The Spring Busy Bump Baby Shower was Sunday April 21st at the Sutton Place Hotel Vancouver. One of my favourite things to do is events and workshops for new moms! This event is always a favourite as I love to treat moms-to-be and see them have a good time! Each guest received a welcome gift from Urban Baby & Toddler magazine and we kicked things off with some Baby 101 Trivia questions for prizes! Then we started with our amazing line up of expert speakers. Leading the way was Dani, a doula and owner of DEME Pre and Postnatal Services, followed by Keyrsten, a Registered Holistic Nutritionist from DEME's team, then Dr. Giselle Chamberlain of Evolve Nuturing Vitality talked about pre and postnatal chiropractic care and last but definitely not least Nadia from Baby's World and daughter Alina talked about baby wearing and the various types of carriers on the market. They had an adorable model who loved the spotlight, Alina's son, Kingston.

During the speakers, all the guests received the Sutton Place Hotel's afternoon tea service which was delicious!

We finished the afternoon off with our Grand Prize giveaway which included a carrier from Baby's World, a Rookie Mom 101 from Busy Bump, a free photography session and two 11 x 14 prints from Jillian Kirby l Baby, a 4 class pass from Fit 4 Two and a gift basket from of goodies for a new mom from Urbanbaby & Toddler Magazine.

We received some excellent feedback from guests of the event and are looking forward to planning another event for sometime this fall so stay tuned.

Special thanks to all our amazing sponsors, speakers and businesses who contributed prizes!

For event pictures courtesy of Jillian Kirby l Baby, visit our events page.

I'm thrilled to have two lovely ladies as guest speakers and exhibitors from DEME Pre and Postnatal Services at our Spring Busy Bump Baby Shower. Dani is a birth doula and Keyrsten is a Registered Holistic Nutrionist. They have lots of great information to share with everyone!

Dani Enskatis, Birth Doula

I have played an active role in the nurturing and development of British Columbian children for over 12 years. As a professional working in the Early Child Care Education industry, my experience working with families and the community inspired me before taking on what I would describe as the most important role of my life: being a mother to my two children, Micah and Amielia. Using a midwife and doula for both my pregnancies, I felt an immediate connection to these institutions of healthy and natural pregnancy and childbirth. A certified Doula, I am able to use my knowledge, training, and experience to provide emotional and physical support to mothers and fathers-to-be. The support of a Doula during pregnancy and childbirth allows you the best chance at creating positive memories that will last a lifetime. I am fully committed to making each birth a wonderful experience-working to reassure you and your partner during labour through the suggestions of comfort measures and techniques, reassurance, and support. In no way does the presence of a Doula replace the support of a partner, instead my presence allows your partner to participate and be involved during this exciting time. No question or concern is too small, and with each birth I attend, I am so excited to be a part of an experience that will forever be a changing event in your life.

Phone: (604) 339-6621
Email: demepreandpostnatal@yahoo.ca
Additional Information: www.demedoulaservices.weebly.com

Keyrsten McEwan, Registered Holistic Nutrionist

Keyrsten is a graduate of the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition in Vancouver and has since been running her nutrition consulting business. She is passionate about making nutrition fun and brings clients back to basics with fresh, local REAL food.
Some Common areas of consultation and Keyrsten’s special interests are:

• Pre and Postnatal Nutrition
• Anxiety and Depression
• Detoxification and Cleansing
• Disordered Eating
• Food Allergies and Sensitivities

• Inflammatory Conditions
• Sports Nutrition
• Vegan and vegetarian Nutrition
• Healthy Weight Loss

Keyrsten is available for personalized one-on-one, couples, and family consultations as well as menu planning. Consultations and subsequent recommendations are tailored towards each individuals health history, current state of health, personal goals and lifestyle.

We had so much fun and received such great feedback from The Busy Bump Baby Shower in the winter we have decided to throw another shower to treat new moms and moms-to-be to an afternoon out!

Come celebrate and connect with other moms from around the Lower Mainland! It will be a fun, interactive and informative afternoon featuring The Top 10 Items to Purchase for Baby presented by Baby's World as well as expert speakers on a variety of pregnancy and parenting related topics. Plus lots of amazing prizes to be won from our sponsors.

All guests will receive The Sutton Place Hotel's Afternoon Tea Service.

One lucky mom or mom-to-be will leave with our Grand Prize valued at over $1000.

Expert Speakers Include:

Nadia (Product Expert) - Baby's World

Dr. Giselle Chamberlain (Chiropractor) - Evolve Nuture Vitality

Kerysten (Houlistic Nutrionist) - DEME Prenatal and post natal services

Dani (Doula & Owner) - DEME Prenatal and post natal services

To purchase tickets visit our events page.

Guest Speaker: Sarah Joseph from Prenatal to Parenting

Sarah Joseph is a Hypnobabies Instructor, Birth & Postpartum Doula, a Placenta Specialist and the mother of two. After the birth of her first child she started Prenatal to Parenting where she offers childbirth education, doula support, placenta encapsulation and parent education.

5 Tips for Dads-to-be in the Delivery Room:

Dads-to-be can make a big difference in the delivery room, but in order to do so they need to prepare. Here are some tips on where to focus your energy so you can make a positive difference during the birth of your baby.

