Question of the week!

How do you organize your children's memorabilia? For example do you scrapbook each year or do an online scrapbook? Do you keep a journal? Do you do baby books? Those of you with more then one child, is it hard to keep up with the same stuff you did with your first?


Also, do you do monthly professional pics or yearly?

Do you do traditional family photos or Christmas photos?

Any ideas/tips on organizing pictures/memorabilia would be helpful!

Something you don't want to see...but should!

http://www.gdiapers.com/gdiapers101/watch-the-videos

Please watch this video from G-Diapers about how diapers break down over time.
Very eye opening!

Have you seen this?

(submitted by Sue, Nicole & Danielle's mom)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4ySSg4QG8g

A music video that will make you want to slow things down a bit.

Question of the week!

What was the worst baby advice you got?

It take a VILLAGE to have a baby!!

My experience having Ruby was nothing but positive. 

I worked with a doula, a midwife, an acupunturist, chiropractor, homeopath 

and a massage therapist to name a few of those in my "village"

My midwife Mary is truly amazing. She is like family now to Dave and I.  When we found out Ruby was breech, Mary helped us with resources to help "turn" the baby.  She showed up at the hospital for my external version and massaged my feet during the painful procedure.

Although she could not perform my c-section, she was still there at the hospital afterwards to offer support.  Check out the awesome resources at her website:

http://www.villagemidwife.com/

Mary practices out of Metro Partners for Women's Health in Novi.

She delivers babies at the Alternative Birthing Center at Providence Southfield.

Mary is a certified Nurse Practitioner and is covered by insurance.

:) Maria

Question of the week!

How has being a mother changed your looks/style/attitude toward your physical appearance?

It is so great how we can all share our honest feelings on this blog! We really appreciate everyone's contributions. Thanks so much to our regulars!! WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM SOME OF OUR OTHER SECRET BLOGGERS!!!!!!! :)

Cord Blood Banking

(submitted by Kelly)


The list of local hospitals who collect donated cord blood has grown since we discussed this at our meeting last September! See if your hospital is on the list and consider this easy life-saving donation!


Participating hospitals



Oakwood Hospital Medical CenterDearborn, MI
CORD:USE(407) 667-4844http://www.corduse.com

Hutzel HospitalDetroit, MI
J.P. McCarthy Cord Stem Cell Bankhttp://www.karmanos.org/cordblood

St. John Hospital and Medical CenterDetroit, MI
StemCyte International Cord Blood Centerhttp://www.stemcyte.com

Providence Park Providence Hospital and Medical CenterNovi, MI
J.P. McCarthy Cord Stem Cell Bankhttp://www.karmanos.org/cordblood

Providence HospitalSouthfield, MI
J.P. McCarthy Cord Stem Cell Bankhttp://www.karmanos.org/cordblood

St. Joseph Mercy HospitalYpsilanti, MI
J.P. McCarthy Cord Stem Cell Bankhttp://www.karmanos.org/cordblood

Check out these websites!

1. Great birthday party decorations....all homemade and there are super cute themes!

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6713567

2. Photographer

Amy, Holly and Maria all won newborn sessions with this photographer.  She's great.

You can see Ruby and Evan's pictures in older posts on her blog.  

www.melissamooradianphotography.com/blog

3. It's a Princess Party!  

When: August 4th and 6th

Where: Mid American Studio

24425 Indoplex Circle

Farmington Hills, MI 48335

248-477-5248

www.midamericanstudio.com

What: Children ages 3-7 are invited to join

two days of princess fun.  $25 per participant.  Pre-registration required.

Girls come dressed i their favorite princess apparel and accessories.  The first day they learn a princess dance and have a photo shoot.  There is also a tea party. On day two, children finish their dance, make a tiara and have parents in to see their princess dance.  

Question of the Week

In honor of Mother's Day, what is your favorite part of being a mom?

St. Jude Fundraiser

(submitted by Kim)

trike-a-thon

stjude.org/trike

SWINE FLU: Great Advice for Staying Healthy

From the Weston A. Price Foundation:

With all the dire warnings, where is the message about building natural immunity?

Dear Members,
You are all aware of the dire warnings about swine flu, the outbreak that started in the Mexican village of La Gloria and which local residents blame on infection and/or toxins coming from local confinement hog operations.

The internet is abuzz with warnings bordering on hysteria (conventional media) to a variety of conspiracy theories, and even to allegations that the pandemic is a government fabrication designed to sell stockpiles of anti-viral medications.

Conventional medical advice ranges from wearing face masks to taking the anti-viral drug called Tamiflu (which can have many serious side effects, see http://www.askapatient.com/viewrating.asp?drug=21087&name=TAMIFLU.)

It is interesting to note that not once in all the media broadcasts have we heard any mention of building natural immunity.

NATURAL IMMUNITY
Fortunately, we do not have to sit back and listen to the news about swine flu feeling helpless and anxious. We can be proactive by simply nourishing ourselves and our families.

