So Hanna is 3 now, and we're trying to lower our carbon footprint. We have looked into adding solar panels to the house, and even getting a wind generator ~ all of which are very expensive. I recently saw this hot pot solar cooker and thought it might be an interesting way to teach Hanna about solar power.

It's really interesting to me that you can just set it up and cook with only the power of the sun. I'm looking forward to playing cooking with it!

Learning how to manage stress and keep yourself calm is a huge part of natural childbirth. It is also an often overlooked element.  People think about taking care of their body and the baby, but frequently don't realize how much mental stamina a natural childbirth ~ and parenthood for that matter ~ are going to take.

Meditation is a great way to learn to calm the mind and body in any situation.

Here's a video that will help you learn how to meditate and calm your spirit.  Meditation is a  technique for natural child birth that you will be able to use during childbirth and throughout your parenting career.

Everyone wants to touch the baby, especially during the pregnancy but no one every asks.  If you haven't noticed yet, the minute you start to show a tummy everyone else will gladly show you.  The tummy becomes this magnet for hands and everyone wants to handle it. It doesn’t matter if you are walking around in a store, sitting down in a restaurant or walking on your own street, someone is bound to start rubbing all over it.

Here are some ways you can't keep people's hands off the Belly!

• Tell them NO TOUCH ~ good practice for the toddler years. :) If  you are worried about offending people tell them you're shy.
  
• Buy a t-shirt that says "Don't Touch the Belly" or "Touch the Belly at Your Own Risk"
• If someone does cop a touch ~ look at them and ask "what are you doing? I'm not pregnant just a little bloated!" The look should be priceless
• Motion like you are going to rub the other person's belly back.
  

If nothing else seems to work and you’ve been polite in letting people know that your belly is off limits, feel free to sick your husband on them or start swatting. You’ve already given fair warning.  Don’t feel bad if you smack a person that lifts up your shirt in broad daylight either. This is a normal reaction and people should really think twice before doing it. They wouldn’t do it if you weren’t pregnant. 

Jackie Lee

Natural Pregnancy and Childbirth