Father's Day Gifts You'll BOTH Love!

Have you ever known someone who is always pulling a prank?  Always funny, hardly ever serious?  When something serious actually comes out of their mouth, you laugh because you thought it was another joke?  Joe Gumm is that guy.  Let me back up...

Last spring, I met a woman who was becoming a doula.  I liked her immediately, and I liked her reasons for wanting to be a doula.  I send lots of clients her way, she sat through my class so she knows what I teach, helped make BOLD Fort Worth a huge success, became a Chapter Leader for the Tarrant County Birth Network, but most importantly, became my friend.

Repeatedly, she told me that I was the female version of her husband.  I'm not quite the prankster Joe is, and I'm still trying to figure out exactly what she meant by that.  She is madly in love with him, so it must be a compliment, right? Ha! 

Joe is a sportscaster-media-guy.  In fact, my husband knew Alexa for months before he found out who her husband was.  Joe had called me -- in a pranking mood -- and was trying to convince me to go to JoeGumm.com to check out the book he wrote about birth.  I thought this was another joke.  I told David a couple hours later to remind me to check out JoeGumm.com and he said, "I know Joe Gumm.  How do you know Joe Gumm?"  I explained the conversation that had taken place and he freaked out!  Talk about star-struck!  Joe Gumm the sports guy?  David was more nervous on our first "date" with them than he was on our first date!  What is it with guys and sports?!  And, yes, he really did write a book about birth written for the dad-to-be, titled From Humor to Hormones.  As a teacher of Husband-Coached Childbirth (AKA The Bradley Method (TM)), I approve.  It was great.  They birthed all 4 babies at home so homebirth is represented nicely.

Where the heck am I going with this?  What does this have to do with Father's Day?  Joe just finished up another book called "150 Secrets to a Happy Wife."  I'd like to tell you it's all funny, but some of it is quite serious.  Joe has a soft side!  It is a very entertaining read, and the man in your life will get a kick out of it.  I was also thinking this is a great gift for a young man just getting married!  Seriously.  Grab your copy right now!  I've linked to it for your shopping convenience.  Maybe you can tell me, after you've read it, how the heck I am the female version of Joe Gumm!

My next little nugget of love for the man in your life, like the first gift, is really a gift for you, the one that loves him.  My husband grew up in an itty-bitty town in New Mexico with some amazing people that have gone on to do some pretty great things.  One of them is a woman now living in Virginia running a company by the name of The Bumble Bee Studio.  David saw her company on Facebook and was intrigued.  She has lots of really cool products, but the one he was interested in was the "Doggy Spray" to make Annie not smell so "doggy" and Julie threw in some samples for David to try out.  I'm speechless! The two items we are both loving are the Bee a MAN - Men's Herbal Shave Soap and the The MAN Bar - Shampoo and Body Bar.  Apparently, there is also a Bee a MAN - After-Shave Balm.

I have to say, years ago I found an aftershave called "Cowboy" that David and I both love, but it doesn't stay with him all day.  The MAN Bar does and the scent is similar.  It smells amazing!  (Scentsy needs to copy this one for a man's car freshener!)   It's pricey, but worth every penny if you care about how your man smells.  David is so crazy about it, he ordered it for his dad and I insisted that he order it for my uncle too.  The packaging is lovely, to boot.

Really, your man will love, love, love his Father's Day gifts this year.  Even better, so will you.

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Products and Services I Would Want to Buy or Use if I Was Having Another Baby -- But I'm Not, So I Think YOU Should Use Them!

Banned From Baby Showers needs a nice generic post for a change!  Seriously, there are several products and services that I've wanted to mention here, so now seems like a great time to do so.

First, let me say that it's been 6 years since I had a baby in the house.  There are many things that are different now, one being cloth diapers.  I'd like to say that I am certain that I'd jump on that bandwagon, but in all reality, it scares me.  I don't know what I would choose.  I'd like to think I would cloth diaper...   Good thing at 40 I'm not making this decision!

 TCBN PRESENTS A BOOK OF BIRTH STORIES

The first thing I must mention is the book that was just released this week by the  Tarrant County Birth Network  --  The Birth Next Door:  Stories and Lessons of Birth In and Around Tarrant County, Texas.  Obviously, you do not need to be from Fort Worth to enjoy this book!  There really is not another book available quite like it.  Proceeds will benefit TCBN and improving maternity care in and around Tarrant County.  I wish I could take credit for putting this together, but alas, I had close-to-nothing to do with it.  Shannon Blackwell, owner of Simple Baby  - and cloth diaper guru! - as well as fellow Chapter Leader for TCBN, single-handedly put this together.  I did, however, write the Foreword. Get your copy today.

PORTRAIT PAINTING BY HAYLEE RYAN

The Art of Birth took place Saturday, April 30 in Fort Worth, and it was amazing.  One of the features was a Haylee Ryan, 24, finger painting a portrait of a live model.  In less than 5 hours she created a masterpiece.  It was so lovely, I desperately wish I had done something like that when I was pregnant.  If you give her a photo, she will paint a portrait out of it.  (This may be my best bet at this point.)  The cool thing is, you wouldn't have to sit for the painting and you could live anywhere, not just in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area.  Visit her website or Facebook page to see all the cool things she can do.

