tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67762762310170300032024-03-18T21:17:02.889-07:00Our Crazy Corner of the WorldKymberleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579349343824571205noreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776276231017030003.post-82931260705926073402015-06-28T15:14:00.000-07:002015-06-28T15:14:50.396-07:00Andrew is Six!We have a birthday tradition of interviewing our kids on their birthdays. It's really fun to see what changes from year to year and what doesn't. We started interviewing Andrew when he turned three, so this year is the fourth interview we've done! I'm excited because JohnDavid turns three this year and we get to start interviewing him!<br />
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If you are curious about Andrew's other interviews, you can check them out here:</div>
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<a href="http://ourcrazycorneroftheworld.blogspot.com/2012/06/last-day-with-two-year-old.html" target="_blank">Andrew at Three</a></div>
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<a href="http://ourcrazycorneroftheworld.blogspot.com/2013/06/andrew-marshall-at-four.html" target="_blank">Andrew at Four</a></div>
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<a href="http://ourcrazycorneroftheworld.blogspot.com/2014/06/andrew-is-five.html" target="_blank">Andrew at Five</a></div>
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Andrew has had a big year. He gained a little sister, finished kindergarten, discovered a love for math (he's currently working on pre-algebra), and joined Cub Scouts! He's busy and funny, and loves to play outside. He's also a lover of video games and computer games, and is pretty good at both. Drawing remains a talent, but we have also recently discovered he likes photography too. </div>
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Without further delay, here's Andrew at six! We added an extra question this year, asking about Liberty! :)</div>
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<span class="s1">1. What is your favorite color? “Red!”</span></div>
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<span class="s1">2. What is your favorite toy? “My snakes."</span></div>
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<span class="s1">3. What is your favorite fruit? “Strawberries."</span></div>
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<span class="s1">4. What is your favorite tv show? “Anything with dinosaurs!"</span></div>
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<span class="s1">5. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? “Sausage and bacon."</span></div>
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<span class="s1">6. What is your favorite thing to wear? “My Cub Scout uniform and my dinosaur shirts."</span></div>
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<span class="s1">7. What is your favorite game? “Minecraft and Dragonbox."</span></div>
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<span class="s1">8. What is your favorite snack? “Chocolate chip cookies."</span></div>
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<span class="s1">9. What is your favorite animal? “Cheetahs because they are fast!"</span></div>
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<span class="s1">10. What is your favorite song? “The National Anthem."</span></div>
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<span class="s1">11. What is your favorite book? “Anything about dinosaurs, and sometimes dragons."</span></div>
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<span class="s1">12. Who is your best friend? “Daddy because he's so crazy, and JohnDavid because he's my brother. and also Jonas and Preston."</span></div>
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<span class="s1">13. What is your favorite movie? “Jurassic Park."</span></div>
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<span class="s1">14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? “Dig for worms and ride my bike."</span></div>
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<span class="s1">15. What is your favorite drink? “Chocolate milk!"</span></div>
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<span class="s1">16. What is your favorite holiday? “Christmas, because I like the yummy food mom makes and I like opening presents!"</span></div>
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<span class="s1">17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? “Stuffed animals. I rotate them so they don't feel left out."</span></div>
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<span class="s1">18. What is your favorite thing to do with daddy? “Go fishing!! And, yeah, when we go out in the woods!"</span></div>
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<span class="s1">19. What is your favorite thing to do with mommy? “I like to hold her hair and when we talk at night before bed."</span></div>
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<span class="s1">20. What is your favorite to do with JohnDavid? “Wrestle! We like to have races and beat each other up!"</span></div>
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<span class="s1">21. What is your favorite thing to do with Liberty? "Hold her and kiss her and teach her about dinosaurs."</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Molengo; font-size: 14.8500003814697px; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;">22. What do you want to be when you grow up? “A paleontologist!"</span></div>
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Kymberleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579349343824571205noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776276231017030003.post-19290273385343252552015-06-25T20:54:00.002-07:002015-06-25T20:54:39.122-07:00The Birth Story of Liberty Mae GravesI feel it's really important to share birth stories. There isn't anything like giving birth and bringing forth life. It happens in so many different ways and Liberty's story is unique, just like her.<br />
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Sometimes sharing stories triggers feelings in people that they weren't aware were there. I believe everyone has to own their emotions, but for those who are sensitive or find themselves easily offended, please don't read any further. I'll share the same disclaimer I did when I shared JohnDavid's birth story:<br />
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<i style="background-color: white;">This is a birth story, with pictures and descriptions of an actual, live birth. While I have not posted any graphic pictures, please do not continue to read if you are sensitive or easily offended by these types of pictures or descriptions. This was a beautiful and amazing moment for our family and we have chosen to share this with the people in our lives. The process of birth is an amazing testament to God and His creation. We are excited to share our journey. Thanks for your support!</i></div>
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To read the birth stories of my other children, click on their names.<br />
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<a href="http://ourcrazycorneroftheworld.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-birth-story-of-andrew-marshall.html" target="_blank">Andrew</a><br />
<a href="http://ourcrazycorneroftheworld.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-birth-story-of-johndavid-mckinley.html" target="_blank">JohnDavid </a><br />
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In April of 2014 I had this inkling that I was pregnant. It was still early in my cycle, but I just felt that I was with child. On April 15th I tested. A very, very faint line showed up. The next morning I tested again and the line was a little bit darker. Within a week the lines were very OBVIOUSLY showing I was pregnant. Charting and knowing when baby was conceived gave me a due date of 12/25/2014.<br />
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I felt much better this pregnancy than I did with JohnDavid. I had food aversions but it wasn't the debilitating nausea and vomiting I had experienced with his pregnancy. I tried to enjoy the fact that I felt pretty decent.<br />
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At 20 weeks we found out we were expecting a girl! After two boys I was very excited to have a little girl! And Philip was very excited to have another reason to add to his firearm collection.<br />
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After JohnDavid was born I experienced postpartum depression, coupled with OCD and anxiety. I was a mess. There aren't words to describe how desperate and alone I felt after he was born. Added to the fact that we had moved from sunny south Texas to cold South Dakota, away from family, away from a way of life we knew well...it was hard. Therapy and medications (Prozac) were immensely helpful but I was constantly worried that I would be thrown back into feeling that way.<br />
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I was also very, very worried about where I would give birth. Midwives are desperately needed. I searched for the majority of my pregnancy for a midwife who would do a homebirth, and continuously came up with nothing. While I liked (really liked) my OB, I couldn't help but feel nervous about the hospital and their policies. I tentatively planned to give birth unassisted in my shower but even that made me nervous. But it made me less nervous than giving birth at the hospital.<br />
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Then shortly before I was 34 weeks everything changed.<br />
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It was Monday, and I felt sick. I spent most of the day laying in bed, trying to relax. I used a rice sock to soothe my muscles which were aching, and I felt a horrible pain in my stomach. Shortly after Philip got home from work and we got the boys into bed, I realized I hadn't felt Liberty move at all that day. We decided to go to the hospital just to check on her. Shortly after we got there they found Liberty's heartbeat. It was a little high so they kept me to monitor it, as well as check me out. After a few hours Liberty had settled and I was diagnosed with "a bug", and they sent me home to sleep it off.<br />
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I spent the night throwing up. I woke up Tuesday feeling worse than I had been feeling, and experiencing severe pain in my chest. Around noon I started to struggle to breathe through the pain so Philip took me to the ER. I was admitted immediately and they did an EKG, blood work, a contrast CT scan, and gave me two doses of morphine to help with the pain and monitored Liberty. After five or six hours in the ER they couldn't find an explanation for the pain and sent me home, again. I did not want to go home. I knew something was wrong but since no tests were showing anything, it was assumed I was just over-reacting.<br />
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Wednesday morning I was barely able to move. I somehow managed to get myself to my OB's office. One of the doctors took one look at me and said I needed to be at the ER getting fluids. I hadn't peed in two days, and I was throwing up every hour. I wasn't even able to keep water down. While at my OB's office they did an NST which Liberty failed. My insurance refused to pay for me to go back to the ER but said I could receive fluids at the clinic on base.<br />
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So I went back to the base to be treated by my PCM. It was the afternoon by now and I was dizzy and fading in and out of consciousness. The nurses at the clinic were unable to get an IV started. My PCM called TriCare and demanded I be seen at the ER as he could tell I was very sick and severely dehydrated. They arranged am ambulance to take me back to the hospital but my husband arrived and was able to take me in his truck.<br />
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I was admitted to Labor and Delivery and they spent the next hour trying to get fluids started via IV. I was so dehydrated that my veins were took weak for the needles and kept "blowing". Finally they were able to get an IV started (after nine attempts). They also gave me zofran and morphine again because I was in a lot of pain. They put me on oxygen as I was still struggling to breathe.<br />
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Amazingly Liberty still handled the stress well. We were concerned about her NSTs since she had failed one earlier in the day, but she improved once fluids were started.<br />
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I ended up receiving four bags of fluid to help with the dehydration. By that time my OB had seen me. After looking over test results and some other issues, they believed that I had an intestinal blockage. And ultrasound the next day would confirm that. The blockage was causing things to back up into my stomach causing the severe nausea and heartburn. After a cocktail of *alot* of magnesium citrate, as well as some other not-so-fun stuff, the blockage cleared.<br />
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I was given several medications to help with everything. I learned quickly that just about the only food my body would tolerate was dry cheerios, occasionally a slice of bread with butter. Even with medication all other foods caused nausea, heartburn, and a lot of discomfort. But I was able to hydrate so my OB just watched me carefully.<br />
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The next week while I rested at home, I discovered a bump on my back. It was scabbed over, itchy, and bled, a lot. I assumed it was from when I had cut myself with a broken bra clasp. I couldn't remember much but I figured I had just been scratching it a lot during the week and not paying attention. However, instead of getting better, it continued to grow.<br />
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Within a week it had doubled in size and was slightly smaller than a golf ball. It bled constantly, but didn't hurt. I knew it needed to be removed so I saw my PCM to see what it was and what could be done about it. I was still very weak and sick and unable to eat much. I was losing weight and my energy was plummeting.<br />
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My PCM felt it was too big to be removed in office and felt it should be surgically removed. He believed it was a growth called a pyrogenic granuloma. These often appear on pregnant women, on the face, gums, or neck. At least mine was on my back. It was ugly, huge, and an actual bloody mess.<br />
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The problem we faced now was I was 35 weeks pregnant and surgery wasn't exactly ideal. Plus I had to wait for the referral to see the surgeon and plan a surgery date. I was also not in the best condition health wise. My OB and her team kept a VERY close eye on me at each appointment but ultimately all we could do was wait and try to keep me hydrated/fed and keep Liberty healthy. They did NSTs at every appointment. She passed then all.<br />
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For the next four weeks I waited to see the surgeon. The earliest date they had was Dec. 18th.<br />
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During this time I was struggling. I was depressed, extremely anxious, angry, hungry, and tired. I felt like my body was betraying me. Pregnancy is suppose to be a time of enjoyment and excitement and I was so weak that somedays I wondered how I'd make it through labor.<br />
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Local friends and friends far away lifted me up in prayer, positive thoughts, and encouraged me daily with notes, texts, feeding my family, watching my boys, and visiting with me to keep me company. As an extrovert I THRIVE on social interaction and that was some of the best medicine.<br />
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A sweet gift basket from friends. </div>
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Finally Dec. 18th arrived. I was feeling pretty good, but emotionally I was spent. My parents were due to arrive on the 20th, and I could not WAIT to have my mom with me.<br />
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The surgeon looked at my back, and measured the growth. It was around the size of a tennis ball now and sticking out about an inch. He had an opening for surgery the NEXT day. I nearly hugged him. But now we had a different set of issues. I was 39 weeks pregnant and general anesthesia isn't typically recommended unless it's a life-threatening situation. Dr. Greene (the surgeon) said he'd call my OB but to consider myself scheduled for surgery. The granuloma needed to be removed.<br />
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We got home that evening and I was completely spent. My husband recognized that and told me to go upstairs and relax. He took care of feeding the boys dinner and I tried to relax alone in our bedroom.<br />
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While I was up there, in the quiet, I realized I was contracting. Not hard contractions but noticeable and consistent. I have a history of prodormal labor so I wasn't really paying paying too much attention to it. But I did notice each one felt a little stronger. My phone rang in the midst of one and it was the hospital. They were calling to do surgery pre-admissions. While I was on the phone with them I was standing and swaying and noticed that each contraction caused a small, tiny, trickle of fluid. I was pretty sure it was not pee but with a third pregnancy and all at that point I couldn't be totally sure anymore.<br />
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I got off the phone with admissions and decided I needed to call my OB. No sooner had I decided that, my phone rang again and it was my OB. I told her what was going on and she said "You know Kym, I know you want to let this baby come on her own time but I would feel much better if you had the baby tonight, before surgery. And with what's going on, and your history of labors going very fast, I believe you will handle an extra push to get this baby out."<br />
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I cried. I was so relieved. I told her we'd be at the hospital in a few hours and I told Liberty I'd be holding her before morning.<br />
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I ran downstairs to tell Philip we were going to the hospital to have Liberty. He just nodded. I think he was more relieved than me that his wife finally wouldn't be pregnant anymore!<br />
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Next I called childcare for our boys. Some of our best friends had agreed to keep the boys while I was having Liberty if she came before my parents arrived. Beth would also be with me during labor and I was excited to tell her it was "Go time"!<br />
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I had already packed my bag, and the boys bags, so Philip packed a quick overnight bag and I decided to take a shower. Contractions were still consistent and were starting to get a little more painful. In the flurry of excitement I hadn't felt them but once I was alone in the shower they started to come in waves that required breathing and concentration. I talked to Liberty through each one, telling her it was time to come out and willing my body to continue on with labor.<br />
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We dropped off the boys with Matt and Beth around 10pm, and I got hugs and excited well-wishes from them and their kids. Beth said she'd meet me at the hospital after the kids got settled and I got settled in a room. They only live a few miles from the hospital so we arrived and got into an Labor and Delivery room pretty quickly.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEVbJ3-r2_tPGDhN0CU_iH27j9BfFr5qGLxUWYjdd1Q7I1zA895bbkdwAjZwvFDYH4iuRL9FHFVIAUgxlU8ViwfHac9kPwRsuNi3rpDf9euhz9UM8qoPNl2Aro6AZig7EDZb5VL0eq7fU/s1600/IMG_3121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEVbJ3-r2_tPGDhN0CU_iH27j9BfFr5qGLxUWYjdd1Q7I1zA895bbkdwAjZwvFDYH4iuRL9FHFVIAUgxlU8ViwfHac9kPwRsuNi3rpDf9euhz9UM8qoPNl2Aro6AZig7EDZb5VL0eq7fU/s1600/IMG_3121.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I took this selfie and shared it on Instagram and Facebook "Ugly pink labor gown, but that means it's time to meet my daughter!"<br />
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</tbody></table>
I met my nurse and we went over the various plans for the day, and my birth plan. Having had two unmedicated births, I told the nurse I would prefer to be unmedicated this time as well but honestly I didn't care how the baby arrived. Just that she arrived. I was so sick, tired, hungry, and miserable that I was just ready to be done.<br />
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The nurse hooked me up to monitors and we noticed Liberty's heart rate was erratic again. It would decel with each contraction, and the contractions were mild. She also wasn't moving much and my blood pressure was high.<br />
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I had been so upset about not having a homebirth but I came to peace that God had allowed for Liberty and I to be where we needed to be. I will advocate for homebirth till the day I die, but homebirth is not right for every woman in every situation. Ultimately with my blood pressure issues and other things going on, homebirth would not have been right for Liberty and I. I still mourn that. I often wonder if I had been under the care of a very watchful homebirth midwife if things would have gotten so bad. But I won't know and I can't drive myself crazy wondering.<br />
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Beth arrived soon and brought me chocolate. Since I was having surgery the next day I couldn't eat after midnight. My nurse recommended I try to eat since I was in early labor and I'd need the energy. Nothing sounded edible but I managed to eat several Dove chocolate hearts and sip some water.<br />
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My OB arrived about ten minutes later and checked me. I was completely effaced and about 3 cm dilated. I was opening a little more with each contraction and she was able to stretch me to about 5-6cm. Since I was contracting on my own my OB asked if I'd prefer to have my water broken instead of starting pitocin. Knowing my body works pretty fast once my water breaks, I opted for that.<br />
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She broke my water around 11:30 pm and immediately got a look of concern on her face. Instead of seeing a clear gush of water, it was green, thick, chunky meconium. And that's when my calm, "I-can-do-this" attitude faded and I began to panic. All I could think was of a dear friend who had lost her baby several months earlier in an eerily similar situation.<br />
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Philip, Beth, the nurse and my OB were incredibly supportive but I felt really worried. I could barely relax, all the stress of the last five weeks was coming on all at once. My nurse suggested that I rest and she would sit with me but the contractions were starting to get really strong and I didn't feel like I could rest, or cope with contractions. Each one caused a gush of fluid that was dark and murky, and it scared me.<br />
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My OB mentioned she'd like to start pitocin and get Liberty out quickly and I agreed. At that point I realized that I needed to do what would help me relax the most and help Liberty calm down, and I told Philip I wanted an epidural. I wanted to rest, and sleep for the first time in five weeks and not be in pain. They said I could get one after the pitocin was started.<br />
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For the first time the whole pregnancy I felt at peace. I felt like things would be okay.<br />
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Around midnight the pitocin was started, and we (the OB and I) choose to increase it every thirty minutes instead of every fifteen. My nurse brought me a little more food and then reminded me because of surgery I would have to stop eating after that, but I could keep having water. I still wasn't hungry but I did eat a little bit more knowing I'd be hungry after labor was over.<br />
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Around 12:45 I was very sleepy and wanted to rest so I asked for an epidural again. Contractions weren't painful, just annoying, but I really wanted to sleep. The anesthesiologist arrived around one am and the epidural was in place a few minutes later. It was strange. My legs and lower back went numb and then I immediately became warm. I could feel my feet and move them, but I was relaxed. Contractions continued and I opted to rest after visiting with Beth for a bit.<br />
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At 2:00am I awoke and was very itchy. It was like when your foot has been asleep and wakes up, that kind of itch. The nurse told me that some people react like that to an epidural so she gave me benadryl. Not even five minutes later I felt a VERY strong contraction and felt the urge to push. I told the nurse, who looked confused. She said I shouldn't feel anything. She checked me and found that I was "only six centimeters so it wasn't time to push."<br />
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She was wrong. My hips were splitting open. I yelled at Philip to wake up and furiously pressed the button to release more medicine into the epidural. I could feel everything. All the memories of JohnDavid's birth came flooding back and I begged Philip and Beth to push their fist into my hips with each contraction. Counter-pressure felt amazing. Contractions were incredibly strong and I was able to move my legs, and get into better positions. Once again I told the nurse I needed to push and she said "No, you are only six centimeters. Let's get the anesthesiologist back in here." She left the room and I looked at Philip and told him the baby was coming.<br />
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My body was pushing. I couldn't stop. The nurse returned a few minutes later and through a strong contraction I yelled "The baby is coming!!" She still didn't believe me and didn't check me, but instead continued to stare at the contraction monitor screen and fuss with the computer. She put her hand on my shoulder and told me the anesthesiologist would be there soon so try to relax.<br />
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My legs were shaking and my hips and back were opening. I knew from having two other babies that my baby would be out soon. I told the nurse to call the doctor right then, and then I screamed. The hardest contraction hit and it was all I could do to stay on the bed. I tried to stand but I was attached to too many machines so I just rolled to the side and yelled at Beth and Philip to keep pushing into my hips.<br />
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Finally the nurse decided to check me. She sat on the edge of the bed and looked between my legs to see that Liberty's head was crowning. "Mama, don't push. The baby is right there. Don't push."<br />
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*Pause for rant.*<br />
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This is really the only part of the whole hospital birth that irritates me. All I could think was if I had been under the care of my midwife (Salli) who I had with JohnDavid and she had watched this, she would have known fifteen minutes prior that I was pushing. She wouldn't have been distracted by monitors and computers supposedly telling her what I was doing and, she would have been watching *me* and monitoring *me* and the *baby*, not computers.<br />
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Also - when a baby is a crowning is a really awful time to tell a mother to "stop pushing". Guess what, at that point you have no control over it.<br />
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*Okay, end rant.*<br />
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She hurried to the phone and called for the nurses, the NICU, and the OB. She got off the phone and said "Your doctor will be here soon."<br />
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Thankfully the head L&D nurse came into the room and took over. She calmly stood at the edge of the bed and told me to look at her and guide my baby out. I looked at her, looked at Philip, grabbed the edge of the bed and pushed, and out came Liberty, at 2:29am.<br />
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Liberty wasn't crying, and she was so covered in green and black sludge I couldn't even see her face. The nurse immediately cut the cord and they started to clear her airway to help her breathe. After what felt like forever (but was probably only like 45 seconds) she uttered a muffled little cry.<br />
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The OB arrived at this point, and helped me deliver the placenta and check for tears or abrasions. There were none so she helped clean me and congratulate me.<br />
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Liberty was weighed and measured, she arrived at 7lbs, 6oz, and was 19 inches long. My little peanut! I kept saying how small she was and the nurse responded "She's actually pretty average, you just have big babies!" (JohnDavid was 9lbs 3oz, 21.5 inches and Andrew was 8lbs, 5.9oz, 21.5 inches.)<br />
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And then she was placed in my arms. She nursed wonderfully, and we spent the rest of the morning cuddling, nursing, and sleeping.<br />
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Around 10am we were moved to a postpartum room, and shortly after that she met her brothers for the first time, and wore her first bow!<br />
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At 1:30pm I was taken into surgery. Due to the size of the growth, surgery took longer than expected, and then I apparently am very violent coming out of anesthesia so they kept me in recovery until I quit trying to punch the nurses. I went back to my room around 6pm. Liberty hung out with her daddy during that time, snuggling, and cuddling!<br />
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I had not been able to pump any colostrum prior to surgery and the hospital did not have any, so while I was in surgery Liberty was given formula. I add this because I am a very, very strong advocate for breastfeeding. My boys never had formula, and I have always done what I could to avoid it. But there are situations where it is needed. Formula in and of itself does not need to be vilified. Mothers and fathers who choose to formula feed do not need to be vilified. However, I will continue to speak out against formula companies (ahem Nestle) who have incredibly unethical practices in regards to marketing and advertising. I will also speak out against hospitals and doctors who push formula over breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is hard and parents NEED support. Support is not handing them a "formula kit" when they leave the hospital and saying "Well, just in case...."<br />
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This is not bashing anyone who chooses or has to use formula. I'm so thankful it was available to Liberty. I would have preferred donor milk or my own, but it was *NOT* an option, and that's often not an option other mothers have. Support parents and how they choose to feed their kids, but realize it's still okay to question practices that undermine a mother who *WANTS* to breastfeed.<br />
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After surgery the nurses knew I wanted to keep breastfeeding and they were so incredibly supportive. They also were aware that I had not eaten since midnight the day before, and it wasn't much, so they brought me food every hour - fruit, sandwiches, snacks, and warm meals from the cafeteria.<br />
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We went home Saturday evening and a few hours later my parents arrived.<br />
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Five days later we celebrated the most amazing Christmas.<br />
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I'm so thankful she's here and she's part of our family. I'm thankful for the experience, even if it wasn't what I would have preferred.<br />
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If you are considering midwifery at all, look into states with smaller populations and less access to medical treatment. Midwives are needed so badly. As are understanding OBs, and natural birth/family-friendly hospitals. Families need to know they have options available to them, even if they don't use them!<br />
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Thanks for sharing in our amazing journey!<br />
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<br />Kymberleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579349343824571205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776276231017030003.post-42112986695017949442014-06-08T12:16:00.001-07:002014-06-08T12:18:40.148-07:00Andrew is five!I've neglected my blogger for the past year (like, a whole year...the last post I did was for Andrew's fourth birthday) because this past year has been a crazy whirlwind of....craziness. At some point I'll write about it but today, it's to share about my big, sweet boy and celebrate him!<br />
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He's FIVE. I have a five year old. He's reading, having his own independent adventures in our neighborhood, he's a wonderful big brother, he's learning daily to show compassion and love for others, and we are told frequently that he is a great hugger...I agree! :) He LOVES to give hugs and kisses, and I hope he never outgrows that. I hope he's still sharing his love for his friends and family with hugs and kisses till he's old!<br />
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As our tradition is, we do an interview a few days before his birthday. I started at three with Andrew, and plan to start at three with JohnDavid and other kids (number three is due to arrive in Dec!) so we've had two years of interviews so far and I love seeing the changes, but also seeing what stays the same!<br />
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If you want to check them out, feel free.<br />
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<a href="http://ourcrazycorneroftheworld.blogspot.com/2012/06/last-day-with-two-year-old.html" target="_blank">Andrew at three.</a><br />
<a href="http://ourcrazycorneroftheworld.blogspot.com/2013/06/andrew-marshall-at-four.html" target="_blank">Andrew at four.</a><br />
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But here he is at five. We added a new question to the interview this year, "What's your favorite thing to do with JohnDavid?" I think the answer will surprise no one. ;)<br />
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I am so proud of my big boy and the little man he's becoming! Happy Birthday Andrew!!<br />
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<span class="s1">1. What is your favorite color? “Red!”</span></div>
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<span class="s1">2. What is your favorite toy? “T-Rex and Torosaurus”</span></div>
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<span class="s1">3. What is your favorite fruit? “Apples”</span></div>
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<span class="s1">4. What is your favorite tv show? “Wild Kratts!”</span></div>
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<span class="s1">5. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? “When mommy makes donuts.” </span></div>
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<span class="s1">6. What is your favorite thing to wear? “My dinosaur shirts!”</span></div>
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<span class="s1">7. What is your favorite game? “Wild Kratt’s with monkeys!”</span></div>
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<span class="s1">8. What is your favorite snack? “Fruit snacks even though mommy doesn’t buy them for us cause they are bad for your teeth.”</span></div>
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<span class="s1">9. What is your favorite animal? “A moose. But besides that, a cheetah.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">10. What is your favorite song? “I am a Paleontologist!”</span></div>
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<span class="s1">11. What is your favorite book? “I like my dinosaur books, and then the one about dragons.”</span></div>
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<span class="s1">12. Who is your best friend? “Daddy, and Jonas.”</span></div>
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<span class="s1">13. What is your favorite movie? “I have two and they tie. Walking with Dinosaurs and How to Train Your Dragon.”</span></div>
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<span class="s1">14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? “Play in the dirt and look for worms.”</span></div>
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<span class="s1">15. What is your favorite drink? “Chocolate milk and lemonade. But not together.”</span></div>
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<span class="s1">16. What is your favorite holiday? “Christmas, because I like opening presents and playing with brother.”</span></div>
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<span class="s1">17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? “Wyatt and Blackie.” </span></div>
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<span class="s1">18. What is your favorite thing to do with daddy? “Go fishing and show him how clean my room is because he likes me having a clean room. I like to ride in his truck and I like when we go do things in the woods.”</span></div>
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<span class="s1">What is your favorite thing to do with mommy? “I like when we talk and tell each other stories. I like it when we go to the library too.”</span></div>
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<span class="s1">What is you favorite to do with JohnDavid? “Run around and play chase and tag. And wrestle. And when we play Duck, Duck, Goose. And build with blocks and legos.”</span></div>
21. What do you want to be when you grow up? “A paleontologist or a paleo-geologist.”<br />
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<br />Kymberleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579349343824571205noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776276231017030003.post-82675646155106979602013-06-08T08:20:00.001-07:002013-06-08T08:20:20.860-07:00The Birth Story of Andrew Marshall Graves<div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This is the birth story of my oldest, who was born in 2009. He was born at Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland Air Force Base. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I've not shared his birth story here, and in honor of his first birthday I wanted to. So, here it is. :) </span></div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">***</span></div>On June 7th on the way home from church services, I told Philip that I felt "different". I noticed that my abdomen was a lot lower and it felt extremely heavy. I wasn't having contractions but I was feeling a lot of pressure and it was hard to walk. We decided to go to bed early (around 10pm) in case this was the "big moment". At 11:17pm I woke up in the middle of a contraction. It was very, very strong. It lasted about a minute and when it was over, I tried to wait for another one. It never came and I fell back asleep. At 11:41pm I woke up screaming. It scared poor Philip to death. I looked at him and told him we might need to go in if I had another contraction that strong. We waited and I had another really hard one ten minutes later. I sat on my birthing ball to help take the pressure off of my hips and lower back and in another ten minutes I had a contraction that was even stronger than the first two. I told Philip to call the hospital but before he could even get on the phone, I had another one.<br><br>The contractions started coming every two minutes. I managed the best I could on my own using the birthing ball and walking. Philip quickly loaded the car and we drove to the hospital. We got there around 12:30am on June 8th. The nurse took me back to triage and had me lay down. I couldn't even get to the bed. I told the nurse that I didn't think I would last long before my water broke and she immediately checked me. I was at 8cm and completely effaced. Then things started moving really fast. Philip got on the phone with my mom while they wheeled me into a delivery room.<br><br>At this point I was beginning to lose my ability to concentrate. My contractions were every minute and I had enough time in between contractions to catch my breath but that was about it. The doctor asked me if I wanted anything and I told her no but she called the anesthesiologist in there anyway. I told Philip that I didn't know what I wanted to do. I was unable to concentrate because the doctor wouldn't let me get out of bed and stand. I was laying flat on my back and it was making the contractions a lot worse. Philip dealt with my indecisiveness well and reminded me what I wanted. He was really firm and I was REALLY mad at him but eventually the anesthesiologist stopped asking me if I wanted an epidural or a spinal and left the room. The nurses and doctors left and I had Philip help me get out of bed. Once I was able to stand and sway my hips the contractions became a lot more bearable. The doctor was mad at me for getting out of bed but I wouldn't get back in. Philip helped me stay standing and I leaned against him. <br><br>My parents got there around 1:30am and as soon as my mom was there I got a second wind of energy and more resolve to birth Andrew the way Philip and I had planned. Unfortunately, the doctor kept hassling me about breaking my water and speeding things along and I was having a very hard time getting into a place where I was relaxed. At around 1:50am I told the nurse that I felt like I needed to push. My body was naturally pushing at the end of each contraction and I felt like it was something I needed to do. The doctor told me to get back in bed and they would break my water. I knew I was running out of time before they just forced me back into bed so when my next contraction came, I pushed on my own and my water broke. It was around 2:05 am.<br><br>Once my water broke the pain completely went away. I felt a lot of pressure but it wasn't painful at all. I laid down in bed and the doctor check me and she told me I could start pushing. They would only let me use two birthing positions --- laying on my back or squatting. Since I wasn't in pain anymore I opted to lay on my back so that I could relax my body in between pushing.<br><br>At first I had no clue how to push. Then it just started happening naturally. From the way the lights were positioned on the ceiling I could see everything going on in the reflection of my doctor's lenses and the mask of the attendee who was helping her. (I think this may have been his first birth because he looked terrified.) Pushing felt so amazing but it was exhausting. My oxygen level dropped, as well as my blood pressure and they had to put me on oxygen. The mask was really irritating but it did give me more energy. Then I saw his head crown in the reflection of my doctor's glasses and I could've climbed Mt. Everest with that energy burst. Two pushes later and he came out! I nearly passed out when I saw him. He looked enormous to me. Philip said that my eyes were huge and looked like they were going to fall out of my head.<br><br>It was 2:28am. Andrew Marshall Graves weighed 8lbs, 5.9 oz and was 21 inches long. There was meconium in my water when I delivered him so I didn't get to hold him right after he was born. I also had a second degree tear that they had to stitch up. <br><br>I was also very thankful for a quick labor. We were only at the hospital for about two hours before he arrived and I'm thankful I didn't have to be there longer because even though my doctor was nice and knew what she was doing, she really irritated me by not listening to mine or Philip's requests about the labor and the delivery. I also hated being hooked up to monitors and having an IV (which I pulled out on accident within thirty minutes of getting it.) We just really didn't have enough time to explain our requests about the way certain things were handled so, it may have been different if we had that time. They did several things that I asked them not to do, including clamping the cord immediately and cutting it, giving him the eye salve and Vit. K right away (the eye salve is required in Texas but Vit. K isn't, I asked them to wait for both of those). They also wouldn't let me leave the delivery room till I peed twice. There were also 14 PEOPLE in the delivery room, not including Philip or my parents. I asked Philip if they thought I was having multiples because there were SO MANY doctors and nurses. I didn't care that there were people there, but I don't know why there were so many. <br><br>Then, upon leaving today they tried to give me a Depo shot AND the MMR vaccine (since I showed up as non-immune for it in my prenatal screen) and the OB gave me a great lecture for declining them. She said, "I know it's popular to not get vaccines right now but, that's not safe nor is it an okay trend." I just smiled and said, "Okay." (The popularity comment made me laugh once she left. Even my dad was laughing about that one.)<br><br>Like I said, the birth and delivery went well but, the hospital staff wasn't cooperative. They were very nice and sweet but, acted like I was some wack job for requesting certain things be done certain ways. My mom was great though, and told me how proud she was of me and said that most doctors don't expect people to research the traditional procedures because it's what the doctor does and who are we to question medicine and, I think she's right. So...I'm really thankful for people who have helped me research lots of things and form my own opinions about pregnancy and childbirth. </span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4oJxF5CMi3na7RWy-h3VzhPFBURzfUkgEFVQxYlujjeABoSU6jwfyO_Zp_oIaIZdEMspIzVqyUNiajbrR-gn2_BGnmeW501bFV78JZL3q6CBSjz27XGDLHtu17VeNTpFbTOk8Yl1VvEg/s640/blogger-image--1740654382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4oJxF5CMi3na7RWy-h3VzhPFBURzfUkgEFVQxYlujjeABoSU6jwfyO_Zp_oIaIZdEMspIzVqyUNiajbrR-gn2_BGnmeW501bFV78JZL3q6CBSjz27XGDLHtu17VeNTpFbTOk8Yl1VvEg/s640/blogger-image--1740654382.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7g4uEZ2RG7FupRuziF82TW_V_a0IVe14ZdsYgm-y2q3PeJEWCiFh88ojsV3NV5CGgKQHBqavLNnHEa27kQ_nuMsvoNbDlbYzT_UDbrN3R7mC6rDEhMo0I3mCOPuxnXAA7uQQ7mluX2u0/s640/blogger-image--1516133702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7g4uEZ2RG7FupRuziF82TW_V_a0IVe14ZdsYgm-y2q3PeJEWCiFh88ojsV3NV5CGgKQHBqavLNnHEa27kQ_nuMsvoNbDlbYzT_UDbrN3R7mC6rDEhMo0I3mCOPuxnXAA7uQQ7mluX2u0/s640/blogger-image--1516133702.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNsG8KnjG5bgcBO1JHnDCZjv7OfZPVGsaf6lwENftL17dC9z8fKLJej8o-j39uDOfyLutalfmIPI3INkgGVRZiLvTLXkSKyRdou-k0iJf2hCeFaivBX8VZNrZIYBbUHdC9KCAYP6bgY2o/s640/blogger-image--924994765.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNsG8KnjG5bgcBO1JHnDCZjv7OfZPVGsaf6lwENftL17dC9z8fKLJej8o-j39uDOfyLutalfmIPI3INkgGVRZiLvTLXkSKyRdou-k0iJf2hCeFaivBX8VZNrZIYBbUHdC9KCAYP6bgY2o/s640/blogger-image--924994765.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div>Kymberleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579349343824571205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776276231017030003.post-16915097103623657302013-06-07T23:33:00.002-07:002013-06-08T16:09:37.726-07:00Andrew Marshall - At Four!<br>
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<span>Somehow, in the blink of an eye, I have a four year old. </span></div>
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<span><br></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span>I'm not sure when or how this happened? Isn't he suppose to still be snuggled up in my arms, so new, so squishy? </span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span><br></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-AjO9FJOY9yLKGBGVQ95YUTby8uuENB_dSq0FajesowZ0Hfhxg4OrEgzfx18QEKrkcYTpwqPeVcEJve7HgEAKXDcoUd3DDElF1ypwE-nPkfISGHvwW2adCQ7ik1XvkinceHgd30mbGEo/s640/blogger-image--542149112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-AjO9FJOY9yLKGBGVQ95YUTby8uuENB_dSq0FajesowZ0Hfhxg4OrEgzfx18QEKrkcYTpwqPeVcEJve7HgEAKXDcoUd3DDElF1ypwE-nPkfISGHvwW2adCQ7ik1XvkinceHgd30mbGEo/s640/blogger-image--542149112.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span>Now he's not so tiny anymore. He's a bright, active, loud, four year old paleontologist in training. He talks to us like he's an adult. He sings, he writes, he can even read a little bit. He's so grown up. I am just amazed by him, every single day. </span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span><br></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHhmFtnMKXA6hX5m4gA6C5MeX3UGPoqAhOl9pEGb-HlM5bClhBHn7KpWb6OLiF5hjKDUobfwcE-Fq4FD-njoUNuFZgY0JGEPx12wKMwxwzOrzVBOFujAWSfdkDuHPUyVp9bzBvgrqo0_g/s640/blogger-image--1576786130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHhmFtnMKXA6hX5m4gA6C5MeX3UGPoqAhOl9pEGb-HlM5bClhBHn7KpWb6OLiF5hjKDUobfwcE-Fq4FD-njoUNuFZgY0JGEPx12wKMwxwzOrzVBOFujAWSfdkDuHPUyVp9bzBvgrqo0_g/s640/blogger-image--1576786130.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span>Here is his interview at four. </span></div>
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<span>1. What is your favorite color? “Red”</span></div>
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<span>2. What is your favorite toy? “”T-Rex. He has two fingers and was a vicious predator.” </span></div>
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<span>3. What is your favorite fruit? “Apples in slices.” </span></div>
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<span>4. What is your favorite tv show? “Dinosaur Alive documentary. It has a Tarbosaurus.”</span></div>
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<span>5. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? “Bacon, like daddy!”</span></div>
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<span>6. What is your favorite thing to wear? “My camo shirts and my red shirt. I like camo because it looks like what daddy wears.” </span></div>
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<span>7. What is your favorite game? “Dinosaur Train games, where you find King Cryolophosaurus. He’s a shy dinosaur.” </span></div>
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<span>8. What is your favorite snack? “Dinosaur fruit snacks. I love the blue ones.”</span></div>
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<span>9. What is your favorite animal? “Bella is my favorite doggy.”</span></div>
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<span>10. What is your favorite song? “Jesus Loves Me!”</span></div>
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<span>11. What is your favorite book? “Dinosaur Encyclopedia, it shows all the dinosaurs.” </span></div>
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<span>12. Who is your best friend? “Daddy. Then Jonas and Landyn are my two friends. And Preston.”</span></div>
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<span>13. What is your favorite movie? “Walking With Dinosaurs, with Nigel Marven.” </span></div>
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<span>14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? “Play dinosaurs and hunt for dinosaurs. I love dinosaurs outside.”</span></div>
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<span>15. What is your favorite drink? “Water!”</span></div>
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<span>16. What is your favorite holiday? “Christmas! I like getting a stocking with candy!”</span></div>
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<span>17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? “I like to sleep with T-Rex and daddy!”</span></div>
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<span>18. What is your favorite thing to do with daddy? “Play with daddy. I just like to be with him. He is amazing.”</span></div>
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<span>19. What is your favorite thing to do with mommy? “I like when we make cookies in the kitchen.”</span></div>
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<span>20. What do you want to be when you grow up? “I want to be like daddy and I want to be an paleontologist too.”</span></div>
Kymberleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579349343824571205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776276231017030003.post-33671764599152152912013-04-08T20:13:00.002-07:002013-04-08T20:13:36.031-07:00Six Months InIt's hard for me to comprehend that my youngest is almost seven months. He's closer to a year than he is to being a newborn, and he's almost been earthside, in my arms, longer than I carried him inside.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hhdEMQjQWmSUyDXf6uFYTCJaJT94MWCfGSGmIp88JqgAN1JgoiEsV7O-aKDap2dDSocZWOQWG96Y0QH_37efKPM-AnwMB3BHX4Sn4Vtxp-cxQFNn54mtvbg7amhRqs8AlSDqSsB6yzI/s1600/IMG_2207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hhdEMQjQWmSUyDXf6uFYTCJaJT94MWCfGSGmIp88JqgAN1JgoiEsV7O-aKDap2dDSocZWOQWG96Y0QH_37efKPM-AnwMB3BHX4Sn4Vtxp-cxQFNn54mtvbg7amhRqs8AlSDqSsB6yzI/s320/IMG_2207.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JohnDavid at birth.</td></tr>
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So how's life you may be wondering. How is the transition from one child to two children?<br />
