12.12.09 Love. Give. Crop.

Wrap up all your holiday projects before the New Year…and give to a special cause!

On December 12, Love Bug Bundles will be hosting an all-day crop at By Design Scrapbook Boutique for $10, as well as a charity auction. All of the proceeds go toward providing essential baby items to low-income mothers in the Houston area. Every little item truly means the world to these families.

We also invite you to drop off new and gently used baby items at By Design any time before December 12. A donation bin will be available to collect:
• Receiving Blankets (neutral colors)
• Newborn and 0-3 Month Clothing (neutral colors)
• Wash Cloths
• Diapers
• Infant Bathtubs

(Click to Enlarge Image)

About Love Bug Bundles
Founded in March 2008, the mission of Love Bug Bundles is to support mothers in need and make each newborn’s introduction to the world one complete with basic necessities that promote safety and well-being. In Texas, 25% of children live in poverty and 1 in 10 children lives in extreme poverty. As a major urban center, Houston is home to many of these children. Our programs improve outcomes for these families by providing education and resources that help alleviate the stress of poverty and prevent family crisis.

11.25.09 Launch Party

Join us for our official launch party! As we celebrate our growth, we invite you to learn more, donate, volunteer, or simply offer moral support. Please come and enjoy your first drink free on us, munch on appetizers, and mingle.

We hope you will participate in the charity raffle. You have 7 chances to win more than $200 in prizes donated by some of the best eateries in The Village. Just 10 tickets will provide one mother and baby with a love bug bundle.

We are an entirely volunteer-run organization, and you'll have a chance to meet our founder and the newly formed board. We hope you can join us for the first of many great events and appreciate your support this organization as we grow.

From the Beginning...

"The child must be given safe passage."
—Bill Cosby

Potential

“I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.”
—Helen Keller

Recent Showers

Just a quick update on recent happenings...

August 24
Spring Branch
17 mothers received Love Bug Bundles containing:
· 1 receiving blanket
· 1 newborn or three-month outfit
· 1 bib or 1 hat
· 1 set of outlet covers and cabinet lock

September 4
Magnolia
12 mothers received Love Bug Bundles containing:
· 1 receiving blanket
· 1 newborn or three-month outfit
· 1 set of wash cloths
· 1 breastfeeding amenity

Today's a Big Day

This has been an exciting two weeks for Love Bug Bundles! We...
...acquired our first major corporate sponsor, Lansinoh
...began accepting online donations
...hosted our seventh community baby shower (at Spring Branch Family Development Center)
...(and today!) surpassed our 2009 goal of delivering 100 Love Bug Bundles to mothers in need

We have come a long way! In 2008, the inaugural year of the program, we primarily worked on setting goals, building relationships, and delivering a modest 100 essential baby items. Since March 2009, which marked our second year, we have partnered with Houston's Healthy Family Initiatives and the Community Doula Program to host monthly baby showers for young Houston-area mothers in need.

In the first six months of working with the Community Doula Program, we have delivered 112 Love Bug Bundles, exceeding our goal for the entire year in half the time! Our program has been funded entirely through private donations. We cannot thank our individual donors enough for their compassionate giving.

We are especially grateful for our recent corporate sponsorship from Lansinoh, which will allow us to include quality breastfeeding products in our bundles. Hopefully, this is just the beginning!

Why Women's Rights Are the Cause of Our Time

On Sunday, I'll be heading to the newsstand to pick up the latest issue of New York Times Magazine. This edition is dedicated to international women's issues.

Thank You Lansinoh

A company that has created breastfeeding and baby supplies for more than 25 years, Lansinoh truly lives its motto "By Moms for Moms." I am delighted to announce that Lansinoh will be providing samples of its lanolin cream for our Love Bug Bundles!

When I was nursing my son for 13 months, I was fortunate to use Lansinoh products. I know how much the products helped me. Until now, it has been cost-prohibitive to include these great products in Love Bug Bundles. Now we can, and I know the mothers will be greatly appreciative!

Check out Lansinoh's new blog http://www.bymomsformoms.net.

Check back for more photos soon!

