COME ON BABY!

Natural Induction Methods:

1. Acupressure - There are pressure points in the shoulder well, webbing between thumb and forefinger, heel and small of back. Don't stop there... Get a pedicure, a massage...

2. Balsamic Vinegar - Add a dash to your salad, even chicken when cooking.

3. Bananas - Potassium is meant to help with muscle contractions so being low can offset labor. Bananas have plenty of potassium.

4. Basil - Throw some in your cooking, the fresher, the better.

5. Black/Blue Cohosh - Taken in tea form is a common way to induce labor. Some midwives use it even during labor to increase slow contractions.

6. Borage seed oil - Meant to have similar effects to evening primrose oil - dilating and effacing.

7. Bouncing on ball/ Bumpy car ride/ sex - Spreading your legs as well as the moving up and down can help the baby move down, and sometimes the baby just needs a bit of a jiggle!

8. Castor oil

9. Clary sage oil - Use for aromatherapy as an oil or in a candle.

10. Dancing

11. Dates - Six date fruit a day in the leadup to your EDD is meant to help with dilation.

12. Eggplant - Many people swear by eggplant parmigiana.

13. Evening primrose oil - Can be taken orally from 35 weeks and used internally (good idea to do this at night and use a panty liner) from 38 weeks. It's meant to soften the cervix so that even if you do get induced, the doctor may be able to break your waters and not need any further intervention to bring on labor.

14. Glass of Wine - The slight effects of the alcohol are said to bring on labor, however remember that drinking during pregnancy is NOT recommended.

15. Golden seal - Taken in tablet form is easiest.

16. Licorice - Try to get the natural kind - Like castor oil, some people claim that the slightly laxative effect can cause cramps in the bowel which lead to contractions.

17. Mandarin oil on heels

18. Motherwort - Taken in tea or pill form.

19. Nipple stimulation - Needs to be done for approx an hour at a time.

20. Oregano - Throw some in your cooking!

21. Pineapple - Best taken fresh and raw.

22. Quinine - Not quite sure how it works but I've read that it is used in various countries - either pill or liquid form.

23. Raspberry leaf - Taken either as a tea or pill. Start at about 34 weeks - definitely strengthens the uterus, leading to a (hopefully) shorter labor, because each contraction can achieve more.

24. Relaxation excercises - Try some relaxing music and just lie back or even join a meditation class.

25. Spicy food - The reason it works may be because of the upset it causes to the digestive system which then upsets the uterus.

26. Squats - Doing a few of these each day often helps to move the baby down and into position.

27. Squaw Vine - Old remedy. Not sure how well it works.

28. Stretch and sweep of membranes - Your midwife or doctor can perform this simple procedure. A finger is inserted into the cervix and a gentle 'sweep' of the finger slightly separates the uterus wall and amniotic sac, sometimes leading to labor within hours or days. Some women say it's an easy, painless procedure, others claim it can be very painful. How well it works can also depend on if you are very far dilated or not.

29. Swimming - Relaxed swimming can help bring out the baby - both the water and the movement help.

30. Thyme Tea

31. Visualisation excercises - Many women swear by these. Try making a recording of yourself talking about the baby moving down, preparing to be born etc or just imagine it in your head.

32. Walking - The bumping up and down can help the baby move into the birth canal. In fact, this is one of the few ways that most doctors agree on for starting labor.

33. Yoga - Many places offer special classes for all stages of pregnancy.

For a few more, please visit:

NINE years later

Matt and I celebrated nine years together, today. A monumentous occurance for some, but a small stepping stone for us.

We've certainly experienced a lot in the past nine years... positive AND negative, but, I would not trade a minute of it... not for anything.

Married 6 years, together nine, and 3 babies... sounds pretty good to me

Thanksgiving Menu

What to make? What to eat?

Ingredients

•2-1/2 to 3 cups all-purpose flour

•5 eggs

•1 tablespoon olive oil

•FILLING:

•1 small pie pumpkin (about 2-1/4 pounds), peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes

•4 teaspoons chopped shallot

•1/3 cup butter, cubed

•2 teaspoons minced fresh sage

•3/4 teaspoon minced fresh thyme

•1/4 teaspoon salt

•1/4 teaspoon pepper

•2/3 cup heavy whipping cream

•1 small bay leaf

•1 egg, lightly beaten

•SAUCE:

•1 cup heavy whipping cream

•3 tablespoons butter

•2 teaspoons minced fresh sage

Directions

•Place 2-1/2 cups flour in a large bowl; make a well in the center. Beat eggs and oil; pour into well. Stir together, forming a ball. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 8-10 minutes, adding remaining flour if necessary to keep dough from sticking. Cover and let rest for 30 minutes.

