Mom's Night Before Christmas

by Glenni Lorick, IBCLC

I wanted to give a very special Christmas gift to all our mamas this year as well as to my four
amazing children who are the reason I do what I do.This is the dedication I wrote for my kids:

Dedicated to Sarah, Daniel, Anna and John Carl

I am so proud of each one of you and the amazing people you have become. Thank you for making my life so rich, for being such great encouragers, and for making motherhood such a joy! 

Mom's Night Before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Only one creature was stirring; it wasn’t a mouse.

Cloth diapers were hung by the dryer with care,

In hopes that new Rumparooz soon would be there.

The baby was nestled all snug in my bed,

While visions of mommy milk danced in her head.

With her cuddled next to me, Dad at my back,

She knew it was time for a post-midnight snack.

Anna snuggled in close with her little mouth wide;

Then I pulled her in tight as I rolled to my side.

Her mouth found my breast in what seemed like a flash

With sweet sucks and swallows she had a mustache!

My milk was a flowing and she loved the taste;

Nary a drop would she let go to waste!

When what to my wondering eyes did appear,

But big brother and sister. What are they doing here?

“Mom, we can’t sleep. We’re just too excited.”

So into our big bed they both were invited.

With Sarah between us and Daniel by Dad,

We all snuggled in – it wasn’t too bad!

"Stop kicking! Stop squirming! Now stay on your side!

If you don’t settle down we are gonna decide

That back to your beds you must go right away.”

So they both closed their eyes while they waited for day.

Meanwhile the sweet newborn had finished her feast;

The size of my right breast had surely decreased.

Like a cute little sailor all drunk on my milk,

Her hand grasped my sash that was made out of silk.

And then, in a twinkling, she was soundly asleep;

I knew that forever this memory I’d keep.

Surrounded by children I’d birthed and I’d nursed,

My heart was so full I thought it might burst.

With a smile on my lips I whispered a prayer

Thanking the Lord for this love we could share,

For my husband, my baby, my daughter and son-

I knew that my family might not quite be done.

Since then many Christmases came and have gone;

We added another sweet baby named John.

But the memories of breastfeeding each tiny tot

Are some of the most precious memories I’ve got!

Enjoy Every Moment of Christmas!

Christmas is full of wonder for little ones!

By Glenni Lorick, IBCLC

If you have little ones, you are in an AMAZING season of life! Christmas is especially full of wonder by the time they are about 2 years old. It is incredible to look at Christmas through a child's eyes! Their wonder, excitement, faith and joy are inspiring.

Keeping Sight of What Matters

It is so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of buying gifts, baking, wrapping presents and decorating that we miss the small joys of the season. Take time today to create memories with your children - make some fun pictures, pile in the car to drive around looking at Christmas lights, wrap your kids up in ribbon and make a game out of it! Don't let the holiday demands that you place on yourself rob you of the joy in each moment.

Remember what Christmas is really about. It isn't about glittery trees or fancy gifts. It's not about a perfectly roasted turkey or plates of delicious cookies. Fundamentally Christmas is about a baby being born.  It's about a tiny family of 2 becoming 3 in an event that would change the course of human history. So take time to celebrate YOUR family, the 2 that became 3, or 4, or more!

The Guy in the Red Suit

Children watching the lighting of the Advent Candle at church.

Every family has to decide for itself how to handle gift giving and Santa Clause. We chose to teach our children from the beginning that their presents came from Mom and Dad. We talked about Saint Nicholas and the importance of giving to others, but we sought to maintain the focus of Christmas on Christ. I remember the Christmas I learned the truth about Santa Clause when I was a little girl. I was seven years old, and absolutely devastated! It ruined Christmas for me that year. I never wanted my children to go through that, so we just never made a big deal out of Santa.

