Catholic Mother's On-Line: Keeping the Faith...

Today I am over at Catholic Mother's On-Line with my FIRST post for them: Keeping the Faith When Life Gets Really Tough. Oh, boy! If you've been following my blog for awhile, you know that we've dealt with some really tough stuff this year! I've taken some of my own advice (like changing Mass times) and it's helped me muddle through life after huge changes.

And today is my father's birthday! Happy birthday Dad! He's always been super supportive of my writing, so leave him a birthday present- a comment on CMO or here at WaldenMommy!

Natural Parents Network: Traveling Alone

Traveling Alone at Natural Parents Network:

I have a post today at Natural Parents Network about "Traveling Alone." This past spring, I boarded a plane alone. For the first time since collage, I was traveling solo, without my husband or children for company. It was slightly exhilarating, although the reason was solemn; my uncle had passed away, and I was spending two nights away from home to attend his memorial service. As an attached parent, leaving my children is not a choice I make lightly. Sure, we leave them with trusted babysitters so we can have a date night. In nine years of parenting, we have left them all for an extended period of time just once, and even then it was with my parents. I have never gone away alone, overnight, unless it was a medical emergency! I simply couldn’t, or didn’t want to, leave my Herd. A few factors played into my decision to go alone this time. Continue reading at Natural Parents Network ››

Maintaining Sanity When Your Partner is Away

I'm over at NPN talking about how to maintain your sanity when your partner is away. Click on the link and share your experiences and tips!

Attachment Parenting 30 Years Later

When my oldest child was born, most people were supportive of my breastfeeding. However, many people cringed when I said I wanted to breastfeed beyond the first year. I was told co-sleeping was unsafe, and people did a double take at my slings. I was attachment parenting, and it was clearly odd. I was told my son would have "issues" if I nursed him for too long, never walk if he was carried, and sleeping in our bed? How DARE we! Yet I knew what I was doing was right for my baby and for us, his parents. I knew he wouldn't be scarred for life due to our parenting style. How do I know? I was attachment parented. I was an extended nursling. My parents co-slept. Yes, I slept in my parents' bed. And (are you ready for this?) they wore me in baby carriers. They did these things with me, and with my younger siblings. Continue reading at Natural Parents Network ››

Breastfeeding Blog Party

On Thursday, bloggers from around the world came together in a show of support for breastfeeding mothers. New mothers have enough challenges without having to feel guilty for how they feed their baby, especially when they are choosing the most natural of means - breastfeeding. Over the last few days there has been a lot of heated debates, controversial posts, and social media outcry against the position that the Weston A. Price Foundation takes on breastfeeding. While they do present sound information on the ideal diet for breastfeeding mothers, they do so in a manner that brings about guilt, fear, and confusion. The bloggers who participated in the Breastfeeding Support Blog Party are not trying to create a divide between mothers. They simply want to offer support, in the form of blog posts, as to why breastfeeding should always be the first choice both for baby and mama. We hope you take some time to read the posts that were written as part of the Blog Party. There are also over 140 posts linked up as part of this. Take some time to check them out here or link up your own breastfeeding support post!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Angela at EarthMamas World discusses a f ew of the most common problems that a mama may encounter while breastfeeding. Angela also shares natural remedies for each of these breastfeeding problems! That Mama Gretchen reflects on the beautiful bond breastfeeding has created as her two children have transitioned from their womb experience to their earth side one.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Guest post: Writing and dialogue

Hey, guess what? I can write about something other than parenting! Check me out over at laurenwayne.com where I discuss how to write dialogue!

Feminister Odyssey Blog Carnival

My post, "The Yellow- what now?," is featured in the Feminist Odyssey's Blog Carnival about women in literature. Pop over to  Our (Feminist) Playschool to see more wonderful articles about feminism, women and literature!

The Good Elf

AsThere seems to be alot of controversy over the Elf on the Shelf. He is (dare I say it) North Pole-erizing! (Get it? Get it?) Yet we have one and Tom the Elf has been a positive influence on the kids, without the threats of coal or no presents.

(Okay, I admit it, we do joke about putting Cole in their stockings...)

Anyway, I'm over at NPN again talking about how to make your Elf GOOD!

I think we are going to kick up the 2012 Christmas Season a bit with Mr. Tom E. Elf this year. It took too many brains cells to think of the fun places to put him last year. This year, Tom is going to bring a couple things each week for the kids. It's going to be as simple as a note telling them that today is the day to bake cookies or as fancy as a couple of dollar bin crafts. Stay tuned because next week I will be posting my list of Elf Activities.... just in time for Tom's arrival on St. Nicholas Day!

NPN: Brightly colored suits can save lives

For years I have been posting a PSA about brightly colored bathing suits. They really do save lives! Pop over to NPN to read the article.