1. Learn about birthing, interventions and your options – taking a childbirth education class is likely the best way to learn all about birthing, interventions, your options and comfort measures for mom. Doing so will make you more confident and calm on the big day. It will also give you the ability to make informed decisions about medical care for your partner and baby. Mom is going to be a bit busy, having a baby and all, so it’s important that you are educated and have discussed your wishes in advance. Creating a birth plan together is a fantastic way to discuss your options and make decision ahead of time.
2. Read and understand the 'Sphincter Law'–Ina May Gaskin (drop her name to look like you’ve been doing your homework) created the 'Sphincter Law' to explain why some women give birth easily while others seem to require the assistance of medical intervention. In short, the law states that the vagina and the cervix are sphincters, just like the anus and the urethra. They each normally stay closed but are able to open as widely as needed when necessary. The most important factor of the law is the explanation of how sphincters function best – ie: how a woman can birth easily.
3. The advantages of hiring a doula – Doulas aren’t just for Moms! Doulas support Dads too. They are there to give you breaks – you are going to want to pee, eat, and maybe even nap at some point, right? They are there to coach you through comfort measures – aka make you look good. And they are there to remind you of all the stuff you’ve learned during your preparation. A Doula is like the coach of the football team; you wouldn’t think of sending your team to the super bowl without one.
4. Pack the hospital bags – whether you are having a hospital birth or a home birth you will need to pack a hospital bag. I always advise that Mom’s gather all the items she wants and spread them out on the bed and then let Dad do the actual packing. This way when Mom asks for something, Dad will know exactly where to find it.
5. Manage the room – Mom needs to focus on riding the birthing waves, so it’s Dads job to answer questions from staff, make sure no one is trying to talk to her during birthing waves and that the environment feels safe and comfortable for her.

If you can follow these five tips I promise you’ll make a fantastic addition in the delivery room and your partner will be thoroughly impressed with your involvement. Trust me, as a Mom, Doula and Childbirth Educator; this is your way to earn loads of points, if you’re into that sort of thing.

I’m excited to be a guest speaker at the upcoming Dads-to-be Bootcamp Workshop and share more tips with you for beyond the bump.

With BC’s new statutory holiday, Family Day, on Monday it’s left me to reflect as cheesy as it sounds on my family and one person in particular who I have a very special relationship with. My step - son Chase came into my life when he was 3 and I was 23. At the time I felt unsure of myself and well, sometimes I still do, but have learned that is more about being a parent in general than specific to a step-parent. Over the last 4 ½ years our relationship has grown and so has our family with the additional of my daughter Madison. I didn’t know how this would change our family dynamic but in fact it has made things better than I could have ever imagined. Having the year off work only improved our relationship and seeing him and my daughter interact has been amazing! They love each other so much and it is so cool to see! It’s not too often we get the chance to spend a day just me and him anymore but today we went to the Canuck’s Super Skills at Rogers Arena and had a little date day! (the only man I’ve ever paid the full date for LOL) It was so much fun to have one on one time just us two like we used to and to see him really excited and enjoying himself! I’ve learned a lot this past few years about being a parent and most of which I’ve learned through experiences with Chase. He has taught me patience, compassion, selflessness, courage and not to take my self too seriously. I’ve learned although it’s easy to be a friend, kids need a parent. I’m probably the one who disciplines him the most but with that also comes reward and a self- earned sense of accomplishment. At 23, I jumped in feet first with everything and have never looked back. My life changed making the decision to be with a man who had a child but it is a decision I’ve never regretted because he is such a special kid! I can’t wait for the day I get to see him walk across the stage at graduation or stand at the front of the aisle and wait for his bride. Although there is no DNA of mine in him, that’s not what makes a parent and it makes me proud to see pieces of me in him as he grows up!

How many times do you wish you knew the tips and tricks the professional use to take great photos? I know I sure do! My husband and I received a fancy smanshy Canon SLR camera for Christmas before my daughter was born. Over 2 years later, I’ve yet to take a picture without the setting on anything but AUTO! I’d love to learn to explore the other settings the camera has to offer and learn to take shots at better angles/directions so my pictures look great even though I’m nowhere near professional! Now only to figure out how to get them to stay still!

I’ve recently connected with the amazingly talented Jillian Kirby and am thrilled to have her sponsoring some upcoming workshops!

Jillian Kirby is an Award-Winning and Nationally Accredited newborn specialist photographer who serves Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. Jillian shoots out of her natural light commercial space in Langley, BC and has worked with many amazing locals such as Travis Lulay, Chris Gailus and Lynn Colliar!

Jillian’s tips for taking better photos:

I’ve had babies and toddlers and I know exactly how hard it is to snap that gorgeous shot that perfectly shows off how beautiful your little one really is! If he’s not running, he’s drooling and if he’s not drooling, he’s crying and if he’s not crying, he’s covering his face. Well, how about a couple quick tips that will help you on your way to capturing the true essence of your child!

1. Get down on their level! Lie on the floor, squat right down, kneel in front of them… do whatever you have to do to get on their level so all your photos don’t have the “hovering over you” look to them. Shoot the image straight on to help avoid baby squinting or just plain not looking at you at all.

2. When you think you’re close enough, get closer! We all have the cluttered playrooms and the messy bedrooms that our little ones play in and they don’t make for the most complimentary of backgrounds. Zoom in! Get in close to your baby and make sure that the subject of your image is clearly the apple of your eye!

3. When you can, turn off that flash! There’s no need for a flash when the area you’re shooting in is well lit. If you’re at the park or even in a bright room, turn off that unflattering flash and let natural light work it’s wonders on bringing out the best in your kiddo.

4. No more “Say Cheese!!” We know his smile is the cutest in the world, but try capturing the furrow in his brow when he’s concentrating on a puzzle, or the excitement in his eyes as he anticipates a special treat, or that sleepy look he gets every night just before bedtime… because those are the looks you’ll want desperately to remember and might not.

5. Find the shade! Even if you have to guide your child to play in the shade for a bit, try it! Shooting in full sun can be tricky and can cast awkward shadows across his face or force him to squint in every photo you snap. Bring him in the shade where the light is naturally diffused and much softer. You’ll quickly see how much more easy it is to get those natural expressions you’re trying to freeze in time.

We are running a contest with Jillian Kirby l Baby where you can enter to win a free session and 2 – 11 x 14 prints. The package is valued at $465.00. The contest starts tonight and will run until February 28^th. We win announce the winner March 1^st!

