attachment Parenting mom regardless of outside circumstances at Momma Jorje.
The first rule of Attachment Parenting is: You Do Not Talk about Attachment Parenting — Emily discusses, with tongue aqnd cheek, how tapping into our more primal selves actually brings us closer to who we are rather than who we think we should be.
Mom, I am. — Amy at Anktangle discusses how Attachment Parenting is a natural extension of who she is, and she explains the ways her parenting approach follows the "live and let live" philosophy, similar to her beliefs about many other areas of life.
I Breastfeed My Toddler for the Nutritional Benefits — Christine at African Babies Don't Cry shares why 'extended' breastfeeding is not extreme and how she is still nursing her toddler for the nutritional benefits.
I Am Dad Enough! — Attachment parenting does not only have to be about moms; their partners are just as important. In Code Name: Mama's family, Dionna's husband, Tom, is papa enough for lots of things.

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MAY GIVEAWAY DAY

2012-05-25T06:00:00.000-07:00

Thank you so much to my lovely sponsors for offering up this assortment of fabulous loot! The four winners are sure lucky gals :) Enter through Rafflecopter below! Winners will be contacted on June 10th!

Dawn Publication has a sweet book up for grabs, Jo MacDonald Had a Garden!

Old MacDonald had a … garden? Yes! Sing along with young Jo MacDonald as she grows healthy food for people and wild creatures. E-I-E-I-O! Find out how butterflies, bumblebees, and birds help a garden to thrive – and how you can help them too. And keep an eye on one mysterious plant. What will it become? Youngsters learn about garden ecosystems and stewardship through this playful adaptation of “Old MacDonald Had a Farm.”

MamaSan Maternity Apparel is giving away a $50 gift certificate to their shop. I adore my striped top from MamaSan ... I'm sure you'll find something fantastic too!

MamaSan wants you to be true to yourself and to your lifestyle. Just because you are pregnant doesn't mean you have to stop looking cool. We know you want the same edgy style, but with the extra comfort for your growing bump. Our designs allow you to look sexy and rocker-chic throughout your pregnancy and well beyond your 9 months of glory.

I'm gearing up to place my summer sunscreen order over at Lucky Vitamin and you can too with a $10 credit! Well ... that or anything else that suits your fancy :)

LuckyVitamin.com was first established back in 2004 as one of the internets pioneers for online distribution of health and wellness products in the vitamin and supplement industry. Its founders had many years of experience in the natural health industry and wanted to bring that experience to the masses, hence LuckyVitamin.com was formed.

Hybrid Rasta Mama recently debuted an amazing e-book, Coconut Oil For Your Skin, which is a collection of 40 recipes using coconut oil from hair care to bath supplies to natural remedies for other healthcare woes. I'm absolutely in love with it! I whipped up a salt scrub as a gift for my mama for Mother's Day and it was such a hit!

A collection of 40 recipes your skin will love all of which use coconut oil, one of the most nourishing oils for your body! In my Ebook you will find:
8 recipes for the bath/shower; 6 recipes for body care products like lotions and creams including a cellulite cream and an eczema salve; 6 recipes dedicated to your face; 5 shampoo recipes; 4 recipes that serve as conditions and hair treatments; 5 lip balms and; 6 miscellaneous recipes such as insect repellant, deodorant, wart remover, “love potion,” toothpaste, and a PMS blend.
Coconut Oil For Your Skin also offers information on carrier oils, butters, and essential oils. I even included a pretty cool chart outlining both the physical and emotional benefits of the essential oils called for in the recipes. I also discuss storage of finished products as well as ingredients. Seriously – I did not leave anything out.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Galosh B'Gosh

2012-05-24T23:28:00.001-07:00

Get it? Galosh B'Gosh ... kind of like OshKosh B'Gosh. Ok ... lame I know. But still, the point is ...

I'm pretty much 100% positive that I can see the future in shoe trends.

I saw the moccasin thing coming.
Then the boat shoes.
I'll admit I missed Toms, but am fully on board now seeing that I just acquired my second pair.

Next up ... GALOSHES. Vintage. Fresh. Whatever. Find yours today. I thrifted mine for a whopping $10. But I know they are the shiz and I wear them proudly.

Plus, they are perf for torrential downpour days like the Northwest has been tossin' out lately.

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Girl of the Forest

2012-05-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

Jemma Pie ...

You melt my heart. Freakin' melt it. Everyday. But especially this day. Decked out in your denim and moccasins I couldn't help but squeeze you a little tighter. How is my baby such a big girl? Your smile fills the room in an extraordinary way. Or should I say, it fills the forest?

Of course I should, you are my sweet forest girl. I can't wait for you to embrace all the wonders it will hold. What a perfect backyard for your and brother's adventures. Lead the way my girl. Mama loves you.

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A Birth Bag Especially for Dad

2012-05-21T23:10:00.001-07:00

Joining Julie at A Little Bit of All of It for her Preparing for Birth Series. This week's focus is Birth Support. Want to participate? Learn about all the upcoming topics here!

This morning before Dominic left for work he tucked the covers around my shoulders and whispered, "Drink lots of water and do your pelvic rocks today."


#1 Birth Support - 2010 & 2012

He may not be physically connected to our baby right now, but he is emotionally there. Each day he offers some type of support whether it be an encouraging word, helping with extra chores, or brainstorming baby names. With labor around the corner I'm confident Dominic will shine once again as my star birth support. He was a real trooper during Jemma's marathon arrival, so in preparation for our little man's birth, I wanted to share what I plan to pack in his Daddy Birth Bag. My hope is that while I'm laboring away and he is supporting me, he will feel supported too. All great support needs support themselves! Wouldn't you agree?

Daddy Birth Bag
Many of these items can be easily translated to whomever your birth support is. Just think of who they are and tailor things specifically to them.

Copy of birth plan
{Charged} phone and copy of phone tree
Note of encouragement to open when he needs a boost
Snacks - granola bars, Gatorade, nut mix, chips (his favorite)
Change/cash for vending machine, restaurant, or cafeteria
Toiletries - toothbrush/paste, deodorant, etc.
Change of clothes including swim trunks
Spare glasses
Camera with check-off list of what to take
Magazine or book
Eye mask, because, yes, sometimes Daddy's need a quick nap
List of last minute things to grab - phone, charger, iPad, etc.
Origin's Peace of Mind spot relief - I love this stuff for me and it never hurts Dad to rub on a dose as well!

Anything missing?

What else would you add to your support person's bag?

Hey there, That Dad Dominic!

Not that I'm necessarily looking forward to the aches and pains of labor, I must say I do feel a sense of relief knowing you'll be by my side. You proved yourself to be my best friend, prayer warrior, and all around perfect guy during my first labor and I can't imagine going through such a life-changing event without you. Thank you so much for all you do to support me each day. I can't wait to welcome our little man into our arms together. Only a few more months, EEK!

Love,
Your Bug

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Our Weaning Story - Sudden, Surprised, and Embracing a New Season

2012-05-21T06:00:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the Carnival of Weaning: Weaning - Your Stories
This post was written for inclusion in the Carnival of Weaning hosted by Code Name: Mama and Aha! Parenting. Our participants have shared stories, tips, and struggles about the end of the breastfeeding relationship.

Weaning didn't go quite how I expected.

In my perfect world I imagined tandem nursing Jemma along side her younger sibling, reading Nursies When the Sunshines together, and hearing her say that mama milk tasted like flowers.

