Yeg Inspired, Baby Issue

Volume 

02 

Fall 

2016 

Cost 

FREE 

Issue 

BABY 

A Motherhood Magazine for Edmontonians

Volume 02 Fall 2016 Issue BABY

CONTENTS 

DEVELOPMENT 

IDENTITY 

04 EMPATHY IS EVERYTHING 

Athena Raypold 

06 BABIES PLAY? 

Jennifer Bly 

14 WHERE DID I GO? 

Chelsey Krause 

20 MADE YOU LOOK! 

Marjorie Campbell 

22 MOMPRENEUR 

Shauna Roughley 

EAT + SLEEP 

FAMILY 

10 IT’S TIME TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT 

FEEDING 

Rachel Jones 

13 THE GREATEST CHALLENGE: SLEEP 

Cynthia Priest 

26 WHAT TO DO WITH TWO 

Hannah Hamilton 

30 TRAVELLING WITH BABY 

Christine Bruckmann 

INSPIRED | 01

A Motherhood Magazine for Edmontonians 

Publisher: 

Editor-in-Chief: 

Advertising Sales: 

Advertising Liaison: 

Photographer: 

Layout: 

Contributors: 

Lorraine Stephanyshyn 

yeginspired@gmail.com 


hello@athenaraypold.com 






hellolorrainemarie@gmail.com 



Jennifer Bly 

Christine Bruckmann 

Marjorie Campbell 

Hannah Hamilton 

Rachel Jones 

Chelsey Krause 

Cynthia Priest 


Shauna Roughley 

FOUNDER 

LORRAINE STEPHANYSHYN 

PHOTOGRAPHER 

www.lorraine-marie.com 

From a family of passionate photographers, Lorraine grew up with 

a camera in hand, photojournalistically capturing the world around 

her. Since becoming a mother, Lorraine has lovingly witnessed family 

histories, documenting lives, creating heirlooms to serve as family 

legacies. Inspired was born of a desire to connect with and support both 

mothers and local, independent entrepreneurs and businesses; Inspired 

is Lorraine’s heartfelt offering to Edmonton’s motherhood community. 

With the exception of advertisements and sponsored articles, Inspired’s 

pages showcase Lorraine’s documentary style family photography. 

Contact Us: 

INSPIRED MAGAZINE 

www.yeginspired.com 


www.facebook.com/yeginspired 

Instagram: @yeginspired 

Twitter: @YegInspiredMag 

EDITOR 

All contents copyright © 2016 by the contributors 

All Trademarks presented in this magazine are owned by the registered owner. All advertisements 

appearing in this magazine are the sole responsibility of the person, business, or corporation 

advertising their product or service. All content, photographs, and articles appearing in this 

magazine are represented by the contributor as original content and the contributor will hold 

ATHENA RAYPOLD 

WRITER 

www.athenaraypold.com 

Her Moleskine notebook forever in hand, Athena writes prose and 

poetry, essays and articles on topics ranging from motherhood to 

feminism to food. Also writing over at The Salty Almond, Athena 

celebrates Edmonton’s food scene, community, and cooking with a focus 

on supporting local. Athena’s addition to the Inspired team is a natural 

collaboration that combines her writing, editing, and design skills. 

As Inspired’s Editor, Athena curated and edited the articles within, in 

addition to laying out the magazine and contributing her own work. 


CONTENTS 

CONTRIBUTORS 

JENNIFER BLY is the author of My Kitchen, My Classroom: An Introduction to 

Homeschool, creator of local blogs The Deliberate Mom and Deliberate Homeschooling, 

and contributor to The Huffington Post. Jennifer writes about parenting, her faith, 

and life with her husband and two girls. She has a Bachelor of Applied Human Service 

Administration Degree with a specialization in Early Learning in Child Care. 

CHRISTINE BRUCKMANN is the writer behind Just Another Edmonton Mommy 

and a born and raised Edmontonian with a background in social work. As a trusted 

voice for many families and passionate about supporting her local community, Christine 

writes about things to see and do in Edmonton as a family, local events, DIYs, food, and 

more. 

MARJORIE CAMPBELL is a bilingual stay-at-home mom with two children. From 

Montreal, Marjorie has worked extensively as a volunteer in communications wearing 

many hats: graphic designer, writer, and editor – most notably for the Glastonbury 

Gazette. Married, she met her husband in London, England where she worked as the 

graphic designer for the Canadian High Commission. 

HANNAH HAMILTON writes at Edmonton blog, The Momoirs, where she shares her 

honest and often hilarious take on motherhood. Dreaming of cultivating true community 

wherever she happens to be, Hannah wants to live in a world full of creativity, where 

naps are mandatory and good food is priority. When she isn’t writing you can find her 

teaching yoga, taking pictures or sharing life with a friend over a bottle of wine when 

not spending time with her husband and two mischievous little boys. 

RACHEL JONES is the blogger behind Edmomton and is a new mother who recently 

left the desk job of her dreams to parent full-time. A talker, connector, planner, and 

community enthusiast, Rachel enjoys living in the heart of downtown Edmonton with 

her young family. Learning as she goes, Edmomton centres on important places, news, 

events, and resources for new parents in Edmonton. 

CHELSEY KRAUSE is the author of novels Can’t Always Get What You Want and 

All Shook Up. A nurse, wife, Starbucks addict, and mom to two girls, Chelsey can often 

be found repurposing other people’s junk or considering whether or not the library will 

let her move in. The rest of the time, she’s reviewing for Chicklit Club or writing. 

CYNTHIA PRIEST was born and raised in Brunei, where co-sleeping is a cultural 

norm, Cynthia is a cloth-diapering and baby-wearing first time mother, who loves to 

cook and bake. Cynthia plays and teaches piano, develops recipes, maintains a food 

blog, Cynful Kitchen, and aspires to write a cookbook in the near future. 

SHAUNA ROUGHLEY is a photographer, writer, and mom to two boys. Her 

photography business, Roughley Originals, is a partnership ran with her husband, 

Gareth. When she’s not working, Shauna loves camping with her family and being 

outside as much as she can. With a passion for travel, she hopes to continue to travel 

the world with her family. 

INSPIRED | 03

DEVELOPMENT 

“As a mother, raising an empathetic child is my 

primary goal. More than anything, I want my son 

to approach and engage others with sensitivity and 

kindness.” 

