Themed Weekend: Faith

You may have noticed that I don’t write overtly about my faith on this blog.

That’s because I don’t wear my faith on my sleeve. Or on my t-shirt or bumper sticker, for that matter.

It’s not a part of my life. It IS my life.

It’s not something I say. Or something I do. It’s something I AM.

2871346522 b0b13cf1b5 300x253 Themed Weekend: FaithAnd what is my faith? What is my religion? Let’s see. If I could describe it in one word, it would be LOVE.

It’s feeding the poor and encouraging the hopeless and living beyond myself.

It’s caring for children and fighting against injustice and doing good.

It’s putting myself second and asking forgiveness and thinking about people more than things.

As I write this, I hesitate. Should I really post about this? Faith is, after all, kind of a touchy topic. It triggers emotion. So, I’ll preface this series by saying you might be a little uncomfortable, I might be a little uncomfortable. Not because I will be dissecting theology or anything like that, but because there is potential for misunderstandings. For example, if – in passing – I tell you I went to church this past Sunday, you might:

  • think to yourself, “I’m skeptical of organized religion. I wonder why she bothers to go.” OR
  • think about some bad experience at a church when you were young OR
  • wonder why I go to church on Sunday and not Saturday OR
  • smile because you’re part of a great church.

You see? Just by saying the word “church,” I am instantly vulnerable.

Here’s the thing. I don’t want to fight. I grow weary of dogmatic rhetoric. I just want to say: “here’s my thoughts about church, God, religion, people, whatever” and then hear your thoughts. K? Just like we’re talking about anything else. Matter-of-factly. Respectfully. With laughter. Without big religious words that we don’t use in regular conversations (unless, of course, you do use those words in regular, everyday conversations).

So, that’s what this weekend is about. I’ll be writing about things that are somehow tied to religion or faith (which is a bit terrifying). Next weekend there will be more product reviews and giveaways as usual (I have a bunch of them planned). This weekend is more about musings. Let’s see how this goes…

P.S. I really don’t understand putting bumper stickers on cars. You put this one-liner message on your car that you can’t fully explain, but that requires explanation. Not to mention the damage you do to your car.

P.P.S. There is nothing wrong with bumper stickers. I just don’t understand them.

P.P.S. When I say that love is my religion, I am indeed referring to the love that is rooted in Jesus Christ.

P.P.P.S. Do you ever notice that it’s really hard to talk about religion without using a bunch of clauses and explanations and post-scripts?

* Image credit: Flickr, iFatma‘s photostream

National Breastfeeding Awareness Month: a giveaway

Let’s celebrate National Breastfeeding Awareness Month together!

Pull up a chair, grab a snack, and we can share our favorite resources & give our best breastfeeding advice.

Oh, and please do enter this fabulous giveaway…for yourself or a friend.

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One mama or mama-to-be will receive the following breastfeeding starter pack (valued at over $94):

Lifestyle Microfiber Bra by Bravado! Designs ($39)

LMB Black 170x200 127x150 National Breastfeeding Awareness Month: a giveaway

All nursing bras are not alike. The Lifestyle Microfiber Bra (available in sizes B-F) stands out from the pack because it is comfortable, attractive (in a simple, no-nonsense kind of way), and easy to use. Plus, the material is soft and wire-free so you won’t be poked or jabbed.

NOTE: I’d also love to try Bravado’s cute Nursing Tank Shrug ($25) in Ruby, especially after seeing a recent photo of Jo-Lynne {Musings of a Housewife} in a shrug (not that exact shrug, but a similar one…). She always looks fabulously stylish and I often look to her site for fashion inspiration.

Tube of Lansinoh HPA Lanolin Topical Cream ($9.99)

This cream was a godsend for me in the early weeks of breastfeeding. I applied it liberally. In fact, I went through THREE tubes of it in the first two weeks with baby #2. It’s great for sore, chapped, and/or bleeding nipples.

1bc33ca3538835de4d2ff4b01c63a270338c5abc 150x127 National Breastfeeding Awareness Month: a giveaway

Box of Lansinoh Ultra Soft Nursing Pads ($6.49/36 pack)

There are regular nursing pads and then there are ultra-soft nursing pads. The ultra-soft ones are the best for those first…um…sensitive days.

5bc834c099c3e6bd1f1f69555ae906436ca20c4e 150x128 National Breastfeeding Awareness Month: a giveaway

Lansinoh Manual Breast Pump (~$30)

I’m not really a pumper because I prefer to keep my babies by my side all of the time (yes, all of the time). But – if you plan to work or volunteer or go out with friends without your baby in the first year, you may want this handy, well-priced device.

manualPump 175 150x127 National Breastfeeding Awareness Month: a giveaway

Mommy’s Breastfeeding Book ($8.95)

Not a reader? No problem! This pocket-sized book is a breeze to skim or read in one setting. The concise and practical text features 101 tips on everything from how to latch your baby properly to how to manage engorgement to how to increase your milk supply. So many good ideas in one miniature book!

book 150x109 National Breastfeeding Awareness Month: a giveaway

Healthy Baby Bounty Bag (FREE, at select hospitals nationwide)

If you delivered your baby at a hospital, there’s a good chance you received a “goody” bag with lots of…formula. I know I did. Now, there’s a better option for hospitals (and for moms) – the Healthy Baby Bounty Bag, a discharge bag that only features coupons and samples that support breastfeeding. The bag includes mini samples/coupons from SaniHands, Boogie Wipes, Aquaphor, Lansinoh, Sears, ERGO, and other breastfeeding-friendly companies. The samples certainly aren’t spectacular or electrifying. But it’s a step in the right direction.

