Welcome Autumn!

It is good-bye to Summer once again. As the natural world prepares to slumber, take a deep breath and allow yourself to relax and let go of the long sunny days of Summer. I find that the other half of the year is great for contemplation and creativity. Happy Fall!

Newest Handmade Baby Sling

This newest handmade baby sling is a custom order for a new Mama. She requested orange since it is her fave. I really love this one and if it wasn't spoken for, I'd keep it for myself. It is hand-dyed linen in multiple shades of orange, much like a sunrise, and then I added an Alexander Henry floral print at the shoulder with silver rings. More photos will be up on the
Moonday's Child website soon.

Toddlers Love Baby Slings Too!

Today while I was preparing a sling to be dyed, my son who is now almost 2, wanted to go for a ride in the sling. It has been some time since I have popped him into a baby sling since we only use the ERGO now. So I crossed his legs and dropped him in and he LOVED it. You could see the comfort come over his face. He relaxed while we danced, I spun him around a bit, and we walked outside in the gentle rain as I reminisced for a moment about wearing him as a baby. Then he was ready to jump out and return to his independent toddler life once again. I was surprised at how comfortable it really was, considering he is around the 30 pound mark! I wouldn't want to go on a hike for miles, but it felt great.

Your Best Birth

A really great resource for information on all things natural childbirth and more comes from the creators of, The Business Of Being Born, the excellent documentary that shed so much light on the industry of hospital birth. You will find loads of great information at mybestbirth.com not just about birth, but also on breastfeeding, pregnancy, and more. You can also watch webisodes of celebrities, like Cindy Crawford, sharing their own birth stories and a community forum where you can connect and ask your questions of other Mama's just like you! I can't say enough about the wealth of information on this website.
If you have not yet seen the documentary, The Business Of Being Born, check it out right away!

Don't Give Up On Your Baby Sling!

I just came across this great article about baby carriers on Babble.com It talks about the common mistakes of babywearing and one of them is, that we don't really give that beautiful baby carrier we got as a gift, a real day in court. Without help, it can be frustrating trying to get you and your new baby comfortable in the baby carrier. A great resource for troubleshooting baby carriers and finding the right one for you and your new baby is your local babywearing group. If you google babywearing + your hometown, you will most likely find a group where you can meet more experienced babywearers and master the art of wearing your baby. The perks of babywearing are endless and you will love it if you give it a chance. Your child will love the close time with her caregiver and will be happier and more balanced as a result. There are lots of places online you can view videos, read tutorials and ask questions. You can always email me and I will do my best to help you with your babywearing questions.

More Painting

I went back to the Yoga studio to finish the painting of the Bodhi tree and to add more flowers. It may need a few more leaves. I would love to hear some feedback on that!

Luxury for Yogis

This is something that every Yoga Mama should have. A Yoga mat quilt. For those extended seated poses, Yin Yoga, or for meditation the Yoga mat quilt adds a bit of comfort to those hard rubber mats. I hand-dyed the moon phase design, machine quilted around each moon and a little pillow design at either end, and finally I hand stitched in little stars. I will post more photos to my Solstitch site soon.

Will Work For Yoga

I have had the joy of doing some painting at OmBase, the yoga studio where I practice. Much like yoga, it was both relaxing and invigorating and I love bartering my work for yoga classes!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's day and a big Thank You to all of those great Papas out there. I am proud to know so many good Dads. Your babies need you just as much as they need us Mamas. Keep up the good work!

Happy Solstice!

Summer is officially here. I thought that I would share a work-in-progress of mine in celebration. You can check out more of this work here. Enjoy the day!

Why The Breast Is Always Best

I just had to post a link to this terrific article sent to me by my midwife. It details what goes into (and what is left out of) commercially made baby formula. I think that every mother-to-be should read it and be educated about what your baby is missing out on if you should choose not to breastfeed.

The Disappearing Male

An eye opening documentary is examining the link between common hormone disrupting chemicals that are found all throughout our everyday lives, and fertility issues in males. You can watch the film, "The Disappearing Male", online here, and is worth a look, especially for mother's-to-be!

Oregon Strawberry Fields Forever

It is cause for celebration when the strawberries begin to ripen in Oregon, especially the overly flavorful and delicate Hood variety. If you have not tasted these yet, I recommend you hop on the trail to Oregon and check them out. These berries do not ship as well as some varieties so you won't see them in supermarkets across the country. These elusive beauties are worth the trip, not to mention June in Oregon is really magnificent! Lately, I have become obsessed with 'all things strawberries' and in doing some research for a strawberry wine recipe, I came across this really easy recipe for a strawberry facial mask. I have not yet tried it, but it sounds like a lovely indulgence for us Mama's on the go!

