Luna Lactation June 2011 Newsletter: Wakeful Nights

Please view our June 2011 newsletter:

http://www.lunalactation.com/June2011.pdf

Also, consider checking out the new Nurture Heartwise Mamas Program

This unique and supportive program is:
for women who are pregnant or postpartum and having a rough start on their journey of motherhood. One of the most helpful ways to decrease feelings of being overwhelmed, depressed, or anxious is to get out of your house and connect with other mothers who understand what you are going through. This program helps you to do just that and more. You can feel better and we are here to help you.

More details at: http://www.nurturepdx.org/tend-family-wellness/heartwise-mamas-program/

Melissa Cole, IBCLC, RLC

Board Certified Lactation Consultant

tel.360.830.MILK(6455)

fax.360.695.6193

www.lunalactation.com

Playing in the dirt

This weekend was full of sun and so much dirt-- rich, deep, delicious two yards, two truckloads full of dirt. Naturally, with the arrival of the dirt came the creatures who love dirt! Abby's boys wholeheartedly helped move the dirt. Oh, the joy of the freedom to embrace soil. Then, following the dirt came the seeds, the tiny capsules of plant just waiting to spring into action.

Nestled in all of that lovely dirt are:

• pumpkin seedlings (Thank you, Eden!)


• chinese lanterns


• two varieties of cucs


• peas


• lots of beans


• giant sunflowers


• enough salad greens to fill a bowl the size of Alberta St. (or maybe that is a wee exaggeration)


• chard (Thank you, Heather!)


• kale


• nasturtiums (heart)


• beets


• carrots


• Indian corn


• zucchini


• yellow squash


• tomato seedlings (Thank you, Heather!)


• some other beautiful seedlings (Thank you, Heather! what else did you give us?)


• basil


• garlic (Thank you, Meg!)


• peppers


• hops for the teepee (we still need a few bamboo poles)


• and we still have to build and plant the strawberry wall & plant the artichokes out front

Abby also created a fairy ring planted with cosmos, sunflower, lupine, viola, and daisies. And, we now have a little treehouse play structure and outdoor kitchen set and a few ride around cars, thank you to Sierra! Behind the stage-gazebo we can trim the bushes a bit and create a sweet little nature house.

Maybe Heather can concoct some brilliant garden art projects to add a little sparkle and shine to the mix. I love our garden.

Thank you, Abby and Dave and kids for all of your dirt moving muscle and gentle seed planting. Thank you Heather, Eden, Meg & Josh, and Abby for the plants and seeds and such. Thank you, Sierra for all of the outdoor toys.

Come out and play in the garden!

Introducing a few new little corners of our new home

a big thank you

We are moved in to our new home! It looks wonderful, especially on a lovely day such as today with the cozy sun glowing throughout the house.

I wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who came out to help us move. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Jennifer Green from Green Bean Books (I am so happy that we will still be neighbors), Silke Akerson, Melissa and Bryon Cole, Sierra Ansley, and Sarah Dykes (I will miss you). You are all amazingly strong, energetic, handy, and helpful! We accomplished so much today!

There is so much to be thankful for, I don't even know where to begin. I am looking forward to sharing it all with you soon. Please pardon our dust as we fix the last few bits.

Joyfully,
Mychelle

our new home

And now for the big announcement ...our new space location...

You will never believe this, but our beautiful new home is right next door to our old space. Our new address is 1626 NE Alberta St. It is a lovely old refurbished four square house that has been vacant for some time. We are putting a few finishing touches on the inside, and will be open to start seeing clients this weekend.

We have a lovely, large backyard with four garden boxes, and we will have a gardening program for children and families back there. Also in the backyard is a little gazebo for tea parties, seasonal celebrations, creative activities, and other wonderful events.

