Monday, February 9, 2009

Fabulous February Fiesta Day #9~ BabyTalkBio/The Mama Sphere Review & Giveaway

As a mom, it's very important that you find yourself a community of peers that accept you for who you are and help you through the ropes. There are many ups and downs of parenting that really aren't covered in many of those "what to expect" type books, and honestly, it should be. The most valuable thing you are in charge of is your child's life, and there are absolutely no "how to books" that cover all the bases. Some women are very lucky and have that tight knit group of friends they grew up with, all having babies about the same time. Some find their niche in a playgroup or at the park, or even with their extended family.

When I was pregnant with Alex, I wish there was a place like BABYTALKBIO for me to run to at all hours and post my questions. Alex was my first, and I was young, and the only experience I had with babies was an occasional sitting job and the experience with my two nieces. I questioned all of his bodily functions, spit-up, the formula he was on and even how early he got his teeth! I called my aunt several times to make sure that him sleeping for 7 hours at night was ok, even though he was just two weeks old. I tried a couple of online parenting communities, but with all the cliques and drama, it was just too much for me to deal with. I wanted to find a place that I could go to and ask my questions without feeling belittled and uneducated about whatever topic it was. I am an educated woman, but seriously, did you know what color your child's poop would turn after he ate his first blueberries? Or that raisins or seeds from Kiwi's come out the other end and look just the same as they went in?

What do you you tell your son when he asks you why *he* can't have a purse when you and his sister carry one? "Because you're a boy," seems so... invalid. When you feed your child blueberries and then they poop this wild electric green poop at 11:45 at night, where do you go to look it up? Do you call someone? For the past three and a half years, I have been going to BABYTALKBIO with all of my motherhood questions, stories, experiences, and blunders.

The amazing group of women on this site are real women, with real children, with real stories, and with real questions, and most importantly, with real answers. On BABYTALKBIO you'll find moms who are nurses, police officers, teachers, car seat techs, entrepreneurs, business women, and domestic engineers! They all come from different faiths, different backgrounds, and they don't judge you because you diaper differently, or are having trouble breastfeeding and want to switch to formula; they treat you with respect, help and encourage you, support you, and educate you.

There are things that I learned as a member of Babytalkbio that I don't think I'd ever learn about having kids. I learned benefits of extended rear-facing car seats, I learned that I could make my own baby food if money was tight, I learned how to make my husbands new favorite meal in the recipe section, and I even learned some tips and techniques to keeping my love life.. lovely. *wink*

In the next coming weeks, Babytalkbio is going to be emerging from a beautiful make over & redesign and opening it's wings as The Mama Sphere.

Today is the celebration of BABYTALKBIO'S 4th birthday, and with the upcoming launch of The Mama Sphere,our friends at Babytalkbio are giving away a 2 MONTH subscription for current BTB members only!!!!

**HOWEVER- there is a way to earn MANY extra entries for this weeks giveaways if you become a new member!!
**Are you interested?
Current members:

  • If you are currently a member, tell me one thing that you learned from BABYTALKBIO that you would have never known without them!
  • Refer your friends! Refer on BTB or Email at least three other friends and CC me at 4BabyAndMom [at] gmail [dot] com.
  • If your referred friends join and actively post, (I will be checking!) you get an extra 2 per referral entries in this contest and in each giveaway this week!
New Babytalkbio members: if you do any of the following, you'll receive 2 extra entries in this week's giveaways! There's going to be some amazing stuff, including a Moby Wrap and jewelry from Lauren Nicole Gifts! You don't want to miss this awesome opportunity!
  • Go check out BABYTALKBIO, and create a username. Introduce yourself, and tell the community that you heard about BTB on 4BabyAndMom. Post a little, get to know some of the other members, and then come back here and tell me about it (please include your user name)!
  • Like what you see? Share with your friends! Email at least three other friends and CC me at 4BabyAndMom [at] gmail [dot] com.
  • If your referred friends join and actively post, (I will be checking!) you get an extra 2 per referral!
ALL ENTRANTS:
  • Tweet, Stumble, Digg this giveaway and opportunity!
  • Follow this blog and/or subscribe for our feeds!
  • Blog about this contest!
  • Add our button to your sidebar!
  • You get an extra entry in ALL of our giveaways if you follow the directions in this post!!
Fine Print: Please include your email or contact information in your comments. YOU MUST post separate comments for each one of the tasks above that you complete. This drawing ends Thursday 2/12/09 at 12:00pm EST. Any comments posted after that time will be deleted. If you post one reply saying you did all methods of extra entries, you will only receive 1 entry. Winner will be announced on Friday 02/13/09. Thank you for participating!


34 comments:

Marianna February 09, 2009  

BabyTalkBio has been my haven for the past 4 years, I could never have survived mamahood without it. I've learned so many things, but the one thing was the importance of extended rear-facing.

CynthiaK February 09, 2009  

Hey Lauren,

Can't wait to check out BabyTalkBio. Haven't heard of it before!