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Honestly, some days it is a breeze. Some days the planets align, my kids are happy, laid back, easy-going and I think "Oh man, I'm super mom. I should have more kids!!" Then most days it's 4pm and I'm in my pjs and my kids are dumping out dog food or painting the carpet and I'm refraining from calling the doctor to request a tubal. Those days are simply that...just "those days".<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvoz28Y4KucvTFyQzBEMypYxrmV8SWKTIgfUz7Uu9YaM-5FSnZYEWRN2rR4wAqtgJQ47YrsJFlfiB_qCuecEztmGfkZ0Ea6mhjBSshpdx7CMkVn-2fkH0vMagP757qhSzaUmGV9jSQnUE/s1600/jd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvoz28Y4KucvTFyQzBEMypYxrmV8SWKTIgfUz7Uu9YaM-5FSnZYEWRN2rR4wAqtgJQ47YrsJFlfiB_qCuecEztmGfkZ0Ea6mhjBSshpdx7CMkVn-2fkH0vMagP757qhSzaUmGV9jSQnUE/s320/jd.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JohnDavid, taking a nursing break.</td></tr>
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I was lamenting to Philip a few days ago that I never get to finish a cup of coffee without having to reheat it. Ever. Morning coffee was my "time" when it was just Andrew and I. We snuggled in bed....he looked at his books and drank his milk or nursed, and I drank my coffee while reading to him or while we watched a show. <br />
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Not so much now. JohnDavid is WAY to busy to snuggle in the morning. He needs to go, go, go....go after brother, go after Bella, attack the cords to every.single.item.that.has.cords, and topple off the bed head first. And he laughs this loud, manic laugh as you try to prevent him from destroying everything. Have I mentioned he can't quite crawl yet? <br />
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So I put my coffee down and I forget it while I break up yet another fight between Andrew and "scratchy boy" (as Andrew has so affectionately nicknamed him.)<br />
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And the day goes on like that.<br />
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The differences between JohnDavid and Andrew are astonishing to me. They are like night and day in their differences. So in a lot of ways it is like learning to be a mother all over again.<br />
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Something are easier. Breastfeeding is easier this time around. Sleep (um, lack of sleep) is a bit easier this time around. I find that *most* days I am a bit more centered, patient and gentle. My confidence from "been there, done that" has increased.<br />
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Somethings are much harder. Getting everyone ready and out the door. Housekeeping. Feeding myself. Basically any type of self-care is much harder. Finding time for my husband.<br />
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Overall, this transition has been smoother than I expected. I think this has happened for several reasons. JohnDavid is a happy baby and easy-going, though extremely busy. His desposition has really helped make things smoother. Also I gave myself a huge break in expectations. I still keep up with my housekeeping schedule, but I take the weekends off. I exercise, but if I miss a day I don't care. I purposefully plan quick, easy meals several times a week instead of long, drawn out detailed meals. Thanks to Pinterest, they are still just as yummy! My husband is working a new schedule so we spend the mornings together before he heads to work after lunch.<br /><br />We are happy and enjoying life. Today the boys sat on the floor and played together for almost an hour. I folded laundry and browsed Pinterest, enjoying watching them interact. I'm looking forward to more times like that.<br /><br />And maybe as we have more times like that, my confidence will grow more and we can go from two kiddos to three? Hmmmm.....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-7a4AfWXqrXYxzet_0dylI4_tXwbTVNcGH9mTFNDu5sy6QMzEGTA-0sW0pyQMW828i3fxaZbYOXGfnRTNcukXJ447s3I1vYerq_rQOezXvy2Dgs-XHi-f8vHHMlIY2h2RudtkdvjkfyM/s1600/IMG_3545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-7a4AfWXqrXYxzet_0dylI4_tXwbTVNcGH9mTFNDu5sy6QMzEGTA-0sW0pyQMW828i3fxaZbYOXGfnRTNcukXJ447s3I1vYerq_rQOezXvy2Dgs-XHi-f8vHHMlIY2h2RudtkdvjkfyM/s400/IMG_3545.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My wonderful, sweet, happy, silly boys.</td></tr>
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<br />Kymberleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579349343824571205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776276231017030003.post-1846809962958581822013-03-15T21:01:00.001-07:002013-03-15T21:01:04.830-07:00Whip it good!<br />
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So, digging coconut oil out of a jar is kind of a pain. With or without a spoon. </div>
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But it's easy to fix that. </div>
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That's that.<br /><br />It makes a good base for lotions, homemade toothpaste/deodorant, diaper creams....<br /></div>
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So, simplest, easy way to make coconut oil easy to use daily. You can buy containers at Hobby Lobby or any craft store really. Or just spoon it back into the jar.<br /><br />Oh, and in case you don't know why or how to use coconut oil, check out the wonderful blogs by <a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com/" target="_blank">Hybrid Rasta Mama</a>:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com/2012/08/333-Uses-For-Coconut-Oil.html" target="_blank">333 Uses for Coconut Oil</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com/p/coconut-health.html" target="_blank">Coconut Health</a><br /><br />Okay, enjoy!<br /></div>
Kymberleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579349343824571205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776276231017030003.post-42479128857733575782013-01-11T13:29:00.001-08:002013-01-11T13:30:31.167-08:00Silence RevisitedEarlier during December I said I was going on a FB break to offer silence for time to mourn. I also wanted to process some of the emotions I was feeling. <br />
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I signed off on Tuesday night. Wednesday I spent with my boys. We cleaned, cooked and I found it refreshing to just focus on my family. That evening we went to bible study where my husband did a short talk about courage. It really stuck me because I wondered how much of my life I spent being silent because I was afraid of what others would think of me, if they'd be mean or not want to be friends anymore. I reflected on my recent FB decision to be silent and wondered if it was for the right reasons. Lots to ponder. <br />
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The next morning I was awoken by my oldest throwing up on me. (Nothing will get you out of bed faster, I promise!!) he had a high fever and for the next eight hours he threw up every forty minutes. It was heartbreaking and I was needing advice, so I logged onto Facebook to "consult the hippies". (That's what my husband calls it when I ask my friends for crunchy/natural medical or parenting advice.) <br />
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Upon logging on I discovered I had five messages in my inbox. All of them needed to be answered soon. <br />
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I also had been the recipient of a generous gift from the lovely ladies at the Natural Parents Network in honor of JohnDavid's birth, so I felt it necessary to thank them immediately, because it was something I was incredibly touched and thankful for receiving. <br />
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And in the midst of dealing with vomit, replying to friends and thanking friends, it hit me -- I can't avoid social networking. I'm too social. I'm about a extroverted as you can get, and the idea of me avoiding a website where the majority of my friends were active was laughable. I'm shamed faced to admit that this hasn't occurred to me before.<br />
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However, I do think there is a time for silence and mourning. And I think there is wisdom in bowing out when you feel overwhelmed by a subject, as I was feeling. Whatever your cause is, spouting off in anger doesn't do much to help it.<br />
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I want to be honest and I want people to know who I am. I want the confidence to post about things that I feel strongly about without being attacked. Positive, respectful disagreement is always, always welcomed. I don't want to be surrounded by people who think *exactly* like me. But I do want to be surrounded by people who are thoughtful, regardless of their differences.<br />
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So, I apologize for not thinking this through.<br />
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Sigh. Back to blogging. And Facebook.Kymberleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579349343824571205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776276231017030003.post-13179549329335111062012-12-18T16:10:00.000-08:002012-12-18T16:10:21.702-08:00A Time for SilenceI joined Facebook during my fourth year of college. I was attended Western Kentucky University and a friend at Oregon State mentioned Facebook to me on, wait for it, AIM chat. At that point in time, Facebook wasn't really well known, you could only join if your college was listed and you could only join groups associated with your university, there were no status updates, homepage, walls, picture albums......it was pretty bare bones.<br />
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Over the years I've gotten to see Facebook change and grow and not once in the past seven years have I wanted to take a break from Facebook.<br />
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Until now.<br />
<br />
On Friday we saw evil. I'm not going to repeat what happened, we all know.<br />
<br />
Since Friday, every time I have logged onto Facebook I've had the following reactions: anger, sadness, disgust or "Wow...that's stupid." I've seen rumors, I've seen fingers pointing (it was guns, it was mental illness, it was autism, it was because he was homeschooled, it was because he was circumcised, it was because his mom was a survivalist, etc, etc, etc). I watched as the media, so anxious to be the "first to report", gave the world false facts and updates that were never fact-checked.<br />
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I'm not going to lie, on Friday I was so distraught I blasted off my own opinion on "the fix" without giving a thought to the fact that people were mourning and crying, their hearts breaking, parents facing a nightmare that no parent should ever face...just days before Christmas.<br />
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I've tried to focus on my family. I have my personal FB page, as well as the blog Facebook page, and I try to share updates that make people smile. My kids do silly things so I share an "Andrew-ism" or a picture of JD smiling. I love to bake so I post recipes or snap a picture with Instagram. Not only do I like to share these things, I love, absolutely love, seeing this updates from others. I want to see my feed full of kid and food pictures. I want to see recipes, links to articles my friends find interesting, I want to hear what funny things have happened lately with other families.<br />
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But right now, I can't share these things and act happy. I really can't. I'm a very sensitive person. I do my best to hide it but it does not take much to reduce me to tears. I don't know anyone directly involved with the tragedy in CT. I know someone who knows someone....that's about it. But I can't shake this feeling of "Now is not the time to be overly happy and excited." I feel so much overwhelming grief for those involved.<br />
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I also feel a lot of anger. I am angry at the media for sensationalizing everything. I'm angry at those who want to make this about gun control (or lack thereof in their opinion), I'm angry at those who say this is "God's revenge" because we have turned from Him, I'm angry at those who want to blame autism or homeschooling or survivalists. In the midst of all of this, the victims and their families are being forgotten, they aren't being given privacy or time to mourn in their own way. It is so frustrating....and I keep getting sucked into it all.<br />
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However, it is Christmas. My son's eyes light up every time he sees the Christmas tree or hears the name Santa. He has asked me several times over the past few days why I am sad. It seems that anytime I am feeling better and enjoying things, I get on Facebook and my thoughts immediately go to CT. I am so overwhelmed with everything that it is distracting me from my family.<br />
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Today the NRA, after days of silence, released a <a href="http://www.nraila.org/news-issues/news-from-nra-ila/2012/12/important-statement-from-the-national-rifle-association.aspx?s&st&ps" target="_blank">statement</a> with the following words:<br />
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<i>"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Out of respect for the families, and as a matter of common de</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">cency, we have given time for mourning, prayer and a full investigation of the facts before commenting."</span></span></i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Regardless of how you might feel about the NRA, I find a lot of wisdom in their words. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">So I'm going to abide by them too for the next few days, maybe longer. I need to focus on my family, my children and my husband. I need to be baking and creating and visiting. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">I'm not going to deactivate my account, I'm just going to take time to gather myself away from all this. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Much love to everyone and happy holidays!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>Kymberleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579349343824571205noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776276231017030003.post-67478312870420805012012-11-17T23:30:00.000-08:002012-11-17T23:30:01.509-08:00Weekend Project - Couch Makeover!This weekend I accomplished a project I've been wanting to do for at least a year. I recovered our couch cushions!<br />
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My husband bought this couch from Big Lots when he moved to Texas. He had a limited budget, an apartment to furnish and Big Lots was close.<br />
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When we first started hanging out, he invited me over one night to watch a movie. I made him brownies and he decided we should watch The Descent. Since we were just getting to know each other, he was on one side of the couch and I was on the other. Maybe 15-20 minutes into the movie I flew across the couch and buried my face in his shoulder. From then on, whenever we watched a movie, we sat close to each other. So, even though the couch is cheap and not the best material, it has a lot of sentimental value.<br />
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Plus....I prefer to fix something if possible. And we have a dog and two small kids. Buying a new couch just seemed like a really dumb idea. We can get nice furniture when the kids are older. ;)<br />
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Last summer I noticed the couch was "peeling". Between a dog who I'm pretty sure camps out on the couch when we are gone, and a toddler, it was only a matter of time.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYjknorPRkKRer8KE3rR5eXA2KzTZ36Fo2B7GTrNtk7rM1rbQeYs6TGsaWDwg3FWNuyHtfoYvPOiK_mwYrRFBqg2xERGbmla1O7XqSO6tPhQbKPVPzIA50-6TA3amDdPhov8o2jbz190/s1600/IMG_2511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYjknorPRkKRer8KE3rR5eXA2KzTZ36Fo2B7GTrNtk7rM1rbQeYs6TGsaWDwg3FWNuyHtfoYvPOiK_mwYrRFBqg2xERGbmla1O7XqSO6tPhQbKPVPzIA50-6TA3amDdPhov8o2jbz190/s400/IMG_2511.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peeling and Rips</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kind of sad looking.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHynCeDmWfULfZJ9NoquxGFFwnHrm7EH9i44A_evpTGnC0wyT3f0LkarSFoJeOWPtTdYt0m16EjX06IH-qwWOhwsuKHoSGt2ku8BinrRr49M2-wUFjqoJDP_SLy79lBJaStGd74wIJSag/s1600/IMG_2512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHynCeDmWfULfZJ9NoquxGFFwnHrm7EH9i44A_evpTGnC0wyT3f0LkarSFoJeOWPtTdYt0m16EjX06IH-qwWOhwsuKHoSGt2ku8BinrRr49M2-wUFjqoJDP_SLy79lBJaStGd74wIJSag/s320/IMG_2512.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Covered with a blanket to prevent further ripping/tearing.<br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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Then last October we discovered some huge rips in it. I had plans to make covers for it but the holidays hit, then I got pregnant and very sick, then the couch went into storage for six months while Philip was away at tech school and Andrew and I lived with my parents.<br />
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So...now we are here and fixing the cushions was priority number one. Last week I went to Hobby Lobby and picked out fabric. Fabric was on sale for 30% off, and I got three yards. I also picked up upholstery thread, new sewing machine needles and zippers. All my materials cost less than $50.<br />
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Yesterday I started sewing. JohnDavid however is having a growth spurt or something but, he is nursing every five minutes. So I only finished one cushion. Over the course of the day, I finished the other two. After JohnDavid and Andrew were in bed, I put in the zipper on the last cushion and collapsed in relief. Yay, new couch!<br />
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I had to separate the dots from all going the same way because it hurt my eyes when they were. </div>
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I have a pillow in the recliner that has these colors, and then I have enough extra fabric to make another pillow, probably for the little wooden bench by the fire place. <div>
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I'm pretty happy, I love how it turned out!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The next project.......cloth blocks as a gift for JohnDavid for Christmas!</div>
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Kymberleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579349343824571205noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776276231017030003.post-15634246486186528472012-11-10T18:49:00.000-08:002012-11-10T18:49:10.793-08:00Whistle While You WorkI've had several people inquire about my housekeeping schedule/how I stay on top of it/what I do...so I figured it was time to write a blog about it.<br />
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<i><b>None of this is written to say "You must keep a clean house." or to make anyone feel guilty. I am merely offering suggestions for those looking for advice on the subject. This is purely what works for us and what I have found to be helpful.</b></i><br />
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First off, I enjoy housework, to an extent. I think mostly I enjoy the reward of a clean, orderly house more than the work itself, but I enjoy finding new ways to clean, trying out crunchy cleaners, and seeing if there are quicker/easier ways to do certain tasks.<br />
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Secondly, my mom always kept our home clean growing up. There were never dirty dishes left in the sink, there were never clothes on the floor unless it was laundry day and she was sorting to make piles for washing. She taught my brother and I early on the importance of keeping things clean. However, it really wasn't until I got my own home and family that this became a priority to me. Up until then I cleaned because it was required of me.<br />
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But now I have my own house and two little children and a dog and a husband and I want to spend time with them. I find if my house is in disarray, I can *NOT* focus on my family like I would should. So shortly after my oldest was born, I began looking for ways to keep my house in order and have plenty of time for my family.<br />
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<b>A few things before we get started</b>:<br />
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What works for my family may not work for you. I suggest you experiment with several different routines or schedules until you find your groove.<br />
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Along with deciding what kind of schedule works for your family, you also have decide what level of cleanliness you can and can't live with. I have to vacuum/sweep daily. I can't stand having dirty dishes in the sink. But dust doesn't bother me. I do dust about once a week or every ten days or so but I have to *make* myself do it because it doesn't bother me. So write in the chores you don't care about to remind yourself to do them! I made a <a href="http://ourcrazycorneroftheworld.blogspot.com/2011/10/i-finally-did-it.html" target="_blank">family binder</a> and the first part is about housework. Seeing my schedule laid out helps me stay on track and reminds me to do things that I wouldn't otherwise notice, like dusting.<br />
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My dear friend Sally wrote a five part series about housekeeping on her blog, <a href="http://carpediemmom.com/keeping-the-home-one-of-five/" target="_blank">Carpe Diem Mom</a>. I would highly recommend her series. She really delves deep into preparing for cleaning and overhauling your home to make cleaning easier. Those things will help you succeed and Sally explains the process much better than I would. She was a big encouragement for me to get started with a proper schedule/routine and get my house in order.<br />
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Also, make your housekeeping fun. Put on music, race a timer and reward yourself with breaks and stops to play with your kids. My reward is nap time. I do *not* do household tasks when my kids are sleeping, unless it's something I want to do, like baking or folding laundry (I find folding laundry very therapeutic, I'm weird that way). I wrote about my nap time rule several years ago, <a href="http://ourcrazycorneroftheworld.blogspot.com/2010/09/rules-were-meant-to-be-broken-except.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Someone once accused me of not spending time with my kids, actually it was implied by a very haughty "Well I would rather interact with my kids while they are awake instead of clean. That's much more important." comment. So....lest it be implied I don't spend time with my kids because I don't do housework while they are sleeping, realize I'm not advocating that at all. My youngest is worn while I do housework, or sits near me in his little rocker. I sing to him, and talk to him the whole time. My oldest often wants to help, but we take frequent breaks to play together. We eat breakfast and lunch together, and we all cuddle in bed in the mornings either watching a TV show or reading books. My children are *not* neglected by doing things this way.<br />
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<i>In my honest opinion, household tasks are one of the most rewarding times spent with your children. They learn how to contribute to the family unit by helping and learn about what it takes to keep a house running smoothly. If you express an attitude of joy and happiness during your work, your children also learn that as well. Having a joyful attitude towards any job is a fantastic trait to pass onto your children!</i><br />
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My other rule is that with the exception of dinner/cleaning up from dinner, I don't do housework once my husband gets home from work in the afternoons. On the weekends I do daily tasks, but that's it. This means we have a lot of time together as a family and we do what we *want* to do.<br />
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***<br />
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Here is my weekly schedule. Feel free to tweak it to fit your home and family and life.<br />
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<b>Daily (Monday-Saturday): </b><br />
-Vacuum carpeted areas/sweep hard floors<br />
-Make beds (Andrew actually makes his own, but I do remind him to do so.) I would encourage you to make your bed *first thing* once everyone is awake and children are no longer sleeping there. ;)<br />
-Wipe down sinks/counters/toilets in bathrooms. Change hand towels.<br />
-Wipe off counters, stove and tables in kitchen/dining room. Change dish/hand towels.<br />
-Keep clutter picked up (usually I do this by doing a ten minute clutter session before lunch and then again shortly after dinner.)<br />
-Keep dishes washed and put away.<br />
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<b>2-3 times a week:</b><br />
-Wipe off the fronts of cabinets/stove/fridge in kitchen<br />
-Wipe off window sills (this needs to be done more frequently in the summer when windows are open.)<br />
-Wash cloth diapers<br />
-Change bath towels. (Actually, we change them after every third use but it works out to about every 2-3 days.)<br />
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<b>Monday</b> - Laundry (On this day I do nothing but laundry. Everything is wash, dried, folded and put away.)<br />
<b>Tuesday</b> - Errands (grocery store, whatever other errands I need to do), wipe off the windows to the doors.<br />
<b>Wednesday</b> - Mop floors, clean downstairs bathroom.<br />
<b>Thursday</b> - Clean master bathroom, dust<br />
<b>Friday</b> - Change sheets on bed, create meal and grocery list for next week.<br />
<b>Saturday</b> - Keep up with clutter, prepare clothes and bags for Sunday morning, prepare meals for Sunday (breakfast and lunch).<br />
<b>Sunday</b> - Sunday is a day of rest. I make beds halfway (I pull up and straighten blankets but make it easy to crawl into for naps, which we all take on Sunday afternoons), and I clean up dishes from meals.<br />
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And there you have my cleaning schedule.<br />
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***<br />
<br />
This sounds like a lot but it really isn't. Here is why:<br />
<br />
Because I do this stuff daily, it is done quickly. If you only do dishes every few days, dishes are going to take forever. But if you wash after every single meal, it takes less than ten minutes. If you only wipe off counters once a week, you spend hours cleaning off dried food or whatever, when if you do it daily, it takes less than a minute or two. It's easier to to play keep up than catch up.<br />
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I love that I can get up in the mornings and instead of rushing to start cleaning, I can start the day leisurely with my children, we often cuddle in bed for an hour or so and look at books, watch Netflix, play games on mommy's phone or laptop. It is so relaxing.<br />
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<br />
***<br />
<br />
I'm currently blessed with a mother's helper. A friend from our congregation comes over 1-2 times a week to help with whatever I need. So far she's come with me when I've run errands to help me corral the three year old. If you have the opportunity to have help like this, go for it!<br />
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I'm also currently blessed with a lot of energy. I've always had a ridiculous amount of energy, so it helps to have that as I'm dealing with my children and working on keeping my house in order!<br />
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***<br />
<br />
I hope these suggestions are in someway helpful or encouraging. Good luck and happy cleaning!!<br />
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~KymKymberleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579349343824571205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776276231017030003.post-11735627220388303432012-11-01T09:20:00.000-07:002012-11-01T09:20:55.263-07:00Holiday Gift Guide<a href="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/NPN_Gift_Guide_640x160.jpg"><img alt="Natural Parents Network Holiday Gift Guide" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26966" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/NPN_Gift_Guide_640x160.jpg" title="Natural Parents Network Holiday Gift Guide" width="100%" /></a>
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<h3>
Welcome to the Natural Parents Network Holiday Gift Guide!</h3>
If you need to complete your holiday shopping, find a birthday present for a friend, or just treat yourself to something special, the NPN Holiday Gift Guide has something for everyone. But what's even better, the NPN Holiday Gift Guide is a great opportunity to <strong>shop consciously and to support many naturally minded small businesses</strong>. <strong>The companies that have provided items for review and giveaway are almost exclusively made up of small businesses or work-at-home families.</strong><br />
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Below you will find information on 74 companies from 25 of our NPN volunteers. <strong>The companies are giving away 89 products and gift certificates, for a total combined value of $2,550.</strong>
As you scroll through the Gift Guide, we encourage you to click on the links for each of the reviews — look for the links to our volunteers' blogs in each heading (i.e., "<em>From ABC Company via Blog Name</em>" — the "<em>Blog Name</em>" has the link to the review). Our volunteers have crafted thoughtful posts on each participating company with pictures of and links to products that are simply perfect for our natural parenting families. And while we've split our Gift Guide into sections ("Perfect for Kids" and "Family and Home"), you'll discover that many of the stores offer goodies that people of all ages will enjoy.<br />
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<strong>You can enter to win every giveaway by using the Rafflecopter system below.</strong> Please note that every review post has the same Rafflecopter script, but you may enter only one time, at one site.
Even if you don't win one of our fabulous prizes, please consider spending part of your gift-giving budget at one of these small businesses. <strong>By supporting small businesses, you are helping families, boosting local economies, and supporting ethical practices of manufacturing, production and selling.</strong> We know that budgets are tighter and finances may be difficult, but by purchasing from small, family-owned businesses, you know you will be receiving quality items made with appropriate business practices and personal customer service, all while supporting another family's endeavors.
<strong>Many of the companies have included coupon codes — take advantage of them!</strong> You can find the coupon codes in the heading of each company/giveaway listing. (Please note that coupons are not good on shipping fees unless otherwise stated.)<br />
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Without further ado, here is the NPN Holiday Gift Guide. We've broken the Gift Guide down into two sections (click the links below to jump to either section):<br />
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6776276231017030003#forkids"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Perfect For Kids</span></strong></a>
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6776276231017030003#foranyone"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Family and Home</span></strong></a> <br />
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<h2>
Perfect For Kids</h2>
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/98055757/family-of-five-minature-doll-set" name="forkids"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-10140" height="200" src="http://codenamemama.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/earthslings-dolls-1-300x300.jpg" title="earthslings dolls 1" width="200" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.earthslings.com.au/">Earthslings</a> via <a href="http://codenamemama.com/2012/10/29/giveaway-earthslings/">Code Name: Mama</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.earthslings.com.au/">$35 Gift Certificate toward pouch slings, dolls, dress-up costumes, and more</a>
Shop now with coupon code KIDS2012 and get 10% off through December 31, 2012!</h4>
Earthslings began as a pouch sling company; Sam has since expanded to make pouch slings for you and your child, dolls, children's dress-up goodies, and much more! All of Sam's products are handcrafted from eco-friendly 100% natural fabrics, and where possible, she upcycles vintage fabrics into her creations. Our "attached family doll set" is soft, sweet, and just right for little hands. If your holiday shopping list includes mamas of little ones, be sure to take a look at the many pouch sling patterns and colors for <a href="http://earthslings.com.au/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1">mama</a> and <a href="http://earthslings.com.au/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=37_38">child</a>, the sweet selection of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/earthslings?section_id=11942559">dolls</a>, and the other toys and accessories Sam creates. Then swing by Code Name: Mama and read how to <a href="http://codenamemama.com/2012/09/23/baby-carriers-hip-carries/">wear your little one in a hip carry</a> in your brand new pouch sling.
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/Earthslings">Earthslings on Facebook</a> and comment on <a href="http://codenamemama.com/2011/11/16/activities-advent-calendar/">30+ Ideas for Activities Advent Calendars</a>, one of the informative posts at Code Name: Mama!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/pipandbean"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-27261" height="200" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/pipandbean.jpg" title="pipandbean" width="200" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/pipandbean" target="_blank">Pip & Bean</a> via <a href="http://www.hobomama.com/2012/10/giveaway-reversible-superhero-cape-kit-pip-bean.html" target="_blank">Hobo Mama</a> — Win a Superhero Kit: <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/90387497/superhero-cape-boys-reversible-blank" target="_blank">Reversible Cape</a>, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/91225848/super-hero-mask-match-your-pip-and-bean" target="_blank">Mask</a>, and <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/85013597/arm-bands-for-super-hero-super-hero-cape" target="_blank">Arm Bands</a> (ARV $25)</h4>
Visit <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/pipandbean" target="_blank">Pip & Bean</a> for <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/pipandbean?section_id=6875487" target="_blank">customized capes</a> and adorable dress-up costumes. You can buy <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/pipandbean?section_id=6875499" target="_blank">birthday party kits</a> or sets just right for siblings — or even <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/55872157/ring-bearer-ring-bearer-cape-wedding" target="_blank">weddings</a>! My five-year-old put on his cape, mask, and armbands — and then would not take them off, even to sleep. He loves flying around like the mini superhero he is! Stop by Hobo Mama to learn more about <a href="http://www.hobomama.com/2012/08/sunday-surf-shopping-with-batman.html" target="_blank">daily life with a superhero</a>.
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/pipandbeancom/112836517273">Pip & Bean on Facebook</a> and follow <a href="http://pinterest.com/hobomama/">Hobo Mama on Pinterest</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/wildarbutus" rel="attachment wp-att-27138"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-27138" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/wild_arbutus_hat_2-300x225.jpg" title="wild_arbutus_hat_2" width="200" /></a>
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<h4>
From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/wildarbutus">Wild Arbutus</a> via <a href="http://www.anktangle.com/2012/10/giveaway-baby-hat-or-toy-from-wild-arbutus-11-25-us-can.html">Anktangle</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/wildarbutus?section_id=11142269">Handmade Baby Hat</a> or <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/wildarbutus?section_id=10942925">Plush Crocheted Toy</a> (ARV $25)
Shop now with coupon code NPNGIFTS10 and get 10% off all orders through December 31, 2012!</h4>
Visit <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/wildarbutus">Wild Arbutus</a> for handcrafted crochet children's toys and knit baby and children's hats and headbands. Daniel and I love the knit hat Melissa custom created for him; it's adorable, functional, and fun and whimsical to boot! I keep eyeing the growing selection of toys in this shop, and I just know Daniel would love to play with his very own <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/90063976/amigurumi-crochet-nudibranch-sea-worm">snuggly nudibranch</a>. Stop by Anktangle for <a href="http://www.anktangle.com/search/label/gluten-free%20recipes">gluten-free recipes</a> to keep you going through the holiday season.
<strong>Be sure to like both <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wild-Arbutus/204536886305798?ref=ts&fref=ts">Wild Arbutus</a> and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/Anktangle">Anktangle</a> on Facebook!</strong>
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<a href="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/?attachment_id=27150" rel="attachment wp-att-27150"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-27150" height="150" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/soradninja.jpg" title="sorad " width="150" /></a>
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<h4>
From <a href="http://shopsorad.com/">SoRad</a> via <a href="http://ourfeministplayschool.ca/sorad-review-giveaway-goodness/">ourfeminist{play}school</a> — Win <a href="http://shopsorad.com/products-page/bodies/ninja-outfit/">a Ninja Sleep Set</a> (ARV $40)</h4>
Head over to <a href="http://shopsorad.com/">SoRad</a> to check out the eco-chic and totally wearable baby and kid's clothes - you will most definitely fall in love. Like the rest of her creations, the ninja outfit is made from bamboo fabric and is a great example of the many stunning pieces made by this Toronto designer who focuses on making clothing that is sustainable, local, trendy and comfy for our kiddos. I love the range of SoRad's designs: hoodies, <a href="http://shopsorad.com/products-page/pants/brown-yogas/">yoga pants,</a> <a href="http://shopsorad.com/products-page/dresses/">sundresses,</a> and <a href="http://shopsorad.com/products-page/bodies/long-sleeved-green-kimono-onesie/">kimono-style onesies</a> with the most adorable images and colours. Come by and visit me at <a href="http://ourfeministplayschool.ca/">ourfeminist{play}school</a> where I hope to lighten your holiday load by offering a variety of tutorials for making some quick but cute DIY holiday gifts for baby, toddler and adults!
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/sorad.sorad">SoRad on Facebook</a> and follow <a href="https://twitter.com/hisveganmama">ourfeminist{play}school on Twitter</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.seriouspuzzles.com/i5045.asp"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-10246" height="135" src="http://codenamemama.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/serious-puzzles.jpg" title="serious puzzles" width="180" /></a>
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<h4>
From <a href="http://www.seriouspuzzles.com/">Serious Puzzles</a> via <a href="http://www.mommajorje.com/2012/10/review-giveaway-serious-puzzles.html">Momma Jorje</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.seriouspuzzles.com/i5045.asp">Jumbo Numbers - 20pc Wooden Puzzle By Melissa & Doug</a> (ARV $20)</h4>
Serious Puzzles started as a small company in the basement and has grown to have 17 employees, but they still pride themselves on having that same personalized care they offered from the beginning. The Jumbo Numbers puzzle we received is proving to be educational, honing mental skills as well as fine motor skills. The thick chunky pieces make the puzzle very versatile for play. Serious Puzzles has every type of puzzle you could imagine, and you can shop for them by brand, theme, type, and number of pieces! Check out <a href="http://www.mommajorje.com/2011/12/monday-minimalist-giftmas.html" target="_blank" title="Momma Jorje - Monday Minimalist: Giftmas">Momma Jorje.com for minimalist holiday gift ideas</a>.
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/SeriousPuzzles">SeriousPuzzles.com on Facebook</a> and like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/MommaJorje">Momma Jorje on Facebook</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheEnchantedCupboard"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-27088" height="175" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/The-Enchanted-Cupboard-Logo-300x300.jpg" title="The Enchanted Cupboard Logo" width="175" /></a>
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<h4>
From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheEnchantedCupboard">The Enchanted Cupboard</a> via <a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com/2012/10/giveaway-20-gift-certificate-to.html">Hybrid Rasta Mama</a> — Win a $20 Gift Certificate!
Shop now with coupon code NPN and get 10% off your purchase through November 25, 2012!</h4>
Visit The Enchanted Cupboard, where you will find wonderful wooden toys, custom wedding cake toppers, wooden dolls, and playsets that work wonderfully with Waldorf nature tables, and a few enchanting things for the young at heart. My daughter and I have spent far too much time shopping at The Enchanted Cupboard and love everything we have ever purchased. The nature table items (especially the beautiful trees) are some of our favorites. I recently purchased this <a href="https://www.etsy.com/transaction/96095848">Thanksgiving Playset</a> and cannot wait for my daughter to enjoy it! Stop by <a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com/2011/08/creating-with-children-natureseasonal.html">Hybrid Rasta Mama</a> to read more about our seasonal/nature table!
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/TheEnchantedCupboard">The Enchanted Cupboard on Facebook</a> and tell us which recipe you'd like to try from <a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com/p/recipes.html">Hybrid Rasta Mama's recipes</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://store.ergobaby.com/"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-10248" height="200" src="http://codenamemama.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Ergobaby.jpg" title="Ergobaby" width="200" /></a>
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From <a href="http://store.ergobaby.com/">Ergobaby</a> via <a href="http://naturallifemom.com/2012/10/ergobaby-doll-carrier/">A Little Bit of All of It</a> — Win one of two <a href="http://store.ergobaby.com/Lifestyle_Accessories/Doll_Carrier">Ergobaby Doll Carriers</a> (ARV $25 x 2)</h4>
Visit Ergobaby for their <a href="http://blog.ergobaby.com/category/recognitions/">award-winning</a> baby carriers and other babywearing products. I'm excited they have a doll carrier version of their beloved carrier that my daughter got to try! It's a super cute replica of the real thing so she can be just like Mommy and Daddy. I personally have two Ergobaby carriers and and love them. You can read about <a href="http://naturallifemom.com/2012/09/my-ergo-love-affair/">my Ergo Love Affair</a> and see why I'm such a fan!
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ergobaby">Ergobaby on Facebook</a> and like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ALittleBitofAllofIt">A Little Bit of All of It on Facebook</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/bornathometoys" rel="attachment wp-att-27155"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-27155" height="200" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/fishing-set.jpg" title="fishing set giveaway" width="200" /></a>
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<h4>
From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/bornathometoys">Born at Home Toys</a> via <a href="http://www.thatmamagretchen.com/2012/10/giveaway-under-moon-fishing-set-from.html">That Mama Gretchen</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/100408231/under-the-moon-fishing-set">Fishing Set</a> (ARV $20)
Shop now with coupon code THATMAMA and get 10% off all orders through November 25, 2012!</h4>
Are you looking for home-crafted goodies for your little one this holiday season? Look no further than <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/bornathometoys">Born at Home Toys</a>! Non-toxic and all-natural, the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/100408231/under-the-moon-fishing-set">Under the Moon Fishing Set</a> is a real delight. It offers a great launch for children to imagine, play, and explore: the perfect ingredients for educational play. Born at Home Toys also offers beautifully crafted <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/BornAtHomeToys?section_id=8089149">animals</a>, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/BornAtHomeToys?section_id=8146174">teethers</a>, and <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/BornAtHomeToys?section_id=8102482">cars</a>. That Mama Gretchen (and the little ones that made her a mama) are big fans of Born at Home Toys!
<strong>Be sure to like Born at Home Toys <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BornAtHomeToys"> on Facebook</a> and like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ThatMamaGretchen/">That Mama Gretchen on Facebook</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.intuitionphysician.com/"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-27270" height="200" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/together-we-sleep.jpg" title="together we sleep" width="150" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.intuitionphysician.com/">Intuition Physician</a> via <a href="http://mommyingmyway.blogspot.com/2012/10/giveaway-together-we-sleep-cosleeping.html">Mommying My Way</a> — Win a Set of 2 Attachment Parenting-Related Children's Stories (ARV $34)</h4>
Visit Intuition Physician for high-quality, beautifully illustrated, creative stories, as well as many other medical resources. The cosleeping book, Together We Sleep, is an excellent story that my son and I love to read together. We both enjoy seeing all the animals and people of different cultures sharing sleep. Not only can you buy more books of this nature from her shop, but you can purchase for yourself, or as a gift, a personal consultation with Dr. Laura Koniver, Intuition Physician! Stop by <a href="http://www.mommyingmyway.blogspot.com/search/label/cosleeping">Mommying My Way to read more about why I love cosleeping</a> and, therefore, why this cosleeping book was so meaningful to me.
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/IntuitionPhysician">Intuition Physician on Facebook</a> and like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MommyingMyWay">Mommying My Way on Facebook</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/SophisticatedPlayApp"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-10257" height="168" src="http://codenamemama.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Sophisticated-Play-Apparel.jpg" title="Sophisticated Play Apparel" width="167" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/SophisticatedPlayApp?ref=pr_shop_more">Sophisticated Play Apparel</a> via <a href="http://wp.me/p2L387-1oy">Living Peacefully with Children</a> — Win a <a href="http://wp.me/p2L387-1oy">Matching Set of Toddler Wrist Warmers and Cowl</a> (ARV $34)
Shop now with coupon code livingpeacefully and get 15% off all orders through January 5, 2013!</h4>
Sophisticated Play Apparel uses natural fibers to make wearable art. Check out their <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/SophisticatedPlayApp?ref=pr_shop_more">Etsy shop</a> for other products such as the little kimono baby booties. Stop by <a href="http://livingpeacefullywithchildren.com/2012/10/08/easy-ribbed-wrist-warmers/">Living Peacefully with Children</a> and start making some quick and easy ribbed wrist warmers for friends and family.
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sophisticated-Play-Apparel/259454720811187">Sophisticated Play Apparel on Facebook</a> and subscribe to <a href="http://livingpeacefullywithchildren.com/feed">Living Peacefully with Children via RSS</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/people/DesertDyeworks"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-27098" height="150" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Desert-Dyeworks-Logo.jpg" title="Desert Dyeworks Logo" width="150" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/people/DesertDyeworks">Desert Dye Works</a> via <a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com/2012/10/giveaway-30-gift-certificate-from.html">Hybrid Rasta Mama</a> — Win a $30 Gift Certificate!</h4>
Visit Desert Dye Works where you will find some brilliantly dyed play silks in all sizes, large play canopies, silk dress up items, and prayer flags. I recently received the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/90049948/the-ocean-playsilk-set-of-three" target="_blank">Ocean Playsilk Set of Three</a> and have been enjoying watching my daughter find creative ways to turn these gorgeous silks into an elaborate deep sea adventure! Stop by <a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com/">Hybrid Rasta Mama</a> to read more about some of my favorite resources including Desert Dye Works playsilks!
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/DesertDyeworks">Desert Dye Works on Facebook</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/HybridRastaMama">follow Hybrid Rasta Mama on Twitter</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/jupiterschild" rel="attachment wp-att-27125"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-27125" height="166" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/jumprope.jpg" title="jumprope" width="166" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/jupiterschild">Jupiter's Child</a>, via <a href="http://downsideupandoutsidein.blogspot.com/2012/10/giveaway-rainbow-jumprope-from-jupiters.html">Downside Up and Outside In</a> — Win a beautiful hand dyed, hand spliced <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/109061151/8-ft-single-jump-rope-skipping-rope-hand">rainbow colored jump rope</a> (ARV $25)</h4>
We have had so much fun relearning to jump rope and teaching our daughter the art of it with this beautiful toy. This is a toy that yes children outside and moving, plus it is great for helping develop coordination and is more fun when shared! Jupiter's Child offers their gorgeous jump ropes in a variety of hand dyed colors, and carry many other exquisite toys, such as their beautiful <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/61464537/carved-wooden-animals-set-of-10-waldorf">carved wooden animals set</a> which my little one will be getting for Solstice this year.
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jupiters-Child/309732757358">Jupiter's Child on Facebook</a> and follow <a href="http://www.networkedblogs.com/blog/downside-up-and-outside-in/popup">Downside Up and Outside In on Networked Blogs</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/LeoandLola" rel="attachment wp-att-27124"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-27124" height="166" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/leo-and-leola.jpg" title="leoandlola" width="194" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.facebook.com/LeoandLola">LeoandLola</a> via <a href="http://firmlyplantedblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/giveaway-50-giftcard-from-leoandlola.html">Firmly Planted</a> — Win a $50 Gift Card!
Shop now with coupon code NPNFREE and get free domestic shipping through November 25, 2012!</h4>
Ashley at LeoandLola creates the sweetest onesies, t-shirts and dresses, but what I really love her for is her upcycled dresses, made from old t-shirts. We’ve collected a few of her items over the years and have never been displeased. They’re high quality and made with love. Ashley’s newest endevor is these amazing <a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=534746709875121&set=a.410370222312771.110491.159913197358476&type=3&theater">seed packet tees</a>! Visit <a href="http://www.anktangle.com/2012/03/diy-projects-tutorials-recipes-and-more.html">Anktangle for a whole list of different DIY tutorials. </a>
<strong>Be sure to like both <a href="http://www.facebook.com/LeoandLola">LeoandLola</a> and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/firmlyplantedblog">Firmly Planted</a> on Facebook!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Anktangle"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-10251" height="147" src="http://codenamemama.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Anktangle-Creations.jpg" title="Anktangle Creations" width="175" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Anktangle">Anktangle Creations</a> via <a href="http://naturallifemom.com/2012/10/anktangle-creations-baby-leggings-holiday-gift-guide">A Little Bit of All of It</a> — Win a $20 gift certificate</h4>
Visit Anktangle Creations for high-quality, handmade gifts for baby, home, and family. I've been so pleased with the baby leggings that Amy created for me. They are so versatile, adorable, and I use them all the time on my infant son and preschool daughter. The next thing I plan on buying from Amy is a pair of her awesome <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Anktangle?section_id=10769163">ear warmers</a> for the winter months! Stop by <a href="http://naturallifemom.com/2011/02/how-i-cloth-diaper-part-1/" target="_blank">A Little Bit of All of It</a> to learn how I cloth diapered my daughter.