We will have the whole main floor available for drop-in for parents to gather and little ones to play. We will have the wellness library set-up, teas, coffee, and chocolate, and the home goods library will be in the basement! And as soon as the kitchen is set-up we can pop a loaf of bread in the oven or some other goodie and share. The space will also have workshops, classes, and groups starting this summer.

There is still a lot of work to be done, but it is all coming together and is very exciting! Thank you for all of your love and support throughout this transition. If you love to help with little house projects, let me know, we can always use an extra hand.

A housewarming celebration is in order very soon!

Change is good!

There are a lot of exciting changes happening with Nurture (how very fitting for spring)! As you know we will be in a new space soon, and the new space will bring all sorts of new goodies for families. Ideas are incubating right now.

Sadly, we will be saying goodbye to some of our friends, but they won't be far. And we will be welcoming new friends, which is heartwarming...the ever expanding circle of friends.

Many things will be different, the most exciting of which is that we will have the space to ourselves, and with that we will be able to have regular open hours to offer wonderful opportunities for families. I know that is vague, but the wait will be worth it.

We really appreciate all of your support, patience, and love as we are getting settled. Our new location will be unveiled next week.

Cheers.

We need to move!

After three wonderful years of being in our lovely space, it is time for us to find a new home. We are excited about all of the possibilities that a new home will bring and are searching for a space that will allow us to continue to blossom.

We are all continuing to provide services throughout this transition, and will keep you updated. We welcome your support and ideas as we search. If you hear of any possible spaces, please do let us know. We would love to stay in this fabulous neighborhood or very close by if possible.

With warmth and hope for the perfect space,
Nurture

A Third Birthday

Three years ago a little seed of an idea, that had been stored away, was planted in this lush garden we call Portland. Now it is a sweet little sprout with tiny leaves and roots and a stem, reaching out towards the sun and starting to form a bud.

So many have formed a loving circle around this sprout to tend to its growth--the sun, rain, gardeners, friendly creatures, and companion plants--all nurturing the seedling along.

Happy 3rd birthday, Nurture. Let's gather soon to celebrate.

Nurture Welcomes Kristen Dilley

Nurture warmly welcomes our newest Family Wellness Professional Member, Kristen Dilley. Kristen is an acupuncturist and an herbalist with a special interest in women's health. Read on to find out more about Kristen and all that she has to offer:

nightingaleacupuncture.com
503-953-0933
the urban field guide blog

I am a licensed acupuncturist in the state of Oregon and California as well as nationally certified. I’ve completed over 2000 hours of coursework and over 1000 hours of clinic in my academic program at the Acupuncture and Integrated Medicine College in Berkeley, CA. I specialize in women’s health, autoimmune disorders and stress reduction, but enjoy working with a wide range of people to provide some relief to what ails them. …. Or better yet, to prevent anything from ailing them in the first place!

I have been working professionally with plants either in the garden or training as an herbalist for over a decade. My love of Western clinical and energetic herbalism led me to further my plant studies within Traditional Chinese Medicine. I am a strong advocate of plant medicine being integrated into one’s daily life, whether in the garden or in your medicine cabinet.

I am so happy to be working at Nurture and to be able to offer healthcare services on a sliding scale, and I look forward to meeting you! Please contact me with any questions or to book an appointment at 503-953-0933 or through the contact page at nightingaleacupuncture.com.

Nurture Welcomes Cobalt Coy

Nurture warmly welcomes Tara "Cobalt" Coy as our newest Family Wellness Professional Member. Cobalt is a massage therapist offering group Bowenwork at Nurture as well as massage and craniosacral work at her other office. Read all about her work below. Welcome, Cobalt!

LMT #15170
asimplebalance@gmail.com
503-545-6248

I love helping people. I've been that way since I was young. I'm fasinated with how different people or groups transform and heal. I'm always looking for ways to follow my river's current and assisting with others if they need help. "Don't push the river" is the line I love. Through the last 14 years of my practice, I've been looking for the way of least resistance. Massage teaches me to become aware, get in my body and participate. Craniosacral teaches me to listen for the subtle messages underneath the storm and follow. And Bowenwork teaches me that when you send a simple message to the healer within you, your body responds thru your breath, finds balance and begins again.

