Free Pregnancy Resource Center Expands into Guiding Star Tampa

Exciting changes are coming for new and expecting moms in the Tampa Bay area. LifeChoices Women's Care, a free pregnancy resource center located in Lutz (just north of Tampa), has teamed up with The Guiding Star Project in order to reach more women in need of their services.

Photo Courtesy of Guiding Star Tampa

On July 17th they celebrated the grand opening of Guiding Star Tampa and the new office of LifeChoices Women's Care located at 18560 Dale Mabry Highway, Lutz, Florida 33548. LifeChoices Women's Care and other women's resource providers are partnering together under the Guiding Star Tampa umbrella to expand their reach in the community.

Guiding Star Tampa believes in providing natural and holistic care by "empowering women, embracing children, and enriching families".

Serving as a pro-life alternative to facilities like Planned Parenthood, Guiding Star Tampa offers free resources to women in the community to assist with planned and unplanned pregnancies.

Their free services include:

• Fertility Care and Family Planning
• Pregnancy and Childbirth
• Breastfeeding and Postpartum
• Family Life
• Pregnancy Loss

From pregnancy testing and ultrasounds to support groups and lactation counseling, the professionals at Guiding Star Tampa offer a wide range of services. They even provide information on an Abortion Pill Reversal.

Women are encouraged to attend a Vision Tour or to schedule an appointment to meet with the staff about ways Guiding Star Tampa can help.

For more information visit www.guidingstartampa.org or call (813) 948-7734. You can also follow the Guiding Star Tampa/LifeChoices Women's Care Facebook page for updates and information.

Parker's First Birthday - Already?

My baby just turned 1. I'm stuck in an odd feeling of past and present. While it no doubt feels he just made his entrance into this world, it also feels like he's always been a part of it. Of course, I can remember what life was like before Parker was born. But now, looking back, it feels like he was always there, waiting for his turn to come.

Parker has been a smiley little guy since he was born. Always happy, always laughing, and always ready to play. As the youngest, he's learned early on that he has to fight for what he wants. Sippy cups and toy trucks don't come easy in this world; you have to stand up for yourself (and, soon after, plop back down on your butt).

He understands this well and uses every opportunity to pester his sister in accrued retaliation. He has also mastered the age-old art of I'm-just-going-to-cry-and-pretend-someone-hit-me-so-I'll-get-that-toy-back. In his defense, it's usually 50/50 on whether he's implementing this technique or whether his ninja-like sister really did hit him while no one was looking.

Either way, he's Parker and he's a truly special little guy. He always has his tongue sticking out these days - less like a hot terrier and more like a mischievous leprechaun. His little giggle when he gets that sought-after toy or Veggie Straw cracks me up every time.

Watching him grow and learn and develop into a tiny person is just amazing. Seeing the way he interacts with and mimics his older sister is heartwarming. You wouldn't think listening to two toddlers screaming back and forth at each other would be so much fun.

So now, one year after the birth of my son, I just want to say that while I've always been blessed, my cup runneth over. Parker, you are a funny, intelligent, and crafty little boy. 

You're a delight to be around and that tiny grin warms my heart. I'm sorry you still don't have a completed baby book (if it makes you feel any better, neither does Bailey), but I'll get to it one of these days. For now, I'd rather spend my time chasing, tickling, and swinging you. I love you, buddy. Happy Birthday!

The Monster and the Mom (Short Story)

As parents, there are definitely days when sleep deprivation gets the better of us. You know what I'm talking about - we're grumpy, our energy levels dip into the negatives, and even the hard floor looks so inviting. You just want to curl up in a ball and drift off into a wonderfully hazy cloud of sweet, sweet sleep. But instead, you get sticky fingers shoved up your nose and drool oozing down the back of your neck. Ah, the joys of parenthood.

So in the spirit of laughing at ourselves, I hope you'll take a few minutes to enjoy this quick read. The short story in its entirety can be found at Tampa Bay Moms Blog.

"She heard the sound instantly; the baby was up. The siren-like screech darted across the house and echoed through the monitor. Her feet hit the floor, but she didn't feel the worn carpet between her toes. Her eyes were open (barely), but she didn't see the hallway. She could make the trek from her bed to the nursery in her sleep because, well, she did. Every night. Hovering over the crib, she patted the mattress for the lost treasure. She found the pacifier and effortlessly plugged the source of her wakefulness. Too late. He was up and he was hungry..." (Read more)

GIVEAWAY: Blu-ray/DVD of "Beethoven's Treasure Tail" Family Comedy

The wonderful folks at Universal Studios Home Entertainment are gearing up to release "Beethoven's Treasure Tail" on Blu-ray/DVD and they have graciously provided a copy for giveaway before it's even released!