<strong>Be sure to "favorite" <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Anktangle">Anktangle on Etsy</a> and subscribe to <a href="http://naturallifemom.com/">A Little Bit of All of It via email</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/HowellsProducts"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-27323" height="150" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/howells-300x225.jpg" title="howells" width="200" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/HowellsProducts">Howells Natural Wood Products</a> via <a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com/2012/10/giveaway-block-set-from-howells-natural.html">Hybrid Rasta Mama</a> — Win a set of solid, natural building blocks (ARV $33)
Shop now with coupon code HRM10 and get 10% off your purchase through November 25, 2012!</h4>
Visit Howells Natural Products where you will find wonderful natural wood block sets in all sizes, wooden puzzles, and even some gorgeous wooden drink coasters. I have had my eye on this <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/100518151/18-piece-roof-set-add-on-to-any-of-my">18 Piece Roof Set</a>! I think it makes a great addition to any block set! Stop by <a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com/p/guest-posts-i-have-written.html">Hybrid Rasta Mama</a> to read some of the guest posts I have written about the importance of simple, natural toys like these blocks!
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/HowellsWoodProducts">Howell's Wood Products on Facebook</a> and <a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss">subscribe to Hybrid Rasta Mama via RSS</a>!</strong>
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<a href="https://www.mobywrap.com/"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-10252" height="200" src="http://codenamemama.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Moby.jpg" title="Moby" width="108" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.mobywrap.com/">Moby</a> via <a href="http://naturallifemom.com/2012/10/mini-moby-giveaway/">A Little Bit of All of It</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.mobywrap.com/p-18-mini-moby.aspx">Mini Moby Doll Carrier</a> and <a href="http://www.mobywrap.com/p-222-knot-hats.aspx">Knot Hat</a> (ARV $21)
Shop now with coupon code blogger2012 and get 10% off one item through November 25, 2012!</h4>
Visit Moby for the popular stretchy wrap that millions of moms love. The Mini Moby is a really neat way for my daughter to play with her stuffed animals. And I love putting the super soft Moby Knot Hat on my son now that the weather is cooling off. I'd love to also get him one of the <a href="http://www.mobywrap.com/p-269-retro-knit-ball-cap.aspx?entityName=Ocean/Sand">retro knit ball caps</a>! Stop by <a href="http://naturallifemom.com/2012/09/the-moby-wrap/">A Little Bit of All of It to see why I love my Moby Wrap.</a>
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MobyWrap">Moby on Facebook</a> and follow <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/JuliaLittleBit/">A Little Bit of All of It on Twitter</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/?attachment_id=27152" rel="attachment wp-att-27152"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-27152" height="150" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/wooden-play-money.jpg" title="wooden play money" width="150" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.wisedaughters.com/">Wise Daughters Craft Market</a> via <a href="http://ourfeministplayschool.ca/giveaway-9-99-arv-11-25-world-wide">ourfeminist{play}school</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/playmemamacrafts?section_id=10111423">set of wooden play money!</a> (ARV $20)</h4>
Visit this shop in Toronto to grab everything on your crafty holiday gift list; among the wares of over 75 hosted artists and crafters, you are bound to find an array of treasures and treats in this studio-esque shop. We have enjoyed many a treasure from Wise Daughters, but these wooden coins and dollars made from <a href="http://thewoodlot.org/">The Woodlot</a> are insanely adorable, so much fun, and top of our list of current favourite learning toys. Toys that inspire learning and imaginative play can only be made even more amazing when they are constructed from reclaimed wood! Wise Daughters is brimming with handmade goodies such as stuffed owls made from reclaimed sweaters, stunning silk screened t-shirts, men's ties, and some lovely handmade notebooks. Come and visit me over at <a href="http://ourfeministplayschool.ca/">ourfeminist{play}school</a> and I will show you how to make a few toys for your own lovely kiddos just in time for the holidays!
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/wisedaughterscraft">Wise Daughters Craft Market on Facebook</a> and follow <a href="http://pinterest.com/hisveganmama/">ourfeminist{play}school on Pinterest</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.zmangames.com/"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-10259" height="194" src="http://codenamemama.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Z-Man-Games.jpg" title="Z-Man Games" width="140" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.zmangames.com/">Z-Man Games</a> via <a href="http://livingpeacefullywithchildren.com/">Living Peacefully with Children</a> — 2 Winners will receive a copy of the board game <a href="http://wp.me/p2L387-1oe">Mondo</a> (ARV $40 x 2)</h4>
Z-Man Games has a history of making quality games and Mondo is no exception. Families will enjoy spending time together as they play this fun tile game. I know we have! Next on our list is Z-Man Games' Agricola. Stop by <a href="http://livingpeacefullywithchildren.com/2011/12/02/the-gift-of-presence/">Living Peacefully with Children</a> and read about some ways to give the gift of presence!
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/zmangames">Z-Man Games on Facebook</a> and like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/LivingPeacefullyWithChildren">Living Peacefully with Children on Facebook</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/RainbowSouffle"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-27297" height="200" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/RainowSouffleRevised.jpg" title="RainowSouffleRevised" width="138" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/RainbowSouffle">RainbowSouffle</a> via <a href="http://naturallifemom.com/2012/10/rainbow-souffle/">A Little Bit of All of It</a> — Win a $20 Gift Certificate
Shop now with coupon code FREESHIP and get free shipping on any item through November 25, 2012!</h4>
Visit RainbowSouffle for a variety of colorful items for your little ones. The ring sling doll carrier is a beautiful hand-dyed cotton gauze piece perfect for your child to carry their playthings. The lovely wooden whirlydoll is such a fun, unique toy that's a blast for kids to run around with. RainbowSouffle also carries costumes, clothing, vintage items and <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/112337209/forager-basket-handmade-traditional">handmade forager baskets</a>! Stop by <a href="http://naturallifemom.com/2012/09/the-maya-wrap/">A Little Bit of All of It for my thoughts on the Maya Wrap, an adult ring sling.</a>
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Rainbowsouffle">RainbowSouffle on Facebook</a> and follow <a href="http://pinterest.com/julamber/">A Little Bit of All of It on Pinterest</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://knotgenie.com/"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-10256" height="175" src="http://codenamemama.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Knot-Genie.jpg" title="Knot Genie" width="175" /></a>
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From <a href="http://knotgenie.com/">Knot Genie</a> via <a href="http://wp.me/p2L387-1nO">Living Peacefully with Children</a> — Win a <a href="http://wp.me/p2L387-1nO">Knot Genie Detangle Brush</a> (ARV $20)
Shop now with coupon code living and get $4 off all orders through November 25, 2012!</h4>
Visit Knot Genie for tips and tricks on how to get out the tangles without tears. Those tricks, along with our new Knot Genie detangling brush now have both my children and myself tear free. Stop by <a href="http://livingpeacefullywithchildren.com/2010/11/08/eight-gifts-of-kindness/">Living Peacefully with Children</a> an read about the eight gifts of kindness.
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/KnotGenie">Knot Genie on Facebook</a> and subscribe to <a href="http://livingpeacefullywithchildren.com/"> Living Peacefully with Children via email!</a></strong>
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<a href="http://www.stubbypencilstudio.com/"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-27208" height="134" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Stubby-Pencil-Giveaway.jpg" title="Stubby Pencil Giveaway" width="200" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.stubbypencilstudio.com/">Stubby Pencil Studio</a> via <a href="http://vibrantwanderings.com/2012/10/giveaway-box-of-eco-friendly-art-supplies-from-stubby-pencil-studio-60-arv-11-25-ww.html">Vibrant Wanderings</a> — Win $60 worth of <a href="http://www.stubbypencilstudio.com/category/ANCR/art-materials/1.html">Eco Friendly Art Materials</a>. (ARV $60)
Shop now with coupon code SAVE15 and get 15% off of your purchase through November 30, 2012!</h4>
<a href="http://www.stubbypencilstudio.com/">Stubby Pencil Studio</a>, an online company founded and run by a mom of twins, sells a variety of safe and eco friendly art materials, stationery, school supplies, and unique gifts that kids love. Stubby Pencil is offering a great sampling of their <a href="http://www.stubbypencilstudio.com/category/ANCR/art-materials/1.html">eco friendly art materials</a>, including: colored pencils, crayon rocks, watercolors, botanical paints, sidewalk chalk, and a set of eco highlighters. What's so great about these products is that they're safe enough to give even to the youngest artists - some are even vegan and gluten free! Stubby Pencil Studio is a great place to shop around the holidays because they offer an amazing variety of creative and eco friendly gifts for under $10. <a href="http://www.vibrantwanderings.com/">Vibrant Wanderings</a> is a blog about living, learning, and parenting with a Montessori twist.
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/StubbyPencilStudio">Stubby Pencil Studio on Facebook</a> and like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/VibrantWanderings">Vibrant Wanderings on Facebook</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/WoolyTopic"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-27266" height="175" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/woolytopicrocks-300x225.jpeg" title="woolytopicrocks" width="200" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/WoolyTopic">Wooly Topic</a> via <a href="http://ourcrazycorneroftheworld.blogspot.com/2012/10/waldorf-inspired-set-of-six-wool-rock.html">Our Crazy Corner of the World</a> — Win a set of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/110762334/waldorf-inspiredset-of-6-wool-rock-pods">6 Wool Rock Pods</a> (ARV $36)
Shop now with coupon code celebration10 and get 10% off your purchase from October 26, 2012, until December 30, 2012!</h4>
Wooly Topic is a Canadian-based company making home decor and Waldorf-inspired toys out of locally purchased, hand-dyed wool. They are dedicated to making eco-friendly and natural products for the home (such as their lavender dryer balls), as well as safe toys for little ones. The <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/110762334/waldorf-inspiredset-of-6-wool-rock-pods">wool rock pods</a> are colorful and bright, very eye-catching to any child. They are great at encouraging imagination and creativity through play. Visit <a href="http://ourcrazycorneroftheworld.blogspot.com/">Our Crazy Corner of the World</a> for a review and giveaway of this great toy!
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/NeedleFeltedWoolBallSets">Wooly Topic on Facebook</a> and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/OurCrazyCornerOfTheWorld">Our Crazy Corner of the World on Facebook</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/84338558/the-ladybug-wooden-toy"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-10219" height="150" src="http://codenamemama.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/dominna-ladybug-1-300x201.jpg" title="dominna ladybug 1" width="200" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Dominna">Dominna</a> via <a href="http://codenamemama.com/2012/10/28/giveaway-dominna/">Code Name: Mama</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Dominna">$30 Gift Certificate toward handmade Latvian toys</a></h4>
Dominna is full of beautiful, handmade toys from faraway Latvia. Each piece is crafted with love in brilliant colors and quality materials. Dominna's owner, Katrina, hand picks each toy to engage your child's spirit and her brain - creativity and learning are very important to Katrina. We love our ladybug wooden toy, but I also recommend that parents of toddlers and preschoolers check out the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/84467660/the-cheerful-wooden-caterpillar-age-2-4">cheerful wooden caterpillar</a>, the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/84469486/the-counting-educational-wooden-sticks">rainbow of counting sticks</a>, and the many <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Dominna?section_id=10782089">beautiful block games</a> available at Dominna. If you're looking for more fun educational activities this holiday season, check out the <a href="http://codenamemama.com/category/carnival-series/learning-activity-series/">themed activity series</a> at Code Name: Mama for a variety of ideas.
<strong>Be sure to favorite <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Dominna/favoriters?ref=actions_favorited_leftnav">Dominna on Etsy</a> and follow <a href="http://twitter.com/codenamemama">Code Name: Mama on Twitter</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/lucylocketcreations"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-27256" height="114" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/dragon-tail-300x171.jpg" title="dragon tail" width="200" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/lucylocketcreations">Lucy Locket Creations</a> via <a href="http://theartfulmama.com/2012/10/giveaway-fantasy-tail-from-lucy-locket-creations/">The Artful Mama</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/112853601/dragon-or-dinosaur-de-tachable-tail">Dragon or Dinosaur De-tachable Tail</a> (ARV $20)
Shop now with coupon code HANDMADE and get 15% off your purchase until November 30, 2012!</h4>
Visit Lucy Locket Creations for high-quality, handmade pillows, sheets, kitchen items, and other delightful fabric creations. Little Man has had so much fun with the detachable tail from Lucy Locket's. He plays non-stop with it and we've even enjoyed dressing Little #2 with it for photo opportunities. The next thing I plan on buying from Lucy Locket's is a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/111317141/childrens-cloth-counting-number-set">Children's Cloth Counting Set</a>! Stop by <a href="http://theartfulmama.com/">The Artful Mama</a> to see a few of the handmade items I'm gifting this holiday season.
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lucy-locket-creations/274417492576803">Lucy Locket Creations on Facebook</a> and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/theartsymama">The Artful Mama on Facebook</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://kidcultureboutique.blogspot.ca/"><img align="right" alt="" class="wp-image-27149 alignright" height="180" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/capegood.jpg" title="cape giveaway from kidcultlure via ourfeministplayschool" width="180" /></a>
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From <a href="http://kidcultureboutique.blogspot.ca/">Kid Culture</a> via <a href="http://ourfeministplayschool.ca/kid-culture-review-giveaway-goodness">ourfeminist{play}school</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/playmemamacrafts?section_id=10111423">Superhero Cape</a> for your Lil' Superhero! (ARV $20)</h4>
Visit Kid Culture in Toronto for an outstanding collection of hand-curated clothes, crafts and toys for your hipster family. My 3 year old son is in love with his repurposed superhero cape - not only is it eco-friendly, it sparks so much imaginary play! This fanciful and comfy cape is made by <a href="http://playmemamacrafts.com/">Play Me Mama Crafts</a> and is one of the hundreds of treasures to be found in this magical shop - one of my absolute favourites in Toronto. We have so many fun things from Kid Culture, including some underpants from <a href="http://www.thecandifactory.com/">the candi factory</a>, a great little coin purse, a wooden car, and a variety of the kitty buttons and cards from Toronto designer <a href="http://cathypengart.blogspot.ca/">Cathy Peng</a>. After you've visited Kid Culture, come on over to <a href="http://ourfeministplayschool.ca/">ourfeminist{play}school</a> to check out the great 'make and take' tutorials I am sharing to help you gear up for the holiday season.
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kid-Culture/278589742166492">Kid Culture on Facebook</a> and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ourfeministplayschool">ourfeminist{play}school on Facebook</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Nushkie"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-27331" height="150" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/puzzle-300x224.jpg" title="puzzle" width="200" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Nushkie">Nushkie</a> via <a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com/2012/10/giveaway-gift-set-from-wooly-moss-roots.html">Hybrid Rasta Mama</a> — Win a 54 piece Jigsaw Puzzle of your choice (ARV $24)</h4>
Visit Nushkie where you will find Waldorf-inspired needle felted wool angels, fairies, gnomes, elf figures, wall hangings, decor and wearable art for the child at heart! Perfect for Steiner nature tables, holidays, birthdays, teacher gifts, baby showers and blessing ways, and memorials. This is one of my favorite shops on Earth! So many pieces of art from Nushkie adorn our walls and our nature table. I recently purchased this <a href="https://www.etsy.com/transaction/75095459">Custom Ocean Playscape</a> and can honestly say that it is so beautiful that is made me cry when I first saw it! Since Nushkie's works are Waldorf inspired, be sure to stop by <a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com/2012/03/three-beautiful-waldorf-inspired.html">Hybrid Rasta Mama</a> to learn more about the Waldorf birthday traditions. Keep Nushkie in mind for unique birthday gifts.
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NushkieDesign">Nushkie Design on Facebook</a> and leave a comment on <a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com/2012/08/333-Uses-For-Coconut-Oil.html">333 Uses For Coconut Oil</a>, one of the informative posts on Hybrid Rasta Mama!</strong>
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<a href="http://playfulplanet.com/store/video/storyland-yoga.html" rel="attachment wp-att-27154"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-27154" height="200" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/beach-sun-sal_1.jpg" title="photocredit: storyland yoga dvd " width="200" /></a>
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From <a href="http://playfulplanet.com/" target="_blank" title="Playful Planet">Playful Planet</a> via <a href="http://presenceparenting.com/" target="_blank" title="Presence Parenting">Presence Parenting</a> — Win a <a href="http://playfulplanet.com/store/storyland-yoga.html" target="_blank" title="Storyland Yoga DVD">Storyland Yoga DVD</a> (ARV $15)
Shop now with coupon code NPN20 and get 20% off of your purchase through November 25, 2012!</h4>
Playful Planet blends the excitement of stories and the benefits of yoga with conscious living practices to nurture families worldwide. The kids and I love following along with the stories to help a beached whale and momma bird who has lost her eggs while exercising our bodies. Sharing yoga with the kids helps me get in a good stretch while we build healthy connections (and habits) together. If you would like something to help you and the kids relax during all of the commotion, check out Playful Planet's <a href="http://playfulplanet.com/store/e-books.html" target="_blank">very reasonably priced ebooks</a>. And while you're at it, stop by Presence Parenting for some ideas on <a href="http://presenceparenting.com/enjoying-busy-times/" target="_blank" title="Enjoying Busy Times Moment by Moment">how to enjoy busy times moment by moment this (or any) holiday season</a>.
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PlayfulPlanet">Playful Planet on Facebook</a> and subscribe to <a href="http://presenceparenting.com/">Presence Parenting</a> via email !</strong>
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<a href="http://www.mamamayishop.com/products/story-starters"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-10083" height="150" src="http://codenamemama.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/mama-may-i-story-2-300x224.jpg" title="mama may i story 2" width="200" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.mamamayishop.com/collections/all">Mama May I</a> via <a href="http://codenamemama.com/2012/10/30/giveaway-story-starters-game/">Code Name: Mama</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.mamamayishop.com/products/story-starters">Story Starters Game</a> (ARV $25)
Shop now with coupon code NPNHOLIDAY and get 10% off through December 31, 2012!</h4>
Each piece in Mama May I has been thoughtfully designed to nurture children's development through open-ended play. Our Story Starters game was created to develop storytelling prowess and encourage your little one to stretch her imagination. Jessica creates colorful, quality toys from natural materials, and she is inspired by Montessori, Waldorf and other learning-through-play philosophies. Fall in love with her <a href="http://www.mamamayishop.com/collections/pre-school/products/handmade-wooden-balance-birds">balance birds</a>, <a href="http://www.mamamayishop.com/collections/pre-school/products/color-square">color squares</a>, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/88886802/little-people-rainbow-world-a-montessori">little people rainbow world</a>, and more. Once you have your new Story Starters game, stop by Code Name: Mama to find <a href="http://codenamemama.com/2010/06/24/toddler-storytelling/">creative ways to encourage little ones to tell stories</a> and capture those stories as keepsakes.
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/mamamayishop">Mama May I on Facebook</a> and follow <a href="http://pinterest.com/CodeNameMama/">Code Name: Mama on Pinterest</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.birchleafdesigns.etsy.com/"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-27259" height="200" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/birchleaf.jpg" title="birchleaf" width="200" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.birchleafdesigns.etsy.com/" target="_blank">BirchLeaf Designs</a> via <a href="http://www.hobomama.com/2012/10/giveaway-2-playsilks-from-birchleaf-designs.html" target="_blank">Hobo Mama</a> — Win 2 <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/birchleafdesigns?section_id=6146409" target="_blank">Hand-Dyed Playsilks</a> (ARV $26)
Shop now with coupon code NPN and get 10% off through November 25, 2012!</h4>
Visit <a href="http://www.birchleafdesigns.etsy.com/" target="_blank">BirchLeaf Designs</a> for hand-crafted and whimsical playthings made from natural materials like wood and fabrics. The <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/birchleafdesigns?section_id=6146409" target="_blank">high-quality playsilks</a> they sent me are gorgeously deep colors, and my kids love the creative ways they can play with them! My sons would also get a kick out of BirchLeaf's <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/61588081/wooden-dagger-and-leather-sheath-with" target="_blank">wooden dagger and leather sheath</a>. Stop by Hobo Mama for ideas on <a href="http://www.hobomama.com/2012/05/daily-toy-bins-storage-play-solution.html" target="_blank">how to organize those glorious playthings</a> and <a href="http://www.hobomama.com/search/label/play" target="_blank">my family's play experiences</a>.
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/birchleafdesigns">BirchLeaf Designs on Facebook</a> and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/HoboMamaBlog">Hobo Mama on Facebook</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/cashmerecuddles"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-27271" height="150" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/cashmere-cuddles.jpeg" title="cashmere cuddles" width="150" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/cashmerecuddles">Cashmere Cuddles</a> via <a href="http://www.amywilla.com/2012/10/cuddles-for-kids-doll-carrier-from-cashmere-cuddles-25-arv-uscan">Amy Willa: Me, Mothering, and Making it All Work</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/cashmerecuddles?section_id=5537428">Cuddles for Kids Doll Carrier</a> (ARV $25)</h4>
Visit Cashmere Cuddles for high-quality, lovingly handmade baby carriers, doll carriers, and kids' whimsy items. My four year old daughter loves her Cuddles for Kids Doll Carrier, and I love how imaginative play with the carrier promotes responsibility and a sense of nurture within her. Easy to use and easy to wash, what a great gift for a child - for the holidays or anytime! Stop by <a href="http://www.amywilla.com/category/creating-for-the-family/">Me, Mothering, and Making it All Work to read about creating for the family this holiday season and everyday!</a>
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cashmere-Cuddles/77911223056">Cashmere Cuddles on Facebook</a> and subscribe to <a href="http://www.amywilla.com/">Amy Willa via email</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/MonCherPug"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-27257" height="134" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/moncherpug-300x200.jpg" title="moncherpug" width="200" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/MonCherPug">MonCherPug</a> via <a href="http://theartfulmama.com/2012/10/giveaway-organic-stuffed-pug-from-mon-cher-pug-45-arv-us/">The Artful Mama</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/110975334/organic-miniature-mon-cher-pug-made-from">Organic Miniature Pug</a> (ARV $45)</h4>
Visit MonCherPugs for high-quality, handmade pugs made by artist A. Nichelle. Little Man has had so much fun with his pug that he named Hungry. He plays non-stop with it and we've taken it everywhere. The next thing I plan on buying from MonCherPug's is a matching <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/111877812/organic-miniature-mon-cher-pug-made-from">Organic Miniature Pug</a> for Little #2! Stop by <a href="http://theartfulmama.com/">The Artful Mama</a> to see what other fun we are having this holiday season.
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/MonCherPug">MonCherPug on Facebook</a> and comment on <a href="http://theartfulmama.com/2012/09/breastfeeding-babywearing-awesome/">"Breastfeeding & Babywearing - It's Awesome!" at The Artful Mama</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/SnapdragonFortress" rel="attachment wp-att-27140"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-27140" height="150" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/wool_kitten-150x150.jpg" title="wool_kitten" width="150" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/SnapdragonFortress">Snapdragon Fortress</a> via <a href="http://www.anktangle.com/2012/10/giveaway-wool-kitten-from-snapdragon-fortress-11-25-worldwide.html">Anktangle</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/91335297/natural-toy-kitten-charcoal-color-knit">Knit Wool Kitten</a> (ARV $20)!</h4>
Visit <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/SnapdragonFortress">Snapdragon Fortress</a> for eco-friendly wooden toys, teethers, knit wool stuffed animals, quality natural Waldorf dolls, and more! Daniel has enjoyed playing with his sweet little knit wool kitten! I like little toys like this one so much because they foster imaginative play, and it's really nice to know that it's made of all-natural materials. I know Daniel would also enjoy playing with one of the beautiful <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/SnapdragonFortress?section_id=10265177">Waldorf Dolls</a> available from this shop. Visit Anktangle to learn more about how easy and beneficial it can be to <a href="http://www.anktangle.com/2011/11/i-love-wool-lanolizing-tutorial.html">cloth diaper with wool</a>.
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/SnapdragonFortress">Snapdragon Fortress on Facebook</a> and follow <a href="http://pinterest.com/anktangle/">Amy of Anktangle on Pinterest</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/yarnsandstorys"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-27267" height="175" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/yarns-300x225.jpeg" title="yarns" width="200" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/yarnsandstorys">Yarns and Storys</a> via <a href="http://ourcrazycorneroftheworld.blogspot.com/2012/10/giveaway-30-giftcard-from-yarns-and.html">Our Crazy Corner of the World</a> — Win a store credit worth $30, for an item of your choice at <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/yarnsandstorys">Yarns and Storys</a>
Shop now with coupon code NPN10 and get 10% off your purchase until November 25, 2012!</h4>
Yarns and Storys is owned by Robyn, SAHM mother of two, selling hand spun and hand-dyed fibers, as well as hats, scarves and other clothing items. Her products are hand made and use with local fibers. Robyn sent me a beautiful hat, knitted specifically for the cold South Dakota winters. It's warm, soft and the colors are bright and perfectly suited for fall and winter. Please stop by <a href="http://ourcrazycorneroftheworld.blogspot.com/">Our Crazy Corner of the World</a> to get details about how you can win a $30 giftcard to Yarns and Storys.
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Yarns-and-Storys/131134096937290">Yarns and Storys on Facebook</a> and leave a comment on <a href="http://ourcrazycorneroftheworld.blogspot.com/2012/05/what-ap-looks-like.html">What AP Looks Like</a>, one of the honest posts at Our Crazy Corner of the World!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/YellowElm"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-27213" height="166" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Felt-Headband.jpg" title="Felt Headband" width="250" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/YellowElm">Yellow Elm</a> via <a href="http://www.mothersofchange.com/?p=756">Mothers of Change</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/93250013/peaceful-garden-headband-in-yellow">handmade felted flower headband</a> (ARV $20)
Shop now with coupon code HANDMADEHOLIDAY15 and get 15% off all orders through December 31, 2012!</h4>
Visit <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/YellowElm" title="Yellow Elm">Yellow Elm</a> to find beautiful felted pieces: handcrafted art that you can wear everyday. Yellow Elm specializes in <a href="http://http//www.etsy.com/shop/YellowElm?section_id=8035006" target="_blank">headbands</a>, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/YellowElm?section_id=8035015" target="_blank">hair clips, and brooches</a>, and also offers other beautiful items such as necklaces and wool dryer balls. We love the attention to detail in our handmade felted flower headband!
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/YellowElm">Yellow Elm on Facebook</a> and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/mothersofchange">Mothers of Change on Facebook</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.barefootbooks.com/" rel="attachment wp-att-27133"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-27133" height="166" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/barefoot-books.jpg" title="barefoot books" width="162" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.barefootbooks.com/">Barefoot Books</a> via <a href="http://downsideupandoutsidein.blogspot.com/2012/10/mama-panyas-pancakes-from-barefoot.html">Downside Up And Outside In</a> — Win a book of your choosing from independent children's book publishers, Barefoot Books! (ARV $25)</h4>
We absolutely love <a href="http://store.barefootbooks.com/mama-panya-s-pancakes-2.html">the book</a> they sent us, and it has helped us talk to our daughter about diversity, why we try to prevent wastefulness, and the meaning of family. You could pick This beautiful book called <a href="http://store.barefootbooks.com/the-barefoot-book-of-mother-daughter-tales%20html">The Barefoot Book of Mother and Daughter Tales</a>, and discover stories of mothers and daughters from cultures around the world, or <a href="http://store.barefootbooks.com/the-barefoot-book-of-earth-tales.html">The Barefoot Book Of Earth Tales</a>, and learn about different families and cultures and the ways they love the planet. Whatever you chose you are sure to find a new book that your children will love and you enjoy reading to them for years to come.
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Be sure to like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/barefootbooks/">Barefoot Books on Facebook</a> and follow <a href="http://twitter.com/Rainbowsouffle">Rainbosouffle on Twitter</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.tutuzone.com/"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-27260" height="150" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nutcracker.jpg" title="nutcracker" width="150" /></a>
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From <a href="http://primaprincessa.com/" target="_blank">Prima Princessa</a> via <a href="http://www.hobomama.com/2012/10/giveaway-3-nutcracker-kids-ballet-dvds-prima-princessa.html" target="_blank">Hobo Mama</a> — Win one of 3 copies of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002VJ05CQ/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002VJ05CQ&linkCode=as2&tag=natuparenetw-20" target="_blank"><i>Prima Princessa Presents: The Nutcracker</i> kids ballet DVD</a> (ARV $7 x 3)</h4>
Visit <a href="http://www.tutuzone.com/" target="_blank">Prima Princessa</a> for engaging DVDs that bring real ballets and ballet moves and language down to a kid's level. We have the complete set now: <em>The Nutcracker, Swan Lake</em>, and <em>Sleeping Beauty</em>. I love how the DVDs combine footage of children dancing freely with class sessions showing the steps, examples of the steps in the real world, and a summary of an actual company stage production of a famous ballet. Stop by Hobo Mama to find out <a href="http://www.hobomama.com/2009/12/why-i-want-my-son-to-take-ballet.html" target="_blank">why I want my son to take ballet classes</a> and <a href="http://www.hobomama.com/2010/04/hello-im-dancer.html" target="_blank">why I take ballet myself</a>.
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Prima-Princessa/158110384219540">Prima Princessa on Facebook</a> and follow <a href="https://twitter.com/Hobo_Mama">Hobo Mama on Twitter</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/people/ElementalHandcrafts"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-27333" height="132" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/elemental-300x198.jpg" title="elemental" width="200" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/people/ElementalHandcrafts">Elemental Handcrafts</a> via <a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com/2012/10/giveaway-gift-set-from-elemental.html">Hybrid Rasta Mama</a> — Win a personalized wooden ball/spoon set with a magnet (ARV $33)</h4>
Visit Elemental Handcrafts where you will find some incredible felted wool breastfeeding dolls, wool sculptures and treasures, magnets, knitting needles, play mats, suncatchers, and much more. I have had my eye on this <a href="http://www.etsy.com/transaction/94984764">Breastfeeding Toddler Doll</a> which I think makes a special weaning remembrance! I am also loving the personalized wooden spoon with my daughter’s name intricately engraved on it! The wood is gorgeous as is the craftsmanship! Stop by <a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com/search/label/breastfeeding">Hybrid Rasta Mama</a> to read some of my breastfeeding posts!
<strong>Be sure to favorite <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/ElementalHandcrafts">Elemental Handcrafts on Etsy</a> and <a href="http://pinterest.com/hybridrastamama/">follow Hybrid Rasta Mama on Pinterest</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/AveryleeKids" rel="attachment wp-att-27156"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-27156" height="150" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/averylee-150x150.jpg" title="averylee giveaway" width="150" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/AveryleeKids">Averylee Kids</a> via <a href="http://www.thatmamagretchen.com/2012/10/giveaway-custom-baby-boots-and-owl.html">That Mama Gretchen</a> — Win <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/AveryleeKids?section_id=12137578">Baby Booties</a> and an <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/AveryleeKids?section_id=11892016">Owl Taggie</a> (ARV $35)
Shop now with coupon code FREEKIDS and get Free Shipping through November 25, 2012!</h4>
"Made by Moms, for Moms" is the tagline of the adorable shop, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/AveryleeKids">Averylee Kids</a>. Their sweet lil' <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/AveryleeKids?section_id=12137578">boots</a> and sensory <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/AveryleeKids?section_id=11892016">owl taggies</a> are sewn with great care. Plus, Averylee Kids accepts custom requests for all their products so don't hesitate to check out the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/AveryleeKids?section_id=11167667">quilts</a>, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/AveryleeKids?section_id=11177913">doll clothes</a>, and <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/AveryleeKids?section_id=11183372">apron sets</a>. There is no doubt <a href="http://www.thatmamagretchen.com/">That Mama Gretchen</a>'s little Max is a big fan - he knows these boots were made for crawling and he's taken his owl taggie on the journey too!
<strong>Be sure to like Averylee Kids <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AveryleeKids?ref=ts&fref=ts">ton Facebook</a> and Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/ThatMamaG">That Mama Gretchen on Twitter</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/SugarConeShoppe"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-10250" height="200" src="http://codenamemama.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Sugar-Cone-Shoppe.jpg" title="Sugar Cone Shoppe" width="94" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/SugarConeShoppe">The Sugar Cone Shoppe</a> via <a href="http://naturallifemom.com/2012/10/sugarcone-shoppe/">A Little Bit of All of It</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/SugarConeShoppe?section_id=7794311">Mei Tai Doll Carrier</a> (ARV $32)
Shop now with coupon code 2012NPN and get free domestic shipping through November 25, 2012!</h4>
Visit The Sugar Cone Shoppe for eco-friendly and safe teethers and nursing necklaces. My daughter looks adorable in the handmade mei tai we received. The quality of this doll carrier is top notch and I love that it's reversible. I've already purchased one of the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/104200726/natural-wood-cotton-teething-necklace">natural wood and cotton teething necklaces</a> for my little teething babe! Stop by <a href="http://naturallifemom.com/category/babywearing-series-2/">A Little Bit of All of It for a whole series on babywearing.</a>
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SugarConeShoppe">The Sugar Cone Shoppe on Facebook</a> and subscribe to <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ALittleBitOfAllOfIt">A Little Bit of All of It via RSS</a>!</strong>
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Family and Home</h2>
<a href="http://destanyfenton.blogspot.com/2012/10/mommys-kiss.html" name="foranyone"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-10117" height="124" src="http://codenamemama.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/destany-kiss-300x220.jpg" title="destany kiss" width="175" /></a>
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From <a href="http://destanyfenton.blogspot.com/">Destany Fenton Fine Art</a> via <a href="http://codenamemama.com/2012/10/31/giveaway-custom-portrait-destany-fenton">Code Name: Mama</a> — Win an original <a href="http://destanyfenton.blogspot.com/">12x16 portrait</a> (ARV $220)</h4>
For a unique heirloom gift that you will treasure for a lifetime, have Destany Fenton paint a portrait of your child or family. As a natural parent herself, Destany understands and can relate to attached parents; this allows her to convey this specific aspect that might otherwise be ignored or glossed over by other artists. An original portrait by an accomplished artist conveys so much more than a picture ever can - most importantly, emotion. Destany's prices start at only $60, but her paintings are priceless - we love our portrait of our children! Let Destany help you capture a moment in time - these moments are fleeting. As Dionna at Code Name: Mama once wrote, "All of those instances – the <a href="http://codenamemama.com/2011/01/11/jan-carnatpar/">challenges of the present</a> – they will soon be such distant memories. Someday, you will long for them."
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Destany-Fenton/140768142620848">Destany Fenton Fine Art on Facebook</a> and follow <a href="http://www.networkedblogs.com/blog/code_name_mama">Code Name: Mama on Networked Blogs</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://glassdharma.com/"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-10258" height="185" src="http://codenamemama.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Glass-Dharma.jpg" title="Glass Dharma" width="187" /></a>
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From <a href="http://glassdharma.com/">Glass Dharma</a> via <a href="http://wp.me/p2L387-1od">Living Peacefully with Children</a> — Win a <a href="http://wp.me/p2L387-1od">$25 Gift Certificate</a></h4>
Each year, enough disposable straws are made to fill 46,000 full size school buses. Help protect the environment with these beautifully functional glass straws. Our family loves Glass Dharma straws and the fact that each straw comes with a lifetime guarantee! Stop by <a href="http://livingpeacefullywithchildren.com/2011/06/24/black-bean-brownies/">Living Peacefully with Children</a> for a recipe perfect for those holiday get togethers.
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/GlassDharma">Glass Dharma on Facebook</a> and follow <a href="http://www.networkedblogs.com/blog/living-peacefully-with-children">Living Peacefully with Children on Networked Blogs</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/KangarooCare" rel="attachment wp-att-27123"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-27123" height="166" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Kangaroo-Care.jpg" title="Kangaroo Care" width="208" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/KangarooCare">Kangaroo Care</a> via <a href="http://firmlyplantedblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/giveaway-nursing-necklace-from.html">Firmly Planted</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/89842157/petite-nursing-necklace-teething?ref=v1_other_2"> Nursing Necklace</a> (ARV $25)!</h4>
Visit Kangaroo Care for beautiful nursing necklaces, teethers, and necklaces for little girls. I couldn’t be happier with the nursing necklace I received from Varja! Even at two months, Lydia has been extremely handsy, pulling out her SNS during every nursing session. Now, she has something to occupy those little fingers while she nurses. Next on my list from Varja’s shop is a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/KangarooCare?section_id=10173050">teething toy</a>! Check out <a href="http://firmlyplantedblog.blogspot.com/2012/09/breastfeeding-and-supplementation.html">Firmly Planted</a> for more on our breastfeeding and supplementation journey.
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/kangaroocarebaby">Kangaroo Care on Facebook</a> and <a href="http://firmlyplantedblog.blogspot.com/">subscribe to Firmly Planted via email</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/KimberlyR?ref=pr_shop_more" rel="attachment wp-att-27130"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-27130" height="99" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/yarn.jpg" title="yarn" width="200" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/KimberlyR?ref=pr_shop_more">KR Dyeworks</a> via<a href="http://downsideupandoutsidein.blogspot.com/2012/10/giveaway-25-gift-card-from-kimberly-r.html">Downside Up And Outside In</a> — Win a $25 gift certificate!
Shop now with coupon code NPN20 and get 20% off your order November 1-30, 2012!</h4>
I chose a medium skein of this <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/109300914/rainbow-gradient-dyed-yarn-custom-order">lovely rainbow yarn </a> so that Little Berry and I could make a gift together for her grandmother. I deeply believe in the value of involving children in making useful, lovely, keepsake gifts that teach them the value of handmade items, to show the recipient how special they are and that we truly thought of them in making it. Visit Kimberly's shop and see her other lovely yarns and knitted items, such as this skein of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/110114842/affection-neutral-rose-1-ply-merino-silk">Affection Neutral Rose</a> that you could make into the world's dearest baby hat or booties!
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/KimberlyR/190346273472">KimberlyR Designs & KR Dyeworks</a> and comment on <a href="http://downsideupandoutsidein.blogspot.com/2011/03/easy-peasy-kid-friendly-marbling.html" target="_blank">Easy Peasy Kid Friendly Marbling</a>, one of the informative posts at Downside Up and Outside In!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.textureclothing.com/"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-27202" height="200" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/texture-skirt.jpg" title="texture skirt" width="200" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.textureclothing.com/">Texture Clothing</a> via <a href="http://veryveryfine.squarespace.com/imported-20101215221410/2012/10/29/giveaway-comfy-skirt-from-texture-clothing-72-arv-open-to-us.html" target="_blank">very, very fine</a> — Win a <a href="http://store.textureclothing.com/comfyskirts.html">Comfy Skirt (ARV $72)</a>
Shop now with coupon code veryfineship and receive free shipping on all orders November 29, 2012!</h4>
Texture Clothing combines comfort, style and ecological responsibility to amazing ends. When owner Teresa Remple's says, "this is how the story will go when you buy [the Comfy Skirt]: you will wear the ‘comfy’ for 5 days in a row" - she isn't lying; it's now a go-to piece in my wardrobe. Perfect for gift-giving are Texture's warm and hip Knit Mitts or Scrappy Scarves, made from a blend of hemp, organic cotton and lycra fabrics. For more holiday gift ideas and seasonal treats, visit <a href="http://veryveryfine.com/">very, very fine</a>.
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/textureclothing">Texture Clothing on Facebook</a> and like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/veryveryfine">very, very fine's Facebook page</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/?attachment_id=27153" rel="attachment wp-att-27153"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-27153" height="150" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/terramor-giveaway.jpg" title="terramor giveaway" width="150" /></a>
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Win from <a href="http://terramor.etsy.com/">Terramor</a> via <a href="http://ourfeministplayschool.ca/giveaway-terramor-sterling-silver-turquoise-earrings-20-arv-11-25-worldwide">ourfeminist{play}school</a> a jewelery gift set (ARV $30)
Shop now with coupon code npn10 and get 10% off your Etsy purchase through November 25, 2012!</h4>
Who doesn't love to receive jewels and gems that have been crafted by hand? The earrings that Terramor crafts are much more than your simple baubles found at a mall stand; these earrings are made to draw the eye with their natural and simple lines. There is an obvious concentration on natural elements and the colours of nature. The earrings perched in my ears aren't heavy, and the sterling silver means that my sensitive skin is safe. The pair that I now have in my collection are only one example of the copious designs and combinations that Terramor hand crafts from the west coast of Ireland. Don't forget to stop by <a href="http://www.ourfeministplayschool.ca/">ourfeminist{play}school</a> where I am always up for chatting about beauty and adornment - from a feminist's perspective.