I'm excited to be a part of the Nurture collective. I love when people come together to unite great ideas. I am practicing Group Bowenwork Monday's 4-7pm at Nurture for $30-50. sliding scale, by appointment only. Group Bowenwork is where 2-3 people can be treated at a time, so bring your friends or family. Bowenwork is a gentle modality that uses minimal touch with precise moves, to create a resetting of the body's various systems. It elicits a deep relaxation and subtle or powerful re-alignment. I also practice at my home studio monday-friday, you can check out my prices and info at www.asimplebalance.net.

Nurture Welcomes Kimberly Smith

Nurture warmly welcomes Kimberly Smith. Kimberly has actually been a professional wellness member of Nurture for several months and has brought warmth and energy to our group and space. Kimberly is a massage therapist and also teaches infant massage classes. Read more about Kimberly below!



Kimberly_cosmos@yahoo.com
Kimberly@nurturepdx.com
503.341.0049

I am a licensed massage therapist with ten plus years of experience, as well as a middle and high school teacher with my Master of Arts in Teaching. I’m happily returning to the healing arts after a five year sabbatical. During this time, I was healing from a major health crisis, which I call, my “universal time-out,” working on a new career path of becoming a teacher and becoming a mama for the first time! All of these experiences have been fruitful and meaningful leading me to where I am today at NURTURE!

I look forward to reconnecting with past clients and building new clientele. My style of massage is a mixture of both eastern and western styles. I don’t have a specific name for it, but I tailor each session with what you need on that particular day. I have a background as an athlete, so I can focus attention on sports injuries and/or sore muscles from a good workout or I can just give you a time-out relaxation massage. I loved Shiatsu and learning about the meridians and ancient healing methods, so I often combine shiatsu with deep tissue and myofacial work. I believe that giving yourself time to be connected with your body is healing within in itself. I love helping people take time outs in this busy world we all live in. Hope you can come take a time out with me soon!

Client Testimonials:
"I’ve gotten quite a bit of massage therapy and Kimberly has my vote for the best Oregon has to offer. Though not a big person, her strength is consistent and surprising. Her hands find tension and knots like they are color-coded. She manages to make a very intense and healing massage also completely soothing and enjoyable. And to top it off, she uses wonderful products, has a happy energy about her and will make any sort of day your having much better. She’s a treasure for all her clients.”

“Kimberly is a natural healer. Not only do her hands find every bit of tightness and stress in your body, her gentle way of getting in deep without hurting you is astounding. She fixes things all over your body without you realizing it. You just walk out thinking you should visit her far more often.”

Hours: I am currently available for massages on Fridays 10-6 and some weekends.

Rates:$70.00/hr. & $90.00/hr. and a half

Packages: $180.00 for (3) 1-hour massages & $240.00 for (3) 90-minute massages Gift Certificates available upon request!

INFANT MASSAGE: I am happy and eager to announce that I have found a way to combine my love of massage with my passion for teaching by becoming an Infant Massage Instructor. Excited to get classes up and running in December 2010. More information coming soon!

Nurture Welcomes MaryJo Monroe

Nurture warmly welcomes MaryJo Monroe as our newest Family Wellness Professional Member. MaryJo is a home organizing consultant with a heart for helping expecting families and new families create peace within their homes (what a great gift). Read all about her work below. Welcome, MaryJo!

Home Organizing Consultant
www.respacedpdx.com
respacedpdx.blogspot.com

What does home organizing have to do with health?

Home organizing is about recognizing that our environment affects our physical and emotional health profoundly. I work almost exclusively with moms, and for the moms I work with, their clutter is affecting their relationships, parenting, finances, physical health, mood and self-esteem. My work involves transforming spaces into functional, healthy, comfortable and simplified environments.