EMPATHY IS EVERYTHING 

BY ATHENA RAYPOLD 

Unlike sympathy or compassion, which inevitably 

place distance between two people – you feel sorry for 

her loss, you feel compassion for his pain – empathy 

requires that you understand and share another’s 

feelings and respond in kind. It compels us to disengage 

from our own thoughts and feelings in order to 

engage in another’s; which can be extremely difficult, 

particularly during a disagreement. But when we 

willingly enter another’s emotional space with empathy 

– be it frustration, grief, or elation –we find genuine 

connection. 

As a mother, raising an empathetic child is my primary 

goal. More than anything, I want my son to approach 

and engage others with sensitivity and kindness. When 

he sees someone struggling, I want him to respond 

with empathy, to be supportive, helpful, genuine, and 

gentle with others. Because when we allow ourselves to 

view a situation from another’s perspective, we truly 

hear them. And being heard, being understood, is 

paramount to creating trusting relationships and happy 

people. Empathy is healing. Empathy is understanding. 

Empathy is everything. 

John Medina, author of Brain Rules for Baby, dubs 

empathy “the glue of relationships” because it binds us 

to each other. Medina argues that the seeds of empathy 

are planted in parenthood. Through parents’ conscious 

choice to practice empathy with each other, they not 

only mitigate and reduce marital conflict, but they 

also positively affect their baby’s development. Medina 

notes that “Infants younger than 6 months old can 

usually detect that something is wrong [when parents 

are in conflict]. They can experience physiological 

changes – such as increases in blood pressure, heart 

rate, and stress hormones – just like adults.” 

Stress hormones are detrimental to babies and can 

increase risk of anxiety disorders, depression, lower 

the immune system, inhibit focus, decrease emotional 

regulation, and lower IQs. However, this doesn’t 

mean that we should avoid conflict at all costs because 

conflict is inevitable. What’s important is how we 

engage in conflict, how we fight with each other, 

and especially, how we make up. In conflict, then, 

we should refrain from abuse and name calling, stick 

to the “When you..., I feel...” statements and if your 

baby is present, resolve that conflict in front of her. 

Babies absorb everything: tone, body language, facial 

expressions, but if they witness conflict followed by 

healthy resolution, they will internalize and grow up 

understanding that disagreement is normal, but that 

through empathizing as a way to resolve conflicts, 

relationships are nurtured instead of injured. Thus, 

raising an empathetic child starts with practicing 

empathy ourselves – with our partners, our families, 

and our children. 

For anyone, but particularly babies, empathy has a 

calming effect. When your baby is teething and in pain, 

respond with affection and verbalize what you imagine 

your baby is feeling, “I know, honey, your mouth is 

hurting you.” Medina says, “Your ability to move from 

you to them, which is what empathy forces anyone to 

do, makes all the difference to your child’s brain.” As 

hard as it is to catch yourself when you’re frustrated, 

when your baby is forcibly squirming away mid diaper 

change, or melting down in a store, the more you 

vocalize what he’s feeling, name his emotions, and 

empathize with him, the sooner your baby will calm 

himself. And the more you practice empathy, the more 

you model it for your child. 

Even as young as six months old, babies look to their 

parents for how to respond and interpret the world 

around them. How we engage and speak to our babies 

and children matters, we must empathize with them, 

especially when we feel frustrated by their behavior; we 

must talk about other people’s feelings (ours, theirs, 

their friends, their siblings, and even their pets); we 

must give them examples of how to show empathy (i.e. 

Sarah’s upset, let’s offer her a hug); and we must model 

empathy for them in our interactions with others. As 

Medina says, “The more empathy your child sees, the 

more socially competent he’ll become, and the happier 

he’ll be.” And what parents universally want more than 

anything is happy children. 

References: Medina, John. Brain Rules for Baby. 

Seattle: Pear Press, 2014. Print. 


DEVELOPMENT 

BABIES PLAY? 

BYJENNIFER BLY 

“The brain is the only unfinished organ at birth” 

(Schiller, n.d.). Isn’t that amazing? This means that you 

can directly contribute to the formation of your child’s 

brain. While secure, caring relationships are essential, 

there are some other things that parents can do to help 

nurture healthy brain development. Here are some of 

my favourite brain-building activities for babies. 

Cause and Effect 

Babies learn through interactions with things in their 

world. Set up activities that allow your infant to 

experiment with cause and effect. 

• Stack some soft blocks for your infant. Watch him 

knock it down. Repeat. 

• Place a soft ball by your infant, when it rolls away, 

bring it back to her. Repeat. When your infant is 

older, she will enjoy crawling over to the ball and 

pushing it away. 

• Shaking any toy that makes noise is a great cause and 

effect activity. 

• Set up shatterproof mirrors for your infant to 

interact with. Wave at the mirror, make faces, smile, 

etc. 

• Place a lightweight piece of fabric on a chair or stool 

by your baby. Allow your baby to pull the fabric off. 

Repeat. 

Music 

This is a wonderful time to expose your infant to a 

variety of music. Classical, jazz, ethnic, contemporary… 

make time to play music for your infant. Observe his 

face as he hears the tunes. You can also dance with him 


DEVELOPMENT 

or play along with his favourite rattles. 

Read. Read. Read. 

I cannot over-emphasize the importance of reading 

to young children. This key component of brain 

development applies to babies as well! Short, repetitive 

stories are wonderful for infants. 

Allow your infant to interact with books too! Babies 

learn so much by touching and putting things in their 

mouths! My favourite books are the “Indestructible 

Books.” The manufacturers claim that these books 

are “chew proof, tear proof, non-toxic and washable.” 

I also love that the nursery rhyme stories show 

interesting, worldly “twists” on the rhymes. 

Rhymes and Songs 

Words are a big part of your infant’s brain 

development. Sing to your infant – any simple song 

will do! You don’t even have to be a good singer; your 

baby doesn’t care if you can carry a tune. Simply make 

eye contact with your baby and belt out those tunes. 

Simple classics like Mary Had A Little Lamb, The 

Wheels On The Bus, and the Itsy, Bitsy Spider will 

surely delight your infant. 

Sensory Play 

Infants learn about their world through their senses. 

Expose your baby to a variety of sensory experiences. 

Set up an environment which is safe for them to 

explore, taste, and touch: 

• Place a variety of different fabrics around your infant 

and allow him to explore the different textures 

and colours. You can extend this activity by using 

descriptive words with your infant while he is 

exploring the fabrics i.e. rough, soft, smooth, silky, 

prickly, etc. 

• Fill a large Ziploc bag with shaving cream and two 

different colours of paint. Tape the opening closed 

and secure it to your infant’s high chair with more 

packing tape. Allow her to squish and squeeze the 

bag. The texture is unique and the mixing of the 

colours is fascinating. The bag can be filled with 

other things as well… hair gel and glitter; water, food 

colouring and oil; etc. Get creative! 

