The Non-Organic Organic

I like to look at the argument of organic and non-organic a lot like politics and the spectrum of left wing and right wing beliefs. Anytime I consider an organic lifestyle I fall somewhere in the middle and I cant seem to swing on to one side or the other. For instance in my babies nursery I have several receiving blankets and garments which are organic cotton and I have to admit they feel like heaven to touch but I also have several other 100% cotton garments, blankets and other items which are equally cozy. Will my baby know the difference between these items…I will have to keep you posted once he arrives. Another organic argument is disposable diapers or cloth? I know it creates an excessive amount of waste and I wish I was more dedicated but we have decided to go with disposable diapering. I have heard from parents who went the cloth route that it was awesome if you had a service such as the "Happy Nappy" or some other local service which takes care of the dreaded washing and redistribution of diapers on a weekly basis. I guess what made me feel sort of repulsed by this was either the washing of the soiled diapers myself or having some service pick them up wash them with a variety of other soiled diapers from children I don’t know and then redistribute them all over the city. I know that they would be taking every precaution to clean the diapers in specific washers and dryers that are capable of cleaning the diapers more than adequately but I just can’t get my head around it- pampers bring it on! So what about formula, bottles, bath products, strollers, play mats, clothing, bedding, furniture…the list goes on. I sort of feel like if your going to raise your baby in an organic home you can't be a person like me who falls in the middle of the spectrum you need to be dedicated, committed and overall on the right wing to maintain consistency and be successful. Let’s face it, it doesn’t hurt to have organic items amongst your non-organic items but to truly call yourself an “organic parent” requires you to embrace it as a lifestyle from diet to every day essentials in your home.

For those of you interested in organic baby items I have compiled a list below. These websites are really awesome and some are even local like "Organic Kidz" the Calgary based Organic Bottling Company which was founded by a local mother of two. The bottles are super cute and perfect for the organic household!

www.organickidz.ca

www.luvabunbaby.com/

www.happynappy.ca/

www.growinguporganic.ca

www.edamamekids.ca/

www.cheekymonkey.ca

Organic Kidz Bottles

Onesie- Cheeky Monkey

Baby Leggings-Cheeky Monkey

To Bank Or Not To Bank?

With our little one due in less than a month’s time the crunch is on to make a decision regarding cord blood banking. There is a ton of research or as my legal trained husband would call “due diligence” which needs to be done to make an informed decision. To me banking a specimen of blood immediately after your baby is born seems a no brainer if it could mean one day curing your child of a variety of serious diseases. I have spent a lot of time discussing cord blood banking with friends and family and to be honest there is no consensus and a pile of controversy. I want to share with you some of the discussions which have evolved over the past few weeks surrounding this topic.

Naturally one would think the best person to ask is your doctor…right? So I did just that and was shocked at how diplomatic and unbiased my doctor was about the topic. I learnt that Doctors sadly cannot give their personal opinion on this topic in Alberta/Canada as we have public health care and this falls under the private sector as there is a fee involved. So, after asking my questions I was given some things to think about defending each side of the argument…Here are the pros and cons that I was faced with.

-If you don’t bank privately there will still be options available if your child falls ill, such as donor banks

-Also, with the way technology is evolving we are finding cures every day for illnesses and diseases which we thought we would never be able to cure, so if your child does fall ill there will be more and more options for treatment over the years

-Both you and your husband are healthy adults and therefore the chances of your child falling ill is slim

Ok the Pros

-You likely have insurance for your house right? and therefore you can look at banking cord blood as an expensive insurance premium for your child and your family

-In the event of your child falling ill there are several diseases which cord blood can and will treat with a high rate of success

-If you are in a position where you require stem sells or cord blood to cure or treat your child, your specimen will be a 100% match and therefore the most effective form of treatment

-your baby’s cord blood could one day save your life as well or other children you may have

I was really happy my doctor took the time to point out my options and offer her professional opinion however it would have been so much easier for her to just say either Do it or Don’t bother…but I understood that she couldn’t and respected her opinions.

So the discussion continued

Many of my friends said if they were currently expecting they would definitely pursue cord blood but some said that they didn’t think it was necessary and just another scheme to make more money off innocent new parents. Some even made reference that in a way it was like playing “God” as if you might be interfering with a bigger plan that shouldn’t be in your control.