Upcoming Showers:
August 24 @ Spring Branch
September 4 @ Magnolia

Out of the Blue

When I founded Love Bug, I was not sure if my mission would be shared by all. Yet, although I have encountered a few naysayers, I have been overwhelmed by supporters. Today, I was especially touched by a package I received. Out of the blue, a friend sent a big box filled to the brim with brand new receiving blankets and onesies. I am so deeply touched and so greatly encouraged by her generosity.

So many of you think of Love Bug when you are in the store and see a clearance section full of baby items. I truly and deeply appreciate every little item you give. It means the world to the mothers and their babies.

Partnering with the Community Doula Program, we have been able to accomplish great things, including delivering 95 bundles in less than six months. Thanks to the ongoing support of so many wonderful people, I have hope that we can do even more in the years to come.

Happy!

I am HAPPY to give you a June update on Love Bug Bundles. So much has been happening this month because of support from wonderful people like you. Every dollar, newborn item, and word of encouragement truly means A LOT!

Here are just a few reasons I am HAPPY!

1. Baby Steps
We are beginning the process of forming a non-profit corporation and establishing 501c(3) status. We have a long way to go (…create a board, prepare financials, etc.), but we are one step closer because of the advice of a long-time friend who happens to have experience with pro bono non-profit legal assistance.

2. Baby Talk
Recently, I have heard from fantastic friends who just want to know how they can help. I am honored and humbled by such selfless generosity...can’t wait to see how each of you will become a part of the Love Bug family! Here are some things we currently need:
• Flannel receiving blankets
• Newborn clothing in neutral colors
• Nursing wraps
• Lanolin cream

3. Baby Bundles
We hosted two baby showers this week at Magnolia Clinic of El Centro de Corazón and Spring Branch Family Development Center. Marissa and Karla of Community Doula Program have added décor, cake, and giveaways that make the baby showers bigger and better than ever. I continue to teach the 5 S’s from Happiest Baby on the Block and breastfeeding tips. Love Bug was able to contribute 39 bundles, which each contained a newborn clothing item, a receiving blanket, a set of wash cloths, and a breastfeeding amenity. Love Bug also provided a table full of gently used baby boy and baby girl clothing where mothers could “shop” for a few additional items.

4. Baby Dreams
We have a summer project! We want to provide nursing wraps to mothers. Breastfeeding is a beautiful gift that a mother can give to her child, but mothers often supplement with formula when in public. Blankets are good options for privacy, but they often fall when babies wiggle or mothers adjust. With a little fabric and creativity, we hope to offer mothers a simple nursing wrap that can help preserve the mother’s modesty and foster exclusive breastfeeding.

Have a HAPPY summer (and stay in touch)!

Love Bug Milestone: 56 Bundles!

As a new mother, I pay a lot of attention to milestones. Well, today we passed the halfway mark toward the goal of delivering 100 Love Bug Bundles in 2009! We have delivered 56 bundles containing a total of 263 items.

I especially thank the sweet, generous, and supportive donors who gave in honor of Mother’s Day!

Today we hosted a baby shower at the Magnolia Clinic of El Centro de Corazón. Marisa taught first aid for infant CPR and choking, and I taught the 5 S’s and demonstrated swaddling. Afterward, the mothers played a fun version of hot potato...tossing a diaper to reggaeton music…SO FUN!

The 20 bundles this month included:
· 1 newborn clothing item
· 1 pack of wash cloths or 1 bib
· 1 set of outlet covers and cabinet lock
· 1 bottle of lavender lotion

First Aid for Infant CPR and Choking

Swaddling Demonstration

Reggaeton Hot Potato

Just the Beginning

I have been thinking about beginnings lately because I hope this is just the beginning for Love Bug Bundles. Beginnings are so important. They set the tone. Orient us toward a goal. Serve as a reference point for everything going forward.

The beginning of motherhood is no different. The beginning of a new hands-on, real-world, high-stakes responsibility. Many organizations exist to ensure that women make it through pregnancy and keep their babies. However, we must be there after the babies are born. Mothers need an abundance of support to build confidence and become excellent parents. They need role models, mentors, and coaches to help them set a positive tone, orient themselves toward a healthy future, and create a strong bond with their newborn that becomes a reference point in every decision going forward.

All babies deserve a good beginning.

Happy Mother's Day

I hope your Mother's Day was as lovely as mine.

