“The first day after my birth,” says the Dalai Lama, “immediately I learned, I experienced mother’s sort of compassion. That is I think the most important part of building a healthy family and that means healthy humanity.”

Happy 75th Birthday to the Dalai Lama!

Every so often it’s a good thing to pause and tell our loved ones how we feel. This is all about Mike, my husband and father of our two kids and a whole bunch of reasons why I think he’s an awesome dad and husband.

It started long, long ago before we had kids, before we were married, about 15 years ago when I convinced you that we should leave our jobs and go on a road trip across Canada and the northern United States in your crappy K-car. It was on that trip, somewhere in the middle of Pennsylvania that I turned to you while you were driving and said, “I wanna have your baby some day.”

Years later, after loads of crazy adventures & experiences I realized that you were truly my rock. My mom died. Your patience and unwaivering devotion and support during my epic grieving…. I knew you were a keeper.

Then we decided to multiply. And you came to 100% of my prenatal appointments and you supported my desire to have a homebirth with midwives and you supported my wish to have a doula present. You did the research. You read the books. Knowing that while this was the birth of OUR child, this was MY body’s experience and my deep, deep desire to envelope the birthing room with positivity and trust in my ability to give birth. Thank you for helping to make that possible- twice.

Then when breastfeeding really sucked for a while there, you stayed by me, supporting me in my wish to breastfeed our baby. You knew I could do it, even when I wanted to hand you the baby and run far, far away, yelling, “Good luck with that!”

So I’d like to thank you, for putting family first, for taking night time wake-up calls from the kids (unless breastfeeding is required or there’s vomit involved- those are my jobs) for taking time off work to help me prevent post partum depression the second time around, for reading to the kids every day, for playing road hockey with our son when you’d rather be vegging on the couch after work, for being a human trampoline for hours on end with our two little monkeys and for wearing a feather boa if that is what our daughter requires of you.

You are my hero and an inspiration!

Happy Fathers Day!

Love Shirley

We are very excited to tell you about a great new book called “Hands Off My Belly: The Pregnant Woman’s Survival Guide to Myths, Mothers and Moods.

Expectant mothers are virtual magnets for unsolicited advice. Mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, sisters-in-law, new mothers, friends, and even strangers offer what seems to be an endless supply of supposedly authoritative opinions on every aspect of pregnancy: A craving for spicy food denotes a boy. Carrying the baby low denotes a girl. And, of course, everyone wants to touch her belly.

In this engaging, humorous, and very informative book, Drs. Shawn A. Tassone and Kathryn Landherr – experienced gynecologists, a husband-and-wife team of physicians, and parents of four children – explore the most common superstitions and myths surrounding pregnancy. With a scientific perspective, the authors not only entertain but provide a great deal of practical information, which will ease the fears and anxieties of expectant parents as well as clear up many confusing notions.

We will be giving away a copy of this book ‘Hands Off My Belly: The Pregnant Woman’s Survival Guide to Myths, Mothers and Moods’ to the first 50 people that come through the doors at the Vancouver Island Baby Fair on both Saturday and Sunday! 100 books in all! Doors open at 10am so be sure to join us at the Vancouver Island Baby Fair this weekend, June 5 & 6 at Beban Park Social Centre in Nanaimo!

The Photo Contest is always one of the most popular features at the Vancouver Island Baby Fair, with hundreds of new parents lining up to have a professional portrait taken of their little one for just $10 – which goes 100% to a local charity. We’re looking for a photographer who is up to the task to run the photo contest at our upcoming event in Nanaimo on June 5 & 6.

We’ll be conducting interviews later this month in Nanaimo. If you’re a photographer in the Nanaimo area, or know someone who might be interested, please contact us ASAP for details. To learn more about the photo contest, visit the photo contest page.

Earlier today we were proud to present a cheque for $2450 to the Foster Parent Support Services Society – money we fundraised at the last Vancouver Island Baby Fair in Victoria though the Photo Contest, stroller parking, and face painting.

In addition, we provided the FPSSS with booth space at the fair to promote their organization and put the call out for more foster families. We provided logo placement in our marketing materials, the opportunity to speak on our main stage to attendees at the fair and further exposure through our website & e-Newsletters. Supporting local community initiatives is a very important aspect of the Vancouver Island Baby Fair and to our family. Thank you to those who come to the fair and make it all possible!

