The Itsabelly Blog

Itsabelly to attend Baby Purity Mother’s Conference October 25th in Vancouver, Canada

By Farhana Kassam, Owner, Itsabelly Vancouver

 
I was skimming through one of the dozen or so mommy-newsletters I subscribe to by email this week when I noticed a “mommy” conference mentioned in one of the sidebars. As a mom-in-training (a permanent state in my mind), any thing that might help me gain a little more insight into my daughter and how to make her life better is always something I welcome. I clicked on the link and found, to my surprise, that the conference was happening in Downtown Vancouver, a 10 minute walk from my home! That never happens! Everything is always in suburbia – ok interest peaked, so what was it all about?

It turns out the conference is being hosted by a company called BabyPurity.com, an on-line resource for parents that specializes in advice and recommendations of natural choices for children’s healthcare. With all the crazy drugs and ointments out there, I for one was already interested in seeing more about what this event would hold as far as ways around all the “western” medical solutions to children’s ailments. As much as I believe that there is a place for western medicine, I prefer to do my own research to see if there is a more natural solution to care for my child when possible. The list of speakers seemed promising with experts on child health and safety as well as Nutrition experts, but what really caught my attention was the list of sponsors. That was really all the credibility I thought this event needed to get me to show up! With partners like Earth’s Best and Seventh Generation, in addition to local companies I know and totally respect like Crocodile Baby, I signed up to attend immediately!

The event is being held this Saturday October 25^th at the Sheraton Wall Centre Hotel in beautiful downtown

Vancouver

from 9 am to 5 pm. Itsabelly will have promotional material in all the Grab Bags and I will be attending the event. Please register at Baby Purity Conference  if this sounds interesting or if you just want to meet me to discuss Itsabelly’s baby planning services face to face. For any of you health-care concerned parents out there, wherever you may be geographically, check out Baby Purity's website. It seems like a great resource, already a favourite bookmarked on my internet browser! I will be blogging again after the event to let you all know how it turned out so stay tuned!

Itsabelly Canada Has Twins - Our Belly Expands in Vancouver!

By Farhana Kassam, Owner, Itsabelly Vancouver

Vancouver, one of the “greenest” cities in North America boasts snow-capped mountains, ocean views, incredible landscapes, and a highly diversified, driven and active population. This amazing city is the newest home for Itsabelly Baby Concierge - we now have a home in two wonderful Canadian cities! Our Baby Planners offer services such as baby registry completion, pre and post natal fitness, nursery décor, baby showers and “going green with baby”.

Having moved to around from city to city and country to country all my life, I have become something of a research pro. When we moved to Vancouver a little less than two years ago, I found out I was pregnant with my daughter Jayden. The prospect of being pregnant in a new city with no clue where to go to find help or answers to questions was a challenge that caught me totally off-guard. Not one to let a challenge get the best of me, it turned out to be a great way to learn about this amazing city and make some wonderful friends!

Being pregnant and parenting in Vancouver has opened my eyes to so many earth friendly, baby friendly alternatives to the mainstream options I always assumed I would use. I have become a resource for friends and family who want to know what options they have for pre and post natal care as well as for the products they use for their children. I have enlisted the consulting services of a native Vancouverite, Priya Singh who will focus her energies on finding ways to bring new and expecting parents and Itsabelly Baby Concierge together!

Itsabelly’s focus on protecting families from an unhealthy environment and preserving the planet made it a tremendous fit for the new and expecting families looking for baby planning services in the Lower Mainland Area. If you or someone you know would benefit from the services offered by Itsabelly Baby Concierge, please contact our Vancouver office!

Visiting the Doctor with Twins or More

 
By Elizabeth Sneller, Multiples Mama Expert
 
Babies require many visits to the doctor during their first year of life. Time with our pediatrician was so valuable to me. I always wanted to be sure all my questions and concerns were answered so that I didn't have to be "that" mom who calls the office at all hours. (I still was, along with almost every new mom I know)

Just getting to the doctor can be a circus in itself. I remember it taking almost 3 hours just to get out the door for the triplets first doctor's appointment. The stress of having them out in the "germ-filled" public and the knowing that my precious ones would be getting shots resulted in me totally blanking out on all my perceived life or death questions that I had prepared to ask.

To ensure that your visits to the pediatrician go as smooth as possible, I would suggest that you spend some time jotting down all your questions in a notebook, on a separate page, per child. If your child or children are sick, write down all symptoms and history in this notebook including medication given. 

