Baby! Int’l Film Festival September 29, 2009
Posted by Julie Norris in Awareness, Birth, Front Porch Radio, Video.Tags: Baby Film Fest, homebirth, Jennie Joseph, natural birth, normal birth
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So, I am really stoked as there is a rare opportunity to see some great films about birth, breastfeeding & babies this coming October 2nd & 3rd at the Plaza Theater during the Baby! Int’l Film Festival hosted by Commonsense Childbirth and The Birth Place. I have the pleasure of interviewing Midwife extraordinaire Jennie Joseph this Wednesday, Sept 30th on Front Porch Radio, so tune in for a great show!
Three films in particular look exciting to me & I’ve listed them below. I’m sure Maya will need a drink, so you can bet I will also be taking part in the World Breastfeeding Challenge in the lobby at 11am.
Laboring Under an Illusion: Mass Media Childbirth vs the Real Thing Anthropologist Vicki Elson explores media-generated myths about childbirth. As a childbirth educator for 25 years, she observes daily how our culture affects our birth experiences. In this film, she contrasts fiction with reality. The result is hilarious, engaging, and enlightening. “To understand what it’s really like to have a baby, we have to debunk the silly and scary images served up by the profit-driven media. In reality, birth is hard work, sometimes simple, sometimes complicated, but always miraculous and unforgettable.”
Birth As We Know It is a groundbreaking film featuring 11 births, all completely unique and all natural. Birth As We Know It is a treat for both the heart and mind, comfortably intertwined on a path toward realizing the full potential of birth. A new style of documentary film creates a refreshing arena for the story of Birth to unfold. A triumphant orchestration of stunning cinematography, empowering instrumentation, and a calming narrative, warms our hearts as we are reminded of the beauty of Life, and awakened to the ultimate possibilities of Birth!
What Babies Want is an award winning documentary film that explores the profoundly important and sacred opportunity we have in bringing children into the world. Filled with captivating stories and infused with Noah Wyle’s warmth as narrator, the film demonstrates how life patterns are established at birth and before. The documentary includes groundbreaking information on early development as well as appearances by the real experts: babies and families.
Other films being shown are must-sees, including The Business of Being Born
Maya (& Mom’s) first modeling gig September 24, 2009
Posted by Julie Norris in Birth, Press.1 comment so far
Painted Lady!
Playground magazine recently hit the stands, flinging myself back to the preggo days. I had almost forgotten I did this photo shoot at 36 weeks for my newest must-have parenting magazine. This edition is green-themed and features articles on Flexitarianism (Part Time Veg, pg 58), the “Green Block” covering Dandelion (my cafe) (You Are So Here, pg 60) and the cover article (Girls Gone Green, pg 33) features my painted belly (and some pregnancy tips) & my au naturale grrrrrls Veronica, Nevah, Michelle & Luna. Pick one up at Dandelion or read it online.
I was talking to Michelle & she mentioned that having this article published really legitimized her natural parenting lifestyle to the older generation that sometimes wondered about her choices. I have to say that it’s certainly nice for my mom to be able to show this around the office. I’ve long been the “liberal hippy” of the family who (gasp) eats organic, healthy & (omg) vegetarian! I’ve never quiet understood why it’s so bad to eat so good, and perhaps this will help convince Ma & Pa I’m really just a good girl who eats all her veggies at dinner.
Tiny hats bring attention to infant mortality — OrlandoSentinel.com September 24, 2009
Posted by Julie Norris in Awareness, Birth.add a comment
CLERMONT – They’re crafted with love and made to fit the tiniest of heads. Hundreds of pint-sized hats from around the world are pouring into a prenatal-care clinic in an effort to bring attention to infant death.
And when all the work is done, the hope is to have a dramatic and moving exhibit — hundreds of hats piled high at the Central Florida Kidfest & Family Expo on Saturday in Clermont — with the goal of bringing attention to infant mortality.
Read More via Tiny hats bring attention to infant mortality — OrlandoSentinel.com.
Things to tell you, someday… September 19, 2009
Posted by Julie Norris in Birth, Reflections.8 comments
Almost a month of being a mama & I have so many things I’d like to express, it’s hard to figure out what to talk about. One thing that has been interesting to observe is the thoroughly dream-like state I am slowly waking up from. There was no thought, just sensing in the first couple of weeks and each day since, I am getting more connected with whatever side of the brain is in charge of logical thought. But I really rather prefer this intuitive, being-ness.
So instead of going on about the million things I want to share, I am going to make a list of posts that I will be creating in the future:
- Maya Juniper Rose’s Birth Story
- How I managed to have a painless birth
- Pain vs Pressure
- Why homebirth is the bees knees over hospital (Giving Birth vs Giving Birth Away, as my midwife would say)
- How much my birth team and midwife Kelli Johnson RULE.
- How to care for your body the 72 hours + 2 weeks after
- Placenta uses
- Observations on the bonding processes
- Why breastfeeding is a million times easier than bottle
- Loving like the creator
- Useful gadget for timing contractions
See, I told you I had a lot of thoughts! They just are not fully formed nor am I ready to get back to my thinking brain just yet.
