Here is a great birth and breastfeeding story for you from Karen Clark of Story Time Felts.

FALLON’S BIRTH AND BREASTFEEDING
STORY

My husband, Greg, and I kept a journal the day
Fallon was born and the first few weeks of her life so I have many
details written down, but many will come from my own memory of
them…

Because of the baby’s size (predicted 10+ pounds)
and the fact that I was a week overdue, combined with the fact that
my husband’s leave would run out soon, my OB and I mutually agreed to
induce on August 18, 1994, one week after the original August 11 due
date. Since I had stayed in California for the duration of the
pregnancy while Greg was transferred to St. Louis in February, he had
flown out for a month’s leave so he’d be here when the baby came. He
came a week before she was due, hoping she’d be early or at least on
time. Since he only had a month, and 3 or 4 days of it would include
him driving my car back to St. Louis, we really felt the pressure of
time. We had the choice of waiting it out another week, but that
would mean Greg would have had to leave when the baby was only days
old and I would more than likely have had to stay on at Mom’s a week
or so longer. So we opted to induce in order to ensure that Greg
would have almost 2 weeks with the baby and that we’d have time to
make sure everyone was healthy before moving to St. Louis. We planned
on Greg driving back and my Mom and I flying out with the Baby at the
end of August.

On August 18 at 7:30 a.m. we checked in to
Petaluma Valley Hospital. The head nurse was the mother of a high
school classmate of mine, and although the nurse was a strict,
no-nonsense type, she and I hit it off fairly well because we had
something in common to talk about. Her son and I had been friends and
we shared stories back and forth. It was a good diversion throughout
the day, especially when she brought out pictures of her family. I
found out she is a real softie despite her outward appearance.
Once hooked up to the fetal monitor, I was told I
was having fairly strong contractions, but I hadn’t even noticed. I
made some remark like “Those? I didn’t know those were contractions!
They’re nothing!” I had felt very minor cramps that morning, but
nothing I’d have called a contraction. So maybe I would have gone
into labor on my own that day…I’ll never know.

At 8:10, they started the Pitocin, and by 8:20 the
nurse said the contractions were about 2 to 5 minutes apart. At this
point my OB came in and broke my water. It was only as uncomfortable
as a pap smear and I was fascinated by the amount of liquid and how
hot it was. At 8:30 they upped the Pitocin. So far things were going
smoothly and I was looking forward to the long day’s work. At least I
hoped it would only be a day!

At 9:00 I had the first really strong contraction.
It was uncomfortable, but I just made an effort to relax and it was
fine. Greg was totally fascinated by the whole thing and especially
with the fetal monitor. We were really getting excited and having a
good time! We were both in good spirits, although nervous about what
was to come. We could not wait to get our hands on our baby!
My Mom arrived at the hospital at about 9:30 and
stayed until after the baby was born. Early in the pregnancy I asked
her to stay with us during labor and the birth. Since Greg was in St.
Louis for most of the pregnancy, Mom was a big support and even
attended some of the childbirth classes with me. I also felt that
being there would give her an extra closeness to this baby that she
might not get with us moving so far away. She ended up spending most
of the time reading or looking around. Really hung back and waited.
Looking back on it, it must have been pretty boring!

So we went along throughout the day, the
contractions getting stronger and closer together. At one point they
were back to back and a nurse came in and asked why we hadn’t said
something and she turned the Pitocin down a bit. For the most part,
we were left alone all day. The nurses only came in once in a while
to check the monitor and the Pitocin, ask how I was doing etc. I
really liked that. My OB came in once again to see how things were
going. Everything was going as planned. Although the contractions
were strong, we were getting through them by doing our deep breathing
and just trying to relax. I also used a lot of visualization. I just
pictured the baby working hard to move down with each
contraction.

At about 1:30 p.m. I started feeling very dizzy
and got a bad case of the shakes. Since I tend toward hypoglycemia
and I hadn’t eaten since the liquid breakfast at about 8:00 I
suspected that was what was going on. Up until then I had been
alternating between walking around the room and rocking in the
rocking chair, or just standing, but once I started getting dizzy I
had to sit down. The nurse came in and I asked for something of
substance to eat and she went to get some juice. When she returned,
she very sheepishly said something about maybe now is the time to
consider some pain relief, or maybe something just to take the edge
off. I refused at first, but I knew I was so out of it, and thought
maybe just one shot would be all I would need to get my act together,
so I agreed. At 2 pm I had my first shot of Fentonyl, a narcotic
similar to Demerol. It lasted less than an hour, but it was just
enough to relax me and get rid of the shakes and let me focus. The
contractions were very strong and by a quarter to 3 , I was asking
for another shot. I got it and kept going. At a quarter to 4, I asked
again and I was told no it was too close to pushing. They checked me
and I was 9 cm dilated. I didn’t think I could go on but I kept
thinking about Fallon and how she would arrive very soon.

The nurse said at that point that I could go ahead
and push if I wanted to. Now, looking back, I know I shouldn’t have
because I wasn’t fully dilated and never had the urge to push that
they tell you to expect, but I was so eager to get the baby out that
I did it. Well, I ended up pushing for 2-1/2 hours. I had the most
intense leg cramps imaginable, my ribs felt like they were busting
and I couldn’t reach my legs to hold on. I was in a semi-sitting
position and I had wanted to squat. I could barely breathe because
Fallon was so high on my ribs. The pushing stage overall was far
worse than any part of labor. I have never worked so hard in my life.
In fact, it was so exhausting that I skipped a few contractions and
didn’t push because I needed a break. I don’t think this would have
been possible if I had been really ready and had that undeniable urge
to push. I was pretty oblivious to what was going on, just focusing
on Greg and the baby and pushing with all my might. Finally the nurse
said just one more and the next thing I knew Fallon’s warm wet body
was on my belly. That was the most wonderful feeling in the world! I
was surprised to see her but so happy! I held her to me and told her
how beautiful she was. She was gorgeous. She had a head full of black
curly hair and pudgy round cheeks and the cutest little lips I had
ever seen. I was amazed and I hollered out how wonderful this felt
and that I could have 10 kids! Delirious I know, but I truly felt
that overall it was not too much work or pain for the wonderful
reward I got at the end. Within minutes, Greg whisked her away to my
parents who were both sitting there in awe (Dad joined mom sometime
during the pushing). Greg couldn’t stop crying. He was so happy and
so proud. Everyone was crying, even my father. Greg brought her back
to me and I held her and looked her over some more as they began
stitching me up. Evidently I didn’t tear until the last minute and I
tore pretty badly. I asked if I could nurse her right away and they
wanted me to wait until I had delivered the placenta and they had
stitched me up.

