Home Grown- Parenting in the North Issue 3 by HomeGrown Parenting in the North

HOME GROWN

Parenting in the North

Cloth Diapering in this Day and Age?

Interview With Christine South, Mother of FOUR!

Make Your Own Lactation Bars

SEW SIMPLE MAKE YOUR OWN LUNCH BAG

September 2011 - Issue #3

Volume 1

Night Time Mothering

HG 1

ur o t r es po s p s u e S sin u b k! l n a a c B lo od o F and

First Annual H ome Based Business Expo & Mom-2-Mom Sale

Admission is F RE E Please consid er bringing a donation for the Kirkland Lake & Area Food Bank

SALE Saturday, September 24th 10AM-3PM

Sir Harry Oakes Chateau (Museum of Northern History) in Kirkland Lake Check out Usborne Books, Tupperware, Epicure, SweetFace Boutique, Partylite, Photohouse by Penny, L.E.M. Photography, Passion Creations Homemade Jewelry, and many more! Contact Jamie (642-3453) cowie.jamie@hotmail.com or Jenita (643-2150) jenita@my.tupperware.ca for more details!

TABLE OF CONTENTS Editors Notes

Meet The Writers

6-7

Interview with Christine South an inspiring mother of four.

9-11

Home Decorating Easy Fall Decorating

Home Decorating Back to School Decorating

14-15

Bellies and Babies Night Time Mothering

17-18

Check List

Lady of the House So You Home School Eh?

38-39

Top Ten

47-48

Back to School Preperation

Life at the Cottage

Birth Tales

51-53

A Canada Day Baby

September Birthday Announcements

Our Facebook Fans are Talking

Babies First Months

What to do with the old garbage bins

Cloth Diapering

22-23

In This Day And Age ?

Make Your Own

26-27

Lactation Bars

Product Review Delish

What Should I do Today

31-33

School Is Cool

Love and Learning

35-36

Ready Set September

Sew Simple

41-44

Canvas Lunch bag

Through The Stages A Growing Family

All things that grow% Photography(

Editors Notes August... September Where Did Summer go? By Kayleigh May

Summer has slowly slipped past us, as we get ready to enter Autumn. I found that this summer was very wet and rainy and slipped by us very quickly. Again we would like to welcome another new writer, Pamela Pilon. Pamela is the owner of Bibmababy, and has laid out some great DIY’s for us. I look forward to reading more of her articles, as a sewing enthusiast I cannot wait to try the things she has in store for us. (I will post a photograph of my attempt on this months Sew Cool project... lets see how I do. After reading Chantal Warren’s article on how easy cloth diapering is, I told her that I did not believe that it could be so simple. I’m a mother of two boys both in diapers and I always seem to have a million and two projects on the go. I decided that I would take her diaper trial, Only 40.00 (The cost of a large box of diapers.) I will get back to all of you readers on how “Simple” this Diaper trial goes, while I write this all I can think of is yucky poopie diapers piling up at the washing machine with the other large amount of laundry that I have. So how was your summer? Are you all ready for school? E-mail me at kayleighmay.homegrown@gmail.com and let me know.

Kayleigh May, Is the editor of Home Grown Parenting in the North. She is the owner of All Things That Grow Photography. With two boys aged 2 and 10 months old. She is a very busy mother, wife and photographer. Kayleigh loves working with pregnant women and newborns.

EDITOR: Kayleigh May De Cecco Assistant Editor: Chantal Warren Writers Christine South Christine.homegrown@gmail.com Lady of the House, Bellies and Babies - Julie-Anne Mauno Julieanne.homegrown@gmail.com Living Green - Chantal Warren Chantal.homegrown@gmail.com Home Decorating - Heather Cote Heather.homegrown@gmail.com Love And Learning - Tessa Morrissette Tessa.homegrown@gmail.com Child Care - Natalie Cloutier natcloutier.homegrown@gmail.com Sew Cool -Pamela Pilon

pamelapilon.homegrown@gmail.com

Editors Notes, - Kayleigh May De Cecco Kayleighmay.homegrown@gmail.com

Here at Home Grown we are always looking for Writers. If you have an interesting topic that you think would benefit the magazine please e-mail either Kayleigh May or Chantal and we will be happy to review your idea.

Meet Our Writers ! Chantal is an eco-conscious entrepreneur who splits her time between being a mom

to two and operating a natural baby boutique in the City of Timmins. Her desires to live a more natural life have provided her the knowledge, experience and contacts to

reduce her family’s carbon footprint on the planet.

Chantal Warren Assistant Editor

Julie-Anne is a stay-at-home mom to six beautiful children in rural Northern Ontario. Her adventures include large family mothering, homeschooling, and rural living. As an experienced childbirth educator and doula, she desires to encourage other mothers, especially through the childbearing years. She also writes at www.fruitfulvines.blogspot.com.

Julie-Anne Mauno

Christine South is a married mother of 4 beautiful children. She is a qualiﬁed teacher and works occasionally with the NCDSB in Timmins. She spends most of her time with her family, enjoying the roller coaster ride of being a mother. Her husband works out of town as a Mechanic 4 weeks at a time, so she holds down the fort at home, juggling a 9 year old, a 5 year old, a 2 year old and a newborn. If there's one thing this lady is good at it's multi-

Christine South

tasking!

Heather is mom to 2 school-aged kids and works from home as an interior

decorator. She is the owner of Stylish Solutions, a decorating business in Timmins.

Heather Cote

Meet Our Writers ! Tessa is the mom of a beautiful 2 and half-year-old boy and is expecting her

second baby in January. She has a background in Early Childhood Education and Child Development with a specialty for children with special needs. Her greatest joy

is raising her son and spending time with her family and looks forward to the many

rewards and challenges her expanding family with bring to her life.

Tessa Morrissette

Natalie is a stay at home mother of three beautiful little girls. She runs an in-

home private daycare and has done so for the last 6 years. Working with children

has taught her many things but the best is to watch the children she cares for and

her own become loving, respectful, independent and ready to take on the world, one

grade at a time. She enjoys the outdoors, singing and of course, spending time with her family.

Natalie Cloutier

Pamela is a mom of one who juggles her work as a Graphic Designer with

her hobby as a seamstress. She is the face behind Bibmababy - an online boutique that brings chic, funky and unique styles to babies and toddlers.

Pamela Pilon

All Things That Grow%

Photography( By Kayleigh May

705.264.2023 dececco.km@gmail.com www.allthingsthatgrow.smugmug.com

Save 5% off of your sitting fee when you mention Home Grown in September

Christine Ann-Marie South (Villeneuve) Mother of Four Interviewed by: Kayleigh May All things that grow% Photography(

Name: Christine Ann-Marie South (Villeneuve)

faith and love and it will always lead you to happiness!