Early Cord Clamping Detrimental to Babies

Midwives have known for some time that when a baby is born, it is best to wait for the cord to first stop pulsating before the clamping and cutting. This cord blood from the placenta is not only rich with oxygen, but all sorts of vital nutrients, hormones and stem cells. I was glad to read in this recent article by Dr. Mercola that the World Health Organization and the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) have dropped the practice of early clamping from their guidelines. The article "Early Clamping Of The Umbilical Cord:Cutting the Ties That Bind" by Cory A. Mermer, details the advantages and disadvantages to early cutting of the cord. It seems that the main reason given among Obstetricians for early cord cutting is preventing maternal hemorrhage. The odd thing to me is, that your are taking blood from the newborn, to prevent the mother from the possibility of losing any blood! A study at the University of Liverpool has shown that when you allow the cord to continue freely pumping, 21% of the newborn's total oxygen enriched blood can be transfused in these crucial few minutes after birth. There is information that suggests that this complete blood supply is necessary for the lungs to fully function in their new dry capacity.
In my opinion, the benefits go beyond these that are so obviously crucial, in waiting to clamp, the baby and mother are given a moment to connect that is so often stolen from them in the hospital setting. In the hurried clamping, cutting, whisking away of the baby from the mother, something is lost that can never, even over time, be recovered. The subtleties that are at play amongst this natural process are not totally known. In managing women through the the entire journey of pregnancy, labor, and the birth of her child, the natural process is disrupted. As we know when interfering with any part of nature, the effect is rippled as if throwing a stone into a calm lake.
Dr. Michel Odent has written extensively on the precious time right after a child has been born and the interplay of the various hormones and the way in which they affect the bonding experience of the mother and child. In his article, "The First Hour Following Birth: Don’t Wake the Mother!" he details all of the ways in which the the first hour after the birth of a child affects both mama and, of course this precious new life. I feel that we as Mothers must do what we can to demand respect for this time and our brand new babies. It is next to impossible when you are in the moment on the table at the hospital. We must take time to prepare our birth plans and choose our care providers wisely. Midwives work for excellent outcomes, not only for the health and safety of the new baby, but the health of the new family as well.
Find a Midwife in your town.

Sleep Sweetly, And Sleep Sound

In searching for some songs that we have been doing in Mama+Toddler Yoga, I came across the most precious lullaby.

"By night and day we circle the sun, from year to year go round.
So Silently the planets revolve; sleep sweetly and sleep sound.
Now the Night bird sings of Saturn's rings, and the Heaven's starry crown, while You, my child, are circled in love; sleep sweetly and sleep sound."

I couldn't find an audio link so for now, we'll just have to make up our own tune.

The ERGO baby

When my son became a curious toddler it became increasingly difficult to carry him in the sling. Especially for longer periods of time. That is when several of my mama friends recommended that I try the Ergo baby carrier. Out of all of the various carriers, the ERGO is by far the most comfortable for carrying the larger child. A friend of mine still puts her 3 year old in one. My huband and I recently took a vacation and opted to leave the stroller at home and take the ERGO in it’s place. I must admit I was somewhat nervous about this decision since we were planning on a lot of walking, but it worked out wonderful! It was so nice not to have to lug another big item through the airport.

The Ergo baby carrier is also an excellent investment because you can always re-sell it when you no longer need it. In my town, it is extremely difficult to buy one on Craig's List because they are gone within minutes of posting. The Ergo baby site also has an auction page.

In my opinion, the sling is perfect for newborns and babies. Especially if you want to discreetly breastfeed. I constantly relied upon the sling for this purpose. When my son was a little baby, my husband and I would go out to dinner and I would carry him in the sling and he would nurse to sleep allowing my husband and I to have a lovely dinner as our son peacefully slept. It was nice to keep our baby close to the heart in this way. But as your baby grows and wants to see more of the world and becomes more active, the Ergo baby carrier is the next best step.

Purchase ERGO baby carriers here

Happy Mother's Day!

I hope that all of the Mamas reading this have a wonderful day today and find a bit of appreciation for the amazing work that you do. Thank You!

Earth Day and Everyday, Love Your Mother!

One
by Mary Oliver

The mosquito is so small
it takes almost nothing to ruin it.
Each leaf, the same.
And the black ant, hurrying.
So many lives, so many fortunes!
Every morning, I walk softly and with forward glances
down to the ponds and through the pinewoods.
Mushrooms, even, have but a brief hour
before the slug creeps to the feast,
before the pine needles hustle down
under the bundles of harsh, beneficent rain.
How many, how many, how many
make up a world!
And then I think of that old idea: the singular
and the eternal.
One cup, in which everything is swirled
back to the color of the sea and sky.
Imagine it!
A shining cup, surely!
In the moment in which there is no wind
over your shoulder,
you stare down into it,
and there you are,
your own darling face, your own eyes.
And then the wind, not thinking of you, just passes by,
touching the ant, the mosquito, the leaf,
and you know what else!
How blue is the sea, how blue is the sky,
how blue and tiny and redeemable everything is, even you,
even your eyes, even your imagination.