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/officialterramor">Terramor on Facebook</a> and <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=ourfeministplayschool/gNcw&loc=en_US">Subscribe to ourfeminist{play}school by Email</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/rockpapertree"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-27209" height="200" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Rock-Paper-Tree-Giveaway.jpg" title="Rock Paper Tree Giveaway" width="138" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/rockpapertree">Rock Paper Tree</a> via <a href="http://vibrantwanderings.com/2012/10/giveaway-50-gift-certificate-from-rock-paper-tree-11-25-uscan.html">Vibrant Wanderings</a> — Win a $50 gift certificate good toward handcrafted items made with precious metals, crystals, and gemstones
Shop now with coupon code TEN10TEN and get 10% off your purchase through November 25, 2012!</h4>
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/rockpapertree?ref=seller_info">Rock Paper Tree</a> is a unique and beautiful store offering handcrafted art, both wearable and for display, made using precious metals, crystals, and gemstones. The review showcases a one of a kind pendant, called a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/100448046/birth-goddess-pendant-silver-fluorite">Birth Goddess</a>, made using gemstones and sterling silver wire. This pendant can be worn or hung for decoration, and makes a great gift for pregnant moms or your favorite childbirth professional. Not only does Teresa of Rock Paper Tree craft these unique and beautiful necklaces, but she also creates sword and cross pendants, pendulums, and the most wonderful Spirit Friend Dolls that would truly lift any spirit. <a href="http://www.vibrantwanderings.com/">Vibrant Wanderings</a> is a blog that documents the life of a young family of four that touches on issues from elimination communication to Montessori to finding balance in everyday life.
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/rockpapertree">Rock Paper Tree on Facebook</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/vibrantwanderer">follow Vibrant Wanderings via Twitter</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/monkeymamanecklaces"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-27254" height="175" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/monkey-teether-300x300.jpg" title="monkey teether" width="175" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/monkeymamanecklaces?ref=seller_info">Monkey Mama Necklaces</a> via <a href="http://www.ithoughtiknewmama.com/2012/10/nursing-necklace/">I Thought I Knew Mama</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/90115314/resin-nursing-necklacebreastfeeding?show_panel=true">twiddle buster or twiddle teether pendant nursing necklace</a>, a safe and distracting necklace perfect for little nurslings (ARV $20)
Shop now with coupon code ITIKM10 and get 10% off your purchase until November 30, 2012!</h4>
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/monkeymamanecklaces?ref=seller_info">Monkey Mama Necklaces</a> are beautiful, safe, functional, and ethical necklaces created with nursing and babywearing mamas in mind. My baby girl and I love my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/90115314/resin-nursing-necklacebreastfeeding?show_panel=true">twiddle buster pendant nursing necklace</a>. My four month old loves playing with it while she nurses or goes for carrier rides on Mama, and I love it because it is not only a gorgeous piece of jewelry, but also that the shape of the pendant is reminiscent of a pregnant woman - an empowering reminder of my daughter's <a href="http://www.ithoughtiknewmama.com/2012/06/little-sisters-birth-story/">VBAC birth story</a>. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/monkeymamanecklaces">Monkey Mama Necklaces</a> offers pendants that are gorgeous and handmade, and non-toxic and highly durable, as well as fairly traded on every step of their journey to you. Nursing and babywearing mamas, be sure to stop by <a href="http://www.ithoughtiknewmama.com/">I Thought I Knew Mama</a> for a window into one mama's adventures in natural parenting and green living!
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/monkeymamanecklaces">Monkey Mama Necklaces on Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/I-Thought-I-Knew-Mama/185496634805792">I Thought I Knew Mama on Facebook</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://codenamemama.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/two-pink-hearts-1.jpg"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-10096" height="200" src="http://codenamemama.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/two-pink-hearts-1-269x300.jpg" title="two pink hearts 1" width="180" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/twopinkhearts">Two Pink Hearts</a> via <a href="http://codenamemama.com/2012/10/26/giveaway-two-pink-hearts/">Code Name: Mama</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/twopinkhearts">$20 Gift Certificate for a fashion camera strap cover</a>
Shop now with coupon code holiday10 and get 10% off through December 31, 2012!</h4>
Fancy up your camera with a fashionable camera strap cover from Two Pink Hearts. The camera strap covers are 25” X 3" and fit over a standard DSLR digital camera strap. You can find just the right color, print, and fabric to suit your personality, from cotton to <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/99973501/camera-strap-cover-with-lens-cap-pocket">minky</a>, ruffles to <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/101894714/padded-camera-strap-cover-with-lens-cap">polka dots</a>. They are comfortable and stylish - we love our rainbow and Batman prints! Once you have your new camera strap cover, grab your camera and your little one for a <a href="http://codenamemama.com/2012/04/28/7-fun-activities-screen-week/">photo scavenger hunt</a> - what a fun way to connect during the holiday season.
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Two-Pink-Hearts/183572888391492">Two Pink Hearts on Facebook</a> and subscribe to <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=CodeNameMama&loc=en_US">Code Name: Mama by email</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.easylunchboxes.com/?AFFID=74743" rel="attachment wp-att-27122"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-27122" height="166" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Easy-Lunch-Boxes.jpg" title="Easy Lunch Boxes" width="191" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.easylunchboxes.com/?AFFID=74743">Easy Lunchboxes</a> via <a href="http://firmlyplantedblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/giveaway-container-set-and-cooler-bag.html">Firmly Planted</a> — Win a Set of <a href="http://www.easylunchboxes.com/products/food_containers/index.htm">Food Storage Containers</a> and a <a href="http://www.easylunchboxes.com/products/lunch_bags/index.htm">Lunch Bag</a> (ARV $22)!</h4>
Visit Easy Lunchboxes for a great solution to figuring out lunch time! With a new baby at home, lunch time around here can get out of hand quickly! I love being able to prepare lunch the night before and let my big girls get it out when they are hungry. The only thing we need to complete our set is the <a href="http://www.easylunchboxes.com/products/small_containers/">Mini Dippers</a>! Check out this post from Laura at <a href="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/dinners-on-the-go-for-busy-families/">Natural Parents Network</a> for some great on the go dinner ideas!
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EasyLunchboxes?ref=ts">Easy Lunchboxes on Facebook</a> and follow <a href="http://pinterest.com/sarahthedoula/">Firmly Planted on Pinterest</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/?attachment_id=27151" rel="attachment wp-att-27151"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-27151" height="150" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/moska1.jpg" title="moska giveaway " width="150" /></a>
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From <a href="http://moksaorganics.com/">moksa organics</a> via <a href="http://ourfeministplayschool.ca/moska-review-giveaway-goodness/">ourfeminist{play}school</a> — Win a <a href="http://moksaorganics.com/shopnow/browse.php?m=2">$30 gift certificate!</a>
Shop now with coupon code naturalparenting and get 30% off your purchase through November 25, 2012!</h4>
There is nothing like the luxury of a body butter or aromatic soap - unless of course they are also organic, carbon neutral and totally free of chemicals. This company has it all: an amazing global mission and a stunning set of products all with a goal of taking care of our bodies and well-being. I tried out some of their amazing soap, their to-die-for <a href="http://moksaorganics.com/shopnow/product.php?product=Lavender_Bergamot_Organic_Body_Oil">Organic Lavender Bergamot Body Oil</a>, and the <a href="http://moksaorganics.com/shopnow/product.php?product=Kilimanjaro_Organic_Body_Butter">Kilimanjaro Body Butter</a>, and I can say without a doubt that I won't ever buy from another company. <a href="http://moksaorganics.com/">moksa organics</a> actually made me spend more time in the bathtub, because I just couldn't get enough of their heavenly scents. I want you to try the <a href="http://moksaorganics.com/shopnow/product.php?product=Iceland_Mint_Organic_Bar_Soap">Iceland Mint Organic Soap</a> or the <a href="http://moksaorganics.com/shopnow/product.php?product=Mint_Rosemary_Organic_Body_Butter">Mint Rosemary Body Butter</a> and then try to tell me you aren't in love. Pop over to <a href="http://ourfeministplayschool.ca/">ourfeminist{play}school</a> to take a relaxing break from your holiday DIY-gift list!
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/moksa.organics">moksa organics on Facebook</a> and subscribe to <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ourfeministplayschool/gNcw">ourfeminist{play}school via RSS</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://libretea.com/"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-10261" height="200" src="http://codenamemama.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/LibreTea-200x300.jpg" title="LibreTea" width="134" /></a>
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From <a href="http://libretea.com/">Libre Tea</a> via <a href="http://hippiehousewife.blogspot.com/2012/10/libre-tea.html">The Hippie Housewife</a> — Win a <a href="http://retailshop.libretea.com/Libre-glass-n-poly-Original-c15/">Libre glass ’n poly Original Tea Glass</a> (ARV $24)</h4>
Libre Tea Glasses are an innovative all-in-one system that allow you to brew and drink loose leaf tea while on the go. I was drawn to both the beautiful style and practical functionality of these glasses, and they did not disappoint. With two ways to brew and your choice of three sizes (original, large, and mug-style), Libre Tea glasses are an ideal holiday gift for the tea drinker in your life. Stop by <a href="http://hippiehousewife.blogspot.com/2012/10/sleepy-mornings.html">The Hippie Housewife</a> to read about some of my own everyday "tea moments."
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/LibreTea">Libre Tea on Facebook</a> and subscribe to <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/TheHippieHousewife">The Hippie Housewife via RSS</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/dirtydivasoaps"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-27104" height="175" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Dirty-Diva-Logos-296x300.jpg" title="Dirty Diva Logos" width="172" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/dirtydivasoaps">Dirty Diva Soaps</a> via <a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com/2012/10/giveaway-block-set-from-howells-natural.html">Hybrid Rasta Mama</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/dirtydivasoaps?section_id=8000409" target="_blank">set of three soaps</a> (ARV $20)
Shop now with coupon code Hybridrastamama and get 10% off your purchase through November 25, 2012!</h4>
Visit Dirty Diva Soaps where you will find all natural, vegan, handmade soaps, shampoo bars, conditioners, laundry detergent, aftershave, lip balm and cuticle balm, perfumes, and lotions. I was fortunate enough to test out the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/98433306/imagine-handmade-shea-butter-soap-with?ga_search_query=imagine">Imagine shampoo bar</a>! Not only is it so beautiful to look at but it got my hair unbelievably clean, shiny, and smelling great! Stop by <a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com/">Hybrid Rasta Mama</a> to learn more about her love of handmade personal care products!
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/dirtydivasoaps">Dirty Diva Soaps on Facebook</a> and <a href="http://www.networkedblogs.com/blog/hybrid_rasta_mama_767173">follow Hybrid Rasta Mama on Networked Blogs</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.mothersboutique.com/"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-27258" height="200" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/amothersboutique.jpg" title="amothersboutique" width="200" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.mothersboutique.com/HoboMama" target="_blank">A Mother's Boutique</a> via <a href="http://www.hobomama.com/2012/10/giveaway-nursing-maternity-wear-75-gift-card.html" target="_blank">Hobo Mama</a> — Win a $75 Gift Certificate for <a href="http://www.mothersboutique.com/HoboMama" target="_blank">Nursing & Maternity Wear</a>
Shop now with coupon code HOBO10 and get 10% off virtually any item in the store (certain exclusions apply) through November 25, 2012!</h4>
Visit <a href="http://www.mothersboutique.com/HoboMama" target="_blank">A Mother's Boutique</a> for high-quality, unique clothing for pregnancy and breastfeeding, as well as slings, breast pumps, and other mothering essentials. Judy's Virtual Bra Fitting gave me the perfect nursing bra for my hard-to-fit size and shape. I am so happy with the <a href="http://www.mothersboutique.com/smnubra.html" target="_blank">Elomi Smoothing Underwire Bra</a> she helped me discover, and I'd love to see the <a href="http://www.mothersboutique.com/ivannatiedress.html" target="_blank">Ivana Tie Dress</a> over it next! Stop by <a href="http://www.hobomama.com/2012/03/where-to-find-cute-maternity-clothes.html" target="_blank">Hobo Mama</a> to see some of my other recommendations for cute maternity clothes.
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/AMothersBoutique">A Mother's Boutique on Facebook</a> and subscribe to <a href="http://feeds2.feedburner.com/HoboMama">Hobo Mama via RSS</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.anointment.ca/"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-27176" height="175" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/anointment_babybalm.jpeg" title="anointment_babybalm" width="175" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.anointment.ca/">Anointment</a> via <a href="http://www.momeeezen.com/2012/10/anointment-npn-giveaway.html">MomeeeZen</a> — Win <a href="http://www.anointment.ca/shop/baby-balm/">Baby Balm</a>, <a href="http://www.anointment.ca/shop/baby-oil/">Baby Oil</a>, <a href="http://www.anointment.ca/shop/calendula-soap/">Calendula Soap</a> and a <a href="http://www.anointment.ca/shop/scrubbie/">Soap Scrubbie</a> (ARV $30)
Shop now with coupon code npnreview and orders over $50 get free shipping to US/Canada and a free gift through December 31, 2012!</h4>
Visit <a href="http://www.anointment.ca/">Anointment</a> for purely natural care products for the whole family. I have been a fan of Anointment for several years because they truly use <em>all natural</em> and safe ingredients. I am so pleased to recommend these safe and natural care products to you. This trio of Anointment favorites nourishes even the most sensitive skin. Check out Anointment for their nourishing selection of <a href="http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anointment.ca%2Fshop%2Fcategory%2Fhandcrafted-soap%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFPjI2JInlP5t0ent4qD8QhRo7R7A" target="_blank">soaps</a>, <a href="http://www.anointment.ca/shop/category/lip-balms/">lip balms</a>, <a href="http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anointment.ca%2Fshop%2Fcategory%2Fbaby-care%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFs9lwLnOjgxkjz9WEdbYmTeI6kug" target="_blank">baby care products</a>, and much more. Stop by <a href="http://www.momeeezen.com/" target="_blank">MomeeeZen</a> to see what I'll be doing for my kiddos' holiday stocking!
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/anointmentnaturalskincare">Anointment on Facebook</a> and like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MomeeeZen">Momeee Zen on Facebook</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://flyingbirdbotanicals.com/"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-27199" height="200" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/flyingbirdtea-300x300.jpg" title="flyingbirdtea" width="200" /></a>
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From <a href="http://flyingbirdbotanicals.com/">Flying Bird Botanicals</a> via <a href="http://veryveryfine.squarespace.com/imported-20101215221410/2012/10/31/giveaway-25-gift-certificate-from-flying-bird-botanicals-25a.html">very, very fine</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/flyingbirdbotanicals">$25 gift certificate!</a></h4>
Flying Bird Botanicals' artisan tea blends, rich drinking chocolates, and organic body and baby care products are handcrafted from 100% organic locally-sourced and fair trade ingredients, providing you with luxury you can feel (really, really) good about. The teas I sampled were delicious AND nutritious, and the packaging is beautiful enough to leave on the counter! For the outdoorsman on your list, try the Mountain Spice Shaving Soap and Bay Rum Aftershave; around the office, a tin of Vanilla Rose Cacao drinking chocolate might win you the title of Best Secret Santa Ever. Celebrate the holidays with our family at <a href="http://www.veryveryfine.com/">very, very fine</a>.
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/flying-bird-botanicals/290394900021">Flying Bird Botanicals on Facebook</a> and subscribe to <a href="http://www.veryveryfine.com/imported-20101215221410/rss.xml">very, very fine via RSS</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Poetry-Hobo-Mama-First-Three/dp/1453670645?ie=UTF8&tag=natuparenetw-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969"><img alt="" class="alignright align=" height="150" right="right" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/hobomama-poetry.jpg" title="hobomama poetry" width="120" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.laurenwayne.com/" target="_blank">Lauren Wayne</a> via <a href="http://ourfeministplayschool.ca/poetry-hobomama-review-giveaway">ourfeminist{play}school</a>, win 1 of 2 copies of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Poetry-Hobo-Mama-First-Three/dp/1453670645?ie=UTF8&tag=natuparenetw-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969">Poetry of a Hobo Mama: The First Three Years</a> (ARV $10 x 2)
Shop now with coupon code SAP84AYJ and get 20% off all orders of the trade paperback at <a href="https://www.createspace.com/3465837" target="_blank">the author's store</a> through December 31, 2012!</h4>
<strong>Poetry of a Hobo Mama</strong> is a moving and essential collection of poetry that captures the journey of mothering from inception and loss, to birth and child development. Lauren Wayne uses poetry to play with the raw experiences of life and the humour that can be found in the role of a mother. Using various forms of poetry, and a language that is simultaneously accessible and sophisticated, the poems speak to all who have connected with any aspect of pregnancy, birth or mothering. Readers of Hobo Mama's blog will sense the voice of Lauren Wayne while at the same be invited to view her personal life experiences through a very different lens. Sensual, funny, heart-wrenching and soul lifting, these poems stand apart as a unique and honest look at moments in the life of one woman, while managing to speak to so many.
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/AuthorLaurenWayne">Lauren Wayne on Facebook</a> and follow <a href="http://www.networkedblogs.com/blog/ourfeministplayschool_1226527">ourfeminist{play}school on Networked Blogs</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/My-Children-Mothers-Journal-Memories/dp/1612430619/?_encoding=UTF8&s=books&tag=natuparenetw-20&linkCode=ur2&qid=1328047460&camp=1789&sr=1-1&creative=9325"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-27255" height="200" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/for-my-children-1-194x300.jpg" title="for my children 1" width="130" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1612430619/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1612430619&linkCode=as2&tag=natuparenetw-20">Dionna Ford</a> via <a href="http://www.ithoughtiknewmama.com/2012/10/mothers-journal/">I Thought I Knew Mama</a> — Win 1 of 2 copies of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1612430619/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1612430619&linkCode=as2&tag=natuparenetw-20">For My Children: A Mother's Journal of Memories, Wishes and Wisdom</a>, a beautiful way for a mother to pass along her memories (ARV $15 x 2)</h4>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1612430619/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1612430619&linkCode=as2&tag=natuparenetw-20">For My Children: A Mother’s Journal of Memories, Wishes, and Wisdom</a> is a beautiful and unique way for you - or a special mama in your life - to pass down her life story. This book's thought-provoking prompts have reminded me of how much I still want to learn about my own mother, as well as how much the intricacies of my own life will matter to my children. I love the fill-in-the-blank prompts, because they make the process of sharing something seemingly immeasurable not only possible, but actually fairly simple. The author, Dionna Ford of <a href="http://codenamemama.com/">Code Name: Mama</a> and cofounder of <a href="http://www.nursingfreedom.org/">Nursing Freedom</a> and <a href="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/">Natural Parents Network</a>, clearly cherishes the awe-inspiring complexity of motherhood as she lovingly gives mamas a hand in sharing their own voices with their children. Visit <a href="http://www.ithoughtiknewmama.com/">I Thought I Knew Mama</a> for a window into the beauty of green and natural motherhood.
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CodeNameMama">Code Name: Mama on Facebook</a> and follow <a href="http://pinterest.com/mamacharise/">I Thought I Knew Mama on Pinterest</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/JobDescriptionMommy"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-10178" height="200" src="http://codenamemama.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/jdm-8-251x300.jpg" title="jdm 8" width="168" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/JobDescriptionMommy">Job Description: Mommy</a> via <a href="http://codenamemama.com/2012/10/25/giveaway-earrings-job-description-mommy">Code Name: Mama</a> — Win <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/JobDescriptionMommy">3 Pairs of Handmade Earrings</a> (up to $45 ARV)
Shop now with coupon code NPNJDM and get 15% off your purchase through December 15, 2012!</h4>
Visit Job Description: Mommy for unique, gorgeous earrings (and other jewelry coming soon). These earrings are gorgeous enough to be worn with classy business attire, yet fun enough to dress up a night-on-the-town outfit or to wear casually with jeans. Most of the jewelry in Jessika's shop is made from natural stones, shells, and other materials direct from Mother Nature. Jessika's shop is stocked right now with <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/109840836/hematite-earrings">hematite</a>, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/109736787/czech-crystal-earrings-clear">Czech crystal</a>, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/109851718/amber-earrings">amber</a>, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/108042024/turquoise-earrings">turquoise</a>, and many more. Treat yourself to one of these beautiful pairs of earrings - <a href="http://codenamemama.com/2010/11/10/taking-care-of-ourselves/">mamas deserve to indulge</a>!
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/JobDescriptionMommy">Job Description Mommy on Facebook</a> and subscribe to <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/CodeNameMama">Code Name: Mama via RSS</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://kidcultureboutique.blogspot.ca/2012_02_01_archive.html"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-27085" height="175" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/hankies-300x300.jpg" title="hankies" width="175" /></a>
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From <a href="http://kidcultureboutique.blogspot.ca/">Kid Culture</a> via <a href="http://ourfeministplayschool.ca/kid-culture-play-mama-review-giveaway-goodness">ourfeminist{play}school</a> — Win <a href="http://kidcultureboutique.blogspot.ca/2012_02_01_archive.html">a family set of Play Me Mama Crafts' organic hankies!</a> (ARV $24)</h4>
If there is one thing you can be certain of, especially when you have kids, it is the presence of snot. And nothing cleans that mess up like these lovely organic hankies made by <a href="http://playmemamacrafts.com/">PlayMeMama</a> and stocked by my favourite kids store: Kid Culture. This family pack of hankies can meet all of your on the go mess needs and fits perfectly in a purse, diaper bag or back pack; they wash with no problems and the fabric is glorious! But, of course, hankies aren't the only bits of lovely you will find at Kid Culture. I need to get my hands on the vintage NHL t-shirts, and I adore the wool pants from Sew Oiseau that Clare carries in this stunning little shop. <a href="http://ourfeministplayschool.ca/">Don't forget to stop by ourfeminist{play}school where I will be sharing a quick and easy tutorial for making a felt hand-sewn shape matching set for your youngest gift recipient this holiday season! </a>
<strong>Be sure to follow <a href="http://www.twitter.com/kid_culture">Kid Culture on Twitter</a> and leave a comment on <a href="http://ourfeministplayschool.ca/parenting-support-system/">What Is Your Parenting Support System?</a>, a wonderful post on ourfeminist{play}school!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/soapieskyes"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-10255" height="195" src="http://codenamemama.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/soapie-skyes.jpg" title="soapie skyes" width="160" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/soapieskyes"><strong>Soapie Skyes</strong></a> via<a href="http://wp.me/p2L387-1nM"> Living Peacefully with Children </a>— Win a bottle of <a href="http://wp.me/p2L387-1nM">All Natural Balancing Shampoo</a> (ARV $20)
Shop now with coupon code NATURALCHRISTMAS and get 25% off all orders through January 5, 2013!</h4>
Visit Soapie Skyes for high-quality, all natural bath and body products. Their All Natural Balancing Shampoo is my new favorite shampoo, leaving my family's hair clean and silky smooth without any harsh chemicals. I'm looking forward to trying some of her <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/57394172/all-natural-bubble-bath-3pack">All Natural Bubble Bath</a>, perfect for the little people in my life. Stop by <a href="http://livingpeacefullywithchildren.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=1319&action=edit">Living Peacefully with Children</a> and learn how to make your own luscious bath bombs to pamper yourself or someone you love this holiday season.
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Soapie-Skyes/118406171525601">Soapie Skyes on Facebook</a> and leave a comment on <a href="http://wp.me/p2L387-1in">Attachment Parenting: the Renewed Face of Feminism</a>, one of the thoughtful articles on Living Peacefully with Children!</strong>
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<a href="http://theteaspot.com/"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-10253" height="131" src="http://codenamemama.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/The-Tea-Spot.jpg" title="The Tea Spot" width="175" /></a>
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From <a href="http://theteaspot.com/">The Tea Spot</a> via <a href="http://naturallifemom.com/2012/10/the-tea-spot/">A Little Bit of All of It</a> — Win a <a href="http://theteaspot.com/tea-steeping-cup-steepware.html?catid=251">Steeping Cup</a> and an <a href="http://theteaspot.com/organic-tea-sampler.html?catid=267">Organic Tea Sampler</a> (ARV $44)
Shop now with coupon code naturalparents and get 15% off their order from November 1-25, 2012!</h4>
Visit The Tea Spot for unique steepware and Fair-Trade certified organic estate teas and signature blends. The Steeping Cup is a wonderful way to enjoy loose leaf tea and gives the same convenience as using a bag. The sampler is a perfect mix of teas and comes in 6 stylish mini tins. I'm dying to try their <a href="http://theteaspot.com/chocolate-cherry-tea.html?catid=253">chocolate cherry bomb tea</a> as well! Stop by <a href="http://naturallifemom.com/2010/06/the-marathoners-banana-bread-via-qs-eats/">A Little Bit of All of It</a> for a delicious banana bread recipe to enjoy with your tea.
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theteaspot">The Tea Spot on Facebook</a> and leave a comment on <a href="http://naturallifemom.com/2012/07/baby-led-solids-no-purees-for-baby/">Baby-Led Solids - No Purees for Baby</a>, one of the excellent posts on A Little Bit of All of It!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/dysfunctiondesigns"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-10262" height="171" src="http://codenamemama.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Dysfunction-Designs-300x279.jpg" title="Dysfunction Designs" width="180" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/dysfunctiondesigns">Dysfunction Designs</a> via <a href="http://hippiehousewife.blogspot.com/2012/10/dysfunction-designs-handmade-jewellery.html">The Hippie Housewife</a> — Win a $20 Gift Certificate
Shop now with coupon code NATGIFTS and get 5% off all orders through December 31, 2012!</h4>
Visit Dysfunction Designs for handmade necklaces and bracelets for women and men. From vintage-inspired to tribal, skater to bohemian, Dysfunction Designs offers handmade jewelery for free spirits of all kinds. I enjoyed the variety in her jewelery, which include polymer clay beads, wooden beads, and carved bone beads. I am in love with this <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/112436822/vintage-look-bracelet-nature-flower-leaf">vintage-inspired purple and green bracelet with the bronze leaf clasp closure</a>! Stop by <a href="http://hippiehousewife.blogspot.com/2012/10/learning-to-love-bride.html">The Hippie Housewife</a> to see how this free spirit is learning and growing in the midst of unexpected community.
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/DysfunctionDesignsOnline">Dysfunction Designs on Facebook</a> and like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/TheHippieHousewife">The Hippie Housewife on Facebook</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/earthfaeries-homebrewed-soap-handmade-goods/203411779712402" rel="attachment wp-att-27120"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-27120" height="150" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/earthfaeries-150x150.jpg" title="earthfaeries" width="150" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/earthfaeries-homebrewed-soap-handmade-goods/203411779712402">Earthfaeries Homebrewed Soap</a> via <a href="http://firmlyplantedblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/giveaway-soap-solid-perfume-from.html">Firmly Planted</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/earthfaeries-homebrewed-soap-handmade-goods/203411779712402">$20 Gift Card!</a></h4>
Earthfaeries home-brews some amazing soaps and perfumes as well as other handmade goods. I am absolutely in love with the soap and perfume I received from Earthfaeries. The fragrances are so unique and lovely. My favorite scent continues to be <a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=326804194039826&set=a.326804034039842.78720.203411779712402&type=3&theater">‘Happy Hippy,’ </a> but I’m also thoroughly pleased with <a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=326804294039816&set=a.326804034039842.78720.203411779712402&type=3&theater">‘Mint Duet.’</a> Stop by <a href="http://firmlyplantedblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/wordless-wednesday-bathtime-bliss.html">Firmly Planted</a> to see bath time at the Firmly Planted home!
<strong>Be sure to like both <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/earthfaeries-homebrewed-soap-handmade-goods/203411779712402" title="Earthfaeries Homebrewed Soap">Earthfaeries Homebrewed Soap</a> and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/firmlyplantedblog" title="Firmly Planted Facebook">Firmly Planted</a> on Facebook!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com/p/store.html"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-27173" height="150" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/hybrid-coconut-book-150x150.jpg" title="Natural coconut walnut oil" width="150" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com/">Hybrid Rasta Mama</a> via <a href="http://www.diaryofafirstchild.com/2012/10/29/coconut-oil-for-your-skin-review-and-competition/">Diary of a First Child </a> — Win one of three copies of the <a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com/p/store.html">eBook 'Coconut Oil For Your Skin'</a>(ARV $7 x 3)
Shop now with coupon code NPNHOLIDAY and get 15% off all orders through December 31, 2012!</h4>
Jennifer Saleem from Hybrid Rasta Mama is NPN's resident Coconut Oil Expert - and one we all turn to every time we have a coconut question! This eBook contains 40 fantastic recipes for coconut-based bath and beauty products that are simple and practical to make at home. There's also a really handy guide to essential oils and their uses. Jennifer is currently working on her next book, Cooking with Coconut Oil, out later this month. I can't wait! On <a href="http://www.diaryofafirstchild.com/">Diary of a First Child</a>, I'm trying to learn to eat and live closer to nature - if you are too, this is a perfect place to start!
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/hybridrastamama">Hybrid Rasta Mama on Facebook</a> and like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/diaryofafirstchild">Diary of a First Child on Facebook</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.raisinggreenkids.net/"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-27201" height="200" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/dryer-balls.jpg" title="dryer balls" width="200" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.raisinggreenkids.net/">Raising Green Kids</a> via <a href="http://veryveryfine.squarespace.com/imported-20101215221410/2012/10/27/giveaway-25-gift-certificate-from-raising-green-kids-25arv-o.html">very, very fine</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.raisinggreenkids.net/category_29/WoolDryerBalls.htm">$25 gift certificate!</a></h4>
Raising Green Kids aims to help parents make eco-friendly choices toward healthier families and a healthier world. Cutting drying time (and energy consumption) and eliminating the need for gnarly chemicals are just two of my favorite perks of using Raising Green Kids' simple felted wool dryer balls. Adding a few drops of a fragrant essential oil to your dryer balls has even made laundry pleasant for a change! Looking for a thoughtful but practical gift? Try the ThinkSport Safe Yoga Mat and Stainless Sport Bottle set. Holla "yay!" for the holidays at <a href="http://www.veryveryfine.com/">very, very fine</a>.
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Raising-Green-Kids/281595815195703">Raising Green Kids on Facebook</a> and leave a comment on <a href="http://www.veryveryfine.com/imported-20101215221410/2012/10/14/a-brief-interlude.html">a brief interlude</a> at very, very fine!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.poppysoap.com/"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-27308" height="134" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/poppy-soap.jpg" title="poppy soap" width="200" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.poppysoap.com/">Poppy Soap Company</a> via <a href="http://www.fineandfairblog.com/2012/10/giveaway-mix-match-organic-soap-set.html">Fine and Fair</a> — Win 1 of 3 a <a href="http://www.poppysoap.com/collections/entire-organic-skin-care-collection/products/organic-soap-gift-set">Mix & Match Organic Soap Sets</a> (ARV $30)
Shop now with coupon code delilah and get $10 off your purchase through November 25, 2012!</h4>
Poppy Soap Company is an eco-conscious, carbon neutral, mother-owned company making handmade specialty organic soaps for every skin type while giving back to local women's shelters. Poppy Soap Company's soap bars come in a variety of heavenly scents and each bar is beautifully detailed. The quality of these soaps and their ability to cleanse, moisturize, and nurture face and body cannot be beat! In addition to their environmental responsibility, women's shelter advocacy, and gorgeous high-quality soaps, Poppy Soap Company uses packaging that is both reusable and biodegradable-no plastic! Visit <a href="http://www.fineandfairblog.com/">Fine and Fair</a>, a blog written by a mother to and for her children about the ups and downs along the journey of raising them as a responsible citizens of the world with the values of compassion toward all living things, environmental responsibility, conservation, and celebrating diversity in all of its forms.
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/poppysoapco">Poppy Soap Company on Facebook</a> and like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/fineandfair">Fine and Fair on Facebook</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/wortsandcunning"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-10260" height="124" src="http://codenamemama.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Worts-and-Cunning.jpg" title="Worts and Cunning" width="188" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/wortsandcunning">Worts and Cunning Apothecary</a> via <a href="http://wp.me/p2L387-1nN">Living Peacefully with Children</a> — Win a <a href="http://wp.me/p2L387-1nN">Happy Homestead Remedy Kit (ARV $20)</a>
Shop now with coupon code NATURALWORT and get 10% off all orders through November 25, 2012!</h4>
Worts and Cunning Apothecary specializes in fully enchanted herbal care and homeopathy. With fantastically named products and attention to detail, customers are certain to find may wonderful gifts. Stop by <a href="http://livingpeacefullywithchildren.com/2010/12/02/easy-sun-wreath/">Living Peacefully with Children</a> for ideas on the perfect wreath to make with children, perfect for any celebration.
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/wortsandcunning">Worts and Cunning Apothecary on Facebook</a> and follow <a href="http://pinterest.com/peacefulfamily">Living Peacefully with Children on Pinterest</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://thebabywearingworkout.com/"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-27219" height="150" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Cover-Outlined-150x150.jpg" title="The Babywearing Workout Giveaway" width="150" /></a>
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From <a href="http://thebabywearingworkout.com/">The Babywearing Workout</a> via <a href="http://www.momeeezen.com/2012/10/giveaway-babywearing-workout-video.html">MomeeeZen</a> and <a href="http://trueconfessionsofarealmommy.blogspot.com/2012/10/from-babywearing-workout-jw-at-true.html">True Confessions of a Real Mommy</a> — Win 1 of 5 copies of <a href="http://thebabywearingworkout.com/">Mama's "Little" Personal Trainer</a> (ARV $10 x 5)
Shop now with coupon code NPN2012 and get 15% off your purchase between November 5 and December 24, 2012!</h4>
If you and your baby love babywearing AND you want to exercise, then this video is for you! Get the best of both worlds when you strap on your favorite carrier and join Kelli Roschak, Mama and creator of the workout, in her Babywearing Workout. Kelli has carefully and thoughtfully prepared this workout and made it accessible to all ages and all levels of exercising experience. Exercising has so many benefits (not just weight loss) and can help Mamas feel refreshed and replenished, so they can be at their best! Enjoy getting your sweat on while keeping baby happy, and maybe even getting them to sleep, right in the comfort of your own home! Check out <a href="http://thebabywearingworkout.com/" target="_blank">The Babywearing Workout</a> website to learn more and to read safety tips on babywearing.
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheBabywearingWorkout">The Babywearing Workout</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TrueRealMommy">True Confessions of a Real Mommy on Facebook</a> and subscribe to <a href="http://www.momeeezen.com/">Momeee Zen via email</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/?attachment_id=27119" rel="attachment wp-att-27119"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-27119" height="150" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/bent-river-robbins-150x150.jpg" title="bent river robbins" width="150" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bent-River-Bobbins/133636240066017?fref=ts">Bent River Bobbins</a> via <a href="http://firmlyplantedblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/giveaway-gift-certificate-to-bent-river.html">Firmly Planted</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bent-River-Bobbins/133636240066017?fref=ts">$20 Gift Certificate</a>!</h4>
Heather at Bent River Bobbins creates high quality, reusable bags and sandwich wraps as well as sweet baby toys and other useful items. My girls absolutely love their meal time sets. It’s so wonderful to be able to pack their lunches for day trips to the zoo or museum and not have to use plastic bags. I also really love Heather’s <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.144259389003702.30585.133636240066017&type=3">tissue totes, perfect for the winter months especially</a>! Check out <a href="http://firmlyplantedblog.blogspot.com/2012/09/paperless-house.html">Firmly Planted</a> for other ways to go green!
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bent-River-Bobbins/133636240066017?fref=ts">Bent River Bobbins on Facebook</a> and visit Firmly Planted to read about <a href="http://firmlyplantedblog.blogspot.com/2012/09/paperless-house.html">going paperless</a> and leave a comment!</strong>
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<a href="http://presenceparenting.com/" rel="attachment wp-att-27139"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-27139" height="150" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/PP250-150x150.jpg" title="PP250" width="150" /></a>
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From <a href="http://presenceparenting.com/">Presence Parenting</a> via <a href="http://www.anktangle.com/2012/10/giveaway-60-min-nurturing-presence-session-from-presence-parenting-11-25-worldwide.html">Anktangle</a> — Win a 60-Minute <a href="http://presenceparenting.com/sessions/">Nurturing Presence Session</a>(ARV $50)!
Shop now with coupon code NPN50 and receive 50% off your own Nurturing Presence Sessions through November 30, 2012!</h4>
Check out <a href="http://presenceparenting.com/">Presence Parenting</a> for practical parenting information, insights, and parent-to-parent support to experience peace and create true personal, family, and world harmony. I benefited greatly from my <a href="http://presenceparenting.com/sessions/">nurturing presence session</a> with Amy Phoenix. She is centered, caring, and intuitive: a combination of qualities that lends itself well to helping others uncover insights about ourselves and grow from there. Visit Anktangle to learn more about seeking to <a href="http://www.anktangle.com/search/label/balance">find balance</a> in daily life.
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/PresenceParenting">Presence Parenting on Facebook</a> and follow <a href="http://twitter.com/anktangle">Anktangle on Twitter</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.woolymossroots.etsy.com/"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-27092" height="135" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Wooly-Moss-Logo-300x231.jpg" title="Wooly Moss Logo" width="175" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/woolymossroots">Wooly Moss Roots</a> via <a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com/2012/10/giveaway-gift-set-from-wooly-moss-roots.html">Hybrid Rasta Mama</a> — Win your all natural Tooth Powder, Magical Healing Salve, and a Smudging Bundle (ARV $34)
Shop now with coupon code HYBRIDRASTAMAMA15 and get 15% off your purchase through November 25, 2012!</h4>
Visit Wooly Moss Roots where you will find wonderful wooden buttons, herbal goodness, and wooly delights. I adore everything in this shop but am especially loving the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/94509602/peppermint-tooth-powder-for-sparkling">Peppermint Tooth Powder</a> and the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/89541914/herbal-salve-magical-healing-salve-with">Magical Healing Salve</a>. My teeth have never felt so clean and the salve is the ultimate healer! Stop by <a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com/2012/07/a-cant-miss-giveaway-from-wooly-moss.html">Hybrid Rasta Mama</a> to read more about Wooly Moss Roots (and their other shop <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/mysticorb">Mystic Orb</a> and check out some photos of all of the gorgeous items in these shops!
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wooly-Moss-Roots/100306163348948">Wooly Moss Roots on Facebook</a> and <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=hybridrastamama">subscribe to Hybrid Rasta Mama via email</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.oliveshootinstitute.com/" rel="attachment wp-att-27121"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-27121" height="80" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/olive-shoot-institute.jpg" title="olive shoot institute" width="130" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.oliveshootinstitute.com/">Olive Shoot Institute</a> via <a href="http://firmlyplantedblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/giveaway-extreme-18x-soap-nut-liquid.html">Firmly Planted</a> — Win <a href="http://stores.oliveshootinstitute.com/-strse-12/Soap-Nuts%2C-Laundry-detergent/Detail.bok">Extreme 18X Soap Nut Liquid Concentrate</a> and a <a href="http://stores.oliveshootinstitute.com/-strse-Guinea-Pig-Girl-doll-collection/Categories.bok">Guinea Pig Doll</a> (ARV $40)!</h4>
Cindy at Olive Shoot Institute has a plethora of soap nut products as well as sweet handmade dolls. I didn’t think I would ever ditch my traditional soap nuts, but the soap nut liquid concentrate that Cindy sent me is amazing and so easy to use! It takes only a small amount of the concentrate to clean even my husband’s super dirty work clothes AND our stinky cloth diapers! My girls have also loved their new <a href="http://stores.oliveshootinstitute.com/-strse-Guinea-Pig-Girl-doll-collection/Categories.bok">Guinea Pig Doll, Ruth</a>! Stop by <a href="http://firmlyplantedblog.blogspot.com/2012/09/wool-big-change.html">Firmly Planted</a> to see our new cloth diapering solution!
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Olive-Shoot-Institute/458728277491663">Olive Shoot Institute on Facebook</a> and follow <a href="http://http//twitter.com/sarah_the_doula">Firmly Planted on Twitter</a>.</strong>
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<a href="http://sacredrosetisane.com/"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-10249" height="150" src="http://codenamemama.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Sacred-Rose-Tea.jpg" title="Sacred Rose Tea" width="150" /></a>
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From <a href="http://sacredrosetisane.com/">Sacred Rose Tea</a> via <a href="http://naturallifemom.com/2012/10/giveaway-holiday-blend-organic-tea-and-infuser-from-sacred-rose-27-arv-11-25-worldwide">A Little Bit of All of It</a> — Win <a href="http://sacredrosetisane.com/tea_hblend.html">1 box of Holiday Blend Organic Tea</a> and a <a href="http://www.sacredrosetea.com/Infusers.htm">Tea Infuser</a> (ARV $27)</h4>
Visit Sacred Rose Tea for hand-crafted, premium quality, all natural and healthy herbal infusions. Their Holiday Blend is a perfectly delicious way to enjoy this holiday season. And all of their teas are ready for gifting as they come packaged beautifully. I would love to try all of their <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/86340417/grey-with-white-pink-snowflakes">9 offerings</a>! Stop by <a href="http://naturallifemom.com/2009/12/product-review-the-most-fabulous-christmas-album-ever/">A Little Bit of All of It</a> to find out about a great Christmas CD you can listen to while drinking your festive tea.