You may remember this lovable St. Bernard from your own childhood (I know I grew up watching "Beethoven" and "Beethoven's 2nd"). "Beethoven's Treasure Tail" is his newest adventure and this family comedy will be released on 10/28/14. 

Photo Courtesy of Universal Studios Home Entertainment

SYNOPSIS:

"Get ready to howl with laughter in this all-new family comedy starring America’s favorite St. Bernard, the one and only Beethoven! After a doggone disaster of a movie shoot, the big-hearted pooch and his trainer, Eddie (Jonathan Silverman, Beethoven’s Big Break), are heading home when they get stranded in a small coastal village. When Beethoven befriends a local boy (Bretton Manley, Ted), he helps him find a pirate map to lost treasure and together they em-bark on an adventure that brings the whole town together. Co-starring Morgan Fairchild (Flamingo Road), Kristy Swanson (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), and Jeffrey Combs (Re-Animator), it’s a heartwarming “tail” about finding fun wherever your nose leads you."

Enter below for your chance to win! Complete each task to earn additional entries! Hurry - giveaway ends at midnight on 10/28! Good luck!

Bonus: Here are some fun activities for the kids! 

Beethoven Coloring Page

Beethoven Maze Activity Sheet

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Online Benefit for I Matter Too - Helping Orphaned, Abused & Neglected Children

Do you want to help those in need, but feel like you don't really get the opportunity? Here's a simple way to give back to the community and help kids while adding some new children's books to your library!

I Matter Too is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that mentors and tutors orphaned, abused, and neglected children through the love of Jesus Christ.

Since 2007 when Stacia Hepburn founded it here in Tampa, I Matter Too has been partnering abused and orphaned children 4 years old and up with adult mentors and tutors to provide the support and attention every kid deserves. Each mentor/tutor travels to their students and helps guide them through spiritual, emotional, and academic avenues in order to serve as a positive influence, friend, and role model.

Through its volunteers, fundraisers, events, and kind donations, I Matter Too is always working hard to improve the lives of children who need love and support.

In an effort to help raise money and awareness for this great organization, from July 1st through September 30th, 100% of my author proceeds from all online sales of both children's books, "Four Lucky Leaves" and "Hi, God", will be donated to benefit I Matter Too.

As parents, we understand how vital it is that our children know they are loved. Every book purchased will benefit I Matter Too in order to help in the growth and support of those kids who may not have someone to remind them of just how special they are.

Please help me to raise money and awareness to benefit this wonderful cause by purchasing a book. Be an advocate - share this campaign with your friends and family!

Both books can be purchased at www.kdbrown.tateauthor.com. They can also be purchased through other online retailers such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

For more information on I Matter Too and to learn about other ways you can help, please visit www.imattertoo.com.

Thank you and God bless!

I'm Back!

Before you judge me for, well, disappearing from the blogging world, you should know I had my second child recently. Hooray for babies! So long sleep! Here I am now trying to catch you up.

Parker Augustine was born a healthy 8 lbs 7 oz and 20" long.

First off, I just want to say how much I love nap time. It's a magical time filled with possibilities, hopes, dreams, and promises. Finally, the little ones are tucked in for an afternoon siesta and the world is suddenly your oyster. You can do anything! Pee alone! Indulge in the snacks you can only eat in secret (unless you want to share half with an adorable tot saying, "Please? A bite?"). Do the laundry! Clean the dishes! Or, in my case, open your laptop for the first time in over a month and catch up on some much needed writing.

It's hard to believe, but my newest addition, Parker, is already 7 weeks old and I'm back at my second full-time job (the first being mommyhood). How did that happen so quickly? And for that matter, how in the world is my oldest about to turn 2?

I thought I had learned a lot about being a parent from my first child, but I'm learning all sorts of new things as a second-time mom. For one thing, your ninja-like reflexes really step it up a notch when you're changing a boy's diaper. The score is still in his favor when it comes to direct hits, but I'm holding my own in the dodging department.

Another thing I'm finding is that I'm much more relaxed this time. With my first, I would leap (literally) over furniture to get to my crying baby when she was hungry. Poor Parker has become known as my "just a second" baby since the patient little guy has to wait at least that long for everything. It's not that I love him any less, but I'm usually tied up pinning his sister to the floor for diaper changes or chasing after her when she sprints off down the sidewalk. I'll get into all of that another day, though.

Today is about jumping back in and doing the only thing you really want me to do - posting pictures of adorable babies. So stay tuned for more posts in the coming weeks!

Don't forget to come out to Barnes & Noble Booksellers at the Brandon mall this Saturday, May 17th from noon to 2:00 p.m. for an author book signing event. I'll be there along with several other local authors so come in and say hi (and maybe buy a book or two!).

Bailey's First Trip to Disney World

When is a child old enough to get excited about Disney World? If you're talking about me, I was probably ready in utero. But then, Disney has always held a special place in my heart.