After several discussions on the way to sports events, movies and dinners with my husband we decided that for us we were going to take the plunge and bank our baby's cord blood. I suspect this came from the fact that my husband is incredibly risk adverse and I am bordering on being a hypochondriac. It also didn’t help that the same scenario kept playing over and over in my head, one that I couldn’t seem to get rid of- it went a little like this…

You give birth to what you think is a beautiful, healthy child but one day he falls sick and there you are in a Doctors office with your husband and your baby and they drop the bomb, telling you your child has…....the good news is says the Doctor we have found that this illness responds with high success to cord blood or stem cell treatment. Did you by chance bank your babies cord blood?

It was this scenario that I pondered with for several days and the one which finally led us to our decision. Before I continue any further I need to make it clear that I hold no judgement to parents who choose not to bank cord blood in fact in a way I admire their ability to not obsess over things like this. At the end of the day you hope that you and the people around you will never be in a situation like I described above. Anyway the decision was made and the next step was which provider…yes, who knew there were so many cord blood banks in our country and why couldn’t there be just one?

The three major cord blood providers that we researched were life bank which is based in Toronto, Cells for life which has a Calgary office (idyllic) and Canadian Cord Blood Registry which is based in Edmonton. Each organization essentially does the same thing; banks cord blood. Each costs about the same amount approximately $1000.00 plus the cost of an annual storage fee of about $100-$140. After perusing their websites and speaking to representatives I picked up the phone to talk to parents who also decided to bank cord blood to get their opinions on why they chose the company they did. Turns out we know people who have used each service and all have positive things to say about their experience. Again the decision was up to us so we went with our gut and chose cells for life for no other reason than it felt right when I spoke to a representative over the phone plus we attended an excellent information session that talks new parents through the entire process which was perfect! There you have it our process/dilemma of debating To Bank or Not to Bank…Now, we just pray and cross our fingers that this insurance policy never has to be put to use.

A little prince is on the way...

With about 6 weeks or so to go before baby comes I decided to plan a last minute shower with the help of a couple friends! Even though it’s been a fast planning process it’s been a total blast. Baby stuff in general is so much fun to shop around for and on the weekend I had a great time with my sister discussing little games and activities for the shower. I like the idea of a prince theme and of course because we know were having a boy blue has become my new favourite color. Here are some photos which inspired my planning as well as a few photos of baby clothes that I came across during my search. I absolutely adore these preppy little outfits…thoughts?

And the sweetest baby clothes!!

Hand of Hope: Inspirations for a random Wednesday

It is proof like this that there is so much more going on in the world beyond everyday life! This is truly one of the most remarkable moments ever caught on film! I copied this photo and description from a friends facebook page. Absolutely amazing!!!!

This picture began circulating in November. It should be "The Picture of the Year," or perhaps, "Picture of the Decade." It won't be. In fact, unless you obtained a copy of the U.S. paper which published it, you probably would never have seen it.

The picture is that of a 21-week-old unborn baby named Samuel Alexander Armas, who is being operated on by surgeon named Joseph Bruner. The baby was diagnosed with spina bifida and would not survive if removed from his mother's womb. Little Samuel's mother, Julie Armas, is an obstetrics nurse in Atlanta. She knew of Dr. Bruner's remarkable surgical procedure. Practicing at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, he performs these special operations while the baby is still in the womb.

During the procedure, the doctor removes the uterus via C-section and makes a small incision to operate on the baby. As Dr. Bruner completed the surgery on Samuel, the little guy reached his tiny, but fully developed hand through the incision and firmly grasped the surgeon's finger. Dr. Bruner was reported as saying that when his finger was grasped, it was the most emotional moment of his life, and that for an instant during the procedure he was just frozen, totally immobile.

The photograph captures this amazing event with perfect clarity. The editors titled the picture, "Hand of Hope." The text explaining the picture begins, "The tiny hand of 21-week-old fetus Samuel Alexander Armas emerges from the mother's uterus to grasp the finger of Dr. Joseph Bruner as if thanking the doctor for the gift of life."

Little Samuel's mother said they "wept for days" when they saw the picture. She said, "The photo reminds us pregnancy isn't about disability or an illness, it's about a little person" Samuel was born in perfect health, the operation 100 percent successful. Now see the actual picture, and it is awesome...incredible..