Nevertheless, to this day any child who is at home in our family on Christmas morning has a SPECIAL gift sitting out next to his or her stocking on Christmas morning. It might be the video game he has been begging for, or the new cell phone or computer she needs. Some years it was a Lego set or a special doll. Last year for my son it was a hunting rifle that had belonged to his grandfather. I'm thankful we still have two children at home this Christmas!

Some families have a VERY special gift this year!

Make Memories That You'll Treasure

When all is said and done, the gifts opened, the paper thrown away, what will you be left with? Will you remember the look on your husband's face when he opened his special present? Will you have a mental snapshot of the delight on your little one's face as she opened her gifts? Take time to savor each gift, each moment, each surprise. Christmas is day full of magic, so open your heart, slow down, and take in each magical moment.

Sometimes we're so busy trying to record each moment that we don't actually get to enjoy it! Recording the memories is great, but be sure to enjoy them as they occur. 

All of us in the ANM family wish YOUR family a wonderful, memory-filled Christmas!

Christmas with the In-laws (or outlaws....)

Christmas is a wonderful time of the year. I am blessed to have a great relationship with my in-laws, but having a lot of extended family at Christmas can be just a bit stressful. It can be especially difficult if you're breastfeeding and your mother-in-law thinks you should "just give that baby a bottle..."

Over the last few years, I've had more than one new mother crying in my office because of holiday stress compounded by in-laws who don't respect her parenting style. If this sounds like you, then get your hubby and sit down together for 3 minutes while you read and discuss the following tips for dealing with Christmas with the extended family.

1. Boundaries are critically important. And Dad is the best one to set them, especially if his family is the one who's giving you a hard time. You don't want to hurt feelings, but it's very important to explain in unconditional terms that you are breastfeeding your baby. Any comments or behaviors that undermine this relationship will not be tolerated.
2. Stress can cause problems with letdown, plugged ducts, and lead to a reduced supply. Therefore, do all you can to reduce stress during the holiday season.
3. If you are a guest in someone's home, and they aren't comfortable with your breastfeeding, try as much as possible to plan your baby's feeds around mealtime and other important family moments. Maybe you can feed baby a little early before he gets very hungry. If not, then Dad needs to run interference while you slip off to nurse.
4. If you're in your own home and your guests aren't comfortable with your breastfeeding, you have a couple of choices. You can either nurse discreetly with a cover, or Dad can play host while you excuse yourself to feed your baby. You need to do whichever is more comfortable for you. Remember Tip #1!
5. If your mother or mother-in-law is causing your hurt, she might benefit from reading the blog Grandma Time. If she has specific questions or concerns about breastfeeding, this article might be helpful.
6. Remember that YOU are the expert on your baby, not your mother-in-law or even your mother...even if she is a pediatric nurse! Follow your gut and kindly but firmly stick to your guns.

If you have tips that have worked for you, please leave a comment....your tips will help another mom! We wish you a very Merry Christmas full of Nurturing Moments with your family!

The Lord's First Supper

In this morning's sermon, my husband painted such a vivid word picture of Jesus' birth. He drew us back to Bethlehem where a very young woman, exhausted from the journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem was experiencing the sharp pangs of labor. Her husband knew that this was no ordinary baby who was about to be born. He was still amazed at the words of the angel who had told him that Mary was carrying the Son of God.

As they searched for a place to stay, Joseph may have wondered why in the world God hadn't made things a little easier for them. Unable to even find a room in an inn, they ended up being lodged in the stable. Mary was just thankful for a place to finally rest as she entered the transition phase of labor and felt the urge to push. Surely she longed to have her mother or aunt at her side, but Scripture doesn't even record the presence of a midwife. With just Joseph to help her, the Bible says "Mary brought forth her first born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes."

Mary lovingly breastfed Jesus. 

Mary gazed in awe at her newborn son as he took his first meal at her breast. The afterbirth pains intensified a bit, ensuring that her uterus would begin the process of returning to its normal size, and she wouldn't hemorrhage. Perhaps she dozed a bit on the straw in the stable. Though it would have been common for an infant to sleep with his mother, there may not have been a suitable place for them to sleep, so after feeding her sweet new baby, she placed the peacefully sleeping infant in the only safe place they could find, the feeding trough for the animals. 