To enter, please email stephanie@busybump.com with the subject Jillian Kirby Baby contest.

For more info about Jillian Kirby l Baby visit:

www.jilliankirbybaby.com

www.facebook.com/jilliankirbybaby

www.twitter.com/jillkirbybaby

There are lots to prepare for before baby arrives. Here are some helpful tips and things to think about for the weeks leading up to your due date. Being as prepared as possible and going over expectations with your partner and other family members is key.

• Attend a prenatal class and do research on what to except, although labour and delivery can be unpredictable and everyone’s experience is different, it’s always good to have an idea of what you might be in for.
• Write your birth plan if you decide to have one.
• Pack your bag for the hospital (and don't forget items for baby & your partner)
• Start a registry – have a friend/family member organize a baby shower for you
• Plan a budget
• Sit down with your partner and go over expectations. (will the baby sleep in your room, what will your partner’s roll be? )
• Organize nursery items and baby clothes. Make sure items you’ll need are unpackaged and clothes/blankets are washed by hand in a mild detergent.
• Arrange transportation to the hospital.
• Organize child care for other children – This may need to be available at a moment’s notice so it’s a good idea to also arrange a back up.
• Stock freezer full of easy to make food for the first weeks at home. You could prepare soups, pasta sauces etc. or buy already made frozen meals.
• If you choose, arrange for a house cleaner (could be a friend, relative or agency) to help out around the house the first few weeks.
• Install your baby car sear into the car you will bring to the hospital.
• Order cloth diaper service or cloth diaper kit if you are choosing to use cloth diapers.
• Schedule a maternity photo shoot or newborn photo shoot
• Try to schedule a tour of the Labour & Delivery ward in the hospital you will be having the baby.

We have a new item available to purchase which will be able to check one thing off this list...The Busy Bump Bag is a pre-packed hospital bag with all the essential items you'll need for the labour & delivery. Click here to find out more about the Busy Bump Bag.

Diaper Bag Checklist

•   Diapers (one for each hour you’ll be out)
•   Disposable wipes & case
•   Diaper rash cream or ointment
•   Changing pad
•   Hand Sanitizer
•   Medical kit – care card #, doctor’s #, pain relievers like Tylenol, thermometer, Band Aids, nasal aspirator
•   Large plastic Bag (for dirty diapers or wet clothes)
•   Receiving blanket and/or burp cloths
•   Warm blanket
•   Extra set of clothes
•   If bottle feeding, bottle(s) & bottle holder (to keep cold)
•   Pacifier or other comfort item
•   Snacks and water for mom or older children
• Warm hat for winter or sun hat for warm weather

Looking for a gift idea? We have packaged diaper bags available to purchase. Visit our gift baskets page.

Come celebrate and connect with other moms from around the Lower Mainland! It will be a fun, interactive and informative afternoon featuring The Top 10 Items to Purchase for Baby, and guest speakers on a variety of pregnancy and parenting related topics. Plus over $1000 in prizes to be won from some amazing local businesses like Not For Long Maternity, Fit 4 Two South Surrey, Winks & Whispers – Baby and Child Sleep Consulting, Discovery Toys, Coco & Tini and many more!

Rhonda Dent Photography will be set up to take belly portraits and all expecting moms will receive a gift bag full of goodies and coupons towards local products and services for moms valued at $100!

Whether this is your first or you’re fourth and whatever stage of pregnancy you’re in… this event is one you won’t want to miss out on!

Space for the event is limited. To purchase tickets you can call or visit The Mom Spa or register on our Eventbrite page at www.busybumpshower.eventbrite.com.

Whether you are two months pregnant or nine months, your body adapts in preparation of your baby’s arrival, there are many stresses your mind and body will experience. Aches, pains and worries are common, and can be significantly reduced or eliminating with a soothing, blissful prenatal massage. A speciality pillow allows you to lie on your stomach, even in later stages, for maximum comfort.

I really enjoying going to prenatal massage while I was pregnant. Not only did it allow me some time to relax and de-stress it helps me ease all my pregnancy related aches and pains in my lower back, shoulders and neck. I would strongly recommend looking into someone who is a certified in prenatal massage. There are lots around the Lower Mainland.

One great recommendation I would make is Oceana Massage. Susan is amazing and she is complete mobile and will come to you. For more information you can call her at 604-307-0217 or visit her website at www.OceanaMassage.com.

Oceana Massage will be featured on our local resources page which will be up in a few weeks.You can also hear more about prenatal massage from Susan at our fall Beyond the Bump workshops. Stay tuned for more details.

Researchers at the UBC Pediatric Audiology Lab are conducting a study to improve the way a new hearing aid is used for infants and young children. In addition, we hope to learn more about how infants and young children hear sound through vibration. If your child is between 0-5 years of age, he/she may be eligible to participate. Both normal hearing children and children with hearing loss are invited to participate.

People hear sound through sound waves in the air and by bone vibrations through the skull bones. A new “bone-conduction” hearing aid uses this technique for people who cannot be helped by standard hearing aids. The hearing aid is a small vibrating device that is positioned on the bone directly behind the ear. Recently these bone-conduction hearing aids became available for children age 5 years and younger. We hope to help improve the way these hearing aids are adjusted by better understanding the mechanical properties of the head for children in this age range. By placing a small vibrating device against your child’s head and a small microphone in his/her ear canal, we can collect important information about bone-conduction hearing. Participation will take approximately 30 minutes, and will be completed in our lab at UBC. You will be paid an honorarium for participating in the study.

For more information, please contact:
The Pediatric Audiology Lab at UBC
Susan A. Small, Ph.D or Allison Mackey, Research Assistant
604-822-6325, pal@audiospeech.ubc.ca

Wondering about opening an RESP for your child or children? I recently connected with Darrell Weibe from Heritage Education Funds and he shared some great informatiom about starting an RESP.