Birth date: January 22, 1979 How many children do you have? I have 4 beautiful children; Hobbies (when not running a 9 year old around after kids): Scrapbooking, daughter Cassidy reading, writing, trying out new Bella, a 5 year old recipes and of course I’m a closet son Colby Phillipe, a 2 year old son Facebook addict. Owen William and, the completion of our family, a 2 month old daughter Favourite food: Definitely spaghetti Mallory Madeleine. with homemade sauce and garlic What is your home schedule toast like? I try to keep a general routine around the house, but with the Favourite saying: “What doesn’t unpredictability of the 4 children, I kill you, makes you stronger” need to be flexible. Mornings consist of indoor quiet If you could meet with anyone, activities including watching alive or dead, who would it be television or a movie, playing a and why? Oh, what an interesting question! Well, after a little thought, I video game like a DS or the would have to choose Rhonda Byrne, Wii, or a table activity such as playing with playdoh, putting the author of the best-selling book together a puzzle or colouring and film entitled “The Secret”. I think she would be so inspirational to a picture. Afternoons consist of sit and chat with. I would love to soak either outdoor play (in our yard or at a park), or an outing in all of her stories and advice for of some sort. Dinner is almost living the life you’ve always wanted. always spent together at the I’m a strong believer in the dinner table and after dinner philosophy of “you get what you we have some family time give” which is one of the main premises of The Secret. The way you which could be just playing on the floor, building legos or just feel and the things you believe general silly time. I alternate ultimately decide what you have in bath night between boys and your life, so live your life with hope, Occupation: Qualified Occasional Teacher

girls and they have a staggered bedtime, with a half hour between each child starting with the youngest. I try to get in 5 or 10 minutes of oneon-one time with each child before bed. My oldest daughter helps with the baby while I get the boys to bed. The most important thing about a home schedule is not to stress out

Christine Ann-Marie South (Villeneuve) Mother of Four How do you find ways of giving attention to each child? I’ve learned over the years that it’s not all about quantity of time, but QUALITY. I spent most of my time with all my children, giving them attention on demand throughout the day. The children have adapted to allowing me to give one child more attention than the other depending on the situation. But I try to sneak in as much one on one time as possible, for example, when my mom or dad is here visiting, I’ll take just one child out with me to run an errand or grab a treat. Or when the babies are napping, I’ll get in an hour of game time in with the two older children. What is the biggest challenge of having a large family? The biggest challenge for my family is that my husband Mike works out of town. He works for RedPath where he runs the mechanical division at a mine in Red Lake Ontario. He is on a 6 week rotation where he is gone for 4 weeks at a time, and is home for 2 weeks. It is very challenging to have 4 children all on my own for a month at a time. My next biggest challenge is keeping up with laundry! How do you cope with all four children while your husband works out of town? I drink wine, lots of wine, just kidding! Joking aside, some form of routine is especially important for me while my husband is away. My mom comes during the days a few times a week and my dad comes just about every second evening. They are both very helpful and allow me to sneak out on my own or with one child to grab some groceries, or go to an appointment or make a quick trip to the library or drugstore. I have a few people in my life that I rely on to help me on the days that I need it the most. This year will be a little easier because I’m off on maternity leave and have 2 children in school full time. I also have a babysitter (my next

“Don’t be afraid to ask for help!”

All things that grow% Photography(

door neighbour) for days where I need a break or my parents are not available to help. I am a master at deep breathing, and counting. I use a rewards system with short term benefits to encourage good behaviour from my children, such as a water balloon fight after dinner if they help to set the table, eat all their dinner and help tidy up. It seems to work well. Is there any advice you can give to new mothers who have husbands that work out of town? The best advice that I can offer mothers who have husbands that work out of town, is don’t be afraid to ask for help! You’d be surprised at how many people are willing to lend a hand every once in a while. Take advantage of nap time to get in a little personal time, or get some housework done. Also, after the children are in bed, try to prepare as much as you can for the next day. Whether that be lunches, laundry, or meal preparations (or at least an idea for dinner the next day).

Christine Ann-Marie South (Villeneuve) Mother of Four

“I deﬁnitely like that there is another set of

eyes to watch the little ones or that I can

sneak away for a little mommy time!”

It must be tough with Mike working out of town, so when he is home how does he help you with the children? Mike is very dedicated to his work, and I’m a very independent, selfsufficient person, so our situation works well for us. We both agree that it’s not easy being apart, and many people don’t understand how we do it, but it’s something that we’ve always done and we’ve just adapted to this lifestyle. Life is definitely different when Mike is home. I definitely like that there is another set of eyes to watch the little ones or that I can sneak away for a little mommy time! Also, I love that I feel like I’m on light duty when he’s home because I have another set of hands to help wrangle the children and help around the house. He tries his best to take one or more of the kids out with

him all the time, takes them over to the park to give mommy a break at home, or just out on a bike ride after dinner to let me catch up on a few things around the house. It’s nice to be able to have a bath and not bring the baby monitor with me, or sleep all night because he’ll get up to feed the baby. With Mike around, all I have to do is ask and he’s more than happy to oblige. And the question of the month.... Have you been able to leave your house alone to go to Wal-Mart? Hahaha…great question! I actually get to go there alone quite often, and one of the reasons for that is that I

live so close by! It’s pretty easy for me to just pop over to grab a loaf of bread or a pitcher pack of milk. Wal-Mart is my home away from home! What is the hardest age to deal with, everyone says the twos are terrible, what age do you find the hardest? I would have to agree, the twos are terrible!! But really, each age has its own challenges; starting at sleep deprivation with a newborn, insane independence with a toddler, daily arguments with a know-it-all 5 year old, and wild attitude from my hormone-filled pre-teen. My opinion changes on a daily basis on which age is the hardest to deal with. !

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Home Decorating Easy Fall Decorating By Heather Cote

In my house, back-to-school time also means it's time to warm up our decor and create a cozier environment for fall. Colour: One easy way to update your home for fall is with colour. Warm up your rooms by adding colours from the warmer side of the colour wheel, or warmer versions of the cool colours you already use. Wall colour has a huge impact on the feel of the room stronger artwork and accessories help, too. This is a great time of year for a wooden tray filled with candles in deep reds and rusty oranges! Add Layers & Texture: Adding texture is another great way to get your home ready for the cooler weather. A warm, fuzzy throw draped over the sofa is a great way to bring warmth to a room. Bring in a few throw cushions in textured fabrics and warm colours. Lay down a soft area rug (a shag area rug is a popular choice for comfort and warmth). Add heavier drapery panels on either side of a window. A summery sofa can be covered in a heavier, more textured slipcover. Light It Up: Lighting is another simple way to add warmth. Banish dark corners by adding a table lamp or floor lamp.