I always intended to allow child-led weaning, our nursing relationship had been like that from the beginning. She set the time and length of our nursing sessions. I just delivered the goods. Giving Jemma control in deciding when and where she wanted to nurse built a lovely bond between the two of us. She relied on me, and in a way, I on her. Because let's face it, engorgement is never a pretty thing.

Shortly after Jemma's first birthday, October 20th to be exact, Jemma went an entire day without nursing. Between 10-12 months she had truly discovered table food and was in love with everything she tried. I assumed she was just having an off day and would be back to her nursing routine in no time. Then again, I partly blamed myself for her nursing strike day because that morning she had bit me. I had yelped which resulted in her crying :( Part of me feared that she was scared to nurse again because of me. The evening of the 20th, as she was falling asleep, she nursed. And I let out a sigh of relief. My baby was still my baby.

But that night was the last. It still makes me cry to think about it. At 12 1/2 months Jemma's nursing strike turned into fully weaning. It was MUCH earlier than I expected, but more sudden, and it broke my heart to so quickly say goodbye to this dimension of our relationship.

For a month we tried many things to reconcile our nursing relationship. I blogged about it here, here, and here. Jemma was quite indifferent to the transition. It was almost like she woke up one day and said, "Mama, I'm a big girl and I'm ready for 100% big girl food." I wasn't quite as ready as she was! I mourned the loss her sudden weaning. I received amazing support from my La Leche League leader and slowly, but surely, came to grips with a new season of our mother daughter relationship.

It is an emotional roller coaster when our little ones have different plans than we do! Your loving response to her ever-changing needs is just proof of your healthy attachment and love.

-An email from my wonderful LLL leader

Although Jemma had weaned, I felt she was too young to be completely without the benefits of breastmilk. So, I unearthed my trusty pump, the same one I had packed away 6 weeks earlier when I became a SAHM and thought my pumping days were over. It pained me to have Jemma accept my pumped milk in a sippy cup, but it was the lesser of two evils. First I pumped four times each day, then three, then two. This allowed her to have breastmilk each day (with some surplus for the freezer) while we started to integrate alternative milk like coconut, almond, and hemp.

By late December pumping became oddly painful. Two pink lines on a pregnancy test proved the reason why :) At that point I chose to wean myself from my pump. Not the weaning experience I had imagined, but it felt right to stop pumping and allow my body to fully commit to nurturing the new life inside of me. My freezer was brimming with bags of milk so Jemma has continued to have mama milk every night before bed. Coincidentally, she just finished her final bag of mama milk on Mother's Day at 19 months old.

Our relationship hasn't suffered as I feared. If anything Jemma and I have grown closer as we've found new ways to connect throughout the day. I've been blessed by this new season and can't wait for the many seasons we'll weather together in the years to come.

And yet, I can't wait to begin breastfeeding my new baby in August. Perhaps he'll be the one who tandem nurses with a sibling, reads Nursies, and describes mama milk as flowers ... or whatever he deems to be his most favorite thing :)

P.S. I also shared a short video clip in Code Name: Mama's weaning post ... check it out!

Thank you for visiting the Carnival of Weaning hosted by Dionna at Code Name: Mama and Dr. Laura at Aha! Parenting.
Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants (and many thanks to Joni Rae of Tales of a Kitchen Witch for designing our lovely button):

On Breastfeeding, Weaning, and One Mother’s Identity — Jessica at Natural Parents Network has been nursing one or more of her children since 1993 - breastfeeding is wrapped up in her concept of mothering and herself. She shares her thoughts on weaning.
two tales of weaning — Aspen at Aspen Mama writes about their countdown to wean.
Wean Me Gently — Tam at Please Send Parenting Books shares a beautiful weaning ceremony.
You say potato, I say bleeeuuuuch... — Anelie at Mindcradle had read the books and knew just how to introduce her baby son to solids—unfortunately, he had other ideas.
A Post Called Weaning — (Not) Maud at Awfully Chipper writes about how weaning her son took longer than she expected.
On Weaning, Pregnancy and Emotion — Shannon at The Artful Mama talks about her mixed emotions as she allows her son, Little Man, to guide her through his weaning process.
half of her life — Staci at Springpatch Jam looks back on her nursing relationship with her first born.
Is it just this After Forty Mom or is it harder to wean when its your last? — Amanda of After Forty Mom shares her emotional journey towards the impending self-weaning of her toddler daughter.
Nursing Limits — Jorje of Momma Jorje shares how she has weaned her toddler down to minimal nursing and her guilt about the decision to do so.
Weaning Video Series #1: Preparation for the Weaning Process — Why is weaning such a taboo topic? Dionna at Code Name: Mama got mamas from across the blogosphere to start talking about weaning - on video. Come check out the first video in a series of five that she'll be posting this week.
Weaning due to anxiety — Shannon at Pineapples & Artichokes talks about how she had to wean to preserve her mental health.
When Will I Wean? A Guest Post — Jennifer at Hybrid Rasta Mama hosts a guest post from a mama who contemplates when her breastfeeding relationship will end.
On His Own Terms — Momeeezen shares her heartbreak from when her son weaned much earlier than she anticipated.
Our Weaning Story - Sudden, Surprised, and Embracing a New Season — Weaning doesn't always go how we imagine. That Mama Gretchen shares the story of her daughter's sudden weaning and how she has embraced this new season of motherhood.
A Tale of Two Weanings — Valerie at Momma in Progress shares the similarities and differences of how her nursing relationships with her now six-year-old and four-year-old daughters came to a close.
She Doesn't Remember — Alicia at Lactation Narration finds that her 6 year old no longer remembers nursing, only one year after weaning.
It's The End of the World As We Know It — A story about the end of a tandem nursing relationship on Never Mind The Rain: A toddler moves on to a new phase in her life before mom is fully ready.
A Natural End To Our Breastfeeding Relationship — With two self-weaning children, Jennifer at Our Muddy Boots does not know when the end will come, but that it will be natural and without regrets.
Child-Led weaning: It's Not Extreme; It's Biological — Mandy at Living Peacefully with Children explains why child-led weaning is based on biology rather than social constraints.
6 Years of Natural Weaning in 5 Steps — Jess at miniMum shares how and why she let her first child stop when he was good and ready.
Is This Weaning?: A Tandem Nursing Update — Sheila at A Living Family bares all her tandem nursing hopes and fears during what feels like the beginning of the end for her toddler nursing relationship.
Memories of Weaning: Unique and Gentle — Cynthia at The Hippie Housewife shares her weaning experiences with her two sons, each one unique in how it happened and yet equally gentle in its approach.
Weaning Aversion' — Gentle Mama Moon shares her experience of nursing and unplanned weaning due to pregnancy-induced 'feeding aversion'.
Three Months Post-Mup: An Evolution of Thoughts On Weaning — cd at FidgetFace describes a brief look at her planned (but accelerated) weaning, as well as one mamma's evolution on weaning (and extended nursing)
Weaning my Tandem Nursed Toddler — After tandem nursing for a year, Melissa at Permission to Live felt like weaning her older child would be impossible, but now she shares how gentle weaning worked for her 2 1/2 year old.
Every Journey Begins with One Step — As Hannabert begins the weaning process, Hannah at Hannah and Horn's super power is diminishing.
Reflections on Weaning - Love Changes Form — Amy from Presence Parenting (guest posting at Dulce de Leche) shares her experience and approach of embracing weaning as a continual process in parenting, not just breastfeeding.
Weaning Gently: Three Special Ideas for Success — MudpieMama shares three ideas that help make weaning a gentle and special journey.
Guest Post: Carnival of Weaning — Emily shares her first weaning experience and her hopes for her second nursling in a guest post on Farmer's Daughter.
12 Tips for Gentle Weaning — Dr. Laura at Aha! Parenting describes the process of gentle weaning and gives specific tips to make weaning an organic, joyful ripening.
Quiz: Should You Wean for Fertility Treatments? — Paige at Baby Dust Diaries talks about the key issues in the difficult decision to wean for infertility treatments.
I thought about weaning... — Kym at Our Crazy Corner of the World shares her story of how she thought about weaning several times, yet it still happened on its own timeline.
Celebrating Weaning — Amy at Anktangle reflects on her thoughts and feelings about weaning, and she shares a quick tutorial for one of the ways she celebrated this transition with her son: through a story book with photographs!
Naturally Weaning Twins — Kristin at Intrepid Murmurings discusses the gradual path to weaning she has taken with her preschool-aged twins.
Gentle Weaning Means Knowing When to Stop — Claire at The Adventures of Lactating Girl writes about knowing when your child is not ready to wean and taking their feelings into account in the process.
Weaning, UnWeaning, and ReWeaning — Jennifer at True Confessions of a Real Mommy discovers non-mutal weaning doesn't have to be the end. You can have a do-over.
Prelude to weaning — Lauren at Hobo Mama talks about a tough tandem nursing period and what path she would like to encourage her older nursling to take.
Demands of a Nursing Kind — Amy Willa at Me, Mothering, and Making it All Work shares her conflicted feelings about nursing limits and explores different ways to achieve comfort, peace, and bodily integrity as a nursing mother.
Breastfeeding: If there's one thing I know for sure... — Wendy at ABCs and Garden Peas explores the question: How do you know when it's time to wean?
Five, Four, Three, Two, One, Two, Three? — Zoie at TouchstoneZ discusses going from 3 nurslings down to 1 and what might happen when her twins arrive.