Later on, I found out that Fallon’s shoulders had
been stuck for quite some time. I had no idea this was going on, I
was just pushing away, but my Mom said they were preparing the
Operating Room for an emergency C-Section…They were going to push
her head back in and do a C-Section because she would not come out!
What they ended up trying first was that my OB reached in and grabbed
Fallon by the arm and literally pulled her out of me during that last
push. Fallon’s right arm was weak afterward and we were instructed to
exercise it to help rebuild any pulled muscles/ligaments. Later on
during an exam we noticed a bump of scar tissue on her collar bone
and now know that it was probably broken during the birth. I have a
lot of hard feelings about that part of the birth, but am grateful
not to have had to have a C-Section. I did some research and found
that pushing too soon and being semi-sitting can contribute to
shoulder dystocia. If I had been squatting or on my hands an knees,
she may have been able to turn better and not become lodged in my
pelvis. I’m hoping to avoid that problem with my next child.
Back in the delivery room, I was finally allowed
to nurse Fallon at 7:15 (she was born at 6:38). She latched on right
away and made the cutest little sounds, like she was saying “Ahhhh
I’ve been waiting for this!” She sounded so sweet, like she was
enjoying it so much. It was the second best feeling I have ever had,
next to having her hot little body on my stomach. She fell right to
sleep after that and Greg continued to show her around the room. By
then my Grandmother and brother and sister in law were there, and a
little later aunts and uncles. All together we had almost 2 hours
before anyone from the hospital even took her away to weigh her! They
did the preliminary things in the room, but it was kind of funny
because people were getting ready to go home and no one knew how much
she weighed! I was grateful to have had so much time with her. Greg
and my father accompanied her to the nursery where they did the tests
and gave her a shot. She weighed in at 9 pounds and 4 ounces and was
22 inches long. It seemed like they were gone forever, but Mom kept
me company as I ranted and raved about what a piece of cake the whole
thing had been. She looked at me like I was crazy because I think it
was really hard for her to see me in so much pain, but to me it was
all relative. So we talked about how pretty Fallon was and marveled
at her dark, long hair. It was past her collar! Even though the
nurses and doctors all told us it would fall out, we knew Greg had
Cherokee in him and thought that it would stick. It did!

Back at the room, we held Fallon forever. We were
just so amazed. I ate and tried to nurse her again. She seemed like a
pro. I used the football position because I couldn’t get the hang of
the cradle hold right away. My breasts are fairly large and her head
kept falling down under it. It felt really awkward so I switched to
the football hold with lots of pillows. It was so easy to see her and
make sure she was opening her mouth really wide. It was the best
feeling nursing this tiny little baby. She was very sleepy and would
only nurse a few minutes at a time so I let her rest. We tried to get
some sleep but were too wound up. We just sat and stared at her for
hours! We roomed in 100%. The only time we were separated was when
they took her for a blood test in the middle of the night and Greg
was sound asleep and I was too uncomfortable to go along on my own.
Greg did go with earlier when they took her picture. Other than that
she spent the whole time in one of our arms or, later in the night
when we did think maybe we could sleep, in the bassinet. When she was
in there I had to hold her hand the whole time, or let her suck on my
finger. I don’t think I ever did sleep that night. I did continue to
nurse her every once in a while, but got conflicting advice from
different nurses as to whether I should be waking her up to nurse or
just letting her sleep. So I did both. I wanted to nurse her, but it
was so hard to get her to wake up, so I gave up a few times and she
ended up sleeping for 4 or 5 hours at a time. Between feedings, I
wore breast shells I had bought at about 8 months to help me correct
flat nipples. They worked like a charm and by about 1 week the
problem was corrected permanently.

The next day we were anxious to get home, and
after the pediatrician came at about 4 pm we were allowed to check
out. The pediatrician did say that Fallon had A- blood and that since
mine was O+ she would likely become jaundiced in the next day or so,
which she did. Other than that and the shoulder weakness, she checked
out great. We couldn’t wait to get her home to show off to
family.

At home, we had a bunch of people waiting for us.
I cried uncontrollably as we carried her in the house, thinking about
the reality of us bringing our very own baby home. It was such a
special feeling and at the same time terrifying! We shared her with
everyone and looking back I probably tried too hard to be “back to
normal” too soon. Next time I’m going to hibernate in the bedroom and
get some rest for a few days! I really did feel pretty good
physically, once I sat down! But after a couple of hours I was ready
for everyone to leave, and they didn’t. In fact mom invited everyone
to stay for dinner so I felt pressured to help “entertain.” I ended
up in tears because I wanted to visit but still wanted to just go off
with my baby and be by ourselves. So I went off to nurse frequently,
which continued to go well.

The day after we got home from the hospital, a
nurse came to visit. She checked Fallon’s temperature, asked how I
was feeling etc. We reported that all was well except that she was
keeping us up at night. The nurse advised us to try to “teach” the
baby the difference between night and day by making sure all the
lights were on and window shades open during the day and it was very
dark and quiet at night. Fallon had also become jaundiced by this
time, which we were warned about in the hospital because she and I
have different Rh factors. Before we left the hospital the
pediatrician had told us that if it appears to call her and let her
know and make sure she gets lots of exposure to sunlight. We began
undressing her and putting her bassinet in front of the window for
about 10 minutes a few times a day.

Up until 2 days after she was born, Fallon was a
happy very alert baby. She spent an amazing amount of time staring at
everyone and everything around her. She rarely cried, and when she
did I could nurse her right away and she would settle down. On her
3rd night, she began long screaming spells. We spent hours walking
her, singing to her, trying everything . It was a nightmare to see my
precious angel in such distress for such long periods of time with
nothing I could do to console her. The whole family tried to calm her
down but it would only last for 10 or 20 minutes, around the clock.
It was awful. I called my cousin who had had a colicky baby and she
recommended Mylicon drops. I also read in Dr. Sears’ “The Baby Book”
that cutting out dairy from my diet might help. I called the
pediatrician first thing in the morning and she recommended hot
baths, motion etc. and the drops if I felt they helped. We got the
drops and they did seem to help a little, but now Fallon would start
screaming when I offered her the breast. Greg had written in our
little notebook: “August 22 (4 days old) 10:00 Taking little sucks
then cries.” There are several other entries like this, where she
refuses to nurse or starts then cries. I began pumping to relieve my
engorgement because she wasn’t nursing well and my milk had come in
on the 4th day.

I called La Leche League that Monday and it was
one of the hardest calls I have ever made. I had been to one meeting
prior to having Fallon and was very comfortable with the leaders. But
the thought of calling them made me feel like something was wrong. I
got very nervous and put it off a few hours. When I finally got up my
nerve I described the situation and emphasized that Fallon would cry
when I tried to nurse her. The leader was very helpful in most things
but did say that I should try to get the baby calmed down before I
tried to nurse her, which I had already been doing. I must admit I
was a little frustrated with the leader because I kept saying that
she would start nursing and then cry and the leader kept telling me
to get her to stop crying first and then nurse. But the rest of the
information was wonderful. One of the best things she told me was to
help with engorgement, which I had for about 2 days after the milk
came in. She told me to pour about a cup of water in a disposable
diaper and heat it a little in the microwave to make a hot compress.
That way, you don’t get wet, it’s reheatable, and those little
newborn diapers fit perfectly in a bra. I still tell people about
this. I used that method to encourage a let down so I could express a
little milk to soften the breast so Fallon could latch on. Then in
between feedings I used ice packs.