• Allow your infant to finger paint. Afraid they’ll 

eat the paint? Let them finger paint with food (rice 

cereal, pudding, etc.). 

• Infants are fascinated by water. Set up a small basin 

of water and allow him to splash and play with it. 

(Always make sure to be present when your infant is 

playing with water). 

• Cut shapes out of sandpaper, foil, and other 

materials and tape the shapes to the tray of her 

highchair. Your baby will love touching these 

interesting things! 

Simple Games 

What baby doesn’t love Peek-A-Boo? You can also cover 

baby’s favourite toy with a piece of fabric or a bowl, 

then unveil it: now you see it, now you don’t! 

Talk. Talk. Talk. 

Your baby loves you and your voice delights him in 

ways you can’t even imagine. You are his world! Talk to 

your baby frequently. 

• Let your baby know all the steps of her diaper 

change, “Off come your pants; there’s your belly; 

Mommy’s wiping your bum clean; here’s a fresh 

diaper,” etc. 

• If your baby is in the early babbling phase, mimic his 

sounds. 

• Extend her simple sounds into words (i.e. mmmmm… 

mama; baaaaa… baby; duh… dada, etc.) 

Playing with your baby creates special, precious 

moments. It’s such a privilege to watch our babies learn 

and grow. Enjoy this age and stage because it really does 

go by quickly! 

References: 

Schiller, P. (n.d.). Brain research and implications for 

early childhood programs. Retrieved January 19, 2012, 

from, http://www.teamcnionline.com/company-login/ 

TrainingExchange/pdf/EarlyCare2.pdf. 

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INSPIRED | 07

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IN-HOME SUPPORT WITH YOUR NEWBORN 

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Providing Domestic In-Home 

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You’ve never heard of a Postpartum Doula, have you? 

Hiring an Edmonton Area Family Postpartum Doula 

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home a brand new screaming, pooping, um I mean, 

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As a Postpartum Doula I will be the domestic servant 

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INSPIRED | 09

EAT + SLEEP 

“I wasn’t the only one who felt overwhelmed, guilty, or concerned 

about feeding my baby.” 

IT’S TIME TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT FEEDING 

BY RACHEL JONES 

As a first-time mom, feeding my baby was a constant 

source of concern, but I’m realizing that, after fifteen 

months, it didn’t have to be. While pregnant, I had read 

and heard unfamiliar terms like lactation, let-down, 

latch, supply, top-up, formula, donor milk, colostrum, 

mastitis, expressing, engorgement, pumping, bottlefeeding, 

solids, purees, infant cereal, and baby-lead 

weaning. Feeding seemed to be a big topic, but nothing 

I couldn’t handle. 

When my baby was born, and breastfeeding began, I 

started to experience what some of these words meant. 

I felt overwhelmed. I wanted to give up. I sobbed to my 

mom, telling her I didn’t have the strength to keep it up 

for much longer. I wondered if I should be nursing on 

a set schedule, if I was producing enough milk, or if I 

was eating something that upset my baby. I thought my 

son would miraculously sleep through the night if I fed 

him formula, but I felt guilty if I gave it to him; it was a 

time-consuming (and sometimes embarrassing) process 

to get my boob out; trying to bottle-feed felt like more 

effort than pumping; and my boy has a tongue and lip 

tie, so we had to work at getting him to latch properly. 

It felt like an endless struggle. 

Once I’d met other moms who’d had difficulties, 

my perspective changed. Some of my friends were 

unable to breastfeed due to post-partum depression 

and anxiety, physical pain, or an anatomical inability 

to express milk. Some babies couldn’t latch. Some 

babies were fed formula or donor milk from their first 

day of life. Some mothers pumped exclusively just to 

bottle-feed breastmilk. I wasn’t the only one who felt 

overwhelmed, guilty, or concerned about feeding my 

baby. I started to feel better – because it was tough 

for everyone.After three months, my baby and I had a 

routine down. At five months, he was trying solids. But 

then the worry crept back again – this time, about food 

variety. I would buy one of every vegetable, making a 

puree for each. It was time consuming and sometimes 

frustrating to have my baby reject it. But, I kept at it. 

And it got better and better. Six, nine, twelve, and now 

fifteen months have gone by, and guess what? We are 

still breastfeeding, imagine that! 

I wish I could rewind the clock and tell myself to keep 

it simple. I’d tell myself to trust my instinct and mute 

the opinions of others unless they were positive. I’d be 

more confident in my choices and adapt when I felt the 

need. I would reach out for more support, and I’d try 

to feel good about my choices from the beginning - for 

myself and for my baby. 

Resources 

Breastfeeding Clinics 

Grey Nuns: 780.735.7346 

Misericordia Hospital: 780.735.2577 

Royal Alexandra: 780.735.4605 

La Leche League facilities offer free group and oneon-one 

breastfeeding support in your community. 

Meetings are held by volunteers and are listed online. 

go to www.lllc.ca and search your area for information 

on the meeting date, time, and location. Call 

1.800.665.4324 if you have questions. 

Entrepreneur Mom Now supports members 

like Kaye Burrows, owner of Core Love, 

Prenatal and Postpartum fitness in Edmonton! 

Visit her at corelove.ca 

Kaye can take advantage of group mastermind 

calls, grant money, coaching and courses to 

help her grow her business. 

Learn more at entrepreneurmomnow.com 

Join our free Facebook Group for networking! 


EAT + SLEEP 


EAT + SLEEP 

“ They don’t have to know that I bed-share. It’s our 

dirty little secret.” 

THE GREATEST CHALLENGE: SLEEP 

BY CYNTHIA PRIEST 

Babies are primal beings; they will wake up hungry and 

cry. Sharing a room with my almost three-month old 

son, Art, has been such a joy; I fall back asleep so much 

more easily. As Art sleeps for four hour stretches or 

more, it has been five nights since I have moved him to 

the nursery. Nonetheless, we still bed-share when it is 

time for his night time feedings. 

Bed-sharing can be such a dirty word, can’t it? My 

cousin who gave me the What to Expect books firmly 

told me that sharing a room is fine, but I should never 

bed-share for fear of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome 

(SIDS). If you are breastfeeding, however, bed-sharing 

is completely safe. The night I chose not to bed-share, I 

woke up a few hours later in the rocker glider, instantly 

panicking about whether or not I had dropped Art. 

Worse, my husband once found me napping in a 

recliner with Art rooting on my lap, edging towards the 

foot of the chair, not in my arms! 