Unfortunately, with today's theme park ticket prices, a parent has to make sure their kids are old enough to actually enjoy it. After all, we can't all afford another monthly bill (after down payment) to bask in the glow of the annual passholder. While kids under 3 get in free, ticket prices for older kids and adults are a big consideration when planning a trip.

So when Bailey, now a year and a half (really?), waved her arms and bounced around at a recent Disney World commercial, we decided it was time. Now that Christmas is just around the corner, we opted for the discounted tickets to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom.

Bailey's first trip to the Magic Kingdom!

Even though our little chatterbox was silent for the first few hours (taking everything in, no doubt), she eventually became more comfortable and started uttering "Whoas" and "Oohs" as we strolled along the streets.

As the parent of a toddler, you may or may not yet realize that visiting a theme park with a child in tow is very different from your pre-spit-up trips. Generally, you're lucky if you make it to two different areas of the park. I can definitely tell you that Fantasyland and Tomorrowland are still top-notch, but that's as far as we made it.

Being pregnant, I wasn't able to go on any rides, but I did (a lousy job of) videotaping my husband and Bailey soaring through the air on Dumbo. (I'll admit the first 30 seconds of airtime featured some friendly looking strangers since not only were my stars still in line, but they were actually headed for the set of Dumbos behind me.) The ride even has a pretty neat indoor playground for kids to burn some energy as you wait in line. We circled back to it post-elephant flight since the line was pretty short.

The indoor playground at Dumbo the Flying Elephant.

Now that she's old enough to recognize her favorite TV characters, the most exciting part of the trip for Bailey was getting her picture taken with Minnie Mouse and Winnie the Pooh and his friends. While she was pretty star-struck seeing them up close, there were plenty of waves and blown kisses as we walked away.

Bailey meeting Winnie the Pooh and friends.

Aside from Dumbo and character meet-and-greets, our experience mainly focused on the Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor and Mickey's PhilharMagic 3D show which our toddler enjoyed.

For the Christmas party, candy cane signs sprinkled the park indicating areas boasting free cookies and hot cocoa. This was a much appreciated perk by the end of the night when we were tired, hungry, thirsty, and broke.

Tomorrowland's Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe also transformed into Club Tinsel where Goofy (dressed as Santa), Pluto, and the chipmunk duo, Chip and Dale, raised the roof with dozens of dancing tots. That was both fun for the kids and adorable for the parents.

Main Street, U.S.A. was adorned with festive decorations and Christmas music could be heard nearby. We only caught the end of the parade, but it was great timing since we arrived minutes before Santa Claus made his appearance.

We all had a wonderful time and I can safely say the Magic Kingdom offers enough in the way of toddler entertainment to make it worth the trip. Now if we can only get the folks at Disney to reevaluate their adult ticket prices...

Exciting New Journeys

I know I've been slacking a bit on my blog posts lately, but I have lots of exciting news that should explain my absence.

I'm pregnant with my second child and due in March of 2014! My husband and I have been blessed again and we're so excited to welcome this new addition to our growing family. Getting pregnant this time around was considerably less difficult than the last time. (Click here for the whole story on my struggle to conceive the first time.) 

Make room for one more!

Bailey doesn't completely understand just yet (she's only 15 months, after all), but she does point to my belly and say, "baby", so maybe she knows more than we think.

Following this pregnancy will be exciting since now I'll know when to freak out and when I'm experiencing completely normal (albeit annoying and embarrassing) symptoms.

I'm 12 weeks along now and so far the "morning sickness" (I use quotes because we all know the queasiness doesn't limit itself to mornings) hasn't been as bad as it was the first time around. With Bailey, I was nauseous all day every day for several weeks. I couldn't keep anything down except macaroni and cheese and nothing eased my stomach except lying on my side.

So far with this pregnancy, while nausea has definitely stopped by for some surprise visits, it tends to come on suddenly and dissipate quickly so long as I eat the right snack fast enough. (Note: chocolate pudding is not the right snack. I learned that the hard way when it came back to say hello.)

The fatigue has also hit pretty hard (just ask my husband), but otherwise I'm feeling great and am just excited to find out the sex of the baby. (Not that it matters; we're just praying for another healthy child.)

But wait! That's not all! I'm also happy to announce that my children's books, Four Lucky Leaves and Hi, God, have been published by Tate Publishing! They won't be officially released (i.e., in bookstores) until this November, but they're both available now. Check out my Children's Books page for more info.

Stay tuned for more details about book signings, book readings, and fundraisers in the coming months.

I'm so excited for both of these new journeys and I can't wait to share them with you all.

I'd love to work with you! Any businesses or charities (especially in the Tampa Bay area) interested in hosting book signings, book readings or fundraisers are encouraged to contact me at kdbrown341@gmail.com for more information.