January Newsletter

Hello NAMC Mommies,

I hope you had a wonderful holiday with your family and a Happy New Year! This month NAMC is getting off to a slow and easy start with Chillaxin in January as the theme of our meeting. We are going to visit and catch up after the holidays and have some fun with playing Apples to Apples. Come join the fun and sign up to bring a snack to share or just come as you are. We may also run over to the Mexican Restaurant near by to do some more Chillaxin after the meeting, time permitting.

Please check in on our FB Group to see any upcoming events and sign up to have some fun.

Happy New Year!

Danor Padden

Women and Exercise

Women are more physically inactive than men. More than 60% of women in the United States don't get the recommended amount of weekly physical activity, and the majority of these women are mothers. Moms are constantly busy taking care of their family and most mothers report that they just don’t have the time to exercise. Just like most things in life, if you want something to get done, you have to plan it into your schedule.

Most of my clients I had when working at the gym purchased training sessions in order to “buy accountability.” If they didn’t have a workout with me on the calendar, the likelihood of them making it to the gym decreased dramatically. This can be said for most people. I always told clients that the hardest thing about working out is getting dressed and getting to the gym. Keeping oneself motivated and interested in exercise is also difficult. Not only do you have to continually motivate yourself to workout, but you also need some sort of plan once you start your run, walk or gym workout. Many gym goers show up to the gym and just do something with little thought as to what they should be doing.

Women report that they are more successful with regular physical activity when they have the social support of family or friends. ATX Stroller Mamas is designed to provide this type of support so that women can stay physically active and live a more healthy life. Women who regularly participate in physical activity routines see positive results in their mental, sexual and physical well-being. In addition, exercise helps with weight control, builds metabolically active lean muscle, and reduces the risk of dying from coronary heart disease and of developing high blood pressure, colon cancer and diabetes. So, as we approach another New Year, ladies, I challenge you to make this year the year you get physical and start a new commitment to exercise.
ATX Stroller Mamas: Motherhood. Fitness. Accountability. Results.

Based on the facts provided by the CDC.

December Letter from the President

Howdy Mamas,

I hope everyone had a wonderful and filling Thanksgiving! I had two dinners and now I am stuffed like a turkey! I also did tons of shopping and now I am ready to wrap it all up.

This week at our monthly meeting on Thursday night, we will do just that...bring your gift wrap and toys and wrap up your kiddos treats. We are also having a gag-gift White Elephant Exchange so bring a gift wrapped silly present to give away...anything laying around the house will do. This is our Mommy Holiday Party so come and enjoy the fun with your friends and take some time to yourself! The club is providing pizza but we can use some snacks to share so look for the hospitality sign up sheet and help out if you haven't already this year. There will also be a cookie exchange so bring 3 dozen cookies if you want to participate. The idea is for you to go home with 3 dozen different cookies to give as gifts or take to parties for the holiday season. In other words, we are going to have some fun and get things done that will make our holiday season less stressful and more fun!

Speaking of getting things done, we will also be working on the Kid's Garage Sale and Holiday Bazaar after the meeting. We will make signs and hand out stickers for you to mark your donated items. I will have the van to transport some donated items if you want to bring them to the meeting and mark them there. I would prefer any items for donation be dropped off between 7 and 9 on Friday night or on Saturday morning between 9 and 10 at Westover Club. This way things don't have to be transported two or three times.

Please dig down deep in the kiddos toy boxes and find the things that can go. This is a great opportunity for the club to make money and for you to clear out some space for the new items soon to come your way. We are looking for anything that has to do with baby, kiddo or mama. Things like name books, clothes, toys, maternity items and more. If you have a big ticket item like the bassinet I am going to sell, you can mark it with a hot pink sticker and let us know that you would like to split the profit with the club. You can also choose to mark the item with a green sticker and let us know that you would like to do a 75%-25% split with the club as well. All children's clothing, books and such will have a standard price of $1 unless otherwise marked by you. The toys and games or any other item should be marked with a white dot and the price of your choosing to be donated to the club. For example, a puzzle may be marked $1 or a train set $10. What ever you feel is reasonable or that you would ask at a garage sale yourself. After 7 on Friday at Westover, there will be designated areas for each item type and we ask that you bring your item in then (if possible), mark it and place it in the area.

The Bazaar and Garage Sale itself is going to be tons of fun! We have many crafty mamas who are bringing great and unique gift items to sell. There will be a bake sale, bouncy house, petting zoo, tennis demo, karate demo and much more. The club has a nice playground for the kiddos too so come have some fun and bring your family and friends.

Please invite your friends and family to the Bazaar as well. We have tons of advertising going out but we can use all the help we can get. This is our one big fundraiser so donated items and people are a must to make money. Send out a note on your FB page or just send an email to any friends with small kiddos. They can donate items as well. Every thing helps!

There are lots of other fun events this December as well. Please make sure to take a look at the FB page and all the events! We are having a Breakfast with Santa again so dress in PJ's and bring a wrapped gift to sneak into Santa's bag with your kiddos name on it. Santa will make an appearance, take pics and pass out gifts to all the children whose mommies bring one for him to give. We had tons of fun last year and I am sure this year will be great too!