By the time Fallon was 8 days old, her night time
crying spells and gassiness had subsided, which I attribute to the
elimination of dairy from my diet. She began sleeping better at
night, but was still crying at feedings off and on. By the 8th day we
were starting to get concerned because her wet diapers became less
frequent and she had gone 2 days without a bowel movement. Thinking
this was a normal progression once the meconium had left her system,
we didn’t worry about the lack of bowel movements since she was still
having 6 wet diapers a day. But on that 8th day we decided to call
the doctor and check, since it was a Friday and wanted to be able to
see her if there was a problem. When we called the doctor and
explained the situation to the nurse, she explained that babies can
go anywhere from a day to 5 days without a bowel movement and that
she is probably just getting her digestion in order. We asked could
she be constipated from something in my diet and the nurse said
probably not but we can see how it goes over the weekend. We also
reminded her about the jaundice and she recommended we swing by just
to have the doctor take a look at her. We did do that and the doctor
literally met us in the courtyard, pinched Fallon’s arms and legs and
said it looks great and then went back into the office. I was glad
the jaundice was going away but wished she had spent more time with
us. As far as the bowel movements go, at that point we figured it’s
got to come out some time so we tried not to worry. She had been
nursing for long periods and Greg had written in the journal about
how he heard her swallowing and that it sounded “like someone
drinking milk out of the carton…gulp…gulp…gulp…” so I don’t
think it ever occurred to us that she wasn’t getting enough milk. She
was still fussing when I tried to nurse her, but not every time. I
had written down that she wasn’t nursing as strongly but did it for
longer periods of time. I did check in with LLL again and got ahold
of a different leader this time. I explained about the lack of bowel
movements and that I was concerned maybe Fallon was constipated. The
leader told me breastfed babies are rarely ever constipated and as
long as she was having 6 to 8 wet diapers a day that she was fine,
that every baby is different and not to worry.

By the 11th day, we had her first regularly
scheduled post-partum pediatrician appointment. We still hadn’t had a
bowel movement so we were glad to be able to find out what was wrong,
and had visions of Fallon having to have a rectal laxative inserted
or something equally fun. As soon as we got there and the nurse had
weighed Fallon we knew something was terribly wrong. She weighed 7
pounds and 3-1/2 ounces, a full 2 pounds less than her birth weight.
I immediately started crying uncontrollably, even before the nurse
had left to get the doctor. Greg had tears in his eyes as well. I
just kept looking at him and saying “Oh my God” between the sobs. It
took forever for the doctor to get to us. When she did she looked her
over head to toe and asked us how she was eating. I said she was
crying when I tried to nurse her and the doctor said “Is it like she
pops off after she starts?” I said, “I guess you could say that…”
All this time she was examining her. She finally got to her ears and
said she had an ear infection! That was why she was screaming when I
tried to nurse her. I was shocked! How could my baby have gotten an
ear infection!?! I was glad to know it was something treatable but I
felt so incredibly guilty for not bringing her in or for not somehow
knowing something serious was going on. And then to top it all off,
when I said that Fallon hadn’t had a bowel movement since Thursday,
the doctor said, “Of course not. She’s starving!” I totally fell
apart at that point. I felt so terrible for starving my baby. I had
visions of her wasting away. That was the lowest moment in my life,
hearing those words.

After I collected myself, the doctor asked a bit
more about what was going on as far as nursing and she told me to
rent an electric pump right away and begin pumping every 2 hours
around the clock to get my milk supply back up, since Fallon
obviously had not been nursing effectively because of the pain it
would cause her ears. She also said to give the expressed breastmilk
to Fallon in a cup or medicine dropper since it would be too painful
to nurse, and we would want to avoid nipple confusion with a bottle.
She said that a few times a day I should try to nurse her, even maybe
giving her Tylenol before hand, just so she wouldn’t forget how to
nurse at the breast. She instructed me to bring Fallon in every day
to have her weighed. She prescribed Amoxicillan and we left. I’ll
never forget that ride home. We were both so upset. We had no idea
that things were this wrong. We never even noticed the weight loss,
but now when we looked at her it was obvious. So then we felt guilty
again and kept asking why we didn’t know, why we didn’t bring her in,
how could this happen, etc. We went directly home and within minutes
Greg was sent to get an electric pump.

My first tries at pumping were so discouraging. I
would pump 20 minutes or a half hour on each side and get only 1 or 2
ounces total, which I thought was hardly any. I was so worried that I
wouldn’t be able to express enough to feed Fallon. We gave her
everything I could manage to pump, which I did do around the clock
every 2 hours. Sometimes Greg would feed her while I was pumping and
I remember feeling so sad that she had to eat that way. Greg of
course felt very helpful and was very sweetly giving her the milk
little by little out of a dropper. She would look into his eyes and
he would tear up. There were many moments when I couldn’t relax
enough to get a let down for the pump, so I used the hot diapers
again and would look at Fallon imagining the day when she would be
able to nurse on my breasts exclusively. I did try to nurse her but
it was obviously painful to her and all I could think about were the
times when I had almost forced her to nurse all the while she was
screaming, remembering it, but now knowing I had been hurting her. I
just couldn’t do it any more than I had to so at the first sign of
rejection I let her go. The image of me trying to nurse her through
those screaming spells still haunts me, as I imagine the pain she
must have been in. I wished I had listened to her instead of trying
to continue despite her cries.

After a day of pumping, we decided it was best to
supplement the expressed breastmilk with a little formula. This was
the toughest decision we had ever made. It was so hard, as I had
wanted to avoid formula, but my supply had decreased so much and we
were so concerned about her gaining her weight back, that we felt it
would be best . I was still pumping every 2 hours during the day, and
every 4 at night, looking forward to the day that we could toss that
formula! By the 3rd day, we had switched to a bottle, since Fallon
was getting frustrated with the dropper. But after a couple days I
was able to nurse her about half time, and we both felt a lot better
about that! By the 6th day, I felt ready to go back to exclusive
nursing. It just happens that this was the day that my mother and I
were to fly into St. Louis to meet Greg, and essentially move across
the country. Fallon had gained a pound in that week, and her ears
were clear. I was so nervous about being able to nurse her
exclusively, but we were leaving the rented electric pump behind for
good and I had no choice. So Mom and I went to the airport and went
for it! We did bring a couple or small cans of formula “just in case”
but I am happy to report we never opened them. We got through about 8
hours of traveling with me nursing Fallon on demand and in public, at
only 2 weeks, and only 6 days after finding out about her ear
infection and 2 pound weight loss.. From that day on, until she was
about 6 months Fallon received only breastmilk.

