CONNECTING PARENTS ACROSS THE OZARKS Spr ing 2015
Vol. 3 / Issue 1
FREE MAGAZINE
A PASSION FOR
FASHION MOMTREPRENEUR ASHLEY HOLT
GET TIPS ON CREATING A
Manageable Birth Plan
Coupons Inside
Spring Cleaning Tips DE-CLUTTER AND FRESHEN UP
Breastfeeding Support WHAT NATURAL CHANGES TO EXPECT
Photo Credit: Capture the Moment / Cheryl Barnett
BROUGHT TO YOU BY MOMS IN SOUTHWEST MISSOURI
our community { 1 } Keeping vibrant & unique our {2} Supporting friends and neighbors
{3} Encouraging local commerce
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What We’re Passionate About
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2 | Spring 2015 | FROM OUR NEST
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CONTENT DIRECTOR
Kandice Matteson kandice@fromournestmag.com
Proud member of
Gluten-free & vegan options
17 Pinspiration DIY Diaper Cake
ON THE COVER
08 10 Compliments of:
OUR MISSION: As a journalist and designer duo juggling careers with motherhood and household management, we hope to be an invaluable resource for fellow parents in southwest Missouri seeking local resources and information from local parents and experts. We aim to promote a tighter sense of community in the Ozarks through educational and entertaining articles in our FREE quarterly magazine.
Compliments of:
SUBMISSIONS: All unsolicited manuscripts must be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Written changes may be sent to the advertising, editorial and creative office at P.O. Box 9641, Springfield, Missouri, 65801.
From Our Nest is an independently published quarterly by From Our Nest Publications, LLC, and is distributed free of charge. It is no way affiliated with The Nest website produced by The Knot. To receive complimentary copies of From Our Nest to redistribute at your place of business, please contact us at (937) 286-9434. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the express written consent of From Our Nest Publications. Copyright ©2015. All rights reserved. Printed by A&J Printing in Nixa, Mo.
A Passion for Fashion
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16 The Dish from Cafe Cusco
ma
From Our Nest Publications P.O. Box 9641 Springfield, Missouri, 65801
Expert advice on how to prepare and plan for L&D
Gid
Stephanie Lindberg stephanie@fromournestmag.com
14 Tips on creating a manageable birth plan
Joe
C R E AT I V E D I R E C T O R
Glowing & Growing
P h o t o C r e d i t : C a f e Cu s c o /
CONTENTS
EL TRIPLE SANDWICH
Columns 06 Homeschooling Families Finding blessings in disguise
Shaila’s, Ashley Holt
Spring-cleaning Tips De-clutter and freshen up your home
18 Mrs. White Hearts Art Hundertwasser Flowers
19 Breastfeeding Support What natural changes to expect
14
A Manageable Birth Plan Get expert advice on how to prep and plan
21 From the Guidance Office
19
Breastfeeding Support
22 Thrifty Tips
What natural changes to expect
Raising compassionate kids
Let’s get creative with baby shower gifts
In Every Issue 05 Featured Photographer Capture the Moment, Cheryl Barnett
05 From Us Pregnancy memories
08 Momtrepreneur Shaila’s, Ashley Holt
20 Non-profit SingleMomzRock
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TIPS ON SPRING-CLEANING FROM OUR NEST | Spring 2015 | 3
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FEAT U RED PHOTOGR AP HER Catch a glimpse of the memories that Cheryl Barnett caught of Ashley Holt and her daughter, Shaila. View more on page 8
F ROM U S Growing another human life is an incredible blessing that we’ve been honored with. Here’s what we remember from our own pregnancies: KANDICE MATTESON CONTENT DIRECTOR
Anxiety While elated with each of my pregnancies, each time I had underlying fears, worried that I wasn’t as “established” as I had hoped I would be when starting a family. Each time, we had entered new phases of our lives: Entering a new career in a new city the first time and in the middle of pursuing my master’s degree the second time. The blessing that is parenthood can be overwhelming, and each time, I was nervous about being the mother these babies deserved. Those feelings, and constant questioning thereafter, is normal, I’m told.
STEPHANIE LINDBERG CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Food Cravings
Photographer Cheryl Barnett www.facebook.com/capturethemoment4me cbarnettdesigns@gmail.com Cheryl Barnett is a professional photographer and graphic designer living in Springfield, Missouri. Her primary focus is to capture the beauty and raw emotion found in each moment. Cheryl specializes in children’s photography, from newborn to high school senior photos as well as family sessions and small events. Contact her today to schedule your session.
Would you like to represent your region by producing our future cover? Submit samples of your work to ArtDirector@FromOurNestMag.com or mail them to From Our Nest, Attn to: Art Director, P.O. Box 9641, Springfield, Missouri, 65801.
www.fromournestmag.com
According to Nestlé, more than 75 percent of women experience food cravings at some point in pregnancy. For me, it was french toast and jalapeños. Two things I never really liked before those wonderful baby hormones kicked in. The majority of my weekday mornings included a drive-thru to any fast food chain that had french toast on the menu. And at least one of my other meals for the day included jalapeños. Although the idea of eating french toast disgusts me now, the craving of anything with jalapeños has stuck with me.