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The Brother Behind the Belly Button

2012-05-19T20:39:00.002-07:00

This is the second installment from our family photo shoot on the property. It was a total side moment which resulted in my favorite pictures. I LOVE these few special moments between Jemma, brother, and I. There is no doubt in my mind that Jemma is going to be a fabulous sister. She already shows so much love to her little brother ... and my belly button :)

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Terrarium Fabulous Hits 6th Grade

2012-05-18T07:45:00.000-07:00

My sister, Katie, is in her first official year as a teacher. She has been rockin' the 6th grade science world along with some math, Bible, and reading ... yep, she has a full plate. Katie brings science alive in a new and fresh way. Her students are extraordinarily honored to have her as a teacher. I mean, who takes a lesson on eco-systems and puts it into action with a terrarium day? Katie does!

Jemma and I popped in to help and, although all of the student's terrariums turned our beautifully, none quite compared to the terrarium that sparked it all.

I'll be sharing a little terrarium DIY soon, but in the meantime, here's some inspiration from the wonderful world of 6th grade.

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Posing With Our Ferns

2012-05-17T12:00:00.000-07:00

My dear friend and photographer of choice, Christine of LCS Photography, met us at our property for a lil' afternoon photo shoot prior to Mother's Day. Even though it is taking awhile to get everything squared away on the property (darn county), I am happy that we were able to stage our photo shoot on the raw land before it gets changed up for the house.

Of course, I'm pleased as punch with how all our photos turned out ... I've got quite a few to share so I'm planning to split them up in a few posts. Enjoy the sweetness that is my family :)

P.S. Taking pics with a toddler is a whole new ball game! You've got to time their nap for ultimate happiness. Sing songs and tickle to keep the smiles coming. Then, hope that the whole fam happens to look at the camera at the same time! My. oh. my.

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50% Off Ad Space to Welcome PassionFruit

2012-05-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

This coming month I'm jumping on board with PassionFruit. It's a fabulous ad management resource which allows you to purchase ads anytime throughout the month. Once purchased your ad runs for 30 days. Boom. Wow. Easy.

To kick off this fabulous-ness you're all gonna benefit from some super savings ... 50% off any ad space now through the end of May! Just click on over to my Sponsor page and enter code PFKICKOFF when you purchase your desired ad size.

300x300 ... only $20
150x150 ... only $10
150x100 ... only $2.50

I'm excited to bring you on as a sponsor! Send me an email at thatmamagretchen{at}gmail{dot}com if you have any questions!

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Crockpot Yogurt

2012-05-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my lovely midwife who shared her recipe, I've been whipping up yogurt left and right. Who would have guessed making yogurt could be so simple!

INGREDIENTS & SUPPLIES
8 cups of milk
1/2 cup yogurt with live cultures
Crockpot
Bath towel
Cheesecloth
Strainer

DIRECTIONS

Pour 8 cups of milk (or 16 cups which is 1 gallon if you're doubling the recipe) into a large crockpot. Set to LOW for 2 1/2 hours.
Turn crockpot off and let sit with lid on for 3 hours.
Add 1/2 cup yogurt (or 1 cup for a double recipe), place lid back on, and wrap a bath towel around the crockpot. You're goal is to make a dark, insulated environment for the live cultures to exponentially grow.
Let crockpot sit covered (with lid and towel), not heating for 8-12 hours. I usually try to start the yogurt process by 3pm in the afternoon so this 8-12 hour step happens overnight.
In the morning, your milk will look like the top photo above - YOGURT!
Line a strainer with a cheesecloth and strain yogurt to desired consistency. Without straining your yogurt will be a drinkable consistency - perfect for smoothies. But, if you're wanting to spoon eat it or make it more like "normal" you'll want to strain it for 15-30 minutes.

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May Sponsor Love

2012-05-15T08:53:00.000-07:00

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I am a stay-at-home mother of three beautiful little girls. I enjoy long walks on the beach, though I've never actually had one. I love fun, cutesy, vintage accessories and clothes. I love colors (I'm completely obsessed with COLOR), designing and interior decorating. I love to create new things. Our family loves zoo animals, visiting parks (both local parks and national parks) (with a particular affinity for Teton National Park)and painting each other's fingernails.

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I'm the Haphazard Housewife; mother to two amazing girls, housewife to one wonderful man, lover of coffee, wine, all food and anything crafty. A writer, an avid reader and a self-proclaimed superhero; sharing my experiences trying to stay sane with two kids in tow.

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Jennifer, author of Hybrid Rasta Mama, is a former government recruiter turned stay-at-home mama to a precious daughter (“Tiny”) brought earthside in early 2009. She is passionate about conscious parenting, natural living, holistic health/wellness, real foods, and a Waldorf inspired approach to education. Jennifer is committed to breastfeeding (especially extended breastfeeding), bed-sharing, cloth diapering, green living, babywearing, peaceful parenting, playful parenting, and getting children outside. She is a hybrid parent, taking a little of this, throwing in a little of that, and blending it all together to create a parenting style that is centered on what her daughter needs in order to flourish as a human being. Jennifer also lives and breathes reggae music, the Rastafarian culture and way of life. Reggae music and its message touches her soul.

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My name is Stephanie and I am the owner and designer behind Mostaza Seed Graphics. We specialize in vintage inspired wedding and birthday invitations, save the dates, baby announcements, business cards, logos-- you name it! Our style is crisp, colorful and nostalgic. Think Gidget meets creamsicles, meets Peachee folders from elementary school! Have a custom design in mind? We can make it happen.