Peace Tree

My latest design sort of brings together Earth Day and Mother's Day (which are both right around the corner) and a favorite quote of mine. It is available on this lovely eco shopping bag (pictured), T-shirts for both Mamas and Papas, and some little onesies for the little ones.

Hope you enjoy this original design!

In Praise of Neti

I had only heard of a Neti pot until I experienced a couple of weeks of horrible ear and sinus pressure and my lovely naturopath advised me to get one. After my first try, and it was a bit tricky this first time around, I immediately felt relief and I was hooked. The basic premise is to fill this tiny vessel with warm salt water and carefully pour it into one nostril and out the other. I'll admit that the image is not all that attractive, but the results are really amazing and by my second try I found the process to be really easy.

The history of the Neti Pot, Jala Neti or Jal Neti, which means "cleansing with water" in Sanskrit, is a long one. It is an ancient Ayurvedic technique and one of the six cleansing processes of Yoga. It is said to not only cleanse the sinuses of dirt and pollutants, but it also relieves the problematic symptoms of sinus infections and seasonal allergies. Jal Neti also provides instantaneous results, unlike most medications that are generally accompanied by horrible side effects as well. According to the ancient practice of Ayurvedic medicine, it is also believed to soothe or cool the brain and therefore provide relief from headaches, mental stress and depression, along with aiding in meditation.

How have I made it so long without this wonderful little pot?

Mysteries, Yes

Truly, we live with mysteries too marvelous
to be understood.

How grass can be nourishing in the
mouths of the lambs.
How rivers and stones are forever
in allegiance with gravity
while we ourselves dream of rising.
How two hands touch and the bonds
will never be broken.
How people come, from delight or the
scars of damage,
to the comfort of a poem.

Let me keep my distance, always, from those
who think they have the answers.

Let me keep company always with those who say
"Look!" and laugh in astonishment,
and bow their heads.

~ Mary Oliver ~

World Autism Awareness Day

photo credit Terry O'Neill from The Autism File


Today is the second annual World Autism Awareness Day. It seems that the Autism rate continues to climb and as it does controversy continues to surround this disorder. Can you believe we still do not have an actual population report on how many children have been diagnosed with Autism to date? In 2007 the CDC released a study of prevalence based on children in 14 states. It was determined, in that study, that 1 in 150 children have ASD (Autism spectrum disorder) and that boys are affected 4 times as often as girls. Many claim that the 14 states studied do not portray an accurate window on the US as a whole. States with higher rates of ASD, such as California, were not included in the numbers reported. Even the CDC notes that "...the prevalence estimates should not be generalized to every community in the United States. Although accurate for the areas we studied, rates may be higher or lower in other areas."

It seems that we are beginning to unlock some of the mystery surrounding Autism with early intervention, and new styles of treatment are becoming recognized for their positive outcomes. Unfortunately, most children on the Autistic Spectrum do not have access to this care, and are less likely to receive treatment than other special needs children. A bill has been introduced to require insurance companies to cover treatment for children diagnosed with ASD. Check out Autism Votes for more information on the Autism Treatment Acceleration Act of 2009 and how to contact your representatives. Children with ASD deserve treatment and care as much as those with any other childhood illness or disorder.

As a mama of a boy under the age of 2, the fear of this mysterious disorder is always in the back of my mind. I am always weighing what I think is best and worrying about the things I can not control like toxins, pollutants, and those IV antibiotics they made my son take when he was less than 24 hours old. My heart goes out to the amazing, strong mothers of the children diagnosed with ASD. They are the ones who will get this figured out. They are the ones who will fight for their babies until we can get some answers. We have them to thank for the bits and pieces of information that have so far come to light. I wish them all of the best in their fight.
Polly Tommey is one of these mothers. She founded the UK charity The Autism Trust and is editor-in-chief of The Autism File magazine. Today the trust lauched a campaign to coincide with World Autism Day and the Autism File magazine cover has started a global response from mothers of children with ASD.

For more information than could be given in this post, visit autismspeaks.org and generationrescue.org

New at Moonday's Child

I was recently inspired to do some graphic design work (which I love) so I decided to make a couple of things for the Moonday's Child site since I haven't been in the sling-making mode lately. Quite honestly I have been hesitant due to the new toy-safety law. It is really ambiguous, but it appears that everything that is for children must be tested for lead content. This would mean I would need costly tests for both the fabric and the rings used on every baby sling. I am not sure where that leaves Moonday's Child at this point. I have heard that revisions are coming and I know lots of artisan toy-makers are disgruntled.
Anyway, please take a moment to check out my new items here. These would be really lovely gifts for Mamas...don't forget Mother's day (Sunday May 10)! I am planning to have a few more items coming soon.