 
Treat the appointment as if they are two (or three) separate appointments and only have the doctor exam one child at a time. It is helpful to have a "helper" to manage the other baby so that you can focus your conversation on the child that is currently being treated. While asking your questions, feel free to have the doctor hold your baby, so that you can take notes. (Believe me, it all gets jumbled up and it is difficult to remember what advice goes with what child) 
 
I found that being prepared for a feeding was very helpful in calming down my babies after immunizations. You might want to ask your doctor if it is alright to administer Tylenol at the beginning of the appointment so that the pain medication has had a chance to kick-in by the time your babies gets poked. Make sure that the baby being immunized first has had a chance to calm down before you immunize the other. 

If at all possible, ask that your kids be the first or last appointments of the day. For the first six months, our pediatrician made a point to have us in her office when no other children were around. If you are the last appointment of the day, be sure to call ahead to see how the doctor's schedule is running, and stay at home for a longer time if they are running behind. 

CLEANING ON THE "FLY"

By Elizabeth Sneller, Multiples Mama

Anyone that has young children can understand how easily your home can take on the appearance of a big chain baby box store, and leave you feeling that your house is no longer yours but your infant's. Swings in one corner, bottles all over the counters, bouncing zebras and exersaucers where you used to have your coffee table. The list could go on and on. Coupled with all of these great new "decorations" is an adorable baby or more that has a proficiency for making big messes and stealing hours of what you used to call "down" time. 

As someone that feels that your home should be a place of renewal, I had a very hard time with all the clutter and messes that came with my triplets. (In exception to the first six months which was mostly about how well my house could function, and I didn't pay too much attention to the fact that we had a refrigerator in our living room and no counter space due to the 24 plus bottles we used daily.) 

Right about the six month mark, I began to feel trapped in a house that was no longer a place of my own. Time was very limited, and I felt the only "cleaning" job I could tackle was just getting things picked-up. This is when I discovered Flylady.com. This website recognizes the fact that our houses (and ourselves) can quickly become neglected when we go through transitional times like having a baby.

Basically, Flylady is a free service that helps to break down organizational and house keeping tasks into 5-15 minute jobs that are completed on a daily basis. Each week they have a different zone, i.e. the kitchen, that gets cleaned with a series of short jobs. The idea is that within a month, your house will have a thorough cleansing....I'm talking ceiling fans dusted, junk drawers organized, light fixtures polished!

Another feature that I enjoy is the once a week "27 fling boogie." This task has you grab a garbage bag and doesn't allow you to sit down until you have put 27 items inside it to throw away or recycle. I am always amazed by how quickly I can find 27 things to rid my house of! 

Although I love the concept of flylady, I must admit that I am not the most faithful flylady follower. In fact, there was a time last year when I could swear the flylady was really my mother in disguise. Her daily e-mails telling me what jobs to work on seemed all too familiar, and I felt like I had some sort of cyber mom nagging the ten year old in me to "clean up my room!" Beware that you will receive a lot of e-mails when you sign-up, and I wish it had a little bit more of a hip vibe. All in all, I think of the flylady as a kind of a housekeeping "diet." When my house gets a little out of control, I sign up and slowly get myself to focus on making my home a clean and organized place of my own.

One Day At A Time….Not Just a Sitcom From The Seventies

By Elizabeth Sneller, Itsabelly's Multiples Mama Expert

There are numerous life lessons that come with being a parent, and as a mom to triplets one of the greatest things I have learned is to take life one day at a time.  As cliché as this might sound, it is really a major change in my thinking that came about with the birth of my babies. 

I have found that this thought process has advantages in both precious and challenging times.  In good times, this mantra has allowed me to stay "present" and enjoy the amazing world of infants and toddlers.  In difficult times, it has got me through a crazy day like when all three kids had the stomach flu.  Taking life one day at a time makes difficult situations seem more manageable.  Sometimes, I even take life 2 hours at a time, like when the kids are throwing their oatmeal on the ground, and I know that in 2 hours it will be nap time for both kids and mommy.  Life with twins or more can quickly get chaotic and sometimes getting through one day is a major achievement!  I love that this outlook allows me start each morning off fresh and ready for all the day's joys and challenges that lie in store.

Does taking life one day at a time mean that I throw all planning for the future aside?  Absolutely not.  The key to this lesson is the ability to conquer small things on a daily basis.  For example, when I first found out we were having triplets I lost A LOT of sleep worrying about what our life was soon going to be like.  Truthfully, there WAS a lot to worry about, but everyday I researched or tackled one of these concerns, and soon our future seemed more manageable.  Having a plan for raising multiples was one of the best things I could do to stay present and enjoy the unique moments in our family.