Home Decorating

Back To School Decorating By Heather Cote

How To Store or Use Your Child's Artwork If your kids are anything like mine, they have enough artistic creations to start their own museum. And now that they're headed back to school, the piles will be getting bigger and bigger. Deciding what to keep and what to throw away can be tough, but there are a few different ways you can store or use your child's artwork: Frame the really "good" ones (especially ones that match your home's decor). A collection of kidcreated artwork makes a great gallery for a hallway. Laminate it and use it as a placemat. Stack the big artwork, roll them all together tightly and slip them inside gift wrap tubes or mailing tubes. Make it all 8.5 x 11" then simply grab a large 3 ring binder and a 3-hole punch. Take a picture of each piece, and put all the pictures in an album. Use it as wrapping paper. Label a Rubbermaid tote for each child, and store all artwork inside.

How do you store or use your child's artwork? Email heather.homegrown@gmail.com include a photograph and tell us how you do it!

Home Decorating Back To School Decorating By Heather Cote

Decorating with School Supplies Here are 3 quick & easy ways to use school supplies in your decorating: Binder clips make great picture frames – just clip two to the bottom of your photo, then either close the arms and stand the clip on its flat end or leave them open and use them as “legs”. Large binder rings can double as shower curtain rings. A mouse pad can make a unique trivet for hot dishes – they come in a variety of colours and designs. You can even order

Home Away From Home If your child is going away to school this year, chances are they'll be living in a dorm room or small apartment. Here are a few ways to make their space feel more like home: • Can't paint? Wall decals are a fun way to add a bit of interest and colour without doing anything permanent! • Bed risers will increase the height of the bed by a few inches, which is great way to increase storage space. The added height will give you enough room for under-bed totes, which are perfect for keeping things out of the way but still accessible. • Adequate lighting is important – both for doing homework and for making the space seem more open and inviting. Banishing dark shadows is a great way to make the room appear larger. • Framing posters instead of just taping them to the wall makes a dorm room feel more like a home. • Maximize your space with a closet organizer, over the door shoe holder (holds an amazing amount of small accessories, toiletries, & school supplies) and wall hooks. • A reversible comforter is a great way to be able to change your look without spending any more money. Add new curtains (hang them as high as possible and down to the floor to make the window seem

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Bellies And Babies Night-Time Mothering All things that grow% Photography(

By: Julie-Anne Mauno

“People who say they sleep like a baby usually don't have one." -Leo J. Burke

One day I was at a playgroup with other mothers. They were talking about sleep and whether or not they were getting any. Sleep is like chocolate for new mothers. We crave it all the time but we only get it once in a while. Many of these mothers were passed the early months of sleepless nights with their babies. Although my son was almost 2, I was still living through extreme sleep deprivation. I had tried all sorts of tricks and tactics to encourage my son to sleep through the night. But no matter what I did, he didn’t sleep through more than 4 hours or so at a time. My son would be 2 ½ years old before I would see a full night’s sleep. My motherhood journey had led me down a path I would not have chosen. Because, let’s face it, we ALL need and love our sleep. However, these 2 ½ years would become some of the most enriching years as they transformed my mothering and taught me many things.

It was during this season of sleeplessness that I learned a whole new dimension of motherhood. I discovered that night-time mothering is just as important as day-time mothering. All young children have some night-time needs. Whether it’s a young baby who needs milk or a sick toddler who needs care or a toilet-training youngster who wet the bed, children’s needs don’t disappear when the sun does. During those 2 years, all of those hours awake with my little one at night became a special time of learning to meet my child’s specific needs. He was on his own journey, a “learning to sleep” journey. Even though there were moments of desperate prayers for my own sleep, I experienced some precious bonding times as I cared for my son at night.

“The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep.” -Robert Frost

I also experienced motherhood in a whole new way. I learned to be more adaptable and selfless. I became more aware of my children’s individual needs. I threw away the box and experienced a freedom in following my instincts in mothering both by day and by night. It was a time of great personal growth as a person and as a mother. Stretching times usually are. Along with this came some practical parenting lessons. Here is what I have learned when it comes to sleep and children.

•Routines are helpful. Establishing a bedtime routine that involves bath time and story time or a special song and prayers and repeating that routine nightly (and at the same time each night) helps create a healthy and successful bedtime. •

Each child will respond to sleep differently and will sleep through the night at different ages.

•

Babies and children have special bedtime needs that include comfort, security and companionship.

•

Babies need to nurse at night for food and comfort. Night-time nursing plays a vital role in a healthy milk supply too.

•

Children’s night-time needs are just as important as their day-time needs.

•

Creating a relaxing atmosphere early in the evening such as playing soft music, dimming lights and even lighting candles helps young children wind down and welcome sleep.

•

Embracing night-time mothering helps ease the frustration of sleep deprivation.

•

Living a healthy lifestyle goes a long way in surviving long seasons of sleep deprivation.

•

All mothers need sleep.

Like all seasons, my extreme sleep deprivation eventually came to an end. I have not had another child who has required so much night-time mothering. Now, every time I hear a little voice calling me at night or feel my nursing baby searching for me, I am aware of the incredible opportunity to nurture my

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Double Check ! In keeping with last month’s hospital delivery bag checklist, we’re following up with a list of ‘must-haves’ for bringing home baby with a natural and economical twist. By this time, you have no doubt read a dozen lists a mile long that include every piece of equipment, furniture and knick-knack that are considered musthaves. If you actually bought everything you’ve been told you need, you’d already be draining the college fund. Babies don’t need to be that expensive; here are the basic necessities that you will need in the first few months of baby’s new life.

Necessities: ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( (

) A safe place to sleep ) A few extra-large swaddle blankets ) A place to eat ) Blender/food processor for easy first foods ) Reusable nursing pads ) A car seat* ) A wrap, sling or other style of carrier ) Natural body & hair wash ) Clothes, purchased second hand ) Cloth diapers & wipes ) Natural bum balm

Add Your Own ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( (

) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

*The car seat is the only baby item that parents are advised to purchase new. A car seat may not show any tell tale signs that it has been in an accident, but if it has, the functionality may have been severely impaired.!

Re-use Ideas New Waste Management Program The Cochrane district has been using its new waste management system for a few weeks now and if you are still wondering what to do with your old garbage cans and recycling boxes, before you load them up to bring them to the dump, here are a few ideas to consider: 1. Rain barrel 2. Storage bin for salt/sand in the winter 3. Storage bin for sports equipment, ie. Skies,

poles, hockey sticks 4. Compost bin 5. Container gardening 6. Pet waste digester 7. Store wrapping paper rolls 8. Outdoor storage for large toys 9. Donate them to a second hand store 10. Give them to family or friends who live outside

of the district.

Living Green: Cloth Diapers: In This Day and Age? By: Chantal Warren

You’ve thought about, you’ve even looked into it, and you quickly became overwhelemed by the choices available to you when it comes to dealing with your baby’s poop! Who knew it could be so complicated? Well, hopefully this helps to shed some light and clear up some of the mistique surounding cloth diapers.