And, glad you can sympathize with my 6 year old's adventures in spelling! I admit, being able to check out other moms' stories and anecdotes has saved my sanity a few times!

Anonymous,  February 09, 2009  

I have learned many things from BTB over the years. Some of my favorites are cloth diapering and Hyland's Teething Tablets- what a lifesaver!

phunkyrockgal February 10, 2009  

If it weren't for BTB I wouldn't be so anal about carseat safety!! Now it's extremely important to me.

Bridget Hine February 10, 2009  

BTB has been my go to girl for all thing for years! I have learned so much from my friends on BTB it is hard to pick just one. I have learned how to wear my babies. I am now a babywearing mama because of BTB.

Bridget Hine February 10, 2009  

subscribed!

Jamie H February 10, 2009  

If it weren't for BTB, I would have never have known everything I know about carseat safety or been able to get through Parker's surgery/and both Brian and Parker's problems with Urinary Reflux and Hydronephrosis without hearing stories from other Mama's that went through the same thing. BTB is a support group of many wonderful, smart and loving women that I don't know what I would do without!

Maryann February 10, 2009  

I learned how to blog with BTB! I learned about Frontier Co-OP with BTB. I learned all about cloth diapers with BTB. Oh, lots of good stuff.

Anonymous,  February 10, 2009  

I learned so much about being a mom from BTB. One of the things I took away was wearing my baby. It was a lifesaver especially dealing with an older child as well.

Anonymous,  February 10, 2009  

Hey Lauren!
Without BTB (and Laura) I never would've tried CIO. Logan probably would STILL be in our bed and no one would be getting any sleep! We've been sleeping successfully for a year now. Thanks BTB!

Lisa February 10, 2009  

The best thing I've learned from BTB is all of the carseat safety. Susan has taught me so much. Before BTB I had no idea carseats expired!

Unknown February 11, 2009  

That's where I met you!!!!!
dangit now I'm in tears
love all my BTB girls

Anonymous,  February 11, 2009  

What has BTB taught me?
-cloth diapering in the 21st century

-reusable grocery bags

-babywearing

And the most important thing: how a group of people online can love and support you through your toughest time and rejoice with you when your dreams come true.

Unknown February 11, 2009  

Having a support system thru BTB is great! I have had the opportunity to "meet"(phone and thru posts) and meet (in person) people from all over the USA and get to know them.. some i know better than others but I Love the connections i've made there!!

Some things i wouldn't have known without BTB:
ANything i would want to know about carseat safety and how to install them properly! ( now I just call susan!)

Cloth Diapering and how to do it

Different ways to wear your baby and why it's such a good thing...

and that despite our differences and stances on different issues we are all part of one community and SOMEONE will ALWAYS be there.

Anonymous,  February 12, 2009  

I learned how to be "frunchy" from BTB! Love it there!! everyone there is just like my family, only better!

Laura February 12, 2009  

I love BTB because the people on there are great! I would have never known the benefits of extended rear-facing carseats if it wasn't for the wonderful moms on BTB!

Laura February 12, 2009  

I subscribe to your feed!

Laura February 12, 2009  

I followed the directions in your post. :)

Lauren February 12, 2009  

Marianna FOLLOWS THIS BLOG

Lauren February 12, 2009  

Jamie H. FOLLOWS THIS BLOG

Lauren February 12, 2009  

Lisa SUBSCRIBES TO OUR FEED

Lauren February 12, 2009  

Melinda FOLLOWS THIS BLOG

Lauren February 12, 2009  

Miss Heather FOLLOWS THIS BLOG

Marianna February 12, 2009  

i added your button to my blog sidebar!

Unknown February 12, 2009  

I love BTB/TMS. When I use the phrase "My friends are in my computer" this is the place where they all reside.

BTB has taught me so many many things, the most impactful being how to go green. The mama's at BTB are all reducing their carbon footprints by leaps and bounds and they're taught me so many ways to make our life more energy efficient and how to keep my boys safe with things like BPA free sippies.

Marianna February 12, 2009  

I tweeted!

http://twitter.com/GreenMamasPad/status/1203160456

Unknown February 12, 2009  

I follow you!

Unknown February 12, 2009  

I have your button

Unknown February 12, 2009  

I commented on your Mom Time post

Unknown February 12, 2009  

I have learned so much from BTB and it has become a part of my daily life! I couldn't imagine going one day without it! I've made some lifelong friendships also.

Misty February 12, 2009  

I follow you!

Anonymous,  February 12, 2009  

I subscribed to posts.

Lauren February 12, 2009  

THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED~Thanks to all who entered! Winner will be announced a little early! ;o)

Misty February 12, 2009  
This comment has been removed by the author.

ShareThis

e319c3d269013d80a5a32ff474a7af14a7f982023eadae48bd
BlogMommas.com Powered By Ringsurf
Original Template created by: Ourblogtemplates.com Edited & Tweaked by Lauren from 4BabyAndMom