When The Flowers Return

The first day of Spring is always a magical one for me. Growing up with the bitter cold Winters of Michigan it seemed to be a promise of warmer days even if they hadn't quite made it town yet! Here in Portland, chirping birds and bright yellow Spring flowers have been sending the message that Winter is passing on for several weeks now. Experiencing the first signs of Spring and warmer days makes me feel thankful for the renewal of the Earth and her bounty.
Even though my son was born in Autumn, the Spring reminds me of his birth and the miraculous journey I undertook to bring him here. I will be the first to admit that pregnancy isn't the easiest job I have ever undertaken but it is certainly the most sacred. I am thankful for my loving husband who supported me fully and my beautiful Midwives who guided me.
If you are pregnant or will be soon, consider the respectful care of a Midwife to empower your inherent ability to bring your child into the world.

Find a Midwife in your town

The Night House

The Night House

Every day the body works in the fields of the world
Mending a stone wall
Or swinging a sickle through the tall grass-
The grass of civics, the grass of money-
And every night the body curls around itself
And listens for the soft bells of sleep.


But the heart is restless and rises
From the body in the middle of the night,
Leaves the trapezoidal bedroom
With its thick, pictureless walls
To sit by herself at the kitchen table
And heat some milk in a pan.

And the mind gets up too, puts on a robe
And goes downstairs, lights a cigarette,
And opens a book on engineering.
Even the conscience awakens
And roams from room to room in the dark,
Darting away from every mirror like a strange fish.


And the soul is up on the roof
In her nightdress, straddling the ridge,
Singing a song about the wildness of the sea
Until the first rip of pink appears in the sky.
Then, they all will return to the sleeping body
The way a flock of birds settles back into a tree,


Resuming their daily colloquy,
Talking to each other or themselves
Even through the heat of the long afternoons.
Which is why the body-the house of voices-
Sometimes puts down its metal tongs, its needle, or its pen
To stare into the distance,

To listen to all its names being called
Before bending again to its labor.

Billy Collins
American Poet Laureate 2002

NatureMill kitchen composter

Everybody knows you need compost to get the best tasting, juicy summer tomatoes and why throw this valuable stuff away? Some methods are messy and can even be stinky. For all of you squeamish wannabe composter mamas,check out the NatureMill. It is going at the top of my wish list. It is definitely not cheap, but what a convenience this would be! I am saving my pennies!

BE KIND

It seems like 2009 is really all about change, and from the grass roots level. Sometimes it can be difficult to find where you personally fit into this even if you want to be a part of it. Being a full-time mama, it can be hard to commit to volunteering or finding time to help out. This week is "Random Acts Of Kindness Week" and in contemplating this it came to me, what if we were to take it beyond 'grass roots' to the molecular level? Being good Mamas and partners, and raising good kids, being nice to the old people we encounter, being kind to other people's kids. This idea of 'paying it forward' is not a new one. But think of the changes we could really bring about by simply focusing in on ways to just be nice, or rather being in less of a hurry, letting go of anger and maybe even forgiving someone that you have been holding a grudge against.
In this economy, and with all of the ugliness we are presented with on a daily basis, it would be lovely if we could collectively just be kind this week. It could catch on.

Love your Mama body

There is no doubt that we live in a society where beauty and body image are laid out with unrealistically strict guidelines. I'm pretty sure that my body never did fit these guidelines even at my thinnest self. I have always been pretty comfortable with that though. Of course after getting pregnant, my already curvy body got bigger. At this point I have decided that I want to lose some weight and get a little tighter again. For the first time in my life really, I am setting out to change the way I look. As I begin this process, I want to honor my body for all of the wonderful things it has done, not just for me, but for my family. I actually carried a healthy baby for 40 weeks, and pushed him out of me safely after several days of labor. After my son was born I nurtured his needs for sustenance again, with my own body and I continued to help him grow and create the various systems of his body including building a brain, and healthy immune system. It is really quite magnificent.
A lot of women find shame in their post-partum bodies and especially with stretch marks. Just because you no longer fit into the stringent view of a singular beauty defined mostly by the media, don't forget to be thankful for the amazing feat that your body has performed for you and yours.

Bonnie Crowder decided to create the website
The Shape Of A Mother
The website is a journal and photo gallery of women and their pregnant and post-partum bodies. I think we sometimes forget what real women really look like. Even as adult women and Mothers we see so many false body images on TV and in magazines of actresses and models that have babies and "bounce right back". It can be easy for the regular gals to feel ashamed of themselves for not having the same results. Before you set out to try and hide the fact that your body has gone through this amazing rite of passage, be grateful for all that your body has done for you, what ever that might be.