Share your most memorable pregnancy stories and cravings with us on Facebook and Twitter. And find our favorite baby-inspired crafts and ideas on Pinterest at Pinterest.com/FromOurNestMag FROM OUR NEST | Spring 2015 | 5
By Jackie Wedge
Photo Credit: Holly Durkop
C O L U M N | HOMESCHOOLING FAMILIES
GROWING PAINS: FINDING BLESSINGS IN DISGUISE While pregnancy is supposed to be one of the most exciting and joyful experiences for a woman, for some it turns out to be the exact opposite. I am talking about losing an unborn child through miscarriage. Regrettably, I used to be that person that would sympathize with a person who had lost a baby prematurely during their pregnancy but still did not understand the depth of their pain or how a baby, whom they had never met, could carry so much hurt and anguish within their family. So many times throughout our lives we simply cannot understand things until we experience them for ourselves.
6 | Spring 2015 | FROM OUR NEST
Having more children after being a single mom for months of our marriage from two separations, a near finalized divorce, and a deployment with my husband on the heels of that near divorce, was the last thing on my mind. Single moms and spouses of the armed forces, I salute you and hold you in high regard. Two positions in life that the majority of the population has no idea what day-to-day life is like for you, or the struggles you face. You are simply amazing. I have walked in both of these shoes and am grateful for the depth of compassion I have for you now, that I would have never known otherwise. A restored marriage certainly changes everything, including the topic of adding to your family. We had three boys and came to the agreement to try for one more, of course secretly hoping we would be able to experience the blessing of a daughter. The news of our forth pregnancy was filled with elation. My excitement with each pregnancy has grown because I know what these beautiful blessings will bring into our lives. We quickly shared the news with everyone and even put our house on the market because we desperately needed a bigger place with the expectant baby coming just months away. As the weeks went by, it was hard to keep this excitement. Something just did not seem right. Something was off. Something I could not explain. The same week I celebrated my 30th birthday, we had to mourn the loss of our unborn child and come to terms that we would never celebrate his/hers. I went to Urgent Care because I had been battling a stomach bug for four days and had developed other complications. While there, I expressed my concern for some pregnancy issues I had been experiencing as well. They did an ultrasound and discovered I had a hemorrhage where the baby www.fromournestmag.com
COMING SOON
was attached. I could tell something was wrong because the ultrasound technician took numerous pictures of this one place low in my abdomen and was very quiet and showed no emotion. I also learned that the baby’s heart rate was not stable and he/she was in distress. I was optimistic and was sure that the baby was going to be fine. I was hopeful that rest would solve the problem. We were scheduled for a routine ultrasound the following Monday. I was shocked whenever our doctor backed away from the ultrasound exam and announced that there was no heartbeat. Tears began to flow down my face as I realized we had lost our baby. What had gone wrong I wondered? Dr. Beguin, my OBGYN with all three boys, explained that miscarriages happen to one in four pregnancies. I replied, “I’m the perfect statistic because this was our fourth pregnancy.” We were absolutely heart broken. He also assured me the stomach bug would not have caused the miscarriage. So much guilt surrounded the loss of this baby. I needed to blame someone, so I blamed myself. Reading a book called I’ll Hold You in Heaven by Jack Hayford was critical in my healing process. I highly recommend this book to others that have experienced this tragedy. I rest knowing that our baby, whom we named Kendall, is in the heaven and having the most amazing childhood a kid could possibly have. Knowing that we will see Kendall again gives me so much peace and hope. I also find comfort in knowing that because of this experience, I will now be able to identify and grieve with other women who also battle this type of loss. After we were able to heal from this experience, we did open ourselves up to the possibility of trying again and got pregnant. Our daughter will be born in just a few short weeks.
ON HISTORIC C-STREET 209 E. Commercial St. Springfield, Mo.
JACKIE WEDGE has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Missouri State University and likes to joke that she attended school to be a stay-at-home mom and homeschool her three boys. She is also involved at her church, where she volunteers and works in the Early Childhood Department. She has a heart for single moms and is the Children’s Program Director for SingleMomzRock. Visit her website, www.hopeineverything.com, dedicated to bringing hope to the hopeless through real life stories, including resources for military families and single moms.
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WWW.CAFECUSCO.COM FROM OUR NEST | Spring 2015 | 7
MOMTREPRENEUR
By Kandice Matteson
A PASSION
FOR FASHION Meet Mother & Business Owner
Photos by: Capture the Moment/Cheryl Barnett
Ashley Holt
Shaila’s & US Freight Logistics 729 West Center Circle Nixa, Missouri 65714
417.724.9201 www.shailas.com shailasboutique@outlook.com facebook.com/shailasboutique twitter@shailasboutique
8 | Spring 2015 | FROM OUR NEST
www.fromournestmag.com
Date you started your business? November 2013 for Shaila’s and October 2011 for US Freight Logistics.