CECI-JANE BIRTH VIDEOGRAPHY

If you have read my birth stories, you know how important videotaping my births were to me.  So important, in fact, I changed from a hospital birth to a homebirth at 33 weeks so that I could videotape my third birth.  Ceci is a professional photographer who recently started birth videography, set to music, catching the highlights of your labor and birth in about a 6 or 7 minute video.  One word -- amazing.  I desperately wish I had known her when I was having my babies.  It is such a treasure.  People spend twice as much money on a wedding video, but do you remember when that woman in The Business of Being Born talked about the day she gave birth, she admitted that it "trumped the wedding day."  A lot of us feel that way.  Spend the money.  You'll be glad you did.

Bonus:  She's doing a FREE giveaway for a Birth Story Movie, worth $800.  Click here for details if you are in the DFW area and are due this summer.

BABY BOND NURSING "COVER"

If you are a regular Banned From Baby Showers reader, you know how I feel about the (stupid) Hooter Hiders and Udder Covers.  Without jumping on that soapbox (for now anyway!), I would like to take this opportunity to plug for Baby Bond.  I love the fact that mom is covered and baby is not!  People still "see" baby breastfeeding, but mom is able to remain covered.  There are 3 different styles, but if I were to buy one, this is the one I would want, shown above.  I never once used a cover in over 7 years of breastfeeding, but there are times when this one would have been handy.  One of my former students ordered this and loves it!  TCBN has been giving Baby Bonds as door prizes and the mamas are loving it!

BOOBIE BEANIES

From "covers" to Boobie Beanies.  Many of you have probably seen the Boobie Beanies on Facebook.  I recently ordered several to use as prizes in class.  I love, love, love this!  It's the "made ya look!" thing that is just so darn fun.  This cracks me up to no end.  The best part?  They come in a variety of "flesh" colors to match mom's skin tone.  Now who would ever want to use a silly nursing cover when you've got a Boobie Beanie?!

MOON OVER MAIZE PREGNANCY JEWELRY

I've mentioned Moon Over Maize here in the past, but it's been a long time.  I've ordered more things and seen more of her work since then, and it's just improved with time.  In the Fort Worth area, she's created quite a name for herself.   No, she doesn't live here, but enough people have her jewelry, people recognize the name.  She has many beautiful pieces of jewelry, not just celebrating pregnancy and homebirth.  My favorite piece is still the pregnancy silloutte, stamped with a word of your choice -- homebirth, doula, midwife -- and the birth stones of your babies dangling from the middle.  Order one for yourself or as a gift for your doula or midwife.

I'll be adding to this list, I'm sure.  Hopefully it won't take me as long next time.  I'll live vicariously through y'all, using the products and services I wish I could use -- just not bad enough to actually have another baby!  Be sure to tell them that Donna over at Banned From Baby Showers sent you.

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Another Product I Love

I recently came upon a book titled "25 Ways To Awaken Your Birth Power" and love it. Love it for several reasons. First off, the artwork is beautiful and inspiring. So much so that I ordered one of the prints for my Bradley bathroom that my students use. The quote is mine.


The book comes with a CD of all 25 exercises, read in a soothing Australian accent with pleasant music in the background. Your partner can read it or you can use the CD. I would recommend both.

I love the name of the book. The word "awaken" is what strikes a cord with me. All women have this instinct to give birth, to breastfeed their babies, to nurture their young. Most women, however, do not even know their capabilities. Fear of birth surrounds us in all that we see and hear. Some women know they can give birth naturally, but most, I believe, need to awaken their birth power.

And how about the words "birth power" -- that's what it is -- power. Power from her body, of course, but even more, power from her mind, her heart, her baby, her partner, her doula, her midwife. She becomes more powerful than she ever thought possible during the act of birthing her baby. This power carries her through everything that comes afterward in her life. She will reflect upon the things that she learns about herself during birth throughout her lifetime. Her power and the power that birth gave to her.

If you would like more info on how you can order your own copy, check out www.awakenyourbirthpower.com. Enjoy.

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"Doula" Necklace by Moon Over Maize

Moon Over Maize has made another awesome necklace for the doula that helped you through your birth. What a treasured piece of jewelry to receive as a gift from a client. Or, if you are a doula, flaunt it! It's bound to start conversation and spark interesting conversation. I get to talk about my "homebirth" necklace all the time. Very fun! For more information about the different stones used or to order, click here. She has another variation of the doula necklace too. Check it out.

Rumor has it, I believe, that she is making one for the midwife too. Can't wait to see it.

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Products I Love

I recently ordered a homebirth piece of jewelry -- a necklace. It has the birthstone for each of my homebirth babies dangling from it. I love it. The woman making the jewelry is a homebirth mom of 2. Check out her website: www.moonovermaize.com She has other jewelry too, including pregnancy, fertility, and nursing necklaces. She even makes a "Remembrance Necklace" to remember a little one you might have lost.

I got my necklace super fast and am enjoying wearing it, being part of the "1% Club" -- women who give birth at home.



Another product I think is great and all nursing mothers should have is a nursing bra/tank. It will give a breastfeeding mom confidence to breastfeed in public without that silly blanket. (I could never get used to that thing and my babies hated it.) Check out Glamourmom to see their selection of colors. It is an easy site to get around and lots of colors and prints to choose from. You can wear the tank under any of your shirts, or even alone. No skin will be exposed to those passing by. You and your baby will be super comfortable and confident, no matter where you are breastfeeding.

If you decide to purchase, I ask that you use my code, DORY47. For every 3 shirts purchased, I get a free tank/bra. My breastfeeding days, after more than 7 years, are over. I give the tanks to students as prizes for various games, eating great protein in a given week, etc. Thanks for your help in making the day of a pregnant mom!

And yes, this woman does look familiar, doesn't she? It's Myra from "The Business of Being Born" with her sweet little baby. Her birth was so inspiring and wonderful.

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