Safari Portraits!

Many of you are aware that we are creating a safari theme in our little guys nursery. I wanted to make something for him during my last couple months off so naturally I turned to canvas and paint and put my BFA to good use. I had a lot of fun creating these little portraits for his room and thought I would share them with you!

Here are they are:

I love Birdy and Bug!!!

With baby stuff on my mind 24/7 its no wonder that I have fallen made in love with Birdy and Bug. Birdy and Bug is an organic Canadian business,  run by two extraordinary sisters; Kirsten and Rebekka.  Kirsten, is based in Calgary with three children and Rebekka lives in Ottawa with 1 toddler and rumoured to have another on the way. Their families are totally precious just like their collection of wares. They have been sewing and knitting most of their lives and to me they truly epitomize the wonderful qualities we all admire in a family run business. They create beautiful handmade bags, mats, mobiles and more. All of their designs are highly practical, unique and made from 100% cotton; they are out of this world! Their attention to detail in using large wooden buttons and squiggly stitching is what really sets their creations apart from others. They have taken the ordinary diaper bag and made it trendy, chic and easy to wear! The best part is each Birdy and Bug creation is durable, affordable and easy to wash. Did I mention the mats conveniently fold up to hold your wipes, diapers and fit perfectly in to the messenger style diaper bags AND you can choose your style of fabric! For a soon to be mom I can tell you that after perusing the many shelves of bags and mats it was an easy choice to select designs by Birdy and Bug. Below are the items which I have from the Birdy and Bug line please check out their website and see the many creations these two beauties have made.

http://www.birdyandbug.com/birdyandbug/Welcome.html

Marathon at 32 Weeks

Who knew the day would come where I would no longer be able to touch my toes, lace up shoes or I’d struggle to put on pants. The day has come my friends and I am struggling with everyday tasks due to this lovely belly. It’s quite comical how difficult putting socks on has become and Thank god for flats and flip-flops or I would be without shoes most of the time. Speaking of shoes…I will address this further in a few minutes. I always heard pregnant women talking about the difficulty associated with bending down in the third trimester, I even recall watching the odd prego bend over noticing just how awkward it looked and yet I never thought this would happen to me. Oh how the mighty have fallen! Recently I have become a proud member of the following clubs for prego’s; “I can’t bend over very well”, “yes I am a side bender”,  “I can hardly put on my own socks”, “I waddle in heals” and “hun a little help with the right pant leg please”. This realization became vividly apparent in the last 24-48 hours…  

On Sunday, I attended a beautiful baby shower for a friend who is due only a couple weeks before me. The soirée was held at the River Café and was absolutely fabulous! If there is an award for best shower of the year, my friend just won it hands down! Anyway, I felt like dressing up a touch as yoga clothing has been my staple for the last few months, so I pulled out the stiletto knee boots, leggings and tunic and began my get ready ritual. Even though I had some issue with the leggings the real concern came with the boots…I sat quietly for a moment eyeing them up while reminiscing how comfortable I had always thought they were. I visualized stepping in to them and made a plan of attack about the best way of getting them on without falling over. Turns out I was successful getting my feet in and I must say this in itself was quite the achievement but the hurdle of zipping them up had yet to come. I sat for another moment while my feet molded to the soft leather and then I awkwardly hunched forward in what I like to call the side bend and reached down for the kill. While holding my breath I grabbed the zipper and like a size 10 woman sucks in her belly while lying down on the bed to zip up her favourite skinny jeans (which are no bigger than a size 8), I too struggled while zipping the sexy black boot over my swollen foot, ankle and calf. To my amazement it closed and needless to say I was elated with excitement from this accomplishment. Left foot was in and I was ready to tackle the right…several minutes later operation stiletto boots was a success! After all this, I sat a moment longer to catch my breath.  One more challenge stood in my way of getting to the party; walking! I slowly stood up with a wobble here and there and after a few baby steps I was feeling pretty stable. The outfit looked great and I was impressed with how well I pulled it all off. I knew this lust would soon pass and quickly turn in to an ocean of regret after sitting around with my legs dangling down, pooling violently with fluid.  It was a risk I was willing to take, plus the thought of changing footwear at this point was the greater of two evils and more importantly I didn’t have the time. My taxi arrived and I was on my way to the restaurant. 