SHAILA
Ashley Holt has a knack for spotting trends, and her daughter is a fashionista in training. Named after her oldest daughter, opening Shaila’s has allowed Ashley to share her passion for affordable fashion with women and girls of all ages. More than just an outfit, finding the outfit can empower a woman and create confidence. For Ashley, confident women that feel good about themselves is just part of what makes owning Shaila’s a blessing for her family.
What are your kids’ names and ages? Shaila, 4 years old Shiann, due February 2015
What inspired you to start your business? A drive to succeed and support my family.
What has been the most challenging thing about being a mom and business owner? And the most rewarding?
Most challenging: finding enough time in the day! Most rewarding: ability to control my family’s income and our days off together.
What did you do before becoming a momtrepreneur? Worked in logistics — 24 hours a day!
How does your business serve families in the Ozarks? We donate to local groups, support other locals and keep Ozarkians funds right here.
How do you balance work and home life? My husband!
SHIANN
What advice do you have for other moms starting a business? Believe in yourself and your passions! Don’t be afraid of failure. Accept what you can’t change and adjust your plan.
Support local, mother- owned businesses like Shaila’s! Find more fashion from Shaila’s and a coupon for your purchase, on page 4. www.fromournestmag.com
FROM OUR NEST | Spring 2015 | 9
F E AT U R E
Staying Sane as you spring clean After being cooped up most of the winter months, many of us are ready to shed the clutter and revitalize our homes with a deep spring-cleaning. What starts off with good intentions can often build into a mountain of frustration, especially for parents who get one area clean just in time for the kiddos to undo all your progress in a previous area. The process can get overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to. Here are some spring-cleaning and de-cluttering tips from local business owners. By Kandice Matteson
Smaller Feats Lead to Larger Successes
Looking at everything that needs to be done can be daunting. Instead, Sarah Watson, owner of The Clutter Cure, says to start in the room that has the most clutter and take a few hours a day to organize. “For example, if your kids rooms are over-run with toys, take one to two hours and sort through what they play with and what they don’t,” she says. “Group toys together, and make piles of items to donate, trash and sell. If your neighborhood does an annual garage/yard sale in the spring, make it a goal to have everything sorted a couple weeks in advance so all your “sell” items are ready to go.”
Let the Light Shine — And Find the Grime!
“We are all ready for that sunshine to stream in after a long dreary winter,” Watson says. While the sunshine can help lighten the mood, Heidi Hartigan, owner of Green & Chic Cleaning Services, also suggests letting nature help clean the air in your home by opening the windows (if allergy season will permit, of course). When you take down the curtains, give the window blinds a good wipe down or vacuuming, and clean the windows, the winter dust settles, literally, and ceiling cobwebs steal the spotlight. “As you sort through and clean the high stuff, you will knock dust down,” Watson says, so start ditching the dust by taking a broom or extension pole with a duster attachment to the ceiling corners and walls. Then, take down the glass globes from the fans and chandeliers and run them through the dishwasher without soap; let them air dry before putting them back up. Once all the high dusting is done, it’s time to hit the tops, sides, and legs of your furniture, followed by baseboards and floors.
10 | Spring 2015 | FROM OUR NEST
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The Walls to Success
Walls free of grime and spots can make a room feel larger, cleaner and less cluttered. “Put on your favorite music, mix a bowl of dish soap in water and spend a few hours wiping down those grimy places,” Watson says. Hartigan recommends using an all-purpose spray made from vinegar and orange peels when wiping down vents and air filter covers. “Don’t forget to wipe down the plate covers for all of your light switches as you go,” Watson says.
The Clutter Cure www.cluttercure.org Sarah Watson sarah@cluttercure.com 417-380-6141
Practice Makes Perfect!
Take Tip #1 and apply it throughout your home. It may take some time, but it’s better than getting overwhelmed and quitting altogether! Then, to maintain a clean home, tackle one large project every other week, like wall-wiping or stove-cleaning, Hartigan says, while Watson notes to also keep up with the smaller, more simple tasks like dusting sweeping/mopping throughout the week. Hartigan emphasizes using natural cleaners, like essential oils for water spots and a vinegar/baking soda mix for grout, to reduce the effects that chemicals can have during concentrated cleaning times.
A Family Affair
Enlist the children— and other adults — to help with the chores, too. There are a number of chore charts and even chore apps available online to assign duties. Remember: Rewards don’t have to come in the form of an allowance, either; staying up for an extra 10 minutes past bedtime or choosing the family movie for movie night as a reward for being an exemplary chore ninja can motivate even the tiniest mess-makers that get “so sleepy” when it’s time to pick-up their rooms, take laundry to the basket or trash to the bin.