Our nursing relationship continued and as time
went by I fell more and more in love with my baby. She was like an
angel. She did still have fussy periods that I could trace to some
food I had eaten…Even a piece of cheese on a burger would set her
off. She did have trouble with throwing up a large amount every day,
at least once. The pediatrician kept telling me it was just a case of
getting “too much, too fast” but unfortunately didn’t tell me what to
do about it! She made it sound like it was normal and she will grow
out of it, so I just put up with it. I didn’t even mention it to my
LLL Leaders, at least not as a problem I was having…It wasn’t until
about 2 or 3 months that I realized I had an oversupply problem. I
read an article in “The Doula” magazine about overabundant milk
supply and so many of the symptoms fit us! Gassiness, very short
nursings (she was nursing only 5 minutes at a time), milk spraying
across the room, vomiting…So I took their advice and started to
nurse on only one side at a time. It worked! It took a while for the
supply to settle down, but the gassiness ended, she stopped throwing
up, I sprayed and leaked very little, and she started nursing for
longer periods. She still never really nursed for more than 10
minutes, but that was all at one side. She compensated by continuing
to nurse every 2 hours and every 4 at night until she was about a
year! I have done a bit of research about oversupply and it can now
be classified as one of my “causes,” as I think it is a very common
but frequently overlooked problem. I have since found out that it can
cause nursing strikes, “self-weaning” at an early age, and nipple
soreness as well as the symptoms I had.

At about 4 months I needed to be away from Fallon
for 4 or 5 hours to take an exam to get a Missouri teaching
certificate. At that time I was still planning on returning to
teaching, mainly for financial reasons, at least part time, sometime
when Fallon was 1 or 2. This was to be the first time I would be away
from her for more than 2 hours and we had tried for months to get her
to take a bottle in preparation for this, but to no avail. Someone at
a League meeting suggested we try a sippy cup–the kind with the
flip-up straws. It worked! So that day Fallon had her first
mommy-milk without me. I was surprised that a baby that young could
drink from a straw, but she did a great job! It was SO hard to be
away from her. I ended up passing the test, but I don’t know how,
because I was so distracted thinking about Fallon at home!
Fallon’s weaning started at about 5-1/2 or 6
months when we gave her her first solid food. I hesitate to call it
weaning though, because she never decreased the amount she nursed! We
didn’t use solids to replace feedings, but fed her after she had
already nursed. I was very pleased with my pediatrician’s attitude
toward solids…She told us that for babies under a year, solids are
mainly just for their enjoyment and experimentation. So we never
pushed them on her, just offered when she seemed interested. Her
first food was rice cereal. We soon found out that constipated her so
we switched to baby oatmeal and barley. When she ate that first
spoonful, I cried! She was growing up! And she wasn’t dependent on me
100% anymore. It was a sad day, but I was excited for her. When she
got it, she had this look on her face like she had been waiting for
that all her life! She had been grabbing for our food and giving us
that begging look since she was about 4 months, but I put it off as
long as I could stand it. I struggled with that for a long time. I
remember writing a friend of mine asking for advice, because I felt
that beginning solids would be the beginning of the end of nursing,
that she would prefer them over me, or that my supply would
decrease…Wrong! On all counts. It barely affected our nursing at
all, and I am grateful for that. Up until a year, Fallon continued to
“nurse like a newborn,” and we would offer her solids whenever we
were eating. She didn’t really eat much, just a taste here and there.
I was concerned, but grateful that she was nursing so much because I
knew she was getting a balanced diet no matter what she took in from
other sources.

At right around a year, she began to ask to nurse
less and less. It seemed to drop off very suddenly, sometime around
just before she started to walk. Someone asked me how much she nursed
then, and I counted the times she had nursed that day and it was only
something like 5. Then there was the day around 13 months, when she
was fussing a little, so I offered to nurse…”Do you want some
mama?” Fallon toddled right over to the counter, raised her hands up
and grunted! I offered again, and she grunted even louder! So I got
the crackers she was eyeing and she was SO happy! I was crushed. That
was a sad day, one that I will never forget, because it became
crystal clear for me what self-weaning meant. But at the same time, I
was thrilled to see that Fallon is growing up and is doing it on her
time-table.

The rest, as they say is history. Fallon is
now a happy thriving 2 year old, never had another ear infection or
any other illnesses thanks to breastfeeding.

Christmas is a time for family and friends. The traditions you create or pass down to your children now will create lasting memories for years to come. Here are a few Christmas Eve traditions for your family.

Attend Church - Many churches hold special services on Christmas Eve to celebrate the birth of Christ. Bring your family to church to the special Christmas Eve service. Take this time to remember and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas or go on Christmas morning to really feel the true meaning of the holiday.

A Festive Home - Is your home in the Christmas spirit? Light cinnamon- or cookie-scented candles throughout your home. Decorate with ribbons and bows. Make simple swags and table centerpieces with baskets of cinnamon-scented, wax-dipped pinecones. Add single strands of clear bulb lights to your mantle. Simple touches create a warm, holiday environment for your family.

Visit Family - If you have family to visit, plan your trips for Christmas Eve. Bring your gifts to deliver to friends along the way. Many families travel during the holiday season, so remember to drive with caution.

Christmas Cooking - Get your family involved in the Christmas cooking. Make candy and cookies with your children. Have them roll the dough, or cut out the cookies, even young children can help. Christmas cooking is always a fun thing to do on Christmas Eve.

Christmas Walk – Bundle everyone up and go for a walk or drive around the neighborhood to look at the lights. Children love looking at Christmas lights and this will really set the festive mood for the holiday… and don’t forget the hot chocolate when you get back home!

Tell a Story – Set the mood for Christmas on Christmas Eve, gather everyone around your cozy living room, light the tree, serve some hot chocolate or eggnog with a few Christmas treats and tell a special Christmas story. You can tell the story of the meaning of Christmas or a story about Santa for younger children. You can even sit around and talk about the meaning of Christmas, the upcoming year or everything you have to be thankful for.

Enjoy this special time with your family and remember that you’re creating life-long memories for your children… make it special.

I was just over at one of my favorite blogs and had a brainstorm I wanted to share with mothers. The post was about the blog author, mom of three young kiddos (approx 5, 3, and 1), thinking about going to finish her nursing degree, and feeling like she wanted to spend NOW with her kids, but was afraid that if she didn’t finish the degree soon that she might somehow be unable to handle the courses or something.

Being a mom of six and having lots and lots of big dreams, I can identify with her struggle. Now that my kids are in school I have had time to start my two new businesses, write books, and do a few more of the things I’ve been waiting to do for 14 years of motherhood. It feels really good to be able to do these things and I am thankful to be at this stage of life.

BUT, I want to tell you moms–the days when your kids are little they want you so much, need you so much, and you are laying groundwork that is going to last for the rest of their lives!