The River Café is gorgeous but as many of you know there isn’t a drop off zone right outside the restaurant, instead you have to walk a fair distance across the river before arriving. So, while in transit I prepped myself mentally for the walk from Prince’s Island Sheraton, across the bridge to the restaurant and I even had a conversation with my baby that went a little like this “ok angel please don’t kick or do any acrobatics while I walk across this bridge or you and I are both going down”. I laughed to myself as I slowly waddled along, catching stares from passerby’s who clearly thought I was crazy for rocking the footwear I was while 8 months pregnant. Finally the entrance was in sight and I had made it! I felt like a marathon runner waiting to get my high fives and Gatorade at the finish line but sadly no one was that impressed so in the spirit of accomplishment I applauded my unborn son for being so good on the walk over.

The shower was excellent and the entire afternoon was full of love for the mother to be and her gorgeous bump! We laughed, played games and ate delicious bites over the next couple hours. I knew we would be wrapping up around 5 and I couldn’t help but clock watch around 4:35pm as my attention was averted to my throbbing lower extremities and how stupid I could have been for wearing these fabulous boots. I actually think I welled up with tears for a moment while thinking about the marathon walk back across the bridge to where George would be picking me up. It seemed a suicide mission! I rubbed my belly while trying not to think about the pain and had another self talk reassuring myself it would be fine. I even thought about faking an injury and asking one of the staff to hail me a golf cart that could chariot me back to the Sheraton. Or was there a secret driveway that only the staff knew about where cars could actually come to the front door and get me? I pondered my options…sadly I felt like I couldn’t stoop this low and after all it was my idiotic decision to wear these boots in the first place. The next 20 minutes went by and it was go time; George would be meeting me in 10 minutes. I said my goodbyes, well wishes and Thank you to the host before I began the trudge back across the bridge. In agony I slowly waddled, feeling as if my ankles may give out at any moment and I would come down like a 6 foot refrigerator box. I kept telling myself this was great practice for child birth as it was hell and I truly thought I wouldn’t make it but here I was slowly approaching the half way point. I could see our car parked in the near distance ready to pick me up and so I did what anyone girl with sore feet does, I chanted calmly “baby steps Talia, you can do this”. Every step seemed to worsen and I could only imagine what it would look like once I removed the boots from my feet; it was going to be a disaster!  I hopped in the car let out a massive sigh and silently thanked god for the seat which supported me, I may have went as far as thanking god for the man or lady who installed the seat in our Infinity; it was heavenly. We got to our condo and I still had a couple stairs, an elevator ride and about 10 steps to the front door to go, needless to say I hardly made it. I unzipped the boots and slowly pulled my feet out, they were frozen in a permanent arch, the seams from my socks and leggings had left dents in my ankles and I am quite sure I could see bruising form in blue and black around my calf. I spent the remainder of the evening with my feet above my heart to drain the fluid mess in my lower legs and feet…luckily it subsided by 8 am Monday morning.

I have made a new vow that comfort takes the cake over style. Because I have about 8 weeks to go before baby boy makes his debut below are some of the more comfy styles I plan on wearing! Thoughts?

An Hour or so With Ashley Barker...

I have known Ashley since high school and her photography is literally out of this world. Her shots are described as insiprational and magnificent...enjoy the interview below along with an album of her awesome work!

Tell us a little bit about yourself?  

For starters, I’m a terrible writer. I like doing things, experiencing life, travelling, meeting people, talking, not texting. I love music, mountain life, surf, food, yoga, dancing, singing, jamming and those kinds of things.

I have two amazing older brothers and my dad worked for airline companies until I was 7 so we moved around a lot and travelled often. When he quit we stayed in Calgary where I was raised. I went to French immersion until I was 16 and hit the ski hill every weekend since I was 2. I tried every sport available to me for at least a year.

I looked up to my brothers my whole life, they molded me whether it was in skiing, boarding, music or photography; they're my roots, my role models.

Did you study photography or are you simply a natural talent?

I studied. I went to a photo school in Victoria for a year. School was awesome, just expensive.

It appears as though you travel a lot for your shoots, where has your favorite place been so far and if you could move anywhere in the world where would it be and why?