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I love coffee, chocolate and computers. Happily married stay at home mama to two sweet little dudes. I write about my daily life and daydreams out in the West Texas town of El Paso.

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Hi, I'm Joanna from over at Brock Paper Scissors! Working girl turned stay-at-home mom and military wife. Join my adventures in raising a witty, rambunctious toddler, his equally adorable little sister and everything in between.

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Three Cheers for Midwives

2012-05-14T21:39:00.000-07:00

Joining Julie at A Little Bit of All of It for her Preparing for Birth Series. This week's focus is Choosing a Care Provider. Want to participate? Learn about all the upcoming topics here!

It really is the heart of midwifery to support a woman to do what a woman knows she can do.

Lesley Cragen, CNM

Attending births is like growing roses. You have to marvel at the ones that just open up and bloom at the first kiss of the sun but you wouldn't dream of pulling open the petals of the tightly closed buds and forcing them to blossom to your time line.
Gloria Lemay

Don't those quotes just make you smile? It feels peaceful, and real, and the type of environment a mama and baby should be present in. There are so many reasons why I've loved my midwifery care experience. Through my one and a half pregnancies I've realized that I can't recommend midwives enough. Nothing quite compares to the heart of a midwife.

Building a relationship through personalized care

When I was pregnant with Jemma I met with three different care providers - a hospital obstetrician, a hospital midwife, and a non-hospital birth center midwife. My first questions in each interview were who would facilitate my appointments and who would be at my baby's birth. Both the obstetrician and hospital midwife informed me that I would rotate through everyone in the practice during my prenatal appointments and whoever was on-call would attend my birth. This made me uneasy as it seemed probably that I would share a very intimate experience with someone I had met only a handful of times.

When I visited Andaluz, a non-hospital birth center, I felt right at home. I learned that I would have two primary midwives. My appointments would alternate between the two and one of them (possibly both) would attend my birth. It was very important to me to build a relationship with the people who would be so intricately involved in such a life changing event. Having just two midwives gave me that opportunity. They were committed to investing in me from the first trimester through postpartum and that was just what I was looking for.

The value of time

As part of my personalized care, each of my prenatal appointments are an hour long. During my appointments I learn foundational elements of pregnancy - nutrition and risks/benefits of routine pregnancy testing. I am also able to emotionally unload in regard to my feelings about pregnancy and life in general. Through these hour long chats I am able to learn, grow, and become familiar with what to expect in the months to come.

What's best for me, not the general population
Most of all, I appreciate that not much is set in stone. I'm not required to do anything. My midwife and I discuss all the options and decide what is individually best for my baby and I rather than leaning on a statistic to guide my medical care. For example, during my first pregnancy I learned all about the routine gestational diabetes test. I determined that since I didn't fall in to any of the risk categories I wanted to waive this particular test. After sharing my thoughts and research, my midwife was in complete support of taking this non-invasive approach and waiving the test. This philosophy carries into many aspects of care including frequency of vaginal exams, methods of induction, and newborn procedures.

More bang for your buck
With all the extra time involved you would think midwifery care would be super expensive. But that just isn't the case. From my personal experience and research midwives can cost anywhere from $3,000-$6,000 whereas a hospital birth can range from $12,000-?.

Truly, this is just the tip of the iceberg. It's difficult to put into words the hope and inspiration I feel from my experience with midwifery care. For more detailed reasons with supporting links I highly recommend checking out Hobo Mama's two posts Top 10 Reasons to Choose Midwifery Care and Why We Love Midwives.

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Meet That Mama | Olivia from Soul Singing Liv

2012-05-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

I'm excited to welcome Olivia Grace from Soul Singing Liv as the first mama in my new feature, Meet That Mama! Liv is a super sweet mama who always has an encouraging word and a lovely story to share. Check out her blog and enjoy our little interview below!

Hello, my name is Liv and I am a free-spirited, new experience craving, music loving, peace seeking, soul singing butterfly. My blog is a special place where I store away all of my treasures, a place where I record our daily adventures and reflect on the simple blessings in life. I love writing, learning new ideas, making music, taking photos, and collecting sentimental pieces. I spend my days balancing my time between working as a nurse and building a career I am passionate about while also being a wife and mama to my precious family. Together, we spend our days striving for peace in our hearts, kindness in our words, and adventure in our souls.

Favorite {completed} Pinterest project:I was inspired by so many ideas from Pinterest for Isabelle's 8th birthday slumber party. My very favorite pin involved a bunch of balloons: inside each balloon I placed a small piece of paper. The piece of paper announced what the next activity would be. When it was time for the activity, I let each girl take a turn popping the balloon and then all the girls gathered around as she read the paper and announced what we would be doing next. I kept a color coded list in my pocket to remind myself of what order to pop the balloons in. The kids loved it!

Favorite mama moment from the last month ... My favorite mama moment this month was on Easter morning: The Easter Bunny had left us a bag of magical jelly beans the day before and we had planted them in our garden, anxiously anticipating what they would grow into. After we woke up on Easter morning, looked through the girls' goodies in their Easter baskets, and had a ridiculous amount of chocolate for breakfast, our 8 year old, Isabelle, announced loudly: "It's time to check the jelly beans!!!!!!". We ran outside to find lollipops growing in our garden!! The girls were so excited, and so were our dogs:) Seeing the magic in their eyes, creating simple, amazing memories for our girls: there is no greater joy in life.

Best blog discovery lately ... House Unseen. This is one of those blogs that you find and go back through the archives to catch yourself up! Dwija is hilarious, practical, and really brings the beauty of family to life in her writing. This post, for instance.

Guilty pleasure ... After a long day of thinking, giving, working, planning, and being ON, my guilty pleasure is vegging out: a long bath (or as long a bath as I can take without little feet pitter pattering into the bathroom), chamomile tea, and a good book in bed. I am also guilty of having a DVR loaded with ridiculous reality shows and way too many programs centered around vampires.

Favorite Bible verse ... Matthew 6:25-27. “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?"

This Bible verse has taken me through some of my most stressful times, reminded me that I do not need to worry as much as I think that I do. When we can learn to live life giving control to Him and believing that He is always working over us, then are we able to truly live a rich and fruitful life.

Most prized household tip ... I can not rave enough about meal planning: it has changed my life. As a full time RN and mama of two, time is precious and fleeting most days. Meal planning was one of my New Year's goals and I have worked really hard to make it work for our family. Every Sunday night, I sit down and plan out our meals for the week, pulling from a box of recipe cards I made using my various cookbooks and different things I've found online. I write the week's meals in my day planner and then go through each recipe to find out what ingredients I need to purchase. I try to find recipes that use similar ingredients to make my grocery list shorter. I write the grocery list in my day planner as well and on Monday afternoon, after work, I head to the grocery store to purchase what I need for the week. Meal planning has saved me time, money, and ensures that my family has a delicious, nutritious meal on the table every night. I don't have to struggle when I get home from work to try to figure out what we are going to eat, make last minute grocery runs, etc. It's all there, fridge stocked, meal planned. By staying organized, we are able to make smart choices and avoid impulse buys. Our health and our finances are all the better for it!

3 things on my to-do list ... 1) Renovate the laundry room:paint, hang shelves, make over the closet, and make it an all around more usable space. 2) Finish weeding and turning soil in our wildflower garden. Plant the new shrubs and bulbs my mama gave me for Easter! 3) Start planning and mapping out our summer vacation to Arizona!! There are so many things we want to do while we are there and I can't wait to start putting it all together.