I love this photo that my husband took of my son and me. He almost didn't keep it because it is blurry, but I love the intimate feeling it captures.

Nursery University

The new film Nursery University takes a good-humored look at the oddly competitive environment of nursery school admissions in New York City.

http://www.nurseryuniversitythemovie.com/

April Bundles

Thank you to those special, generous, supportive, compassionate people in my life who quietly gave to Love Bug Bundles in March and April. Your contributions are deeply appreciated.

In April, I attended a Community Doula Program baby shower at the Spring Branch Family Development Center. Nine expectant moms received bundles filled with a blanket, a newborn outfit, a toy, a wash cloth, and a breastfeeding amenity. At the baby shower, I gave a lesson on the 5 S's and tips for successful breastfeeding. Not only did the mothers feel valued, but they also felt empowered.

Our next baby showers are planned for May 14 and July 1.

"S" Words

Today, I taught nine expectant mothers how to swaddle a baby. A trade secret of motherhood, swaddling is certainly not a new practice. Along with many other mommies, I lived by Dr. Harvey Karp's 5 S’s (swaddle, side…or stomach, shush, swing, and suck) with my newborn son. So, what was so special about today? To use another “s” word – sisterhood.

Societies throughout the world have always relied on a sisterhood of women to pass down the wisdoms of pregnancy, childbirth, and childrearing. The phrase “it takes a village” is literal. However, when I look at motherhood in America, I see the edges of that concept fraying. True, the modern super-mom creates a surrogate village by following a mommy blog or two, reading threads on the best baby sites, catching Dr. Harvey Karp on The View, and buying a copy of the old standards like What to Expect When You’re Expecting. But is it really the same?

Regardless, the women in my class haven’t read any of the blogs and haven’t heard of Dr. Karp. One expectant mom in the group carried her first baby home from the hospital perfectly swaddled, but never knew how to replicate it. The nurse never bothered to show her. Today, she was the first one to jump up and give it a try. The first-time expectant moms were just as eager to learn the technique. I say “technique,” but it really isn’t that complicated. I think such simple things rarely are shared because they seem intuitive. In fact, I initially hesitated to ask if the women wanted a swaddling demonstration. What if they already knew and I offended them?

I thought back to my own prenatal classes and decided that no knowledge is frivolous when it comes to having a baby. The outcome? A palpable sense of empowerment. That is why sisterhood is so important. I believe in a woman's intuition, but she needs opportunities to observe and share in order to absorb these “simple” things. More importantly, she needs to build a network of trust that will be there when she encounters the “not-so-simple” things.

Removing the Veil

Bail outs, stimulus plans, and budgets...Oh my!

I must say I was pleased to see the Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) is a high priority in President Obama's 2010 budget. I'm sure others would be quick to ask for an ROI on that one.

$5.70 to $1.00

That is the ratio of favorable economic return to communities for every public dollar spent on the Nurse-Family Partnership.

Why is it that we so often need to see issues in terms of dollars and cents in order to care? Obviously, tangible and quantitative measures serve a practical purpose when it comes to budgets, ROI, etc. Yet I can never understand why we so often overlook the human factor. Even when it comes to the current economic crisis, AIG bonuses, and stimulus funds, we seem to think of the people behind the numbers just a little too late.

One of the greatest challenges with programs like the NFP is connecting with the individuals who need these services. Poverty is often a faceless affliction. It coexists with a multitude of interwoven factors, such as social isolation, joblessness, lack of education, lack of healthcare, homelessness, language barriers, and more.

22,000 versus 650,000

That is the number of families NFP serves annually versus the estimated number of eligible first-time mothers in the U.S. that would benefit from the program. It is more than justifying the "dollars and cents" to the public. It's about removing the veil over poverty. It's about the human factor.


About Nurse-Family Partnership
The Nurse-Family Partnership National Service Office (www.nursefamilypartnership.org) is committed to producing enduring improvements in the health and well being of low-income, first-time parents and their children by helping communities implement and sustain an evidence-based program of home visiting by registered nurses. It is the most rigorously tested program of its kind. Randomized, controlled trials conducted over 30 years demonstrate multi-generational outcomes that benefit society economically and reduce long-term social service expenditures. Nurse-Family Partnership is headquartered in Denver, Colorado.

