My name is Lorel.

I've been married for going on 7 years. We have a son named Logan who is three (almost four), and a daughter named Taylor who just turned one. We have a Bull Terrier named Trina and a black cat that responds to Kitty, Gilbert and Lucy.

I previously was a work outside the home mom, and now am a stay at home mom who has increasingly been working in the home. I'm working towards my doula certification through CBI, I run an Etsy store (Nurturing Notions) and write in my blog (Nurturing Notions via Blogger) every now and then.

I love discussing all things related to the body. I believe in it, and love learning about it's amazing-ness.

I also love learning about ways to return back to a simpler way of living. I think the short-cuts we have come to rely on have had real consequences that we are only now starting to become aware of.

I'm also a big hippie when it comes to love. I've been on this kick recently where I've been more aware of all the ways our society discourages it. I believe in it, and am trying my best to advocate for it in addition to all of the above.

"Our job [as parents] is not to raise mild mannered, compliant, sleeping children. Our job is to raise happy, healthy, contributing ADULTS. And its a long road to get there.
"People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it." ~Anonymous

"Birth is not only about making babies. Birth is about making mothers...strong, competent, capable mothers who trust themselves and know their inner strength." -Barbara Katz Rothman

"Women's bodies have their own wisdom, and a system of birth refined over 100,000 generations is not so easily overpowered." - Sarah Buckley

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that "Breastfeeding should be continued for at least the first year of life and beyond for as long as mutually desired by mother and child... Increased duration of breastfeeding confers significant health and developmental benefits for the child and the mother... There is NO UPPER LIMIT to the duration of breastfeeding and no evidence of psychologic or developmental harm from breastfeeding into the third year of life or longer" (AAP 2005)