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Style File: Color Me Pretty

2012-05-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

LUNCH DATE WITH MY SISTER - top, forever 21 (borrowed from said sister) | colored pants, liz lange from target | tank, be maternity from target | flips, north face (gift from other sister)

Hannah and I took Jemma to one of our most favorite restaurants last week. We've been going there since we were born and we always order the same thing ... corn chowder with cornbread and a garden sandwich. Garden sandwiches are the epitome of summer - cream cheese, sunflower seeds, sprouts, cucumbers, tomatoes, and mushrooms.

On another note ... my colored pants. I've been searching for some hip skinnies in a bright color ever since they came on the spring scene. Maternity options are slim. Slim to none. I found some at Old Navy, but they were out of my size, and these Gap ones were out of my price range. Then, I discovered these ones at Target on the clearance rack - I never even saw them regular price! My mama swiped them up and gave them to me as an early Mother's Day gift. It's her tradition to give each of us girls a gift for Mother's Day as she says, "I wouldn't be a mama without you!". Isn't that just the sweetest?

Happy Mother's Day to each of you! I hope your day is absolutely blessed :)

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A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned - Kids Eat Free

2012-05-12T07:00:00.000-07:00

Each month for the rest of 2012 I’ll be featuring ways you can be a bit more frugal. As Ben Franklin said, “A penny saved is a penny earned.” And who doesn’t like to have a few extra pennies around :)

Continuing on with this little series ...
I wanted to share 5 restaurants where your kids can eat for FREE! Of course, double-check before you go since the rules can change, but at least this is a starting point.

APPLEBEE'S - On Monday nights, get one free kid's entree with an adult entree purchase.
CHEVYS - On Tuesdays, one free kid's meal with every adult entree purchase.
DENNY'S - From 4-10pm (on select nights by location) children 10 and under get their choice of a kid's meal with an adult purchase of $2.50 or more.
PIZZA HUT - Kids 3 and under eat free at the lunch buffet everyday.
TONY ROMA'S - On Tuesdays, kids 12 and under eat free with the purchase of an adult entree.
CLAIM JUMPER - Upon arrival, the server delivers a free "baby plate" to toddlers so mom and dad can browse the menu while the little one snacks!

Not a full meal, but WHOLE FOODS, offers kids a punch card for a free cookie, fruit leather, string cheese, or piece of fruit while parents grocery shop. Ask at the register for a punch card.

What other restaurants offer special benefits to families? Please share!

Would you like to write a budget-friendly post to be featured in "A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned"? I'd love to have you guest post! Email me your idea at thatmamagretchen at gmail dot com.

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Hair Diaries: Summer Twist

2012-05-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

Hair Diaries is a sneak peek into how I keep my mane tame. Jemma usually allows me 3.2 minutes to style my hair so everything is easy or out. Keep in mind that I have super thick, naturally wavy (also know as crazy) hair. It freaks out if I wash it everyday so styles are usually with day 2 or 3 hair ... sometimes day 4 hair if I'm being completely honest.

This is probably one of my most favorite hair-dos. When I'm dressing up or just want to feel pretty - I'll twist it up. Extra plus, I kind of feel like Anne Shirley with my hair like this.

I should be better at showing some step-by-steps. Basically, I use bobby pins to pull my hair into a half back and then twist and pin in two layers. Arranging as I go until I get to right look :) It never looks the same twice so don't strive for perfection. There are probably a good 15 pins and 2 cans of hairspray holding this 'do together. 15 pins for sure, definitely not THAT much hairspray, but way more than my normal day. Dove hairspray is my favorite - can't beat the fresh smell. And price.

P.S. Have you discovered PicMonkey yet? By far my new fave photo editing site - collaging, fun fonts, and awesome labels like the purple sunburst I used above!

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Call for Guest Post Submissions!

2012-05-10T06:00:00.000-07:00

Between our move and baby boy’s birth I’m planning a little babymoon sometime between July and October. I’ll still be blogging, but most likely, much less frequently.

During my break I’m hoping to feature a number of guest posts from readers and other bloggers! Would you consider submitting a guest post?

Here’s a few ideas of what you could share ...

Your birth story
How to help an older sibling adjust to a new baby
Your must have list for pregnancy/new baby/moving/etc.
Anything natural parenting related
Craft project or DIY
Family-friendly recipes
Anything spectacular :)

Previously published posts are just fine, so if you’ve already written your birth story or a post on any of the above topics I’d love to have you!

If you are interested please send me an email so I can reserve a date for you! My hope is to schedule all the posts before June so they are set and ready to go while I pack, birth, and snuggle my littles :)

In your initial email, please include ...

Your name and blog link (if you have one, not required though)
Initial post topic/idea

Sometime before June, please follow up with a second email including ...

Short biography about yourself, include a photo if you like
Top 3 relevant links - blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.
Post HTML including at least one photo (or your post text and photos attached to the email)

Yay! I’m so thankful to each of you who are willing to participate! I’m a wee bit overwhelmed with all that will be happening this summer, but all the same, very thankful for all these wonderful changes!

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The Witching Hour

2012-05-09T06:00:00.001-07:00

Source: tobtab.info via jina on Pinterest

THE WITCHING HOUR ... the hour(s) anywhere from 4-7pm in which children turn into the worst version of themselves and attack their nearest prey/mama with tears, whining, and insatiable desires.

Nap time is over, lunch is complete, and we're settling in for an afternoon of playing, or projects, or household chores. Jemma pitter-patters after me where ever I go. Helping unload the dishwasher ... collecting dry diapers and putting them in their proper place ... sitting at her desk to color or read while I'm on the computer.

I start thinking about dinner and begin pulling things from the fridge or pantry. Jemma is there, ready to assist :) Then the oven or stove goes on and I set her up in the living room with a fun toy, puzzle, or book. I head back into the kitchen and before I know it, my legs are getting a big hug and I hear "uuup, uup, uuuuuuuuup". Her arms stretch out and I crouch down and say, "Mama is cooking a hot dinner, I need you to play in the living room." She stares at me confused and repeats, "uuup, uup, uuuuuuuuuuuup!"

And then it begins ... the witching hour. Or, some days, the witching HOURS.

We move her activity into the kitchen, a safe spot away from where I'm bustling. That doesn't suit her fancy though. So, I juggle monitoring a toddler as I open the oven and we have a conversation about heat and why we stay away from the oven. She looks at me, puckers her lips, and blows ... as if her little breathe will cool the oven and make it a safe place :) At least the concept of "hot" is making its' mark.

Then the tears begin. Jemma wants up. Jemma wants to snuggle. Jemma does not care in the least about having dinner. She wants mama.

And, the truth is, I want to pick her up. I want to snuggle, and frankly, take-out sounds lovely. Do mamas have a witching hour too?

I speed finish dinner ... guessing on measurements, tossing dirty things into the sink, and trying my best to at least get refrigerated ingredients back into the fridge. At the final moment, the moment when all hell is ready to break loose, I finish. I rescue my girl into my arms and we collapse on the couch together.

Tears subside, and whining stops as we share a dinner-spoiling snack of cereal, crackers, or fruit bits. We breath a sigh of relief, snuggle a little closer, and I glance at the clock - 10 whole minutes have passed since the kitchen meltdown of 2012 began.

Tonight, our witching hour, was a mere witching moment. As long as little miss and I are physically connected we are fine. I pull out a few story books or turn on a TV show and we sit. Holding each other, calming our hearts.