How I can help

I help moms figure out their goals and priorities. Then we work together, going through each room and getting rid of whatever doesn’t fit with those goals and priorities. Moms learn to consciously choose what to allow into their lives. They learn how to make room for what is truly important.

I create new ways of storing things and new systems for home maintenance, like new ways of processing mail or doing the laundry. My goal is to buy as few organizing products as possible, and to create systems that are down-to-earth and simple. I steer clients away from trying to create magazine-perfect homes. And I never force anyone to throw anything away.

Rates

$45 per hour. All sessions are a minimum of 3 hours and a maximum of 4 hours.

Appointments

Call 971-226-6055 or email info@respacedpdx.com to book a complimentary one hour consultation

More resources

Get organizing inspiration and practical how-to knowledge at my blog: www.respacedpdx.blogspot.com. Visit my website at www.respacedpdx.com.

Luna Lactation September Newsletter - Milk Banking, Survey, Green Sprouts

If you are having difficulty viewing this newsletter, please click here.

*News & Events Client Satisfaction Survey We are honored to support families and feedback helps us better serve the community! If you have received services from Luna Lactation, Click here to take survey (pretty please...it is short, just 10 questions...we promise!) Green Sprouts Organic Baby and Family Fest Sept.26th, 2010 10AM-5PM Peninsula Park, Portland Luna Lactation will be the official “lactation station” atGreen Sprouts! So, enjoy the festival fun and then swing by our booth to get off your feet, nurse and visit with other moms! We’ll have a raffle, games, Q&A, handout goodies and more!

On Sept. 23rd, the NW Mothers Milk Bank will be hosting a fundraising event that will help establish a milk bank here in the Pacific NW. What is a milk bank? We are all pretty familiar with donat­ing blood to blood banks and milk banks are pretty similar. A milk bank collects and dispenses donated human milk which goes to premature or sick babies whose mothers may not have enough of their own milk. Some milk banks also provide milk for other therapeutic, medical uses like treatment for adult patients with Crohn's, etc. Why should you care aboutmilk banks? As a society, we should care very much about the health of our medically fragile patients and babies that could benefit from human milk. There is a documentary being made called, “Prescription Milk”. I urge you to watch the educational, inspirational film trailer about this critical topic.

A premature baby’s hospital stay can cost up to $2000/day and babies that receive human milk are usually able to get discharged much earlier than their formula fed counterparts. So, you better believe that breast­feeding saves lives and money. Donated human milk matters! We are all pretty familiar with the benefits of breastmilk but the cost of sick or premature babies not getting breastmilk is even more staggering. Less breast milk for these fragile patients means more hospitalizations, more illness/disease and higher health care costs that impact us all. There are many opinions surrounding healthcare these days but the bottom line is that affordable healthcare begins with breastfeeding! On average the US could save $3.6 billion by simply increasing the rates of babies exclusively getting breastmilk.

When babies have a medical need for supplemental nutrition beyond what their mothers can provide, we are lucky to have feeding options. A much safer option over infant formula exists, donor human milk! Unfortunately there is not enough donor milk for all babies in need so here’s how you can help: · Support the NW Mothers Milk Bank; get involved, donate time, money, milk! · Read about milk banks, and donating and/or using donor milk · If formal milk donation isn’t an option, consider Milk Share, a site dedicated to informed consent milk-sharing.

Contact: www.lunalactation.com Tel.360.830.MILK(6455) or Email Have you received support from Luna Lactation? Email Or Click here to take survey . If you do not wish to receive emails from Luna Lactation, unsubscribe now

Another Belated Welcome, Welcome Krista Arias

I am still playing catch-up: Krista also joined Nurture during the great website migration. Krista also provided baskets full of love and support with said website journey. Thank you and welcome, Krista.

*Nurture Outreach Committee*

Mamas:

You can mother from a deep place of peace and knowing…… without all the worry.