Green & Chic Cleaning Services facebook.com/greenchiccleaning
Heidi Hartigan greenchiccleaning@gmail.com 816- 536-1140
Stay Sane
Both Watson and Hartigan recommend doing a fall deep-cleaning in addition to weekly and monthly sprucing up to lessen the chore come spring. “To keep up with the projects throughout the year, set a goal of doing one extra project a month,” Watson says. “For example, I go through my kids toys right before Christmas, that way there’s not as much to weed out come spring. And at Christmas, you’re replacing what you’re getting rid of!” And, of course, help is always available. “Sometimes, letting a professional help you out is what’s best for your sanity!” Hartigan says.
While national non-profits like The Goodwill or Salvation Army can certainly make drop-off of old items easy, consider donating toys to local non-profits like Isabel’s House or Sammy’s Window, or maternity/infant items to the Pregnancy Care Center. Household items beyond the kids’ rooms can be donated to local non-profits Lifehouse Crisis Maternity Home or Harmony House.
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FROM OUR NEST | Spring 2015 | 11
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Whether it’s your first or your fifth baby, growing your family is an amazing adventure. In celebrating our unique woman-ness and motherly instincts, we dedicate our Glowing & Growing section to you!
14
Tips on Creating a Birth Plan Expert advice on how to prepare and plan for L&D
16
The Dish from Cafe Cusco Gluten-free & vegan options
Glowing
& Growing
www.fromournestmag.com
17
DIY Diaper Cake Give a gift that will be remembered
FROM OUR NEST | Spring 2015 | 13
F E AT U R E
Planning for a
POSITIVE BIRTH EXPERIENCE By Kandice Matteson
Whether it’s your first child or your sixth, there’s a lot to do when preparing for parenthood–a whole new world of jargon to get acquainted with, items to research and purchase, and concerns to address. One of the first concerns that chases through a woman’s mind when she sees the positive pregnancy test is the impending labor and delivery. Most everyone has heard a fair share of birth stories, usually with the “it-was-perfect!” anecdotes being severely overshadowed by the “everythingwent-wrong!” stories.
A birth plan is just a written record of the things that are important to you during your birth experience. Hospitals often have prepared birth plan forms online that you can print off and use, but many moms prefer to write their own birth plan.
Of course, more times than not, most parents come out of the experience dwelling on their blessing rather than the trauma, or lack thereof.
— Julie Cunningham White, CCCE, CLC, CPFI, CD (DONA), Owner of JuJuBabies LLC
And fortunately for parents, new and experienced, in the Ozarks, there are a number of resources to help prep for labor and delivery.
Preparation
Both CoxHealth and Mercy Hospital offer childbirth classes where pregnant mothers and accompanying partners can learn about pain management options, comfort and relaxation techniques, and labor and delivery policies. Additionally, the Family Birth and Wellness Center in Springfield refers clients looking for childbirth classes to JuJuBabies, a local company also based out of Ozark that is owned and operated by Julie Cunningham White, a CAPPA certified childbirth educator and DONA certified doula (as well as a Healthy Moms Fitness certified Perinatal fitness instructor and a certified lactation counselor by the Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice). “Giving birth is a truly life-changing event,” Cunningham White says. “Whether you are planning an un-medicated (natural) childbirth or you plan to use medication, it is helpful and important to have excellent information and a good understanding of what to expect during labor and birth. “Taking childbirth classes is an important step on the path toward a safer, more fulfilling birth experience,” she says. Mercy Hospital has also partnered with Springfield Pregnancy Care Center to offer a condensed version of the hospital’s Labor and Birth classes to clients enrolled in the PCC program.
Planning
Many women have thought about their perfect birthing experience well before they even get pregnant. However, pregnancy brain takes over, and many forget to relay those expectations to their health care practitioner. Then expectations are unmet, and the dream birthing experience becomes the next “everythingwent-wrong!” story. That’s when a birth plan comes in handy. “Birth plans allow health care providers to tailor the experience to meet a patient’s expectations,” says Christine Starnes, nurse educator at the CoxHealth Women’s Center. “Having a plan can help the mother and support team feel confident during labor.” A more comprehensive list with the highest priority items may create a more positive birth experience, says Mary Ueland Walsh, owner/midwifery director at the Family Birth and Wellness Center. “A birth plan should be an exercise for yourself in prioritizing what you really, really want,” Walsh says. “What are those five things that are the most important to you, even if a lot of things don’t go as you plan? “If you give a doctor a list of 25 things you want in labor, s/he may go out of the way to honor half of them and ignore/nix the other half, and perhaps those are the ones that were the most important to you,” she says.
14 | Spring 2015 | FROM OUR NEST
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PREP AND PLANNING BENEFITS Benefits of childbirth education classes include: Building confidence in the body’s ability to give birth; Allowing expecting mothers/couples to discuss fears about labor and birth with an educated instructor and other couples with the same concerns; Learning about childbirth and how to offer support on the day of delivery Discussing pain relief options, including massage, relaxation, breathing and medications; and Touring your birthing facility, which will afford the opportunity to see the staff in action. (This is a great time to ask the instructor about the facility’s routine practices.)