Finding 'YES'

Our 15 month old now loves to shake his head "No". He has not yet taken to saying the actual word, surprisingly since it is an easy one. He thinks it is funny and whenever I ask him not to do something, even if I don't use the actual word "No" I now realize that I shake my head this way. Sometimes I think that our kids are just mirrors of ourselves-scary!
The other day at the dog park another mama asked him, "where is your nose?", and he shook his head "No". It is quite cute as he smiles a sly smile and shakes his head but it makes me realize how often we use "No" even though I have made an effort to say things like "leave it", or "please don't", they are still in the negative. I have been cautious about using "No" for the everyday and saving it for the more important "absolutely not" applications. Aside from this, I am starting to notice how little "Yes" there is in our day. I certainly don't want to raise our child in a negative environment. I want for him to see a world of endless possibilities limited only by his own imagination. My new goal for myself is to find new ways of saying 'YES'.



photo courtesy of Paleontour on flickr

Why don't friends with kids have time?

A friend of mine sent me this article a while back and I thought it would be great to share here. It seems that before you have children of your own, you really can not understand the challenges this role presents.


'Why don't friends with kids have time?'

CAROLYN HAX: TELL ME ALL ABOUT IT
WASHINGTON POST
Thursday, May 24, 2007

Dear Carolyn: Best friend has child. Her: exhausted, busy, no time for self, no time for me, etc.
Me (no kids): What'd you do today?
Her: Park, play group ...

OK. I've talked to parents. I don't get it. What do stay-at-home moms do all day? Please no lists of library, grocery store, dry cleaners ... I do all those things, too. I guess what I'm asking is: What is a typical day and why don't moms have time for a call or e-mail? I work and am away from home nine hours a day (plus a few late work events); I manage to get it all done. I'm feeling like the kid is an excuse to relax and enjoy, but if so, why won't my friend tell me the truth? Is this a contest ("my life is so much harder than yours")? What's the deal? I've got friends with and without kids and all us child-free folks have the same questions.
— Tacoma, Wash.

Dear Tacoma: Relax and enjoy. You're funny. Or, you're lying about having friends with kids. Or you're taking them at their word that they actually have kids, because you haven't personally been in the same room with them. I keep wavering between giving you a straight answer and giving my forehead some keyboard. To claim you want to understand, while in the same breath implying that the only logical conclusions are that your mom-friends are either lying or competing with you, is disingenuous indeed. So, because it's validation you seem to want, the real answer is what you get. When you have young kids, your typical day is: constant attention, from getting them out of bed, fed, cleaned, dressed; to keeping them out of harm's way; to answering their coos, cries, questions; to having two arms and carrying one kid, one set of car keys, and supplies for even the quickest trips, including the latest-to-be-declared-essential piece of molded plastic gear; to keeping them from unshelving books at the library; to enforcing rest times; to staying one step ahead of them lest they get too hungry, tired or bored, any one of which produces checkout-line screaming. It's needing 45 minutes to do what takes others 15. It's constant vigilance, constant touch, constant use of your voice, constant relegation of your needs to the second tier. It's constant scrutiny and second-guessing from family and friends. It's resisting constant temptation to seek short-term relief at everyone's long-term expense. It's doing all this while concurrently teaching virtually everything — language, manners, safety, resourcefulness, discipline, curiosity, creativity. Empathy. Everything. It's also a choice, yes. And a joy. But if you spent all day, every day, with this brand of joy, and then, when you got your first 10 minutes to yourself, wanted to be alone with your thoughts instead of calling a good friend, a good friend wouldn't judge you, complain about you or marvel how much more productively she uses her time. Either make a sincere effort to understand, or keep your snit to yourself.


For me, the clincher that Carolyn Hax boils down so concisely is, "It's resisting constant temptation to seek short-term relief at everyone's long-term expense."

Brand New Second Hand

Have you tried swaptree yet? I discovered this cool and FREE service a few months ago while searching for a book.
After the quick sign-up, you can list all of the items (books, dvd's, games, and cd's) that you want, and then list all of the things that you have for trade. Swaptree will do the rest...for free! I traded a DVD I no longer wanted for a new book title I had been itching to read. Swaptree makes it easy to ship out too, by giving you a printable postage label and you can then just drop the item in a blue box. You don't have to use this system though, and they do charge you a small fee for it. I didn't realize that you didn't have to use their labels at first, but it is a lot more convenient than standing through a long line at the post office with a toddler in tow! Another inside tip is, you shouldn't list something that you aren't 100% ready to trade. I turned down a trade and was warned that too many of these could affect my user rating.
I love the idea of this service and it's green aspect as well. Then again, I do love all things second hand, well there are a few exceptions.