“The days are long but the years go fast” is a saying I’ve heard more than a few times. Indeed, I have had some long days. When I was in the midst of what I jokingly refer to as my “baby avalanche” years (I had 3 babies in 3 years) I had entire months and years when I was so swamped that I often got through days and weeks by telling myself “This won’t last forever. It’s going to get better. Hang on. Hang on. It’s going to pass…”

Yes, it can be tough to be a mom. And, if we have a chance to dream, we remember that we have lots of other things we would like to do! While I think it’s important to find a way to do some of those things if we are able to, I think it is important to remember that our babies will grow up and our time to follow more of our interests will come.

Some of the most inspirational people I know of have started careers in their 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond. One of my oldest son’s favorite authors, Brian Jaques (Redwall series), is in his late 60s now, and had his first book published just 20 years ago! He had grown children, had worked in various jobs and careers, and yet went on to become a world-wide writing sensation! WOW!

My own mom went to nursing school when she was about 40. She had never even wanted to be a nurse, was never particularly good at science courses in high school or college, and fainted at the sight of blood. But she needed a job, and the nursing program near us was ideal. She did it. Now she’s 56, has been a nurse for about 13 years, and has done great at it. If she can do it, you can too.

I’ve been working on becoming a Certified Natural Health Professional for over a year now. When I took my first class I was worried that my brain wouldn’t work for a class situation any more. I had been on the at-home-mommy track for 13 years! Happily, my brain still did (and still does) work. Somewhere along the line I have stopped being worried that I have less than what it takes to do whatever I want to do.

The kids are only little once. I know everybody says that. But, it’s true. If your heart is to be with them, then just Live It, and live it big. Dress them cute. Play in the back yard. Take a ton of pictures. Throw the funnest birthday parties. Read them bedtime stories. Let them crawl into bed with you. Cut crusts off their bread. Bake cookies. Take them to the library. Let yourself enjoy the stage you’re at without worrying that you’re somehow rotting your brain by not doing other things now. You will have what it takes when the time comes.

Right now is the only chance you’ve got to bask in being MOMMY to your precious kiddos. We never know how long we’ll have them, so live and enjoy your family without regrets! Later on they won’t need you in the same ways, and you’ll be available to pursue some other fun stuff.

It’s hard to wait. But if you open your heart and mind to the incredible treat you have with your little ones in your lap *right now* it will be easier to have a heart that is at rest, and to focus your talents, creativity, and skills on your home and family. You’ve got an incredible opportunity to bless and be blessed. Don’t miss it!

I thought I would share this with you. I just had my second child on
April 1, 2006. The due date was March 28th and I was just not
progressing and wondered if I would ever have this child. I had an
uneventful pregnancy and was healthy the entire time. Finally, at
5:17 a.m. on Saturday, April 1st I woke up with a stomach ache. I
started having contractions. My doctor was on vacation but promised
me he would come in for the delivery of our little boy. I got to the
hospital at 9:45 and was 4cm dilated and having contractions about
every 5-7 minutes. I checked into my room and got ready for what I
thought would be a quick birth. I got my epidural around noon and
was ready to go. My doctor did come in as promised and I was so glad
to see him. He told the nurses to give me some pitocin to get my contractions a little more consistent and
more intense and to call him when the baby starts crowning. At about
5:30 p.m. my son finally started to crown and the doctor came back
for the delivery. I pushed for what seemed like days but I just
couldn’t get my son to come out. The doctor was in the delivery
position and had his mask and gown on while two nurses held my feet
on either side of him. I had a big contraction and the doctor had
put one glove on…he turned to get his other glove on when the nurse
yelled, “DOCTOR” as the doctor was turning back to face me from
getting his glove out shot my son and the doctor and nurse caught him
on the way to the floor. We all got a big chuckle out of this and
were thankful that our doctor had a good set of hands and caught
him.

Shauna Schmidt
Appleton, WI

The holidays are busy for travelers. Families everywhere take trips to visit relatives that they haven’t seen in a while.

It is advisable to be prepared if you must travel. There’s nothing worse than getting on the road, or arriving at your final destination, and realizing that you forgot something important. If your family is going on a trip during this holiday season, use this checklist to help you keep track of what to take:

1. Medications. Even if your children are healthy, be sure to bring along any and all medication that they could possibly need. You never know when a situation will arise that will require those medications for your kids.

2. Toothbrushes and toothpaste. Mom and Dad find it easy to remember to pack their own dental hygiene items. Younger kids may need reminding, though. Be sure everyone packs a toothbrush and toothpaste.

3. Sewing kit. Mishaps always happen. A button pops off. A skirt hem falls out. Pack a mini sewing kit in your suitcase to have on hand, just in case you need it.

4. Proper clothing. Call ahead of time and find out what the weather will be like where you are headed. Get specific temperatures if possible so that you will know what type of clothing to bring.

5. Bring extra clothes. Don’t forget to pack extra clothes as well, for everyone. Kids will need more clothing than adults, but it won’t hurt to throw in an extra outfit or two for you as well.

6. Shoes. Be sure you have matching shoes to wear with your outfits and don’t forget to bring the right shoes for the right weather.

7. Hair accessories. If you have daughters and they wear hair accessories, be sure to pack plenty to go along with their outfits.

8. Games for the kids. Kids get bored on road trips, especially if the trips are more than an hour or two. To save your sanity, be sure to bring along several fun games that they can play in the car. Puzzle books, audio cassette tapes (with a walkman), and printable games online are just a few ideas you can use.

9. Don’t forget the camera, you’ll definitely want to record all your family Christmas memories so don’t forget the camera and make sure it has batteries and film too.

10. And lastly don’t forget the presents! It’s a much too common scenario, you pack up the car, start your road trip to visit relatives for a relaxing family Christmas only to realize you’ve left the presents behind. Make a list of everything you’ve decided to take and check things off one by one.

This story comes from Rebecca of Enchanted Moods.

While grocery shopping one day with my oldest (who was 2 at the time…now 12), I had to do a #2 quite badly. Being that he was only 2, I brought him into the bathroom with me. He was as quiet as could be until we got back out into the store. There, in front of 20 or more people he praises me -loudly I must add- “Good boy mom! You went poop in the potty! And it was a big poops too mom! Good boy!” Yeah…a few people were laughing so hard they almost fell down!

As you prepare for Christmas dinner with your family, you may be wondering how to set your dinner table. Here are some ideas to get your creativity started:

Plan Your Menu - The first and most important step is to plan your menu. Does your family usually serve a traditional Christmas dinner? Do they like tradition, or would they mind something new? What types of meat does your family eat?

Once you’ve decided on the main meat (turkey, chicken, duck, pork, etc.), now you should decide what vegetables to serve. Is anyone allergic to any particular foods? Do certain members have certain vegetables they prefer to eat with their meat? Plan a nice variety to ensure that everyone will find something they like.

Next, plan your sides and desserts. Will you serve dinner rolls? What types of drinks will you offer? What desserts does everyone like?