Daddy walks in the door and a wave of energy appears. We share a haphazard meal and begin our bedtime routine. Another day has passed where I was victorious over the witching hour. It didn't beat me. I didn't turn into a screaming banshee. Thank heaven!

Then again, there's always tomorrow ...

I pray over my sweet girl as she closes her eyes and drifts off to sleep. May tomorrow's witching hour feel the peace I feel now.

Here's a few other posts about the witching hour that I've recently enjoyed ...

How to Bring Peace to the Witching Hour

The "Witching Hour" from LLLI

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Priceless Grandparents

2012-05-08T06:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the May 2012 Carnival of Natural Parenting: Parenting With or Without Extended Family
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 how relatives help or hinder their parenting. Please read to the end to find a list of links to the other carnival participants.
***

As I write, I'm sipping a mug of warm Ovaltine.

Ovaltine is special to me because it was a love my Grammy and I shared. Technically, I'm guessing it started as a love of hers; one she was eager to pass on to her grandchildren. No matter how I came about it, I love it. I love the way it makes me feel. I love the memories it recreates. Many of my memories with Grammy surround food - peanut butter and banana, sugar cookies with sprinkles, huckleberry chocolates, apples from the orchard, and graham crackers dipped in milk.

Grammy was my last grandparent. My paternal grandfather passed away years before I was born, even before my parents met. His wife, my Grandma Sarah, died when I was 6, and my maternal grandfather went to Heaven when I was 4 months old. All that to say, Grammy was the only grandparent I knew. Plus, I was named after her and always felt like we had a special bond because of it.

Grammy and I - 1988

I share about Grammy because she is part of the reason I always wanted to be a young mom. I was 12 when she died at 75 years of age and part of me felt so empty after she left. At 12, Grammy was one of my best friends. Our time together was always rich, and fun, and perfect.

Over the years I've missed Grammy so much. Of course the big milestone felt her absence, but even in the daily things she is extremely missed. For a long time I've dealt with the pain of a grandparent-less life. Thankfully I have fond memories. I have peace that Grammy is in Heaven. I know I'll see her again some day. But still, as a mom, I hope to evade a similar pain for my children. I'm not talking about beating death, but rather, I knew I always wanted to be a young mom so I could provide as many grandparent-filled years as possible for my children. The opportunity to make memories. To feel the love I so fondly remember. A chance to have them be a part of milestones and the every day.

Jemma is blessed to have all four grandparents alive and well. She has a special bond with each one and I can't wait to see their relationships grow in the coming years. It is my prayer that we have many years to foster those relationships; grandparents are priceless.

From my own memories with Grammy and now, seeing Jemma with her grandparents, I've discovered many ways to ensure that she'll always have fond memories of Boo Daddy, Gran Jan, Pops, and Mimi. Here are a few ideas to incorporate into your children's grandparent relationships ...

Discuss them when they are absent. Whether they have passed away, are across town, or across the country. Make grandparents a part of every day conversation.
Create a grandparent picture book. You know those little baby flip books? This is my favorite since it easily fits 4x6 photos with no trimming. Devote one to grandparent photos!
Record a book. Once your children learn their grandparent's faces, they'll be quick to connect their voice as well. Rather than Skype or phone calls, why not allow your child instant access to their grandparent's voice with a recorded book? Hallmark offers quite a few stories and I've seen them sold at Kohl's as well.
Daily activity companion. If grandparents are close by allow them to take part in daily activities. It doesn't always have to be a birthday party or event to arrange a get together. Invite them over for a weeding party or closet sort. Many daily activities can be made extra fun with a special visitor
Establish traditions. Grammy and I always watched Rogers and Hammerstein movies together. I don't recall watching them with anyone else. It was something special that was just for us. Encourage your parents and children to establish traditions that are unique to them.
Help them remember. For grandparents who have passed, don't allow their memory to die. Keep pictures around, watch family videos, and honor their memory by initiating and carrying conversations based on your child's comfort level.
Write grandma or grandpa's biography. In third grade, as a part of a school project, I wrote Grammy's biography. It started as an interview and morphed into a full story of her childhood, meeting my grandpa, and other life highlights.
Take pictures together. My mom is a fabulous photo journalist. She has documented so many small moments from over the years and I am blessed to have many pictures of Grammy and I together. Still, I wish I had more. It has reminded me to take more pictures of Jemma nad each of her grandparents.
Adopt a grandparent. Once Grammy passed away, my parents helped us adopt grandparents so we could continue experiencing the blessing of a having a relationship with an older generation. I have many adopted grandparents - friend's grandparents, couples from church, etc. - and they too, are priceless!

What was your relationship with your grandparents like?

How do you help foster a positive relationship between your children and their grandparents?

***
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:

Dealing With Unsupportive Grandparents — In a guest post at Natural Parents Network, The Pistachio Project tells what to do when your child's grandparents are less than thrilled about your parenting choices.
Parenting With Extended Family — Jenny at I'm a full-time mummy shares the pros and cons of parenting with extended family...
Parental Support for an AP Mama — Meegs at A New Day talks about the invaluable support of her parents in her journey to be an AP mama.
Priceless Grandparents — That Mama Gretchen reflects on her relationship with her priceless Grammy while sharing ways to help children preserve memories of their own special grandparents.
Routines Are Meant To Be Broken — Olga at Around The Birthing Ball urges us to see Extended Family as a crucial and necessary link between what children are used to at home and the world at large.
It Helps To Have A Village – Even A Small One — Jennifer at Hybrid Rasta Mama discusses how she has flourished as a mother due to the support of her parents.
The Orange Week — Erika at Cinco de Mommy lets go of some rules when her family finally visits extended family in San Diego.
One Size Doesn't Fit All — Kellie at Our Mindful Life realizes that when it comes to family, some like it bigger and some like it smaller.
It Takes a Family — Alicia at What's Next can't imagine raising a child without the help of her family.
A new foray into family — As someone who never experienced close extended family, Lauren at Hobo Mama wrestles with how to raise her kids — and herself — to restart that type of community.
My Mama Rocks! — Kat at Loving {Almost} Every Moment is one lucky Mama to have the support and presence of her own awesome Mama.
Embracing Our Extended Family — Deb Chitwood at Living Montessori Now shares 7 ideas for nurturing relationships with extended family members.
Doing Things Differently — Valerie at Momma in Progress shares how parenting her children far away from extended family improved her confidence in her choices.
Snapshots of love — Caroline at stoneageparent describes the joys of sharing her young son's life with her own parents.
Parenting with Relies – A mixed bag — Ursula Ciller shares some of her viewpoints on the pros and cons of parenting with relatives and extended family.
Tante and Uncles — How a great adult sibling relationship begets a great relationship with aunt and uncles from Jennifer at True Confessions of a Real Mommy.
Tips for Traveling With Twins — Megan at the Boho Mama shares some tips for traveling with infant twins (or two or more babies!).
Parenting passed through the generations — Shannon at Pineapples & Artichokes talks about the incredible parenting resource that is her found family, and how she hopes to continue the trend.
My Family and My Kids — Jorje of Momma Jorje ponders whether she distrusts her family or if she is simply a control freak.
Parenting with a Hero — Rachel at Lautaret Bohemiet reminisces about the relationship she shared with her younger brother, and how he now shares that closeness in a relationship with her son.
Text/ended Family — Kenna of A Million Tiny Things wishes her family was around for the Easter egg hunt... until she remembers what it's actually like having her family around.
Two Kinds of Families — Adrienne at Mommying My Way writes about how her extended family is just as valuable to her mommying as her church family.
My 'high-needs' child and 'strangers' — With a 'high-needs' daughter, aNonyMous at Radical Ramblings has had to manage without the help of family or friends, adapting to her daughter's extreme shyness and allowing her to socialise on her own terms.
Our Summer Tribe — Justine at The Lone Home Ranger shares a love of her family's summer reunion, her secret to getting the wisdom of the "village" even as she lives 1,000 miles away.
My Life Boat {Well, One of Them} — What good is a life boat if you don't get it? Grandparents are a life boat MomeeeZen loves!
Dear Children — In an open letter to her children, Laura at Pug in the Kitchen promises to support them as needed in her early days of parenting.
Yearning for Tribal Times — Ever had one of those days where everything seems to keep going wrong? Amy at Anktangle recounts one such day and how it inspired her to think about what life must've been like when we lived together in large family units.
I don't have a village — Jessica Claire at Crunchy-Chewy Mama wishes she had family nearby but appreciates their support and respect.
Trouble With MILs-- Ourselves? — Jaye Anne at Wide Awake Half Asleep explains how her arguments with her mother-in-law may have something to do with herself.
A Family Apart — Melissa at Vibrant Wanderings writes about the challenges, and the benefits, of building a family apart from relatives.
First Do No Harm — Zoie at TouchstoneZ asks: How do you write about making different parenting choices than your own family experience without criticizing your parents?
Military Family Separation — Amy Willa shares her feelings about being separated from extended family during her military family journey.
Forging A Village In The Absence Of One — Luschka from Diary of a First Child writes about the importance of creating a support network, a village, when family isn't an option.
Respecting My Sister’s Parenting Decisions — Dionna at Code Name: Mama's sister is guest posting on the many roles she has as an aunt. The most important? She is the named guardian, and she takes that role seriously.
Multi-Generational Living: An Exercise in Love, Patience, and Co-Parenting — Boomerang Mama at The Other Baby Book shares her experience of moving back in with Mom and Dad for 7 months, and the unexpected connection that followed.
A Heartfelt Letter to Family: Yes, We're Weird, but Please Respect Us Anyway — Sheila of A Living Family sincerely expresses ways she would appreciate her extended family’s support for her and her children, despite their “weird” parenting choices.
The nuclear family is insane! — Terri at Child of the Nature Isle is grateful for family support, wishes her Mum lived closer, and feels an intentional community would be the ideal way to raise her children.

