Recycled Card Program

Local friend Melissa Wilson is helping to facilitate a local Recycled Card Program to benefit St. Jude's Ranch!

The idea began thirty years ago, when St. Jude's Ranch decided to turn the previous year’s Christmas cards into "new" cards for their donors. The recipients were so delighted with their unique "thank you," they requested the children sell them the special cards. And so, the St. Jude’s Ranch Recycled Card Program was born.

Not only does this program create "green" holiday cards, but the children at St. Judes receive payment for their work and learn the benefits and importance of "going green".

So before throwing out your old cards this holiday, bring them to Crunchy Granola Baby for the drive!

Not familiar with St. Jude’s Ranch? It's a non-sectarian home for abuse, neglected and abandoned children of all races and faith. Learn more about St. Jude's and their Recycled Card Program here.

Twitter Tuesday: Advice to New Families

Earlier this week, we hosted our weekly Twitter Tuesday Contest. We asked our Facebook (& Twitter) friends to share advice for new families. Here are some of the wonderful responses! (And congrats to our winner, Rebecca Wood, who scored an ImseVimse Organic Cotton Cover for little girl!)

• My advice for new parents is to never do anything just because a well intentioned person said that is how it should be. Just slow down, relax, breathe deeply, and listen to your baby and your inner voice. Getting a child to sttn, wean, etc...is not a race. Its a developmental process that takes time, and differently so with different babies.


• My advice for new parents is don't worry about others & their feelings do what is best for you & your baby.


• Enjoy every moment, being a parent is such a learning experience!


• Follow your instinct - you really do know what is best, although it will take time to gain that confidence.


• Don't take the advice of others too seriously. No one knows your baby better than you - follow baby's lead and all will be well. And resist the temptation to do what needs to be done when baby naps, it can wait, you need rest to be present for your little one.


• Laugh, let go, and enjoy the ride!


• Blow up your TV!


• Trust yourself!


• Have fun.


• Know that you have the child you were destined to have, so when it gets hard you can take heart that this is just the place you are suppose to be


• Vote! (Hehe, this was submitted on Election Day.)


• Go to Crunchy Granola Baby! Actually, I DO give this advice out to parents - you're a great resource! (Awwww, thanks!)


• The gift of a yummy meal is a visitor's ticket to meet the new baby. (Shameless Self Promotion: Check out Green Delicious New Parent Package!)
  


• Stay true to yourself, don't sweat the dishes, and remember that you absolutely cannot spoil your baby by holding her/him too much.


• You don't need all the gadgets that are marketed to expecting parents. A sling (or some type of carrier), breasts, and cloth diapers is it!


• Follow your baby's lead...they will always let you know what they need.


• Trust your instincts.


• Your child will do what your child will do when your child is ready to do it.


• Connect with other Moms - sharing the journey with others is so valuable on many levels.

Be sure to visit our Facebook and Twitter pages next Tuesday for your chance to win a great CGB prize!

What We're Reading: "Birthing From Within"

In case you couldn't tell from the title, "Birthing from Within" by Pam England and Rob Horowitz prepares a mother to birth from within.

England and Horowitz provide insights into what labor and birth will be like and offer guidance through the emotional, spiritual, psychic and social mists which enshroud birth in our culture. They are quick to point out that the book "is not a script or a rigid method," but instead a book of suggestions on how women can become familiar with their bodies and feelings

CGB loves this book because it helps you discover your own wisdom and birth power. Empower yourself with "Birthing from Within!"

Purchase this book at CGB, or borrow it from our Lending Library.

The Three Hour Learn Everything Breastfeeding Class

Learn to avoid breastfeeding obstacles now rather than try to over come difficulties later. Our Three Hour Learn Everything Breastfeeding Class takes place on Monday, January 18 at 6:30PM and covers a variety of subjects:

What you will learn:

• Milk production – From colostrum to antibodies, how your milk changes to fit your babies needs. Feeding cues - How to tell when your baby needs to be fed & when your baby has had enough.
• Baby led latch – Learn why babies latch on more comfortably when you allow them to do it themselves.
• The golden hour – Making your baby’s first time at breast a success even if you’ve had a c-section.
• Establishing a good milk supply – Why frequency matters more than quantity.
• Hospitals & the hidden obstacles – From IV drips & tethered births, to baby baths & hospital beds, ways that hospital policies can hinder breastfeeding.
• What to expect – From growth spurts to dirty diapers, what’s normal and what isn’t.
• Getting more sleep - How cribs & schedules can interfere with a mother’s sleep.
• What dad can do – How dad’s role changes over the first six months.
• Shower gifts and gadgets – Which ones help and which ones can actually interfere with breastfeeding.
• How to bottle feed a breast fed baby – When to introduce a bottle & how to bottle feed correctly.
• Friends & Foes – Handling visitors, including the nay sayers.
• Avoiding post partum depression – Tips for minimizing the baby blues.
• Solids & Weaning – Why looking at the baby is more important than looking at the calendar.
• Finding your tribe – Where to find support and other like minded mothers in your local community.

The fee for this class is $90. Please register directly with Kathy at 978-922-4289 or abbottkathy@comcast.net

*And if you can't attend this class, then be sure to attend the next class on February 15, 2010. Learn more!

Calling all Baby-Sitters!

Looking for a 2010 baby-sitting position?

Register for Crunchy Granola Baby’s first Family-Sitter Meet & Greet!

CGB’s Family-Sitter Meet & Greet hopes to match able sitters with fun families. Registered families and sitters will report to CGB on a given date in early February and take part in a relaxed “speed-dating” style interview process. This event will give both families and sitters the opportunity to meet a variety of possible connections and establish a successful future relationship!

Before the official Meet & Greet in early February, CGB will meet with all registered sitters on Saturday, January 30 at 11:30AM. We’ll discuss the event, conduct short interviews, and answer any questions. Please complete the attached form and bring it with you on January 30, along with your resume, three professional references, two personal references, and your registration fee of $10.

If you’re interested in taking part in our Meet & Greet, please RSVP to 978.741.0800 or crunchygranolababy@verizon.net. And please don’t hesitate to let us know if you have any questions or concerns.

Charlie Hope Wins Big!

Boston Children's Music has named Charlie Hope's CD "I'm Me" one of the best kids albums of 2009!

They say "Every song on this album is beautiful and there is no other way to describe Charlie’s voice except as 'melodic.'" We completely agree!

Check out the review (and listen to some samples!) here. And if you like it, be sure to purchase the album here.

Love Returns to Salem

Following Salem’s own screening in November, Emmy award-winning director Bill Humphreys and award-winning writer David J. Mauriello, return to CinemaSalem with a new film JUST SAY LOVE. The film that explores what happens when two unlikely people meet in a park. This male love story explores Plato's theory that we all are perfect as solitary beings until the right match arrives.

According to The Portsmouth Herald, JUST SAY LOVE is “A rare, sweet, romantic comedy that just happens to be about a relationship between two men. That, in part, is what makes it rare. It’s fair to say a good number of today's gay-related theater scripts focus on tragedy and bigotry. Laugh out loud comedy is hard to find as well, no matter what the subject. And ‘Love’ definitely offers that…Going against the tide, local author David Mauriello put together a well-written, thoroughly entertaining play that bridges sexual preference and gets at the heart of the heart.”

Check it out @ Cinema Salem on the following days and times:

• Friday, January 15 @ 7:10, 9:30
• Saturday, January 16 @ 11:30 AM, 1:45, 7:10, 9:30
• Sunday, January 17 11:30 AM, 1:45, 7:10
• Monday, January 18 through Thursday, January 21 @ 7:10 PM