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sacred-Rose-Organic-Herbal-Tea/179273485421091">Sacred Rose Tea on Facebook</a> and follow <a href="http://www.networkedblogs.com/blog/a_little_bit_of_all_of_it">A Little Bit of All of It on Networked Blogs</a>!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.mydoterra.com/pattitinholt"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-27186" height="70" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/doterra-banner-300x103.jpg" title="doterra banner" width="200" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.mydoterra.com/pattitinholt">doTERRA</a> via <a href="http://www.momeeezen.com/2012/10/npn-giveaway-doterra.html">MomeeeZen</a> — Win a $20 gift card & a free phone consultation with Patti Tinholt to help you learn which Essential Oils are right for you!
Shop now and for any purchases over $100, receive $50 towards your next purchase.</h4>
If you are looking to reap the benefits of using Essential Oils, but just don't know where to start, doTERRA is the place for you! doTERRA Essential Oils are Certified Therapeutic Grade and free from fillers, artificial ingredients, pesticides and harmful chemicals. All you get is 100% pure natural goodness! I discovered the benefits of many tried and tested uses for my Lavender, Lemon and Peppermint Oils, plus some surprising uses I had no idea about, but which I am now a big fan of! Visit doTERRA for more info and to see the selection of products they offer, such as <a href="http://www.mydoterra.com/pattitinholt">products for the home, workplace, skin care and much more</a>!
<strong>Be sure to visit <a href="http://www.mydoterra.com/pattitinholt/">doTERRA</a> and stop by and leave a comment on <a href="http://www.momeeezen.com/2012/09/where-are-all-heroines.html">Where Are All the Heroines?</a>, one of the wonderful posts at Momeee Zen!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.maggiesnaturals.com/"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-27106" height="180" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Maggies-Naturals-Logos.jpg" title="Maggie's Naturals Logos" width="180" /></a>
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From <a href="http://www.maggiesnaturals.com/">Maggie’s Naturals</a> via <a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com/2012/10/giveaway-30-gift-certificate-from.html">Hybrid Rasta Mama</a> — Win a 6-pack Variety Food Coloring Package (ARV $60)</h4>
Visit Maggie’s Naturals where you will find a food coloring made from all natural and organic plant, fruit and vegetable extracts. Maggie’s Naturals come in 6 brilliant colors. I was fortunate enough to test out the natural dyes and am beyond impressed with their quality and ease of use. Best of all, I know that they are safe for me and my family! Stop by <a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com/2012/10/desert-dye-works-and-maggies-naturals.html">Hybrid Rasta Mama</a> to find some great recipes that you might even be able to use Maggie's Naturals with.
<strong>Be sure to like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Maggies-Naturals/104969486292266">Maggie's Naturals on Facebook</a>!</strong>
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You're intrigued and enchanted by all these fabulous natural-minded gifts, aren't you? Then you'll want to <strong>enter to win our spectacular giveaway!</strong> You can win any one of the products featured on this page.
You can enter on this page or any of the participating blogs. The Rafflecopter script is the same on each, so you need to enter on <em>only one site</em>. That said, please do visit and enjoy all the reviews at the participating sites!
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<strong><em>MANDATORY ENTRY:</em></strong> In the box provided in the first Rafflecopter entry, <strong>tell us where you would have your prize shipped if you are one of the winners</strong>. You must enter your name and email address while leaving a comment in the Rafflecopter system for your entry to count.</blockquote>
<strong>Leave a valid email address</strong> so we can contact you if you win. Email addresses in Rafflecopter are not made publicly visible. Please leave the same valid email address in your mandatory comment so we can verify entries.
Please note that each entrant can win only one prize, and NPN will be randomly assigning prizes to the winners. One of the giveaway questions asks which are your top five prizes so we can try to match winners to their preferences.
<strong><em>BONUS ENTRIES</em></strong>:
See the Rafflecopter entry system for bonus entries to increase your chance of winning after completing the mandatory entry. All bonus entries are entered directly into Rafflecopter. Give it a try, and email sponsorship {at} naturalparentsnetwork.com or leave a comment if you have any questions!
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/66cd0356/" id="rc-66cd0356" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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Contest closes November 25 at 11:59 p.m. <a href="http://www.laurenwayne.com/2010/04/convert-your-time-zone-for-deadlines.html">Eastern Time</a>.</h3>
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<span style="font-style: italic;"><strong>Disclosure:</strong> Our reviewer received a sample product for review purposes.
Amazon links are affiliate links.
We try to seek out only products we think you would find
relevant and useful to your life as a natural parent.
If we don't like a product, we won't be recommending it to you.
See our <a href="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/disclosure/" target="_blank">full disclosure policy here.</a></span></div>
Kymberleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579349343824571205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776276231017030003.post-43366370099849732242012-10-29T11:45:00.001-07:002012-11-01T08:32:27.214-07:00Giveaway: $30 Giftcard from Yarns and Storys - $30 ARV (11/25, open Worldwide)<!-- START TOP CODE -->
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This is a <strong>joint giveaway between <a href="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/" target="_blank">Natural Parents Network</a> and many other natural parenting sites</strong>. You may enter for all of the giveaways at <strong><i>one site only</i></strong>. Please find the section marked "Win it!" for the mandatory entry and optional bonus entries.</blockquote>
<a href="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/holiday-gift-guide/" target="_blank"><img alt="Natural Parents Network Holiday Gift Guide" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26966" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/NPN_Gift_Guide_640x160.jpg" title="Natural Parents Network Holiday Gift Guide" width="100%" /></a>
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Welcome to the Natural Parents Network Holiday Gift Guide!</h3>
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<a href="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/" target="_blank">Natural Parents Network</a>, <a href="http://ourcrazycorneroftheworld.blogspots.com/">Our Crazy Corner of the World</a>, and 24 other natural parenting bloggers are <strong>giving away 89 items</strong> perfect for gifting for the holidays as part of the <a href="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/holiday-gift-guide/" target="_blank">Natural Parents Network Holiday Gift Guide</a>. <strong>The combined total value of all of the items is $2,550.</strong><br />
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Have you finished your holiday shopping? <strong>The NPN Holiday Gift Guide is a great opportunity to complete your gift-giving purchases for family and friends, while supporting many naturally-minded small businesses.</strong> The companies who have provided items for giveaway are almost exclusively made up of <strong>small businesses or work-at-home families.</strong><br />
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Please stop back to enter the giveaway. <strong>The Rafflecopter entry system will be live November 1 on this post (and on every post participating in the Gift Guide).</strong> Please visit some of the other review posts listed below and read about the fabulous companies offering giveaways in the Natural Parents Network Holiday Gift Guide.
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Please continue reading to learn more about <a href="https://www.blogger.com/COMPANY%20WEBSITE" target="_blank"><strong>Yarns and Storys</strong></a>, which is offering our readers a giveaway of a <strong>giftcard</strong>, a value of $30.
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About COMPANY</h3>
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Yarns and Storys is a Oregon based company that specializes in handmade wool pieces, dyed and spun by owner Robyn. Finished products are available, as well as skeins and fibers for spinning, knitting and crocheting.
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About PRODUCT</h3>
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Robyn sent me a handspun, handknit baby hat, which was quite timely as I just had a baby and we were moving from the warm, desert climate of south Texas to the cold mountainous region of South Dakota. I was thrilled to have a unique hat for my child, as well as something that would help him stay warm!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXIiIGG_lDxbCeCn9EtwT3QKirVPpFdeJKdZ0-y7KLUrAYM7b058OWCzHyvXg59smhyxNwyneqO3ChrqENAs70bUcuaEjFQVmlTX7sXB62rAPmiVvTMtqfJKbeNsNoYkAuhHLU0WtrPiU/s1600/IMG_2191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXIiIGG_lDxbCeCn9EtwT3QKirVPpFdeJKdZ0-y7KLUrAYM7b058OWCzHyvXg59smhyxNwyneqO3ChrqENAs70bUcuaEjFQVmlTX7sXB62rAPmiVvTMtqfJKbeNsNoYkAuhHLU0WtrPiU/s320/IMG_2191.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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The hat is soft and thick, made with a beautiful wool that is orange and brown colors, perfect for fall and winter. I was able to roll the open end up to fit it to my newborn's head, or leave it alone and it fits my three year old's head perfectly as well.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWsob9SggtJuIxbsrHI91G5ka6w2qLDKP49vr8T34sOfQCoUZ8H3BdvmaS3s8oi44GIlk19B-JaS9lq7H9daRQ3TeWEE76emonV8u7wpJA1Gf47H6_12I4rmzkKy78D4m_f9AaGDu6HuI/s1600/IMG_2185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWsob9SggtJuIxbsrHI91G5ka6w2qLDKP49vr8T34sOfQCoUZ8H3BdvmaS3s8oi44GIlk19B-JaS9lq7H9daRQ3TeWEE76emonV8u7wpJA1Gf47H6_12I4rmzkKy78D4m_f9AaGDu6HuI/s320/IMG_2185.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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The day we arrived in South Dakota was chilly and extremely windy. We were concerned that our plane would not touch down due to the wind and we would be diverted elsewhere. Later that evening the temperature had dropped considerably and we were headed out for bible study. I put the hat on my son JohnDavid before we left and when we arrived at the building and got inside, I took it off of him. His head was warm and cozy and he seemed a bit upset once I removed the hat, so I put it back on him while he slept. It was a huge relief to have a well made, warm product available for my son.<br />
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Caring for the hat is easy as well. Care instructions: "hand wash with gentle soap, dish or baby soap is good. Blot extra water on a towel, dry flat."<br />
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The only drawback is that my child is going to outgrow this hat in a year or two and then we will need another one.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW9anVskeVnhQO1tFolhXojSoelynUjX5tE6-9IT_ZXKWjLobJL6v05jxaJYJhp7bnzJotj5JN1s6NtpScr9MtV7tKhRahS4PQygwEK9lPdySj9kshOSqr-7w1gLFtx97D7qxxaCsTrAc/s1600/IMG_2290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW9anVskeVnhQO1tFolhXojSoelynUjX5tE6-9IT_ZXKWjLobJL6v05jxaJYJhp7bnzJotj5JN1s6NtpScr9MtV7tKhRahS4PQygwEK9lPdySj9kshOSqr-7w1gLFtx97D7qxxaCsTrAc/s1600/IMG_2290.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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BUY IT!</h3>
You can <strong>purchase your own handspun, handknit baby hat at <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/yarnsandstorys">Yarns and Storys</a></strong>. The hats are $30.00, with shipping $3.50 to US/Canada, and $6.00 everywhere else.<br />
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And just for Natural Parents Network and Our Crazy Corner of the World readers, Yarns and Storys is giving a 10% discount on all orders from now through 11/25/2012. Enter code <strong>NPN10</strong> during the ordering process.<br />
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Also check out the handknit cowls that are available. They are a perfect gift for anyone, man or woman!
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WIN IT!</h3>
<strong>For your own chance to win a $30.00 giftcard from Yarns and Storys, enter by leaving a comment and using our Rafflecopter system below. (Rafflecopter will be live November 1-25).</strong><br />
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The winner will receive a $30.00 giftcard to Yarns and Storys to be used for your choice of any product in the store.<br />
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<strong>Contest is open WORLDWIDE.</strong>
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Our Rafflecopter entry system is now open.
<blockquote><strong><i>MANDATORY ENTRY:</i></strong> In the box provided in the first Rafflecopter entry, <strong>tell us where you would have your prize shipped if you are one of the winners</strong>. You must enter your name and email address while leaving a comment in the Rafflecopter system for your entry to count.</blockquote>
<strong>Leave a valid email address</strong> so we can contact you if you win. Email addresses in Rafflecopter are not made publicly visible. Please leave the same valid email address in your mandatory comment so we can verify entries.
This is part of a larger giveaway hosted by <a href="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/" target="_blank">Natural Parents Network</a>. <strong>You may enter the whole giveaway at <em>one site only</em></strong>, and we'll be recording IP addresses to ensure that there are no duplicate entries. That said, please do visit and enjoy all of the participating sites!
Please note that each entrant can win only one prize, and NPN will be randomly assigning prizes to the winners. One of the giveaway questions asks which are your top five prizes so we can try to match winners to their preferences.
<strong><i>BONUS ENTRIES</i></strong>:
See the Rafflecopter entry system for bonus entries to increase your chance of winning after completing the mandatory entry. All bonus entries are entered directly into Rafflecopter. Give it a try, and email sponsorship {at} naturalparentsnetwork.com or leave a comment if you have any questions!
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<a id="rc-66cd0356" class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/66cd0356/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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Thank you for your interest in the <a href="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/holiday-gift-guide/" target="_blank">Natural Parents Network Gift Guide</a>! <strong>We invite you to read the reviews of other participating bloggers and return to enter the giveaway between November 1 and 25.</strong> Many of the giveaway items are open worldwide!
Here are the participating sites and companies. <strong><i>(Reviews go live between October 25 and October 31, and all links will be live by November 1.)</i></strong> We’ve included any <strong>coupon codes</strong> the companies have offered so you can get your holiday shopping under way!
<strong><u>Publishing on Thursday, October 25, 2012</u></strong>
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<li>From <a href="http://store.ergobaby.com/">Ergobaby</a> via <a href="http://naturallifemom.com/2012/10/ergobaby-doll-carrier/">A Little Bit of All of It</a> — Win one of two <a href="http://store.ergobaby.com/Lifestyle_Accessories/Doll_Carrier">Ergobaby Doll Carriers</a> (ARV $25 x 2)</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.poppysoap.com/">Poppy Soap Company</a> via <a href="http://www.fineandfairblog.com/2012/10/giveaway-mix-match-organic-soap-set.html">Fine and Fair</a> — Win 1 of 3 a <a href="http://www.poppysoap.com/collections/entire-organic-skin-care-collection/products/organic-soap-gift-set">Mix & Match Organic Soap Sets</a> (ARV $30)
Shop now with coupon code delilah and get $10 off your purchase through November 25, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/wildarbutus">Wild Arbutus</a> via <a href="http://www.anktangle.com/2012/10/giveaway-baby-hat-or-toy-from-wild-arbutus-11-25-us-can.html">Anktangle</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/wildarbutus?section_id=11142269">Handmade Baby Hat</a> or <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/wildarbutus?section_id=10942925">Plush Crocheted Toy</a> (ARV $25)
Shop now with coupon code NPNGIFTS10 and get 10% off all orders through December 31, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/lucylocketcreations">Lucy Locket Creations</a> via <a href="http://theartfulmama.com/2012/10/giveaway-fantasy-tail-from-lucy-locket-creations/">The Artful Mama</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/112853601/dragon-or-dinosaur-de-tachable-tail">Dragon or Dinosaur De-tachable Tail</a> (ARV $20)
Shop now with coupon code HANDMADE and get 15% off your purchase until November 30, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/JobDescriptionMommy">Job Description: Mommy</a> via <a href="http://codenamemama.com/2012/10/25/giveaway-earrings-job-description-mommy">Code Name: Mama</a> — Win <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/JobDescriptionMommy">3 Pairs of Handmade Earrings</a> (up to $45 ARV)
Shop now with coupon code NPNJDM and get 15% off your purchase through December 15, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.mothersboutique.com/HoboMama" target="_blank">A Mother's Boutique</a> via <a href="http://www.hobomama.com/2012/10/giveaway-nursing-maternity-wear-75-gift-card.html" target="_blank">Hobo Mama</a> — Win a $75 Gift Certificate for <a href="http://www.mothersboutique.com/HoboMama" target="_blank">Nursing & Maternity Wear</a>
Shop now with coupon code HOBO10 and get 10% off virtually any item in the store (certain exclusions apply) through November 25, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://terramor.etsy.com/">Terramor</a> via <a href="http://ourfeministplayschool.ca/giveaway-terramor-sterling-silver-turquoise-earrings-20-arv-11-25-worldwide">ourfeminist{play}school</a> — Win a jewelery gift set (ARV $30)
Shop now with coupon code npn10 and get 10% off your Etsy purchase through November 25, 2012!</li></ul>
<strong><u>Publishing on Friday, October 26, 2012</u></strong>
<ul><li>From <a href="http://kidcultureboutique.blogspot.ca/">Kid Culture</a> via <a href="http://ourfeministplayschool.ca/kid-culture-review-giveaway-goodness">ourfeminist{play}school</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/playmemamacrafts?section_id=10111423">Superhero Cape</a> for your Lil' Superhero! (ARV $20)</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/soapieskyes">Soapie Skyes</a> via <a href="http://wp.me/p2L387-1nM">Living Peacefully with Children</a> — Win a bottle of <a href="http://wp.me/p2L387-1nM">All Natural Balancing Shampoo</a> (ARV $20)
Shop now with coupon code NATURALCHRISTMAS and get 25% off all orders through January 5, 2013!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://thebabywearingworkout.com/">The Babywearing Workout</a> via <a href="http://www.momeeezen.com/2012/10/giveaway-babywearing-workout-video.html">MomeeeZen</a> and <a href="http://trueconfessionsofarealmommy.blogspot.com/2012/10/natural-parents-network-holiday.html">True Confessions of a Real Mommy</a> — Win 1 of 5 copies of <a href="http://thebabywearingworkout.com/">Mama's "Little" Personal Trainer</a> (ARV $10 x 5)
Shop now with coupon code NPN2012 and get 15% off your purchase between November 5 and December 24, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/WoolyTopic">Wooly Topic</a> via <a href="http://ourcrazycorneroftheworld.blogspot.com/2012/10/waldorf-inspired-set-of-six-wool-rock.html">Our Crazy Corner of the World</a> — Win a set of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/110762334/waldorf-inspiredset-of-6-wool-rock-pods">6 Wool Rock Pods</a> (ARV $36)
Shop now with coupon code celebration10 and get 10% off your purchase from October 26, 2012, until December 30, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/YellowElm">Yellow Elm</a> via <a href="http://www.mothersofchange.com/?p=756">Mothers of Change</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/93250013/peaceful-garden-headband-in-yellow">handmade felted flower headband</a> (ARV $20)
Shop now with coupon code HANDMADEHOLIDAY15 and get 15% off your purchase until December 31, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.intuitionphysician.com/">Intuition Physician</a> via <a href="http://mommyingmyway.blogspot.com/2012/10/giveaway-together-we-sleep-cosleeping.html">Mommying My Way</a> — Win a Set of 2 Attachment Parenting-Related Children's Stories (ARV $34)</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/cashmerecuddles">Cashmere Cuddles</a> via <a href="http://www.amywilla.com/2012/10/cuddles-for-kids-doll-carrier-from-cashmere-cuddles-25-arv-uscan">Amy Willa: Me, Mothering, and Making it All Work</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/cashmerecuddles?section_id=5537428">Cuddles for Kids Doll Carrier</a> (ARV $25)</li>
<li>From <a href="http://sacredrosetisane.com/">Sacred Rose Tea</a> via <a href="http://naturallifemom.com/2012/10/giveaway-holiday-blend-organic-tea-and-infuser-from-sacred-rose-27-arv-11-25-worldwide">A Little Bit of All of It</a> — Win <a href="http://sacredrosetisane.com/tea_hblend.html">1 box of Holiday Blend Organic Tea</a> and a <a href="http://www.sacredrosetea.com/Infusers.htm">Tea Infuser</a> (ARV $27)</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/rockpapertree">Rock Paper Tree</a> via <a href="http://vibrantwanderings.com/2012/10/giveaway-50-gift-certificate-from-rock-paper-tree-11-25-uscan.html">Vibrant Wanderings</a> — Win a $50 gift certificate good toward handcrafted items made with precious metals, crystals, and gemstones
Shop now with coupon code TEN10TEN and get 10% off your purchase through November 25, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/twopinkhearts">Two Pink Hearts</a> via <a href="http://codenamemama.com/2012/10/26/giveaway-two-pink-hearts/">Code Name: Mama</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/twopinkhearts">$20 Gift Certificate for a fashion camera strap cover</a>
Shop now with coupon code holiday10 and get 10% off through December 31, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/KangarooCare">Kangaroo Care</a> via <a href="http://firmlyplantedblog.blogspot.com/2012/11/giveaway-nursing-necklace-from.html">Firmly Planted</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/89842157/petite-nursing-necklace-teething?ref=v1_other_2"> Nursing Necklace</a> (ARV $25)!</li></ul>
<strong><u>Publishing on Saturday, October 27, 2012</u></strong>
<ul><li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheEnchantedCupboard">The Enchanted Cupboard</a> via <a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com/2012/10/giveaway-20-gift-certificate-to.html">Hybrid Rasta Mama</a> — Win a $20 Gift Certificate to spend on wooden toys and dolls, custom wedding cake toppers, and more!
Shop now with coupon code NPN and get 10% off your purchase through November 25, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/jupiterschild">Jupiter's Child</a>, via <a href="http://downsideupandoutsidein.blogspot.com/2012/10/giveaway-rainbow-jumprope-from-jupiters.html">Downside Up and Outside In</a> — Win a beautiful hand dyed, hand spliced <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/109061151/8-ft-single-jump-rope-skipping-rope-hand">rainbow colored jump rope</a> (ARV $25)</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/bornathometoys">Born at Home Toys</a> via <a href="http://www.thatmamagretchen.com/2012/10/giveaway-under-moon-fishing-set-from.html">That Mama Gretchen</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/100408231/under-the-moon-fishing-set">Fishing Set</a> (ARV $20)
Shop now with coupon code THATMAMA and get 10% off all orders through November 25, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/monkeymamanecklaces?ref=seller_info">Monkey Mama Necklaces</a> via <a href="http://www.ithoughtiknewmama.com/2012/10/nursing-necklace/">I Thought I Knew Mama</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/90115314/resin-nursing-necklacebreastfeeding?show_panel=true">twiddle buster or twiddle teether pendant nursing necklace</a>, a safe and distracting necklace perfect for little nurslings (ARV $20)
Shop now with coupon code ITIKM10 and get 10% off your purchase until November 30, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/AveryleeKids">Averylee Kids</a> via <a href="http://www.thatmamagretchen.com/2012/10/giveaway-custom-baby-boots-and-owl.html">That Mama Gretchen</a> — Win <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/AveryleeKids?section_id=12137578">Baby Booties</a> and an <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/AveryleeKids?section_id=11892016">Owl Taggie</a> (ARV $35)
Shop now with coupon code FREEKIDS and get Free Shipping through November 25, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://knotgenie.com/">Knot Genie</a> via <a href="http://wp.me/p2L387-1nO">Living Peacefully with Children</a> — Win a <a href="http://wp.me/p2L387-1nO">Knot Genie Detangle Brush</a> (ARV $20)
Shop now with coupon code living and get $4 off all orders through November 25, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.raisinggreenkids.net/">Raising Green Kids</a> via <a href="http://www.veryveryfine.com/imported-20101215221410/2012/10/27/giveaway-25-gift-certificate-from-raising-green-kids-25arv-o.html">very, very fine</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.raisinggreenkids.net/category_29/WoolDryerBalls.htm">$25 gift certificate to purchase green and eco-friendly items from bathtime to home decor!</a></li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.birchleafdesigns.etsy.com" target="_blank">BirchLeaf Designs</a> via <a href="http://www.hobomama.com/2012/10/giveaway-2-playsilks-from-birchleaf-designs.html" target="_blank">Hobo Mama</a> — Win 2 <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/birchleafdesigns?section_id=6146409" target="_blank">Hand-Dyed Playsilks</a> (ARV $26)
Shop now with coupon code NPN and get 10% off through November 25, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://shopsorad.com/">SoRad</a> via <a href="http://ourfeministplayschool.ca/sorad-review-giveaway-goodness/">ourfeminist{play}school</a> — Win <a href="http://shopsorad.com/products-page/bodies/ninja-outfit/">a Ninja Sleep Set</a> (ARV $40)</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/SugarConeShoppe">The Sugar Cone Shoppe</a> via <a href="http://naturallifemom.com/2012/10/sugarcone-shoppe/">A Little Bit of All of It</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/SugarConeShoppe?section_id=7794311">Mei Tai Doll Carrier</a> (ARV $32)
Shop now with coupon code 2012NPN and get free domestic shipping through November 25, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.facebook.com/LeoandLola">LeoandLola</a> via <a href="http://firmlyplantedblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/giveaway-50-giftcard-from-leoandlola.html">Firmly Planted</a> — Win a $50 Gift Card to spend on custom onesies, t-shirts, dresses, and many upcycled items!
Shop now with coupon code NPNFREE and get free domestic shipping through November 25, 2012!</li></ul>
<strong><u>Publishing on Sunday, October 28, 2012</u></strong>
<ul><li>From <a href="http://www.anointment.ca/">Anointment</a> via <a href="http://www.momeeezen.com/2012/10/anointment-npn-giveaway.html">MomeeeZen</a> — Win <a href="http://www.anointment.ca/shop/baby-balm/">Baby Balm</a>, <a href="http://www.anointment.ca/shop/baby-oil/">Baby Oil</a>, <a href="http://www.anointment.ca/shop/calendula-soap/">Calendula Soap</a> and a <a href="http://www.anointment.ca/shop/scrubbie/">Soap Scrubbie</a> (ARV $30)
Shop now with coupon code npnreview and orders over $50 get free shipping to US/Canada and a free gift through December 31, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/dirtydivasoaps">Dirty Diva Soaps</a> via <a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com/2012/10/giveaway-block-set-from-howells-natural.html">Hybrid Rasta Mama</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/dirtydivasoaps?section_id=8000409" target="_blank">set of three soaps</a> (ARV $20)
Shop now with coupon code Hybridrastamama and get 10% off your purchase through November 25, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/KimberlyR?ref=pr_shop_more">KR Dyeworks</a> via<a href="http://downsideupandoutsidein.blogspot.com/2012/10/giveaway-25-gift-card-from-kimberly-r.html">Downside Up And Outside In</a> — Win a $25 gift certificate to purchase handpainted yarn, knitting patterns, or handknit shawls and scarves!
Shop now with coupon code NPN20 and get 20% off your order November 1-30, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://moksaorganics.com/">moksa organics</a> via <a href="http://ourfeministplayschool.ca/moska-review-giveaway-goodness/">ourfeminist{play}school</a> — Win a <a href="http://moksaorganics.com/shopnow/browse.php?m=2">$30 gift certificate to purchase a wide variety of organic soaps and body care products!</a>
Shop now with coupon code naturalparenting and get 30% off your purchase through November 25, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/SophisticatedPlayApp?ref=pr_shop_more">Sophisticated Play Apparel</a> via <a href="http://wp.me/p2L387-1oy">Living Peacefully with Children</a> — Win a <a href="http://wp.me/p2L387-1oy">Matching Set of Toddler Wrist Warmers and Cowl</a> (ARV $34)
Shop now with coupon code livingpeacefully and get 15% off all orders through January 5, 2013!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Dominna">Dominna</a> via <a href="http://codenamemama.com/2012/10/28/giveaway-dominna/">Code Name: Mama</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Dominna">$30 Gift Certificate toward handmade Latvian toys</a></li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.easylunchboxes.com/?AFFID=74743">Easy Lunchboxes</a> via <a href="http://firmlyplantedblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/giveaway-container-set-and-cooler-bag.html">Firmly Planted</a> — Win a Set of <a href="http://www.easylunchboxes.com/products/food_containers/index.htm">Food Storage Containers</a> and a <a href="http://www.easylunchboxes.com/products/lunch_bags/index.htm">Lunch Bag</a> (ARV $22)!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Anktangle">Anktangle Creations</a> via <a href="http://naturallifemom.com/2012/10/anktangle-creations-baby-leggings-holiday-gift-guide">A Little Bit of All of It</a> — Win a $20 gift certificate to spend on handmade gifts including baby leggings, wool dryer balls, wool diaper covers, ear warmers, and more!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/HowellsProducts">Howells Natural Wood Products</a> via <a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com/2012/10/giveaway-block-set-from-howells-natural.html">Hybrid Rasta Mama</a> — Win a set of solid, natural building blocks (ARV $33)
Shop now with coupon code HRM10 and get 10% off your purchase through November 25, 2012!</li></ul>
<strong><u>Publishing on Monday, October 29, 2012</u></strong>
<ul><li>From <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bent-River-Bobbins/133636240066017?fref=ts">Bent River Bobbins</a> via <a href="http://firmlyplantedblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/giveaway-gift-certificate-to-bent-river.html">Firmly Planted</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bent-River-Bobbins/133636240066017?fref=ts">$20 Gift Certificate</a> to buy high quality, reusable bags and sandwich wraps, baby toys, and more!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.seriouspuzzles.com">Serious Puzzles</a> via <a href="http://www.mommajorje.com/2012/10/review-giveaway-serious-puzzles.html">Momma Jorje</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.seriouspuzzles.com/i5045.asp">Jumbo Numbers - 20pc Wooden Puzzle By Melissa & Doug</a> (ARV $20)</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com">Hybrid Rasta Mama</a> via <a href="http://www.diaryofafirstchild.com/2012/10/29/coconut-oil-for-your-skin-review-and-competition/">Diary of a First Child </a> — Win one of three copies of the <a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com/p/store.html">eBook 'Coconut Oil For Your Skin'</a>(ARV $7 x 3)</li>
<li>From <a href="http://libretea.com/">Libre Tea</a> via <a href="http://hippiehousewife.blogspot.com/2012/10/libre-tea.html">The Hippie Housewife</a> — Win a <a href="http://retailshop.libretea.com/Libre-glass-n-poly-Original-c15/">Libre glass ’n poly Original Tea Glass</a> (ARV $24)</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.textureclothing.com">Texture Clothing</a> via <a href="http://veryveryfine.squarespace.com/imported-20101215221410/2012/10/29/giveaway-comfy-skirt-from-texture-clothing-72-arv-open-to-us.html">very, very fine</a> — Win a <a href="http://store.textureclothing.com/comfyskirts.html">Comfy Skirt (ARV $72)</a>
Shop now with coupon code veryfineship and receive free shipping on all orders November 29, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://presenceparenting.com/">Presence Parenting</a> via <a href="http://www.anktangle.com/2012/10/giveaway-60-min-nurturing-presence-session-from-presence-parenting-11-25-worldwide.html">Anktangle</a> — Win a 60-Minute <a href="http://presenceparenting.com/sessions/">Nurturing Presence Session</a>(ARV $50)!
Shop now with coupon code NPN50 and receive 50% off your own Nurturing Presence Sessions through November 30, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1612430619/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1612430619&linkCode=as2&tag=natuparenetw-20">Dionna Ford</a> via <a href="http://www.ithoughtiknewmama.com/2012/10/mothers-journal/">I Thought I Knew Mama</a> — Win 1 of 2 copies of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1612430619/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1612430619&linkCode=as2&tag=natuparenetw-20">For My Children: A Mother's Journal of Memories, Wishes and Wisdom</a>, a beautiful way for a mother to pass along her memories (ARV $15 x 2)</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Nushkie">Nushkie</a> via <a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com/2012/10/giveaway-gift-set-from-wooly-moss-roots.html">Hybrid Rasta Mama</a> — Win a 54 piece Jigsaw Puzzle of your choice (ARV $24)</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.barefootbooks.com/">Barefoot Books</a> via <a href="http://downsideupandoutsidein.blogspot.com/2012/10/mama-panyas-pancakes-from-barefoot.html">Downside Up And Outside In</a> — Win a book of your choosing from independent children's book publishers, Barefoot Books! (ARV $25)</li>
<li>From <a href="http://primaprincessa.com/" target="_blank">Prima Princessa</a> via <a href="http://www.hobomama.com/2012/10/giveaway-3-nutcracker-kids-ballet-dvds-prima-princessa.html" target="_blank">Hobo Mama</a> — Win one of 3 copies of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002VJ05CQ/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002VJ05CQ&linkCode=as2&tag=natuparenetw-20" target="_blank"><i>Prima Princessa Presents: The Nutcracker</i> kids ballet DVD</a> (ARV $7 x 3)</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.wisedaughters.com/">Wise Daughters Craft Market</a> via <a href="http://ourfeministplayschool.ca/giveaway-9-99-arv-11-25-world-wide">ourfeminist{play}school</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/playmemamacrafts?section_id=10111423">set of wooden play money!</a> (ARV $20)</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/woolymossroots">Wooly Moss Roots</a> via <a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com/2012/10/giveaway-gift-set-from-wooly-moss-roots.html">Hybrid Rasta Mama</a> — Win your all natural Tooth Powder, Magical Healing Salve, and a Smudging Bundle (ARV $34)
Shop now with coupon code HYBRIDRASTAMAMA15 and get 15% off your purchase through November 25, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://glassdharma.com">Glass Dharma</a> via <a href="http://wp.me/p2L387-1od">Living Peacefully with Children</a> — Win a <a href="http://wp.me/p2L387-1od">$25 Gift Certificate</a> to purchase beautiful, reusable glass straws and straw sets.</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.earthslings.com.au/">Earthslings</a> via <a href="http://codenamemama.com/2012/10/29/giveaway-earthslings/">Code Name: Mama</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.earthslings.com.au/">$35 Gift Certificate toward pouch slings, dolls, dress-up costumes, and more</a>
Shop now with coupon code KIDS2012 and get 10% off through December 31, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.mobywrap.com">Moby</a> via <a href="http://naturallifemom.com/2012/10/mini-moby-giveaway/">A Little Bit of All of It</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.mobywrap.com/p-18-mini-moby.aspx">Mini Moby Doll Carrier</a> and <a href="http://www.mobywrap.com/p-222-knot-hats.aspx">Knot Hat</a> (ARV $21)
Shop now with coupon code blogger2012 and get 10% off one item through November 25, 2012!
</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/yarnsandstorys">Yarns and Storys</a> via <a href="http://ourcrazycorneroftheworld.blogspot.com/2012/10/giveaway-30-giftcard-from-yarns-and.html">Our Crazy Corner of the World</a> — Win a store credit worth $30, for an item of your choice at <a href=http://www.etsy.com/shop/yarnsandstorys>Yarns and Storys</a>, including hand spun and hand-dyed fibers, hats, scarves and other clothing items.
Shop now with coupon code NPN10 and get 10% off your purchase until November 25, 2012!</li></ul>
<strong><u>Publishing on Tuesday, October 30, 2012</u></strong>
<ul><li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/people/DesertDyeworks">Desert Dye Works</a> via <a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com/2012/10/giveaway-30-gift-certificate-from.html">Hybrid Rasta Mama</a> — Win a $30 Gift Certificate to spend on playsilks in all sizes and colors, silk dress-up items, or prayer flags!</li>
<li>From <a title="Playful Planet" href="http://playfulplanet.com" target="_blank">Playful Planet</a> via <a title="Presence Parenting" href="http://presenceparenting.com/?p=4999" target="_blank">Presence Parenting</a> — Win a <a title="Storyland Yoga DVD" href="http://playfulplanet.com/store/storyland-yoga.html" target="_blank">Storyland Yoga DVD</a> (ARV $15)
Shop now with coupon code NPN20 and get 20% off of your purchase through November 25, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.stubbypencilstudio.com">Stubby Pencil Studio</a> via <a href="http://vibrantwanderings.com/2012/10/giveaway-box-of-eco-friendly-art-supplies-from-stubby-pencil-studio-60-arv-11-25-ww.html">Vibrant Wanderings</a> — Win $60 worth of <a href="http://www.stubbypencilstudio.com/category/ANCR/art-materials/1.html">Eco Friendly Art Materials</a>. (ARV $60)
Shop now with coupon code SAVE15 and get 15% off of your purchase through November 30, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/earthfaeries-homebrewed-soap-handmade-goods/203411779712402">Earthfaeries Homebrewed Soap</a> via <a href="http://firmlyplantedblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/giveaway-soap-solid-perfume-from.html">Firmly Planted</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/earthfaeries-homebrewed-soap-handmade-goods/203411779712402">$20 Gift Card to buy home-brewed soaps and perfumes as well as other handmade goods!</a></li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/dysfunctiondesigns">Dysfunction Designs</a> via <a href="http://hippiehousewife.blogspot.com/2012/10/dysfunction-designs-handmade-jewellery.html">The Hippie Housewife</a> — Win a $20 Gift Certificate to buy handmade necklaces and bracelets for women and men.
Shop now with coupon code NATGIFTS and get 5% off all orders through December 31, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/MonCherPug">MonCherPug</a> via <a href="http://theartfulmama.com/2012/10/giveaway-organic-stuffed-pug-from-mon-cher-pug-45-arv-us/">The Artful Mama</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/110975334/organic-miniature-mon-cher-pug-made-from">Organic Miniature Pug</a> (ARV $45)</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.mydoterra.com/pattitinholt">doTERRA</a> via <a href="http://www.momeeezen.com/2012/10/npn-giveaway-doterra.html">MomeeeZen</a> — Win a $20 gift card to spend on essential oils & a free phone consultation with Patti Tinholt to help you learn which Essential Oils are right for you!
Shop now and for any purchases over $100, receive $50 towards your next purchase.</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/SnapdragonFortress">Snapdragon Fortress</a> via <a href="http://www.anktangle.com/2012/10/giveaway-wool-kitten-from-snapdragon-fortress-11-25-worldwide.html">Anktangle</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/91335297/natural-toy-kitten-charcoal-color-knit">Knit Wool Kitten</a> (ARV $20)!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/pipandbean" target="_blank">Pip & Bean</a> via <a href="http://www.hobomama.com/2012/10/giveaway-reversible-superhero-cape-kit-pip-bean.html" target="_blank">Hobo Mama</a> — Win a Superhero Kit: <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/90387497/superhero-cape-boys-reversible-blank" target="_blank">Reversible Cape</a>, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/91225848/super-hero-mask-match-your-pip-and-bean" target="_blank">Mask</a>, and <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/85013597/arm-bands-for-super-hero-super-hero-cape" target="_blank">Arm Bands</a> (ARV $25)</li>
<li>From <a href="http://theteaspot.com/">The Tea Spot</a> via <a href="http://naturallifemom.com/2012/10/the-tea-spot/">A Little Bit of All of It</a> — Win a <a href="http://theteaspot.com/tea-steeping-cup-steepware.html?catid=251">Steeping Cup</a> and an <a href="http://theteaspot.com/organic-tea-sampler.html?catid=267">Organic Tea Sampler</a> (ARV $44)
Shop now with coupon code naturalparents and get 15% off their order from November 1-25, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://kidcultureboutique.blogspot.ca/">Kid Culture</a> via <a href="http://ourfeministplayschool.ca/kid-culture-play-mama-review-giveaway-goodness">ourfeminist{play}school</a> — Win <a href="http://kidcultureboutique.blogspot.ca/2012_02_01_archive.html">a family set of Play Me Mama Crafts' organic hankies!</a> (ARV $24)</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.zmangames.com/">Z-Man Games</a> via <a href="http://livingpeacefullywithchildren.com">Living Peacefully with Children</a> — 2 Winners will receive a copy of the board game <a href="http://wp.me/p2L387-1oe">Mondo</a> (ARV $40 x 2)</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.mamamayishop.com/collections/all">Mama May I</a> via <a href="http://codenamemama.com/2012/10/30/giveaway-story-starters-game/">Code Name: Mama</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.mamamayishop.com/products/story-starters">Story Starters Game</a> (ARV $25)
Shop now with coupon code NPNHOLIDAY and get 10% off through December 31, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.maggiesnaturals.com/">Maggie’s Naturals</a> via <a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com/2012/10/giveaway-30-gift-certificate-from.html">Hybrid Rasta Mama</a> — Win a 6-pack Variety Food Coloring Package (ARV $60)</li></ul>
<strong><u>Publishing on Wednesday, October 31, 2012</u></strong>
<ul><li>From <a href="http://www.oliveshootinstitute.com">Olive Shoot Institute</a> via <a href="http://firmlyplantedblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/giveaway-extreme-18x-soap-nut-liquid.html">Firmly Planted</a> — Win <a href="http://stores.oliveshootinstitute.com/-strse-12/Soap-Nuts%2C-Laundry-detergent/Detail.bok">Extreme 18X Soap Nut Liquid Concentrate</a> and a <a href="http://stores.oliveshootinstitute.com/-strse-Guinea-Pig-Girl-doll-collection/Categories.bok">Guinea Pig Doll</a> (ARV $40)!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.flyingbirdbotanicals.com/">Flying Bird Botanicals</a> via <a href="http://veryveryfine.squarespace.com/imported-20101215221410/2012/10/31/review-and-giveaway-flying-bird-botanicals.html">very, very fine</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/flyingbirdbotanicals">$25 gift certificate to purchase artisan tea blends, rich drinking chocolates, or organic body and baby care products!</a></li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.laurenwayne.com/" target="_blank">Lauren Wayne</a> via <a href="http://ourfeministplayschool.ca/poetry-hobomama-review-giveaway">ourfeminist{play}school</a>, win 1 of 2 copies of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Poetry-Hobo-Mama-First-Three/dp/1453670645?ie=UTF8&tag=natuparenetw-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969">Poetry of a Hobo Mama: The First Three Years</a> (ARV $10 x 2)
Shop now with coupon code SAP84AYJ and get 20% off all orders of the trade paperback at <a href="https://www.createspace.com/3465837" target="_blank">the author's store</a> through December 31, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/people/ElementalHandcrafts">Elemental Handcrafts</a> via <a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com/2012/10/giveaway-gift-set-from-elemental.html">Hybrid Rasta Mama</a> — Win a personalized wooden ball/spoon set with a magnet (ARV $33)</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/wortsandcunning">Worts and Cunning Apothecary</a> via <a href="http://wp.me/p2L387-1nN">Living Peacefully with Children</a> — Win a <a href="http://wp.me/p2L387-1nN">Happy Homestead Remedy Kit (ARV $20)</a>
Shop now with coupon code NATURALWORT and get 10% off all orders through November 25, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://destanyfenton.blogspot.com/">Destany Fenton Fine Art</a> via <a href="http://codenamemama.com/2012/10/31/giveaway-custom-portrait-destany-fenton">Code Name: Mama</a> — Win an original <a href="http://destanyfenton.blogspot.com/">12x16 portrait</a> (ARV $220)</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/RainbowSouffle">RainbowSouffle</a> via <a href="http://naturallifemom.com/2012/10/rainbow-souffle/">A Little Bit of All of It</a> — Win a $20 Gift Certificate to spend on a doll ring sling, handmade toys, costume items, and more!