Vitamins A and D in cod liver oil offer strong protection against infection of all types, as well as against environmental toxins. Vitamin C is important-either from vitamin C-rich foods like sauerkraut, or from one of the natural vitamin C supplements recommended in our Shopping Guide. Healthy gut flora provide 85 percent of our protection against disease. Be sure to consume healthy lacto-fermented foods and beverages every day and avoid the foods that disrupt gut flora, especially refined carbohydrates. Bone broth plays a double role of supporting the immune system and helping the body detoxify.

COCONUT OIL
We are grateful to Beth Beisel, registered dietitian and WAPF member for reminding us about the protective factors in coconut oil. Swine flu is a lipid coated virus (http://www.pnas.org/content/98/5/2115.full.pdf+html), and thus is inactivated by sufficient amounts of monolaurin. (Our bodies convert lauric acid, found in coconut oil, to monolaurin).
According to our own Dr. Mary Enig, two to three tablespoons of coconut oil per day appears to be an adequate dosage to fight infection, even from virulent antibiotic-resistant organisms such as MSRA.

New Addition!

Sunita & Shawn Welcomed:

Ariana Ghai

Born : Feb. 19, 2009 at 2:51 am
6 lbs. 1oz. and 18 1/2 inches

A special tribute for your favorite moms!

http://news.cnnbcvideo.com/?nid=HcyiwR.jq5PiW6s.E3g8WDExMjM0NTA2&referred_by=15617620-cby_Six&p=moveon


Amy is mother of the year!!! :) :)

Send this fun personalized video clip to your favorite moms!

Delicious Easy Recipe!

5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE

4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
A small splash of vanilla extract
1 large coffee mug (MicroSafe)

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly.Pour in the milk and oil and mix well..Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again.Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts.The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.EAT ! (this can serve 2)

Question of the week!

It's time to learn more about our NMF friends!


Answer these five questions:

1) What is your all-time favorite movie?
2) What is your favorite alcoholic beverage?
3) What is your favorite day of the week
4) What is your favorite cuisine?
5) What is your favorite radio station?

More Drama!

Check out the latest drama with Jon & Kate:

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/showbiz/2009/05/02/sbt.john.kate.drama.cnn


Is Jon Scum?

or

Can you blame him?

May NMF Meeting- Mother's Day Brunch and Fundraiser

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

Our May meeting had a two part agenda. 1) Raise money for Autism Speaks and 2) Honor our mother's or someone special in our lives.

Every November, our members vote for a charity we will support throughout the upcoming year. This past November, we voted for Autism Speaks. Here is a quote from the Autism Speaks website: "At Autism Speaks, our goal is to change the future for all who struggle with autism spectrum disorders.We are dedicated to funding global biomedical research into the causes, prevention, treatments, and cure for autism; to raising public awareness about autism and its effects on individuals, families, and society; and to bringing hope to all who deal with the hardships of this disorder. We are committed to raising the funds necessary to support these goals."

We will also be participating in a charity walk for A.S. on Ocotber 11, 2009. We will post more details as the walk gets closer.

All of our members brought very generous items for the silent auction. This year was a trial run and we know there was a bit of confusion on how it was going to work. At the end of the day, our members pulled through and did an amazing job of supporting this wonderful cause.

Nine Months and Forever raised $300.00 for Autism Speaks!!!!!!!! Thank you so much for your generosity!

Here were the big winners:

Kelly V.: Homemade Burp Clothes

Crystal: Homemade Burp Clothes

Sunita: Homemade Vanilla Cake

Kim: Tulips

Sue: A Gardening Basket

Maria: A Bag of Baby Safety Items

Toshi: A One Hour Massage

Sunita: A Beach Bucket with kids items

Nicole: Go Green Basket

Crystal: School Memory Scrapbooks

Carol: Books

Mary: Homemade Chocolate Cupcakes

Kim: Pamper Yourself Basket

Shilpa: Brownie Kit

Emily: Rose Bush

Once again, the room was brought to tears after hearing all of the wonderful things our members had to say about their special guests. It was a nice opportunity to show appreciation for the important people in our life.

A big thank you needs to go out to everyone who took time to make a dish for the brunch. Also, thank you to Amy for making the flower pen center pieces and Maria who made the bookmark favors. Thank you to Shilpa for lending us her beautiful home for the special day!!

Our center pieces were raffled off to 1) Kim for having the b-day closest to Mother's day, 2) Jeanne for having the most grandchildren (5 and one on the way!:)) and 3) Mary for having the most experience in mothering ( 41 years! :))

NMF wants to thank all of our members for being such kind, generous and caring people!

If you could not attend, but would like to donate to our charity, you can make a check out to Autism Speaks and send it to:

Autism Speaks

5455 Wilshire Blvd.

Suite 2250

Los Angeles, CA 90036

Coming Up:

A girl's night out! Friday June 12th. Keep your eyes open for the evite.