NPN Blog Blitz: A Day in the Life

It's that time again! You might remember the great post in December 2011 that highlighted the Natural Parents Network Volunteer's most popular or favorite posts from the year. Or what about March 2012 post which featured Do It Yourself projects, How To's, Tutorials, Recipes, and anything related to a step by step guide or informational how-to from the NPN Volunteers? Well, we are back and this time we are bringing you a collection of posts that focus on what our lives really look like!

Yep - we are giving you a sneak peak into things like a typical day in our life, special or fun outings, or photos which show all of you what motherhood looks like for us. Basically, we are keeping it real! There are a lot of really wonderful posts here that show that even though we blog about our parenting ideals, we really are just regular moms, getting by one day at a time! So enjoy our typical day in the trenches!

Laura at WaldenMommy: Life Behind the Red Front Door shares "Just Another Monday." This post appeared in March of 2012 and is a typical busy day with the Herd. You can also find Laura on Facebook.

Cynthia at The Hippie Housewife shares a typical day in her life, complete with a blood test, a stop at the thrift store, and lots and lots of books. You can also find The Hippie Housewife on Facebook, Google+, and Pinterest.

Melissa at Vibrant Wanderings shares A Day In The Life: Two Years Old, a photo journal commemorating her daughter's second birthday by attempting to capture a sense of the daily routine at this busy stage. You can also find Vibrant Wanderings on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Networked Blogs.

Laura at Pug in the Kitchen shares A Busy Day in the Life of her family. This post is a whirlwind look at life two children under the age of 3. You can also find Laura on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Momma Jorje shares Typical Visit to the Pediatric Cardiologist + Results. Read her post to see what it is like to take her infant son for regular visits to a cardiologist. You can also find Momma Jorje on Facebook.

A Little Bit of All of It shares Our Last Days as a Family of Three as she, her husband and 3 year old daughter wait for baby #2. She also wrote A Day in the Life of This Mom when her daughter was 2 and she watched a 5 month old. You can also find A Little Bit of All of It on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Networked Blogs.

Jennifer at Hybrid Rasta Mama shares A Hot Day In The Life of Jennifer. This post appeared on a friend’s blog and is a humorous look at a typical summer day for Hybrid Rasta Mama and her sidekick Tiny. You can also find Hybrid Rasta Mama on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Networked Blogs.

Emily at Embrita Blogging shares an Ordinary Day with a pre-crawler from almost two years ago. You can find Emily on Facebook, Pinterest, and on Twitter.  

Gretchen at That Mama Gretchen showcases A Day in the Life of her busy summer as she waddles around with a baby in her belly and a toddler in tow! You can also find That Mama Gretchen on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Shannon at Pineapples & Artichokes shares A day at the Solstice Parade, a picture post about her trip to one of the local summer parades in Seattle. You can also find Shannon on Google +, Flickr, Pinterest.
Lauren at Hobo Mama shows what unschooling looks like in her house through Meetups and play dates. Far from staying indoors or isolated, you can find Lauren or Sam and their kids out at one or other fun and educational activity several times a week. You can also find Hobo Mama on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google +.

Kat of Loving {Almost} Every Moment wrote this post after having One Of Those Days. She was pregnant, exhausted and had a lot of errands to do with her two older kiddos in tow. In the end she was reminded of a thing or two...especially to always keep her chocolate stash well stocked!

Joella at Fine and Fair shares A Summer Sunday in Our Life. This day in the life photo project shows a busy Summer Sunday filled with gardening, friends, family, and shared parenting. You can also find Fine and Fair on Facebook and Twitter.

Erica at Childorganics shares And The "Play" Goes On. This post takes a peek of what a whole day of play looks like at their house. You can also find ChildOrganics on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
A day in the life of Dionna at Code Name: Mama and family in downtown Independence - from 6 month old EC'ing to the farmer's market to nursing at the Main Street Coffee House. By the way, join us for the August Carnival of Natural Parenting when our topic will be Farmer's Markets!  

Amy at Anktangle shows us (through photographs) a glimpse into a typical week in her world. You can also find Amy on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google +.

Mandy at Living Peacefully with Children shares The School Bus Comes Early. She speaks of how unschooling allows her family a flexibility in their lives to accommodate learning. You can also find Living Peacefully with Children on Facebook.

Christine at African Babies Don't Cry shares "A Week With Jesse, in Pictures." This post is one in a collection of posts, where Christine shares the weeks happenings with her son Jesse with a picture for each day. You can also find African Babies Don't Cry on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Networked Blogs.  

Clothing

Although I keep and hand down much of my children's clothes, they still seem to be lacking in at least one area every season. The biggest culprit is Joseph, who has no one to hand clothes down to him and is hard to shop for. And have you tried to look for clothing for boys over the age of three at consignment and thrift stores? NOTHING... except dress clothes which, apparently, they don't wear out.

Why do retailers always want to put rude or nasty saying on shirts meant for young boys? No, he will not be wearing ones that talk about how he hates school, his siblings or homework... or anything else for that matter. Thankfully, he is somewhat easy to please. He loves sports and sports teams, so baseball and basketball team shirts are his staple, with some dogs and trucks thrown in for good measure. No one seems to shop at Gymboree or GAP for their older boys, so the clearance section is often marked down cheap.

