We Are 250K Views Strong

Our blog about birth in Monaco has received over 20,000 views

by Glenni Lorick, IBCLC
Since starting this blog in 2011, we have covered some amazing topics. As we approach 250,000 views, we thought it would be fun to look back at some of your (and our) favorite posts.

We love customer reviews and look forward to more of those in coming months. This review of several different diapers was one of our first big hits back in 2011.

Bethany's post about being a teen mom is amazing!

Blogs about birth are very popular. Our most recent post by Erin Mize about her natural birth in a local hospital was an immediate success. When Bethany Hyder shared the story of her pregnancy while she was still a teenager, you loved it.  ANM intern Marley Phillips did a series of posts on childbirth abroad. Her post about childbirth in Monaco is the most popular blog we have ever posted!

Current events have inspired some of our most widely read posts. Response to my experience with scammers was overwhelming. The disappointing political tactics that led to the tabling of the Home Birth Safety Act three years ago led to one of our most popular posts. Five years ago, Target was the target of another one of our most popular posts; fortunately, they have come a long way in training their employees to support breastfeeding mothers.

Extended breastfeeding is a topic you loved.

Of course breastfeeding posts rank high among your favorites. This blog about extended nursing struck a responsive chord with many of you. This post about Tongue-tie provided valuable information that many of you appreciated. The response to Blue Cross Blue Shield providing breast pumps was also very enthusiastic. Of course a perennial favorite post is the recipe for our delicious lactation cookies.

I have to admit, however, that my personal favorite post is about the birth of my grandson Nicholas four years ago and the outstanding care he received in the Huntsville Hospital NICU. We want to know your favorite post. We are giving away a $50 gift card to A Nurturing Moment. Enter by liking our Facebook page and posting a link to your favorite blog and why. The Facebook post with the most likes by Friday will win!

The MOM Foundation presents the first annual MOM Calender

Photo by  Wagon wheel Photography

by Glenni Lorick, IBCLC

I am so excited to announce that The MOM Foundation is putting together a calendar filled with beautiful pictures of North Alabama mothers nursing their babies. Thirteen North Alabama photographers are providing an incredible assortment of lovely breastfeeding photos. These tasteful photos show mothers in a variety of settings from a cotton field to a woodland setting to a comfy nursing chair. Some are taken from a distance to show the surroundings, while others are close-up pictures highlighting the beautiful expressions of the nurslings.

This calendar makes the perfect gift for any breastfeeding mother. It will look wonderful hanging in a physician's office, a WIC office, or any business that works with mothers and babies. It is the perfect gift to encourage an expectant mom who is looking forward to breastfeeding her child.

Your Support is Vital

All proceeds from the calendar will benefit The MOM Foundation. This North Alabama 501c3 organization is dedicated to supporting low-income and teen mothers in natural parenting practices. We offer Sliding-Fee Scale professional breastfeeding support services. We never ask for any proof of income; we just want to make certain that any mother who needs breastfeeding help gets it as quickly as possible without money being an obstacle. We also sponsor the Bosom Buddies project at A Nurturing Moment which provides gently used nursing bras to low-income and teen moms  If we don't have a donated bra to fit a mother, we will provide her one from store stock. Those mothers who are receiving WIC are also eligible to rent a hospital-grade Symphony breastpump at half the regualar price.

Photo by Earthy Moon Photos

In addition to supporting a wide variety of breastfeeding initiatives, The MOM Foundation also sponsors The North Alabama Cloth Diaper Bank which provides diaper grants to low-income families. Many families struggle to buy diapers, so we make sure they have enough diapers to adequately diaper their babies.

All of these efforts are completely dependent upon donations from our amazing mama community. Your donations of bras, diapers, time and money have enabled us to continue offering all the services we offer. We hope that this calendar project will provide much-needed funds to be able to continue providing for as many mothers as possible, and also to expand the services we are able to provide.

Who Is Involved?

We are so excited about the response we have received from local photographers. The following photographers have agreed to be part of this project:  Jamie Clauss of Count it Joy Photography, Amanda Argo of DoodleButt Photography, Sarah Buchanan of Sarah Buchanan Photography, Jessica Molepske of Wild Child Photogrpahy , Ashley White of A. White Photography & Creations, Wendella Graham of Pitter-Patter Photography, Melanie Kolowaski of Melanie Kolowski Photography, Adrianne Moon of Adrienne Moon Photography, Mary Ellen Pollard of Lighthouse Photography, Corey Anna Straits of Earthymoon Photos, Krystal Ness of The Paper Jay, Jennifer Myers of Jennifer Myers Photography, Mallory Clemmons of Oliver Fair Designs and Photography, and Brekke Johnson of Wagon Wheel Photo. When I mentioned this idea late Saturday night, I was overwhelmed by the response from so many talented photographers!

Photo by Adrienne Moon Photography

Get Your Calendar Now

Calendars will arrive the week of Christmas, just in time to be the perfect Christmas gift!  Each calendar will have a page of coupons worth well over $100. You can reserve your calendar NOW with a minimum gift of just $15 to The MOM Foundation. You can send your gift via PayPal to anm@knology.net or simply click the button below. Be sure to include your phone number. Or you can come into the store and make your donation in person.  If you don't live close enough to pick up your calendar at A Nurturing Moment in Huntsville, please include  your address. Shipping cost is $5 for 1-2 calendars, $7 for 3-5 calendars, and $10 for 6 or more calendars. Be sure to include shipping with your gift, please. Our goal is to raise $7000 by the end of the year, and we are on our way. Our Huntsville Mommy Milk Meet-up group has over 1300 members. Even if half our members donate, we will surpass our goal!