When you plan your Christmas menu, remember that it is okay to ask for help. Perhaps it will be easier on you to call your guests and ask that everyone bring their favorite dish or dessert. This will take a lot of stress off you and ensures that there is a nice variety of food to eat.

Set the Table - Now that your dinner is planned, you’re ready to set the table. Try going for a theme that will encompass your dinner. Are you serving lots of casseroles? Go for a country-themed setting. Are you planning a four-course meal? Create a more elegant setting, with china and stemware.

Many family Christmas dinners are relaxed. This may be a good option, especially if you have young children. Create a simple, yet graceful centerpiece with candles and an edible fruit tree. Sometimes simple is best, offset the simple setting with some delicious food and great company for a memorable family Christmas.

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot chocolate

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? We never got into Santa here. Not because we thought it was terrible or anything, just that we never wanted the people that were so generous with our kids to not be acknowledged for their gifts. Our kids talk about Santa but think of him more as a guy who turns up at the fire department Christmas party and gives them a little bag of candy and fruit.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? We don’t do outside lights. Inside I would prefer white lights that don’t blink, but my husband wanted to let the tree be kid-friendly, so we have colored lights that do about 10 different options of blinking, fading, etc. I don’t like them, but the kids think it’s fun.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? Nope. I thought about getting some this year, but, know what? It’s really kind of ugly. I decided not to.

5. When do you put your decorations up? Some years we do it the day after Thanksgiving if we have relatives visiting that we are going to celebrate an early Christmas with. This year we just put our tree and decorations up 3 days ago.

6. What is your favorite holiday food (excluding dessert)? I don’t know. I can never do just one favorite of anything. I look forward to really good mashed potatoes (they are best with sour cream and cream cheese in them!).

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child: Every Christmas Eve we would go to my grandparent’s house to celebrate Christmas with my uncle and his family. We would have a big dinner and then open gifts. It was fun to see our cousins, and of course kids always like to open gifts. On the way home we would drive around neighborhoods that had really good lights and outdoor decorations. I loved that drive on the way home, and I would always look out the window to look in the sky and see if Santa was out there flying around……

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I think I just figured it out gradually, once I knew that the Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy weren’t real.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Some years we do. We don’t have a set rule about it.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? It’s all family memories. As I shared in a recent post, we only get ornaments that are meaningful to us. So, each year we now add 8 or more ornaments to our tree that each member of our family has chosen. So, no theme or coordination for us, other than family. Which I think is pretty good.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? A little snow for my kids to enjoy is fun, but I am thankful every single year that I no longer live in Central New York. I don’t think I would ever want to live anywhere with a lot of snow again.

12. Can you ice skate? Well, I was able to as a teenager. Ice skating and hockey were a big thing where we lived. I don’t know if I could skate now, though. I think it would probably be too likely for me to get hurt.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? A few memorable gifts over the years include a Barbie townhouse (it even had an elevator that you could make go up and down the three floors of the house!), stuffed animals that my parents left unwrapped and looking very cute sitting on top of presents by our tree, and contact lenses when I was a teenager.

14. What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Family and experiencing good stuff that makes happy memories.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Apple pie.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Purchasing special ornaments for each family member.

17. What tops your tree? A rustic star.

18. Which do you prefer giving or Receiving? Both!

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? I still like this one from high school chorus that was something about “Pinecones and holly berries, popcorn for you, apples for me, red striped candy, nutcrackers handy, kettle a-bubbling, holiday tea…..” I don’t know the title of the song, but it was really fun to sing and has stuck in my mind for all these years. Actually, now that I think of it, I think the song was “It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas” but had those lyrics as a bridge/vocal overlay during one part of the song. (like a round) I honestly do not like most Christmas carols. Most loathed Christmas carols include: Silent Night, Oh Little Town of Bethlehem, and What Child is This.

20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? I like the little ones ok, but would prefer fudge any day!

The holidays can be a stressful time for moms. From holiday travel to baking and cooking, you can get overwhelmed and stressed out in a hurry. This holiday season, as difficult as it sometimes is, try to remember to stop and take time for you.

Reduce the Stress:
Do you find yourself so stressed out during the holidays that you can’t even enjoy your company? If so, it’s time to reduce your stress.

* First, ask yourself what tasks you can delegate to family members. Perhaps you can share the responsibility of your family dinner. Have everyone bring a dish. Maybe you need help at home on baking day. Ask your kids to pitch in and help with making cookies or candy or even with the clean-up.

* Next, remember to breathe. When you are in the middle of a stress-filled moment, stop, close your eyes and take in a deep breath. Remind yourself that this day should be filled with happy, joyful memories.

Be Nice to Yourself:
As women, we tend to take care of everyone first, then ourselves last. The problem with this is that usually after we’re finished taking care of everyone else, we have nothing left to give back to ourselves. During the holidays this year, take some time to be nice to you. Here are a few ideas for you:

* Take a coffee break. While you’re out shopping for gifts, stop and take a coffee break. Buy one of your favorite magazines to read while you enjoy your favorite latte.

* Read a book. Buy yourself a new book and allow yourself an afternoon of doing nothing but lying in bed, reading your new book.

* Take a bubble bath. Lock the door, turn off the phone and run a bubble bath for yourself. Relax and forget about all the plans, cooking and presents and just enjoy a nice, relaxing thirty minutes alone. It’s amazing how much these thirty minutes can re-energize you and help you cope with the tasks ahead.

So many of us worry about gaining weight during the holidays, those dreaded holiday pounds can really sneak up on you if you’re not careful. Here are some tips for cutting down the calories and forgetting about the extra pounds this holiday season:

Tip #1: Get another taste tester. If you are doing the cooking this year, stay out of the pot! If you need a food taster, ask somebody else to do that job for you.

Tip #2: Don’t nibble all day. It’s irresistible to stay away from all the food and sweets when it’s sitting on the counter. This is where even the most faithful dieters throw in the towel. They nibble here and there all day, then eat a full meal. Try not to nibble, have a glass of water or a piece of fruit instead. Cut an assortment of veggie sticks and keep them close at hand. Often we nibble on food out of habit, not because we’re really hungry.

Tip #3: Stop after the first plate. Don’t go back for seconds. I know it’s hard. Aunt Suzie’s homemade sourdough bread is probably calling your name. But don’t go back for more! Eat your dinner and stop there. After about 30 minutes or so you’ll brain will have had enough time to register you’re actually full and you will no longer feel like seconds.

Tip #4: Drink water. It is a fact that if you drink a glass of water at least 30 minutes prior to your meal you won’t be as hungry as you normally would be. Try to drink as much water as you can throughout the entire day and you won’t be as hungry.

Tip #5: Use a smaller plate. You are going to fill up your plate, no doubt about it. So use a smaller plate. Instead of using the big plates, grab a smaller plate to eat off of. You won’t be able to fit as much on it. Less food on your plate means less calories you’re taking in!