• Meanwhile, in a large skillet, saute pumpkin and shallot in butter until tender. Add the sage, thyme, salt and pepper. Transfer to a food processor; cover and process until blended. Return to the pan; stir in cream and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes or until thickened. Discard bay leaf.

• Divide pasta dough into fourths; roll one portion to 1/16-in. thickness. (Keep remaining dough covered until ready to use.) Working quickly, place rounded teaspoonfuls of filling 1 in. apart over half of pasta sheet. Brush around filling with egg. Fold sheet over; press down to seal. Cut into squares with a pastry wheel. Repeat with remaining dough and filling.

• Bring a stock pot of salted water to a boil. Add ravioli. Reduce heat to a gentle simmer; cook for 1-2 minutes or until ravioli float to the top and are tender. Drain and keep warm.

• In a small saucepan, bring cream to a boil; cook, uncovered, until reduced by half. Stir in butter and sage. Serve with ravioli. Yield: 6 servings.

What TO wear... Family Portrait Style

I always say COORDINATE do not match, meaning pick 3 or 4 colors and everyone wear a variation of them . I love COLORS patterns and layers and accesories

These are my opinions based on My experience of what I think photographs well:)

Here are some of my Do's and Dont's

DONT wear all WHITE shirts (or black or red or ANYTHING where everyone is in the same color. This is a very dated look (90's:)) Also everyone blends together and makes the image less interesting.

DO wear patterns! I love little boys and men in a colorful plaid shirt. I then would have others bring out one of the colors of the plaid shirt and wear a plain colored shirt and pair it with a cute scarf, boots or heels.

DONT wear LOGOS!!!!!! No NIKE, PATAGONIA, GAP or other labels. This is VERY distracting in an image. There is a slight exception to this... if you prefer a more urban style sometimes graphic tees work:) For example a "Rockstar" shirt, make sense?

DO layers! Put a polo shirt under the little guys plaid shirt. Bring a denim Jacket to wear over the dress. A cute Pea Coat with matching heels is just darling! Switching out layers changes up the look and feel of the photos.

DONT wear something unflattering. This seems like a given right? BUT Im constantly surprised when women complain that they hate their arms yet they choose a short sleeve shirt. To this I say 3/4 length sleeves:)

DO go shopping and purchase new clothes (or at least some new items). I figure, if you are investing in a photo session than you would like the images as awesome as possible right? Put some thought into the outfits:)

Packing my bags...

Lessons I learned just in time for the THIRD time around....

DON'T:

Don't bring nursing bras, bring a nursing tank instead.

Don't bring nursing pads, boobs would leak, but not until you get home.

Don't bring baby fingernail clippers or files.

Don't bring girl stuff if you're having a boy. But, if you know the gender, stay away from the neutral stuff too.

Don't bring going home outfits that don't have legs for the car seat.

Don't bring your own underwear. You will be a fountain that spurts red for days and days (and weeks and weeks) so use those ridiculous mesh panties they provide. Use the heck out of them.

DO:

Do bring your breastfeeding pillow. BUT only if you are inexperienced...It will be your only comfort during that 3AM feed where the baby won't stay awake and you think you're going to drop him because you should be sleeping but you're not.

Do bring a tube of nipple butter/lanolin and apply it to your entire boob after EVERY feeding for at least three weeks. You'll avoid cracked and bleeding nipples that way.

Do bring a robe in case you decide to stay in your hospital gown.

Do bring a warm outfit for the baby to wear during the first night, even if the hospital website says they provide one.

Do bring baby mittens to keep them from scratching themselves (and your boobs) with sharp claws.

Do bring plastic flipflops for the shower.

Do bring snacks.

Do bring your baby memory book or journal and ask the nurses (nicely) if they'll stamp your baby's footprint in it while they're doing the birth certificate.