Yes, it's unreal.  Favorite place I travelled to shoot snow sports would probably be Argentina.  I spent 80 days there one summer working with SASS, a ski and snowboard camp and living with the coaches. They have great snow and terrain with a more 'laid back' vibe. Most of the trips I shoot are a week or two, so you don't really get to soak in the culture but in 80 days I really got to experience Argentinean living.

As for living, I think its Whistler, at least for now.

When did photography really begin for you and how long has it been your profession?

I've been shooting for fun for almost 10 years now and it has been my only job for 3 years.

My favorite work of yours is your sports photography; it is truly out of this world! Is shooting
snowboarders and skateboarders your favorite subject matter or do you prefer other genres like

weddings, portraits and fashion?  

I like shooting snowboarding and skiing because it allows me to be in the middle of nowhere, yet feel so at home.  All the elements make it a real challenge, which is exciting and always new. People that aren't out there doing it have no idea what kind of work can go into a shoot. So, when you get a banger shot, something you’re really proud of, the harder you had to work to get it, the more rewarding it is. That feeling, that effort, makes it all worth the while. 

I like shooting portraits and lifestyle too, it's just different. Anything you can make fun and put your real heart into is fun for me.

I would suspect that you’re using digital cameras, have you always used digital and what camera do you use now?

No I started with film before digital SLR cameras were all the rage; they weren’t very good back then. Now I’m on a digital camera 99% of the time. It's fast, efficient and what my clients want right now. Pairing a digital shot with a film shot makes for two different looks, in other words they don't go well together so it doesn't make sense for me to shoot with film much.

What has been your most memorable assignment and why?  

Most memorable trip might be Alaska. I would go there anytime, that place is unreal.

If you could shoot anything in the world with another photographer, what would you shoot, with who and why?

Wow, anything? I guess I'd probably take the opportunity to shoot with David Lachapelle, because his work is so new and conceptual. I feel like I'd learn the most from that right now.

I know that you are an avid snowboarder and skateboarder, so when you are on location for a shoot, specifically for snowboarding, skateboarding skiing etc. do you feel like you get in on the action and ride along with your clients or do you try not to get involved?  

It depends on the day/client. I try to snowboard everyday I'm shooting. I'm mostly out on a snowmobile these days so I clock mad hours on those things which is pretty fun once you get the hang of it, but photos come first. Other times I'll be on a "shoot" where your riding time is greater than your shooting Last year I went to Baldface with DVS Snow Team Riders (Mikey LeBlanc and Marc Frank Montoya) it was a shop giveaway contest and we shared the cat with the public. Because there were paying clients in the cat we couldn't hold up the crew by stopping to shoot for more than a minute every run, so I rode with my camera in my jacket, and snapped a couple quick ones every run. It's hard to get good shoots like that, but that's how it is sometimes and I can't argue with that.

How did you get your first photo in a magazine, which magazine was it and what did you do to celebrate that occasion?

It was a contest photo of Jeff Pepperdine in SBC Snowboard Canada. The photo credit went to Geoff Andruik, so I was pretty disappointed. My next best published shot was the cover of Snowboarder in 2007, which happened to be their 25th Anniversary Issue, so they hosted a party in commemoration of this success.  Everyone else was celebrating the Abdominal Snowjam and Mag party, but I was celebrating for my first US published photo and cover. 

What is the most rewarding part of your career and why?

The people I've meet and places I've been because life is lonely by yourself and there is so much world to experience.

 For more work from Ashley check out http://www.ashleybarker.com/

Inspirations!

Well let’s just say it’s been way too long since my last post. So much has happened from jobs to things at home…as many of you are aware in a few short months George and I will be welcoming a new addition to the family; our little boy!

Needless to say we are totally thrilled and can’t wait to meet this little guy who kicks me all night, made me sick for 12 weeks, helped me gain several kilos and makes my heart flutter every time I think of him! As naïve parents to be, we have been checking out children’s stores on a regular basis and have become experts on cribs, strollers, car seats and more. It is incredibly overwhelming for new parents but a ton of fun no less! I suspect one of the greatest activities is planning the nursery from décor to must have essentials there is a ton of ideas and great DIY inspirations out there. Here are some of our favorite ideas that I have found online…Love the Safari theme!

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