Shop now with coupon code FREESHIP and get free shipping on any item through November 25, 2012!</li></ul>
<div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><strong>Disclosure:</strong> Our reviewer received a sample product
for review purposes.
Some links are affiliate links.
We try to seek out only products we think you would find
relevant and useful to your life as a natural parent.
If we don't like a product, we won't be recommending it to you.
See our <a href="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/disclosure/" target="_blank">full disclosure policy here.</a></span></div>
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Kymberleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579349343824571205noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776276231017030003.post-70705722848473708992012-10-26T06:14:00.000-07:002012-11-01T09:02:31.402-07:00Waldorf Inspired, set of six, Wool Rock Pods from Wooly Topic - $36.15 (ARV 11/25 - Worldwide) <!-- START TOP CODE -->
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is a <strong>joint giveaway between <a href="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/" target="_blank">Natural Parents Network</a> and many other natural parenting sites</strong>. You may enter for all of the giveaways at <strong><i>one site only</i></strong>. Please find the section marked "Win it!" for the mandatory entry and optional bonus entries.</span></blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/holiday-gift-guide/" target="_blank"><img alt="Natural Parents Network Holiday Gift Guide" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26966" src="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/NPN_Gift_Guide_640x160.jpg" title="Natural Parents Network Holiday Gift Guide" width="100%" /></a>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/" target="_blank">Natural Parents Network</a>, <a href="http://ourcrazycorneroftheworld.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Our Crazy Corner of the World</a>, and 24 other natural parenting bloggers are <strong>giving away 89 items</strong> perfect for gifting for the holidays as part of the <a href="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/holiday-gift-guide/" target="_blank">Natural Parents Network Holiday Gift Guide</a>. <strong>The combined total value of all of the items is $2,550.</strong> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Have you finished your holiday shopping? <strong>The NPN Holiday Gift Guide is a great opportunity to complete your gift-giving purchases for family and friends, while supporting many naturally-minded small businesses.</strong> The companies who have provided items for giveaway are almost exclusively made up of <strong>small businesses or work-at-home families.</strong> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Please stop back to enter the giveaway. <strong>The Rafflecopter entry system will be live November 1 on this post (and on every post participating in the Gift Guide).</strong> Please visit some of the other review posts listed below and read about the fabulous companies offering giveaways in the Natural Parents Network Holiday Gift Guide.
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Please continue reading to learn more about <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/WoolyTopic" target="_blank"><strong>Wooly Topic</strong></a>, which is offering our readers a giveaway of <strong>Waldorf Inspired, set of six, Wool Rock Pods</strong>, a value of $36.15 (USD).
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Wooly Topic is a Canadian based company focusing on wool and lavender. All items are handmade and created from local resources. Wooly Topic has not only toys, but also home decor and jewelry. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We reviewed the Wool Rock Pods. They arrived right before my second son was born, so I was delighted to introduce a new toy to my oldest that was safe for him to play with around the baby. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04T6JIVpP4IQymuf219PJcOZDSwVmkP-HopWavNPiMdyhP-pAytRp23gi96GnDtk-4nvx8OK58nt3i7X5MZzoRYSz17vg2-_HPUSlu0i3QoNUbUhibO7YIrr4uNHPXiF_srYrwWn10mY/s1600/IMG_2222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04T6JIVpP4IQymuf219PJcOZDSwVmkP-HopWavNPiMdyhP-pAytRp23gi96GnDtk-4nvx8OK58nt3i7X5MZzoRYSz17vg2-_HPUSlu0i3QoNUbUhibO7YIrr4uNHPXiF_srYrwWn10mY/s400/IMG_2222.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">Andrew is three and these rocks fit perfectly into his hands. He was delighted by the colors, the size and how soft they are. I love the fact that they are lightweight and no matter how hard my son threw them, they didn't hurt or break anything. It's a perfect indoor toy in that regard. You can tell the rock pods are made with attention to detail and carefully constructed due to the fact they are uniform in size and shape. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">The rock pods became a big part of all his favorite games. They were dinosaur eggs in a nest, rocks/mountain for a monster truck race, and toted around in a dump truck. I took pictures of the various ways I found the rocks, every time it made me laugh and be inspired by his creativity.</span></div>
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<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Because the rock pods are lightweight, they are easy to tote around in busy bags and in the car. The only problem we have come across with the rocks is, in typical toddler fashion, they are easy to lose. We have misplaced each rock pod at least once, but they have turned up within a day or two. My son likes to hide them in shoes, which they fit perfectly in shoes. </span></pre>
<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The rocks are handmade, tough and sturdy, which was perfect for my rough-n-tumble little boy. They were quickly a favorite toy and taken everywhere. Because my son loves to play outside I was a bit concerned about the wool remaining brightly colored and clean, particularly the yellow one. However, cleaning was easy. Aylln, who owns Wooly Topic, e-mailed me the following directions for cleaning, and it made it quite easy to take care of them:</span></pre>
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"It's BEST to just spot clean them, mild soap and water and just rub away. If they get completely dirty for some reason, like dropped into a puddle, they CAN be put into the washing machine, but be aware they MIGHT shrink a bit. To put them in the washing machine, I suggest putting them inside a pillow case and tying a knot. To help avoid shrinking, I would let them air dry, but again, they CAN be put in the dryer safely.</div>
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;"><pre style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; white-space: normal;">Also, as a tid bit, I suggest that to keep them looking brand new, take a clothes shaver to them every once in a while, when they get 'fuzzy' like wool naturally does. The clothes shaver won't damage the fibers at all and removes all excess that has fuzzed or balled."</span></pre>
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<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The best part of this toy was watching my son's imagination at work. He came up with some really imaginative ways to use them and incorporate them into his other toys. I would highly recommend this toy for any young child. </span></pre>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicLNpFowVYFbP-uXAEDdu9_CWT24qObwSUP1bCodv22WDmNdCR4akZyEqIUpHewHU4Hcgh6ishoVhucZwri9UZxpZvjiNrZ63BTjQi9_97ocHuG0cYBfo2I4uQXIrSDhzreLk1hZmI2fM/s1600/IMG_2247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicLNpFowVYFbP-uXAEDdu9_CWT24qObwSUP1bCodv22WDmNdCR4akZyEqIUpHewHU4Hcgh6ishoVhucZwri9UZxpZvjiNrZ63BTjQi9_97ocHuG0cYBfo2I4uQXIrSDhzreLk1hZmI2fM/s400/IMG_2247.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My son, pretending to be a dinosaur and making his "nest", using the rock pods.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjms9NwW5ojaDUsgZh0Fz0EHeF60Rm-fQTOFjYFYL2HpoOFYjy08V9dfF0C3DEfDTpxbxoxOF-oIn8-vjBqBYTkQTbmNHOynUqd3YPb1FdHJHjpizQvlpLW8wPMKGFHkikfxAMqQaevX-o/s1600/IMG_2244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjms9NwW5ojaDUsgZh0Fz0EHeF60Rm-fQTOFjYFYL2HpoOFYjy08V9dfF0C3DEfDTpxbxoxOF-oIn8-vjBqBYTkQTbmNHOynUqd3YPb1FdHJHjpizQvlpLW8wPMKGFHkikfxAMqQaevX-o/s400/IMG_2244.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretending to lay eggs (which are also rock pods) in the nest.</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold;">BUY IT!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You can <strong>purchase your own Wool Rock Pods at <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/WoolyTopic" target="_blank">Wooly Topic</a> on Etsy. </strong>They are $35.00 CAN (36.15 USD), plus $6.10 for shipping to the US from Canada ($9.90 for everywhere else.)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And just for Natural Parents Network and Our Crazy Corner of the World readers, Wooly Topic is giving a 10% discount on all orders from now through 12/30/2012. Enter code <b>celebration10 </b>during the ordering process.
Make sure you check out the lavender dryer balls and the felted jewelry!
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: normal;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">For your own chance to win a set of six Wool Rock Pods from Wooly Topic, enter by leaving a comment and using our Rafflecopter system below. (Rafflecopter will be live November 1-25).</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></h3>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The winner will receive one set of Waldorf Inspired, set of six, Wool Rock Pods. <strong>Contest is open WORLDWIDE.</strong>
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Our Rafflecopter entry system is now open.
<blockquote><strong><i>MANDATORY ENTRY:</i></strong> In the box provided in the first Rafflecopter entry, <strong>tell us where you would have your prize shipped if you are one of the winners</strong>. You must enter your name and email address while leaving a comment in the Rafflecopter system for your entry to count.</blockquote>
<strong>Leave a valid email address</strong> so we can contact you if you win. Email addresses in Rafflecopter are not made publicly visible. Please leave the same valid email address in your mandatory comment so we can verify entries.
This is part of a larger giveaway hosted by <a href="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/" target="_blank">Natural Parents Network</a>. <strong>You may enter the whole giveaway at <em>one site only</em></strong>, and we'll be recording IP addresses to ensure that there are no duplicate entries. That said, please do visit and enjoy all of the participating sites!
Please note that each entrant can win only one prize, and NPN will be randomly assigning prizes to the winners. One of the giveaway questions asks which are your top five prizes so we can try to match winners to their preferences.
<strong><i>BONUS ENTRIES</i></strong>:
See the Rafflecopter entry system for bonus entries to increase your chance of winning after completing the mandatory entry. All bonus entries are entered directly into Rafflecopter. Give it a try, and email sponsorship {at} naturalparentsnetwork.com or leave a comment if you have any questions!
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Thank you for your interest in the <a href="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/holiday-gift-guide/" target="_blank">Natural Parents Network Gift Guide</a>! <strong>We invite you to read the reviews of other participating bloggers and return to enter the giveaway between November 1 and 25.</strong> Many of the giveaway items are open worldwide!
Here are the participating sites and companies. <strong><i>(Reviews go live between October 25 and October 31, and all links will be live by November 1.)</i></strong> We’ve included any <strong>coupon codes</strong> the companies have offered so you can get your holiday shopping under way!
<strong><u>Publishing on Thursday, October 25, 2012</u></strong>
<ul>
<li>From <a href="http://store.ergobaby.com/">Ergobaby</a> via <a href="http://naturallifemom.com/2012/10/ergobaby-doll-carrier/">A Little Bit of All of It</a> — Win one of two <a href="http://store.ergobaby.com/Lifestyle_Accessories/Doll_Carrier">Ergobaby Doll Carriers</a> (ARV $25 x 2)</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.poppysoap.com/">Poppy Soap Company</a> via <a href="http://www.fineandfairblog.com/2012/10/giveaway-mix-match-organic-soap-set.html">Fine and Fair</a> — Win 1 of 3 a <a href="http://www.poppysoap.com/collections/entire-organic-skin-care-collection/products/organic-soap-gift-set">Mix & Match Organic Soap Sets</a> (ARV $30)
Shop now with coupon code delilah and get $10 off your purchase through November 25, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/wildarbutus">Wild Arbutus</a> via <a href="http://www.anktangle.com/2012/10/giveaway-baby-hat-or-toy-from-wild-arbutus-11-25-us-can.html">Anktangle</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/wildarbutus?section_id=11142269">Handmade Baby Hat</a> or <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/wildarbutus?section_id=10942925">Plush Crocheted Toy</a> (ARV $25)
Shop now with coupon code NPNGIFTS10 and get 10% off all orders through December 31, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/lucylocketcreations">Lucy Locket Creations</a> via <a href="http://theartfulmama.com/2012/10/giveaway-fantasy-tail-from-lucy-locket-creations/">The Artful Mama</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/112853601/dragon-or-dinosaur-de-tachable-tail">Dragon or Dinosaur De-tachable Tail</a> (ARV $20)
Shop now with coupon code HANDMADE and get 15% off your purchase until November 30, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/JobDescriptionMommy">Job Description: Mommy</a> via <a href="http://codenamemama.com/2012/10/25/giveaway-earrings-job-description-mommy">Code Name: Mama</a> — Win <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/JobDescriptionMommy">3 Pairs of Handmade Earrings</a> (up to $45 ARV)
Shop now with coupon code NPNJDM and get 15% off your purchase through December 15, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.mothersboutique.com/HoboMama" target="_blank">A Mother's Boutique</a> via <a href="http://www.hobomama.com/2012/10/giveaway-nursing-maternity-wear-75-gift-card.html" target="_blank">Hobo Mama</a> — Win a $75 Gift Certificate for <a href="http://www.mothersboutique.com/HoboMama" target="_blank">Nursing & Maternity Wear</a>
Shop now with coupon code HOBO10 and get 10% off virtually any item in the store (certain exclusions apply) through November 25, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://terramor.etsy.com/">Terramor</a> via <a href="http://ourfeministplayschool.ca/giveaway-terramor-sterling-silver-turquoise-earrings-20-arv-11-25-worldwide">ourfeminist{play}school</a> — Win a jewelery gift set (ARV $30)
Shop now with coupon code npn10 and get 10% off your Etsy purchase through November 25, 2012!</li></ul>
<strong><u>Publishing on Friday, October 26, 2012</u></strong>
<ul><li>From <a href="http://kidcultureboutique.blogspot.ca/">Kid Culture</a> via <a href="http://ourfeministplayschool.ca/kid-culture-review-giveaway-goodness">ourfeminist{play}school</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/playmemamacrafts?section_id=10111423">Superhero Cape</a> for your Lil' Superhero! (ARV $20)</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/soapieskyes">Soapie Skyes</a> via <a href="http://wp.me/p2L387-1nM">Living Peacefully with Children</a> — Win a bottle of <a href="http://wp.me/p2L387-1nM">All Natural Balancing Shampoo</a> (ARV $20)
Shop now with coupon code NATURALCHRISTMAS and get 25% off all orders through January 5, 2013!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://thebabywearingworkout.com/">The Babywearing Workout</a> via <a href="http://www.momeeezen.com/2012/10/giveaway-babywearing-workout-video.html">MomeeeZen</a> and <a href="http://trueconfessionsofarealmommy.blogspot.com/2012/10/natural-parents-network-holiday.html">True Confessions of a Real Mommy</a> — Win 1 of 5 copies of <a href="http://thebabywearingworkout.com/">Mama's "Little" Personal Trainer</a> (ARV $10 x 5)
Shop now with coupon code NPN2012 and get 15% off your purchase between November 5 and December 24, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/WoolyTopic">Wooly Topic</a> via <a href="http://ourcrazycorneroftheworld.blogspot.com/2012/10/waldorf-inspired-set-of-six-wool-rock.html">Our Crazy Corner of the World</a> — Win a set of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/110762334/waldorf-inspiredset-of-6-wool-rock-pods">6 Wool Rock Pods</a> (ARV $36)
Shop now with coupon code celebration10 and get 10% off your purchase from October 26, 2012, until December 30, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/YellowElm">Yellow Elm</a> via <a href="http://www.mothersofchange.com/?p=756">Mothers of Change</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/93250013/peaceful-garden-headband-in-yellow">handmade felted flower headband</a> (ARV $20)
Shop now with coupon code HANDMADEHOLIDAY15 and get 15% off your purchase until December 31, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.intuitionphysician.com/">Intuition Physician</a> via <a href="http://mommyingmyway.blogspot.com/2012/10/giveaway-together-we-sleep-cosleeping.html">Mommying My Way</a> — Win a Set of 2 Attachment Parenting-Related Children's Stories (ARV $34)</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/cashmerecuddles">Cashmere Cuddles</a> via <a href="http://www.amywilla.com/2012/10/cuddles-for-kids-doll-carrier-from-cashmere-cuddles-25-arv-uscan">Amy Willa: Me, Mothering, and Making it All Work</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/cashmerecuddles?section_id=5537428">Cuddles for Kids Doll Carrier</a> (ARV $25)</li>
<li>From <a href="http://sacredrosetisane.com/">Sacred Rose Tea</a> via <a href="http://naturallifemom.com/2012/10/giveaway-holiday-blend-organic-tea-and-infuser-from-sacred-rose-27-arv-11-25-worldwide">A Little Bit of All of It</a> — Win <a href="http://sacredrosetisane.com/tea_hblend.html">1 box of Holiday Blend Organic Tea</a> and a <a href="http://www.sacredrosetea.com/Infusers.htm">Tea Infuser</a> (ARV $27)</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/rockpapertree">Rock Paper Tree</a> via <a href="http://vibrantwanderings.com/2012/10/giveaway-50-gift-certificate-from-rock-paper-tree-11-25-uscan.html">Vibrant Wanderings</a> — Win a $50 gift certificate good toward handcrafted items made with precious metals, crystals, and gemstones
Shop now with coupon code TEN10TEN and get 10% off your purchase through November 25, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/twopinkhearts">Two Pink Hearts</a> via <a href="http://codenamemama.com/2012/10/26/giveaway-two-pink-hearts/">Code Name: Mama</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/twopinkhearts">$20 Gift Certificate for a fashion camera strap cover</a>
Shop now with coupon code holiday10 and get 10% off through December 31, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/KangarooCare">Kangaroo Care</a> via <a href="http://firmlyplantedblog.blogspot.com/2012/11/giveaway-nursing-necklace-from.html">Firmly Planted</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/89842157/petite-nursing-necklace-teething?ref=v1_other_2"> Nursing Necklace</a> (ARV $25)!</li></ul>
<strong><u>Publishing on Saturday, October 27, 2012</u></strong>
<ul><li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheEnchantedCupboard">The Enchanted Cupboard</a> via <a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com/2012/10/giveaway-20-gift-certificate-to.html">Hybrid Rasta Mama</a> — Win a $20 Gift Certificate to spend on wooden toys and dolls, custom wedding cake toppers, and more!
Shop now with coupon code NPN and get 10% off your purchase through November 25, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/jupiterschild">Jupiter's Child</a>, via <a href="http://downsideupandoutsidein.blogspot.com/2012/10/giveaway-rainbow-jumprope-from-jupiters.html">Downside Up and Outside In</a> — Win a beautiful hand dyed, hand spliced <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/109061151/8-ft-single-jump-rope-skipping-rope-hand">rainbow colored jump rope</a> (ARV $25)</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/bornathometoys">Born at Home Toys</a> via <a href="http://www.thatmamagretchen.com/2012/10/giveaway-under-moon-fishing-set-from.html">That Mama Gretchen</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/100408231/under-the-moon-fishing-set">Fishing Set</a> (ARV $20)
Shop now with coupon code THATMAMA and get 10% off all orders through November 25, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/monkeymamanecklaces?ref=seller_info">Monkey Mama Necklaces</a> via <a href="http://www.ithoughtiknewmama.com/2012/10/nursing-necklace/">I Thought I Knew Mama</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/90115314/resin-nursing-necklacebreastfeeding?show_panel=true">twiddle buster or twiddle teether pendant nursing necklace</a>, a safe and distracting necklace perfect for little nurslings (ARV $20)
Shop now with coupon code ITIKM10 and get 10% off your purchase until November 30, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/AveryleeKids">Averylee Kids</a> via <a href="http://www.thatmamagretchen.com/2012/10/giveaway-custom-baby-boots-and-owl.html">That Mama Gretchen</a> — Win <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/AveryleeKids?section_id=12137578">Baby Booties</a> and an <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/AveryleeKids?section_id=11892016">Owl Taggie</a> (ARV $35)
Shop now with coupon code FREEKIDS and get Free Shipping through November 25, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://knotgenie.com/">Knot Genie</a> via <a href="http://wp.me/p2L387-1nO">Living Peacefully with Children</a> — Win a <a href="http://wp.me/p2L387-1nO">Knot Genie Detangle Brush</a> (ARV $20)
Shop now with coupon code living and get $4 off all orders through November 25, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.raisinggreenkids.net/">Raising Green Kids</a> via <a href="http://www.veryveryfine.com/imported-20101215221410/2012/10/27/giveaway-25-gift-certificate-from-raising-green-kids-25arv-o.html">very, very fine</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.raisinggreenkids.net/category_29/WoolDryerBalls.htm">$25 gift certificate to purchase green and eco-friendly items from bathtime to home decor!</a></li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.birchleafdesigns.etsy.com" target="_blank">BirchLeaf Designs</a> via <a href="http://www.hobomama.com/2012/10/giveaway-2-playsilks-from-birchleaf-designs.html" target="_blank">Hobo Mama</a> — Win 2 <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/birchleafdesigns?section_id=6146409" target="_blank">Hand-Dyed Playsilks</a> (ARV $26)
Shop now with coupon code NPN and get 10% off through November 25, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://shopsorad.com/">SoRad</a> via <a href="http://ourfeministplayschool.ca/sorad-review-giveaway-goodness/">ourfeminist{play}school</a> — Win <a href="http://shopsorad.com/products-page/bodies/ninja-outfit/">a Ninja Sleep Set</a> (ARV $40)</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/SugarConeShoppe">The Sugar Cone Shoppe</a> via <a href="http://naturallifemom.com/2012/10/sugarcone-shoppe/">A Little Bit of All of It</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/SugarConeShoppe?section_id=7794311">Mei Tai Doll Carrier</a> (ARV $32)
Shop now with coupon code 2012NPN and get free domestic shipping through November 25, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.facebook.com/LeoandLola">LeoandLola</a> via <a href="http://firmlyplantedblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/giveaway-50-giftcard-from-leoandlola.html">Firmly Planted</a> — Win a $50 Gift Card to spend on custom onesies, t-shirts, dresses, and many upcycled items!
Shop now with coupon code NPNFREE and get free domestic shipping through November 25, 2012!</li></ul>
<strong><u>Publishing on Sunday, October 28, 2012</u></strong>
<ul><li>From <a href="http://www.anointment.ca/">Anointment</a> via <a href="http://www.momeeezen.com/2012/10/anointment-npn-giveaway.html">MomeeeZen</a> — Win <a href="http://www.anointment.ca/shop/baby-balm/">Baby Balm</a>, <a href="http://www.anointment.ca/shop/baby-oil/">Baby Oil</a>, <a href="http://www.anointment.ca/shop/calendula-soap/">Calendula Soap</a> and a <a href="http://www.anointment.ca/shop/scrubbie/">Soap Scrubbie</a> (ARV $30)
Shop now with coupon code npnreview and orders over $50 get free shipping to US/Canada and a free gift through December 31, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/dirtydivasoaps">Dirty Diva Soaps</a> via <a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com/2012/10/giveaway-block-set-from-howells-natural.html">Hybrid Rasta Mama</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/dirtydivasoaps?section_id=8000409" target="_blank">set of three soaps</a> (ARV $20)
Shop now with coupon code Hybridrastamama and get 10% off your purchase through November 25, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/KimberlyR?ref=pr_shop_more">KR Dyeworks</a> via<a href="http://downsideupandoutsidein.blogspot.com/2012/10/giveaway-25-gift-card-from-kimberly-r.html">Downside Up And Outside In</a> — Win a $25 gift certificate to purchase handpainted yarn, knitting patterns, or handknit shawls and scarves!
Shop now with coupon code NPN20 and get 20% off your order November 1-30, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://moksaorganics.com/">moksa organics</a> via <a href="http://ourfeministplayschool.ca/moska-review-giveaway-goodness/">ourfeminist{play}school</a> — Win a <a href="http://moksaorganics.com/shopnow/browse.php?m=2">$30 gift certificate to purchase a wide variety of organic soaps and body care products!</a>
Shop now with coupon code naturalparenting and get 30% off your purchase through November 25, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/SophisticatedPlayApp?ref=pr_shop_more">Sophisticated Play Apparel</a> via <a href="http://wp.me/p2L387-1oy">Living Peacefully with Children</a> — Win a <a href="http://wp.me/p2L387-1oy">Matching Set of Toddler Wrist Warmers and Cowl</a> (ARV $34)
Shop now with coupon code livingpeacefully and get 15% off all orders through January 5, 2013!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Dominna">Dominna</a> via <a href="http://codenamemama.com/2012/10/28/giveaway-dominna/">Code Name: Mama</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Dominna">$30 Gift Certificate toward handmade Latvian toys</a></li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.easylunchboxes.com/?AFFID=74743">Easy Lunchboxes</a> via <a href="http://firmlyplantedblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/giveaway-container-set-and-cooler-bag.html">Firmly Planted</a> — Win a Set of <a href="http://www.easylunchboxes.com/products/food_containers/index.htm">Food Storage Containers</a> and a <a href="http://www.easylunchboxes.com/products/lunch_bags/index.htm">Lunch Bag</a> (ARV $22)!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Anktangle">Anktangle Creations</a> via <a href="http://naturallifemom.com/2012/10/anktangle-creations-baby-leggings-holiday-gift-guide">A Little Bit of All of It</a> — Win a $20 gift certificate to spend on handmade gifts including baby leggings, wool dryer balls, wool diaper covers, ear warmers, and more!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/HowellsProducts">Howells Natural Wood Products</a> via <a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com/2012/10/giveaway-block-set-from-howells-natural.html">Hybrid Rasta Mama</a> — Win a set of solid, natural building blocks (ARV $33)
Shop now with coupon code HRM10 and get 10% off your purchase through November 25, 2012!</li></ul>
<strong><u>Publishing on Monday, October 29, 2012</u></strong>
<ul><li>From <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bent-River-Bobbins/133636240066017?fref=ts">Bent River Bobbins</a> via <a href="http://firmlyplantedblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/giveaway-gift-certificate-to-bent-river.html">Firmly Planted</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bent-River-Bobbins/133636240066017?fref=ts">$20 Gift Certificate</a> to buy high quality, reusable bags and sandwich wraps, baby toys, and more!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.seriouspuzzles.com">Serious Puzzles</a> via <a href="http://www.mommajorje.com/2012/10/review-giveaway-serious-puzzles.html">Momma Jorje</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.seriouspuzzles.com/i5045.asp">Jumbo Numbers - 20pc Wooden Puzzle By Melissa & Doug</a> (ARV $20)</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com">Hybrid Rasta Mama</a> via <a href="http://www.diaryofafirstchild.com/2012/10/29/coconut-oil-for-your-skin-review-and-competition/">Diary of a First Child </a> — Win one of three copies of the <a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com/p/store.html">eBook 'Coconut Oil For Your Skin'</a>(ARV $7 x 3)</li>
<li>From <a href="http://libretea.com/">Libre Tea</a> via <a href="http://hippiehousewife.blogspot.com/2012/10/libre-tea.html">The Hippie Housewife</a> — Win a <a href="http://retailshop.libretea.com/Libre-glass-n-poly-Original-c15/">Libre glass ’n poly Original Tea Glass</a> (ARV $24)</li>
<li>From <a href="http://www.textureclothing.com">Texture Clothing</a> via <a href="http://veryveryfine.squarespace.com/imported-20101215221410/2012/10/29/giveaway-comfy-skirt-from-texture-clothing-72-arv-open-to-us.html">very, very fine</a> — Win a <a href="http://store.textureclothing.com/comfyskirts.html">Comfy Skirt (ARV $72)</a>
Shop now with coupon code veryfineship and receive free shipping on all orders November 29, 2012!</li>
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<li>From <a href="http://www.wisedaughters.com/">Wise Daughters Craft Market</a> via <a href="http://ourfeministplayschool.ca/giveaway-9-99-arv-11-25-world-wide">ourfeminist{play}school</a> — Win a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/playmemamacrafts?section_id=10111423">set of wooden play money!</a> (ARV $20)</li>
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<strong><u>Publishing on Tuesday, October 30, 2012</u></strong>
<ul><li>From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/people/DesertDyeworks">Desert Dye Works</a> via <a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com/2012/10/giveaway-30-gift-certificate-from.html">Hybrid Rasta Mama</a> — Win a $30 Gift Certificate to spend on playsilks in all sizes and colors, silk dress-up items, or prayer flags!</li>
<li>From <a title="Playful Planet" href="http://playfulplanet.com" target="_blank">Playful Planet</a> via <a title="Presence Parenting" href="http://presenceparenting.com/?p=4999" target="_blank">Presence Parenting</a> — Win a <a title="Storyland Yoga DVD" href="http://playfulplanet.com/store/storyland-yoga.html" target="_blank">Storyland Yoga DVD</a> (ARV $15)
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Shop now with coupon code naturalparents and get 15% off their order from November 1-25, 2012!</li>
<li>From <a href="http://kidcultureboutique.blogspot.ca/">Kid Culture</a> via <a href="http://ourfeministplayschool.ca/kid-culture-play-mama-review-giveaway-goodness">ourfeminist{play}school</a> — Win <a href="http://kidcultureboutique.blogspot.ca/2012_02_01_archive.html">a family set of Play Me Mama Crafts' organic hankies!</a> (ARV $24)</li>
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<strong><u>Publishing on Wednesday, October 31, 2012</u></strong>
<ul><li>From <a href="http://www.oliveshootinstitute.com">Olive Shoot Institute</a> via <a href="http://firmlyplantedblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/giveaway-extreme-18x-soap-nut-liquid.html">Firmly Planted</a> — Win <a href="http://stores.oliveshootinstitute.com/-strse-12/Soap-Nuts%2C-Laundry-detergent/Detail.bok">Extreme 18X Soap Nut Liquid Concentrate</a> and a <a href="http://stores.oliveshootinstitute.com/-strse-Guinea-Pig-Girl-doll-collection/Categories.bok">Guinea Pig Doll</a> (ARV $40)!</li>
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<div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><strong>Disclosure:</strong> Our reviewer received a sample product
for review purposes.
Some links are affiliate links.
We try to seek out only products we think you would find
relevant and useful to your life as a natural parent.
If we don't like a product, we won't be recommending it to you.