When my husband and I were taking Hypnobabies 

birth classes during pregnancy, the instructor 

recommended that we read Sweet Sleep - Nighttime and 

Naptime Strategies for the Breastfeeding Family by La 

Leche League International (LLLi). The book outlines 

the following requirements for safe bed-sharing: you 

must be a non-smoker; you must be sober (not using 

drugs, alcohol or drowsy medications); you must be 

breastfeeding; your baby needs to be full-term and 

healthy; your baby needs to be kept on his back when 

he is not nursing; your baby needs to be unswaddled 

and lightly dressed; and, both baby and mother need 

to be on a safe surface. For a safe surface, since our 

bed has a soft memory foam, we place yoga and rubber 

mats on my side of the bed under fitted sheets, with 

an adult-sized bed meshed rail, so that our baby will 

not fall once he starts to roll (do not bed-share on the 

sofa). Keep the baby at breast-level, expose one breast, 

curl around your baby for sleep while laying on your 

side and you will immediately form a protective frame. 

LLLi calls this the “cuddle curl,” which is also known 

as the side-by-side nursing position. Make sure you do 

not use any nursing pillows as they can be a suffocation 

hazard. Oh, and you want to make sure you place a 

waterproof mattress protector under the mats for 

potential blowouts and leaks. 

As the weather starts to get chillier at night, to keep 

myself warm, I wear a long sleeved nursing pyjama 

top and a pair of long johns with socks. My hair is 

usually up in a high ponytail bun. For comfort, I use 

a tiny pillow wedged between both knees to maintain 

a sideways position for a long time. It isn’t a foreign 

position to sleep in since I have been trained to sleep 

sideways with a Snoogle during pregnancy! 

Babies are not easy to sleep with! Some babies don’t 

like sleeping on their backs, but bed-sharing saved my 

life as I was able to let Art sleep with his shoulders on 

my arm in the cuddle curl. “How is the baby sleeping?” 

I am often asked. I smile and say, “Good.” They don’t 

have to know that I bed-share. It’s our dirty little 

secret: I get decent sleep while getting cuddles with an 

infant who seems to grow so fast by the day. 

References: Wiessinger, Diane, Diana West, Linda J. 

Smith, and Teresa Pitman. Sweet Sleep. New York: 

Ballantine Books, 2014. N. pag. Print. 

INSPIRED | 13

IDENTITY 

“Becoming a parent isn’t necessarily akin to drowning or walking 

an endless desert (though, there are times, when it certainly feels 

that way), but I feel like there’s this cultural expectation that 

“good” mothers live their entire lives for their children. And this 

pressure can make you feel like you’re the worst mother ever.” 

WHERE DID I GO? 

BY CHELSEY KRAUSE 

To be honest, the first few months (with both kids) 

are a blur. I’m so glad for photos, they captured the 

months that I was too busy and frazzled to really 

remember clearly. When I was pregnant for the first 

time, I didn’t realize how fully and completely having 

a baby would change me, change my life, my goals, 

my worldview. Sometimes I wonder what the hell I 

did with my time before I had kids; my day revolves 

around them so much now, that it’s hard to remember 

what life was like before them. Before kids, I worked 

full time as a nurse on a busy acute care ward. I met 

up with girlfriends, I read books, and I had sex with 

my husband whenever we wanted, wherever we wanted 

(can any of you relate? If not, I’m sure you’re laughing, 

and that’s good). 

And then, I had my darling baby girl and suddenly, my 

entire life revolved around this beautiful, demanding 

creature. Between feedings and naps and consoling her 

cries, I rarely had time for myself. I was just so focused 

on being a mom and keeping my baby alive that there 

were days I’d forget to eat. And privacy? Pffft. Forget 

privacy. For months, I’d set her up in a bouncy chair in 

the bathroom with me so I could shower. (That doesn’t 

go away, by the way! My four-year-old still loves to 

barge into the bathroom just to say “I love you” or ask 

what I’m doing). 

Anyway. So had I this new baby. I loved this dear, sweet 

little one more than anything. I loved cuddling her and 

dressing her in cute outfits and talking to her. I enjoyed 

taking her for walks, and playing with her, and giving 

her baths. But there were many days (most days, in 

fact), where I would cry and feel helpless and absolutely 

lost when I couldn’t console her, no matter what I did. 

And once I finally got her to sleep, and she slept for 

three hours, I was convinced that she’d died then felt 

guilty for wanting her to fall asleep at all. 

I was in a body that I didn’t recognize, I felt 

embarrassed that I had to wear maternity pants for 

months after delivery because they were the only 

thing that felt comfortable. My once clean, trendy 

living room was peppered with gaudy toys and huge 

battery operated swings and burp rags and wipes. My 

pretty purses were replaced with ugly, squashy diaper 

bags. My husband and I were usually too exhausted to 

do much more than watch TV and go to bed. These 

might sound like trite complaints, but damn, they 

felt important! And though I absolutely loved being a 

mom, I felt as though the things that made me me were 

slipping away. 

Life became more complicated when I had my second 

baby. I was so excited to have a new baby girl. I loved 

that my two girls were close in age, and envisioned 

them being close sisters, but life got complicated fast. 

My new baby projectile vomited at every single feeding. 

She’d drink for a few minutes, and then wail loudly, as 

through she were in extreme pain. She wasn’t growing 

well. Changing her diaper and bathing her were 

absolute torture because I could see each of her ribs, 

so I consulted my midwife and doctor about possible 

reasons and solutions. I tried feeding her upright. I 

elevated the head of her bed, so she’d digest better. I 

fed her in quiet, dark rooms, where she could focus 

(because if the slightest sound or movement disturbed 

her, she’d come off my breast, wailing). Nothing 

seemed to work. My doctor thought it might be reflux, 

but figured she’d grow out of it. 

When she was older and I tried giving her solids, 

she’d either choke or puke everything up, and cry 

inconsolably. Every meal felt like going into battle. I 

started to dread feeding her. It even got to the point 

where I had to feed her with a syringe, a few millilitres 

at a time, just to get something into her. At my request, 

we finally got a swallowing assessment done, followed 

by visits with dietitians and occupational therapists, 

all of whom reassured me that I was doing everything 

I could, and that she was probably just following her 


IDENTITY 

own growth curve. But when I’d bring her into the 

public health clinic, I had judgy nurses breathing down 

my neck, accusing me of not feeding my baby properly, 

sending fiery letters to my doctor. On top of this, my 

husband was working a lot of overtime, including 12- 

hour night shifts, and I was potty training my two-yearold. 