Praise Song For The Day

Just one more President Obama related post. I so loved the inaugural poem recited by Elizabeth Alexander I had to see it again and so I figured I would post it here.


Praise song for the day.

Each day we go about our business, walking past each other, catching each others' eyes or not, about to speak or speaking. All about us is noise. All about us is noise and bramble, thorn and din, each one of our ancestors on our tongues. Someone is stitching up a hem, darning a hole in a uniform, patching a tire, repairing the things in need of repair.

Someone is trying to make music somewhere with a pair of wooden spoons on an oil drum with cello, boom box, harmonica, voice.

A woman and her son wait for the bus.

A farmer considers the changing sky; A teacher says, "Take out your pencils. Begin."

We encounter each other in words, words spiny or smooth, whispered or declaimed; words to consider, reconsider.

We cross dirt roads and highways that mark the will of someone and then others who said, "I need to see what's on the other side; I know there's something better down the road."

We need to find a place where we are safe; We walk into that which we cannot yet see.

Say it plain, that many have died for this day. Sing the names of the dead who brought us here, who laid the train tracks, raised the bridges, picked the cotton and the lettuce, built brick by brick the glittering edifices they would then keep clean and work inside of.

Praise song for struggle; praise song for the day. Praise song for every hand-lettered sign; The figuring it out at kitchen tables.

Some live by "Love thy neighbor as thy self."

Others by first do no harm, or take no more than you need.

What if the mightiest word is love, love beyond marital, filial, national. Love that casts a widening pool of light. Love with no need to preempt grievance.

In today's sharp sparkle, this winter air, anything can be made, any sentence begun.

On the brink, on the brim, on the cusp -- praise song for walking forward in that light.

-Elizabeth Alexander

A New Day

In President Obama's Inaugural Address today he said, "On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.". It is that hope that seems to be ringing in the hearts of many Americans. Never before has there been such a unity in optimism. It is that collective feeling of the possibilities of the future that I marvel at today.



I had to link this Will.i.am video, my toddler loves it and can't resist dancing when it is on.
It's a New Day

The Dream, At Last Realized

In 24 hours we will have our first African American as the President of the United States. I am thankful and proud that my son will grow up this new America. We may have some distance to go yet until King's dream is truly reality, but I am joyful to see this change that so many gave their lives for.



*My Favorite Dr. King Quote*


Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek,
but a means by which we arrive at that goal.
We must pursue peaceful ends through peaceful means.

-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Be Kind To Yourself

Some days, I lose my confidence in the choices I have made as a mama. For no reason, I question all of my 'momstincts' wondering how I might have done better. I am definitely my own worst critic. I think that this harsh self scrutiny is a symptom of a bigger issue. When you are the giver, it is easy to give so much to everyone else around that there is nothing left for yourself. Recognize this for what it is.
Be compassionate, to yourself too.



THAT LIVES IN US

If you put your hands on this oar with me,
they will never harm another, and they will come to find
they hold everything you want.

If you put your hands on this oar with me, they would no longer
lift anything to your
mouth that might wound your precious land –
that sacred earth that is your body.

If you put your soul against this oar with me,
the power that made the universe will enter your sinew
from a source not outside your limbs, but from a holy realm
that lives in us.

Exuberant is existence, time a husk.
When the moment cracks open, ecstasy leaps out and devours space;
love goes mad with the blessings, like my words give.

Why lay yourself on the torturer's rack of the past and the future?
The mind that tries to shape tomorrow beyond its capacities
will find no rest.

Be kind to yourself, dear – to our innocent follies.
Forget any sounds or touch you knew that did not help you dance.
You will come to see that all evolves us.

~ Rumi ~

Breastfeeding Mothers Need Support

The numbers of mamas who start out breastfeeding their little ones is at an all time high. The CDC reported in May of 2008 that a whopping 77% of new moms were initiating breastfeeding after the birth of their child. We now know that there is nothing that can even come close to the value of breast milk for infants. Why then are the numbers significantly lower when it comes to exclusively breastfeeding past the three month mark? I believe that this drop indicates that we are not supporting our new mamas enough as a society. Often, it is at the 12 week mark that American women must return to work in order to keep their job. Often times our families; Husbands, Mothers, Grandmothers, or Mother-in-Laws encourage women to quit breastfeeding. Without support, we find it is extremely difficult for women to continue with their plan to nurture their children by means of nature-given sustenance.
A lot of women have trouble in hospitals with the interference of well-meaning medical professionals. They are given poor advice to supplement their breastfeeding with infant formula. I have known a number of women who tried this route and eventually couldn't keep their supply going enough to continue to breastfeed. I am extremely thankful for my midwives, who taught me about the supply and demand system of breastfeeding. I was shocked at how often my son wanted to feed in the beginning. I was afraid that he might not be getting enough to eat. My midwife assured me that this is the way in which babies create the supply they need. Had I supplemented with formula at this crucial time, I may have hurt my chances of establishing a good supply and would have been battling the very thing that I feared, a low supply. In researching this post, I found that there is very little information out there for mamas who want to return to exclusive breastfeeding after supplementing.
A few tips I did find are:

