Birth Blessings

Maybe this should belong in my other blog, I'm not sure. It does involve pregnancy after all, but I'll put it here all the same.

I'm known for a great many things in life: having lots of pets, having weird pets, getting tattoos, making up my own catchphrases, blah, blah, blah...I am also known for throwing Birth Blessings parties for all the preggo ladies in my life. This is a new addition to the list of things that make me pleasantly strange. I just started having them last year. I started with my    younger cousin Kayla when she was preggers with Miss Story Jade (whom I like to call "Turnip Head").

Everyone asks me what exactly a Birth Blessing consists of, so here is an explanation and some websites you can look up in case you want to have one of your own.

First things first, anyone can host a Birth Blessing party, even the Mommy-to-Be herself. And unlike the unspoken taboo of having a baby shower for each child you birth, you can have as many Birth Blessings as you so desire.

That is the thing I like best about them really, you can cater them to fit the person. True, you can do the same with a baby shower, but the baby shower focuses primarily on the baby, whereas a Birth Blessing focuses on the Mother.

Obviously men can be involved with a Birth Blessing as well, but mostly it is women that participate...older, younger, childless, houseful of kids...it doesn't matter really. It can be religious or not. You can add "activities" to it or keep it simple. No decorations or door prizes required.

Here are some websites to help you out with ideas and give you a better explanation than I can:
www.birthblessings.com
www.birthbeads.com/blessingway


Here are a few details of what I've done at the Birth Blessings I've been a part of:



At Kayla's:
 ~We baked cookies, made chili, and made "ants on a log".
~We gave Kayla a pedicure and facial.
~We each put a "keepsake" in Story's keepsake box for her to have when she becomes an adult.
~We each gave Kayla a charm to add to her charm bracelet so that she could take it in with her when she gave birth to Story Jade.
~We all brought a candle to light. So when we heard about Kayla going into labor and giving birth, we could light our candles and send prayers and good thoughts her way for a safe and healthy delivery and baby.

At Tabby's:

~We made chili and hotdogs. We ate cookies and chips.
~We gave Tabby a manicure and facial.
~We also gave her charms, keepsakes, and lit our candles, just like with Kayla's. The only difference is I made Molly's (Tabby's wee little bun in her oven) keepsake box and I bought Kayla's. :-)

And what goes in a keepsake box you ask? I put a homemade CD of tunes I thought Molly could use throughout her life for Tabby's Birth Blessing. For Kayla's, I put a picture of our entire Nunn clan (there is a bunch of us!!!) in Story's keepsake box. Absolutely anything can be used...as long as it is something special for the child to keep as it ages.

So if you've never done a Birth Blessing, I strongly suggest it. Its great fun and a great way to make the Mommy-to-Be feel special and loved.