My maternity leave was almost done, and I dreaded 

going back to the stressful, understaffed environment 

of hospital nursing, but I didn’t want to give up my 

career. I was stressed beyond comprehension. 

Now, this might seem like a weird time for me to start 

writing a book, but that’s what I did. My youngest was 

about nine-months old, as I recall. Looking back, it 

seems so strange, but I’d always wanted to a be a writer, 

and had this idea for a book. And one night, when my 

husband was working and my kids were in bed, I just 

decided to start. I used writing to explore my fears of 

choosing the wrong career, and to wonder what my 

future options might be. I used writing to enter a new 

world for a while, and to forget about my own. It was 

cathartic, soothing, exciting! And though it didn’t erase 

or diminish any of the challenges I was facing in real 

life, for me, writing became my lifeline. I felt like I got 

a bit of myself back. 

Now, my kids are four and six years old, I’ve written 

and published two books (the first with Random 

House in 2015, and the second this summer, with Tryst 

Books), I’ve just done my first book signing and book 

launch this summer, and I’m getting great reviews. I 

love writing and I plan to do this for the rest of my life. 

Being a writer is something I’ve wanted to do since I 

was a child, and I feel like it’s an important part of me. 

I imagine you’re thinking, “I can’t do that. Besides, I 

don’t even know what I’d want to do!” Believe me, I 

hear you. The challenges you’re facing right now are 

real. Each family situation is different. And yet, I’d 

venture that despite the varying details, every new 

parent feels exhausted, overwhelmed, and drained. I’ve 

been there, and I imagine that some days, dear reader, 

you feel like you’re barely keeping your head above 

the surface. You feel like you’re about to drown. I 

don’t mean to make it sound more dramatic than it is. 

Becoming a parent isn’t necessarily akin to drowning 

or walking an endless desert (though, there are times, 

when it certainly feels that way), but I feel like there’s 

this cultural expectation that “good” mothers live their 

entire lives for their children. And this pressure can 

make you feel like you’re the worst mother ever. 

For example, if I go out without my children, I can 

guarantee that someone will ask “So, who has the 

kids?” My husband is rarely asked this question (and I’d 

wager, he’s only asked this when I’m with him). I could 

go on and on about this point alone, but suffice it to 

say that there is immense cultural pressure for women 

to limit who they are and sacrifice their personal 

identities in the name of family. But it’s important that 

as women, we examine our lives and take stock of how 

much we invest in ourselves, in our time, our interests, 

our goals, our aspirations, and our dreams. 

A pitfall we often fall into (myself included) is that we 

take better care of other people than we do of ourselves. 

That’s why having an identity, separate from being a 

spouse or parent, is so important: it’s your lifeline, your 

flotation device, your oasis in the desert. Your flotation 

device doesn’t have to be anything big, it doesn’t have 

to be something you’re passionate about (though, if 

you do have something you’re passionate about, go 

for it!), it merely has to be something that gives you 

joy, something that piques your curiosity. It could be 

anything: photography, writing, painting, running, 

anthropology, car mechanics, starting a business, 

traveling, or learning a new language. Anything you 

want. Once you’ve decided on something, begin carving 

out space for it. And I deliberately mean carve, because 

that means you have to cut something out. 

If you’re like me and struggle with the guilt of not 

giving your family 100%, then here’s your homework: 

Listen to Elizabeth Gilbert’s podcast, Magic Lessons. 

Season 1, Episode 1 is about a mom blogger who wants 

to write a memoir and devote more time to writing, but 

she is struggling with the belief that she’ll somehow 

take something away from her family if she does so. 

Liz basically gives her (and all listeners) permission to 

follow her curiosity and to be a “good enough mom.” 

Oh, to be released from the pressure of perfectionism! 

To let go of the expectation that we must do it all and 

make it look effortless. I don’t know about you, but 

that’s damn exciting for me. More than anything, I 

want to lead my girls by example. I want them to do 

things that give them joy. I don’t want to dissuade them 

from being a wife or a mother because there is joy and 

beauty in being those things, I just want them to know 

that there’s so much more they can be. 

MAKEUP ARTISTRY · MICROBLADING 

780.907.9714 

mshawmakeup@live.ca 

FB: mshawmakeup 

IG: mshawmakeup 

INSPIRED | 17

IDENTITY 

“My dear old Mum said something back in 1975 that is even more true 

for embattled parents today: it is way more important to seek out and 

find people who lift you up, support and love you (in all your flawed 

wonder), and say, ‘Tomorrow will be a better day, have a hug and your 

favourite [beverage of choice]!’” 

MADE YOU LOOK! 

BY MARJORIE CAMPBELL 

I have been gearing up for a return to the workforce 

after a nearly ten-year hiatus, during which I was a stayat-home-parent. 

If I can impart one piece of wisdom 

from my time in the trenches, it is this: never, ever, ever 

get involved in an online discussion with a friend based 

on a click-bait parenting article they have shared online. 

Like. Ever. 

Everyone has fallen for clicking them – they are like the 

kryptonite of the Internet. Click-bait articles usually 

start with a screaming headline that targets your primal 

outrage, and they have several things in common: they 

are usually opinion dressed up as fact; they have little 

or no verifiable sources or basis in provable fact; they 

are an offshoot of an impossible-to-replicate-withoutstaff 

celebrity lifestyle or fad; and they have a mean, 

judgmental, and/or preachy tone. Following these links 

is like traveling down a rabbit hole, delivering you to a 

land where all commenters eventually resemble those 

kids from Lord of the Flies! 

We, as parents, are in a constant state of doubt and 

anxiety over whether we are doing this thing right. 

Like no other generation before, we have access to an 

ocean of resources for advice on childrearing. Back in 

the day, the odd book would come out, but your Mum, 

smoking her fifth cigarette lit from the last, whilst 

driving you in her no-car-seat car, would likely read 

some of it, ignore most of it, and get on with her day 

being mentally healthier for it. Back then, people just 

got on with being insecure about things and didn’t 

turn it in to a weekly article, competition, or try to 

make everyone else feel bad about doing it differently. 

People certainly judged, but they were far more discreet 

about it. Ghosting – cutting someone off completely in 

a social context – is not new. The virtue in this was that 

it was based on people not telling you why you were 

not invited to have your gin and tonic with the other 

bad mums in the ‘hood – it was just that you didn’t fit 

in. You would have known before the ghost and been 

relieved that it happened. Eventually, you would find 

your group of like-minded parents and all would be 

well in the world. 