Benefits of having a defined and flexible birth plan include: Informing health care providers about what the expectant mother is hoping for during labor and delivery; Opening the line of discussion between an expecting mother and her support team; and Potentially helping an expectant mother to feel confident and in control as much as possible, that she is part of the decision making process, even when the unexpected occurs. Source: Cheryl Barratt, Nurse Director, Pregnancy Care Center Some of the most common preferences that make a birth plan list are: • Desire for a natural birth or pain/discomfort medications; • Environmental requests, such as lighting, music, visitor restrictions; • Preferences for labor positions; and • Baby care and feeding choices, including immediate skin-toskin contact and the decision to circumcise a male child or not. Because procedures may differ from hospital to hospital or medical center, it’s important to discuss a birth plan before D-Day. For example, new trends include requesting delayed umbilical cord clamping and in-room newborn exams; the Family Birth and Wellness Center routinely offers these preferences, so including them on the birth plan can take up valuable space on the list. Starnes, Walsh and Cunningham White are all mindful that communicating a birth plan can help create a positive birth experience, but it’s important to remain flexible when circumstances arise that may make fulfilling requests impossible or dangerous. Whether you’re planning to deliver at a hospital, medical center, or in-home, “even if your birth plans change, you can still feel assured that your desires will be understood and considered” with a birth plan in hand, Cunningham White says. “Studies have shown that when a woman in labor understands what is happening to her, is making her own decisions and has a good support system, she is more likely to have a positive birth experience,” she adds. www.fromournestmag.com
FOR MORE INFORMATION: CoxHealth Women’s Center Phone: (417) 269-4664 Address: Turner Center, 1000 E. Primrose St., Springfield, 65806 www.coxhealth.com/breastfeedingnursing www.facebook.com/coxhealthmoms
Springfield Pregnancy Care Center Phone: (417) 877-0800 Address: 1342 E. Primrose St., Springfield, 65804 www.417choices.com www.facebook.com/SpringfieldPregnancyCareCenter
Family Birth and Wellness Center Phone: (417) 233-1100, ext. 101 Address: 2039 S. Brentwood Blvd., Springfield, 65804 www.familybirth.com www.facebook.com/familybirthandwellness
JuJuBabies LLC Phone: (417) 844-9404 www.jujubabies.com www.facebook.com/jujubabies FROM OUR NEST | Spring 2015 | 15
THE DISH
Gluten-Free & Vegan Recipes
FROM CAFE CUSCO
Food preferences and intolerances can develop during pregnancy, and, if breastfeeding, it’s important to stay attuned with how your diet may be affecting your baby’s tummy. Whatever the reason you decide to abstain from gluten or animal products, look no further than our own stomping grounds for gourmet tastes. These recipes from Cafe Cusco, a quaint and fun cafe on Historic Commercial Street with a menu full of healthy recipes inspired by the cuisine of Peru and the Andes Mountains, are catered to those going gluten-free and choosing a vegan lifestyle.
View Cafe Cusco’s ad on page 7 to find more information, or visit them at
Photo Provided by: Cafe Cusco
www.CafeCusco.com
Vegan Bean & Quinoa INGREDIENTS* 4 TBS light olive oil 1 cup finely chopped celery 1 cup finely chopped white onion 1 cup finely chopped carrot 1/2 cup minced cilantro 1 TBS minced garlic 1 1/2 TBS granulated garlic 2 TBS sea salt 1/2 TSP black pepper 1 TBS cumin 1 TBS oregano 1 TBS poultry seasoning (thyme, rosemary, sage)
YIELD: 10 servings; 1 cup size DIRECTIONS • In a large sauce pan, cook the ingredients listed to the left on medium-low heat until tender • Add 6 cups of water • Add 1/4 cup quinoa • Add two cans of great northern beans • Bring soup to a boil, then simmer until quinoa begins to sprout • Return to low temperature and add one can pureed northern beans • Simmer for 15 minutes while stirring on low heat *Optional - 1/2 tsp aji Amarillo paste (Peruvian yellow pepper) for spicy
Photo Provided by: Cafe Cusco
El Triple Sandwich INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS
• • • •
• • • •
3 slices of bread egg salad avocado black olives
• lettuce • sliced tomato
16 | Spring 2015 | FROM OUR NEST
Layer the sandwich like a double-decker club On the first layer, spread your egg salad of choice Top the egg salad with sliced olives On the second layer, fan out your sliced avocado, lettuce and tomato
Enjoy! www.fromournestmag.com
P I N S P I R ATI O N
By Stephanie Lindberg
DIY DIAPER CAKE Give a Gift that will be Remembered
Out of all the items parents need and want for a new baby, diapers are top of the list. With a DIY diaper cake, you can give parents what they need in a way that’s unique and special.