After talking to many new moms, especially mothers of twins, I have found this is a wonderful skill set to possess.  It gives you an amazing confidence that you can conquer or survive just about anything.  The future can be overwhelming when you start projecting out months and years in advance.  Believe me, I still worry about how we are going to get through drivers training with three kids turning 16 at once, but I know by then we will figure out something.

The Lucky Number 3 - Itsabelly's Super Mom Shares Her Life with Triplets

(image of the triplets as embryos)

By Elizabeth Sneller, Itsabelly's Multiples Mama Expert

My fast, fabulous and sometimes frantic journey to today has a clear start date. March 23, 2005. This was the date in which a quick flash on our fertility clinic's ultrasound screen confirmed our best hopes and worst fears, all at the same time....TRIPLETS! The three blinking heartbeats were clear to any untrained eye, and from that moment on, we knew we were in for an unusual life. My husband went into what resembled catatonic shock, and I couldn't wipe the smile off my face; that is until 2:00 a.m. that night when it HIT me. At that moment the doubts began pouring in, and I began to question if we were really going to be able to raise three babies at once. 

The next morning I went into "research" mode, and I spent the remainder of my pregnancy putting together a sort of "game plan" for life with multiples. Although not perfect (and with adjustments along the way) our first year with our precious babies was filled with joy, love and lots of fun. About the time of their first birthday, I conceived a sort of "multiples" consulting company in my brain, but put it on the back burner until I had more time.

(image below of the triplets first ultrasound)


Flash forward to July of 2008, in which I read a series of newspaper and magazine articles on the new Baby Planning industry. Itsabelly was highlighted in one article, and I fell in love with founder Melissa Moog's enthusiasm for new and expecting parents. She presents a great business model that fit perfectly with my passion for new mothers of multiples, and I am thrilled to be a part of her growing organization.

As a seasoned mom of triplets, I understand the wide range of emotions that come with the news of twins or more. I am excited to share my knowledge and insight so that new parents can live a joyous and fulfilling life with their growing families. My offerings are tailored to Itsabelly's current services, and I'm happy to consult on all things multiples. Whether you need help setting up a registry, arranging volunteers, choosing a doctor or getting your babies on a schedule, I am here to help, support and encourage you. I look forward to blogging for the first time about a wide range of topics ranging from budgeting to birthdays. 

It is my joy to share in your unique journey of raising twins, triplets or more.

Double, Triple or Quadruple Trouble...Need Help?

You've probably heard of Jon & Kate Plus Eight who have been on Oprah and the TLC channel.  Or have seen twins become really popular since Angie and Brad have added to their already large family!  Well, move over celebrities... Itsabelly has added an exciting new component to our services for new and expectant parents of multiples! 

We now offer one on one consultation with our Multiples Expert, Elizabeth Sneller.  Elizabeth is extremely qualified to provide this new service as a mom to two year old TRIPLETS!  We're amazed at her energy level and very happy to have her join the Itsabelly team.

Elizabeth will primarily focus on multiples consultation.  You can also see her blogging and sharing tips for parents of multiples here.  We'll be adding a special multiples section for you to use as a resource.  So, keep an eye out for Elizabeth and drop by to say hello.

She can be reached at Itsabelly via our inquiry form or call 503-799-5719.

Our Belly Grows in Toronto, Canada

By Rishma Lalani - Itsabelly Canada

Toronto is home to over 2.5 million residents, Canada’s largest financial centre, Yonge Street (the longest street in the world), more 7,000 restaurants & cafes, and now I’m excited to announce that Toronto is also home to Itsabelly Baby Concierge!  After months of collaboration with Melissa Moog, founder of Itsabelly, we now offer quality baby planning services to expecting parents in the GTA.  Services available include (but not limited to) baby registry, nursery design and childcare placement.

As I approach my daughter Siyana’s milestone 1st birthday I am looking back at the incredible journey I have experienced and know that I could not have gotten to this point on my own.  I am thankful for the friends and family in my life and also thankful for the new people I meet everyday in stores, on walks, and at playgroups.  Sharing experiences and information with other moms and parents-to-be has been invaluable for me and I hope to provide a service for expecting parents to support them through this exciting time in their lives as well.

So, if you know anyone in Toronto or have connections to this great city send them Itsabelly's way for baby planning services and consultation.  We look forward to offering our assistance to Canadian families.