Liz Lott, Snapdragon Photography

WHY CLOTH DIAPERS? The top four reasons to use cloth are: they are economical, eco-friendly, easy to use, and more comfortable for baby.

Weighing the Costs of Cloth Cutting costs when a new baby arrives is a paramount goal for all new parents. That’s why it’s important to understand exactly how much disposable diapers will cost you over time and just how much cloth diapers can save you. The average family spends about $1200 per year on single use (disposable) diapers. Over the nearly three years that most children spend in diapers, disposables cost parents approximately $3,600 per child in diapers. The same family can save well over $2600 by investing in cloth diapers. A baby can be diapered from birth to potty training for as little as $200 or on average $800; which can be used for all future children. The main issue with starting cloth diapers for most parents is the upfront costs, however, it can be relatively cheap to both try and invest in when done properly. You don’t need to dish out $800 the day baby is born. The best way to start cloth diapering is to start with one diaper and go up from there. Also, if you are unsure about wheter or not you will like it, there are some cost effective options for you that require minimal investment Diaper trials, available locally, are a great way to test out this option before putting out any real cash.

Living Green: Cloth Diapers: In This Day and Age? By: Chantal Warren

The Environmental Cost The average family using disposable diapers go through 5000 to 7000 diapers in the first two years. In Canada, 4 million diapers make their way to the dump every day. In ideal conditions, one of those diapers could take 500 years to biodegrade. The process of producing disposable diapers is also more demanding and damaging on our natural resources requiring more pulp, water and plastic than the production of cotton and hemp used for cloth. So if we follow the 3 cardinal rules – reducing, re-using and recycling - then using cloth diapers is a logical choice.

Easy-Peasy If the mental picture you conjure up when you think of cloth diapers is pins and plastic pants, then boy, are you in for a treat. Cloth diapers have come a long way since you’re grandmother’s time. New cloth diapers are simple, smart and easy to use. Most brands have forgone the pins in place of easy to use hook & loop (Velcro) or snaps. Some are so easy that you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone unable to use it. They are easy to adjust, put on and take off; as easy as a disposable.

Living Green: Cloth Diapers: In This Day and Age? By: Chantal Warren

Your Baby will Thank You There’s nothing like the feel of soft cloth against your baby’s skin! Cloth diapered babies get changed more often. With cloth diapers, there tends to be more air circulation, less build-up of temperature, and fewer rash problems. You are also reducing the amount of chemicals that your baby is exposed to. Another benefit, cloth diapered children usually potty train sooner than those in disposables. According to Harvard researchers, in 1950, 90% of children were potty trained by the age of 24 months. In 1997, a similar study found that most children are now between 36-38 month before potty training. What’s the main difference between these two studies? The invent of disposable diapers in 1961.

Yeah, But it’s Gross and a Lot of Extra Work So you’re turned off by the thought of having to clean dirty diapers? The truth is washing cloth diapers is almost as easy as throwing in a load of towels. For starters, babies who are breastfed, require no extra work before cleaning their diapers; breastfed poop is water soluble and rinses out in the wash. As you’re baby moves to solid foods, wet diapers simply go into a diaper pail to wait for wash day. As for soiled diapers, you have a few choices, liners being a popular option, simply flush it away. You can also flip and flush, letting your washer deal with any residue or invest in a diaper sprayer that attaches to your toilet. At no time, do you actually have to deal with poop any more than you would using disposables. !

Photograph By: Ryan Jary

So, fewer rashes & chemicals for your little one, momentous cost savings, minimal additional work, and significant environmental benefits, how can you not give cloth a try?

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Make your Own: Lactation Bars You can fiddle with this recipe, by adding less "fat" for a more crispy bar, or just the suggested amount for a chewy bar. You can also add a little extra thick cut oatmeal for a crunch. These bars are great because you can take the basic recipe and make it your own! You can also use cup-cake tins! ENJOY!

Lactation Bars

Prep: 10 min Cook: 20 min Yield: 40 bars.

Ingredients: • 2 c. butter, Crisco, or margarine or sub in equal peanut butter for "fat" • 1 c. granulated sugar • 2 c. packed brown sugar • 4 eggs • 1 tbsp. vanilla extract • 1 tsp. salt • 2 tsp. baking soda Extras: • 2 1/2 c. flour • 1 bag mini semi-sweet chocolate • 1/2 c. wheat germ chips • 1/4 c. brewer's yeast or nutritional yeast powder • chopped nuts • 1/4 c. flax meal (or whole flaxseed milled fine in a coffee grinder) • dried fruit (especially berries) • 4 c. oatmeal (old fashioned, or as thick-cut as you can find) • chunky peanut butter • Any extras of your choice • butterscotch chips • milk chocolate chips • marshmallows • chocolate pudding

Lactation Bars

Prep: 10 min Cook: 20 min Yield: 40 bars.

1. Cream butter and sugars well, then add eggs and vanilla and beat until well incorporated. 2. Mix all dry ingredients EXCEPT for oats in separate bowl, then add all at once and stir in as well as possible by hand before mixing with beaters until smooth. 3. Add oats and chips (and nuts, if desired), and stir until well blended. 4. Divide dough into five parts and line a 10x7 cookie sheet (with shallow sides, like a jellyroll pan) with foil, then spray foil with nonstick spray. 5. Spread 1/5 of the dough into the foil-lined pan and bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees. 6. When done, simply lift out the bars by the foil and place another piece of foil into the pan and spray for the next batch. 7. Allow to cool at least slightly before cutting each pan of bars into eighths.

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PRODUCT REVIEW Delish By Kayleigh De Cecco

When it comes to these products, the name says it all.... “Delish!” I first found out about Delish products when visiting Sweet Face, (Our local eco-friendly cloth diapering store.) The products smelled amazing. I ended up trying a lemon Yum Bum Butter, and a creamy chai tea lotion. At first when I opened the lemon bum butter, I was surprised by the subtle scent, usually I find lemon scented products over whelming and in your face. When I went to apply the lemon bum butter to my poor son’s red bum, the scent came out a little stronger, but still smelled really good. I really did want to take a big bite out of my 1 year old’s bum... The diaper rash that my son had did not heal right away, but I did notice that he seemed less annoyed by his bum and his mood did change right away. The Yum Bum Butter, has made our diaper changes so much better, and after using the Bum Butter for over three weeks, my son now has no rash at all. I did not only use the Yum Bum Butter on my son’s bum, I also used it as a lip chap at one point when I got a really bad crack right in the middle of my lips. This healed with extreme speed. I was later informed that Delish actually does have a lip balm line. As for the creamy chai tea lotion, I love the how silky smooth it leaves both my 2 year old and my one year old’s skin. I used it on myself as well to add a subtle smell after a shower. I’m getting bored with smelling like baby powder. There was only one problem that I had with Delish, and that was trying to not take a bite out of my children.

visit www.sweetface.ca for more eco friendly products, including cloth diapers, natural skin care lines, and accessories.