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Bring On the Calm - Hypnobabies for Birth #2

2012-05-07T22:27:00.001-07:00

Joining Julie at A Little Bit of All of It for her Preparing for Birth Series. This week's focus is Childbirth Education. Want to participate? Learn about all the upcoming topics here!

During my first pregnancy Dominic and I took Bradley classes. It was the perfect fit for us as first time parents since it incorporated great information about nutrition, labor, and caring for our new baby. It really brought us together as a couple and Dominic grew to become the most amazing birth support. I blogged here and there about our Bradley experience, but nothing complete. You can read a little snippet of my take away here ... Overflowing With Hope.

For my second birth I wanted to try something different. Having gone through labor once, I feel like know the areas I need to brush up on. For starters, I experienced alot of anxiety in the early hours of my labor. I was 38 weeks 5 days when my water broke and was completely caught off guard at the quick onset of contractions. I think this anxiety tightened me up and stressed me out. I'm hoping to ease into labor more gracefully this time around. Hence, the start of my Hypnobabies home study.

source

Hypnobabies mission is ...

To help every expectant mother prepare for her baby's birth in a way that helps her fully enjoy the rest of her pregnancy in health and peace, so that she eagerly looks forward to her birthing day.
To help every expectant mother have the easiest, safest and most comfortable childbirth experience she can, allowing her to fully enjoy her birthing, and pass that legacy along to her children, friends and family.
To educate and support all Birth Partners, so that they too can look forward to and enjoy the birth of their child with confidence, retaining the memory of childbirth as a beautiful, inspiring life event.
To help babies be born as gently and safely as possible, so that their entrance into our world can be one of joy and wonder, quiet and peace.
To support our Hypno-Moms, no matter what their choices are, before, during and after their babies are born. Every mother counts; every baby is loved; every birth is a gift.
To educate the medical community on the benefits of natural childbirth, how to work with couples who have chosen this wonderful way to give birth, and to respect each birthing woman's choices as she comes to them for prenatal care and birthing assistance.
To educate the natural childbirth community on the special needs and desires of Hypnobabies birthing couples, towards an easier and more enjoyable experience for all.

In the beginning I was a little skeptical of hypnosis as a labor tool. But, I'm totally coming around to it; the repetitiveness brings comfort and the calming voice and sounds on each CD promote wellness and strength.

I've completed the introduction lesson from the home study and am looking forward to delving into each of the 5 classes. For accountability, I'm planning to blog a bit about each section. My goal is to have the coursework done within the next 10 weeks (one lesson spread out and practiced every 2 weeks), that puts me at 37 weeks and ready for a BOMB birth :)

Your mind will create for you what you dwell upon most. This is what I took away from the introduction of Hynobabies. It surrounds the idea of creating a Bubble of Peace. Within my Bubble of Peace I don't allow negativity. No fearful birth stories, no doubts, or anxiety. Keeping a positive vision of my baby's birth will bring about positive results. I'm choosing to stay upbeat and excited about my upcoming labor. I'm not dwelling on a possible transfer, long labor, or the pain I can so easily remember; things that a few short weeks ago brought me tears and made me fear birth. I'm choosing to stay positive while recognizing and validating my past experience. Overall, my hope is that I'll gain a new round of confidence as I enter birth. I'm not seeking to eliminate pain; just a fresh perspective, boost of endurance, and in the end, a happy and healthy baby in my arms.

This Q&A from Hynobabies was especially encouraging to me ...

Q) Although I did natural birthing techniques for baby #1... I had a hard birth – a long, stalled labor with Pitocin and an epidural.
I would like to do Hypnobabies for #2 but I wonder if it can work for me, since I've learned "other" techniques, and had such a negative birthing experience with #1. I wonder if I would be able to maintain hypnosis when the familiar feelings/smells/sounds return... or would the traumatic memories of #1 override it?
Just curious if anyone else has had a similar experience- with a negative birthing experience first, and then a successful “hypno-birthing” experience next?

A) A lot of moms who have used Hypnobabies over the years have had similar circumstances to yours, and they have had beautiful births. Many of our second-time moms who are first-time Hypnobabies moms don't believe they are well into their birthing time until they feel that familiar urge to push since their hypnosis techniques keep them so relaxed, calm and comfortable. We call these, "healing births" and all moms deserve them!
Our Hypnobabies Childbirth Hypnosis program includes a Fear Release track that helps moms to 'de-program' from a prior traumatic birth so they can prepare for a subsequent baby's birth from a place of calm and confidence.
You might like to join our YAHOO support group for mothers who are using hypnosis for their births. You can ask your questions there and women who have had your experience will support and encourage you! The group also has Hypnobabies Instructors and Hypno-Doulas who provide information and support about using hypnosis for childbirth.

The mom asking the questions sounds just like me! After sharing my fears about birth #2 with my midwife she talked a lot about how this birth can aid in my emotional healing.

Have you experienced Hypnobabies? What was your experience like?

Or, did you try a different childbirth education method ... what were its' perks?