(Little boys are not exempt from clothing no-no's, though. I saw a St. Patrick Day shirt that said "You are Lucky You're Not My Parents." Um, okay? What message does that send about your toddler? Not one I want my kid to send!)

That said, we do have clothing rules and guidelines. Pop over to NPN to read more about them!

Formula vs breast vs . . . everything else

Today my article "Our Formula Feeding Journey" was published on NPN. Oftentimes, I have mothers say to me, "Well, I would like to AP or NP but I need to use formula." I'm surprised at this admission not because they use formula but because they think one thing will "kick them out" of the AP/NP world. Attachment or natural parenting isn't about the "things." It's all about the attitude people! You can use a bottle and AP. I know. As my article proves, I've done it.

This article is especially timely because Cole just weaned. Adam and I went on a five day trip alone. We needed the time alone to reconnect and we wanted to do something special for our ten year anniversary, almost 18 years of knowing each other and getting out of the "survival mode" we have been in for four years. We did not take this trip lightly. As very attached parents, we don't typical leave our children for long periods of time. Yet we know that the best thing we can give our children are loving, sane parents and that are children are not newborns. They are old enough to leave with other loving, attached caregivers for a period of time.

As Adam reminded me before we left, Cole is now almost 2. He is the longest baby I have nursed and, honestly, neither of us expected him to be nursing at 23 months old. (Cami weaned around 21-22 months.) I knew that Cole might fully wean while we were on our trip. I also knew he might pick up when I got home. I was okay with either scenario and savored our last night and nap time nursing sessions.

While we were gone, I opted not to pump. First, I didn't have any pumping supplies! I donated all my leftover tubing, bottles, bags and sterilization items to a co-worker of my husband's. She needed it much more than I did and I didn't want them hanging around the house if someone could use them. I also would have nothing to do with the milk. I HATE to "pump and dump." It KILLS me to see all that milk go down the drain. I also didn't want to mess with pumping in and of itself and traveling with milk- milk that Cole probably wouldn't take anyway. And, to be honest, my supply was dropping and I don't think I would have gotten anything anyway. I chose to let nature take it's course and hand-express if I needed too.

As it was, I was engorged and a little sore but nothing horrible. I never leaked. I never needed to hand express. The cherry blossoms were in full bloom and I needed to take sudafed for my allergies. I know from experience that this dries me up a touch. When I got home, Cole never asked to nurse. I put him to bed that night without nursing. When he woke up at night (after sleeping all night for my mother- thanks kid!) he flopped around in the bed, as if he remembered we did "something" in bed... but wasn't sure what. The next afternoon, he shocked me by launching himself into his nursing position when I sat at the computer. I said, "okay but I don't think there is any more milk." He latched on and immediately began gulping! I still had milk!

That night, I had to go to church because my CCD students were being Confirmed. Adam put Cole to bed and he woke up at night, but did not nurse. That morning, he was sick and tried to nurse but it reminded me of nursing him when he was a tongue-tied newborn. I heard alot of clicking and felt some "biting." I finally had to latch him off. He cried a little, more from his fever (I think) and frustration than anything else. I comforted him, gave him some water and he hasn't asked since.

Can I declare him weaned? Possibly. I don't know if he will ask again. I'll let him try (unless it is the middle of the night) and see how it goes. Am I sad? A bit. I enjoy nursing and I am sad that this period of my life is ending. But I am not going to dwell on it. You know what? Just like with Georgie, I worked DAMN hard to nurse this kid. I pumped for two months and took him to two different doctors to get his tongue tie clipped. I tracked diapers and feedings and weight gains. I thought he would never nurse from the breast and that he might not have more than two months of BM. And we made it TWENTY-THREE MONTHS. WE DID IT. How awesome is that?!

Baby Wearing and Voice- NPN

I've been over at NPN while I was away! Hop over to see a Wordless Wednesday picture of my oldest as a one year old, asleep in a sling at his cousin's wedding!

Last week, a slightly edited version of a post from this blog was re-printed as "A Voice for my Child." Come over and read who my verbal abilities are really for.

"Nursing at the School Carnival"

I'm over at the Natural Parents Network today talking about how I nursed my toddler at a school event.... and no one cared.

Fundraiser for a fellow NPN mom

Mama Jorje (pronounced George) is a friend, blogger and fellow writer on NPN. On the 26th, she gave birth to her first son and fourth child, Spencer. Spencer has Downs Syndrome, which they knew about before he was born. He is currently in the NICU and, although he is being a rock star, had to stay behind when his mother left the hospital. We are hosting a fundraiser for her family to help off set the costs of traveling to and from the NICU, possible hotel stay and all that goes with it.Currently, I do not know if they have a time line for when he will come home. For various reasons, money is quite tight for them at the moment.