The Bible records the Lord's Last Supper in the upper room with his disciples. However, nothing is written about his first supper. What a precious moment that must have been for both mother and child. She was holding the incarnate God, the promised Messiah in her arms, giving him warmth, comfort and nourishment from her breast. It was the first of many such moments that Mary would share with her baby Jesus. A host of artists have sought to depict the precious bond that existed between the infant Savior and his mother. Pictures from the Renaissance typically depict a chubby, happy baby contentedly feeding at his mother’s breast. Often in these pictures both mother and child have a halo, or angels hover around them. Certainly there is no Biblical basis for the halo, and it is doubtful that angels flew around every time Jesus nursed. Nevertheless, the artists did get one very important thing right: Jesus was lovingly and tenderly breastfed by his mother.

In the Roman world of that time breastmilk substitutes made and marketed by large pharmaceutical firms obviously did not exist. So Mary didn’t have much choice. However, Mary didn’t just breastfeed Jesus for lack of a better alternative. To Mary’s Jewish mind, nurturing her infant at her breast was part of God’s wonderful design for mothers and babies – a design that has not changed in the 2000 years since Jesus walked on this earth. So this Christmas as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, let's take just a moment to think about the Lord's First Supper and thank God for the gift of breastfeeding.

Helping Low- Income Moms is Our Passion!

A Nurturing Moment exists to provide information, support and encouragement for hopeful, expectant  and new parents. We love helping new mothers successfully breastfeed their babies. But we have a particular passion for low-income and teen moms through our non-profit sister organization, the MOM Foundation. While all babies will benefit from breastfeeding, babies born to mothers living in poverty and to teen moms desperately need the specific advantages inherent to mother's milk.

We currently have several projects that are designed to support this particular group of moms and babies.

1. Bosom Buddies - this project provides gently used nursing bras to mothers who receive WIC benefits. We measure the mothers who come to us, and search through our boxes of donated nursing bras to find them two bras that will work perfectly for them. Sometimes we don't have the right size, but we really try to find something.
2. Sliding Scale Lactation Consultations - The normal fee for a lactation consultation at A Nurturing Moment is $60. We spend as much time as it takes with each mother to resolve whatever problems she and her baby are having. Some mothers just aren't able to pay that amount. So we offer a sliding-scale where mothers pay between between $10 and $60. We tell them that they can name the amount, and we don't ask any questions about financial status. The only reason we feel it necessary to ask for a $10 fee is because we have learned the hard way that when a consult is free, many times the mothers don't take our recommendations as seriously as they do when they pay a little bit for it. Occasionally, however, we do have a mother for whom $10 is a hardship, and we still provide her the help she needs.
3. Book Project - We want to purchase enough copies of Why Should I Nurse My Baby? by Pamela Wiggins so that every uninsured or Medicaid mother in Madison Copy can receive a copy.
4.  Breastfeeding Education and Support for Moms in Public Housing - We are currently planning a Baby Day kick-off event at the Oscar Mason Center. We will begin offering a support program for mothers in public housing. They will receive instruction in breastfeeding, infant massage and baby sign language, and will have the opportunity to attend weekly meetings with other moms.

We are so thankful for our ANM family. We have seen your generosity in so many ways. As we approach Christmas, we're sharing some ways that you can share the Christmas spirit with North Alabama moms and babies.

• We always need gently used nursing bras. We'll even give you a discount on your purchase when you bring them in. Save 5% for one, 10% for 2 and 15% for 3 or more. And our Christmas gift to  you is that for the month of December, this will be added to any other savings you may be receiving!''
• The MOM Foundation is looking for both individual and corporate sponsors to help subsidize the work we do with low-income mothers. If you know of someone who needs an end-of-the-year tax deduction, we can help since we are a 501 (c)3. 
• We have created a causes page on Facebook. You can help us get the word out by sharing it with everyone you know.
• Glenni's birthday is coming up, and she's created a very special birthday wish. A gift of any amount will help make a difference for a low-income mom and baby!