P.S. I love this blog, Enjoy Birth! You can even download a free Hypnobabies MP3! Also, Melissa of Dear Baby shared her Hypno-experience post-baby which is a worthwhile read :)

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Style File: To Market, To Market

2012-05-06T06:00:00.000-07:00

Ah, fresh produce. I'm in love with two kinds ... the real kind from the farmer's market and Fresh Produce clothing. They were sweet enough to send me the above maxi dress and it has been the perfect addition to my maternity wardrobe. I heart it quite a bit :)

It was perfect weather for our second venture to the Farmer's Market the other day! Our first visit on opening day was freezing cold and we stayed for less than 10 minutes :( This time, we spent almost 2 hours ... wandering, eating, and taking in the lovely sites. The market is by far one of our favorite family outings ...

Ok ... that last one isn't quite fresh produce, but it is Dominic's favorite part of the market - bacon wrapped hot dog with fresh potato crinkle fries.

Now that I've convinced you to run out the door to your own market, don't forget to take a moment and check out Fresh Produce's fabulous assortment of sun dresses, beach dresses, and all the new pieces from their spring collection!

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26 Weeks

2012-05-05T06:00:00.001-07:00

Hey there little man!

You are seriously a mover and a shaker - ten times more active than your sister every was! Your favorite hours seem to be between 10pm and 12am ... you know, right when I'm trying to fall asleep for the night. I hope that isn't a routine we keep up once you are earthside!

Daddy and I are getting so excited for your arrival. We have quite a few things to get ready first ... but, just the same, August will be such a wonderful month!

Keep growing and we'll keep loving you ... hugs and kisses from Mama, Daddy, and Jemma too!

How big is baby? The size of lettuce, a 14 inch, 2 pound head of lettuce
Weight gain/loss? 18 pounds which means I've finally reached 155, my Jemma pre-pregnancy weight
Maternity clothes? Yes, most everything is just more comfortable when it is long and stretchy :) I found 3 new tops at the JBF sale for $3-$5 each - STEAL!
Best moment this week? Moving into the third trimester - craziness!
Movement? Tons and tons and tons!
Food cravings? Cobb salads
Gender? A sweet little man
What I miss? Not getting winded when I go up and down the stairs - uh, I feel like I'm always exercising and that is soooooo not my thing
What I am looking forward to? Little man's aunties are planning a lovely little shower for baby and I in May
Shopping for? Not a whole lot right now, I'm waiting for garage sale season to begin! I really REALLY want to find a sturdy changing table/dresser to paint a funky color.
Name ideas? Same ones ... toggling between Max and Reid, mostly, briefly talked about Alec and Cash this week. I need to dig out the baby book and see if there are any gems I'm missing
Reading? A bunch of magazines, catching up on Family Fun, Kiwi, and Rachael Ray
Weekly wisdom? Ask the hubby for help when he is home ... if he hesitates, say you are having a bout of Braxton-Hicks (it's usually true in my case!)
Milestones? We passed the viability mark which always gives me a breathe of relaxation, peace, and thankfulness

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I Love Lucky Vitamin

2012-05-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

I've become a pretty good deal shopper when it comes to natural products these days. It isn't as easy as conventional coupon shopping, but the deals are out there, I promise!

Most recently I stumbled upon, and then had the opportunity to officially partner with Lucky Vitamin. They are a website that focuses on providing natural products at a discount price and I wanted to share some of my favorite finds with you. I divided it into two sections: Products I've Tried and Loved and Products on My Shopping List.

PRODUCTS I'VE TRIED AND LOVED

California Baby Calendula Cream - My go to cream for bumps, bruises, bites, and any other skin irritation. Plus, it smells fabulous!
Weleda Children's Tooth Gel - Jemma loves getting her teeth brushed, I'm sure the natural spearmint infusion has something to do with it :)
Black Elderberry for Kids Liquid - So much cheaper than the bottle I first purchased ... a great boost for your little's immunity and to help get them back on track when their feeling yucky.
Baby's Jarro-Dophilus + FOS - Oh the wonders of probiotics!

PRODUCTS ON MY SHOPPING LIST

Endangered Species Bath Crayons - Jemma would adore these!
Green Toys Tea Set - This is totally on Jemma's birthday wish list :)
Amazing Grass Kidz Superfood Powder - This would be a great addition to our daily smoothies!
Dr. Bronner's Castile Bar Soap - As soon as all my body wash is gone I'm switching to a healthier bar soap like this.
Badger Baby Sunscreen - One of the safest sunscreens out there for your little one's precious skin.

You can also find products specific the Women's Health, Homeopathy, Health Foods, Housewares and Cleaning Aids, and so much more!

Find Lucky Vitamin online, Facebook, and Twitter! Check them all out and you'll have a jump start on a giveaway from Lucky Vitamin during May Giveaway Day later this month!

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Road Trip, Cougars, and the Pregnant Girl on Campus

2012-05-03T06:00:00.001-07:00

Early in April my mom, sister, Jemma, and I filled the van and made a 6 hour trek to Pullman, WA! It was Mom's Weekend at Washington State University and we turned it into a girl's weekend reunion with our dear Hannah. Jemma did extraordinary on the car ride - ten times better than I thought she would! She loved staying at our little motel (the same one Bing Crosby stayed at a few decades ago), but unfortunately hated her first experience in a large pool :(

To survive the car trip we timed our departure shortly after she woke up. She shared a breakfast burrito in the back seat with her Mimi and then kicked back for a little reading session. Once we started seeing the wind turbines, she was ready for a snooza-Palousa (the Palouse is what they call the rolling hills surrounding Pullman). She slept all the way to Tri-Cities where we took nice lunch break before completing the final 2 hour stretch. The ride home went just as well!

As far as car activities I packed:

Her favorite books ... anything that has little flip open spots
New movies on my iPhone (a Sesame Street and Caillou)
Lots of snacks ... Annie's bunnies, apple slices, Oatmeal Squares, fruit leather, bananas, and sippy cups of almond milk and watered down orange juice
New toys ... a small ball, some Little People, a mini car (she loves having it wheeled up and now her arms and over her head), and a small matching set similar to this one from Kat and Company

My mom can't wait to take Jemma to Disneyland for the first time and she decided that for every hour Jemma was a champ in the car, she would earn one point towards her first Disneyland trip. It would take us 36 hours to drive to and from Disneyland so her goal is 36 points. This trip alone Jemma logged 12 hours/points towards her Disneyland adventure!!!

I don't know if we'll actually stick with this plan, but it was pretty fun thinking about packing up our whole family and making our way to So Cal for a Disney adventure!

Here's the photo bomb of our weekend highlights! Not sure if I'll make it back next year with two in tow ... we shall see!

Only saw 2 other pregnant ladies the entire time we were at WSU

Jemma signing "more" at the weekend waffle bar

Jemma said "moo" for the first time when she saw this cow at the veterinary school open house

Taking a nap on the go with Aunt Kiki

The best bagel shop EVER - they steam their bagel sandwiches so they stay super soft until the last bite!

Jemma's two minutes in the pool where she death gripped Aunt Hannah

The first dorm at WSU

All I think of when I see this is, "OMG ... Jemma and I are 17 years away from taking a picture just like this!"

Sporting my crimson and grey from Striped Shirt (one of our fabulous sponsors from last fall), it's not technically maternity, but Striped Shirt prides themselves on long tees and as you can see it totally works!

Jem's Aunt Hannie and Aunt Kiki

This is pretty much considered a successful mother/daughter photo at this point in toddlerhood

Hannah and her BF posing in front of the WSU cougar

Jemma giving the mini cougar statue a kiss goodbye ... see you later!

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