*Keep track of how much formula you are supplementing for a few days in a journal or a note right on the fridge. Then, go on a breastfeeding mission, curl up in bed with your baby (and some dvds) one weekend and breastfeed as much as possible. After you have encouraged your little one to feed more, try cutting the formula you supplement by one ounce. This slow process should allow you to catch up with your supply without leaving your baby hungry.

*Another good tool is baby-wearing. Keeping the little one close to the bosom in a baby sling might remind her to eat and stimulate you to produce.

*Pump after your baby is finished with the breast. You can then fully drain both breasts to increase your supply, and also you will have some breast milk to bottle feed later in place of the formula.

*Be aware of the support available to you.
Find your local La Leche League
Often times, if you have health insurance, it will cover the assistance of a lactation consultant.


Is your pediatrician breastfeeding friendly? If so, they should be supportive of you working to unwean your little one. If not, maybe look for one who will be.
If through all of this you find that with your work schedule, or other conflicts you can't unwean your baby, don't hate yourself. Do the best you can to nurture yourself as a mother too. Sometimes, stress can be the biggest obstacle to breastfeeding.

Here is a list of those breastfeeding friendly, or lactogenic foods you can include in your diet:

Oatmeal-a healthy way to start your day and kick in those mammaries!

Fenugreek- an herb that can be taken or in tea form that you can drink

Quinoa- see my last post to see how remarkable this supergrain is

Omega 3 fatty acids- don't forget these beneficial fats! we need them even more while breastfeeding. They are also essential in the building of the brain and nervous system. If you don't want to take a supplement like fish oil or flax seed oil, eat salmon a couple of days each week. Salmon doesn't have a lot of mercury, but it is super rich in Omega 3's.

Water- often we overlook how dehydrated we really are. You must have enough water to make milk.

Not a food, but try to get as much rest as possible. It can be super hard for mama's to get enough sleep and I find that my stress levels are directly related to sleep deprivation. If you can't get enough sleep, try to at least rest and maybe some deep breathing or meditation.

More Links:
Supply and Demand an article

Starting Over an article

Le Leche League International

kellymom



photo credit: brynhild - norse mythology, valkyrie
by Birgit Amadori www.breastfeeding-art.com

Breakfast of Incan Warriors

Have you tried Quinoa (keen-wa) yet? This ancient supergrain was referred to as the 'Mother Grain' and held sacred by the Incan people.
I have been hearing about how nutritionally good Quinoa is but had not tried it until recently. After some research, I was totally blown away by the health benefits this wonderful food has to offer. Not only is Quinoa a complex carbohydrate, it offers an amazing source of protein (all nine amino acids), iron, and several vitamins and minerals including magnesium. Quinoa is one of those lactogenic foods so aside from all of the other healthy benefits, it can help with breastfeeding. Quinoa is also gluten-free and has a low glycemic index. I wish that I had tried quinoa when I was pregnant, it seemed so difficult to find healthy sources of the protein and iron that I needed.
I have started eating Quinoa as a breakfast cereal with hazelnut milk (you could substitute almond or soy), unsweetened coconut flakes, blueberries, hazelnuts, a little agave syrup (you could also use maple) and fresh ground nutmeg. It is quite lovely and a great way to start the day. My toddler hasn't yet taken to eating it, probably a texture thing. I just mix it into his oatmeal for an added benefit. I'd love to hear feedback from anyone who is also enjoying this amazing ancient food.

For a great detailed breakdown of Quinoa's amazing benefits check out:
http://www.whfoods.com/

Current Favorite

Can You Imagine?

For example, what the trees do
not only in lightening storms
or the watery dark of a summer's night
or under the white nets of winter
but now, and now, and now - whenever
we're not looking. Surely you can't imagine
they don't dance, from the root up, wishing
to travel a little, not cramped so much as wanting
a better view, or more sun, or just as avidly
more shade - surely you can't imagine they just
stand there loving every minute of it,
the birds or the emptiness, the dark rings
of the years slowly and without a sound
thickening, and nothing different unless the wind,
and then only in its own mood, comes
to visit, surely you can't imagine
patience, and happiness, like that.

~ Mary Oliver ~

How Clean Is Your Soap?