Materials • • • • •
Approximately 70 diapers Circle piece of cardboard for base 1 bag of assorted rubber bands 2 thin elastic headbands 1 tall baby bottle
• • • • •
1 short baby bottle 2-inch wide ribbon 1-inch wide ribbon Scissors Toys for decoration (optional)
Directions 1. Roll up all 70 diapers and secure each one with a small rubber band. 2. For the bottom tier, you will use approximately 40 diapers. Place the tall baby bottle in the center of the cardboard base and surround it with a layer of rolled diapers. Keep the layer of diapers in place with a large rubberband. Create a second layer of diapers around the first and use another large rubberband to keep in place. Create a third and final layer around the second, use a thin elastic headband to keep all diapers tightly in place. 3. On the middle tier, you will use about 20 diapers. Build the first layer around the top of the baby bottle that is protruding form the bottom tier. Secure the first layer with a large rubberband. Complete a second layer and secure with the remaining elastic headband. 4. For the top tier, you will use the remaining 10 diapers. Layer the diapers in a single layer around the short baby bottle, secure with a large rubber band and place on the top of the cake. 5. Cut ribbon and wrap each layer of the cake, strategically covering up the site of headbands and rubberbands. Continue to decorate the outside of the cake with various toys or leave as is for a simplistic look.
More DIY Diaper Cakes
Visit us on Pinterest to get links for these do-it-yourself baby diaper cakes. FOLLOW US ON PINTEREST For these and other ideas we like, check out our favorite boards at pinterest.com/fromournestmag www.fromournestmag.com
FROM OUR NEST | Spring 2015 | 17
C O L U M N | MRS. WHITE HEARTS ART
By Jessica White
HUNDERTWASSER
FLOWERS Background Information:
Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser was a painter and architect known for his enthusiasm for environmental issues. Looking at Hundertwasser’s flower paintings, you and your child can notice and talk about the use of color, shapes and lines. Some of Hundertwasser’s paintings used warm colors (red, orange and yellow) and cool colors (green, blue and purple) together to create contrast. Directional lines: vertical, horizontal, diagonal
Adaptions:
• Use all cool colors or all warm colors.
ARTIST: Teagan Fasching AGE: 8 years old GRADE: 3rd grade
• Glue a button in the middle of flowers. • Use layers of different sized circles cut from cereal boxes to make flowers.
ART PROJECT What you need:
Ages: 5 and up
1 Construction paper
Objectives:
• Color contrast (warm/cool)
2 Paint (we used watercolors)
• Identify and use directional lines
3 Glue*
• Artist Hundertwasser
4 Yarn
• Abstract art
Instructions
1. Choose warm or cool colors for the background. Your flowers will be in the opposite colors to achieve contrast. Paint alternating horizontal stripes using at least two of these colors. Fill the entire paper. Let dry.
ARTIST: Robert Morris AGE: 9 years old GRADE: 3rd grade
2. Cut out long flower stems or tree trunks out of construction paper. Glue onto background. Add leaves if you’d like. 3. Trace and cut out a circle from a piece of paper or thin cardboard. Glue onto stems/trunks. Choose yarn colors in cool colors if your background is warm, and warm colors if your background is cool. Starting from the center, create a swirl by gluing yarn onto the circle. You can switch colors if you’d like your circles to have more than one color. When the entire circle is covered in yarn, trim excess yarn. 4. Repeat step #3 for as many trees as you would like. *Please Note: Craft glue will work better than regular white glue.
Jessica White
Mrs. White is a K-5 art teacher for the Republic School District.
18 | Spring 2015 | FROM OUR NEST
ARTIST: Jay Wynn AGE: 9 years old GRADE: 3rd grade
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By Colleen Keeter, MSN, RNC-OB, IBCLC
C O L U M N | BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT
Natural Changes for
Breastfeeding What you’ll notice as your body prepares
Changes are going on right now in your body to prepare the breasts for feeding your newborn. Those changes begin early in pregnancy. During pregnancy, your body secretes prolactin as well as other hormones, which prepare the breast for nourishing your baby. You may have noticed the areola of the nipple becoming darker. This darkening of the skin helps the newborn to more easily locate the nipple. As the baby begins his/her first journey toward the breast outside mother’s body, the darkened areola provides a “target” for the newborn to visualize as they attempt latch-on. Although the breasts are fully capable of lactation from 16 weeks gestation, hormones made by your body inhibit full milk production until after the delivery of the placenta. You may notice colostrum leaking from your breasts beginning as early as 10 weeks gestation. The colostrum may appear clear or slightly yellow-tinged. This “first milk” will provide the newborn with specialized nutrients to meet their unique needs. Many new mothers are concerned that their milk has not “come in” at the time of delivery and are worried that the baby may not be getting enough calories. At the time of delivery, the mother’s body is producing colostrum, which is perfectly made to nourish your newborn. Consider attending a local breastfeeding education class during the last trimester of your pregnancy. The information that you receive will ensure that you’re prepared for breastfeeding. If you haven’t made your mind up yet about breastfeeding, the benefits to both you and your baby are extensive. Newborns that breastfeed have less ear infections, less respiratory infections,
BREASTFEEDING
can help decrease the risk of developing cancer and diabetes later in the mother’s life.
and less frequent gastrointestinal infections and upsets. Breastfed babies also have a lessened incidence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS. Breastfeeding also benefits the mother in many ways, decreasing the risk of developing cancer and diabetes later in life.