Is there a product that you would like reviewed? Send an e-mail to kayleighmay.homegrown@gmail.com and let me know!

What Should I do Today? School is Cool! By Natalie Cloutier

September!! Ahhh, what a wonderful time of year….the beautiful colors come out in the trees, for those with older children, they begin school; for those with younger children, it’s the perfect opportunity to teach them about school and what it is all about! This month’s theme features activities related to school. Happy teaching!

Song: The Wheels On The Bus The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round, round and round The wheels on the bus go round and round, all the way to school The wipers on the bus go swish swish swish, swish swish swish, swish swish swish, The wipers on the bus go swish swish swish, all the way to school Continue with: The door on the bus goes open and shut The kids on the bus “bye bye bye” The mommies on the street say “I love you” (Make up your own lines to go with the song and encourage your children to do the same.)

Book: I am Too Absolutely Small for School by Lauren Child This book reassures little ones that it’s ok to start school; Lola is worried about beginning school, and her older brother Charlie reassures her that it’s ok, and even fun!

Dramatic play: At the Library Make library cards for each child and have plenty of books available. Have a check out area, book bags, carpet squares; anything else that would compliment the area such a sign, opening and closing hours.

Craft: Terra Cotta Pot Apple Container

What Should I do Today? School is Cool! By Natalie Cloutier

Use this pot to hold candies, erasers or any other goodies you like. Makes a great gift for teachers!

Materials for the Apple Container: • 1 terra cotta pot (any size) o I made a fairly small container (3" pot) o big enough to hold candies, but small enough to fit on a desk • 1 terra cotta saucer (a size smaller than the pot) o It should be just large enough to fit on top of the pot. • paint brushes or sponge brush • green leaves (clipped off old silk flowers) OR green fun foam OR green construction paper • raffia or ribbon • tacky craft glue or low temp glue gun (tacky glue is easily used by children) Paints for the Apple Container: Acrylic paints work best for this project, though you can use tempra (poster) paints. Acrylic paint doesn't come out of clothes. If you get it on something, wash IMMEDIATELY (before it dries) When the girls were younger, I'd basecoat a bunch of pots with white acrylic paint (and sometimes even leftover gray fence paint *grin*) and then let them paint over top of that with poster paints. The terra cotta color is tough to cover with poster paints. By basecoating white, it makes the process go better for them. • bright red (or yellow if you want a golden apple) • black (or dark green) for the chalkboard • light yellow (or white) for the chalk writing (or use a acrylic white paint pen)

What Should I do Today? School is Cool! Craft:

By Natalie Cloutier

Terra Cotta Pot Apple Container

Instructions for the Apple Container: • Paint the terra cotta pot red. You can just paint the outside or you can do the inside too (we just did the outside). • Let dry (if using acrylic paints, the paint will be dry before you're ready for the next step with the pot). • Paint the bottom of the saucer the same color red. Again, you can paint the whole thing red if you prefer. • Paint a black square onto the front of the pot (to look like a chalkboard). You can use low tack masking tape to tape off the area you'll be painting if you want to be really exact, but we just did it free hand. I drew a line with black marker and then Tasha (my 8 year old) filled it in. • Use tacky glue to attach the two leaves to the center of the bottom of the saucer OR cut leaf shapes from fun foam or construction paper and glue them on • Tie the raffia or ribbon into a bow and glue that on top of the leaves. • Use a small paintbrush to paint school messages onto the chalkboard. Some suggestions are ABC's, 123's, I Love School, stick figures, the teacher's name, the child's name or a picture of an apple. • Fill with candies, paper clips, push pins or small erasers to give as gifts to children and place on desk (or give to the teacher as a gift). • NOTE: If the hole on the bottom of the pot is too large and lets the candies out the bottom, trace the pot bottom onto a piece of red construction paper or fun foam. Cut about 1/4 inch inside the circle you traced and slip the circle inside the pot so it blocks the hole. Thank you to www.dltk-kids.com for the craft idea. !

Send us pictures of your Terra Cotta Apple Planters and they may be shown in next months issue kayleighmay.homegrown@gmail.com

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Love And Learning Ready, Set, SEPTEMBER By: Tessa Morrissette

Welcome to September Mommies! Many of my mommy friends are sending their little one’s off to school for the very first time. I thankfully, have a couple of more years before this giant leap. I watch my friends as they nervously and reluctantly gather all of the required supplies to begin this new journey; a backpack, running shoes, crayons, a few new pieces of clothing etc, etc. So besides all of these material items, how can you help your child get off to the best start as they embark on this new adventure? I think that as moms, one of our biggest goals is to nurture and develop our babies into strong independent children. This is an important trait needed to make this huge transition a little easier on everyone. Here are a few suggestions to encourage your child to develop more independence in preparation for school: • • • • • • • • • • •

Have your child spend time away from regular caregivers such as a school readiness program offered by the local OEYC in the months leading up to the start of school. Start to structure your child’s day even when you are home by setting aside times of the day for specific structured activities. Save some time to talk over your child's day - if you make this a habit now, it will come more naturally when he or she comes home from school. Give your child specific tasks for helping at home - tidying up will be part of the classroom routine. Encourage your child to be responsible for their own personal care for example, picking out their own clothes, helping get snacks ready. Make sure your child has a set bedtime; your child should be getting between 10 and 12 hours of sleep. Start planning and arranging a homework area in your house, it will show your child the importance of schoolwork and have them help with the set up. Attend the school open house. Get your child to help plan the route to and from school. Visit the school playground during the summer months to make it familiar and increase your child’s comfort level. Make sure to read together every day, this will encourage your child’s early reading skills and continue to promote language development.

Love And Learning Ready, Set, SEPTEMBER By: Tessa Morrissette

Keep in mind that children do not necessarily need to have specific knowledge or skill set to begin school. Here are a few ideas of what children beginning school should be able to do: •

Share and know how to take turns.

•

Cooperate and play well with others.

•

Listen and pay attention for short periods of time.

•

Speak and ask for what they need.

•

Recognize their names in writing.

•

Help out and put away classroom materials and toys after activity time.

•

Dress and undress themselves.

•

Use the toilet independently.

•

Play by themselves with toys for a period of time without needing adult attention.

•

Be away from their caregivers and parents and understand that parents will come back.

So mamas, as you welcome September and stand at the bus stop with your children, give yourself a pat on the back for all of the hard work and teaching you’ve done in preparation for this very moment. It’s no easy task helping your baby learn to be independent and it can be heartbreaking when your little one says “No mommy, I can do it without you”, but if you’ve heard those words, or something similar, then you know you’ve done a great job so far. Keep it up ladies, every moment and milestone is worth all of the blood, sweat and the many, many tears.!