Happy Holiday's Everyone~

Danor Padden

President NAMC

Pinecone Turkeys from Arts and Crafts Day

Materials:

Self hardening clay: (see link)

http://www.kidsrcrafty.com/self-hardening_clay.htm

Pinecones ( I found a bag at Michaels for $2.50)
Acorns, or any other nut with "hats". I gathered a bunch but had to glue the hats on.
Googly eyes
Orange felt or paper or clay (the turkey's waddle)
Feathers, leaves, colorful paper for the tail feathers, cut into strips

Stick the pinecone onto a lump of clay, the front end tilted slightly lower than the back.
Glue the acorn onto the front of the pinecone. You may need to break away a point or two to get it positioned securely.
Stick on googly eyes right below the "hat".
Glue the orange fabric (the waddle)so its draping over the tip of the acorn (the turkey's beak).
Glue tail feathers around the back.
When the clay dries, the kids can paint it and the paint will also act as a sealant to protect it from crumbling.

http://www.enchantedlearningcom/crafts/thanksgiving/pineconeturkey/

My Second Pregnancy: Would I have another Preemie?

By Alison
full article published at EmpowHER, July 15 2010: http://bit.ly/cO5767

Today, November 17th, is Preemie Awareness Day (through the March of Dimes), and I wanted to say how thankful I am of the traveling nurses we met in the NICU over the 2 weeks for taking such great care of Austin. I still hold them very close in my heart, as they cuddled and cared for all the babies. Since I already had one preemie, and found out I am pregnant again....what were my chances of having a full-term baby?

Having a first pregnancy end in preterm labor was terrifying, and now being pregnant again is anxiety-producing. Our preemie-son, now three years old, is healthy and doing great, but what is in store for this second pregnancy? We wanted another child, and tried for well-over six months, but now I feel this impending doom about my undeniable future labor and delivery.

Can I handle another premature labor? Can I handle another preemie baby?

The reason for my preterm labor is unknown, as the cause was indeterminable. How can I prevent something if I don't even know what I am trying to prevent or guard against?!.

I began searching for information on how to prevent recurring preterm labor, and spoke with my OB/GYN. Fortunately, there is a preventative measure that is relatively inexpensive and manageable, called 17P injections (17 Alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone Caproate). I continue my story describing this treatment, the medical literature...and if it the weekly injections worked: http://bit.ly/cO5767

"Encouraging Autonomy" Put to Use

By Becky

I recently had an opportunity to put the skills from How to Talk So Kids will Listen book (but like, when is there NOT an opportunity??)

One thing my daughter and I struggle with is autonomy. Her tendency to be timid and uncomfortable with trying new things, and my tendency to be a "helicopter mom" is a perfect storm. She does fairly well following directions and asking permission, but struggles in self-direction and independence. Partly driven by a desire to get things done and the deception that I am "helping" her learn (by doing things for her, ), I have often stepped in the way of her gaining independence at this crucial age of development.

In How to Talk so Kids Will Listen & Listen so Kids will Talk, chapter 4 (titled "Encouraging Autonomy") challenges us to gain the skills that teach our children to learn autonomy. The basic rules are:

1. Let children make choices

2.Show respect for a child's struggle

3.Don't ask too many questions.

4.Don't rush to answer questions.

5.Encourage them to use sources outside the home.

6.Don't take away hope.

Okay, so while camping last weekend, we were lying in the tent at bedtime, Sonrisa on her air mattress, I nursing Tristan on mine. All is dark, quiet, and very cold outside of the sleeping bags. Out of her corner of the tent I hear, "Mommy?"

"Yes?"

"I have a boogie."

Silence.

Normally I would say: "Get a tissue" or "Go throw it away." But at this moment I have no idea where a tissue is, nor do I want to get up and go looking for one. If I get up, my nearly sleeping baby will wake up and most likely roll off the air mattress. There is of course no trash can in the tent. I am tempted to tell her to flick it into a corner, but then I think, yuck. I am at a loss.

So I just say "What are you going to do with it?"

"I don't know."

Normally I might say "Well, I'm not going to get rid of it for you! There are some things you just have to do for yourself."

Then she would most likely feel hurt and resentful and begin whining and pleading just because she has realized the fight is on.

And she has to hold her side, right?

And then I would give in because I just want to stop the fight, but would be disgusted and my daughter would probably not feel that great even though she got her way.

So I say something silly instead, because I REALLY do not want Tristan to wake and I REALLY do not want anything to do with her booger.

"Well, I guess you're going to have to stick it behind your ear."

"Ewww! No, I need to put it somewhere away from my skin."

"oh...How will you do that?"

"By throwing it out of the tent?" I am still waiting for her to ask ME to throw it out of the tent, but I say,

"That sounds good." And lo and behold, she gets up and does it! No whining, begging me to do it, nothing!! It amazed me.

It was her own idea, and she solved her own problem, so she had no problem doing it on her own.

And I didn't have to get out of my sleeping bag which was a very good thing.

Spiced Pumpkin Bars –Makes 24 bars

A yummy recipe shared by Anna

2 Cups Flour

2 tsp Baking Powder

1 tsp Baking Soda

2 tsp Cinnamon

¼ tsp Salt

Eggs

1 Can Pumpkin (15 oz)

1 2/3 Cup Sugar

1 Cup Cooking oil (ie veg)

¾ Cup Pecans, chopped (optional)

1 pkg / 11 oz Cream Cheese, softened

¼ Cup Butter, softened (1 stick)

1 tsp Vanilla

2 Cups Powdered Sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Bars:

In a medium bowl: stir together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl: beat eggs and add pumpkin, sugar, and oil. Mix with an electric mixer on medium speed.

Add in half of the flour mixture and stir. Add in the rest of the flour mixture and stir until well combined.

Add in Pecans (optional)

Spread batter into a 9 x 13 ungreased baking disch.

Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Allow to cool completely.

Icing:

In a medium bowl beat together the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla until fluffy.

Gradually add in the powdered sugar and beat until smooth.

Frost the pumpkin bars.

May top with pecans if desired.