Your body is altered from the pre-pregnancy state to accommodate the growing fetus. The breasts are changing also to provide superior nourishment for your newborn.
Founded in January 2013, the Greater Ozarks Regional Breastfeeding Coalition is a collaborative group of lactation professionals, health workers, and interested community members dedicated to promoting, supporting, and protecting breastfeeding in our community. Representatives from Cox Health, Mercy-Springfield, Jordan Valley Community Health Center and the Springfield-Greene County Health Department work together to improve the health of our community by protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding as the normal method of infant nutrition. This is undertaken solely as a public health initiative to achieve optimal health, enhance child development and foster effective parenting. The Coalition plans to accomplish this purpose through education, outreach and advocacy.
Visit the Greater Ozarks Regional Breastfeeding Coalition online at health.springfieldmo.gov. www.fromournestmag.com
FROM OUR NEST | Spring 2015 | 19
NONPROFIT
By Kandice Matteson
Single moms can often feel alone and with minimal support or true empathy. When organization founder Janelle Reed found herself as a single mom, she knew she had to do something to bring together the community’s resources for single moms and provide a place of refuge for women to share their experiences with those that can offer compassion and support. SingleMomzRock seeks to empower local women with the tools they need to rock their journey, parenting and relationship with God.
Why was your organization started?
MISSION STATEMENT SingleMomzRock provides encouragement and support through all seasons of a single mom’s journey.
SINGLE MOMZ ROCK
417.483.3479
www.singlemomzrock.com LEADERSHIP JANELLE REED – Founder AMY TEMPLE – Director of Development JACKIE WEDGE – Children’s Program Director RACHEL BARRETT – Outreach Director KRISTEN USHER – Social Media Director
SingleMomzRock founder, Janelle Reed, was married to her high school sweetheart. After 12 years of marriage, she was faced with a divorce and being a full-time single mom of two daughters. Through this life change and the many struggles she faced, God laid on her heart the need for encouragement and support through different resources for other single moms.
Whom does your organization serve? Single moms no matter the season they are in.
What services do you provide? We partner with local agencies to share resources with single moms for whatever their need may be. We also provide social support to single moms through events specifically designed for them all while showing them the love of Christ.
How does someone obtain services? They may contact us through our website, www.singlemomzrock.com.
Do you accept volunteers? Absolutely! Our highest need for volunteers lies in our childcare area at our monthly meetings.
What kind of donations do you need/accept? Monetary donations are always appreciated. We also collect gas cards. For specific circumstances, we will reach out to the community for specific needs as they arise.
Is this a local chapter of a larger organization? If so, when did this chapter begin?
Springfield is the original SingleMomzRock, although a SingleMomzRock Lawrence County launched in November 2014 to serve single moms in that area.
20 | Spring 2015 | FROM OUR NEST
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By Shayne Brock
C O L U M N | FROM THE COUNSELOR’S OFFICE
RAISING
COMPASSIONATE
KIDS
Children are born with a capacity for compassion. Small in size themselves, they naturally identify with stuffed animals, other kids and pets. The challenge presents itself when a child’s natural instinct is in competition with other developmental stages, including impulse control — which makes them yell at a friend when a toy is taken— and their belief that their needs always come first— which makes it extremely hard to share. With so much hatred and turmoil in the world today, it seems more important than ever to raise kids who can understand and be kind to other people. Teaching this doesn’t mean lectures or visits to soup kitchens. It’s part of day-to-day life: how you answer your child’s questions, how you solve conflict at the park, how you nudge his or her growing capacity to understand and think about other people. Temperament of course plays a role—some kids are naturally more tuned in to other people’s feelings and difficulties, while others are a bit oblivious. Either way, you have influence in fostering your child’s ability to empathize. Age by age, here’s how to do so in small, daily doses: • Teaching your child ways to treat things with care helps him/ her develop the understanding that actions have consequences. Use those natural outcomes to teach without discipline. Kids have to learn; the earlier the better, while the cost is small. • Show how to be gentle. Your child wants to be friendly but ends up grabbing the baby roughly? Demonstrate another way. You can actually take his/her hand and show him/her physically what a gentle touch is. If you’re anticipating a situation— a new pet, visiting a new baby— take the time to prep beforehand and practice, if necessary. There are also many books about “firsts” to help kids with what to expect in a new setting. • Your kindness will be a role model for how to treat others. Young toddlers don’t have a very consistent long-term memory, so you’ll have to repeat your lessons more times than you thought possible. Children are a direct reflection of their parents and will behave in a way that resembles their teacher. There shouldn’t be a consistent need for lecturing if you’re living in a manner that can be imitated. www.fromournestmag.com
• Reject rudeness. Compassion requires that your child respect others, including you. Speak gently but firmly. You are NOT your child’s best friend; you are their guide, their teacher, their mentor and advisor. If you don’t expect it, they won’t do it. That doesn’t mean there’s no time for fun and silliness, of course! Rudeness just isn’t invited. • Say “I’m sorry.” If you’ve been short-tempered with your child, apologize to him/her. All parents make mistakes. It’s how you address them afterward that makes the difference. Your child(ren) will learn that everyone, even Mom, admits it when she’s wrong. If you’re faced with an extremely stressful situation and feel that you’re losing control, take a time-out! That’s right—put YOURSELF in time out! This can mean a shower, a walk, a quiet minute (or 20) in the bathroom. Get control of you before you attempt to manage the problem at hand.