The 5 Ws of RESP (Registered Education Savings Plan)

What – RESPs are education savings vehicles registered by the Federal Government to help families of young children save for their children’s post-secondary education. Savings plans are eligible to receive the Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG) and the Canada Learning Bond (CLB).

Why – The cost of 4 years college/university for children born in 2012 is estimated to be between $100,000 and $150,000. Families without a plan in place have very few options to allow their children an education beyond high school. People don’t plan to fail, they fail to plan.

When – The earlier a child is enrolled in a RESP, the longer the savings have time to grow. Enrolling a child before their 1^st birthday, will allow the power of compound growth to benefit a plan in terms of increased plan contributions, increased CESG, increased investment growth within the RESP, and increased growth on the CESG.

Who – Anyone can start saving for a child. Parents, Grandparents, other family members, and friends can all contribute to a child’s RESP and attract the applicable grants toward that child’s successful future.

Where – A RESP can be started through most Financial Institutions or through a RESP company that specializes in education savings plans. Typically, RESP companies offer greater plan safety, flexibility, stability, and investment performance in comparison with those plans sold through a Financial Institution.

Further details, and a no-obligation in home consultation can be arranged by attending a Beyond The Bump workshop.

To register for our upcoming Beyond the Bump workshop visit our Beyond the Bump page.

Every parent can say this about one topic or another... if I had known what I know now; I would have done such and such different. I definitely would have cloth diapered...better still... I would have “gDiapered”!

Did you know conventional disposable diapers are the third largest contributors to landfills in the world? What’s an even crazier statistic is that only five percent of the population (babies!) uses them! The average newborn goes through 60 diapers per week until they begin toilet training. That is an awful lot of diapers ending up in landfills.

When I was pregnant, I did a bit of research into cloth diapering but there are so many different options, articles and debates out there it was completely overwhelming! The all in one, the pre-fold, the hybrid, the pocket ect. I couldn’t keep it all straight! Fast forward a year and now I am doing the research for my clients who are out seeking the same answers I was.

Good news, I have found a great option for parents! gDiapers! A quick background about gDiapers because I think it’s a great story and really like what the company stands for. gDiapers was created by Jason and Kim Graham-Nye. They, like most parents wanted to be environmentally friendly and not contribute more waste to landfills but they also needed to be water conscious because of where they lived in Australia, so cloth diapering was out of the question. When they found a company is Tasmania that was creating flushable diapers they then brought that concept to the US. They have a great company philosophy which is “Work smarter. Not harder” - basically meaning to have a work/life balance. They do this by offering on-site daycare, flexible working hours and the ability to work from home if needed. I wish more companies thought about things like this! It would be so beneficial for the company as I bet the employees would be more productive because they are happier and feel valued.

gDiapers are really easy to use and offer two convenient options, a biodegradable insert (gRefills) and a cloth insert (gCloth) and you can interchange them if you want to use a combination (say cloth at home and disposable when out and about) as they both go into the same cute diaper covers, called little gPants.

The biodegradable option is great for people who are on the fence about cloth diapering but care about the environment and their “footprint”. You put the insert into the diaper cover and then when it’s time to change the baby, you can either flush, compost or toss the diaper. Think about how great it would be to not have a stinky diaper pail! Hallelujah!

The cloth insert option is a great reusable option. The gCloth is made from two layers of baby-soft micro fleece to draw moisture away from baby's bottom, and two layers of hemp/cotton to trap the wetness, so baby stays dry.  If you are looking to cloth diaper, but concerned about washing, the component system of gDiapers is a great way to reduce the washing involved as the little gPants don’t always need to be washed every diaper change.

The little gPants comprise a cotton cover and a snap-in waterproof liner. The outer layer is made of soft and comfy cotton and comes in adorable colours and designs (because let’s face it, the woman inside us all thinks if you can make a diaper look fashionable why not?). They have trim fit to fit baby’s bums and come in sizes starting from newborn (6 – 10lbs) to toddler (34lbs +). The nylon waterproof liner uses gBreath technology helps keep diaper rash away by being waterproof yet breathable. One of my favourite things about the little gPants is that they fasten around the back to keep little hands from undoing the snaps! My daughter has just got the hang out taken off her diaper and now wants it off all the time!!! The little gPants might have kept her guessing a little longer! Another great thing about the gPants is you can machine wash them on cold or warm wash and even machine dry!

They have just launched their spring line of solid colours and in celebration of Earth Day in April, gDiapers has a limited edition “good lovin’ little gPants”. Be sure to check out their latest gStyle designs set to launch this spring too, which combines their little gPants with a coordinating dress or t-shirt.

Wow! If I had known about this great product over a year ago things would have been different! gDiapers are a realistic and convenient environmentally-friendly diaper option and they are safe for baby’s delicate skin (in fact even help prevent diaper rash) and super-cute!

If you currently using disposables and looking to make a switch to a more environmental option, this would be a great choice for you and your baby! As it’s not too big a change from what you’re currently doing and still convenient. Like I said, you can flush the gRefills! It doesn’t get much handier than that!

For more info about gDiapers you can visit their website at http://www.gdiapers.com or go to http://www.gdiapers.com/where-to-buy/store-locator to find a retail store that carries them near you.

Q. What is a baby planner?

A. A baby planner is a person who assists expectant parents with tasks associated with the arrival of the baby, by either accompanying them or doing it for them.

Q. Why would someone hire a baby planner?

A. There are a variety of reasons but to summarize quickly, a baby planner can help save expectant couples time, stress and money on items they do not need to purchase or do not need at this time. Many clients are also new to the Lower Mainland or Canada and are lacking the support network of family and friends to help. Lastly, we help couples be prepared whether its hands-on training on how to diaper or bath a baby or by recommending sleep experts or doulas to help in areas we can’t.