Win a Calendar!

We are going to give away a calendar to one lucky winner. Enter today!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

4000 Friends GiveAway

Our ANM Facebook page is a lot of fun! We post fun pictures and interesting links related to pregnancy, breastfeeding, cloth diapering and parenting. We also have a lot of interaction with our followers about a wide variety of topics. Recently we've discussed breastfeeding-friendly pediatricians, VBAC friendly Ob/gyn's, pacifiers, nursing in church, sippy cups and many other topics that you have asked us about.

We're on the verge of having 4000 Facebook friends. Why does that matter? It means that more and more local moms are learning about A Nurturing Moment and what we have to offer. Our goal is to help as many mothers in North Alabama breastfeed successfully as we possibly can. We love being able to answer questions and help our moms in their parenting journey.

Now that we are offering Skype consults, we've extended our reach beyond the Tennessee Valley. Our ANM extended family comes from all over. We want all our moms to enjoy the community that we have created through our Facebook page.

Win the Melissa & Doug Pelican Walk

That's why we've created our 4000 Friends Giveaway! Entering is easy. Just like our FB page, Share it with your friends asking them to like it, and Tweet about it. We've got some awesome prizes like the new Charlie print diaper cover from Rumparooz, the Baby Dipper bowl, a cool Melissa and Doug toy that your baby will love, and Medela Hydrogel pads. We will announce the winners just as soon as we hit 4000 followers! Good luck!!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Donate to ABC and Receive Birth Photography!!

Recently photographer Jessica Molepske moved from Texas to Huntsville because of her husband's job. Jessica's work has been featured in the online Newborn Magazine. Before moving here, Jessica contacted me a couple of months before the move to let me know she would like to meet me and to offer a promotion for our customers in order to begin meeting people here.

A couple of weeks ago, I actually met Jessica in person when she came by the store to introduce herself.  We talked about what kind of promotion she wanted to run. Today Jessica came in with information to begin the promotion!

Win a Free Newborn Photo Session

For every $50 you spend in the store between now and July 20, you will receive one entry for a free newborn photo session and photo package. It is a $300 value! The more you spend at A Nurturing Moment, the more chances you have to win.  Jessica likes to do the Newborn Session within 12 days of baby's coming home from the hospital because babies are so sleepy and do very well in a variety of precious poses.

Donate $100 to ABC and Have Your Birth Photographed!

About a week ago, I received this message from Jessica via Facebook:   

Hi Glenni, 

I just recently realized that it's illegal for a midwife to attend a

 homebirth here in AL?? I am so heartbroken over this! I read that article you posted the other day..and I'm wondering is there anything I can do? I wouldn't really know where to start..but this is a change I would like to see! 

Jessica

I suggested that the most important thing she could do is get in touch with the Alabama Birth Coalition. She did just that, and has agreed to photograph the Walk for Midwives this fall. Today Jessica announced that she is offering something VERY special to help raise money for ABC.  Between now and the date of the walk in November, Jessica is offering to photograph your birth in return for a minimum donation of $100 to ABC!! Of course, if you feel led to donate more, that is wonderful. But Jessica is offering her services as a way to support this cause.

We have many amazing photographers here, and Jessica is excited about meeting and working with them. Take just a minute to friend her on Facebook, then come on by and enter to win your newborn session. If YOU aren't pregnant, you can give the session to a friend. What an amazing gift that would be!!

$200 Black Friday GiveAway

Several local businesses in conjunction with the Tennessee Valley Moms Network have joined forces to give  one of YOU $200 on Black Friday! A Nurturing Moment is so excited to be part of this fun initiative!

Entering is easy! All you have to do is go to this Giveaway Link  and follow the instructions! You will learn about some terrific local businesses in the process! The contest begins today and will end on Thanksgiving at midnight!

Who doesn't need $200 for some Black Friday shopping? Enter today, and you just might win that extra money you need for our terrific ANM Black Friday sale!!

TRUNKI Show

It's a ride-on toy! No, it's a pull-toy!  No, it's a child-sized carry-on suitcase! Actually, it's all three!! It's a Trunki!

If you're planning to travel at all this Thanksgiving or Christmas, you need a Trunki for your little one! The innovative design provides the perfect blend of fun and practicality for your child. He will have a place where he can safely store his toys, then  lock it with the "key" attached to the pull. An optional storage bag which fits inside the Trunki provides safe storage for small toys or can be used as a child-sized shoulder bag. Another option is a saddle to make Trunki a little more comfortable for a long ride through the airport. Trunki fits easily under airplane seats and is within the FAA guidelines for carry-on luggage.

Several sets of stickers are available so that your child can personalize Trunki and make it his very own unique creation. Face stickers help Trunki have a personality all its own. Alphabet letter stickers let your child name Trunki, and location stickers let your little traveler show where all she has been!

This Saturday, we're kicking off our holiday season with a TRUNKI show from 11-2. We'll have snacks, lots of Trunkis to choose from, and loads of fun! All Trunkis and Trunki supplies will be 10% off. If you buy a Trunki, a Saddle Bag and a Trunki Tote, you'll also receive one pack of free stickers. Everybody who buys a Trunki will also get a Trunki balloon to take home while supplies last!

Make plans now to join us for this fun event! And take a few minutes to enter our TRUNKI show contest where you can win your choice of  a Saddle Bag or a Trunki Tote!