If you wish to donate money to help them out, please visit Fine and Fair.  If you cannot donate, please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. It is very, very hard being away from your baby and no matter how muchyou visit, it's nothing like having them home!

The NPN Year in Review (2011)

I am proud and honored to be volunteer with the Natural Parents Network (NPN), a community of natural-minded parents and parents-to-be where you will be informed, empowered, and inspired. When you visit the NPN’s website you can find articles and posts about Activism, Balance, Consistent Care, Ecological Responsibility, Family Safety, Feeding With Love, Gentle Discipline, Healthy Living, Holistic Health, Natural Learning, Nurturing Touch, Parenting Philosophies, Practical Home Help, Preparing for Parenting, Responding With Sensitivity, Safe Sleep, and so much more!

The volunteers who dedicate their time and energy to make NPN the outstanding resource it is also spend countless hours informing and inspiring others on their personal blogs. To close out 2011, the NPN volunteers have come together to provide you with some valuable reading material. Each volunteer has selected either their most viewed post of 2011 or their favorite post and shared the link here. Please take a few moments to visit each post. Our intention is to expand our reach as bloggers and informed parents and parents-to-be who are still growing as we move through our own journeys. Each volunteer has provided links to other social media sites where you can follow them as well.

We hope you enjoy reading these posts as much as we enjoyed writing them. We are always looking for new volunteers so please, contact us if you are interested. Just a few hours per month can help other mamas in a huge way!

Abbie at Farmer's Daughter shares her Christmas Cookie Swap Blog Hop, which is her fourth annual virtual cookie swap and most popular post of the year. Please stop by and link up your favorite holiday recipe until Dec. 31. You can find Farmer's Daughter on Facebook and Twitter.

Adrienne from Mommying My Way shares Fear vs. Faith, one of her favorite posts about how often living a life of faith can look like a life of fear, but the two are really quite different. You can also find Mommying My Way on Facebook.

Alicia of Lactation Narration retells the story of her oldest daughter's 5 years of nursing and weaning in her favorite post of 2011, The Weaning Party. You can find Lactation Narration on Facebook and Twitter.

Amy of Toddler In Tow shares Finding My Mommy-Zen, her most viewed post of 2011. In this post, she shares her desire to balance her own self-esteem by choice in order to parent with peace and compassion. You can also find Toddler In Tow on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter, and follow Amyables (Amy W.) on Google + and Ravelry.

Arpita of Up, Down, and Natural shares one of her most popular posts titled Reflections. This is a beautiful look at the type of mother she wants to be. You can find Up, Down, and Natural on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Charise of I Thought I Knew Mama shares Why Do Children Have More Food Allergies Than Ever Before?, her most viewed post of 2011. This post explains the shocking info that one unsuspecting mother discovered when she started researching why her daughter had a violent allergic reaction to eggs. This is a must read post for ensuring the health of your family. You can also find I Thought I Knew Mama on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Stumbleupon.

Christine of African Babies Don’t Cry shares The Best First Food for Babies, one of her favourite posts of 2011. This well-researched post delves into the healthiest and most nutritious food to feed your baby. You can also find African Babies Don’t Cry on Facebook, Twitter, Google + and Pinterest.

Cynthia of The Hippie Housewife shares Gentle Discipline for Toddlers, her most viewed post of 2011. This post describes five gentle discipline tools for parenting toddlers. You can also find The Hippie Housewife on Facebook, Google +, and Pinterest.

Darcel of The Mahogany Way shares how Babywearing Is A Way of Life one of her favorite post of 2011. This post showcases some beautiful woven wraps that she has purchased, traded, borrowed, and sold over the years. Darcel also talks about the benefits of babywearing from the newborn through toddler stage. You can also find Darcel{ The Mahogany Way} on Facebook, Twitter, Her Community for Mothers of Color, and Pinterest.

Dionna of Code Name Mama shares 50 Healthy Snack Ideas for Kids Plus Fun Serving Suggestions, her most viewed post of 2011. Most of these snacks are quick to fix and portable, so you can pack them to send with your child on play dates, at preschool, or to just have handy in the refrigerator for when your child wants to grab a bite to eat “all by himself.” You can find Dionna on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube.

Erica at ChildOrganics shares a post that is not only close to her heart, but also her most viewed post for 2011 titled Attachment Parenting in the NICU. This post shares her top 10 tips for parenting should you find yourself with a baby in the NICU. You can also find Erica on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Gretchen of That Mama Gretchen shares her personal experience of returning to work, expressing milk, and the ups and downs in between in her 2011 most viewed post, Mama's Milk. You can also find Gretchen on GFC, Blog Lovin', Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Isil of Smiling like Sunshine shares how to make an autumn tree using pumpkin seeds, her most popular post in 2011. This post features a lovely craft activity that you can do with your kids! You can also find Isil on Facebook and Twitter.