Pawsitive Gems A new dog training service in Timmins and surrounding area

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- 6 weeks program is regular $60; Home Grown subscribers will receive an additional session OR a $10 discount on the program (must sign up for the 6 weeks program to qualify) 37

Lady of the House So, You Homeschool Eh? By Julie-Anne Mauno

It’s back-to-school time and while most parents are busy buying school supplies and checking off school lists, I am busy buying homeschool curriculum materials and talking with my children about their learning goals and interests for this coming year. Yes, I’m a homeschooler! You’ve probably heard of us. Maybe you even know someone who homeschools. If there is something I’ve discovered about homeschooling, it’s that most people know very little about it. Many comments I receive about homeschooling are inaccurate. So, I’ve come up with the top 10 myths people believe about homeschooling to help dispel some of the misinformation out there. After all, knowledge is power and learning is at the heart of homeschooling. Myth #1: Homeschooled children lack opportunities for socialization. This is by far the most common myth about homeschooling. The truth is that most homeschooled children socialize with peers outside their home and usually have friends at church, in their neighbourhood or at activities such as hockey or dance class. Families can also be a great social environment! Myth #2: Homeschoolers can’t get into university or college. Actually, many universities and colleges have come up with an admissions policy for homeschoolers as they recognize that homeschooled graduates are usually academically compatible with their public-schooled peers. Myth #3: Homeschooling is for gifted kids. While some gifted children are homeschooled, many children with learning disabilities or even average learners are homeschooled too. Each child is unique and homeschooling can be adapted to any learning ability. Myth #4: Homeschooling is for religious families. It’s true that many homeschoolers come from faith-based families. However, there are more and more non-religious families joining the homeschooling ranks. Myth #5: Homeschooling is like public school in a home setting. There are some homeschool curriculums that have a public-school-at-home feel. Some homeschoolers enjoy the peace of mind that comes from doing the same work their public-schooled peers are doing. But, homeschooling is so diverse and has many different learning approaches. Homeschooling families benefit greatly from this freedom.

Lady of the House So, You Homeschool Eh? By Julie-Anne Mauno

Myth#6: Homeschoolers are weird. Actually we are usually ordinary families with a different approach to schooling. Myth #7: Homeschoolers are sheltered from the real world. Perhaps schooling at home will help to shelter children from some things like bullying, drugs and inappropriate language. However, with media and neighbourhood friends, homeschoolers are usually well aware of the world around them. Just like public-schooled children, if parents guide them wisely, they will learn to stand for what is right and reject what is wrong. Myth #8: Homeschooled children are under-educated. If parents fail to meet their responsibilities of home education, some children can fall behind. However, most homeschooling families are in it because they are passionate about education and learning. Homeschooling parents are usually seeking ways to enrich their childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s educational experiences and help their children reach their potential. In fact, studies show that homeschooled students score exceptionally high when tested for academic achievement. (1) Myth#9: Homeschooled kids donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t follow any kind of schedule at home and can work or play anytime they want. Most homeschooling families have some sort of pattern or schedule they follow on school days. While they do have more freedom to adapt this schedule to family life (like taking days off when Grandma and Grandpa come and visit), homeschooling families usually have set routines. Myth#10: Homeschoolers can do school work in their pyjamas. Not at my house!

HOME GROWN Parenting in the North

SUBSCRIBE! ITS FREE! Make Sure You Never Miss An Issue http://eepurl.com/e8ktY (1) http://www.nheri.org/Latest/Homeschooling-Across-America-Academic-Achievement-and-Demographic-characteristics.html

Northern Lotus Yoga

Phone number: 531-2460 Email: northern_lotus@yahoo.ca Website: www.northernlotusyogastudio.webs.com

SEW SIMPLE CANVAS LUNCH BAG! By:Pamela Pilon

It's that time of year again - when playgrounds grow quiet and you hear the big yellows dragging by at 8am. New teachers, new friends, new shoes, new books. Why not make back to school special by making their own custom lunch bag. Fun and easy to do!

WHAT YOU WILL NEED • • • • • • •

Scissors or Rotary cutter and mat ¾ meter of heavyweight cotton, canvas or jean 2 inches of hook and loop tape or snaps and snap press 34 inches of Double-fold bias tape Pins Sewing machine fabric pencil

SEW SIMPLE CANVAS LUNCH BAG! By:Pamela Pilon

CUTTING YOUR PIECES • Cut 1 cotton piece 30 inches x 14 ½ inches (Main Piece) Note: If you are using a Direction Print, cut 2 cotton pieces 15 ½ inches x 14 ½ inches and sew at the 15 ½ inch edges with a ½ inch seam allowance, making sure fabrics are in opposite direction. Once folded, the print should fall in the right direction. Press seam open. For the purpose of this tutorial, I will be using a Directional Print. • Cut 1 cotton piece 4 ½ inches x 5 ½ inches (Pocket Square) • Cut 1 strip of bias tape 28 inches • Cut 1 strip bias tape 5 ½ inches

MAKING YOUR BAG * All seam allowances are ½ inch unless otherwise noted. Pin Tucking. 1. On either side of the Main Piece, measure and mark a line at 3 inches from the raw side (see photo). 2. Fold on the 3 inches line and press. Topstitch over the fold line at ⅛ inch. (Make sure to backstitch at both ends!) 3. Repeat on the other side.

Step One

Step Two

SEW SIMPLE CANVAS LUNCH BAG!

Step Four

By:Pamela Pilon

Pocket. 4. Sew the 5½ inch strip of bias tape to a long edge of the Pocket Square. Backstitch at both ends! 5. Fold the short side under by a ½ inch. Press.

Step Seven

6. Fold the bottom of the Pocket Square under by ½ inch. Press. 7. With your Main Piece's print-side facing up, place your Pocket Square print-side down 6 inches below the top of the Main Piece and center it horizontally. Pin in Place. Note: Remember to fold out the flaps from your pin tucking on the back. 8. Stitch it place, beginning at the top left corner, going down the edges at ⅛ inch, and come across the bottom and then finally up the right side. Leave the top unstitched and remember to backstitch!

Coming Together. 9. With print sides together, fold the Main Piece in half. Pin in Place. 10. Stitch the raw edges together, backstitching at both ends. Press open the seams. Note: Use a serger, pinking shears for a zigzag stitch to finish the seams.

Step Eight

SEW SIMPLE CANVAS LUNCH BAG! By:Pamela Pilon

The Gusset. 11. With the bag still inside out, measure 3 inches from the bottom folded edge. Find the spots were the pin tucking line and this 3 inch line meet. Using a fabric pencil, mark these spots. On one Gusset, draw a line from the dot to the bottom corner of the main panel (see photo). Note: Sometimes this line doesn't meet at the exact right spot. As long as you can sew a clean straight line, you'll get the desired effect.