P.S. I’d love to see coupons for Majamas, Bebe Au Lait, The Shower Hug, and Melinda G in there. Oh, and maybe there could be a little MetropolitanMama.net card in each bag too (It’s a great resource, after all).

CW3 119x150 National Breastfeeding Awareness Month: a giveaway

WIN IT! One winner will receive all of the products listed above: Lifestyle Microfiber Bra by Bravado! DesignsTube of Lansinoh HPA Lanolin Topical Cream, Box of Lansinoh Ultra Soft Nursing Pads, Lansinoh Manual Breast Pump, Mommy’s Breastfeeding Book, and Healthy Baby Bounty Bag. To enter, leave any topic-related comment on this post prior to Friday, August 28th at 11:59 p.m. (Don’t forget to follow the rules…all generic comments like “Enter me!,” “Love it,” and “Cool stuff!” will be disqualified.).

*UPDATE* The winner is #19 Kim. Congratulations!

National Breastfeeding Awareness Month: resources

breastfeeding baby National Breastfeeding Awareness Month: resourcesGetting ready to breastfeed? Bookmark this post.

Know someone who is breastfeeding? Forward this post.

These are resources and products that I find myself recommending again and again to my new mama friends.

BREASTFEEDING : BLOGS & WEBSITES

BREASTFEEDING : BOOKS & PRODUCTS

BREASTFEEDING : BRAS & CLOTHES

BREASTFEEDING : MY FAVORITE PAST POSTS

YOUR TURN: What are YOUR favorite breastfeeding resources and products?

National Breastfeeding Awareness Month: a letter to myself

breastfeeding baby national breastfeeding awareness month National Breastfeeding Awareness Month: a letter to myselfAugust is National Breastfeeding Awareness Month.

In honor of the event, I thought I’d write a letter about breastfeeding…to myself. This letter would have helped me immensely three years go, when I was hugely pregnant and just about to welcome my firstborn daughter into the world.

Here it is – a letter from the post-kids me to the pre-kids me.

Please keep in mind that this is a letter to me and may not necessarily apply to your particular situation or experience. This is not medical advice. It is, quite simply, what I would have wanted to know way back then.

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Dear Stephanie,

You are about to embark on the most incredible journey of your life. Motherhood is going to change your life in ways you can’t even imagine. You’ll scream when you feel your baby’s head crowning. And then – in that moment – you will be forever changed.

The love that you feel will be overwhelming, glorious, miraculous, mesmerizing. I know you think you know what that will be like, but you don’t. You really don’t.

You’ll be amazed when your newborn is placed on your bare chest, skin-to-skin. You’ll look up and smile at your husband – joyful, triumphant. And then – miracle of miracles – your baby will move her head to your chest and begin suckling as if she’s done it one hundred times before. It will be natural. It will be beautiful…

But then it will be painful. You will bleed. You will crack. You will cry. Your knuckles will grasp your chair and you will bite your lip to keep from screaming.

But it will be worth it. It will be amazing. Nursing will bond you to your baby deeply, so deeply. You’ll soon begin to regard milk as “magic” because it calms your baby, soothes her, nourishes her, protects her.

It won’t be a piece of cake in the beginning though.

To make things easier on yourself, be sure to have the following products on-hand:

31EW4JinT7L. SL160 AA115  National Breastfeeding Awareness Month: a letter to myself Lansinoh Lanolin Nursing Cream
31OhFOUaWjL. SL160 AA115  National Breastfeeding Awareness Month: a letter to myself Lansinoh Ultra-Soft Nursing Pads
31BW JSHqpL. AA280  150x150 National Breastfeeding Awareness Month: a letter to myself31BW JSHqpL. AA280  National Breastfeeding Awareness Month: a letter to myself 3 Good Nursing Bras:

- Melinda G Tee-Shirt Nursing Softcup #2115

- Melinda G 2160 Glorious Contour Tee-Shirt Soft Cup Nursing Bra

- Bravado Microfiber Nursing Bra

519TSGokKXL. AA280  150x150 National Breastfeeding Awareness Month: a letter to myself Bebe au Lait Nursing Cover
31HNT054QWL. SL160 AA115  National Breastfeeding Awareness Month: a letter to myself Majamas MJ Maternity/Nursing Pajamas (or another nursing nightgown/PJ set)
41H96MFYYKL. SL160 AA115  National Breastfeeding Awareness Month: a letter to myself My Brest Friend or Boppy nursing pillow

Also, remember these things:

  1. Forget the nursing logs and ignore the clock. The nurse will give you a chart to “record” all of your baby’s feedings and peeings and poopings. Put it aside and sleep instead. Feed your baby whenever she seems hungry. Don’t try to feed her by the clock. Relax.
  2. Learn to nurse lying down – pronto. The sooner you can learn this technique, the more sleep you will get. If necessary, call up one of your friends who is a nursing mama and have her demonstrate.
  3. Co-sleep without shame. Co-sleeping is a boon for nursing moms. You don’t have to tiptoe around the subject. Co-sleeping is good for you and your baby. You’ll sleep better. She’ll sleep better. Do it proudly.
  4. Nurse in public without hesitation. There’s no need to feed her in a roasting car or in a locked bedroom. Wear a nursing-friendly top or a camisole under your tee, bring your nursing cover along, and you’ll be able to nurse discreetly and modestly with ease. Anywhere. Anytime.
  5. Don’t feel pressure to leave your baby. You will prefer to have your baby with you. Your husband will feel the same. But “outside sources” will try to convince you that you should go on a date night or attend a Christmas party without your baby. Just smile and say, “no thank you.”
  6. Enjoy every single moment of baby bliss. Babies are only babies for a little while. You won’t be able to imagine it now, but pretty soon you’ll blink and a beautiful, bright, compassionate preschooler will be in front of you. She’ll be gorgeous. She’ll be kind. She’ll be a great conversationalist and a deep thinker. But now – right now – she’s your baby. Hold her and kiss her and stare at her all you want.

Signed,

An older, wiser, more experienced YOU

P.S. It’s okay to let your baby sleep on her tummy (she is right beside you, after all..and you are totally tuned into her breathing patterns). She will sleep so much better that way – and so will you.

Wordless Wednesday: pensive

evening 3 Wordless Wednesday: pensive evening walk 5 Wordless Wednesday: pensive

Tuesday Tours: What’s Happening on the Web

j02933381 Tuesday Tours: Whats Happening on the WebWelcome to “Tuesday Tours: What’s Happening on the Web” where I serve as your tour guide and showcase the best contests, freebies, deals, and reads for moms on the web…all in one convenient location.

Contests

Only Cookware Blog is hosting their very first giveaway. The prize? A $100 gift card to Amazon.com. Enter before Aug. 29.

Submit your ingenious solution to an everyday problem that moms face for a chance to win $5,000 for education and 2 iRobot devices. Share your idea at Musings of a Housewife before Sept. 1.

Here’s another opportunity to win a $500 Walmart gift card {via ahappyhippy mom}. Deadline: Sept. 10.

Invite your 6-13-year-old to enter the LEGO CLICK AWARDS for his/her chance to win a $5,000 savings bond. Entrants must submit an essay answering the following question: “If you could invent anything, what would it be?” Deadline: Nov. 2.

Events

Susan & Janice {5 Minutes for Mom} are hosting a Lands’ End Twitter Party…and you’re invited. The “event” will take place on Thursday, August 20th, from 7-9pm, CT.

Good Reads

An important reminder from Emily {chatting at the sky}: there is a person.

I appreciated this thought-provoking and inspiring post by Kate Wicker: “Motherhood is Not a Prison Sentence” {Faith & Family}.

Simply beautiful. Read this lyrical, lovely post by Nell {Casual Friday Every Day}: There’s More Room In The Pool.

Jo-Lynne recently chimed in about the breastfeeding doll “controversy.” Read: “A Nursing Doll? Oh My.” at Parenting Squad. I agree with her 100%.

Shannon {Rocks In My Dryer}, I raise my glass with you: “Here’s to the Strict Parents” {Parenting.com, 8-17-2009}.

Read Alison Gopnik’s excellent article in the New York Times: “Your Baby Is Smarter Than You Think” {8-15-2009}. The last paragraph is particularly important.

Debating between formula and breastfeeding? Thinking about supplementing? Read “Formula disclaimer: What the Can SHOULD Say” {ByMomsForMoms, 8-13-2009}.

Miscellany

What a fun way to record baby’s 1st year! Remind me about this if/when we have baby #3: A Year of Lex.

These free printable lunchbox notes are cute. I especially like the fruit labels {via Alpha Mom}.

This post made my heart ache, thinking about things to come: “My Best Friend Left Today” {The Mother Load}.

Check out this new game for the Wii: Your Shape by UBISOFT. It’s a new game that comes with a fitness tracking camera that “scans your body to optimize your workout.”

A healthy, delicious summer dessert: yummers {via pura vida}.

Say cheese! This wood camera is super fun {via twine}.

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*** If you have a contest or an announcement that you think might be a good fit for Tuesday Tours, e-mail me at stephanie@metropolitanmama.net.

The Shred is Over. The 5K Awaits.

tennis shoes mizuno The Shred is Over. The 5K Awaits.The Shred is over.

The weather is (hopefully) going to start cooling off soon.

It’s time to lace up my tennis shoes and start running consistently again.

The best way for me to stay motivated is to sign up for a 5K. There is a race in my area on September 12th, but I think that might be too soon. I’ll keep you posted.

My plan is to follow this six-week 5K plan, starting soon (maybe this week, maybe next week).

Anyone want to join me?