See our <a href="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/disclosure/" target="_blank">full disclosure policy here.</a></span></div>
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Kymberleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579349343824571205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776276231017030003.post-4721233901494934232012-09-24T09:19:00.000-07:002012-09-24T09:33:26.725-07:00The Birth Story of JohnDavid McKinley Graves<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>This is a birth story, with pictures and descriptions of an actual, live birth. While I have not posted any graphic pictures, please do not continue to read if you are sensitive or easily offended by these types of pictures or descriptions. This was a beautiful and amazing moment for our family and we have chosen to share this with the people in our lives. The process of birth is an amazing testament to God and His creation. We are excited to share our journey. Thanks for your support!</i></div>
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<i>***</i></div>
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Back in January, I found out that I was expecting our second child. Our shock and excitement quickly turned to crazy all-day sickness and illness, but we pressed forward with our plans to have a positive, intervention-free homebirth.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7fQcDyNndITe5eVvdW4eIiLg4OZv2jj6oZe3KbKoFTysV-hPY2QtOSPp4mJyArZyZ9xIydWd9JxbQFfesE_SYUYfdT4ckAU_QuEc54s5yvx7lwM9_03nQhVnaSGfykER7HpfhBXriz0o/s1600/387857_10100221266582045_458754605_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7fQcDyNndITe5eVvdW4eIiLg4OZv2jj6oZe3KbKoFTysV-hPY2QtOSPp4mJyArZyZ9xIydWd9JxbQFfesE_SYUYfdT4ckAU_QuEc54s5yvx7lwM9_03nQhVnaSGfykER7HpfhBXriz0o/s400/387857_10100221266582045_458754605_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our announcement to share with our friends!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My first son, Andrew was born in a hospital. While the birth itself was relatively uneventful and handled decently, after birth him and I were both subjected to a cascade of interventions that caused problems for us both. Thankfully it was nothing that caused serious problems, but it led to me actively seeking out a different route for "next time".<br />
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Shortly after I got my positive test, we hired our midwife, Salli. Hiring Salli was such a peaceful process for us. She was well-known and respected in our area, and I had not heard a single negative thing about her from anyone. The local natural birth/natural parenting community had nothing but high praises for her and her practice, and when we met with her, she was able to answer any questions and concerns we had. If I had any doubts about homebirth, they were immediately gone quickly after making a choice about our midwife. Over the next nine months, I got to establish an amazing relationship with her and with her apprentice, Shara.<br />
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Visits with Salli were so much different than visiting with an OB/GYN. At each appointment I met Salli at the birth center in New Braunfels. Salli would check my blood pressure, pulse, urine, and then check the baby using a doppler or fetoscope to hear the heartbeat, and using her hands to feel the baby's position. She would measure my fundal height and ask questions about movement, how I was feeling (physically and emotionally), if I had any weird symptoms and ask about my diet and supplements. When I was able to eat, I tried to adhere to the Brewer Diet, and all my many supplements (prenatals, chlorophyll and various tinctures and herbs for overall pregnancy health.) The rest of the visit we would just simply chat -- about anything and everything. Salli also had an extensive library of books dealing with natural birth, breastfeeding, the issues surrounding maternity care and I read as many as I could, and that also provided a lot of discussion. I looked forward to every single visit!<br />
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Fast forward to early September. As my due date approached, I found myself feeling anxious. We were facing a move to South Dakota and my husband was scheduled to report by the end of September. I found myself stressed and worried that he would have to leave before our child would arrive.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ntvpunYpIkA3QL_lgGyeo12aoKK5FabR6av4bWShOeDMBFj-_G6CfmFCmcbcN4rWAErXDpsTDdvZqx52Pm4rosNeOtKLdZaPkrNu3RYmTWghiIeQdm0liq5ZEW6peZNZBCcLPjx9VMg/s1600/485740_10100552668524895_367513656_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ntvpunYpIkA3QL_lgGyeo12aoKK5FabR6av4bWShOeDMBFj-_G6CfmFCmcbcN4rWAErXDpsTDdvZqx52Pm4rosNeOtKLdZaPkrNu3RYmTWghiIeQdm0liq5ZEW6peZNZBCcLPjx9VMg/s640/485740_10100552668524895_367513656_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">40 weeks and 1 day, feeling very huge and uncomfortable, but feeling pretty!</td></tr>
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My family, especially my mom, did everything she could to help me focus and stay calm. Sometimes it worked, other times I found myself frustrated, crying and venting to close friends via text, Facebook and e-mail.<br />
<br />
My EDD of September 11th came and went without much notice. That next Thursday at my midwife appointment, she checked me and we found that I was very, VERY soft, almost completely effaced and dilated to between a 5-6. The water sac was "bulging" so we knew that the past two weeks of prodormal labor were doing something and labor was on it's way.<br />
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On Sunday September 16th I stayed home from worship services. I had the unfortunate experience of getting food poisoning the day before and while I felt like the puking and other fun stuff was over, I was very tired and slightly dehydrated, so I opted to stay home and rest.<br />
<br />
Around 4pm, I began feeling a lot of pressure against my cervix and bottom. I wasn't have contractions but as I told my mom "I feel like I need to poop!!" She told me I should call Salli and see what she thought.<br />
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I texted Salli and explained what was going on. She said "I think I need to come over and check things out." She arrived at 5:15 and checked me. I was contracting regularly, but they weren't "hurting", and I was between 6-7 cm and even softer than I was before. She said "You are in labor, so let's get things set up and watch you and see what happens."<br />
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My husband, Salli and her assistant Holly began setting up the birth tub and taking my vitals. Around 5:30pm I had my first contraction that I felt. My husband and I began to time them and they were lasting about sixty seconds. Shortly after we began to time them, they began to hurt. I got on my knees and leaned over the coffee table and rocked my hips, moaning softly during contractions. They intensified quickly, and I had Philip text our photographer and my parents telling them they needed to get here soon.<br />
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Around 6pm I really wanted to be in the birth tub. The water looked so nice and I was beginning to struggle through the contractions on the floor.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsOG8pgtD00L4zrrpxtbGLDvVG78N5nbJAoEl-pHXQygUqSshQpz2dQiaxKJ2g62zfY4o8582W6DGUnIyQ1FHZvoTqXROUy8rPdLwILaDzN1kNVUcAoNvD0lSZnz6w71ktceDh_r1lkd0/s1600/IMG_2020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsOG8pgtD00L4zrrpxtbGLDvVG78N5nbJAoEl-pHXQygUqSshQpz2dQiaxKJ2g62zfY4o8582W6DGUnIyQ1FHZvoTqXROUy8rPdLwILaDzN1kNVUcAoNvD0lSZnz6w71ktceDh_r1lkd0/s400/IMG_2020.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Such a comfy pool. Seriously, being there was great! </td></tr>
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The pool wasn't quite full enough but Salli suggested I go ahead and get in. I immediately felt relief. I completely understand the term "natural birther's epidural" when it comes to being in water. It felt so good. During a contraction I could just let my body float and move so freely in the water. I alternated between laying on my back and floating, and being on my knees, leaning over the edge of the pool. During a contraction I moaned, roared and made sounds I did not know I could make. (And I have a sore throat to prove it.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWa8ySDmodvL7ZLcKNVfaJ8ioKF5XvMqXKDVaIDEjULD_y72PmOfHIfeSwSVv0fW5ogDIcgN8SAZW0DznbRqkg8xj8VV6qdKFQf_BSLDEALc68OhTPYJuVDMRuwJDcCV1sxV93_P_FNDE/s1600/IMG_2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWa8ySDmodvL7ZLcKNVfaJ8ioKF5XvMqXKDVaIDEjULD_y72PmOfHIfeSwSVv0fW5ogDIcgN8SAZW0DznbRqkg8xj8VV6qdKFQf_BSLDEALc68OhTPYJuVDMRuwJDcCV1sxV93_P_FNDE/s400/IMG_2015.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Support from Philip while leaning over the pool.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-jqQts8XnjTAzfXmEjLvMS1pi9WAEFxOIkGOg_hDKPNhZNNbrj-TWr9cdjQe6UFeS8sCzJbivmTD1IlPycoLuCA-9qQuskNRUhZ0QWwg8vlHoaYp1X422IQaEoe5444z4opfKQdtkkE/s1600/IMG_2051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-jqQts8XnjTAzfXmEjLvMS1pi9WAEFxOIkGOg_hDKPNhZNNbrj-TWr9cdjQe6UFeS8sCzJbivmTD1IlPycoLuCA-9qQuskNRUhZ0QWwg8vlHoaYp1X422IQaEoe5444z4opfKQdtkkE/s400/IMG_2051.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaning against the side, letting the rest of my body float.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My parents arrived home from church around 6:15pm. I was so excited to see my son Andrew. He immediately stripped down naked and got in the tub with me. As I moaned through contractions, he moaned with him and imitated the movements I was doing with my body. If I hadn't been needing to focus so hard, it would have been funny. He also decided that his lizard needed to be in the tub with us as well. Birth was definitely a family affair at this point. At several points I screamed for my mom, but she was right there, holding my hand and talking me through it.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheaNO2iS-ouLxKJ0UvIYJh_EVEoj1A9GcT7y3uHZff-TuguCZsuHsuK_4RliOnFI2NODya__tFQckFAWpNSYGSTH1N7eGKVfsPGWX8XeKVTbYSOtpxL8r34GSxKXS07qYNBt9n_XTjYvM/s1600/IMG_2028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheaNO2iS-ouLxKJ0UvIYJh_EVEoj1A9GcT7y3uHZff-TuguCZsuHsuK_4RliOnFI2NODya__tFQckFAWpNSYGSTH1N7eGKVfsPGWX8XeKVTbYSOtpxL8r34GSxKXS07qYNBt9n_XTjYvM/s400/IMG_2028.jpg" width="302" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gathering strength from my mom.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
At some point I began to lose track of time, and when I wasn't contracting, I was so relaxed I wanted to sleep. My body was going back and forth between being alert and focused on contractions, and sleeping, resting and fading out of consciousness in between. Philip got Andrew out of the pool, but Andrew stayed nearby, playing with his trains and stopping to come tell me "It's okay mommy, it's okay." during contractions. He would pat my arm or my face.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhzCWtiC7i1DOIoEC1OzVbwwuxoZVtt8egUulMVL7dgpfD2vXyUNteXe9hSwcy1tbAakVZZgfKbCPTDyl694TRjis9rW3cfvk2wX10P3WyaKzH1hAEh7DNUmpFl2vdqIu6NIdoGFNmfU4/s1600/IMG_2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhzCWtiC7i1DOIoEC1OzVbwwuxoZVtt8egUulMVL7dgpfD2vXyUNteXe9hSwcy1tbAakVZZgfKbCPTDyl694TRjis9rW3cfvk2wX10P3WyaKzH1hAEh7DNUmpFl2vdqIu6NIdoGFNmfU4/s400/IMG_2017.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andrew, enjoying his trains. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEn4Sa7EfbuvNUXAjd6dGaQD4NRnLHdnF6rEUq_tDuJ3dqOroioCoBxkn8YUAx2ysmQ2vIrkN7I94l3_B5FBUJy99Gvw62B_ByfvulJB9lAYk9IsF0P8sfxRZdFWZ_JP931XQnZV9m0Oc/s1600/IMG_2096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEn4Sa7EfbuvNUXAjd6dGaQD4NRnLHdnF6rEUq_tDuJ3dqOroioCoBxkn8YUAx2ysmQ2vIrkN7I94l3_B5FBUJy99Gvw62B_ByfvulJB9lAYk9IsF0P8sfxRZdFWZ_JP931XQnZV9m0Oc/s400/IMG_2096.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Philip, Andrew and my dad helping me relax in between contractions.</td></tr>
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Soon, my hips began to feel like they were going to be split in half. Salli began asking me questions and I could not answer her. I was so dazed and out of it, and I really wanted to sleep. Salli checked me and I was complete but there was a tiny bit of a lip on my cervix, as well as the water sac was still intact. I wanted to push during contractions but it hurt my hips so bad to do so. Shara and Holly then began doing counter pressure on my hips and I began to push. The counter pressure along with the pushing began to feel really good. I was no longer screaming for it to end, but instead saying "That feels good, that feels really good."<br />
<br />
At 7:30 I was frustrated that my membranes were still intact. Salli asked if I wanted her to break my water and I said "Yes, I'm ready to have this baby." JohnDavid had other plans and while Salli got ready to break my water, I had a strong contraction, pushed and the sac popped on its own! Immediately I began to feel my baby descend and feel the infamous ring of fire. I had not felt that as strongly with Andrew and it scared me, but I also knew that it meant my baby was almost here.<br />
<br />
Philip switched places and got ready to "catch". I pushed and roared with just about every bit of energy I had left and I felt the head come out. I reached down to feel the head and as soon as I touched the head, I knew it was a boy...with A FULL head of hair!<br />
<br />
I wanted to finishing pushing him out, but I didn't have the energy so I waited for the next contraction. That's when Salli discovered the cord was around his neck. Her and Shara quickly had me switch to my hands and knees, and she was able to release the cord and I felt him slide out. Philip reached down in the water and grabbed him, and loudly shouted "It's a boy! JohnDavid is here!"<br />
<br />
Shara and Salli helped my lean back against the tub and JohnDavid McKinley Graves was placed on my chest for the first time. He wasn't crying, and was a little bit purple, and looking around. Salli told me to talk to him and he immediately began to turn pink and wiggle around. He never did really cry, but instead just looked at me and "talked". He was very calm and peaceful. We sat there staring at each other for about five to ten minutes. I was just in awe.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGT3XC_qmtChyRzQENS0lUKDf_Vp0yrnWxlnhpSY8TLVmlgof-tXCpsiqpQ9ypMO7wxcgDTgcBdD7cj0rvWZfcD_8vFU7HQvWFW3b3daqAtQqaLxcE1ZwgVGaiZV-ALwMCT8DhRLDIhRE/s1600/IMG_2179.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGT3XC_qmtChyRzQENS0lUKDf_Vp0yrnWxlnhpSY8TLVmlgof-tXCpsiqpQ9ypMO7wxcgDTgcBdD7cj0rvWZfcD_8vFU7HQvWFW3b3daqAtQqaLxcE1ZwgVGaiZV-ALwMCT8DhRLDIhRE/s400/IMG_2179.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New mommy bliss!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiAbI9C9uS_6VmjjuZNr6G4sBguy7KCZjy2kQ1S5NgNMz2fcj_YU01bqhQmQf66Rwj0KLtv2pS6rRoEb6TOhMCjYPvs23sgSrS8LybIsgO9TN6oUbh-3UR-qwaVL1QqH0-f0xhjvAZvBY/s1600/IMG_2184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiAbI9C9uS_6VmjjuZNr6G4sBguy7KCZjy2kQ1S5NgNMz2fcj_YU01bqhQmQf66Rwj0KLtv2pS6rRoEb6TOhMCjYPvs23sgSrS8LybIsgO9TN6oUbh-3UR-qwaVL1QqH0-f0xhjvAZvBY/s640/IMG_2184.jpg" width="416" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very proud daddy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg967AXPYUddmDyGuY9E6cqYA8bmupCTqyvaJzd05PhaNyrDipu4-RDteaoBRE2vUsjyUJe_P4z6-aK9rxTslXHzuwaUaBt1D7euI8CsVj-Vw7adujT2AKI2-cFkZ-O7uwswAPR3GeSBMA/s1600/IMG_2195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg967AXPYUddmDyGuY9E6cqYA8bmupCTqyvaJzd05PhaNyrDipu4-RDteaoBRE2vUsjyUJe_P4z6-aK9rxTslXHzuwaUaBt1D7euI8CsVj-Vw7adujT2AKI2-cFkZ-O7uwswAPR3GeSBMA/s400/IMG_2195.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm pretty sure we were laughing about the adorable pouty faces JohnDavid was making.<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilQMDjAkjjM4Sqg5qWxaMZmvhf_2tdS5ekebOBPWw8ChyphenhyphenVvVqiVdw8z3P7-ni1zouqGGNgWKvOU38SoJB-eDYxtU4eVoBVl_dT04ls_aJElrSHi7DLQN-AyusYp6hetbpnFndvDUhTe1o/s1600/IMG_2250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilQMDjAkjjM4Sqg5qWxaMZmvhf_2tdS5ekebOBPWw8ChyphenhyphenVvVqiVdw8z3P7-ni1zouqGGNgWKvOU38SoJB-eDYxtU4eVoBVl_dT04ls_aJElrSHi7DLQN-AyusYp6hetbpnFndvDUhTe1o/s400/IMG_2250.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Surrounded by my loving boys!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Soon I began to feel the need to push again, and the placenta came out. We put it in a bowl and let it float around in the water while we waited for the cord to stop pulsating and turn white so it could be cut. I officially felt like a hippy homebirther at that point, lounging in a pool with a placenta floating in a bowl beside me. I was so deliriously happy with my baby that I didn't care.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY9ybpQPEUUneM0JQGWrDOszK89nQdr9DM6Th2PmStGSJ8O51BH1NuSaxyKRgCt8bggAQZvoruA1xfzbhJcSqEJtTG2eYFQcV4aqINwO-y3Eug60JalGYljh8gPZTqJV_sK-67BeKFkNg/s1600/IMG_2265.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY9ybpQPEUUneM0JQGWrDOszK89nQdr9DM6Th2PmStGSJ8O51BH1NuSaxyKRgCt8bggAQZvoruA1xfzbhJcSqEJtTG2eYFQcV4aqINwO-y3Eug60JalGYljh8gPZTqJV_sK-67BeKFkNg/s400/IMG_2265.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Philip cutting the cord right after Salli clamped it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Once the cord was cut, he went to his daddy and I climbed out of the pool and climbed into bed.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD1rPnJnbqrWy2xRrGutiJSydSeBNdZb0P8cayydgn0cOBG1zF7yHK4Nwcv-P0MCV2BfHY197uRppKKO2lsuDBc4PI4iVMpiaKGnZQ-VToRDyHZGRyeoNGOzKe_I0IsPdCvkqvz_MtC9o/s1600/IMG_2286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD1rPnJnbqrWy2xRrGutiJSydSeBNdZb0P8cayydgn0cOBG1zF7yHK4Nwcv-P0MCV2BfHY197uRppKKO2lsuDBc4PI4iVMpiaKGnZQ-VToRDyHZGRyeoNGOzKe_I0IsPdCvkqvz_MtC9o/s640/IMG_2286.jpg" width="388" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snuggled safely into daddy's arms.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
JohnDavid joined me and we nursed for the first time while Salli examined me. I had one tiny, superficial tear that we decided to let heal on its own but other than that, things looked great. My mom brought me a sandwich, while Shara brought me a smoothie. The after birth cramps were getting pretty intense with the nursing so Philip and my mom took turns rubbing my feet. I downed some ibuprofen and After-Ease tincture and Salli showed me how to massage my abdomen/uterus to help with the cramping.<br />
<br />
After JohnDavid nursed a bit, Salli did the newborn exam. He was 9lbs, 2-3oz (the scale wouldn't ever be still) and 21 3/4 inches long. Such a chunk! At this point I was even more amazed that I hadn't torn, oh the power of water and listening to your body! Andrew had been physically pulled from my body as soon as his head emerged, and I'm convinced that is what caused my 2nd degree tear with him, even though he was almost a pound smaller than JohnDavid.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlTAVDu3l_8v0ULStW0Cvvyio1vHYUBhsPkKA-jqvt86WmPA7o1lfcthDMSTauPpUDFSNn3EpxCiwjxZPxCau7DE0-ISNB8vXGsraGTV6o-bLgqy6K0MZKNj0sqrPBC9Y9Q9WR_KZjE4/s1600/IMG_2288.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlTAVDu3l_8v0ULStW0Cvvyio1vHYUBhsPkKA-jqvt86WmPA7o1lfcthDMSTauPpUDFSNn3EpxCiwjxZPxCau7DE0-ISNB8vXGsraGTV6o-bLgqy6K0MZKNj0sqrPBC9Y9Q9WR_KZjE4/s400/IMG_2288.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JohnDavid McKinley Graves</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Philip took JohnDavid for some skin-to-skin and bonding time with Andrew while I showered. The shower felt so nice. Salli had prepared an herbal rinse in a peri-bottle and it would help with healing, swelling and the small tear.<br />
<br />
After my shower, I ate and drank a bit more, nursed JohnDavid again and he settled down to sleep. Salli left, and everyone went to bed.<br />
<br />
It was perfect. I couldn't get over the differences in Andrew's birth and JohnDavid's birth, and neither could Philip. All he could do was keep saying "This is so much better. This is so much better!!" The decision on where and how to birth is personal to each family but as for us, we will definitely have babies at home from now on (as long as it's a healthy, normal pregnancy!)<br />
<br />
We are now a family of four, five if you include our beautiful doggy Bella. Bella and I are now officially outnumbered by the boys, but I think we will be okay.<br />
<br />Kymberleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579349343824571205noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776276231017030003.post-15663911480249285922012-09-07T15:53:00.000-07:002012-09-07T15:35:47.198-07:00Ashamed to Breastfeed<!-- START TOP CODE -->
<strong>Welcome to the second edition of the "I'm a Natural Parent - BUT..." Carnival</strong>
<em>This post was written for inclusion in the carnival hosted by <a href="http://theartfulmama.com/2012/09/natural-parent-but-socially-awkward/" target="_blank">The Artful Mama</a> and <a href="http://ourfeministplayschool.ca/natural-parent-but" target="_blank">our feminist {play}school</a>. During this carnival our participants have focused on how mainstream society has affected their natural parenting and how they have come to peace with this.</em>
<br />
***<br />
<!-- END TOP CODE -->
I consider myself a natural parenting, but I was ashamed to breastfed my child in public.<br />
<br />
My experience with breastfeeding growing up was different than most. My mom nursed both my brother and I, and her friends nursed their babies, often and in public. I always saw women nursing growing up and never thought anything of it. Babies need to eat, simple as that.<br />
<br />
After having my son, he latched pretty much perfectly and instantly and I was euphoric. There is really no other way to describe it...euphoric. It was an amazing feeling to provide for my child in such a way.<br />
<br />
I wasn't ashamed to nurse at all. I was a bit concerned about doing it properly, as any new mom is, but I wasn't ashamed.<br />
<br />
Till the comments started. People began "hinting" that I needed privacy, that it wasn't appropriate to nurse in public (covered or not)....if you've breastfed you know the comments. You know how people act. The whole "I fully support breastfeeding but....." line.<br />
<br />
It was so discouraging. I cried a lot. And I began to feel ashamed. I briefly considered switching to using a bottle, but I wasn't an efficient pumper and I knew it'd lead to supplementing with formula, something I didn't want to do.<br />
<br />
We nursed on demand and used no pacifiers. Andrew wouldn't take one and I didn't want to push it on him. But he nursed so frequently. Often every 45-60 minutes and he cluster-fed for several hours a day till he was around 13-14 weeks old. As a social person, I found it ridiculous to either "Stay home" or disappear to another room to nurse my baby. But the disapproving looks, stares and comments continued. So I found myself confused, frustrated and beginning to regret my decision to nurse on demand. I was lonely, I needed interaction, but suddenly with a baby, my decision to breastfeed made people treat me like a leper.<br />
<br />
Then I hit a wall. While out to lunch with friends I spent the majority of the event in an overheating car (it was 100 + degrees outside and my son needed to nurse, so we needed A/C), because I wasn't about to nurse in a bathroom but we were in a restaurant and I knew if I attempted to nurse, it would cause a scene, given the company I was with.<br />
<br />
I left lunch hungry, and with a very hot and frustrated baby. I was angry at myself, but mostly angry at society. What on earth was our culture's hang-up with breastfeeding?<br />
<br />
Out of frustration, I reached out to fellow like-minded moms. (Why didn't I do that sooner?) I received some invaluable advice and support.<br />
<br />
I was given a few tips:<br />
-<b>Nurse at home in front of a mirror. </b>Watch how you latch your baby, what is covered and isn't covered. I prefer to stay pretty covered while nursing, so at first I practiced with a nursing cover. I was amazed at how much it helped. As I got more confident, I practiced with two shirts. A cami underneath and a t-shirt on top. I began to feel more confident with the ability to nurse in public and not expose myself in anyway.<br />
-<b>Nurse (when possible) next to a supportive family member or friend.</b> My mom and husband were both willing to take this roll. They sat beside me at gatherings or in public and talked to me and helped me gain confidence in myself. My husband is a "big" guy. He's 6'4", with very broad shoulders and very well built. He would put his arm around me and act as a "shield" for my son and I.<br />
-<b>Practice.</b> Nurse in public often and gain confidence. That's really how we become confident in anything, practicing and doing it often. So I did.<br />
<br />
And lastly, <i>remember that everyone has an "opinion" about what you should or shouldn't do. That doesn't make it fact.</i> As a Christian I felt very compelled to make sure I was modestly covered while nursing, but other than that, my husband and I agreed it wasn't necessary for me to shut myself off separately. His support and encouragement was invaluable during my nursing years with Andrew.<br />
<br />
I still get comments, even though I'm no longer nursing Andrew, but I'm pregnant and about to pop. People know I'm going to nurse another baby and they know I support a baby's right to eat anytime, anywhere, in any situation! But I'm three years into this and learning to take the comments with a head nod and move on. I decided I would no longer argue with those who didn't want me nursing in public.<br />
<br />
My husband and I have made our decision and we are sticking by it. It is what is *best* for our family.<br />
<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Have you had an experience that made you ashamed to care for your baby in a certain way? How did you overcome it?</i></div>
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<p>***</p><a href="http://theartfulmama.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/NP_But_Button2.jpg"><img class="alignright" title="Credit: The Artful Mama" src="http://theartfulmama.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/NP_But_Button2.jpg" alt="I'm a Natural Parent — But … Blog Carnival" width="125" height="125" align="right" /></a>This carnival was created by <a href="http://theartfulmama.com/natural-parent-but-carnival/" target="_blank"><strong>The Artful Mama</strong></a> and <a href="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/im-a-natural-parent-but-blog-carnival-call-for-submissions/" target="_blank"><strong>Natural Parents Network</strong></a>. We recognize that "natural parenting" means different things to different families, and we are dedicated to providing a safe place for all families, regardless of where they are in their parenting journeys.
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.thefrugalfoodiemama.com/2012/09/im-natural-parent-but.html?m=1" target="_blank">I'm a Natural Parent- BUT...</a> - Carrie at Frugal Foodie Mama says "We breastfeed. We co-sleep. We babywear. But we do not cloth diaper. This post is about my reasons why I haven't, and why I would still like to try it."</li>
<li><a href="http://mommainprogress.blogspot.com/2012/09/am-i-really-natural-parent.html" target="_blank">Am I Really a Natural Parent?</a> - Valerie at Momma in Progress confesses maybe she's a bit more mainstream than she thought.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.growingslower.com/2012/09/natural-parenting.html" target="_blank">I'm a Crunchy Mama, BUT...</a> - Shannon at GrowingSlower has learned that her food doesn't grow on grocery store shelves, but she still has a long way to go.</li>
<li><a href="http://ourfeministplayschool.ca/natural-parent-but" target="_blank">I'm a Natural Parent, but...my kid loves a screen</a> - Lyndsay owns her son's love for television programming, ipad and apps.</li>
<li><a href="http://ourcrazycorneroftheworld.blogspot.com/2012/09/ashamed-to-breastfeed.html" target="_blank">Ashamed to Breastfeed</a> - Kym at Our Crazy Corner of the World talks about how she was ashamed and intimidated to breastfeed in public.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.mommajorje.com/2012/09/when-they-gotta-go.html" target="_blank">When they gotta go...</a> - Jorje of Momma Jorje shares her EC weakness...</li>
<li><a href="http://www.amywilla.com/2012/08/love-for-the-mainstream/" target="_blank">Love For the Mainstream</a> - Amy W. explains how letting a mainstream family into her life increased her self-awareness, and helps her to maintain balance while advocating for natural parenting.</li>
<li><a href="http://cinnamonandsassafras.wordpress.com/2012/09/07/blog-carnival-weaning-my-nursling/" target="_blank">Weaning My Nursling</a> - Alisha at Cinnamon&Sassafras reflects on her decision to wean her son, rather than waiting for him to decide.</li>
<li><a href="http://wp.me/p2FRvn-t" target="_blank">I'm a Natural Parent But...My Toddler is a Junk Food Junkie</a> - Chanisa at City Girl Slash Hippie Mom talks about how she's trying to get her two year old to have healthier eating habits</li>
<li><a href="http://theartfulmama.com/2012/09/natural-parent-but-socially-awkward/" target="_blank">I'm a Natural Parent - But...I'm Socially Awkward</a> - Shannon of The Artful Mama talks about the difficulties she experiences maintaining her conviction when she experiences social resistance.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.hobomama.com/2012/09/holding-onto-connection-when-traveling.html" target="_blank">Holding onto connection when traveling</a> - Lauren at Hobo Mama wants to respect her children rather than demand obedience … but it's so hard around family.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.dulcefamily.blogspot.com/2012/09/what-would-the-neighbours-think.html" target="_blank">What would the neighbours think?!</a> - Teresa at This Savvy Mama talks about the pressures of balancing life skills with the realities of having two young children.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.updownandnatural.com/2012/09/french-fries-diaper-blowouts.html" target="_blank">French Fries and Diaper Blowouts</a> - Arpita hosts a guest post detailing how, just every once in a while, the chaos of running a business can hamper even the most regimented natural parenting plans, and the sometimes messy (and stinky!) consequences!</li>
<li><a href="http://crunchychewymama.com/index.php/confessions-of-a-mostly-natural-parent" target="_blank">Confessions of a mostly natural parent</a> - Jessica of Crunchy Chewy Mama feels good about many of the choices she makes but there are things she wants her kids to do, practice, and believes that she is not modeling for them.</li>
</ul>
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Kymberleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579349343824571205noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776276231017030003.post-89631529210759644122012-08-29T20:35:00.004-07:002012-08-29T20:35:46.390-07:00Tomorrow, tomorrowI'm so excited to write about this.<br />
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I'm a military wife. My husband joined the Air Force and went through BMT and Tech School and then spent two years overseas in Japan before we met. By the time we met he had been in for almost four years, and he was an E4. He actually had already re-enlisted once before we started dating. So when we got married, I jumped into the military lifestyle right away.<br />
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He deployed soon after we were married. We spent seven months of our first year of marriage apart.<br />
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Like I said, I dove into the military life head first. ;)<br />
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Last October we got word that he was being reclassed. Basically the Air Force said "You are no longer needed in your career field, here's another one." We found out he would leave in April and finish up in August.<br />
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Five months apart. Ugh.<br />
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Thankfully we have gotten to see each other a few times. This has been especially important for Andrew to see his daddy.<br />
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But tomorrow...this all ends. My husband, Andrew's daddy, is coming HOME!<br />
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We are ready to be a family again, and welcome a new member to our family (I'm ready to pop!!)<br />
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Tomorrow is going to be an amazing, joyful, wonderful day!<br />
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<i>Have you ever been away from your spouse for an extended period? How did you handle it?</i></div>
Kymberleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579349343824571205noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776276231017030003.post-47431646186854011362012-08-20T21:36:00.002-07:002012-08-20T21:36:29.998-07:00On the days that are frustrating...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7XhQGQLKKvaKq-WaGCyowz8fQutCcXo0L_3q1YDpUgmQ8a7kpOlWNbRkiC8WcmSAWPNFW8_8_6_eOHK6Kd-G0n3nFkEjPDf5Xnd4C20VZT4uSUhjKt7-RYwl7G4UvXTXPuIklr_4VdAI/s1600/DSC_0099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7XhQGQLKKvaKq-WaGCyowz8fQutCcXo0L_3q1YDpUgmQ8a7kpOlWNbRkiC8WcmSAWPNFW8_8_6_eOHK6Kd-G0n3nFkEjPDf5Xnd4C20VZT4uSUhjKt7-RYwl7G4UvXTXPuIklr_4VdAI/s400/DSC_0099.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andrew, 3 years. Photo taken by Kelly Cantu of <a href="http://seren-dipity-3.wix.com/serendipitymomentsbykellycantu" target="_blank">Serendipity Moments</a>.</td></tr>
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I have been blessed with a busy, chatty, smart little three year old. He's 100% all boy. His current interest are dinosaurs and sharks, guns, riding in daddy's truck and snakes. He loves monster trucks, trains and race cars (NASCAR).<br />
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I love him more than almost anything on this earth.<br />
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But sometimes.....sometimes he makes me want to pull my hair out. (If he hasn't already pulled it out himself.)<br />
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When things are frustrating and stressful it's hard to remember to be patient, gentle and compassionate. There are tears, tantrums, spills, messes, fatigue....you anxiously watch the clock for bedtime or nap time (whichever is coming first), you try hard to distract yourself and your child from whatever is causing the stress and frustration. And then, at the end of the day you tuck your child into bed and you sit there and pray, pray, pray that bedtime will go smoothly. And usually it doesn't. You find yourself wanting to yell, scream and run away.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL3N-mtWYbuEsFhYiPJsxyOHx1Tu1diJCfLwvvgw3WuIlomHwIxnkW4klxzS4k4jnr2rml6GdmMvTVNu0LS08vrKf-M9dp0RWyJfWo3IYXmEzq5KUGxJtVLANw8vgdxA_htKqZSvwLn_A/s1600/IMG_1099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL3N-mtWYbuEsFhYiPJsxyOHx1Tu1diJCfLwvvgw3WuIlomHwIxnkW4klxzS4k4jnr2rml6GdmMvTVNu0LS08vrKf-M9dp0RWyJfWo3IYXmEzq5KUGxJtVLANw8vgdxA_htKqZSvwLn_A/s400/IMG_1099.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andrew, in the midst of a meltdown when we visited the USS Lexington.</td></tr>
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How do you gather yourself after days like this? How do you rise above the situation and continue to be the parent you know you should be, the one you want to be?<br />
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Here are a few ideas and resources I've used over the past few months in dealing with Andrew.<br />
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<b>1. Pray.</b> I'm a believer in a powerful God. I believe He gave Andrew to Philip and I as a blessing and we've been entrusted with his soul, his life and we have to remember that. So I pray for guidance and peace. I pray for more patience. I pray for wisdom. I pray for mercy as I make mistakes. I pray for comfort. Just a quick prayer of "God, please help me be a good mother." is sometimes the reminder I need to get my head back in the game, return my focus to where it needs to be. I believe God gives these things in abundance, wisdom, comfort, guidance, peace....and I feel better every time I talk to Him.<br />
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<b>2. Talk.</b> Hopefully as a parent you've been able to surround yourself with like-minded and supportive parents. Not only am I blessed with a supportive husband, I'm blessed with a few different online groups, as well as a few local friends. I have friends I can text and who can sympathize with me, make me laugh or remind me that it's "just a phase". I have friends willing to share resources and articles so I can grow from these experiences. I have friends willing to share their worst days and experiences and make me realize I am not alone. They are there if I need to cry, vent or pout. And they provide that extra strength I need so many times.<br />
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<b>3. Do something to get your mind off the event(s) that led you to this point of frustration.</b> Sew. Bake. Call a friend. Work on a scrapbook. Exercise. Read a book. Make a cup of tea or coffee and just sit down and enjoy it. Clean. Have sex with your spouse. Watch a movie. Play Angry Birds or Words With Friends. Take a long, hot shower or bath. We all have different ways to release frustration. Some are better than others and serve us well. Find something that is a positive frustration release for you and your family. Even if you just get a ten minute break to do that thing you love, find those ten minutes.<br />
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<b>4. Forgive yourself</b>. You aren't a bad parent. Your child isn't a bad child. You are both just dealing with a rotten situation and it's gotten the best of you both. Unfortunately life does that sometimes. Take a breathe and forgive yourself, don't beat yourself up.<br />
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<b>5. Plan for next time.</b> After you've forgiven yourself, plan for how you will handle this situation *when* it arises again. What will you do to keep yourself from losing your cool? What will you do to help your child focus through stress? How will you handle another bad day? Being proactive and recognizing what went wrong this time and making a plan for how to handle it better next time gives me a lot of peace of mind when dealing with my son. Just because I reacted badly in one situation doesn't mean I have to react badly again.<br />
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<b>6. Be Thankful.</b> Tonight as I was winding down (um, attempting to wind down) with my son, several friend on FB started posting prayer requests for two college boys who had gone missing during a storm tonight off the coast of Florida. They had not been seen or heard from since around 5:30pm. It was now close to 10:30pm EST and the Coast Guard had already been called out. As people began to pray for these boys, I was laying in bed with my son begging him to fall asleep. To please, please fall asleep. I was lamenting to my husband that I was stressed out and emotional. Then I happened to see one of the posts about the missing boys, including an e-mail from one of the parents. It put things in perspective almost instantly. I was able to take a deep breathe and thank God for the kicking child beside me. Shortly after he fell asleep. And as I'm finishing up this post, I'm happy to report the boys have been found! You don't have to imagine something awful that has happened to another child to be thankful for your own....you just have to remember to be thankful for the child you have been given.<br />
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Frustrating days happen. They are scary and irritating and hard and awful. But they are a part of parenthood. They are a part of life! You have control over your ability to take a frustrating day and make some good out of it. You have that choice.<br />
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Your child learns from your reactions as well. Taking a hard day and turning it into something beautiful will be one of the most powerful lessons your child learns. Just breathe, take it one day at a time (one minute at a time if needed) and get through the day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_HzD4FfIG1GfCXLXF5Batb1JuydcLYC3F9P7KVtMcYsTYdIk0VgLYhFMvqsMffJLFgh6wmU0Bz6USWgVq-yYDh6K5g3kAHBqL4lsh2rksEWOUrkNU06z55QHgrYu4G-AfetEBd6X33jw/s1600/IMG_1365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_HzD4FfIG1GfCXLXF5Batb1JuydcLYC3F9P7KVtMcYsTYdIk0VgLYhFMvqsMffJLFgh6wmU0Bz6USWgVq-yYDh6K5g3kAHBqL4lsh2rksEWOUrkNU06z55QHgrYu4G-AfetEBd6X33jw/s400/IMG_1365.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remember the times your child makes you laugh!</td></tr>
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<i style="text-align: center;"><b>What do you do to help combat a frustrating day with your child(ren)? How do you cope?</b></i><br />
<br />Kymberleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579349343824571205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776276231017030003.post-56619269884594404782012-08-17T11:10:00.000-07:002012-08-17T11:10:45.994-07:00Felt and Button Memory Game Tutorial My son loves to play Memory. Mostly he plays it on my phone but I wanted to make him his own game he could carry around.<br />
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I love felt, so I got the idea to make a felt memory game. It's been in my head for a month or two and I have seen similar felt card games floating around Etsy. Today I finally sat down and made it!<br />
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Here's a simple, brief tutorial.<br />
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What you need:<br />
- Felt (preferably two different colors). If you buy the precut felt sheets at Hobby Lobby or a craft store, one sheet of each color is enough for 12 cards.<br />
-Scissors<br />
-Measuring Tape<br />
-Buttons (make sure you have equal amounts of each type of button!)<br />
-Thread (I like to use a thread that contrasts with the colors of felt I choose)<br />
-Sewing Machine (optional, you could just use a glue gun for the whole thing)<br />
-Glue gun<br />
-Ribbon<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFdpCJCkbMdLWBe8V0o6W2Abhmh2rzu1qMMuBSs-cu_AjV_fxyBolD-SazgBvUdRl3oxKBJ7dIeePhmrPjqa8KVBBdaEFX94PWEXxd3n3Bt2OVCQjgtPzy5WjiH6ESmJ9_tKImnZ68Oo/s1600/IMG_1470.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFdpCJCkbMdLWBe8V0o6W2Abhmh2rzu1qMMuBSs-cu_AjV_fxyBolD-SazgBvUdRl3oxKBJ7dIeePhmrPjqa8KVBBdaEFX94PWEXxd3n3Bt2OVCQjgtPzy5WjiH6ESmJ9_tKImnZ68Oo/s400/IMG_1470.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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1. Cut the felt into "card shape" rectangles. I measured them to be 4 inches long by 3 inches wide. </div>
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2. Match up each rectangle with the other color. I chose green and brown, so each card had a brown face and green back.</div>
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTZCa8KnD0DuHfKMkaLYqx7BEuGgXdDroNwDY5-JZ9bff7q4gBCYEI74DvWOeh__Do1VrIOiwA-zRO4lwD-uMGXrcmwWXsz_cUFfsnuMVS-tF6wyJU4P6Q0hyoZkPu5an7JEg3gCyj2sI/s400/IMG_1466.JPG" width="300" /> 3. Sew! Or hot glue. My sewing machine was out, threaded and ready to go so I opted to sew!<br />
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4. After sewing all the pieces together, cut off any uneven edges. Make sure you don't cut through the stitch!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before and after -- cutting around the seam.</td></tr>
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5. Now it's time to add the buttons! I organized them first to make it easy to grab what I needed. I glued them on directly to the felt. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1gLbFoVaXwL3A5ndJQwZYDVdVQg0-BUK78gEXikh7HoDXhJKTFfCD4kkyrBnBHq9mzpYY0V_A5d1t8N4DrkD0lEXdJfNqziBGKbq_uK2p8KUH_d2Iovy9qgR3t1h_0EZ21h7LuFLMmlI/s1600/IMG_1471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1gLbFoVaXwL3A5ndJQwZYDVdVQg0-BUK78gEXikh7HoDXhJKTFfCD4kkyrBnBHq9mzpYY0V_A5d1t8N4DrkD0lEXdJfNqziBGKbq_uK2p8KUH_d2Iovy9qgR3t1h_0EZ21h7LuFLMmlI/s320/IMG_1471.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMlwSDtIbjd-TQnqNBTAbeKk7nN7YK-FDU6UoVt-lJKgbZvLV62Drm5UxDOkokoUdplTC2-bRiBbClOEhIk8D_lvx5uOoFsdUN9SYYnPKcKgFolP0KAVwH4GTxzcAVNdl2ilMXXS0CCUA/s1600/IMG_1472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMlwSDtIbjd-TQnqNBTAbeKk7nN7YK-FDU6UoVt-lJKgbZvLV62Drm5UxDOkokoUdplTC2-bRiBbClOEhIk8D_lvx5uOoFsdUN9SYYnPKcKgFolP0KAVwH4GTxzcAVNdl2ilMXXS0CCUA/s400/IMG_1472.JPG" width="300" /></a><br />
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6. Let the glue dry completely. It comes up through the button holes and makes a mess if you don't. And it's hot. Luckily glue gun glue dries pretty quickly. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4YicVvVV6MWM2CnBqHSCuv1v73gxXRocKlaDyVa8iBT5K4S6127dB4rXlyhDooa7RPyG5ElyW9y_aENbh8TX5WW_Er4YDw296G1dFzdRaLJvIwe9aig-mc1QFIThbleCwNb4o-JD55M/s1600/IMG_1473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4YicVvVV6MWM2CnBqHSCuv1v73gxXRocKlaDyVa8iBT5K4S6127dB4rXlyhDooa7RPyG5ElyW9y_aENbh8TX5WW_Er4YDw296G1dFzdRaLJvIwe9aig-mc1QFIThbleCwNb4o-JD55M/s400/IMG_1473.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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7. Tie with ribbon (if giving as a gift). The ribbon is a good way to keep them together too, though a plastic bag would also suffice. </div>
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8. Or...you can just start a game. My son loved them!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipCj747zwQBYF_lohX7rbbubbw0DOhyphenhyphenpxy3HqlCS6Ihhn9Lk0ObpeWRSP-LOfqjOKtTVIZCBhWyviMmIbfBWuMgzzokEMoC8Nat46_4tnR8KaCIMC9rkhq8xJHr83Z4IqP83GQbUeQAuo/s1600/IMG_1479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipCj747zwQBYF_lohX7rbbubbw0DOhyphenhyphenpxy3HqlCS6Ihhn9Lk0ObpeWRSP-LOfqjOKtTVIZCBhWyviMmIbfBWuMgzzokEMoC8Nat46_4tnR8KaCIMC9rkhq8xJHr83Z4IqP83GQbUeQAuo/s400/IMG_1479.JPG" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigdIuzIlGGJ5_u5TAjYNX3OVL9BSi0mUtl40kXn2Z2BVdQp_pPz7sMqYPLlMEBdBDQqomehXuiMzxnI7S3jaK1ffwc-rEqe6fRPzOiPnC0zB_tEPjuT3vwv3v9fwClwCwBa9iW19cpqEE/s1600/IMG_1480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigdIuzIlGGJ5_u5TAjYNX3OVL9BSi0mUtl40kXn2Z2BVdQp_pPz7sMqYPLlMEBdBDQqomehXuiMzxnI7S3jaK1ffwc-rEqe6fRPzOiPnC0zB_tEPjuT3vwv3v9fwClwCwBa9iW19cpqEE/s320/IMG_1480.JPG" width="240" /></a>Kymberleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579349343824571205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776276231017030003.post-37647502832184107712012-08-07T13:19:00.000-07:002012-08-07T13:24:10.774-07:00Preparing for Life After Our Second Blessing ArrivesIn a few weeks, another little life will join our family. I'm due in early-to-mid September and as most new moms do, I've fretted over how the new addition will be welcomed by my oldest, and until now, only child. I've worried about how I will handle two children, and on top of that....I've worried about other life circumstances. Shortly after the baby is born we will be moving from Texas to South Dakota. My husband will be starting a new career field which may or may not include working swing shift. We will be in a new place, far from family and not knowing very many people. I'm only slightly panicked.<br />
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What to do, what to do. So, I've prioritized.<br />
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First things first, there is a baby coming and I'm going to help my child through this as best I know how. We will focus on the move and daddy's new job (possibly new schedule) after we welcome the newest member to our family.<br />
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I've taken advice from moms who have more than one child, and listened to their words of wisdom and encouragement.<br />
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To help prepare for baby's arrival, Andrew and I have read some books and watched a few videos. I've explained to him that mommy will spend a lot of time sitting and nursing the baby and holding the baby and we won't be able to do a lot of the same things we use to do.....at first. I'm not sure how much this he "understands" but we continue to talk, daily. My concern is mostly for *AFTER* the arrival and we slowly begin to get into a new routine.<br />
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Below are just a few ideas I've had in order to help my son, myself and our family get through this transition. When my son was born it took me a good six-seven months to feel like I had things under control. I fully expect it to take at least that, if not longer. Hopefully some of these things will help me not lose my sanity.<br />
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-<b>Snack box/fridge in bedroom</b>. Right now I have a snack box in my bedroom, Andrew knows he can ask for his snacks whenever he needs them. Shortly after we move we plan to get a small mini-fridge for our bedroom. My son wants to eat AS SOON as he gets up. I don't know what the baby's nursing pattern will be like but if he/she is anything like Andrew, they will be nursing immediately upon waking up! Having a snack box available within Andrew's reach, full of healthy (and some not-so-healthy) snacks will be a great way for me to help tide him over till breakfast. The mini-fridge will have bottles of water for me, juice and milk for Andrew and probably a few Monsters (yeah, take away the crunchy card) for my husband! Our new home has two stories and it makes so much sense to me to make things available *IN* the bedroom verses having to trudge downstairs with a baby attached to my breast and a whiny toddler. Also seriously considering a coffee maker on the nightstand. ;)<br />
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-<b>Book baskets.</b> I've been looking at Hobby Lobby and Garden Ridge (a local home decor store) and the Dollar Store looking for wicker baskets that I can keep around the house. I plan on keeping one beside our bed, one on the couch, and one beside the computer desk. The "idea" is that while I nurse or rock the baby, I can keep Andrew entertained nearby with reading and looking at books together. Honestly, Andrew is really good about entertaining himself. He plays VERY well alone and his personality doesn't require constant interaction. But I know these things can change.<br />
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-<b>Daddy Time</b>. We aren't quite sure of my husband's work schedule but we have discussed having time each week for Andrew and daddy to leave the house and go "explore". My husband is big into the outdoors so he is thrilled that we are moving to South Dakota. Hopefully we will arrive and have time to settle in before the snow arrives, giving Philip and Andrew time to get out and enjoy the outdoors! Of course, even if there is snow on the ground I'm sure they will be outside in it anyway. Me? I'm going to sit inside with a book and nurse the baby.<br />
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-<b>Housekeeper</b>. Since finding out we were pregnant (and knowing we'd be moving shortly after the baby arrived) I've been saving a little bit, week by week, to hire a housekeeper for about 4-6 weeks after we move and my parents leave. This is kind of a splurge for me because I like to clean and I don't like to waste money. But as I try to get on top of things with a newborn AND a busy three year old AND unpacking, learning a new routine, meeting new people....I'm not seeing having a housekeeper as a "waste" of money. It's going to be a huge help to keep me sane as I figure out being a mommy of two.<br />
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-<b>Minimal expectations.</b> I know, seems silly that I just listed out these things I plan to do to make life easier and then say "I have very few expectations." I really don't. I expect to have good days and hard days and that's about it. You can't plan how another human will act when they come into your life, you can really only plan for your reactions to them. I feel the best thing for myself to do is to have no expectations of leaping right into super mom mode, no expectations of cleaning or cooking, no expectations of handling everything without any problems. I want to comfort my baby, cherish my three year old and encourage my husband. If those expectations are met, I'm calling it good. I have time to be super mom later on.<br />
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As a planner it helps me to say "This is what I want to do", but another part of my personality is that I'm pretty flexible and able to think on my feet, so when things change, I can quickly jump into plan b, c, d, e or pretty sure there is "no plan" anymore. I'm hoping that serves me well....we have a LOT of changes coming up soon!<br />
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<i>What did you do to prepare for the arrival of a second (or third, or fourth, or tenth) child? Did it help you to have a plan in place? </i></div>