Step Eleven

12. Repeat on the other side. 13. With the side seam facing you, pinch the fabric on the left side of the seam and fold the fabric, right sides together, directly on the line you just drew in Step 11. Pin in Place.

Step Thirteen

14. Repeat on the right side. This will create a triangle shape. Pin in Place. 15. Stitch a straight line across to connect both dots you drew in Step 11. Backstitch both ends. 16. Repeat Steps 11-15 onto other side of bag. 17. Once repeated trim both triangle shapes. Finish with a Â˝ inch seam allowance on each gusset. Finishing Touches. 18. Turn the bag right side out. Attach the 28 inch strip of bias tape to the top raw edge. Stitch in place. 19. Center the rough part of the hook and loop take horizontally on the front of the lunch bag, 3Â˝ inches away from the top edge, and pin in place. Note: Feeling adventurous? You can use snaps instead. Why not try a button or two and some button holes! 20. Attach the hook and look tape security to the bag by stitching close to the edge. 21. Center the soft part of the hook and loop tape horizontally on the back of the lunch bag , directly below the bias tape. Pin in place. 22. Attach the hook and look tape security to the bag by stitching close to the edge. 23. We're done! Enjoy your custom lunch bag!

A GROWING FAMILY: THROUGH THE STAGES By Christine South

INFANT (Birth to 12 Months): Fall is a great time of year for babies. Not too hot, but not yet cold. It is the perfect time of year to be outside, and a good time of year to get together with friends and introduce your new little one to the great outdoors. Whether it’s spending time at a camp, or out at a family reunion, your little one will love the attention, and nothing beats the smiles that a baby can bring to the faces of those you love. TODDLER (12 Months to 3 Years): Exploring their new environment is a favourite pastime of your little one. Fall provides the best of all seasons for your toddler, with beautiful breezes, warm temperatures and no more concerns of too much outside time. With the older children heading back to school, toddlers can take advantage of special

YOUNG CHILD (4 Years to 7 Years): If you have a child that is returning to school, this is a very exciting time of year! If you are sending your child off to school for the first time, this can bring about mixed emotions. For all parents, this is a time of preparation and anticipation for what’s to come during this upcoming school year. You might share the excitement that your child has for their first day, or you could be spending your time trying to calm the fears of your child. Try to remember that a child will feed off the emotion of the parent, so make sure you know what you are projecting and sending your child off on their first day will be a moment you will never forget.

PRE-TEEN (8 Years to 12 Years): Kids at this age will already have pretty concrete feelings about school. For parents of pre-teens, you have to learn to play off your kids strengths and encourage them to continue finding things about school that interest them. For many kids at this age, it’s all about friends and recess. The social aspect of school is very important to them, so they may need to be reminded that spending time on their school work is just as important. Staying involved in homework time will help your child stay focused on their school work and ensure a great school year.

Top Ten:

Back to School Preparations By Christine South

10.It’s that time again! Time to set the alarm and start your morning off right. If 7am will be your school wake up time, then begin waking your children at that time. If they don’t already have their own alarm clock, why not get them one? They can take responsibility for waking up in the morning all on their own. 9. Eat a healthy breakfast. A nutritious breakfast can give kids the energy they need to be mentally alert all day, and we have research to back that up! So, no more sugary cereals! Set out a bowl of oatmeal, some fruit with yogurt or a slice of whole wheat toast with hazelnut spread. Let’s make a healthy breakfast part of our morning routine! 8. Avoid the clothing dilemma, choose outfits the night before. Have the “green shirt” or “rainbow socks” ready so you don’t have to search for them last minute. Giving children a few option when selecting outfits allows for them to make it more personal and makes them feel like they are making the decisions.

6. Make a healthy lunch. Get your kids used to their lunch pails by preparing and packing them before school even begins! It’ll be fun for them to open them up and see what’s inside! You can even let them pick out a few of their snacks to keep them involved. 7. Match up lunch time. Eat lunch with your kids at the same time that the school does. You can avoid a grumbling belly during class time if your child’s tummy is on schedule with the school. It will help them to stay focused on their learning rather than their hunger. 5. Electronic shut down. Start creating a time after school where there are no electronic distractions. This will be a perfect time to get kids started with a homework routine or discuss the various activities of the day. 4. Break out the board games. Playing games is a very easy way to get kids thinking and help them learn to stay focused for short periods of time. Make sure you talk about strategies and game play to help them learn how to voice their thoughts and think through their decisions. It’ll be some

Top Ten: Back to School Preparations By Christine South

3. Bedtime routine. A good bedtime routine is just as important as a regular morning routine. Kids donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t often recognize when they are tired because they are too busy playing. Getting them into bed early may not make for happy kids, but their growing bodies need the extra rest! Parents can take the extra time in the evening to prepare for the next day (packing lunches, getting outdoor wear ready, etc.).

2. Read, read, read! Children learn by example, so having a book or magazine in your hand will also help them develop a love a reading! Taking the time to read during the summer will pay-off during the school year too! Find something that your child is interested in, and encourage reading up on it. Take a trip to the local library or book store and let them pick something out.

1. Shopping! Who doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t love to get new stuff ?! New gear for the school year helps to get them ready for a new adventure. Gearing up for school takes on a magical kind of feeling, for both kids and parents, and allows kids to look forward to the new school year. The excitement of new clothes, picking out a new backpack, or binders gets kids wanting to hear the ring of the school bell again.

LIFE AT THE COTTAGE By Carole Yelle This special place I now call home was passed on to my husband and I after my in-laws passed away. To me, it’s an oasis; tranquility from the life in a city, no matter how big of a city you live in. Gardening is my favourite pass time; it’s a place I can go to think about my day or dream of future plans. I started out with one small rose garden, and planted my first rose bush a little over 8 years ago. I named it after my mother-in-law, Antoinette, in memory of her. I now have 10 of them, all named after family members. I call it my family rose garden. I also have a few walkways, a chair and table made out of twigs to compliment the scenery of my gardens.

Roses need a lot of care. They need to be fed and the best food for them is Miracle Grow for Roses. Being that it’s at the cottage, I don’t always follow the rules of gardening. Some need to be cut back in the fall; I don’t do that. I cut them back in the spring, just a bit. Winter is very hard on them, so you must make sure they are very hardy when you purchase them, which, is usually marked on the tags. Snow acts like an insulation for them. Two years ago, we hardly had any snow at all, and I lost 5 rose bushes. It’s suggested that it’s wise to wrap your rose bush in Burlap in the late fall as it help protect the flowers from damaging weather conditions. Roses also have different flowering time; some of them flower in June while others in July and last many weeks if properly care for. This year, I had 3 rose bush leaves that turned a brownish colour. I was told it was some kind of bug. I try to stay away from pesticides in my garden, so I used dish soap and water in a spray bottle (about 1 TBSP of dish soap and fill the bottle slowly with water). It seemed to have done the trick. I also have lots of ants on them. I read that there’s a purpose to that, and not to do anything about it. One of my sisters tried to get rid of them on one of her plants, and it did not do well the following year. The wonders of gardening and bugs! I will leave you by saying that gardening is a form of relaxation. It’s a place to get away from it all.