Oh, and Cristy made mention of doing a documentary about the birth & I think there’s a much bigger one that we need to deliver on my midwife’s awesome practice. We’re manifesting it, so interested parties should contact me.
Jennifer Juniper September 13, 2009
Posted by Julie Norris in Reflections, Video.Tags: Donovan
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My friend/customer Bethany originally suggested the name Juniper & I decided on it after realizing it was not only totally adorable, but also as close to Jennifer as I could get without the common-ness of it. So Juniper is really a tribute to two important Jen’s in my life – my older sister who transitioned to the other side some years back and my best friend from high school. Her parents alerted me to this old song, which I must immediately purchase and play over & over for my own little Jennifer/Juniper!
Le Premiere Cri September 12, 2009
Posted by Julie Norris in Birth, Video.4 comments
Looks like an awesome documentary – I’m dying to see it!
Maya Juniper Rose Arrives! September 3, 2009
Posted by Julie Norris in Alerts, Birth.19 comments
Magical Child of the Universe
Hello beautiful people! I know you have just been dying for word, but I’ve been staring at my new love non-stop for 10 days now. Besides, the computer is waaay on the other side of the room and my body has needed some time off from sitting in a chair!
So, this is going to be a brief update with a more elaborate birth story and reflections to follow as time and googly eyes allow.
So. Maya Juniper Rose was born August 24th, 2009 at exactly 10am in the morning after exactly 17 hours of being in labor. Which sounds like a long time, but didn’t seem that long.
She was born at home (on purpose), in water, surrounded by the most amazing birth support team a gal could ask for. Some of ya’ll are gonna hate me, but YES it was a painless birth, with the exception of the legendary “ring of fire” and sudden arrival of Maya’s head, which did hurt, but oh-so-briefly. No, I did not experience an orgasmic birth, but a couple of the ladies on the birthing team joke that they almost had one it was such an amazing experience!
Little Miss Maya Juniper is perfect, btw. She’s pink and sweet, we’ve been breastfeeding like champions and her disposition is just so chill and charming. A Virgo with Libra Moon & Ascendant, for those who are into astrology.
Now onto what you’ve all been waiting for: PICTURES!! Two options available.
Option One: Check out this photo album of Maya Juniper Rose taken with my own camera, which I will continue to upload photos to as I take em.
Option Two: A slideshow of the entire homebirth experience by professional photographer Cristy Nielsen. (She also captured my pregnant self here.) A must watch for most everyone*, except the modest-minded amongst us, as I am in my birthday suit.
*Some notes on the slideshow: I am forever grateful to Cristy who volunteered her talents to capture these images in a tribute to the homebirth movement. As a passionate advocate of homebirth, I share this slideshow with everyone as a gift to what is possible, hopefully opening this birthing option up to you or someone you love for exploration.
These images bring up strong emotions for almost everyone. For women who have not yet birthed or have experienced their own special birth, these images are empowering and inspirational. Some women who were unable to have the birth they wanted may find these images bring up a lot of emotions. Most men have been really touched & educated about what a normal & beautiful process this can be. Some dudes who work with me or are related to me might prefer to skip the slideshow, but to their loss as there ain’t nothing more natural than a woman giving birth to a goddess!
If you need to decide if the slideshow is for you: I am naked (boobs & fanny folks), there are NO “crotch shots” as Maya was born in water, and the only blood is towards the end when viewing the placenta.
After viewing, please feel free to come back here & leave your impressions.
False Start August 22, 2009
Posted by Julie Norris in Birth, Reflections.1 comment so far
Well, so. Had contractions all night last night and into this morning and then they vanished like the morning dew. I guess that’s what they call “false labor.” It’s interesting, this waiting game. I did not think I would be so impatient, but it seems that I am. I’ve tried all sorts of things to get things flowing, and it makes me understand a little more how in a hospital setting, one would be easily talked into “helping things along” as you are just so ready to get on with it after all the preparations have been catered to & your arms are ready to be useful again with baby stuff. I’m sending my awesome birthing party, who has been dutifully spending the night for the past three, home. Perhaps then it will more exciting for everyone to get a 3am phone call telling them to hurry up and get over here! Sigh. So, still twiddling….
My Horoscope for Tomorrow August 19, 2009
Posted by Julie Norris in Predictions.1 comment so far
Today’s Leo New Moon in your 1st House of Self is a sure sign of significant and immediate change in your life. Don’t wait; this is a smart time to add a new activity to your daily routine or start a project at work or home. But be careful about suddenly redefining your goals because your logic may not be as precise as it should be for a decision of that magnitude. It’s best to begin something you’ve already been considering for a while.
Please enjoy the music while you wait… August 18, 2009
Posted by Julie Norris in Music.1 comment so far
My friend Cristy sent this to me…hope it keeps you occupied while waiting for my little bambino to arrive!