You’re loving being, or becoming, a mama and you want to nourish your whole being: emotions body mind spirit. You want the best for your children. You want your family to be radiant. You want your community to be collaborative and connected. You are excited about connecting with the natural rhythms of your body and the earth, and finding harmony in the midst of a chaotic and disconnected world….

And yet, you have these niggling (or downright naggling) worries that you can’t shake completely, no matter how much advice or support you get….. I know how easy it is to feel overloaded by even the best advice and information. Its no wonder many women resign themselves to doing it all and neglecting their own needs, or give up, feeling isolated and inadequate.

So, wanna-be Earth Mamas….. I promise you, there is another way. A way in which you are the heroine of the story and your worries are attended to rather than dismissed. Where you grow effortlessly into your own rhythm, and that blossoms outward to your partner, your children, your community….. to the whole world.

Sound like what you long for??? learn more


MamaMuse is for:

expectant, new, and seasoned mothers
daughters and future mothers
working mamas
empty-nesters
grandmothers

and people who value:

Family and Community
Honesty and Healing
Commitment and Connection
Traditional Earth-Based Wisdom
DIY Simplicity and Sustainability
Inquiry and Contemplation
oh yeah, and Butter

get my newsletter: THE weekly WORRY STONE

learn more: www.mamamuse.com

Nurture Belatedly Welcomes Sunny Jaynes

Sunny joined Nurture during the long period of website transition, so we haven't extended a proper welcome. Sorry about that and welcome, Sunny!

sunnyprojects@gmail.com

503-422-5417

*Nurture Center Coordination Committee*

I am an acupuncturist, herbalist, and shiatsu practitioner certified by the Oregon Medical Board and National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. From my lifelong love of nature, I was drawn to become a healer. Chinese medicine has affirmed my intuition that the earth’s body is our body and that healing happens naturally.

I feel grateful that this work draws on her creative side. Meeting with each patient is like starting a new song with two composers. It is my firm belief that practitioner and patient walk the healing path side by side.

As a free school teacher and a nanny and a midwifery school dropout and now acupuncturist and herbalist, I have always felt connected to my work with families. I am especially interested in women’s health as it pertains to fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum and ongoing mother care.

I find balance in hmy own life through being a musician, connecting spirit with nature, being in active community, and growing her own organic, vital food.

Nurture Welcomes Brittney McAlmond

Hi and thanks for checking me out on the Nurture blog!

I became interested in massage therapy after studying alternative medicine recreationally for some time. I love the body's amazing ability to heal and grow and wanted to work in an environment that supported that. Combined with a love of working with my hands, I found massage therapy to be the perfect way to express this support of wholeness in the individual.

I graduated from the Massage Therapy program at Everest Institute in Tigard, Oregon in 2009. The schooling consisted of 800 hours of training; bookwork as well as hands on. I received my license in the state of Oregon soon after, and became a professional member of the American Massage Therapy Association. I was practicing massage early in 2010 as well as continuing my education through the Oregon School of Massage. Recently I created the company Phi Massage, and you can visit my website at www.phi4massage.com.

I am excited to become a part of the Nurture family and to work with its members! Right now new clients receive a $15 discount off my regular prices and I also offer a free 30 minute consultation for those who would like to know how massage can benefit them personally before they commit to seeing a therapist.

Brittney McAlmond LMT #16777

(503) 720 - 5698

www.phi4massage.com

Latest News

Whew. There is so much going on over here at Nurture; I feel like the my brain is riding the Tilt-a-Whirl. Here is a mini-update for anyone who has been missing our posts:

The Family Wellness Lending Library has almost 200 items. We are searching for the perfect shelves to house this fabulous collection. The inventory list should be up next week. Keep an eye out for it!