Jennifer of Hybrid Rasta Mama shares 80 Uses For Coconut Oil, her most viewed post of 2011. This comprehensive post provides background information on the benefits of coconut oil as well as outlines 80 uses for it. You can also find Hybrid Rasta Mama on Facebook, Twitter, Google +, and Pinterest.

Jennifer of True Confessions of a Real Mommy shares her most popular post of 2011, Weekly House Blessing (Otherwise Known as Cleaning Once a Week). This post outlines a once per week cleaning routine for busy moms. You can also find Jennifer on Twitter.

Joella, the mama behind Fine and Fair, shares An Unusual Gripe with Bebe Gluton, one of her most popular posts of 2011. In it, she discusses the controversy surrounding a "breastfeeding doll" and offers her take on the gender role implications of dolls in general. Fine and Fair can also be found on twitter and facebook.

Julia of A Little Bit of All of It shares the story of how her co-sleeping relationship ended with her daughter, her most viewed post of 2011. This post shows how her daughter transitioned to her own bed on her 2nd birthday and the emotions involved for her mom. You can also find A Little Bit of All of It on Facebook, Twitter, Google +, and Pinterest.

Kat at Loving {Almost} Every Moment shares True Blessings: White Noise and Grandparents, her most viewed post of 2011. In this post, Kat talks about how she maximizes getting sleep and how grateful and blessed she is to have her parents be so involved in helping and spending time with her kiddos.

Kelly of Becoming Crunchy shares That Cup Does What?, her most viewed post of 2011. This post is one of a series of reviews and information on switching to all natural menstrual products - having heard so many different options and recommendations, Kelly decided to give a whole bunch of them a try and pull all the reviews together in one week for anyone interested in making the switch. This post in particular covers the ins and outs of the Diva Cup. You can also find Becoming Crunchy on Facebook, Twitter, Google + and Pinterest.

Kristin of Intrepid Murmurings shares a popular post from 2011, something she and her husband made for their girls for Christmas, great for open-ended play and construction: Handmade Tree Blocks. You can also find Kristin on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

Lani of Boobie Time shares Helping a Fellow Breastfeeding Mom, her inspiration for starting to blog. This post discusses the importance of fellow moms supporting each other and some tips on having a successful breastfeeding relationship.

Laura at WaldenMommy: Life Behind the Red Front Door writes about finally entering "spring" when her child with special needs begins preschool. After battling post-partum mental illness (post tramatic stress disorder) after the preterm birth of her third child, she finally begins to feel healthy and whole again in "It's Fall, Ya'll-Again."

Lauren of Hobo Mama shares On not having an AP poster child, her (OK, second) most viewed post of 2011. Lauren's first child shook her certainty that attachment parenting meant babies never cried and toddlers grew independent — and that's all right, too. You can also find Hobo Mama on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest.

Luschka of Diary of a First Child shares Lactivism, Breastfeeding, Bottlefeeding and Mothers at War, one of her most viewed posts of 2011. This post discusses how the breastfeeding/bottle feeding debate causes a division between mothers, leading to the alienation of women and babies, while divisive companies prosper. You can also find Diary of a First Child on Facebook, and Twitter.

Mandy at Living Peacefully with Children shares how With Privilege Comes Responsibility, one of her most viewed posts of 2011. This compelling post explains her strong felt desire to stand up for those less privileged.

Melissa of Vibrant Wanderings shares a Montessori-Inspired Checklist for Choosing Toys, her most popular post of 2011. The article outlines some important Montessori principles and how they relate to children's toys, translating that into some simple guiding principles. You can also find Melissa on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest.

Momma Jorje shares Amniocentesis - What is it *really* like?, one of her most viewed posts of 2011. This open and honest series offers not only the technical process of amniocentesis, but also the emotions involved in awaiting (and receiving) the procedure and a diagnosis. Momma Jorje can also be found on Facebook.

Moorea of MamaLady: Adventures in Queer Parenting shares Fluoride: Another Reason Breast Is Best, her favorite post of 2011. This post provides research on the harmful effects of fluoride in drinking water for babies and toddlers and ways to limit fluoride consumption in your home. You can also find MamaLady on Facebook and Twitter and her Parent Coaching Site.

Rachael at The Variegated Life is Calling the Muse in her most viewed post of 2011. In this post, she describes how she uses ritual to help her tap into her creative spirit. You can also find Rachael on Twitter and The Variegated Life on Facebook.

Rebecca and Chris from Liberated Family shares Using Cloth In a Disposable Society, their favorite post of 2011. This extensive post provides a lot of information regarding the varied uses of cloth as well as the many benefits. You can also find Liberated Family on Twitter.

Sarah at Parenting God's Children shares her most viewed post: Confessions of a Breastfeeding Advocate: I Couldn't. She confesses her struggles with breastfeeding her daughters, but shares why she'll continue the good fight. You can also find Sarah on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Seonaid of The Practical Dilettante offers a science- and reverence-based meditation on The Living Earth, her most viewed post of 2011. This meditation was originally written for Earth Day, but it provides a way to reconnect with your place in the living breathing planet at any time of year. You can also find Seonaid on Facebook, Twitter, and Google +.