Q. When is the best time to hire a baby planner?

A. Anytime. We help at all stages of pregnancy, including post-partum.

Q. Do I need to live in Vancouver to be a client?

A. No, we cater to women & couples from Chilliwack and Mission all the way to West Vancouver. We prefer to meet clients in their home but clients may also come to us.

Q. What is the cost of your services?

A. Our services can be offered at an hourly rate of $40 an hour or as packaged services which range from $110-$595.

Q. Do you provide gift certificates?

A. Yes we do. We think gift certificates are a great idea for a friend or family member’s baby shower gift. It might not be something the couple would purchase on their own but definitely offer them comfort and peace of mind after having some dedicated help. We have also recently started offering customized gift baskets after the gift baskets we were giving to our clients for the baby were such a hit!

Q. What if the client requests information on a topic or product you don’t know about?

A. We do not pretend to be an expert at everything and anything that has to do with pregnancy and babies, however, we will research all information on the topic and if we feel it’s something we can’t provide information on without help, we will source the expert in the area.

Interested in hiring us as your baby planner? Book a free initial consultation by emailing stephanie@busybump.com

The thought of returning to work put my stomach in knots. Not only was I not looking forward to leaving Maddie and returning to my 9-5 job, I was wondering how we were going to juggle our life that had finally had a bit of consistency with me being home the past year. Shane, my partner, is a firefighter so he works 4 days on and 4 days off and 2 out of those shifts are nights. We have a daughter, who is just over a year old and my 6 year old step-son who we have custody of the majority of the school week.

A couple years ago, I had heard about Nannies on Call

 from a single dad who was friends with Shane. I thought it was a great idea but at the time it wasn’t needed. Around November, when it seemed my lovely maternity leave was getting closer and closer to the end I started to look for child care options. Needless to say it was overwhelming! Finding a daycare that is licensed, flexible days/part-time or hours, fairly cost effective for two kids and can look after a baby... ha! Good luck! But then I remembered, Nannies on Call.

Nannies on Call was started in 2001 by local mom, Michelle Kelsey. Since then it has grown to a bi-coastal company with over 400 nannies. All the nannies are personally interviewed by staff and all nannies need to meet the list of pre-screening requirements. Nannies on Call go above and beyond what I have heard of other agencies doing. They offer their nannies courses on how to file their taxes, first aid and cooking. Which shows they not only care about their clients, they care about their employees as well! I think that is such a great core value to see in a company!

Nannies on Call have two main options to choose from, Placement (Full or Part time) or On–Call. When I first called to get more information we were debating with actually getting a placement, meaning the same nanny each time for certain days and times or whether we would do the on-call as needed. They were so helpful with laying out all the options for us to choose from so we could find the option that worked best for us as a family and was the most cost effective as well. You could use Nannies on Call as your full time child care provider, as an option for date nights or as a back - up incase your regular child care option is unavailable. It’s your call how to use them how it fits for your needs.

We opted for the Baroness Plan which is an “on-call” type of plan however we are able to book 5 times during the month and receive a discount off the booking fee each time. The plan is pre-paid so each time I book I just go online and make my request. The online system is really user friendly and my favourite part is it gives you a drop down selection of your previous nannies to choose from if there is someone you prefer.

We have been using Nannies on Call since January and I have

been so pleased with everything. The level on service is amazing from the time to place the request, to receiving the confirmation to the friendly nannies that arrive at your home! I have honestly been blown away and can’t help but spread the word about this exceptional service for families.

If you are interested in finding out more information you can visit their website www.nanniesoncall.com which has information about nannies, placements, plans, rates and testimonials from clients.

Stay tuned for some upcoming workshops we will be holding in the spring for information about hiring a nanny and child care options.

Did you know that chiropractic care is actually one of the safest forms of healthcare for pregnant woman and their baby? As an expectant mom sometimes the last thing you might be thinking about the visiting the chiropractor... but it is really something to consider and there are many benefits to chiropractic care for having a healthy pregnancy and overall easier birth. Some of the main benefits prenatal patients experience is:

• Reduction in back and pelvic pain
• More ease with natural changes related to pregnancy
• Increasing space in the pelvis, facilitating the baby’s growth
• Correct positioning of the pelvis, facilitating labour and delivery
• Decreased labour time
• Greater ease and comfort during labour and birth, thereby reducing the need for pain relief drugs during delivery

At our Beyond the Bump workshop this Saturday, we will be having Dr. Giselle Chamberlain of evolve Nurturing Vitality speak about pre and post natal chiropractic care. I am so excited to have her teach woman the benefits of chiropractic care as I have seen first-hand the benefits of it, however, my experience was only post partum after some damage during labour was done. It’s very possible if I had seen a chiropractor while still pregnant, my damage wouldn’t have been there or could of have significantly decreased. Here is a little more info on Giselle.

Dr. Giselle Chamberlain’s family wellness practice reflects her holistic outlook towards life-long health as well as her dedication to caring for patients of all ages. Raised in Victoria, Giselle attained her Bachelor of Science Degree at UBC, and continued her studies at Life Chiropractic College West in Hayward, California.

Giselle’s practice has an emphasis in perinatal chiropractic care for expectant mothers and their children. The unique physiological and emotional needs in pregnancy and childhood requires special attention and Giselle enjoys providing family chiropractic care as well as being a resource for many of the questions that arise from new parents. In June 2011, Giselle and her husband Bill welcomed their beautiful daughter into the world with the assistance of their midwife and doula.

Giselle is always continuing to enhance her knowledge and skills through further training. She has completed her 180-hour post-doctorate program with the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association, earning her CACCP credentials with the Academy of Chiropractic Family Practice. This training focuses on chiropractic care for families, prenatal/postnatal mothers and children. Dr. Chamberlain is also certified in the Webster Technique, which is a safe and gentle method to restore proper balance and function for pregnant mothers. This balanced state in the pelvis has been clinically shown to allow for optimal fetal positioning. Through chiropractic, infants and children are assisted naturally through their milestones for optimal growth and development.

