Thank you for such a great evening together. It was so sweet to reconnect, hold babies, and to hear how your babies births unfolded. I appreciate each one of you and love that you all have each other as friends to support and be real with one another. Thank you for your beautiful presence in our group.




Oh, and I almost forgot...

Winning Hearts and Minds Cake

(Found in A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg)

7 oz bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped

1 3/4 sticks unsalted butter, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 cup plus 2 tblspoons granulated sugar
5 large eggs
1 tablespoon flour
Lightly sweetened whipped cream for serving

Preheat oven to 375
Butter 8 inch round pan, line the bottom with parchment paper and butter the paper, too
Melt Chocolate and butter in microwavable bowl, on high, for 30 sec at a time, stirring in between, until smooth
When smooth, add sugar, stirring well
Set aside to cool for 5 minutes
Add eggs, one by one, stirring well to mix
Add flour and mix
Batter should be dark and silky
Bake for 25 minutes, until the top is slightly cracked, the edges are puffed, and the center looks set
Check it at 20 minutes, then every 2 minutes, you don't want to overcook it
The center will only jiggle slightly when you take it out of the oven
Let cool for 15 minutes in the pan, then flip it out onto a plate, removing the parchment paper, then flipping it again so it is right side up
Cool completely before serving
Enjoy each bite.

Acknowledging and Moving Through Birth Fear

Working through fear, anxiety and/or trauma from past birth experiences can be an integral piece for many women as they prepare to give birth. This work is important for anyone who holds any unresolved feelings from a past birth experience that may hold them back from truly being present for the next birth. By acknowledging, working on, learning from and moving through past experiences, parents are able to fully experience the next birth for what it is, moment to moment, without being held back by old beliefs, thoughts and feelings. Working through fear or trauma can directly affect how you live day to day, not to mention how you experience your next birth(s). This work creates empowerment, strength and clarity in one's life.

It is common for many women to have expectations going into a birth, how she "envisions" it happening. So often, a birth experience can be very different from what we are expecting or hoping for. This can lead to disappointment, feelings of failure or resentment. How will those feelings impact a mother's life after the baby is born? How will it be to prepare for another birth, knowing that there are all those feelings below the surface? How can acknowledging and moving through an experience help open up the possibilities for the future? This is where I come in...