Last year I gave my husband a fun and sexy gift that kept giving all year long, LOL. I got a pack of 3×5 cards and made up one coupon for each week of the year. I can’t tell you what the coupons were for….but they were all things he likes. I packaged these coupons in a fireproof box and wrapped it up. On Christmas day he and the kids thought I had gotten him a nice box as a gift. Later I gave him the key so he could see the *other* gift inside.

To keep things simple, let’s just say….he liked it!

Every year I buy lots of fun goodies to go into my children’s Christmas stockings. This year I told my husband that he and I need to fill each other’s stockings so that we have fun stuff to open too!

Ideas for a woman’s Christmas stocking:

-a jar candle in her favorite scent

-if she likes office supplies like special pens, post it notes, or other small items, get ‘em!

-a great-smelling bar of soap

-maybe she has a hair product, cosmetic item, or skin care product that she loves but is expensive so she doesn’t always buy it. Now’s the time!

-a new pair of gloves or mittens

-hair accessories

-gift cards

-a special CD or DVD

-chocolate or a favorite snack

Ideas for a man’s Christmas stocking:

-new gloves or a winter hat

-some manly skin care products that he will enjoy but wouldn’t want to be seen buying for himself!

-guys like candles and nice soaps too! (I bought my husband a “Red Hot Cinnamon” scented candle to put into his stocking….he’ll understand the message….)

-if your husband likes hunting, fishing, or any other sport or activity, there are usually handy little extras that you can find to add to his enjoyment of his hobby. For example, hand warmers, scent away products for hunters, warm socks, cool accessories, and so on. Browse the sporting goods section and you will find lots of good ideas!

-a lot of men (and boys!) like flashlights and knives. Mag Lights are really good and come in a wide range of sizes, but you can get less expensive lights as well. Pocket knives and all-purpose tools are handy for lots of things guys do.

-travel coffee mugs are nice

-why not add some of his favorite coffee or beverage? even a bottle of wine can fit into his stocking!

Once you get thinking about it, you’ll come up with loads of ideas, and Christmas morning will be even more fun this year when you and your honey have lots of fun stocking stuffers!

Ready to decorate for Christmas? Try these simple ways to add some Christmas spirit to your home this holiday season.

Use Bows - Pretty Bows add a special touch to any decoration. Choose your color scheme this year, then buy matching ribbon and make lots of bows to add around your house. You can even find color-coordinated pre-made bows in the Christmas section to match your tree decorations.

Indoor Lights - Use clear, white lights to decorate inside this year. If you have indoor trees or greenery, add a small string of clear lights to them. You can add lights just about anywhere. Placing a string of white lights in an oversized vase or bowl will make a festive modern statement. String some lights on your mantelpiece for a more traditional feel.

Front Door Wreath - Instead of buying a wreath to hang on your door this year, let your kids make one. Buy a plain, undecorated wreath and a nice variety of miniature tree decorations. Supervise with the hot glue gun while the kids create a special wreath for your family’s front door.

Nature Centerpiece - Do you have pine and oak trees in your front and back yard? Gather pine cones, acorns and colorful leaves. Create a beautiful nature centerpiece for your holiday dining table. Make holiday swags with sprigs of green pine needles, complete with a red bow in the center.

Holiday Scented Candle - Stock up on holiday scented candles. Keep several candles lit in each room while entertaining. Some popular holiday scents are gingerbread cookies, French vanilla, cinnamon sticks, and eggnog. Check your local department stores or specialty candle stores for more fun holiday scents.

Don’t let this holiday season be stressful. Simply organize yourself to get it all done with little to no hassle. Get started early with these easy holiday organization tips.

Be a List Writer - Writing lists is an excellent way to keep yourself organized and on track. Write your list by hand then type them into a computer and print a neat copy to keep handy. Some list ideas for you: Christmas gift shopping list, spending budget, holiday cards list, meal planning, etc. Be sure to keep each list separate and mark off every task as it is completed. (And make sure you have someplace to keep your lists so you don’t lose track of them!)

Learn to Delegate - When it’s time to decorate for the holidays, get your family involved. Delegate specific tasks to each person. This will help you by reducing decorating time. Your family will also have fun decorating the house for Christmas. Your family members can also help get the house ready for Christmas by doing laundry, dusting, clearing snow and shopping.

Order Online - You can cut your shopping time in half (or more!) just by ordering online. After your shopping list is complete, sit down and shop online. You will most likely be able to find the majority of your gift list online. What’s even better is that you can save time and money by having some gifts automatically shipped to friends and family afar. You can even order your groceries online in some areas.

Think Ahead – Christmas happens every year and every year you swear you will put those decorations back in the right place. This is a good time to think about what you can do this year to make next year easier on yourself next Christmas. Organize your Christmas decorations before storing them in the attic. Jot down any ideas you might have for next year in a special holiday journal. Collect those favorite family recipes you requested this year and save them in your holiday journal for next year’s family dinner. And remember to untangle the Christmas lights before putting them away!

Share the Love – Plan your holiday dinner early and share the love (or food). If you’re hosting the Christmas dinner ask family and friends to each bring a dish, make sure you ask what everyone is bringing so you don’t end up with ten desserts and no main courses. This will take a huge amount of stress of you and your family members can show off their favorite recipes. If you’re going to someone else’s house for dinner offer to bring a dish along, your offer may be greatly appreciated.

By starting early, doing some online shopping and learning to delegate you can dramatically reduce your Christmas stress this year. Christmas shouldn’t be a time of stress and worry, try to slow down so that you can enjoy the sites and festivities around you and more importantly share it with your family. Merry Christmas.

When my husband and I got married (15 years ago!) we decided that instead of buying boxes of ornaments for our Christmas tree, we were going to purchase special ornaments that had something to do with us, our year, travels we took, or things that were happening in our life, even if it meant we might only have a handful of ornaments for a few years.

The first year I got to give my husband a “Dad To Be” ornament, and we still have a lovely ceramic lovebirds ornament that we choose together. Our relatives gave us special “Our First Christmas Together” ornaments as well.

The next year we got to buy “Baby’s First Christmas” ornaments and personalized ones with our new son’s name on it.

As the years have gone by, and we now have six children, it has become a highlight each year for the whole family to go out to the store to pick out special ornaments. The kids now pick ones that they particularly like, and I use a sharpie marker to label in an inconspicuous spot their name and the year. We are getting a lot of ornaments and it helps to be reminded which ones are for which people.

When we decorate our Christmas tree it is so fun to get out each ornament and have the kids exclaim, “Oh yeah! This one is mine!” or, “This was mine when I was a baby!” We also collect ornaments from special places we go, so there is plenty of “Remember the time when we went there?” too.

We don’t have a fancy, color-coordinated tree, but ours is filled with happy memories, and to me that’s the best tree to have!

The holidays can cause total chaos and turn into a stressful occasion if you’re not careful. This year, take care of yourself and use these tips for staying stress free during the holidays.