In addition to her prenatal and pediatric practice, Dr. Chamberlain is also a certified Active Release Technique® (ART) provider. By using this state-of-the-art soft tissue therapy as well as Chiropractic adjustments, she is able to address many musculoskeletal complaints.

Giselle looks forward to sharing her expertise and guidance with families as the Beyond the Bump workshop this Saturday at the Roundhouse Community Centre in Vancouver. Tickets are still available on our Beyond the Bump page.

I have never been the type of person who can sit still and relax. The thought of me sitting in a dark room and mediating is almost laughable and anyone who knows me would probably have a laugh too! That being said, there are other ways to relax your body and mind. After I have Maddie, I was feeling a lot of tension in my body. It was due to the mix of emotions going on in my head. I was experiencing anxiety, self doubt and guilt as probably many new moms do. Enter Agata... Agata is an Intuitive Healer, Lightworker and Reiki Master in Human and Animal Reiki. Agata has a way about her that makes you calm and comfortable. She provides a unique set of energy healing services and is mobile, bringing the experience to the comfort of your own home. I met with Agata at my house for a Reiki session. After the session I felt so relaxed and at ease. It was the best feeling. (and it was long overdue) Being a mom you so often put aside your own needs to care for others. I see it happen all the time. But the problem is, when you ignore those things they always find a way of catching up you to. As moms, all we need sometimes is a little refresh! It could be a trip to get our hair cut, a coffee date with a girlfriend, a massage...whatever. The point is to make time for you. Agata was so good at helping to point this out to me. At the end of the session we went over everything and I learned about what was going on inside my head and how that was affecting my body. It's amazing how it all connects! Agata's company is called, Gold Leaf Energy Healing.  It was created to help you on your path of personal development and spiritual awareness – bringing increased balance and harmony to your life.

I'm really looking forward to Agata speaking with our expectant moms at our Beyond the Bump workshop on March 10th at the Roundhouse. She’ll be sharing her tips for relaxing, finding the time to focus on yourself and the benefits of being “balanced” in mind and body. I think it will be some great information for lots of new moms and moms to be!

Contact Agata today for more information and to book a session.

When I was a kid, it was Charlotte Diamond and Fred Penner. For my kids, it’s Bobs & LoLo!

The Vancouver Island natives are a talented dynamic duo whose songs educate, inspire and engage kids!

Their newest CD, Connecting the Dots, has 14 great tunes for kids! All the songs encourage learning, whether it’s about family, nature or telling time. The songs take kids on an adventure while learning. My step-son’s favourite song is Family Tree. I think because he has a new little sister he feels a connection to this song. I remember him telling me in the car one day that “she’s another branch on the tree” Aww! Just melts my heart! My only criticism would be the songs are so catchy, I find myself singing them all day long and then my husband gets on my case! Haha!

Connecting the Dots has been nominated for a 2012 Juno Award for Children’s Album of the Year! Be sure to watch the Juno Awards to see if they win!

Before they head out to Ottawa, Bobs & LoLo will be having a concert in at Handworth Secondary in North Vancouver on March 17^th called ShamROCK! The event is to celebrate their recent JUNO nomination for their ‘Connecting the Dots’ CD which launched last May and hopefully give them some four leaf clover luck going into the awards, but they have also chosen to use it to support the Gaby Davis Foundation and will be donating $1 from every ticket sold to this local charity which helps families affected by childhood cancer.

The event is at 1:30pm (doors open at 1pm).

Tickets are $12 each and are available online at Raspberry Kids or in person at Jack & Lola, Beansprouts (Vancouver) or BC Playthings.

Lucky readers, I am giving away a Bobs & LoLo “Connecting the Dots” cd. All you need to do to enter is email me (stephanie@busybump.com) with your favourite kids tune. (doesn’t have to be Bobs & LoLo but bonus point if it is hehe)

You know when you get excited about something so much that you just want to tell everyone, even strangers in a restaurant? I so love the idea of doing a cake smash for a 1st birthday! A couple weeks ago we did one with Kendra from Bullfrogs & Butterflies Photography. It was so much fun! Kendra is awesome! Looking at the pictures you can't tell that Maddie had a rough night of sleep the night before and was minutes away from a meltdown by the time we arrived. Kendra was good at wrangling her and keeping her entertained with all the different props she has.  Maddie was a big fan of the pink chair so we comprised with her as it was easier for her to climb or sit in it. I loved the huge selection of hats, toques, head bands, diaper covers and other props! There was so many cute things to choose from! She also has so many different backdrops to choose from and the one she chose for us perfectly matched the purple & pink theme! Kendra got Maddie's tutu and headband hand-made for her by Heather's Handiwork and we got to keep them after which we will wear again for her birthday party tomorrow. The material the tutu was made of was super easy to clean! The adorable polka dot cake was made by Natty Cakes (who is also making Maddie's birthday cupcakes!) A few days ago Kendra sent me a few shots as a preview and I was so amazed at how great they turned out and excited to see the rest! (what a tease! haha) Tonight she sent some more  which literally brought tears to my eyes! They are so great and she found a way to capture each funny aspect of Maddie's personality in different photos! I absolutely love them! Bullfrogs & Butterflies Photography specializes in maternity, newborn and children's photography.  Kendra is amazingly talented, super fun and great with kids! You can see more of her work on her website and you can meet her in person at our Beyond the Bump workshops or swing by her vendor table at the Mommies N Munchkins Fair April 15th. She is always giving away great prizes via her Facebook page too so like her page to see what goodies she has to give away this month! 

I am really looking forward to hearing Emma's presentation this Wednesday  at our Beyond the Bump workshop about nursery design. Her work is amazing!