Shannon at Pineapples & Artichokes shares I Recommend (But Moira Likes This Book Too), her most viewed post of 2011. This post is a review of a wonderful book that talks about all the different ways that families can be made up, along with some of why this topic is so important to her family.

Sheryl at Little Snowflakes shares her experiences with tandem nursing in Tandem Nursing – The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, her most viewed post of 2011. You can also find Sheryl on Twitter.

Stay tuned for some amazing posts from all of these tremendous bloggers in 2012!

Giveaway: Until the Light of Morning CD and Panel $52 ARV {1.18; US/Can}

This is a joint giveaway with WaldenMommy: Life Behind the Red Front Door and Natural Parents Network. You may enter at one site only. Please find the section marked "Win it!" for the mandatory entry and optional bonus entries.

[caption id="attachment_17515" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="The front of the CD"][/caption]

Essie Jain is offering our readers a giveaway of Until the Light of Morning CD and Art Panel, a value of $52.

This record is made for every parent and every baby (and anyone else) who needs to rest and head off into the land of sleep. A perfect panel for a nursery wall, the artwork is a dreamlike creation by Iker Spozio.




As a parent, I know how hard it can be to find calm, soothing music that both parents and babies love. When BigBrother was little, we had several CDs of classical music, but those soon grew tiring. I wanted new, soothing music to play to him as part of his bedtime routine, but couldn’t seem to find anything beyond the then-popular “Baby Einstein.”

Several years later, I wish I had had Essie Jain’s lullaby album, “Until the Light of Morning.” Her CD is a collection of eight original, soothing tracks, meant to be played at night, or anytime baby needs to relax and sleep. Inspired by friends who, like me, needed something new to listen to, her music “is designed to unwind itself as it goes along, as the music becomes softer and more relaxed, eventually becoming as instrumental as the heart beat.”

The CD and Panel

Jain’s CD comes packaged in a small but sturdy paper tri-fold case. The artwork on the front is an original piece of work by Iker Spozio. The front picture is of a couple with an infant. The father appears to be lovingly playing the guitar as the mother and sleeping child listen. The background evokes a peaceful dreamland by the water, with mountains, swans and a Pegasus against a starry night sky. The CD itself bears a close up image of the family.

[caption id="attachment_17520" align="alignright" width="300" caption="The back of the CD case"][/caption]

The eight by thirty-three inch panel arrived rolled in a short tube that fit easily into my mailbox. It is on high quality Matte Satin Roll paper that feels like it would withstand handling. Because it fits a standard size frame, it can be inexpensively framed.

Review

Jain’s music is soothing and peaceful. I often nursed my toddler to sleep while listening to music or watching TV. As soon as I put this in, he relaxed and dozed off. The music literally carries you away peacefully. I was glad I chose to listen to it at home, instead of in the car! It is so soothing, I probably would have fallen asleep!

The next night, I chose to play the music as I was getting all four of the children ready for bed. The normally hectic bedtime routine (baths, teeth, prayers) was notably calmer. My oldest son (7 years old) even liked the music.

The tracks contain both instrumental and vocal music. They blend well together, and Jain’s voice doesn't distract from the lovely instrumentals. They work in harmony to create a soothing melody. It reminded me of the beach at night, when the waves roll in.[caption id="attachment_17521" align="alignright" width="300" caption="The CD itself and the inside of the case"][/caption]

The panel is printed on sturdy paper. Although the website says it would work well in a baby’s room (and it would!) it would also be lovely in a music room, hung above a piano. I think it would also work well in a playroom or classroom. In our house, it is going to hang in the dining room, where the red in the mother’s dress and the dark hair of the people work well with our décor.a

I think this CD and panel would make a lovely and unique gift for a baby shower or blessingway. It could be coupled with a few items to aid in establishing soothing nighttime routine (perhaps some bath supplies or a lovely blanket).

BUY IT!

You can purchase your own CD and panel at Light of Morning for $12 and $40, respectively. You can also purchase the CD through Amazon, where it's eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping.

And just for Natural Parents Network and WaldenMommy readers, Light of Morning is giving a 10% discount on all orders from now through January 17. Enter code Moonlight during the ordering process.

WIN IT!

For your own chance to win a CD and panel from Light of Morning, enter by leaving a comment and using our Rafflecopter system below.

The winner will receive one Light of Morning CD and panel. Contest is open to the US/CANADA.

MANDATORY ENTRY: Visit Light of Morning and tell us one thing you have learned about the company! You must enter your name and email address in the Rafflecopter entry system for your entry to count, after leaving a comment on this blog post. Leave a valid email address so we can contact you if you win. Email addresses in Rafflecopter are not made publicly visible. Please leave the same valid email address in your mandatory comment so we can verify entries.