We're Rocking the Baby Industry! - National Baby Planner Association Launched

For those of you who aren't on my newsletter mailing list I wanted to share today's Press Release on the latest exciting news!

National News Release, July 11, 2008 - The rapidly growing baby concierge and baby planning industry took a big step forward when it launched the National Baby Planner Association (NBPA) on March 5, 2008.  Already 13 members and growing, the new organization supports professional consultants in the baby planning industry by setting standards, facilitating resource and tool sharing, and providing a forum for networking.  Melissa Moog of Itsabelly™ Baby Concierge founded the NBPA and serves as president.  April Beach of Sweet Pea Baby Planners™ serves as vice president.  The formation of the NBPA helps support the growing demand for assistance and high quality service to parents in preparing for and caring for their newborn or adopted child.

Melissa Moog states, “I wanted to create a forum and networking group where baby planners could come to share resources and keep up with industry trends.  I also thought it was important to establish a professional set of standards for the baby planning industry, so that we all operate with the utmost integrity and protect our reputation(s) and our clients.” April Beach adds, “The formation of the association will allow for baby planners to share knowledge and gain expertise, with the ultimate goal of providing better service to our clients nationwide.”

To inquire about membership or receive additional information, send an email to info@nationalbabyplannerassociation.com or call 503.799.5719.  Visit NBPA’s website at: www.nationalbabyplannerassociation.com.

Itsabelly™ is a premier international baby planning company offering services to new and expectant parents.  Itsabelly™ helps parents navigate the overwhelming world of maternity and baby with an eco twist.  The company is headquartered in Portland, OR with offices in Toronto, Canada.

Sweet Pea Baby Planners™ is a private company based in Colorado that helps first-time parents, families adopting or expecting multiples, as well as excited grandparents, prepare for their new baby(ies), by eliminating the guess-work and helping them make smart financial decisions.

NBPA’s Active Members

1. Big Day Baby Planner, www.bigdaybabyplanner.com, New Jersey
2. Blue Skye Baby, www.blueskybaby.com, Ohio
3. Essential Baby Planner, www.Ebabyplanner.com, California
4. In Bloom, www.inbloomny.com, New York
5. Itsabelly, www.itsa-belly.com, Oregon & Canada
6. My Baby Concierge, www.mybabyconcierge.com, Texas
7. Perfecting Expecting, www.perfectingexpecting.com, Massachusetts
8. South Florida Baby Planners, www.southfloridababyplanners.com, Florida
9. Sweet Pea Baby Planners, www.sweetpeababyplanners.com, Colorado
10. The Baby Coordinators, www.theBabyCoordinators.com, Massachusetts 
11. The Parents Resource Group, www.theparentsresourcegroup.com, Texas
12. Voila Baby, www.voilababy.com, California
13. Wednesdays Child Baby Planning, www.wednesdayschildbp.com, Maryland

For more information on the National Baby Planner Association, visit www.nationalbabyplannerassociation.com. For media relations questions contact:  press@nationalbabyplannerassociation.com or contact 503-799-5719. Additional information about NBPA’s members is available at www.nationalbabyplannerassociation.com/press.html.

Has Your Child Inspired You to Become an Entrepreneur? Check out Rain Frog Boutique.

Like I said before I love finding women who are inspired to create their own businesses and really follow through with it. Mainly because I know it's a tough job being a mom, wife and business owner all at the same time. I live this challenge every day and it's exhausting but worth it when you are doing something you truly enjoy.  You just have to remember to sleep in between!!

Karen Spaeder was inspired by her young son after he recited the Pledge of Allegiance. At the end, he innocently replaced the traditional words, saying instead, “with liberty and justice for frogs.” She didn’t correct him but instead decided to create a business selling a beautiful line of bamboo and organic cotton clothing (for women, men & babies) along with luxury organic spa items called Rain Frog Boutique.  She was able to do two good things in one; follow her ambition and help preserve our planet.  Props to Karen!

I had the privilege of being able to try out her comfortable tee made of bamboo and  organic cotton.  It felt oh-so soft on my skin and it was in one of my favorite colors cherry red!  The really cool thing was that the tee features natural UV protection, moisture wicking properations and thermal regulation.  It also included a cool stitched-on frog embroidery and came with a real bamboo hanger. It is made with 70 percent bamboo, 30 percent organic cotton.

You can see all of Karen's products at Rain Frog Boutique.  An extra treat you might want to check out is the store's current sale.  You can get a hip bamboo tee in cherry red to wear with your shorts this summer!  She's also added some really hip chocolate brown tees. I'm going to have to do some shopping!