The NE Homegoods Library is almost ready to launch too! We have 1/2 of the inventory from the designated grant funds and way, way, more than I ever expected from generous donations! I met with Tom over at the NE Portland Tool Library today, and he had many words of wisdom and a check-out system program to share. Thank you, Tom and NEPTL!

Our website is finally making the BIG migration to a new host. There have been a few bumps in this transition, but everything should be smooth by next week (fingers crossed, feel free to join in the finger crossing!). In the meantime, the almost complete new site is up at www.nurturepdx.org Thank you for your support and patience as we move everything over. If you have sent an e-mail to one of the Nurture addresses and have not received a reply, try the same address with .org at the end.

Some other exciting news is that we just registered with Supportland and are eagerly awaiting cards to hand out to you! If you haven't heard about Supportland yet, you should check out their website for all of the fabulous details and get yourself pre-registered soon!

There is more up our *crafty*resourceful*community-minded* sleeves coming soon, but that is enough for now. I do not want to Tilt-a-Whirl your brain.

Nurture Membership & NE Homegoods Library Volunteers

Hello Nurture Community,

Over the past two years, we have been growing and working towards realizing our vision for community. As a group, we have decided to create a formal membership to make the community more inclusive and to provide a way for our members to benefit from all of the resources we have available. We are finally ready to launch our formal membership!

For Nurture families, the membership benefits include

• free access to our family wellness library (with already 176 books, CDs, DVDs, etc.)
• free access to our Homegoods Library
• free/exclusive discount access to special workshops, special promotions
• Community Partner discounts.
• We are working on a system for a child helper to help parents during appointments; this service will also be for members only.

Family membership is only

• $30/yr. OR
• $20/yr + 1 Timedollar/year OR
• $10/year + 3 Timedollars/year OR
• become a Nurture Volunteer and receive free membership (minimum commitment is 5 hours/month for each membership month...you are also eligible for Timedollars for time you contribute above and beyond).

*If you do not know what Timedollars are, please visit the Timebank website (www.pdxtimebank.org) or e-mail Molly Fitzpatrick at Molly@nurturepdx.com*

To become a Nurture Member, please contact us at info@nurturepdx.com or call Mychelle (971) 344-7527

If you own a local business and would like to become a Community Partner, please e-mail us at info@nurturepdx.com for more information.

AND...

We have received our grant award and many donations for the Homegoods Library, and I am looking for volunteers to help get it set-up and going.

If anyone is interested, please send me an e-mail mychelle@nurturepdx.com

We specifically need help with listing inventory, organizing the inventory, setting up the check-out system, and volunteers to help with library pick-ups/drop-offs.

Moving on over...

As our new website takes shape, everything is being moved over to the new site. This blog will be moving over there too and can be found at this address. If you receive the posts via e-mail, you will also automatically receive the posts from the new blog. Our new website is not complete yet, but we are starting to use it now because several of our new projects are being started there. The new site is being built on www.nurturepdx.org, but as soon as we have everything moved over both our new and old (www.nurturepdx.com) web addresses will go tot he same place. Thank you for your patience during this transition! We are really excited about all of the changes taking place.

This blog will remain active for archive and resource purposes.

Family Wellness Lending Library

I promised that I would have exciting news to share soon, and here is the first of a few of our exciting new programs at Nurture...

Nurture has a Family Wellness Lending Library in the works set to open on June 1st, 2010! The library will have books, DVDs, magazines/zines, and other media all related to family wellness issues. Topics found in the library include:

• infant/child health
• infant/child development
• helpful children's books (for example the books in this list)
• parenting
• adult health
• nutrition
• breastfeeding
• birth
• pregnancy
• fertility
• emotional wellness
• family recreation

We already have quite a collection started, and are excited to be able to offer this to our community very soon. The library catalog will be listed on our website when the library opens.

If you have suggestions of titles that are a must for the library, we would love your input. And if you have any extra books, etc. that you want to pass on, we welcome your contributions. Please contact Mychelle at mychelle@nurturepdx.com.