Birth Tales A Canada Day Baby Stories are told by local northern mothers or fathers, To submit your story e-mail kayleighmay.homegrown@gmail.com

All things that grow% Photography(

Finding out that I was pregnant for a fourth time at the age of 31 was both scary and exciting. My 8 year old daughter Cassidy, my 4 year old son Colby, and my 16 month old son Owen already demanded so much of me and now I was going to have another. Thankfully, I was going to have another 8 months to prepare not only myself for another child, but my other children for a new brother or sister. Christmas time marked the end of my first trimester and made the perfect time to tell everyone that we were expecting our fourth baby. I wasn’t surprised when we got mixed reactions from both family and friends. For the most part, people were very happy and supportive. But, there were some people that weren’t so nice, including some family. They felt like 3 children were already enough and that adding a fourth was irresponsible of us. It was hurtful to work through those reactions, but we knew that once our baby was here, they would feel silly for reacting that way. I knew as soon as I found out that I was pregnant that I wanted to work with a midwife. I had seen a midwife for my previous pregnancy, but ended up delivering with a doctor. I wanted this time to be different. I began seeing my midwife early on in my pregnancy and was thrilled with the high quality of care and advice that I got from her. My only hiccup during the pregnancy was finding out that we had a Single Umbilical Artery (or 2 Vessel Cord), where in a normal umbilical cord there are 2 arteries and 1 vein, our umbilical cord only had 1 artery and 1 vein. I was very scared at first, but was quickly calmed and assured that because every other aspect of baby was completely normal, babe would be just fine. We would monitor babe’s growth closely towards the end of the pregnancy to make sure that there was no growth restriction, which is also a concern with 2 Vessel Cord babies.

Birth Tales A Canada Day Baby Stories are told by local northern mothers or fathers,

We had our mid-pregnancy scan done in Ottawa because we were there for a medical appointment with our youngest son. We were so excited that they would be able to tell us the gender of our child because the ultrasound techs in Timmins will not reveal gender. A few minutes into the scan, the tech asked us if we wanted to know the gender and of course we both said YES! We were nervous because we both really wanted our baby to be a girl, having had 2 boys together already. We each had a child when we began dating. I had a daughter and my husband had a son, each from previous relationships. Needless to say, when the tech said “I see 3 little lines, so it’s a GIRL”, we were THRILLED that we would finally have the daughter that we both so badly wanted. The rest of my pregnancy was pretty textbook, right up until about 37 weeks when my blood pressure started to go All things that grow% up. My midwives were monitoring it closely, when at 38 Photography( weeks they decided that I should go in for a non-stress test to see how babe was doing, and have another look at my blood pressure. They were right to do so because my blood pressure was still elevated so we were able to start an induction. I met with my midwives at 5pm on Canada Day, thinking that it was pretty late in the day for me to have the baby before the days end. I was there with both my husband and my cousin Tracy, who would be this little girls Godmother. I got settled in Labour Room 1 (the room in which all 3 of my other children were born, which was really cool) and waited for the OB to come in to break my water. He was supposed to meet us there at 5pm, but didn’t actually show up until 6:30pm. He came in, broke my water (and in doing so scratched the heck out of my daughters head) and left. I was able to walk around a little and started having a bit stronger contractions. My midwife called the anaesthesiologist to inquire about an epidural. I was nervous about whether or not I would get one because it was both Friday night and Canada day, but the anaesthesiologist said that she would just finish up what she was doing at home and would be right in to administer the epidural. When my midwife told me the good news, I felt so relieved that this part of my birth plan was going as planned.

To submit your story e-mail kayleighmay.homegrown@gmail.com

Birth Tales A Canada Day Baby

All things that grow% Photography(

Stories are told by local northern mothers or fathers,

I’ve had epidurals for my previous 3 births, and this one was pretty much the same. I asked her to make sure she gave me a good one, and when she was done, I couldn’t feel much of anything below my chest area. It was fantastic!! I was checked just after receiving the epidural around 8pm and I was 4cm dilated, so laboured in the bed for about 2 hours before I could feel the epidural starting to wear off a little. I was able to move my legs just enough to justify a walk to the bathroom, since I was feeling like I needed to GO. With the help of both my midwife and my husband, I made it to the bathroom and sat on the toilet. After about 10 minutes, I was ready to get back into bed and get my epidural back up because I was starting to feel some pretty heavy contractions. The nurse helped get me settled and they increased my epidural again. I could still feel the contractions even though they were not painful, and after about an hour I said to my midwife that I felt like I was having a contraction every 2 minutes, to which she confirmed that I actually was!

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I all of a sudden felt a lot of pressure and I said that I thought that maybe I needed to start pushing. My midwife decided to check me and said: It’s time to have a baby! It was 11:25pm! OMG, I just might have this baby on Canada Day after all!! I was so excited. She asked to have the second midwife called to come in and we got prepared to start pushing. My husband also got suited up so he could help with the delivery. I pushed for about 15 minutes before my baby girl came into the world, with the help of my two midwives and my husband. She was 8lbs 3oz and was perfect in every way! We all shed a few tears and enjoyed those first few minutes with my baby girl on my chest. With my newborn daughter latched to my breast, I felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment. We had our beautiful Canada Day baby, Miss Mallory Madeleine, and I knew that my family was complete.

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To submit your story e-mail kayleighmay.homegrown@gmail.c

Our September Birthday Announcements ! Happy 2nd Birthday to our son, Owen! Born: September 4th 2009 Birth Weight: 9lbs 1oz Current Weight: 28lbs Proud Siblings: Cassidy, Colby and Mallory We couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be more blessed with this happy-go-lucky, smiley, loving boy! We love you SO MUCH!

Happy 1st Birthday to our tiny dancer, Kate! Born: September 8th 2010 Birth Weight: 7 lbs, 13oz Current Weight: 20 lbs You've flipped our world upside down - and I wouldn't change a thing. Love you monster!

Touch Down Goal Home Run! Our little rookie is turning one, born on Sepember 9th 2010 Birth Weight: 6lbs 14 oz Ko-Ko Koala Bear you make mommy and daddy so proud. We love you so much!

E-mail your Birth/ Birthday announcements to kayleighmay.homegrown@gmail.com

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