3000 Follower Give-Away

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Every once in a while you approach a milestone that you want to celebrate with your friends. That's where we are with our Facebook page! It's especially fun when your friends help you celebrate. Our friend Ruth Dennison with Shopping Tips and Tricks is donating Ruby, the ladybug red Trunki to help us make this milestone as much fun as possible for you. If you like to save money, Ruth's site is a terrific resource. You can also follow her on Facebook for the most updated announcements of her deals.

Another terrific prize is a beautiful hand-painted Christmas Light of Mine Ornament. These beautiful ornaments are individually hand-painted in a small studio in Lynchburg, VA. Artist Amy Calandra Davis has designed a wide range of  lovely ornaments - some whimsical, some more traditional - that will become a treasured part of your family's Christmas tradition. The winner will be able to choose from our ample selection of boxed or hanging ornaments.

The final prize is a snuggly snowman Angel Dear lovie. The soft texture will make this one of your baby's very favorite cuddle toys.

So are you excited about being part of this terrific contest yet? It's really easy! All you have to do is like our Facebook page and send your friends to like it, too! You can enter the contest below one time when you like our page and one time for sending a friend to like our page. Every friend you send to our page needs to leave a post saying you sent them. You will get one entry for every friend who says you sent them (we'll go in and add your name as many times as we need to! It's gonna be fun!!) We will announce our winners the day after we reach 3000 followers.

Are you ready? Let's Go!!!

Win a Free "A Child Is Born" Session

It does seem early to start thinking about Christmas, but before you know it, you'll be sending out your Christmas cards. What a terrific time to send everybody updated pictures of your growing family. We appreciate Mary Ellen Pollard of Lighthouse Photography for helping us create a beautiful, traditional option for your Christmas picture this year. You may include your whole family or just feature your children. It's entirely up to you!

We are so excited about our unique Christmas pictures that we want to give one of our families the opportunity to win a $75 package! Or you can choose to apply your winnings to a more expensive package. All you have to do is call the store to book your photo session, then you have 3 other options for entering as well!. If you've already booked your session, then you can mark that as done and enter using the three other options.

Another thing that makes these sessions so special is that a portion of the proceeds go to benefit the MOM Foundation. This non-profit is dedicated to helping low-income and teen moms breastfeed successfully. They are partnering with the Village of Promise to bring breastfeeding support to Huntsville Public Housing areas.

We do ask that you prepay when reserving your spot, but the winner will receive a refund on the day of the photo shoot. Call today to reserve your spot and enter to win the $75 package!

Christmas Pictures That Capture the Meaning of the Season

For many parents, Christmas pictures involve little Sally sitting on Santa's lap. They are adorable and sweet, but sometimes you just want something different. Sometimes you want to get back to the heart of Christmas by focusing on something other than the jolly old chap in red.

This year A Nurturing Moment and Lighthouse Photography are thrilled to present "A Child Is Born" Christmas pictures. The traditional setting will feature a nativity scene and Christmas decorations in muted Christmas tones, You can have one child or your whole family in the picture. The package prices include sitting fees, and are really reasonable!

• Package A - $75 (session fee, 1 unit, online gallery to share & picture ornament) 
• Package B - $150 (session fee, 2 units, 9 custom Christmas cards, online gallery & picture ornament)
•  Package C - $300 (session fee, printable CD for 3 poses, 25 custom Christmas cards, online gallery and picture ornament) 
•  A unit is 1 8X10, 2 5X7''s, 3 4X6's or 8 wallets 

 If you think friends from your church or moms group might be interested, please share this with them. We are scheduling pictures for Saturday, Nov. 5. If we need to add an extra day, we will! We still have slots available, so call today to reserve your space!