Spread the Love

Love Bug Mission: Build a movement to support mothers in need and make each newborn's introduction to the world one complete with basic necessities that promote safety and well-being.

As a fledgling program, Love Bug Bundles is still forging new relationships and creating partnerships to make our mission a reality. Please spread the word to your family and friends. Invite them to follow this Blog to learn more and receive updates!!

At this time, Love Bug Bundles is entirely funded through personal funds and private donations. We would greatly benefit from any type of support, including:
· monetary donations
· newborn items
· postpartum and breastfeeding items
· product samples
· translated brochures and literature

Begin to Understand

We can imagine the needs of others and imagine the cause. Imagine blame. We can even imagine a solution. However, not until you take time to listen to those in need and witness their humanity can you truly begin to understand.

Last week, I participated in my first two baby showers (Lee High School and Magnolia Clinic of El Centro de Corazón) with the Community Doula Program of the Healthy Family Initiatives. The generosity of family and friends helped make it possible to give 27 Love Bug Bundles, 24 postpartum items, and six door prizes to expectant mothers in need. The March baby shower bundles included:

· 1 receiving blanket
· 1 newborn or three-month outfit
· 1 bib or 1 hat
· 1 pair of socks or 2 wash cloths

~

Shoot for the moon...Even if you miss, you'll land among stars.

-Brian Littrell

International Women's Day: March 8

Often the greatest societal and multi-generational change comes through women helping women.

One woman who is doing just that in Houston is Marisa Pena-Alfaro, program director of the Community Doula Program at the Healthy Family Initiatives. Her passion is empowering teenage and low-income mothers to overcome the challenges of pregnancy and motherhood. She not only equips these young women with information about their health, bodies, pregnancy, labor, delivery, breastfeeding, and infants, but she also promises to be a source of support. She takes phone calls 24/7.

The primary goal of the Community Doula Program is to prevent poor health outcomes for mothers and infants. The following figures summarize the services and outcomes for 2008:
· 175 pregnant mothers were served
· 56% were teenagers
· 71.2% prenatal sessions were completed
· 1,620 individual telephone support calls were completed
· 96.8% mothers carried pregnancy full term (87.5% national rate, March of Dimes)
· 80% mothers delivered infants vaginally (68.9% national rate, NCHS)
· 97% mothers delivered healthy weight infants (92% national rate, NCHS)
· 81% infants breastfed for at least 6 months (13% national rate, AAP)

~
First celebrated in 1911, International Women's Day honors the economic, social, and political achievements of women throughout the world.

http://www.internationalwomensday.com/
http://www.care.org/
http://www.apowerfulnoise.org/

Welcome to the Love Bug Bundles Blog!

On March 6, 2008, I founded Love Bug Bundles to provide Houston mothers in need baby and postpartum essentials to promote the well-being of their growing families. Tomorrow is the one-year anniversary of this project, and I am humbled and thrilled that it is growing more than ever.

As a new mother myself, I know the time surrounding pregnancy and childbirth represents one of the most vulnerable yet rewarding periods in a woman’s life. Ensuring her physical and mental well-being helps ensure the well-being of each newborn baby. No matter the circumstances of her pregnancy and delivery, every mother deserves compassion and support.

Love Bug’s goal is to help low-income mothers access education, support, and basic necessities to ensure the safety and well-being of their children. Research proves the benefit of preventative programs that offer at-risk mothers a continuum of support. Although numerous organizations assist mothers with prenatal care, few focus on the critical postpartum weeks during which the mother child bond should be well guarded.

In collaboration with the Healthy Family Initiatives, we collect baby items and deliver them to Houston families who really need them. Donated items include new and gently used baby essentials, such as: clothing, receiving blankets, bath tubs, toys, pacifiers, diapers, baby wipes, wash cloths, and childproofing items. Today, the organization serves families in prenatal programs at the Spring Branch Family Development Center, the Magnolia Clinic of El Centro de Corazón, and Lee High School. In the future, we aim to serve families in a broader network of social agencies, including public clinics and family development centers, homeless and domestic violence shelters, and early education programs.

~

In Texas, 25% of children live in poverty.
In Texas, 1 in 10 children lives in extreme poverty.

~

In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love.

Love begins by taking care of the closest ones – the ones at home.

Mother Teresa