An interior designer and fine artist, originally from the UK, Emma has merged her skills to create the most inspirational and creative bedrooms for children. DreamWallDesigns all began in 2002, when dreams for the bedrooms of her two adored boys, blossomed into the successful business Emma has today. Expanding on her original ideas on how to delight her young sons, Emma now reaches to inspire the clients she paints for.

From extravagant and detailed full wall murals to custom canvasses and accessories or refinishing existing furniture, Emma applies her artistic talents in many ways to help bring a child’s imagination to life in their own room. Doing everything from entire room redesigns, to simple additions like growth charts and door knobs Emma can assist you with what you need. Emma has created everything from tea with fairies to Spiderman swinging across New York, from surfing with Barbie in Hawaii to roping cows with cowboys in the wild west. Emma will work within your budget, while letting your child’s imagination and her own creativity run limitless.

Emma’s easy going personality and willingness to please, is what keeps her clients coming back again and again. She prides herself on her attention to detail, mastery of the brush, artistic sense of color and most importantly, making sure her clients are happy!

To see more pictures of Emma's beautifully designed rooms you can visit her website http://www.dreamwalldesigns.ca/

One thing I noticed when I first became a mom was there were not a lot of mom and baby friendly places to go to. As a new mom, I wanted somewhere I could go for a coffee or to meet a friend where Maddie could come with me. I love finding more and more places that are mom and baby friendly around the Lower Mainland! Kinder Cafe is one of those places! Kinder Cafe has been open since November 2010 and is run by local mom Anita Fantov. I was so touched by Anita’s inspiring story I just have to share it, first because I also have a blended family and it’s beautiful to see how hers has all come together. I feel blessed to have the same! Second, I think it is so inspiring to have gone through the struggles she has and get to the place where she is now and has accomplished her dream!

Anita is a mom and step mom to 3 girls. Her road to everything she has accomplished now has not been an easy one as she spent her first year of motherhood as a single mother dealing with depression and feeling isolated. When she returned to work at her corporate career 4 months early from her maternity leave she had to leave her daughter in daycare and work long hours. Luckily there was a better plan out there than she had imagined. To her surprise she met the man of her dreams while at work. He also had a daughter and now they have a daughter together as well. It was him that encouraged her to follow her dreams and open a kid-friendly cafe.

Kinder Café is a hip, new indoor playground geared towards children 6 and under. They have created a unique place where parents can come and enjoy a comfortable atmosphere while their children play freely in a clean, safe and age-appropriate playground. The playground is geared towards younger children, so parents don’t have to worry about their kids being pushed around by bigger kids. They offer an open-concept space of 3,000 square feet, so you can easily supervise your child from a comfortable seat in our café area, while you sip away at our wonderful specialty coffees and teas.

Kinder Cafe is open Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 5pm and
Saturday and Sundays from 10am to 5pm. They are even open most holidays, excluding Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years Day and Easter Monday.

For more information about Kinder Cafe you can visit their website www.kindercafe.ca

Don’t forget to come to our Beyond the Bump workshop, which is happening February 8^th at Kinder Cafe.

Sleepdreams is a group of paediatric health care professionals trained and experienced specifically in sleep for infants and children. Sleepdreams is founded by Jennifer Garden, mother of twins and an Occupational Therapist (OT) registered in BC & Alberta. She is also a university instructor who has presented at several national conferences on sleep and is actively involved with a sleep research team in Vancouver. Her teaching skills and ability to mentor other occupational therapists in the specialty of sleep has created an unsurpassed team of professional sleep consultants.

Jennifer has worked professionally in paediatrics since 1996 and has run her own private practice since 2001. Jennifer’s educational credentials include an undergraduate degree in Human Kinetics at the University of British Columbia, a Master of Clinical Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of Western, Ontario, and a Master of Science at the University of British Columbia. She has also taken course credits as a breast feeding counsellor, sensory processing and parenting philosophies.

In 2008 Jennifer realized a need for research based paediatric health care professionals in sleep. A need for every day families and parents that are coping with children who may be having a hard time getting to and staying asleep. Research shows that 25-30 percent of infants and children in Canada are not getting enough sleep. Jennifer founded Sleepdreams Inc. and carefully selected and personally trained paediatric OT’s in her programs.

Sleepdreams offers seminars for expecting parents and parents of newborns to preschool aged children. Seminars usually last an hour and half to two hours and cover a range of topics including research on sleep, age appropriate sleep and sleep strategies for tired infants and children.

Sleepdreams professional sleep consultants conduct in-home consultations. Here they perform paediatric assessments to help identify calming strategies to integrate into a custom sleep plan. By meeting and interviewing the parents they are able to set out strategies that work in harmony with the parents’ goals and values. The OT provides a detailed report including a sleep plan and telephone follow up.

Sleepdreams consultants draw upon years of experience working clinically both in hospital and community setting with infants and children in areas of sleep, feeding, swallowing, sensory processing, language development, toileting, motor skills and development, as well as recognition of mental and physical milestones. Through continued university research, education and clinical paediatric practice specializing in sleep, Sleepdreams’ professional sleep consultants provide results for tired parents and their children. A client centred approach is at the heart of every occupational therapist. This means they listen to your needs and wants and working together with you and your child they develop successful strategies to help you all get the rest you need.

Best of all, as registered occupational therapists, Sleepdreams consultation services are often covered by extended health care plans and are otherwise income tax deductible.

We are very excited to have Jennifer speak at our workshop on February 8th at Kinder Cafe. For more information on Sleepdreams you can visit their website http://www.sleepdreams.ca/ and to register for our workshop you can visit http://beyondthebump.eventbrite.com/

I have wanted to feature a variety of mom & baby friendly places and activities for a while now as I think this is a trend that should continue. It’s great to see businesses finding solutions of how to reach out to “mommy” clientele. Everyone should be able to go to a fitness class, enjoy a coffee, having a meeting, get a pedicure...especially moms! So it’s great to see many businesses finding ways to include and/or incorporate children into the mix.