Before I became pregnant, I didn't give a lot of thought to the things I put into my body. I knew certain things were not good for me, but I must admit that I didn't really ever think about the eventual consequences. I knew that organic food was a better route for my body and the planet, but I never considered committing to eating only organic. Once I started building a new human inside myself it was like the blinders came off. I could suddenly see the dangers everywhere. After my son was born and I started breastfeeding, my awareness rose again. I am not advocating living a paranoid life rooted in fear. As with everything, we do need balance. Beside the air we breathe, water and foods we ingest there is another way that we assimilate toxins into our bodies and that is through our largest organ, the skin. There is a lot of controversy right now about parabens and other additives contained in skin care and beauty products. There are many who claim that parabens not only contribute to cancer but also disrupt hormonal balance. Of course the FDA does not recognize these claims...for now. The great thing is, for those of us who wish to avoid these risks, there has been a resurgence of handmade products on the market. Just like the artisan breads and locally grown produce that we love, we can now find wonderful body care products to nurture our skin. My favorite is Nakee' Natural. These products are made with such loving care from the best ingredients and you can feel it in your skin when you use them. To me, actually feeling the physical difference in my own body is the real test.

If you are concerned about what is on the shelves of your bathroom cabinet, a great resource is the Skin Deep database. You can search for skin care and beauty products and also see what kind of chemicals are contained in the products you are currently using.

Going G

Did you know that it can take a disposable diaper 500 years to break down in a landfill? Just imagine how many tons of this waste alone is dumped every year. It is somewhere around 3.5 million tons in just the US! A lot of families are now looking for alternatives to this gluttonous system. Some are switching to a washable cloth diapering system. Did you know that there is yet another option when it comes to diapering your little one's bum? When our son was born we wanted to use cloth and we did part time, but could never fully manage all that goes along with re-usable diapers. My hat is off to all of you mama's who manage this, some of you with multiple babies in dipes! Last year we discovered a more environmentally responsible diapering option than throwing diapers in a landfill, G-diapers. They have turned out to be a good choice for us. I must admit the real reason I finally gave G's a try, was that Seventh Gerneration suddenly made their diapers smaller and I got stuck with a whole case of diapers that didn't fit my son. After contacting 7th Gen, they basically told me 'too bad'. I thought that was a pretty horrible thing for them to do to their customers. It basically forced everyone to move up a size, and therefore get less diapers for the money. One of those sneaky tactics companies use when they don't want to be honest and just raise the price. But on the positive side, I finally took the plunge and gave the G-diaper a try. With the G, you basically have a cloth outer with a disposable liner. The kicker is that the liner can be flushed down the toilet, or actually composted in your garden (the pee ones only). Even if you do have a really scary poop or for some reason decide you can't flush or compost, you can throw the liner away and it will break down in, get this, 50-150 DAYS! I hear some folks saying that the water it takes to flush them makes them bad for the environment, but to me that is like arguing for disposable clothing. So until we all are using composting toilets, we are flushing our waste for now- but that is another post. For our family they have been wonderful, I won't say that they never leak, but I do think that can be a problem of any diaper type. They have a really terrific website with a lot more information, so check it out www.gdiapers.com
I would love to hear some feedback about your diapering experiences- good or bad.

Renewal Through Inspiration

in-spi-ra-tion (in-spuh-rey-shuhn)
–noun
1. an inspiring or animating action or influence.
2. something inspired, as an idea.
3. a result of inspired activity.
4. a thing or person that inspires.
5. Theology.
a. a divine influence directly and immediately exerted upon the mind or soul.
b. the divine quality of the writings or words of a person so influenced.
6. the drawing of air into the lungs; inhalation.

As we enter another new year, it is a time when we like to review and think about the changes we would like to make in our lives. This year though, I notice that there is a lot of talk about moving away from setting unattainable lofty goals, and instead seriously embracing ourselves as we currently are in order to create the very best version of this authentic person. Embracing change for the best as an ongoing evolution as apposed to a single yearly act. In my Yoga class last night our instructor talked about this kind of change, and not waiting for the flip of the calendar to make new. Each breath we take is an opportunity for renewal. As we breathe, we literally change over the gasses in our lungs, exchanging that which is no longer needed for that which is. As a mama, this approach really resonated with me. Sometimes stressors like sleep deprivation and busy schedules get us down and we feel ourselves slipping away. Renewal can be as simple as stopping, taking a breath, and starting over in the present moment. We often approach a new beginning by waiting to start next week, month, or year. I love the concept of constant renewal through inspiration.

Moonday's Child has a Blog!

After some prompting from my lovely friend over at Pink-Heels, I have decided to start a blog.

When I became pregnant with my son, I became obsessed with information on natural pregnancy, birth, and now mothering. I hope to share some of the knowledge I gained along the way and hopefully, I will be able to add something valuable for those seeking information on their own journey.

My favorite resource of all is http://www.mothering.com/ check it out for wonderful, and inspiring articles on all things concious parenting.