In the midst of trials, sometimes we wonder if it’s all worth it, if we’re doing it right, if we’re going to survive raising our kids to adulthood. I assure you it is, and you will survive! SHAYNE BROCK, LPC is a Professional School Counselor in the Nixa School District. She has been in the education and counseling field for 16 years. FROM OUR NEST | Spring 2015 | 21
ByBy Cris Swaters Cris Swaters
C O L U M N | THRIFTY TIPS
Creative Let’s Get
with baby shower gifts!
Infinity Nursing Scarf
Everyone I know is turning up with a new bundle of joy. As much as I enjoy smothering all the new, tiny humans with love, it can be an expensive venture when you are invited to baby shower after baby shower.
This how-to takes the cake. If you can sew in a straight line (and honestly, the line doesn’t even need to be all that straight), you’ve got this project on lock down. These things retail upwards of $30. You can easily do this project for less than $10, depending on the deal that you find on your fabric. When you’re choosing fabric, you want to ask someone to point you to the section of “jersey knits.”
Recently I have turned to my rudimentary sewing and crafting skills to come up with some great do-ityourself projects that make wonderful (and useful) baby shower gifts. Particularly if you’re adept to using coupons, you can save big when you make some common baby shower gifts at home.
• Pins
Here’s what you need:
• 1 yard of 60-inch jersey knit fabric • Sewing machine • Coordinating thread • Scissors
Here’s how you make it:
• Make sure all the edges of the fabric have a clean cut. Sometimes the person who cuts your fabric at the store doesn’t leave the cleanest of cuts. Take some scissors and trim up the edges, if needed. • Lay out your fabric on the floor with the right side of the fabric facing up. The ‘right’ side of the fabric is the side of the fabric that you eventually want to be the side that people see when the scarf is finished. • You should have a long rectangle of fabric lying in front of you. Fold the fabric in half “hamburger style” so that the right sides of the fabric are touching. • Take your pins and pin along the edge directly across from the fold that you just made. If you’ve folded and pinned everything correctly, you should have an infinity scarf lying in front of you that is inside out. • Here’s where the sewing machine comes in. Sew along the edge that you just pinned. One straight line is all it takes. If you know how to reinforce the edges, you can do that. If not, that’s okay too! • Turn your scarf right side out and you’re done! You can leave the raw edge of the fabric as is because a jersey knit won’t fray on the edges. It really is that easy.
22 | Spring 2015 | FROM OUR NEST
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Burp Cloths/ Baby Blanket/Washcloth This is a catch all sort of how-to. Depending on the size of fabric you have will determine if you’re making burp cloths, a blanket or washcloths. This is another simple and cheap way to give the mom-to-be something that is very useful and can typically be quite expensive.
Here’s what you need:
• Flannel fabric – The amount of fabric depends on what you want to make. Make sure your fabric is two inches larger all the way around than what you want the final size of your project to be. Don’t pick anything super thick though. • Pins • Thread
• Fold each end over twice and sew it in place. You can use pins to help hold down the fold while you sew it if you need to. Basically all you’re doing is hemming the edge and making it look pretty. You can make your folds as big or as small as you want them to be. The folding part is the reason you want your fabric to be larger than the size of the finished product. • Repeat step two on all four sides. The corners are pretty thick so this is why you don’t want a fabric that is really thick. That’s all there is to it. All of these gifts are staples for new moms in the first few months of mommy-hood, so you can give them something they need and save money too! It’s a win-win.
• Sewing machine
Here’s how you make it:
CRIS SWATERS is the
communications coordinator at White River Valley Electric Co-op and a lover of extreme couponing, frugal living, social media and healthy home cooking. Get more tips and healthy eating recipes from Cris at www.purrfectportions.wordpress.com.
BEFORE
• Take two pieces of flannel that are the same size. You can do the same fabric or two different fabrics that coordinate. Place them with the wrong sides together. This means that the print side of the fabric will be on the outside on both the top and the bottom.
Are you are an
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creases FROM OUR NEST | Spring 2015 | 23