We are the “say everything” generation. You know 

what? Don’t. People (myself included) are not very 

clever overall. Giving my opinion is not going to change 

anything. I now carefully pick and choose who and 

how I share my thoughts – and by not sharing every 

single thing, I save my blushes. I don’t need everyone to 

agree with me, and when I really am incompatible with 

someone, I am okay with them drifting out of my life. 

My dear old Mum said something back in 1975 that 

is even more true for embattled parents today: it is 

way more important to seek out and find people who 

lift you up, support and love you (in all your flawed 

wonder) and say, “Tomorrow will be a better day, have 

a hug and your favourite [beverage of choice]”! 

You won’t remember those times you got your pithy 

point across in the comments section – but you will 

remember that friend who showed up with a coffee and 

an offer to give you a sanity break from your kid(s). Be 

kind to each other and yourself – resist falling for the 

click bait, or if you can’t, don’t pass that darkness on. 

PHOTOGRAPHY 

KIDS DECOR SHOP 

DESIGN 

www.rubythursdaycollective.com 

rubythursdaycollective@gmail.com 

Edmonton, AB 

Phone: (780) 953-9590 


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Providing professional photography services to 

families in the Parkland County and Edmonton areas, 

photographer Rachel Melnychuk specializes in 

maternity, newborn, baby, children, and family 

portraiture. 

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thennowforeverphotography@gmail.com 

facebook.com/ThenNowForeverPhotography 

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Phone: (780) 920-9877 

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IDENTITY 

MOMPRENEUR 

BY SHAUNA ROUGHLEY 

I’m jerked awake from sleep once again. There is no 

slow waking in this house, not anymore. My alarm 

clock has barely been used in the last three years. My 

days start when my kiddos decide it’s time to rise. Some 

days, that’s a glorious sleep in (until 7 am), and some 

days, I’m up before the sun. 

Most of my days are theirs, so our mornings typically 

centre around their moods. If they need to stay in their 

pajamas and go play in the sand box first thing in the 

morning, that’s what they do; if they need to run and 

chase each other and shout at the top of their lungs, 

that’s what they do. My coffee constantly goes cold, 

I rarely eat my breakfast sitting down, and my plans 

revolve around keeping them happy. 

Our decision to keep our kids at home with us (only 

using occasional child care) has been a choice I will 

forever be grateful we made. I love that I get to spend 

my days taking my sons on adventures and introducing 

them to new experiences. I want to know my boys, and 

I want them to remember the time we spend together. 

It’s rare that parents can take their kids swimming on a 

random Tuesday morning; I feel constantly lucky that 

we’re able to. 

Trust me, there are days that can’t end soon enough. 

Some days, I’m grateful for Netflix and naptime, and 

there isn’t enough coffee in the world. Some days, the 

endless chatter and questions make my head feel like it’s 

going to explode. This parenting gig is never, ever easy, 

but most days I try to make it fun. 

Most people don’t realize the flip side to trying to run 

a business while having your kids at home with you. 

My job as a photographer has unconventional hours 

in which childcare isn’t available. My parents are my 

biggest supporters, and without their help, there is no 

way we could do our jobs. 

I feel a constant nagging in my head trying to figure 

out when to work, balancing the time with my kids and 

time away from them, when to book shoots, when to 

do the laundry, all the while wondering when the house 

is ever going to be clean again. Because with our whole 

family home all the time, the messes are endless. Most 

days, I choose not to worry about the constant clutter, 

the dishes that are always piling up, and the neverending 

laundry. The house will be quiet and clean 

soon enough, and I know I will miss the bustle. Some 

days though, it eats me up and there is a whirlwind of 

cleaning. And then it’s messy the very next day. 

I’ve considered getting more childcare. I’ve thought 

about the need to have more time to work and cultivate 

this business, our passion, and the way we pay our 

bills. But soon enough the boys won’t want us around 

constantly. They will entertain themselves, be off and 

busy with their friends, and I will miss these days. 

So for now, I’ll put on pots of coffee at 8:00pm to keep 

me up for late night work sessions, I’ll guzzle more the 

next morning, and I’ll practice my truck sounds and 

digging skills. 

INSPIRED | 25


INTERVIEW: TARA TREMBLETT 

BY ATHENA RAYPOLD, PRESENTED BY PAMPER & PLAY SALON AND SPA 

What makes you passionate 

about pampering parents? 

Parents don’t generally put themselves first. And so we 

have supplied them with an outlet where they can go 

get their haircut or a beautiful pedicure or a facial or 

anything they need, all while their children are being 

well taken care of in the supervised playroom. 

What is special about 

Pamper + Play? 

Pamper & Play Salon and Spa is Edmonton’s first and 

only premiere salon and spa with a fully supervised 

playroom that allows parents to regenerate and take 

care of themselves while we watch their little ones. Our 

goal is to give parents a space to nurture and replenish 

their spirits, without the stress of having children in 

tow. Our playroom is fully supervised with a capacity 

of four little ones at a time. We change diapers, bottle 

feed, and work around nursing schedules! 

How do clients respond to 

your services? 

Our parents absolutely love our services! They thank us 

when they find out that we even exist and love that we 

allow them to go completely out of mommy and daddy 

mode while they’re in the building, which gives them 

a chance to basically start over and be ready to face 

anything after they leave. 

What advice can you offer 

to parents with babies? 

Do not forget about yourself and even though it’s very 

difficult to put yourself first, you’re better able to take 

care of your family when you practice self-care. I really 

love seeing that tired, tired, tired first-time mom come 

through the door, and by the time she leaves she has a 

fabulous glow, she feels so good about herself, and she 

is ready to deal with the next issue that arises. 

I was that mom. I have two amazing little boys, Connor 

(4) and Cameron (3). One day, when they were one 

and two years old, I looked in the mirror and my hair 

was horrible, my skin looked tired and gloomy, and 

I just didn’t see myself. I thought if I felt that way, 

so must other moms, which is why I opened Pamper 

& Play Salon and Spa two years ago. Now, we have a 

wonderful, amazing clientele, and I really look forward 

to what the future brings for us. 

Contact 

www.pamperandplay.ca 

info@pamperandplay.ca 

780.440.7529 

INSPIRED | 27

FAMILY 

“I noted how small he looked while he slept and how during 

the day he seemed so big in comparison to his younger brother. 