The first mom & baby friendly business is, With Our Two Hands. They offer Mom & Baby Yoga as well as Family Yoga for the whole family. No previous yoga experience is required. They also offer a variety of art classes for children as well as language and gardening classes. They are located in Steveston Village (one of my favourite places) in Richmond.

Kahoot Kids.ca is currently offering a deal where you can save 50% on a set of 4 classes of your choice.

For more information on this deal or to purchase click on the link below.

http://www.kahootkids.ca/a/wr3Z9/withourowntwohands

Looking for more mom & baby friendly businesses? Stay tuned...we plan to feature a variety of different places, stores and activities over the next few weeks.

Are you a mom & baby friendly business in the lower mainland? We’d love to feature you. Please contact stephanie@busybump.com for more details

I am very excited to announce that starting in January Busy Bump Maternity Services will be hosting four workshops (with the possibility of more) around the lower mainland for new and expectant parents. The workshops, called Beyond the Bump are designed to provide a little more insight into your new life with a baby. I have been working with Clare Adams of Bigger Bubbles Marketing over the past few months to put together the first workshop which will take place at Kinder Cafe in Port Coquitlam on February 8^th from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. We are lucky enough to have some amazing guest speakers, Jennifer from Sleepdreams Inc., Lorena from Room for 2 Maternity & Baby, Melanie from Fit 4 Two and Emma from DreamWall Designs to touch on a variety of topics like baby sleep patterns, breastfeeding, exercising during pregnancy, designing a nursery, diapering and the first weeks home.

The goal of the workshops is to offer new and expectant parents information beyond what they might be hearing in their prenatal classes. Each workshop will have enough space to accommodate 20 people so please register early to ensure your spot. The cost to attend is $10 per person or $15 for two (could be a couple or two friends).

To register go to:      

http://beyondthebump.eventbrite.com

We have some great opportunities for mom & baby related business to looking to reach new Moms or parents-to-be. For sponsorship information please contact stephanie@busybump.com



Stay tuned for more detailed information on our event speakers in upcoming blogs as well as details on future Beyond the Bump workshops in South Surrey, Vancouver and North Vancouver.

Happy New Year!

 Looking back over this past year I only really have one word to describe it, grateful!  I cannot believe the year it’s been!

I started off 2011 like many New Years before with my friends Cody & Nicole, Shane and Chase (except this time drinking sparkling apple juice and 8 months pregnant). The first few weeks of the year I had my share of many weekly Doctors visits as I got closer and closer to my due date of March 6^th. I have never peed in a cup so many times in my life! I was a pro! My shower was at the end of January and it was so nice to see so many friends and family!

Little did we know that Valentine’s Day 2011 would be one to remember when my water broke that night two and a half weeks early. 30+ hours later, Madison Ava, my amazingly beautiful daughter was born. Weighing only 6 lbs 10 ounces it’s hard to remember now at 19lbs how little she was. I never thought I could love someone so much! The birth of Madison brought all our family much closer together. Shane, Chase and I now have something in common we all could bond over and it has really changed our relationship as a family and individually as well. Also my relationship with other family members like my parents and sister have grown closer as well. My friends have all been so supportive and love coming to visit Maddie! The months have flown by and now Maddie is almost 11 months...and I’m almost returning to work! Yikes! Where did all the time go? She is a bundle of energy and can be found at any time of day yelling her little lungs off like a dinosaur (and that’s her happy scream). She motors around the house after her big brother Chase and loves to get into all his toys! Nothing makes me happier than hearing a good belly laugh or seeing her cheeky little grins!

The summer was busy and every day brought on something new. In June I started my business, Chase finished Kindergartenand Shane’s mom turned 60. Then for Canada Day we travelled up to the Interior to visit family and played in a ball tournament with friends. The end of July was my birthday which we spent in Cultus and Chase’s 6th birthday in August. We spent lots of days at the beach, outside for walks around the Quay and up at Cultus. Too bad the beginning of summer wasn’t the best weather or I would of had one amazing tan!

In September Chase started grade 1. (Yay! to all day school!) We put our place up for sale and before Halloween it was sold and we had bought our townhouse in South Surrey! The rest of October was spent packing and packing and more packing!

In November we took a family trip with Shane parents to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. I doubt Maddie will remember much but I know Chase will have memories that will last a lifetime. He still talks about different parts of the trip and it’s January! “Remember those bird men that swung around that high pole?”(In the middle of eating dinner.) Haha simple minds! After being back from Mexico for a week (what was I thinking?!?!) we moved into our townhouse! It felt like home the day we moved in! I have never been happier and I love the area we live in!

Christmas holidays we got lots of opportunities to connect and see friends and family. Christmas was spent with family at our house. My first turkey dinner! It was actually a lot better than I expected! Nothing burnt, nothing too stressful!

Overall, this year has been an amazing one! I have met some amazing people, some other moms who truly inspire me. I’ve re-connected with some great people and stayed in touch with people I was afraid I might lose touch with since having a baby. I’ve learned about myself (good and bad). I’ve found out what I am truly made of and what I can handle (even at 4am in the morning with a crying baby!). I’ve been nervous, self doubting and stressed about started my own business but I pushed past it, got out of my head and have had a great experience so far and hopefully 2012 will only bring more success as I launch the next step to my business which is some expectant parent workshops. I’m excited for 2012, personally & professional. Although I know it will bring its challenges like the juggling act of work and life balance (like most mothers take on) but I’m willing to do it and get through it together with Shane. I’m excited for all the things 2012 has in store for Shane & I and our family! I can’t wait to see Madison turn one in February and she is ready any day to take her first steps.

Thank you to everyone who has connected with me and supported me this past year! I wish every one of you all the best for the New Year. I hope you too take some time to reflect on the past year and learn from it. I am so grateful for all I have and all the incredible things I have to look forward to in 2012! I can't wait!

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. ~ Eleanor Roosevelt