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

BONUS ENTRIES:

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

Co-sleeping carnival

Some of my friends and co-workers at NPN put together a co-sleeping carnival in response to Milwalkee's anti-co-sleeping campgian. Pop over to Mama Lady's blog to see her response to it and scroll down to see more articles.

Quick Takes Friday: Parent/teacher Conferences Edition

Got kids? Got kids on vacation because of parent- teacher conferences? Here's seven quick things you can do to keep busy!

(Hop over to Conversion Diary for more quick takes)

1. Bored with watching endless kid's programs on TV? Enter to win Weightless by Kate Wicker. You can enter here or at the Natural Parents Network. Not only could you have some lovely new reading material, you can drown at the TV program by surfing the 'Net.
2. Bake! It's cool here today so I'm going to make some sweet potato buscuits (recipe to come) and maybe restock the freezer with zuchinni muffins.
3. Enter to win Weightless.
4. Finish Halloween costumes. I just ironed interfacing to lots of tiny coller/shoulder/armhole pieces for a BRIGHT PINK cheerleading costume. Then I found enough fabric to begin a present for my nephew, cut and ironed it. My machine is down for the count, so I am borrowing my mother in law's and loving it!
5. Did I meantion I have a giveaway going on? 
6. At some point, we are going Christmas shopping for gifts for their cousins. Yes, all four kids. In October. Hey, give me some credit for not turning on the Wizard Christmas Rock just yet!
7. Hey! I have a giveaway!

Weightless by Kate Wicker

This is a joint giveaway with WaldenMommy and Family: Life Behind the Red Front Door and Natural Parents Network. You may enter at one site only. Please find the section marked "Win it!" for the mandatory entry and optional bonus entries.

St. Anthony Messenger Press and Kate Wicker are offering our readers a giveaway of two copies of Kate's new book, Weightless: Making Peace with Your Body,, a value of $13 each, or $26 total. Two lucky readers will win!

Weightless is a Roman Catholic mother's hard-won perspective on eating and body image. Kate Wicker takes readers on a devotional journey toward loving their bodies as God intended.


From our reviewer, Laura of Walden Mommy:

Many, if not most, women are no stranger to body image problems. From rapidly changing bodies in puberty, to childbirth and nursing and then issues as we grow older, our bodies are always changing … and not in ways we might like! Coupled with the messages screamed from the media (“Thinner is better! You can and should be like the stars who lose all the baby weight in two weeks!"), it’s no wonder many women have a distorted view of their bodies.

Kate Wicker, author of Weightless: Making Peace with Your Body, agrees with me. As a child and teen, she often felt like she was fat and wasn't pretty enough. When she was older, this idea turned into an eating disorder. After therapy, hard work, and loving support from her family, she was clinically cured but still felt sick. It was then that she realized she was spiritually sick and only God could truly heal her and help her be at peace with her body.

Weightless isn’t just another self-help book or story of a woman’s eating disorder, although bits and pieces are scattered throughout the book. It's part devotional, part personal reflections, and all deep thinking. She brings her past experiences to the plate, while offering her readers spiritual food for thought. In it, she reflects on the media's portrayal of health and how that influences how women view themselves. She also asks us to look at ourselves and how our view of our bodies shapes our faith lives and our relationship with God and our human family.

Weightless is a short book, and each chapter targets a different area, such as aging or keeping a healthy balance. It is easy to read and could be read in one sitting. However, each chapter also “stands alone” and could be read one at a time.

Each chapter is also divided into different sections, such as "Soul Food" and "Meditations." The reflection sections are perfect to use alone or with a small group. In fact, the book itself is very versatile and could be used privately or in a small group discussion.

Wicker is a Roman Catholic, and this book uses Catholic teaching to help its readers form a healthy view of themselves. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Bible, and the lives of various saints are often quoted. Many times, the author urges her readers to pray, fast (when and if appropriate), and partake of Communion (the perfect Food) to help them through their struggles.

She reminds us that it is not what one looks like on the outside that matters, but what is inside. She uses Saint Damien of Molokai as an example. Saint Damien is often portrayed as looking “normal,” yet he died of Hansen’s Disease (leprosy), a disease that literally eats away at the skin. Saint Damien’s outside was not what society would consider beautiful, but his inside was lovely to behold. Saint Damien also saw Christ in everyone he worked with, including the very ill people in Kalaupapa. Wicker urges her readers to do the same.

Review

Many spiritual books about body image or weight loss are Protestant or focus on New Age religions. Those books fill a need for many people. However, there is a lack of good, quality books written by today’s Catholic writers for Catholics living in today’s world. Many books I have read for my Catholic book clubs were written over thirty years ago. While nice to read, they lacked an overall appeal to women living, parenting, and trying to raise faithful Catholics in the modern world.

This book helps to fill that void. I enjoyed reading this book freely, without having to censor what would not work for my faith. While Wicker does quote some “oldie but goodie” saints, such as St. Teresa of Avila, she also looks to the lives of newly canonized saints (such as St. Damien) for inspiration. It’s always a pleasure to read more about new “saints.”