Foster Parent Support Services Society is a non-profit organization that is committed to providing meaningful and accessible support, education, and networking services for the foster parents of the Vancouver Island Region, which will continually enhance their skills and abilities to deliver the best care possible to the children in their homes.

Do you have room for one more? If so, please contact them today to find out how you can make a difference in the life of a child!

Pictured: Shirley Broback (middle) presenting FPSSS Executive Director Margaret Howley (left) and Lisa Argue with a cheque.

Registration is now open for the next Vancouver Island Baby Fair in Nanaimo, June 5 & 6, 2010 and in Victoria, Sept. 25 & 26, 2010.

All applications received by Dec. 31, 2009 will receive a 10% Early Bird Discount.
For more information, including downloadable application forms and floor plans for both shows are available on the Vancouver Island Baby Fair Exhibitor’s page.

We are doing a little preliminary research on postpartum depression resources on Vancouver Island and postpartum depression in general, and looking for women to share their ideas with us.
If you can, please share with us the following:
1) Did you have post partum depression? how did you know? For how long?
2) Did you get help? Why or why not?
3) Who referred you to help? Doc, midwife, public health nurse, friend?
4) What kind of help did you get? Counseling, meds, postpartum doula, group, etc…?
5) Might some of your postpartum depression have been prevented somewhat or entirely? If so, how?
6) What kind of resources helped & what type of resources do you wish existed?
7) Where have you received any info on postpartum depression? Public Health nurse, doctor, midwife, friends, websites?

If you are not from Vancouver Island and you know of some great postpartum depression resources, please share with us!

Please send responses privately by email and feel free to elaborate on these questions if you have more to share. Thank you!

Registration is now open for the next Vancouver Island Baby Fair in Nanaimo, June 5 & 6, 2010 and in Victoria, Sept. 25 & 26, 2010. Registration for exhibitors who took part in our last Nanaimo and Victoria events is open now, and general registration begins Dec. 10.

All applications received by Dec. 31, 2009 will receive a 10% Early Bird Discount.
For more information, including downloadable application forms and floor plans for both shows are available on the Vancouver Island Baby Fair Exhibitor’s page.

We are so happy to announce the winners of this year’s Vancouver Island Baby Fair Photo Contest that took place Sept. 26 & 27, 2009! Huge congratulations to the families of Joel and Turquoise!

Joel was just two months old when this adorable pic was snapped. He will appear on the cover of an issue of Island Parent Magazine in 2010, and become the poster child for the 2010 Baby Fair in Victoria. Joel’s family also wins a Haba Bean Bag Chair “Bert” ($230 value) from Bellies in Bloom Maternity, and a 2 hour studio session with Rebecca Joy Studios, one 8×10 print, two 5×7 prints, and 30 custom holiday or birth announcement cards (Value: $400).

In the 2-6 year old category, 2-year-old Turquoise is the winner. Her family wins a Radio Flyer Wagon from Bubba Loo Children’s Boutique, and a 2 hour studio session with Rebecca Joy Studios, one 8×10 print, two 5×7 prints, and 30 custom holiday or birth announcement cards (Value: $400).

Thank you to everyone who entered! Your $10 donation helped us raise more than $2400 for Foster Parents Support Services Society. The free 5×7 print of your photo shoot is available for pickup at Jamtots Baby & More Store until November 30.

Congratulations to Joel, Turquoise, and their families! The next Vancouver Island Baby Fair Photo Contest will be held in Nanaimo on June 5 & 6, 2010.

Photo Contest Photos from the Vancouver Island Baby Fair are ready!

Anyone who participated in the Photo Contest at the Baby Fair on Sept. 26 & 27 can pick up their free 5×7 prints at JamTots Baby & More Store at 748 Goldstream Ave. until November 30th.

We raised $2415 for charity! 100% of the photo contest money, plus donations for stroller parking and face painting, goes to the Foster Parents Support Services Society to support them in their services.
The Foster Parents Support Services Society is a grassroots, CARF Accredited, non-profit organization that is committed to providing meaningful and accessible support, education, and networking services for the foster parents of the Vancouver Island Region, which will continually enhance their skills and abilities to deliver the best care possible to the children in their homes.

Thank you for your support!