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<br />Kymberleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579349343824571205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776276231017030003.post-20861010808268916012012-08-01T13:21:00.000-07:002012-08-01T13:21:53.737-07:00The "Crunchy" Medicine Cabinet<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>**Disclaimer**</b></i></div>
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<i><b> I am not any kind of medical expert. I'm just a mom and wife on a journey trying to help my family live a natural and healthy lifestyle. Along the way I've been blessed to meet those who are experts in specific areas and they've shared lots of advice and resources with me. I'm simply sharing tools that our family uses to help stay healthy. PLEASE do you own research and contact your own health/wellness provider if you are wondering if these things are right for your family or not. </b></i></div>
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Natural birth was kind of my gateway drug into living a more "natural" lifestyle. Cloth diapers, amber necklaces, local, organic foods, homemade breads...and then a few nights ago I found myself researching non-toxic mattress options. It gave me pause and realized how far I've come in the past few years.<br />
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While I've never been the kind of girl to run to the doctor for every little ailment, fever or illness, I was a big fan of ibuprofen and tylenol. Especially during "that time of the month". I never was one to question antibiotics or other meds and I spent five years on and off hormonal birth control. I figured doctors knew best and wouldn't prescribe something dangerous.<br />
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Yeah, you all know where THAT goes.<br />
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After researching different meds, especially hormonal birth control, I was pretty horrified at the outcomes. So, I opted to switch to looking for natural and holistic remedies for various ailments. <br />
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Switching from a more "mainstream" way of living to trying to live a healthier lifestyle can be really scary. For me, the biggest and hardest changes have been food and medicine. Yet over the past three years I've gotten to learn more and more about more natural options.<br />
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Before we go on, I want to RESTATE what I said in my disclaimer. I am not a doctor, homeopath, naturopath, chiropractor, midwife, etc. I have no medical training and outside of personal experience and research, I have no formal education in this subject. The items presented below need to be used with common sense.<b> <u>Do your OWN research, talk to your OWN health care/wellness provider</u>.</b><br />
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Using natural remedies sometimes gets a bad wrap. I think people either assume they don't "work", or that those using them having done their research. There are some herbs that have JUST as powerful side effects as pharmaceuticals. This is why researching is really important.<br />
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The list compiled here are <b><i>basic </i></b>options for a "natural" medicine cabinet. In our experience they've worked amazingly well and are pretty much safe for most situations. This is also just what is in *our* medicine cabinet. Depending on what things your family needs, your medicine cabinet might be a bit different.<br />
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Also, don't forget food items around your home. Plain yogurt can help fight off a yeast infection, coconut water can help fight dehydration, raw potatoes help with headaches. Food is some of the most powerful medicine we have, if used wisely. (But that's an entirely different blog!)<br />
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My hope is that this can help you began building a "medicine cabinet" or "first aid kit" that you feel comfortable using with your family. Beside each item is listed a few uses, definitely not an exhaustive list. We'd be here all day, and night if I listed all the uses for each item below.<br />
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<i>I'd also suggest buying your products from reputable sources/companies, which may mean paying a bit more. Not all products are equal, so definitely do your research about the companies you buy from and support.</i><br />
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<b>Tea Tree Oil (TTO)</b> - antiseptic, antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral. Used topically to help with mosquito/ant/bug bites as well as preventing infection, helps to treat yeast/diaper rashes/athletes foot/ringworm, can be used in the washer to keep clothes smelling fresh. My favorite way to use it is 5-7 drops in a 2oz spray bottle mixed with filtered water. I keep it in my purse so I can spray it on whatever is needed. We use it instead of antibacterial sprays as well.<br />
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<b>Lavender Oil</b> - Lavender is known to be calming and comforting. But it also has a wide range of other uses, as it is also an antiseptic. It is also good for minor burns, joint and muscle pain and will provide relief from insect bites and stings. We commonly used lavender with our son as a young child. I often sprayed his bedding and/or pajamas with it prior to bedtime. I also hung dried lavender from a local farmer over his bed. His room smelled amazing and it did help quite a bit with night time drama.<br />
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<b>Probiotics</b> - These promote digestive and immune system health. We all take two doses a day. My son takes the powdered Udo's Formula mixed into water, while my husband and I take a pill form. This is one of those things where buying a high quality brand makes a difference! Name-brand yogurts advertise they have probiotics, and they do, but often times the sugar in the yogurt can do more harm than good. A high quality probiotic is going to have multiple strains of various live microorganisms.<br />
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<b>Arnica</b> - Arnica (in my opinion) looks like a daisy. But it's a miracle daisy. Arnica gel is your best replacement for ibuprofen when it comes to bruising and minor sprains. We keep the gel on hand for bumps, falls, bruises and running into things because we are a family with zero grace. My children aren't going to win Olympic medals for balance and/or the ability to walk a straight line without falling down. Needless to say, this stuff stays with us all the time. Most recently I used it after stubbing my toe. Within a few hours the swelling was down and bruising was barely visible. Huge change from before with bad bruise and inability to move the toe.<br />
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<b>Nux Vomica</b> - This is another homeopathic. I don't know if the name is suppose to remind one of this (I'm guessing yes) but I remember its use by equating the words to mean "No vomiting". Nux vomica has other uses (it is often used in treating colds), but we primarily keep it on hand for stomach bugs and pregnancy nausea. It's also helpful with indigestion and gas.<br />
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<b>Thieves Oil</b> - The story behind this unique oil blend is almost as interesting as the benefits of the oil itself. There are several different versions of the story but they all basically are the same idea -- thieves during the black plague would cover themselves in various herbs (rosemary, cloves, etc) while robbing the homes of plague victims....and they wouldn't get sick. I'm not sure if the name is copyrighted by Young Living, but it's the only brand we've used for Thieves. We mostly use it during the fall and winter as an antibacterial -- I spray it on shopping carts, hands before eating, public restrooms....etc. It can be used internally as well for fighting off colds, strep, and various other bacterial issues. Several friends have used it successfully for treating Hand, Foot and Mouth, but we've not had that wonderful virus so I've not tried it out for that!<br />
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<b>Vitamin C</b> - We use Emergen-C to help strength the immune system. During cold season, it's not odd to see our family go through 1-2 boxes a week, especially if one of us has a cold. One great thing about Vitamin C is it is EASY to tell when you've had too much, you'll get diarrhea or mild stomach cramps, back off and your body will revert back to normal.<br />
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<b>Elderberry Syrup (Sambucus)</b> - This is a major immune booster, and it tastes pretty fabulous. We keep several bottles on hand for cold and flu season. It can be taken daily to help boost the immune system, or it can be taken intensely (multiple times a day) to help on fight off a cold. We've had great success using it to battle the flu. It can also help relieve some allergy symptoms.<br />
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<b>Oscillococcinum</b> - This is a homeopathic used to fight flu-like symptoms, but I have also used it for a bad cold. For me, it was a bit of an energy boost and it definitely helped with the body aches. We've used it maybe 1-2 times but I like to keep it on hand because it has helped me feel better.<br />
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<b>Garlic</b> - Garlic is pretty much the most amazing remedy on the planet, if you ask me. From yeast infections to bacterial infections to colds to high blood pressure, garlic is your go to. It's nature's best antibiotic, and incredibly efficient. It's also versatile. We've made a garlic poultice to treat skin infections and I've used it as a suppository to treat yeast infections. You can swallow a clove whole (or mince it, put it on some bread with butter) and it will help fight off colds, flues and battle heart disease. Some studies even suggests it lowers cholesterol.<br />
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<b>Chlorophyll </b>- I was not introduced to the benefits of chlorophyll until I became pregnant. My midwife suggested I use to it treat constipation early in pregnancy. It worked. Now I'm using it to help with iron levels. It gives me a huge energy burst. Chlorophyll is marketed as an "internal deodorant". Basically, you take it internally so you don't need things like deodorants topically. I take it twice a day and I no longer need deodorant. It also freshens breath and helps battle heartburn.<br />
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<b>Peppermint Oil</b> - This is another essential oil that helps with a lot of issues during pregnancy. Rubbing a bit in your bellybutton can majorly help with nausea. It also helps with headaches and congestion. Peppermint oil also has cosmetic benefits -- I love to use it in the shower on my scalp. It has a cooling effect and smells amazing!<br />
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<b>Eucalyptus Oil</b> - Ever used Vicks Vapor Rub? Eucalyptus does the same. We used it with olive oil rubbed into a chest to help with colds. It also helps if rubbed on the bottom of feet. A few drops in a bath is great for colds and congestion as well. It also mixes well with coconut oil to make a homemade "vapor rub".<br />
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<b>Activated Charcoal</b> - It acts similarly to Pepto-Bismol, it helps with stomach issues, gas, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting. We've only used it a handful of times but I keep it on hand because when that stuff starts, you don't want to be running out to the store to find something to help! It can also be used to stop poisoning...thankfully we've not had to use it for that!<br />
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<b>Coconut Oil</b> - Basically, you can use coconut oil for everything. It is an antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, antimicrobial....the lists of things it fights off is huge. We have used it for treating topical issues such as diaper rashes, bug bites, minor scratches, cuts, scrapes, dry skin and I frequently mix it with essential oils to use in place of lotion. It can be used internally to help with constipation and some have had success using it to help with heartburn/indigestion. It's a great moisturizer for skin and really great for shaving as well. Coconut oil has many, many, many uses, these are just some we have used. We also use it frequently in cooking.<br />
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<b>D-Mannose </b>- This is a simple sugar that is a miracle worker for urinary tract infections. Thankfully those are few and far between around here but I keep this on hand. At the first sign of a UTI, I began taking D-Mannose. It's safe and incredibly effective in men and women.<br />
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<i>If you have small children, you might also consider:</i><br />
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<b>Teething Tablets</b> - Several companies make a homeopathic teething remedy for infants and toddlers to help with teething. Our favorite brand is Hyland's, and we've had a lot of success with the tablets.<br />
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<b>Cough-n-Cold Syrup</b> - This is also another remedy from Hyland's. They have a daytime formula and nighttime, both have helped immensely with coughs and congestion when we've dealt with colds.<br />
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And finally, the most important item in relation to <i>any</i> medicine cabinet?<br />
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<b>Common sense. </b><br />
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I don't say that to be silly, I really do mean it. A lot of mild illnesses and colds and coughs can be handled by our bodies. .<br />
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Use common sense to decide when home remedies work and when you need a doctor. Use common sense to look at your child or yourself and decide what you need as far as medical attention goes. <b><u>Research and educate yourself so you can make INFORMED decisions for your family. </u></b><br />
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<i>Have you made a switch to a more "natural" medicine cabinet? What are your favorite remedies and how does your family use them?</i></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPjUB923z0RkRTGlRL1UrqwnbhiOoLd6ue8LYcIENNv4HM5rAMIu5NrlxQMPxEoLtUIQhqUl8IolkL5qplPKoPOkYWMOkopzfICHjkAIBS82S2kRd9qQ5HCemt-oLIrkXy3qYpC2hyphenhyphenDc/s1600/IMG_0612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPjUB923z0RkRTGlRL1UrqwnbhiOoLd6ue8LYcIENNv4HM5rAMIu5NrlxQMPxEoLtUIQhqUl8IolkL5qplPKoPOkYWMOkopzfICHjkAIBS82S2kRd9qQ5HCemt-oLIrkXy3qYpC2hyphenhyphenDc/s320/IMG_0612.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remedies recently used to help battle a nasty stomach bug and dehydration.</td></tr>
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<i>Interested in learning more about natural remedies, homeopathics, essential oils or herbs? Check out these links below to start your journey!</i></div>
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<b>Essential Oils:</b><br />
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I would recommend you just start on the <a href="http://www.youngliving.com/" target="_blank">Young Living</a> website and begin exploring. Give yourself time. The website is huge, lots of products to check out but they also have a good selection of books.<br />
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<b>Herbs:</b><br />
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We keep the book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Practical-Herbalism-Ordinary-Plants-Extraordinary/dp/1885653220" target="_blank">"Practical Herbalism"</a> by Philip Fritchey on our book shelf at home. It's simple and a really good guide for beginners.<br />
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I also have a book called "<a href="http://www.mountainmeadowherbs.com/category_s/94.htm" target="_blank">Mother's Guide to Herbal Extracts</a>" which I got for free from Mountain Meadow Herbs. The book is a recount of how one mother used herbs to help heal her son's medical conditions. She gives a lot of information about ways to use herbs in children, as well as in women's health. The book isn't as in depth as "Practical Herbalism" but with it's price tag, it's not a bad idea to keep along side your others.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.cloverleaffarmherbs.com/" target="_blank">Online Herbal Encyclopedia</a> - This website from Clover Leaf Farm Herbs is just an online reference for different herbs, their uses and it has warnings/cautions about each herb.<br />
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<b>Homeopathics</b>:<br />
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<a href="http://www.betterhomeopathics.com/" target="_blank">Better Homeopathics</a> - I stumbled across this blog/website several months ago and as I learn more and more about homeopathic remedies, it has been pretty helpful. Homeopathics are the area I know the *least* about, so I'm still learning as much as I can.<br /><br />I'm still on the search for a good book on homeopathy though, feel free to share suggestions!<br />
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<b>Other resources:</b><br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Your-Vital-Child-Natural-Healing/dp/1579543057/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1205800624&sr=8-6" target="_blank">Your Vital Child: A Natural Healing Guide for Caring Parents</a> - Dr. Mark Stengler - several mommy friends have recommended this book to me and I've only skimmed through it at the library. It is definitely on my "to-buy" list though!<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Prescription-Nutritional-Healing-Fifth-Supplements/dp/B004TE6912/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1343851275&sr=1-1&keywords=prescription+for+nutritional+healing" target="_blank">Prescription of Nutritional Healing </a> - A friend recommended this book to me after hearing I was gathering resources for this blog entry. I ordered it from Amazon but it hasn't arrived yet. It looks quite extensive though, definitely going to be helpful in addition to "Practical Herbalism"!<br />
<br />Kymberleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579349343824571205noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776276231017030003.post-31818898198034289402012-07-31T20:42:00.000-07:002012-07-30T10:14:41.021-07:003 Steps for Respecting Boundaries While Fulfilling Needs Within a Marriage<b>Welcome to the Fabulous Hybrid Blog Carnival. Our topic this summer is BOUNDARIES!</b><i> This post was written for inclusion in the quarterly Blog Carnival hosted by <a href="http://fabulousmamachronicles.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Fabulous Mama Chronicles</a> and <a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com.html/" target="_blank">Hybrid Rasta Mama</a>. This month our participants reflect on boundaries in all of its many forms. Please read to the end to find a list of links to the other carnival participants.</i>
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For those of you who have met me in person, you know I'm really high energy. I'm extroverted, pretty loud and I just tend to "bounce" from person to person in a social situation. You also know I am high tactile and I have to touch everyone. Constantly. And touch everything. My love language is (surprise, surprise), touch! I talk constantly. I love people, get-togethers and good friends.<br />
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For those of you who have met my husband, you are probably laughing at the above description. Or scratching your head going "Oh my word, how do those two deal with each other?"<br />
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I have a husband who really isn't super fond of physical touch. He will hug you, or shake hands, but then he backs off. He would prefer to not be touched a lot of the time, especially by people he doesn't know well. He's introverted, he's more of a "philosopher" (he likes to ponder, wonder and do so silently and alone),<br />
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See, aren't we a match made in Heaven?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixXXKGuZDfMTJyZkPRubcZlmgpVSoMNfVz9JksFqcr9gCllw2kIUnnCy4DdCHWdZZB7uqyVe3kZ3B3HzFKJNCj7Akf71UVCs8ZDfuZ-2xf-uzSbIVkDwZVvrZzdbhQBkvPCLV7DACJOJk/s1600/Photo+28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixXXKGuZDfMTJyZkPRubcZlmgpVSoMNfVz9JksFqcr9gCllw2kIUnnCy4DdCHWdZZB7uqyVe3kZ3B3HzFKJNCj7Akf71UVCs8ZDfuZ-2xf-uzSbIVkDwZVvrZzdbhQBkvPCLV7DACJOJk/s320/Photo+28.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early on in marriage -- me wishing for social interaction, hubby happy as can be playing Call of Duty.</td></tr>
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Part of marriage is learning how to respect boundaries and fulfill your partner's needs, often at the *same* time. This can take quite a bit of work. We live in a society that's pretty "me-centered", and that goes for relationships too. Just look at any blog posts that talks about ways to pamper/honor/support your significant other. It doesn't matter which spouse is focused on, there will ALWAYS be the comments of "Well, what about me? What about what they should do for me?" I'm not convinced that is how marriage should work. For us, marriage works because we both selfless look for ways to serve each other. <br />
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Below I have listed three things that have helped my husband and myself learn how to respect each other's boundaries while still fulfilling the needs of the other one. At 27 and 28 (no, I'm not saying who's older), we still have a lot to learn. But these things have helped us tremendously over the past four years.<br />
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<b>1. Learn your spouse's personality.</b></b><br />
Whether you are learning if they are introverted or extroverted, or you get a detailed description of their personality type (think Myers-Briggs or Five-Factor Model type test), it can be really helpful to know your spouse this way. What makes them tick? What do they thrive at, what is their weakness? </span><br />
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A huge step for myself was realizing that as an introvert, my husband needs time to himself. On the flip side, it helped my husband a lot to realize that it was really disappointing and awful for me to leave a social gathering after an hour or two.<br /><br /><b>2. After learning about your personalities, learn how to work with them. </b><br />When we first got married, my husband would come home from work, change clothes and disappear into the office. Sometimes he'd kiss me or hug me, but there was hardly any social interaction between us. I felt extremely rejected everyday. So, I started following him around. I'd follow him into the study, the bedroom (but totally NOT the bathroom) and talk his ear off. As a result, he'd be in a bad mood for the rest of the evening and I'd be confused as to why he wasn't loving on me, or cuddling me so I'd be in a bad mood. It took me nearly two years to figure out he was introverted and needed to recharge and that was what he did when he came home. And it took him about two years to figure out that I need to be greeted by touch and kisses when he came home.<br /><br />So, we developed a sort of "routine". He comes home, throws his arms around me, kisses me, tells me he loves me and has missed me, he hugs and kisses our son, he talks to us for a few minutes and then he disappears for about an hour or so. And I leave him alone. He emerges around the time dinner is ready and he's happy and refreshed. Our whole evening runs so much smoother. Just from that one simple change. He realized that I needed to be greeted, loved on and talked to, and I realized he needed time to recharge himself. Both of our needs are met, our personalities are comforted and we can live in harmony without changing each other.<br /><br /><b>3. Learn when you've gone to far, and when to back off. </b><br />Truth be told, I think this is a continuous learning lesson during marriage. We've been married almost four and a half years (I know, we're still practically newlyweds!!) and we are learning this daily. I know how to push my husband's buttons and he knows how to push mine. And neither one of us are great about stopping.<br /><br />Learning this important boundary can be a marriage saver, I'm convinced of if. <br /><br />I have a temper. It's not a quick temper, I'm more like a slow-boiling pot of water. It takes a lot of heat and a lot of time to get me to boil over, but when I do...it is a mess. I become pretty irrational and my defense is to automatically say the most hurtful thing that comes to mind. My husband has learned when I get like this to leave me alone. I have not developed the maturity to hold my tongue if he presses the subject, so he gives me the space I need so I do not say something I regret.<br />
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We are both slowly learning how to say "I need space", or just not push those buttons in the first place, but it's an ongoing lesson. In the meantime, learning to recognize each other's cues and body language has gone a long way in preventing a lot of fights or hurtful words being said. <br />
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<br />I'm by no means a marriage expert. I'm not really much of an expert in anything, except in knowing what works for my family. But I've noticed that often, sharing tips, tools, tricks for a lot of situations allows someone to take them and adapt them for their family situation. So I hope that is the case with these!</span><br />
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Boundaries, whether at home, in the work place, with friends, with family, with children, are IMPORTANT. We don't always realize the importance of expressing and vocalizing these boundaries till it is too late. However, for the sake of everyone involved, it's usually best to express them up front.<br /><br />In a marriage, since you are committing to someone for life, your boundaries and needs may change overtime. It's important to build a solid foundation from the beginning so that the communication lines are always flowing. Express your needs and honor those needs of your spouse, it will lead to an open and happy relationship. </span><br />
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<o:p></o:p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT52L9cEmLAhoNC5ib37oEeya8CjBK9J407dip0dgQpzWrc1T1Ym6vvGYPmx_C9KEfpOP1fMB0QqNkSvgLvsipqqirIwuzLYUaAKFRylEVLKhGIL7RD0aNu_NKgdQMjEn1imExcOF7h4k/s1600/FH+Carnival.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT52L9cEmLAhoNC5ib37oEeya8CjBK9J407dip0dgQpzWrc1T1Ym6vvGYPmx_C9KEfpOP1fMB0QqNkSvgLvsipqqirIwuzLYUaAKFRylEVLKhGIL7RD0aNu_NKgdQMjEn1imExcOF7h4k/s200/FH+Carnival.jpg" width="187" /></a>
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Visit <a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com/p/fabulous-hybrid-carnival.html">Hybrid Rasta Mama</a> and the <a href="http://fabulousmamachronicles.blogspot.com/">Fabulous Mama Chronicles</a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> to find out how you can participate in the next <b>Fabulous Hybrid Carnival</b>!</span> </span></div>
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<b>Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants. <i>It will be updated by 3:00pm PST on Monday, July 30th</i>:</b></div>
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<li style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="http://guggiedaly.blogspot.com/2012/07/boundaries-for-attachment-parenting.html">Boundaries For The Attached Parenting Sexual Abuse Survivor</a> </b>- Guggie Daly at <a href="http://guggiedaly.blogspot.com/">The Guggie Daily</a> discusses how to balance the boundaries needed by a sexual abuse survivor with attachment parenting.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="http://presenceparenting.com/?p=4786">Setting Boundaries With Kids</a></b> - Amy at <a href="http://presenceparenting.com/">Presence Parenting</a> explores why boundaries may be more about us than our kids.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="http://fabulousmamachronicles.blogspot.ca/2012/07/limiting-dysfunction.html">Limiting Dysfunction</a></b> - Wolfmother at <a href="http://fabulousmamachronicles.blogspot.ca/">Fabulous Mama Chronicles</a> speaks speaks out about the underlying dysfunction in her relationship with her parents and the strategies she’s had to implement to ensure the psychological health of herself and her family. </li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="http://www.mommajorje.com/2012/07/my-fence.html">My Fence</a></b> - Jorje shares how and why she she feels the need to be guarded with her family on <a href="http://www.mommajorje.com/">Momma Jorje</a>.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com/2012/07/how-to-set-and-enforce-boundaries.html">How To Set and Enforce Boundaries</a> </b>– Jennifer at <a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com/">Hybrid Rasta Mama</a> offers 6 suggestions on how to more effectively establish and enforce your boundaries, especially with those who blatantly disregard them. </li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="http://trueconfessionsofarealmommy.blogspot.com/2012/07/Boundaries-in-Breastfeeding.html">Boundaries in Breastfeeding</a></b> - JW of <a href="http://trueconfessionsofarealmommy.blogspot.com/">True Confessions of a Real Mommy</a> explores teaching personal space rules to allow a respectful breastfeeding relationship as well as honoring their own body autonomy. </li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://ourcrazycorneroftheworld.blogspot.com/2012/07/3-steps-for-respecting-boundaries-while.html"><b>3 Steps for Respecting Boundaries While Fulfilling Needs Within a Marriage</b></a> - Kym at <a href="http://ourcrazycorneroftheworld.blogspot.com/">Our Crazy Corner of the World </a>talks about three ways her husband and herself protect their own boundaries while still meeting each others needs. </li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="http://wp.me/pMVLj-1kN">Establishing Boundaries With A Babymoon</a></b> - Mandy at <a href="http://livingpeacefullywithchildren.wordpress.com/">Living Peacefully with Children</a> shares how important enforcing a babymoon was to establishing a new parental identity in the face of her in-laws. </li>
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</div>Kymberleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579349343824571205noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776276231017030003.post-33247359450788637852012-07-27T09:49:00.000-07:002012-07-27T10:02:50.721-07:00Co-Sleeping: Our Story (aka "I'm 33 weeks pregnant and we gave away the crib today.")<div>
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When I found out I was pregnant with Andrew, I happened to have a pretty awesome job. I babysat/tutored a wonderful little boy, and often times his adorable little sister while his parents worked. I was blessed with this job because it worked pretty perfectly around my school schedule (I was in my last year of college) and the family was a delight to be around! </div>
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Near the end of my pregnancy, the mom began giving me baby things, some new, some used. A changing table, sheets, a carseat, adorable cloth diapers and wipes, and then she gave me a crib! Talk about a blessing!<br />
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For new parents on a limited budget, we were humbled and so thankful for these gifts. We immediately began to work on setting up the "nursery" or "Andrew's room". Furniture didn't match but I didn't care, it was a room for *my baby*. I ordered new crib bedding and turned our small office of our two bedroom apartment into a baby room. My husband helped immensely, though a little bit sad to lose his "man cave". </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before -- man cave/office</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLK9GgUTj-wIIenIVj1jhOy6LXz64YGsqctI2Yu0lz1QQZUhu8SE0KcRBNwL3dFi9_Kfw5_pHot5eqj1Tako1bFlI_qCSMQpqel5gouHB9ZbhM_khXCt0t0ecFOBl2DWSpPqoFJgl3Z8k/s1600/DSC01026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLK9GgUTj-wIIenIVj1jhOy6LXz64YGsqctI2Yu0lz1QQZUhu8SE0KcRBNwL3dFi9_Kfw5_pHot5eqj1Tako1bFlI_qCSMQpqel5gouHB9ZbhM_khXCt0t0ecFOBl2DWSpPqoFJgl3Z8k/s400/DSC01026.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After - Andrew's room</td></tr>
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We also received a pack-n-play from my parents that I planned to use the first few months. For some reason, I had it in my head that I would have a child who slept away from mommy and all night by the time he was a couple of months old. Not sure what I was thinking.<br />
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Andrew arrived on June 8th, 2009. We brought him home on June 10th, 2009. </div>
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Our first night at home, I placed Andrew in the pack-n-play a few feet from his bed. I snuggled up to my husband and kissed him goodnight. And we fell asleep. For all of ten minutes.<br />
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The little whimpers woke me up instantly and I immediately picked up Andrew and nursed him. He fell back to sleep almost instantly. So, I put him in his pack-n-play. Crawled back into bed and went to sleep. For all of ten minutes.<br />
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I'm going to blame the fact that I was already sleep deprived from being in the hospital for two days as to why this cycle continued for the next two hours. Finally it dawned on me -- put him in bed with me. Clearly that was what he wanted. So I did. And we all went to sleep. For about four hours before Andrew needed to nurse again. Four amazing hours. And then after a 20 minute nursing session, we slept for another three hours.<br />
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I had planned to co-sleep from the beginning, but didn't plan to need to "all the time". Just when the baby wouldn't sleep. (Seriously, I thought I was going to have a baby that loved to sleep!) But the hospital staff had given me all this paperwork about it being dangerous and I had also read that if you are going to co-sleep it's best not to do it while you are extremely tired. I second guessed my instincts and opted to keep my baby away from me.<br />
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Over the next few weeks a "routine" formed. I'd nursed Andrew to sleep and put him in his pack-n-play next to the bed. Sometimes he'd sleep for an hour or two, sometimes just 10-15 minutes, but I tended to him immediately and nursed him back to sleep. I opted to use that time between Andrew going to bed and myself going to bed for my husband. No housework or chores just me and hubby -- enjoying marital bliss or just snuggled on the couch watching Conan. Sometimes I'd cook a special treat, or take a long hot shower to relax, but mostly it was a time for my husband and I to reconnect. If we were already in bed and sleeping, Andrew came to bed with us at his first waking. If we weren't, I gently nursed him back to sleep and placed him in his pack-n-play and returned to whatever I had been doing prior to him waking.<br />
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And thus we became a co-sleeping family.<br />
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Andrew's crib and crib bedding mostly ended up being a laundry basket and drying rack. Sometimes he slept there for naps, but mostly in our bed. And when he outgrew his pack-n-play around 15 months, he slept better on a pallet in our room, so we moved the crib mattress to our room and took the crib down.<br />
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Around 20 months, he got a twin bed. Though he mostly continued to sleep with us, he was excited to have his own bed. The only "person" he was willing to share it with was our dog, Bella.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First day with his bed -- he wanted to "make it" (make-it up) himself!</td></tr>
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Andrew is three now and that's pretty much the same routine. Except his first waking (usually) isn't until around 6:30/7am. And he's now in a regular bed. And he wakes in the middle of the night to take himself to the bathroom. Sometimes he asks to sleep with us (or just me, since daddy is away for training till the end of August), but mostly he stays snuggled in his own bed. I welcome him into our bed anytime he asks, because I know our co-sleeping days are pretty much over and I'm going to miss it. I'm sure I'll even miss the little hands in my hair all night long.<br />
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Because I've witnessed the benefits, the joys and the sweet comforts of co-sleeping, there has been no doubt in my mind that we would co-sleep with baby number two.<br />
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Baby number two, fondly nicknamed "Reelo" by Andrew, is arriving in a few weeks. And today, I gave away our crib. When it was gifted to us, we were told to pass it on when we were done. So, I did just that.<br />
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I felt kind of weird at first. Hugely pregnant, talking with friends and saying "You know what, we don't need it...do you want it?" but I quickly realized it's just not something we will need or use.<br />
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We co-sleep. I find that to be the safest, easiest and most effective way for myself to be a responsive, nurturing and gentle parent at night.<br />
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<b>Are you a co-sleeping family? If so, what made you decide to co-sleep?</b></div>
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More wonderful links about co-sleeping! (FYI - Several links take you to blog carnivals dealing with the subject of co-sleeping.)</div>
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<a href="http://www.mommajorje.com/2011/12/cosleeping-is-it-for-you.html" target="_blank">Momma Jorje: Co-sleeping ~ Is It for You?</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/parenting/sleep-problems/7-benefits-sleeping-close-your-baby" target="_blank">Dr. Sears: 7 Benefits of Sleeping Close to Your Baby</a></div>
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<a href="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/wordless-wednesday-the-family-bed/" target="_blank">Natural Parents Network: Wordless Wednesday: The Family Bed</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.hobomama.com/2010/06/how-to-cosleep-safely-tutorial-in.html" target="_blank">Hobo Mama: How to Co-Sleep Safely: A Tutorial in Pictures</a></div>
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<a href="http://cosleeping.nd.edu/safe-co-sleeping-guidelines/" target="_blank">Safe Co-Sleeping Guidelines (by Dr. James McKenna of Norte Dame University)</a></div>
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<a href="http://hippiehousewife.blogspot.ca/2011/03/attachment-parenting-series-bedding.html" target="_blank">The Hippie Housewife: Attachment Parenting Series: Bedding Close to Baby</a><br />
<a href="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/five-benefits-cosleeping/" target="_blank">Natural Parents Network: Five Benefits to CoSleeping Past Infancy</a><br />
<a href="http://codenamemama.com/2011/12/15/adding-family-bed/" target="_blank">Code Name: Mama: Crying in Our Family Bed</a><br />
<a href="http://naturallifemom.com/2011/03/how-our-co-sleeping-relationship-ended/" target="_blank">A Little Bit of All of It: How Our Co-sleeping Relationship Ended</a><br />
<a href="http://www.ithoughtiknewmama.com/2012/07/to-sleep-or-not-to-sleep/" target="_blank">I Thought I Knew Mama: To Sleep or Not to Sleep</a><br />
<a href="http://www.kellynaturally.com/post/Figuring-Out-Co-Sleeping-and-the-Family-Bed.aspx" target="_blank">KellyNaturally: Figuring Out Co-Sleeping and the Family Bed</a></div>
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<br /></div>Kymberleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579349343824571205noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776276231017030003.post-2675278361203622362012-07-25T12:56:00.002-07:002012-07-25T12:56:43.260-07:00Well...you only have one kid....A few months ago I was happily expressing to some friends some changes I had seen in Andrew. It was mostly sleep related, but I shared what we had done, what had worked and honestly, it was a pretty proud mommy moment.<br />
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Till I was met with "Well, you only have one kid. It's not that easy with more."<br /><br />Later on Facebook, I was reading a blog written by a mom of one about her choice to not spank. Once again, the comments were full of "It's easy to discipline that way now, you only have one kid." Some of them weren't even that polite, just "You have one kid, what do you know?"<br /><br />Sadly, this wasn't the first time I had seen this attitude. It wasn't the last either. It seemed pretty common.<br /><br />Because we don't have enough "mommy wars" going on, it is now the amount of kids you have suddenly makes you a "better mommy". Apparently those of us with one kid don't really count in the mommy game. I'm not sure what having one child makes me, but it for sure doesn't make me a "good mom". One kid is a piece of cake, easy, and it also completely null and voids anything you've tried to do -- from sleeping to discipline to eating to teaching.<br /><br />As with everything else in the "mommy wars", it just makes me weary.<br /><br />I don't know what it's like to have multiple children, so I'm not going to pretend I do. I will in a few weeks, but for the past three years, it's been Andrew and mommy. He's gotten (mostly) my undivided attention. Does that negate our experiences together?<br /><br />Andrew is a child just like any other child. His status as an "only child" do not make my experiences with him less valid, less worthwhile, less true. It doesn't cancel out my experience as a mother either.<br />
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As I said, I don't know what it is like to have more than one child. But I know what it is like to have one child. One child that I love very much. He is a blessing, a treasure, a beautiful soul that I thank God for everyday. My time as Andrew's mommy is not any less valid because he is an only child.<br /><br />This attitude of hierarchy in motherhood has got to stop. Regardless of the issue, it has to stop. Between the battles of formula feeding and breastfeeding, homebirth and hospital birth, public school and homeschool, we are all still mothers. We are all still plowing away through this job, praying we give our kids more than enough love.<br /><br />Might I suggest that those of us with one child need just as much encouragement as those with eight? Or two, or five? Might I suggest that regardless of how many children you have, you are still a mother?<br /><br />There is also another way that this attitude hurts that many do not think of; it hurts the mothers with empty wombs, hearts and arms. It hurts the mothers with arms waiting for a child to hold. It hurts the mothers who will only have one child.<br /><br />Between Andrew and this baby (who is 33 weeks at the moment), I've had three miscarriages. They were early, but they still hurt. And anytime it has been mentioned to me "You only have one child...", it brings up a tiny bit of that hurt.<br /><br />There are women I know who are on their hands and knees praying for one child. Whether that child arrives through adoption, medical help to get pregnant or something short of a miracle, they want their one child. Are they any less of a mother?<br /><br />There are also those who have chosen to have one child. They have their own reasons, but it doesn't cancel out the fact that they are still mothers.<br /><br />Remember to speak your words with love and with gentleness. At the end of the day, we are all moms. We have had different experiences, children with vastly different personalities, our own struggles in different areas, but one child or twenty, we are all still mothers.Kymberleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579349343824571205noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776276231017030003.post-15673362426906749712012-07-15T17:00:00.003-07:002012-07-15T17:00:32.227-07:00Thirty-One Gifts Fundraiser for Baby Sean Plus Prizes, Prizes, Prizes - Please Share!!!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 18pt;"><b>Meet Baby Sean…</b></span></div>
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<i>In May of this year, Caroline, a mother of three began experiencing some very intense headaches. She wrote them off until one day her headache was simply too much to bare. Knowing something wasn’t right, Caroline walked into the ER. Several tests later and she found out that she was 26 weeks pregnant and was in a crisis situation due to preeclampsia and gestational diabetes. </i>
<i>Caroline was admitted to the hospital where doctors and nurses worked around the clock to keep Caroline and her baby healthy. The goal was to get the baby as close to 36 weeks gestation as possible. However, Caroline’s placenta was so thick that her baby was not developing properly and his life was in jeopardy. </i><br />
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<i><b>On June 10th 2012, Baby Sean was born. He was a mere 1 pound 10 ounces and 27.5 weeks gestation.</b> Although he was amazingly spirited, the doctors simply didn’t know what his prognosis would be. </i>
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<i>One month later, Baby Sean is close to 3 pounds, is being tube fed mostly breastmilk, is feisty as all get-out and is fighting all of his health battles with an intensity that rivals anyone’s will to live. This tiny micro-preemie wants to go out and do big things in this world. But he still has a long road, a road with unknown health obstacles.</i><br />
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<i>To learn more about Caroline and Baby Sean, please visit the <a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com/2012/06/can-you-spare-1-to-help-baby-sean.html">original Baby Sean post.</a></i>
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A fellow blogger and mother to a preemie is generously spearheading a fundraising party to help Baby Sean and his family through her business, Thirty – One Gifts.<br />
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Laura from Walden Mommy has been so generous with her time and energy getting all of the details ironed out. Please read on to learn WHY Laura jumped in to help and how your purchase at Thirty One Gifts can help raise funds!<br />
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<i>From Laura<b></b></i>:If you’ve been reading <a href="http://waldenmommyandfamily.blogspot.com/">Walden Mommy </a>for awhile, you know that premature babies are near and dear to my heart. <b>In 2008, my third child, George, was born at 35 weeks gestation due to PPROM (pre-term premature rupture of the membranes)</b>. Georgie was six pounds, eight ounces, a fantastic weight for his gestational age but his lungs were underdeveloped. He spent several days on a ventilator, then on oxygen through a nasal cannula.
Breathing wasn’t his only issue, though. He needed to learn how to suck, swallow and breathe, hold his own temperature, gain weight and get rid of that pesky jaundice. Thankfully, he managed to do most of this during nine days… a short time in the NICU for a premature infant but long enough to make us very aware of the trails that many parents and children go through.<br />
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<b>My husband and myself have committed to helping parents of NICU babies and NICU graduates. We bring meals to the NICU, walk in the March for Babies and provide emotional support when it is needed.</b>
Of course, Sean’s story touched my heart and I wanted to do something to help. A fundraiser was already in play from a fellow blogger, <a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com/">Hybrid Rasta Mama</a>. (Caroline is a member of her extended family). Currently, $1,300 has been raised to help his family. However, more is needed. Sean is only one month old and is looking at a couple more months in the NICU. When he comes home, he will need frequent follow ups from doctors and therapists. <span style="background-color: white;">Many preemies also need special fortifiers and foods to help them grow. Sean also has two big brothers and a sister and their material and emotional needs will still need to be met. All of this adds up! </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">In light of this, </span><b style="background-color: white;">I have offered to do a special Thirty- One Gifts catalog party/fundraiser for the family!</b><span style="background-color: white;"> To raise money for Sean’s needs, </span><b style="background-color: white;">we are asking that you pay full price for the July Special</b><span style="background-color: white;">. The difference between the sale price ($5) and the full price ($12-24) will go to Sean! </span><b style="background-color: white;">I will also be giving a portion of my commission to his family.</b><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt;"><i><b>How it works:</b></i></span><br />
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<li>Go to <a href="http://www.mythirtyone.com/lauracolon">http://www.mythirtyone.com/lauracolon</a>. Click on “View Our Catalog” and take a look around. Please note that the first half of the catalog shows how the items can be used and how the different fonts and colors look on the bags. The last half shows the different items and all the prints they come in. Please note that not every item is available in every print.</li>
<li>Decide what you want, <b>paying attention to the July Specials on my home page.</b> (For every $31 you spend, you can purchase a Littles Carry All Caddy, Mini Zipper Pouch, Zipper Pouch, Cinch It Up Thermal or Thermal Tote for $5!) </li>
<li>Go to “My Events” and click on “Fundraiser for Baby Sean.” Follow the instructions and pay the amount indicated by Thirty-One.</li>
<li>Within 24 hours, you will receive an e-mail from me indicating the difference you can donate to Sean. (Full Price – Sale Price = Amount to Sean) You will need to Pay Pal the amount to the address by the end of the party (July 25, 2012).</li>
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<i>But you don’t want to pay the difference? That’s fine, a portion of my pay will still go to Sean! However, you won’t be entered to win the <b>prizes</b>!</i><br />
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Yes, I said prizes!<br />
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Thirty-One loves to reward their hostesses. For each party, the hostess earns Hostess Credit (ie, free money to use on Thirty-One Products), the chance to purchase Hostess Exclusive Items and items of her choosing at half-price. How much? Well, the bigger the party, the more credit she earns and the more Hostess Exclusive and Half Price Items she can purchase!<br />
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For this fundraiser, <b>Sean’s family will receive the Hostess Credit to purchase items they may need for their family- </b>lunch bags, backpacks, purses, a diaper bag and so on<b>. </b>As a thank you to everyone who donates the difference to Sean, <b>you will be entered to win a chance to purchase a Hostess Exclusive Item or purchase an item of your choosing at Half Price.</b><br />
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<i><b>How many winners will there be? </b></i>Well, like I said, the bigger the party, the more items the hostess gets… and, in this case, the more winners! <b>Our goal is for a 1,200 dollar party. </b>That means that there will be <b>THREE winners for the Hostess Exclusive Items and those items will be FREE! </b>We would <b>also have THREE winners who could purchase an item at Half-Price. We would have a total of SIX winners!</b> (Please note that for parties under 1,200 dollars, the Hostess Exclusive Items must be purchased for the amount indicated in the catalog.)<br />
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Are you ready to SHOP? Head over to my <a href="http://www.mythirtyone.com/lauracolon">Thirty-One page</a> and get shopping… and help a great family support their new, tiny addition!<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><i><b>Details:</b></i></span>
<b>The party will run from July 15, 2012 through July 25, 2012. </b>The party will close the evening of July 25. Winners will be drawn via random.org and notified by e-mail. You have 24 hours to respond with the item of your choosing (including print and personalization, if desired) payment or another winner will be chosen. Winners are responsible for payment and taxes on their items.
All items purchased through this fundraiser will be shipped directly to your house. The customer is responsible for all taxes and shipping charges.<br />
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Questions? Please e-mail me at waldenmommy AT gmail DOT com and put “Baby Sean Fundraiser” as the subject.Kymberleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579349343824571205noreply@blogger.com1