Welcome Home

Well, after 16 days straight (with the exception of Christmas Day) of working, the christmas "Holidays" are over, and I finally get a day off. (Holidays...HA!!!) I finally have all my boys back in one place, and we're all very happy to be together again. Dudley went BALLISTIC when he realized that it was Steve that had pulled into the driveway, and Griffin was pretty happy to see his Daddy too. I enjoyed my few days of solitude, but I wish I actually had more time to ENJOY them. I was leaving for work at 7am and coming home at 7pm, and pretty much fell into bed every night as soon as I got home.

We're taking today to chill, and regroup. Tomorrow....well, tomorrow I'm going to see an old friend, who is going to offer me a job...I'm a bit scared. This is a job-job, like Monday to Friday 9 to 5ish, with decent pay, and....wait for it...BENEFITS!! Trouble is, it's also commuting about 90 minutes each way. I don't want to talk myself out of it (or into it for that matter) before I go and hear what he has to say, but I've certainly been rolling it around in my head for the past few days. I've become kind of accustomed to my flexible schedule, I'm just getting the doula thing rolling, and yada yada yada. But then I wonder if I couldn't just suck it up for a few years, at least until we have another baby...make some decent money, enjoy the benefits, and maybe even get a proper mat leave out of the deal? Go back to doula work after baby #2? I feel like I've been flitting and flirting all over the place for the past few months, and now that I'm finally settling into something I want to do, I'm getting another curve ball tossed at me! Yikes...I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow.

We also may get around to taking down the christmas decorations tomorrow. Although, I'm kind of enjoying the tree in my living rooms still....

So more new to come tomorrow. Meanwhile, feast your eyes on my beautiful boy!

Today's Challenge

So. I need a name. Most of you know that I've been in the process of doing my doula training, and it's getting on time to start printing brochures and business cards, getting a website and all that. I had one in my head, I don't love it, and it turns out that the domain name is taken...so it must be a sign!

I do however, have a logo - here it is. OK, here is isn't. Blogger is being a poophead again! Maybe later...How about I describe it for you - it's a single line figure of a woman, a pregnant woman to be precise, with her arms reaching up into the air - her arms turn into a Celtic knot like version of branches, and her legs turn into a similar version of tree roots. Jeez...hard to describe. I'll post it later.

So here's what I'm all about, to help you be inspired - I'll be working specifically as a Postpartum Doula, and perhaps Antenatal Doula as well (helps Mom/Family BEFORE baby comes, most often in situations where mom is on bedrest, disabled, etc.) I plan to add Prenatal classes, as well as BabyWearing workshops in the future. So where it is a Mom centred service, it certainly does reach out to baby, and family as well.

Here's a little blurb from the DONA International Website, about what we Postpartum Doulas do:

In traditional societies women and men grow up around birth, breastfeeding, infants and children. After giving birth, women are surrounded by caring family members who have a great deal of experience and wisdom to offer. This kind of help is rarely available to new parents internationally. The doula’s support is intended to fill the gaps left by our customary postpartum practices, which usually include only medical procedures, occasional checkups and the purchase of baby-related paraphernalia. The doula’s education, quiet support and guidance are a manifestation of the traditional postpartum support that our society is missing.

Doulas are trained in postpartum adjustment, newborn characteristics, care, feeding and development, and the promotion of parent-infant bonding. They are experienced in supporting families through their postpartum experience. Coming into the home during the fourth trimester following birth, the doula’s role is to provide education, non-judgmental support and companionship, and to assist with newborn care and family adjustment, meal preparation and light household tasks. Postpartum doulas offer evidence-based information on infant feeding, emotional and physical recovery from birth, infant soothing and coping skills for new parents and can make appropriate referrals when necessary.

The doula can serve as a "buffer" for new parents, who receive a great deal of unsolicited and possibly outdated advice. The doula can help friends and family members to foster and support the parenting decisions of the new parents. By modeling a deep respect for the wisdom and decision making abilities of the new parents, she makes clear that supporting them in their own choices will have the best possible results.
By dedicating herself to the family in this way, the doula validates and enhances the parents’ intuitive ability to nurture and encourages them to develop and implement their own parenting style.

My "Company Name" needs to be short. It needs to be catchy. It needs to have an available domain name! I'll take all your suggestions. I've you've never commented before, NOW IS THE TIME! If I pick your name, I'll make you something pritty....how's that for a deal??

OK, off you go and be creative!!

Thanks!