I tried to think of the last time I had spent any valuable oneon-one 

time with him and none came to mind. ” 

WHAT TO DO WITH TWO 

BY HANNAH HAMILTON 

I have a very strong bond with my firstborn. Like a 

carefully sewn quilt, we are woven together in the most 

intricate and intimate way. He gave me the title of 

mother and taught me more about about love than I 

ever knew was possible. Our relationship didn’t come 

easy though; it was an unplanned pregnancy followed 

by a traumatic birth, and a long, dark year suffering 

with postpartum depression. We fought for each other, 

my son and I, every success we greeted between us was 

preceded by a mountain that we had had to climb. The 

trust we built together was unspoken but powerful, 

it echoed, “Even when it is really, really hard, I am 

with you.” He was mine and I was his, and I couldn’t 

imagine it any other way. 

He was three when I found out I was pregnant with 

our second. I clearly remember looking into his big 

brown eyes and wondering how exactly our lives would 

change by adding another person into our very tight 

knit family of three. “When you have a second child, 

your love is multiplied, not divided,” I heard this 

phrase often when I was pregnant and I always nodded 

in agreement. I did believe it, but I wasn’t sure how 

exactly I would feel. I couldn’t fathom a multiplied 

love, but I knew it must be true. What I wasn’t so sure 

about was a multiplied interest. How is it possible to 

be fully engaged with both children? How would I 

navigate the hours in a day to equally give my attention 

to both children, let alone my husband and myself? As 

my due date approached, I took my son on fun dates, 

frantically trying to soak in our last moments together 

before our family dynamic was completely changed. 

The birth of my second child was easier, lighter, and 

less intense than that of my first. My seasoned body 

greeted him with knowing. Within 15 minutes, he was 

nursing with ease, something that had always been a 

difficult, frustrating task for me and my firstborn. 

My mood was light and happy, I felt in control (such 

a foreign feeling for me with a newborn baby). I was 

not fumbling through the day, emotional and unsure, 

desperately wanting to bond with my baby and feeling 

completely unable to do so. I thought I had been quite 

confident as a first-time mom; however, this time I felt 

graceful in mothering. I knew what cries demanded 

my attention and which ones I could sleep through. I 

was better able to recognize needs, and I cherished the 

cuddles a little more because I knew how quickly they 

would grow from sleepy infant to busy toddler. There 

was a stark difference between my first experience with 

infancy and my last. The result of this led me down a 

road I hadn’t anticipated, and one that caused me a lot 

of guilt in the coming months. 

My husband started taking our eldest out on dates 

to give me time to rest with the new baby. Because 

our children are almost four years apart, this habit 

continued on for quite some time. It seemed as though 

our family split: my husband and my son on one side, 

my baby and I on the other. I appreciated the one-onone 

time I was getting with my youngest, I loved how 

easy it felt to bond with my new baby. I noticed how 

close my husband and my son were becoming, and felt a 

mixture of joy and relief that they were growing closer 

and giving me space at the same time. 

Months went by, and on one particularly hard day that 

ended with me quietly stepping into my eldest’s room 

late at night to look at his peaceful face, it occurred to 

me how much our relationship had changed. I noted 

how small he looked while he slept and how during 

the day he seemed so big in comparison to his younger 

brother. I tried to think of the last time I had spent any 

valuable one-on-one time with him and none came to 

mind. I marveled how within a few mere months, the 

pendulum had completely swung the other way. While 

I was once worried I wouldn’t have the space for my 

new baby, I now found myself realizing I hadn’t kept 

enough space for my eldest. 

The biggest lesson I’ve learned in having a second 

child is that you must be intentional about your 


FAMILY 

desired family dynamic. It’s common to go through 

seasons of life bonding more naturally with one child 

than the other. I don’t think this is favouritism or a 

reason to feel guilty. The challenge during these times 

is to be aware of which child you might have to work 

harder for, which one might need more intentional 

love, and which one may need more thoughtful time 

spent together. I now try to grab onto the small 

opportunities that I have during the day to connect 

with each member of my family. I’ve noticed that 

these connections don’t have to be extravagant dates 

that take a lot of time, they can be as simple as reading 

books before bed, or conversations while you drive. 

After all, it is a cumulation of small, thoughtful 

moments that lead to a big, whole hearted life. 

Offering a complete circle of support to enhance your 

childbearing year. We understand the complexity of readying 

for a baby and how busy life can be. We have a team of birth 

related professionals, who are trained to assist families by 

further preparing them with additional resources, classes and 

complimentary services, uniquely setting our practice apart for 

families in Alberta. 

www.fullcirclebirthcollective.com 

www.yegppdoula.com 

7903-14 Ave SW 

Edmonton, AB.T6X 1H3 

Office: (587) 521-2717 

Mobile: (780) 708-0615 

INSPIRED | 29


INTERVIEW: MELISSA APPLETON 

BY ATHENA RAYPOLD, PRESENTED BY APPLETREE PHOTOGRAPHY 

“At a birth, the moments after baby has arrived are so full, the 

overpowering joy and relief are so tangible.” 

What makes you passionate 

about birth photography? 

Being there for my families, whether it’s a first child 

or the seventh. I photograph the moments that are 

too easily forgotten with the surge of endorphins and 

hormones that make remembering this exciting time 

fuzzy. Sometimes that means quietly capturing their 

story as it unfolds, and sometimes I’m more present: 

holding a hand, grabbing a cold cloth between photos, 

or lending support. Sometimes I am hired to capture 

a successful VBAC where a momma feels redeemed 

by having the birth she dreamed of but was denied 

the first time. I capture first time parents that have 

struggled with infertility and have finally matched with 

a surrogate. Or, sadly, capturing the short life of a baby 

who is not able to survive earth side, or a rainbow baby 

to a mom who has lost a pregnancy. It’s meaningful 

to visually offer a family the beginning of their child’s 

story. 

What are your favorite 

moments to capture? 

Emotion. We (as humans) try to be perfect, we try to 

hold everything together and have order and control 

over every aspect of our lives including our emotions. 

At a birth, the moments after baby has arrived are so 

full, the overpowering joy and relief are so tangible. 

Moms often drop their heads back and close their eyes 

while clutching their new babe to their chest and you 

can see the emotions playing over her face. I often hold 

my breath (and some tears) in these magical moments 

and I can almost hear them mentally shouting,” I did 

it!” 

Why do families choose 

you? 

I hope it’s because they trust me, and connect with me, 

and have fallen in love with my work. I think birth is 

the most vulnerable and intimate style of photography; 

my families are not only trusting me to capture images 

and memories of their child, but also their rebirth 

into someone new: a first time mother or father, or 

expanding their family to add another child. It is not a 

responsibility I take lightly. 

How do clients respond to 

your photography? 

My families are so excited to see their images and see 

their child’s story from another angle, remembering the 

fleeting moments they missed or forgot. I am humbled 

by their gratitude when they express their joy to me. 

