Tag: natural mama

Preparing For Forever Weaning

hollymilkowski April 30, 2020

I have two children: one is seven, the other just turned four. The oldest nursed until he was six (plus a handful of times in the year afterward, but I still say his official weaning was at a full six years). The younger one, my current and final nursling, has some time left to go — he’s still going strong! But I’m already thinking about what his weaning will look like, and what affect it will have on our lives.

I imagine once he’s done, he’ll be really done. Based entirely on the behavior of my eldest, M, of course. M talks about “nanoo” fondly, albeit matter-of-factly. He thinks it’s both sweet and ridiculous how much his younger brother falls apart at the seams for nanoo, and is put right again with ease when provided mother’s milk. He offers to take photos of us nursing, either cooing “aww” or rolling his eyes at his little brother’s milk-inspired silliness. Read More

That Time We Made Breast Milk Soap

hollymilkowski April 12, 2020

Disclaimer: I did not receive any money, promotion, commission, or sponsorship from the manufacturer and/or company in exchange for this post or for sales of this product. I did receive a free sample of this product from the manufacturer. In this post, my own honest opinions are described.

Today was a good day for making breast milk soap. Stir-crazy kids, trapped in the house due to quarantine, needing to spice up the bathtime routine, breast milk for the taking… I’d say this project sounds like a recipe for sudsy success. Read More

D.I.Y. Postpartum Padsicles

hollymilkowski April 20, 2016

Postpartum Padsicles bring soothing relief to sore, swollen, tender tissues after childbirth. Even if you didn’t tear or didn’t have an episiotomy, your (strong yet) sensitive passageway of life will thank you for looking out!

They fit nicely into those postpartum diapers or mesh panties you’ll be wearing for a while, too.

You’ll need about 18-24. I made 30 — just to cover my butt (ha).

Maternity in Photos & Words

hollymilkowski February 15, 2016

“The life of a mother is the life of a child: you are two blossoms on a single branch.”

– Karen Maezen Miller

How To Have An Amazing Nursing Photoshoot (Tips From a Breastfeeding Photographer)

hollymilkowski September 7, 2015

If you’ve kept up with this blog for even a short while, I’m sure you can tell how much I love taking and sharing photos — especially those that capture family love, such as when breastfeeding. I’m often complimented on my photos (I’m shy so it means a lot to me — thank you!), then asked for tips and advice on how to have a successful breastfeeding photoshoot.

To be honest, I think every breastfeeding photoshoot is the epitome of perfection and a success, even if the nursling got distracted or wanted to jam tiny fingers up his mother’s nose. That’s just breastfeeding! Try to remember: the idea isn’t to compare your photos to the outcome of others’. YOU get to decide what “successful” means in this instance — how refreshing!

I decided to let a professional handle some of the main concerns I hear a lot. I interviewed Whimsy Candids Photography‘s Anel Lestage, a Houston-area family photographer and editing expert who specializes in breastfeeding portraits.

**You can see pictures from my session with Anel in this post. Contact details for Anel can be found at the end of the interview.**

Read on for what Anel suggests to optimize your nursing shoot experience!

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words… When You Add Love, A Thousand More

hollymilkowski August 22, 2015

“A photograph is more than merely a picture…it is an heirloom [that] has the power to transcend generations” – Anel Lestage

Photos have always been so important to me. To please my especially nostalgic heart, I look back on photos often. To satisfy my desire to connect with others (as an especially introverted person), I share my photos often. And I love knowing that when I’m not around, a moment I lived is at least immortalized through another’s eyes behind a lens.

Of course, my favorite, most cherished photos feature my soulmates — my family.

Most recently, my littlest soulmate MaiTai joined me for a Natural Mama Nursing Photo Session with photographer Anel Lestage of Whimsy Candids Photography.

On her web site, Anel explained:

“It is my goal to capture the essence of the marvelous blessing that is motherhood from womb all the way to baby’s first year; as well as that tender, playful stage of the early years. I believe that for a mother, a photograph is more than merely a picture; it is an heirloom that speaks to her heart, delights her soul, and has the power to transcend generations, connecting her posterity to those who came before.”