I found that the overriding message of this book is love. Love yourself as God loves you. Love everyone, as Christ loves them. Look to God to help you love yourself, for it is only through His love that we can be at peace with ourselves. Remember that God loved you so much that He made you exactly as you are, perceived bodily imperfections and all. He does not view your outer shell as imperfect so why, then, should you?

BUY IT!

You can purchase your own copy of Weightless at Amazon. The retail price is $12.99, and it is currently on sale for $10.39 and eligible for Free Super-Saver Shipping. You can buy a personalized copy at KateWicker.com.

WIN IT!

For your own chance to win one of two copies of Weightless from St. Anthony's Press, enter in the comments below. Two winners will receive one copy of the book each. Contest is open to United States mailing addresses only.

MANDATORY ENTRY: Visit KateWicker.com and tell us one thing you have learned about the author!

Leave a valid email address in at least one of your comments so we can contact you if you win. You can write them like this to foil spambots: mail {at} naturalparentsnetwork {dot} com.

This is a joint giveaway with WaldenMommy and Family: Life Behind the Red Front Door and Natural Parents Network. You may enter at one site only, and we'll be recording IP addresses to ensure that there are no duplicate entries. That said, please do visit and enjoy both sites!

BONUS ENTRIES: Complete one or more of the following to increase your chance of winning after completing the mandatory entry above (leave a separate comment for each so we can count them all):

• Tell us why you would like a copy of Weightless.
• Visit the publisher's website and tell us one other item that interests you.
• Subscribe to Natural Parents Network in a reader or by email (1 entry for each).
• Subscribe to WaldenMommy in a reader or by email (1 entry for each).
• Leave a relevant comment on a non-giveaway article at Natural Parents Network and tell us which post (comment on separate posts for up to 3 entries total).
• Leave a relevant comment on a non-giveaway article from WaldenMommy and tell us which post (comment on separate posts for up to 3 entries total).
• Like Natural Parents Network on Facebook.
• Like Kate Wicker and Weightless on Facebook.
• Post this giveaway on your Facebook page or wall and leave the link (1 entry). You can use this status update: Enter to win one of 2 copies of @Weightless - Kate Wicker from @Natural Parents Network. Contest ends 11.26 and is open to U.S. only.
  Be sure to attach the contest URL to your update! (This is not part of the status text!)
  http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/giveaway-weightless/
• Follow @NatParNet on Twitter and leave your Twitter name in the comment.
• Follow @KateWicker on Twitter and leave your Twitter name in the comment.
• Tweet about this giveaway (up to 5 times total, at least 24 hours apart). You can tweet this text: #Win a copy of Weightless: Peace w/Your Body by @KateWicker from WaldenMommy & @NatParNet! #giveaway http://bit.ly/tRcqEl {11.26, US}
• Enter another of the giveaways on Natural Parents Network (1 extra entry per giveaway — check back for more).
• Put the Natural Parents Network badge on your website or add http://NaturalParentsNetwork.com to your text blogroll for 2 extra entries each. The HTML code for the badge is on the right sidebar. Leave your site URL in the comment.

RULES

• Contest open to United States mailing addresses.
• Contestants may enter at either WaldenMommy or Natural Parents Network but not both. Entries will be combined for the drawing of a single winner.
• Leave each entry as a separate comment so we can count them all.
• For actions like following and subscribing, if you already follow or subscribe, just let us know in your comment.
• For tasks that garner you multiple entries, you can copy and paste the comment with a #1, #2, etc.
• You don't have to do any of the bonus entries, but you do have to complete the first mandatory one.
• We will pick the winner through Random.org after the contest closes and send an email notification. Leave a valid email address as you comment so we can contact you if you win. If we can't reach a winner or don't hear back within a couple days, we'll draw a new name. Entries will be added together from both sites. If there are 50 entries from the non-NPN site and 65 entries from NPN, we will count the non-NPN entries as numbers 1-50 and the NPN entries as numbers 51-115.
• After the giveaway closes, a representative from NPN will contact the winner. The winner will have 48 hours to respond by email; otherwise, NPN will select another winner.
• Any questions, let our giveaway editors know: ShannonR {at} NaturalParentsNetwork {dot} com and Amanda {at} NaturalParentsNetwork {dot} com

Contest closes November 26, 2011, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time.

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

_________________________

Laura is most often found driving her herd of four small children around mid-western suburbia or tackling Mt. NeverEndingLaundry. Online, she blogs at WaldenMommy: Life Behind the Red Front Door about her life with The Herd, her Engineer Husband and their pesky dog; her faith; and dealing with post-partum PTSD following the premature birth of her third child. A natural birthing, breastfeeding, baby-wearing, semi-co-sleeping, healthy eating, green living hippie who likes shopping and shoes, she doesn't claim to be a perfect mother . . . but is the perfect mother for her children.