Most parents would say the day their child was born was 

the best day of their life; it was a day where everything 

changed. I am truly blessed to witness these moments. 

Some births do not go as planned, and moms have 

told me the photos are both palpable and therapeutic. 

One mom said after a difficult birth that ended in an 

emergency c-section, “my photos helped me to reframe 

my experience in a more positive light.” 

What advice can you offer to 

new parents? 

Don’t be afraid to reach out to a birth photographer, ask 

questions and really determine if you want this “one of 

a kind” experience captured. Many parents are hesitant 

to be photographed during such a raw, vulnerable, and 

admittedly graphic experience, but we can customize 

your session so that it suits your comfort level. For some 

that means I meet them for an hour in the first 48 hours 

of the baby’s life capturing where he or she was born but 

not the birth itself. For others, it’s an above-the-waist 

session, shooting only the emotions and connections 

between the parents and their supports and the new 

baby. And still others want me to photograph everything 

from every angle and we’ll cull the images they aren’t 

comfortable with. I am here to tell their story in a way 

that best represents them and means the most to them. 

Contact 

www.photosbyappletree.com 

appltreephotography@shaw.ca 

780.953.5802 

INSPIRED | 31

FAMILY 

“Diapers are one thing you can’t compromise on and wipes are 

multi purpose: sticky hands, spills, and other surfaces that you’re 

not too sure have been wiped ever.” 

TRAVELLING WITH BABY 

BY CHRISTINE BRUCKMANN 

Whether you’re travelling for the first time or are a 

seasoned traveller, travelling with a baby definitely 

requires some preparation and patience. Following 

these simple tips will help make travelling with your 

baby easier. 

Use Ziploc Bags 

Packing clothes in Ziploc Bags is a great way to organize 

for travel. Simply get some large or extra large bags and 

a permanent marker. Pack one outfit in each bag and 

label it accordingly. Don’t forget to pack extra outfits 

and put a few in your diaper bag for easy access! Ziploc 

Bags are also perfect to have on hand to store clothes if 

you’ve had to deal with a poop explosion or some other 

sort of clothing mishap. Need to make an emergency 

diaper change? They work great to contain the diaper. 

Empty Ziploc Bags barely take up any room in your bag 

and if you do have to store something in them you can 

just seal it up and deal with it later. 

Drinks + Snacks 

If you’re little one is on formula, make sure you pack 

enough bottles, formula, and water for the whole trip. 

Having the formula pre-measured in easy to open 

containers helps to make the process more convenient. 

For the babies eating solids, pack baby food and other 

snacks such as cheerios, crackers, fruit cups, cheese 

strings, as well as bibs, a Sippy cup and spoons. If 

they’re old enough, pack a few treats too as you never 

know when they might come in handy! 

Diapers + Wipes 

Whether you’re on a plane or driving to your 

destination, you do not want to be in the position of 

not having enough diapers or wipes! Think of how 

many diapers you usually use in a day and then pack 

more. Diapers are one thing that you can’t compromise 

on and wipes are multi purpose: sticky hands, spills, 

and other surfaces that you’re not too sure have been 

wiped ever. Wipes come in handy for a lot of things, 

not just diaper changes. Also don’t forget a change pad! 

Entertainment + Comfort 

Small rattles, teething toys, board books, an iPad, 

blankets, and soothers are just some things to 

remember. Consider bringing a new toy or two that 

you can take out during the trip – especially if times 

are getting a little tough. There are many great apps 

that you can download onto your device that are baby 

friendly, and having comfort items on hand can help 

make an unfamiliar or out of routine situation a little 

more comfortable. 

Baby Carriers + Strollers 

A baby carrier is a great way to get your little one from 

point A to point B, especially if you are travelling 

alone. They are easy to store in your carry-on bag when 

not in use, and can also come in handy when you’re on 

a holiday and exploring, not to mention if you have to 

use the washroom! Strollers are also a must if you are 

travelling for extended periods of time. A compact or 

umbrella stroller is ideal because they are light and easy 

to pack at the gate. A stroller can be a lifesaver when 

you’ve spent the day exploring and your little one needs 

to doze off. 

Other Essentials 

You never know what you are going to experience with 

your little one. Pain relievers and a change of clothes 

for both of you, teething drops, birth certificates, and 

passports are important. If you are flying, make sure 

you pack it in your carry on bag, and if you’re driving, 

make sure passports are easily accessible. 

For air travel, always be sure to check with the airline 

to find out their guidelines and rules are for travelling 

with a baby. 

Remember you’ve got this and enjoy your trip! 


YEG DIRECTORY 

Art Supplies and Workshops 

4 Cats Summerside 780.469.0280 

Baby Equipment Rentals 

One Tiny Suitcase 587.784.0212 

Beauty 

Marla Shaw 

Makeup Artistry and Microblading 780.907.9714 

Pamper & Play Salon and Spa 780.440.7529 

Birth 

Full Circle Birth Collective 587.521.2717 

Landmark Doulas 587.673.0365 

Business 

Entrepreneaur Moms Now 250.616.3444 

Moms Earning More 780.436.6272 

Car Care 

Billy’s Detail 780.975.2225 

Fitness 

Hot Mama Fitness 780.298.5888 

Home Décor 

Shelley Cronin Design 780.235.1800 

Photographers 

Appletree Photography 780.953.5802 

Bille Lang Photography 780.263.2722 

Jessica Leanne Photography 780.940.5579 

Lorraine Mare Fotography 780.690.0945 

Luciddream Photography Inc. 780.919.6691 

Pinkstar Photography Inc. 

780.885.8572 

Then Now and Forever 

Photography 780.920.9877 

Postpartum 

Edmonton Area Family Doulas 780.966.6705 

Full Circle Postpartum Doula Care 587.521.2717 

Park City Doulas 780.446.8224 

Support 

Modern Mama St. Albert North Edmonton 

kimberly@modernmama.com 

Modern Mama Edmonton 

lindsay@modernmama.com 

Enjoy Life, Mom’s Group 780.297.8510 

Travel 

Connections Family Travel 780.668.8292 

Website Content and Blog Writing 

Athena Raypold Freelance Writer 


The Ruby Thursday Collective 

rubythursdaycollective@gmail.com 

Insurance 

QuikCard 780.426.7526 ext 2243 

Jewellery 

Blessed Grove Keepsakes 

Blessedgrovekeepsakes@gmail.com 

Kids Apparel 

House of Posie 

Kendra_amy@hotmail.com 

INSPIRED | 33

Yeg Inspired, Baby Issue

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