Stress Free Holiday Tip #1: Stay healthy. Focus on your health during this holiday season and it will probably make a much bigger difference than you could ever imagine. Pay attention to what you eat. Stay away from junk food and nibbling throughout the day. It’s hard not to taste-test your dishes, but remember that every bite adds up to pounds and inches.

Stress Free Holiday Tip #2: Stay fit. Make a special effort to hit the gym as often as possible. The holidays are a stressful time and everyone is rushing around in a flurry of commotion. Stop and make time to stay fit. Even if you can only fit in a 30-minute workout twice a week, that’s better than nothing. You can work out a lot of your frustrations in a single 30-minute workout.

Stress Free Holiday Tip #3: Stay calm. When you feel anxiety rising, take a deep breathe and hold it in for a ten count. Slowly release your breathe, then take another deep breath in. Repeat this simple exercise three or four times, until you feel calm again. Remind yourself that you are only one person. You can’t do everything all at once or on your own. If you need help, ask for it. Do whatever it takes to keep yourself calm.

Stress Free Holiday Tip #4: Stay happy. When you are stressed out to the max, it is difficult, at best, to find a ray of sunshine. However, if you are unhappy, everyone around you will notice this. Follow the three tips above, then smile. Sometimes smiling, even when you don’t feel like smiling, will lighten your mental load. Give it a try. Smile and be happy.

Stress Free Holiday Tip #5: Don’t do it all. We often overload ourselves during the holidays, promising to bake cupcakes for school, cook dinner for all the family, volunteer at the shelter and buy gifts for everyone we’ve ever known. There really is no need to do so much. Yes, it’s great to give back but do it within reason and don’t stretch yourself too far.

Try to remember what the holiday season really is all about and take some time to relax and enjoy this special time of year.

Hey folks!

I have some freebies available for you when you shop at my online businesses this month:

At Supermom’s No-Lice Advice you will get a FREE eBook “Creating an Old-Fashioned Family Christmas” with every purchase. This great little book has decorating ideas, nature activities, other fun holiday activities for the whole family, and lots of great recipes, including my personal favorite, Dangerously Easy Two-Minute Fudge!

I am also giving away a wonderful 26-episode collection of The Cinnamon Bear to every Baby Boutique customer this month!

The Cinnamon Bear is a classic radio program from 1937. Families used to
enjoy listening to one Cinnamon Bear episode a day from Thanksgiving until
Christmas. What a precious way to build family memories!

The CINNAMON BEAR is the classic story of Judy and Jimmy Barton who search
for the family’s Silver Star which goes on top of their Christmas tree.
They discover the star has disappeared from the attic. Then they meet The
Cinnamon Bear, and fly to Maybeland in his Soda Pop Airplane in pursuit of
the Crazy Quilt Dragon, whom they believe took the ornament. They meet a
host of characters, including Crazy Quilt Dragon, The Wintergreen Witch, Fe
Fo the Giant, and even Santa Claus.

Each customer will also get a FREE downloadable Cinnamon Bear coloring book!

You can learn more about the Cinnamon Bear audio presentation giveaway here.
I am also giving away the Cinnamon Bear audio presentation to those who purchase Supermom’s Complete No-Lice System.

I also have a great freebie that will be especially interesting to homeschoolers and those of you that just love learning! For every purchase of my Healthy Home Products each customer will receive a FREE eBook, Globalmania: Master World Georgraphy in Just 7 Months. This is a brand new, not-yet-for-sale resource that has a $12.95 value.

The Healthy Home Collection now includes:

Homemade Laundry Detergent Kits (make your own healthy laundry detergent and save money too!)

Natural Dishwasher Detergent (stop washing your dishes with chemicals)

Handmade Soaps (We love them! My personal favorites are the peppermint and the cinnamon, oats, and honey. I’ll never go back to regular soap!)

Peppermint Shampoo Bars (My new favorite way to wash my kid’s hair. Awesome! I posted a product review about it here.)

and a nice Healthy Home Sampler Pack so you can try it all!

As a mother of six, you KNOW I’ve done a lot of hair washing over the years. Well, these peppermint shampoo bars are wonderful! The day I decided to try it out I got two of my little boys into the bath. I got their hair wet and slightly dampened the bar. (the shampoo bars look just like a bar of soap but have different ingredients) All I had to do was run the bar over each childs head once or twice, and then lathered them up. I was amazed at how much washing power there was from just a little swipe of the shampoo bar!

Truly, using the shampoo bar has been the easiest shampooing of my mothering career. I love it! Check it out here.

My husband has very short hair (and is partially bald) and likes the shampoo bar instead of regular shampoo. It makes more sense to him to use the bar instead of a liquid.

I have very thick hair and didn’t think the shampoo bar would be good for me, but when I ran out of my regular shampoo I gave it a try and was surprised that it still only took a couple swipes of the bar to get my all the cleaning action I needed for this ton of hair I’ve got!

You can use your regular conditioner after shampooing with this bar, or you can use a healthier option of a vinegar rinse. Just put 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar into a 2 cup spray bottle. Fill with water. Spritz it on your hair for a nice detangler!

The shampoo bars are one of my favorite items in the boutique. Give it a try!

Weary of the hassle of holiday shopping? Many shoppers line up for hours on end to get a deal on the hottest toy of the season, or newest fashion craze, then there are those who dread shopping and just put it off until the last minute, or give gift certificates to get out of shopping altogether.

Holiday shopping doesn’t have to be a hassle. It can be quickly executed without so much stress and anxiety, if you plan ahead. Try these tips to make your holiday shopping a breeze this year:

1. Set a budget in place. Do you know how much money you can afford to spend on gifts? If not, sit down right now and make that budget. This will be a huge time-saver in the end, plus you won’t have to deal with the fall-out if you overspend!

2. Make your list; check it twice. Create a list of who you need to buy gifts for this year. Start with family first, then add friends, co-workers, etc. How does this list look, compared with your budget? Too long? Pare it down. Despite what you think, you don’t have to buy as many gifts as you think you do. Trim your list until you have it down to a reasonable number.

3. What do they like? Now that you know who you will be buying gifts for, start thinking about what these people like. You may already have a good idea of what kinds of things they like. If not, do some snooping and find out. Make a shopping list of these things for each person.

4. Shop early. If possible try to avoid the last minute rush and shop early. Another good option is to go late at night. Many department stores operate late hours during the holidays. It’s a good time to leave the kids with your spouse and do the shopping on your own without worrying about the crowds or the kids needing to be fed or changed.

5. Shop online. Now that you know exactly what you need to buy, start by shopping online. You can find lots of good deals on auction and discount sites. You may want to consider giving your business to shops (like The Baby Boutique!) that do not charge for shipping. You can actually have each item shipped right to the recipient! Shopping online can save you a lot more money than you’d think, and it will definitely save you the hassle of fighting those Christmas crowds!