Milagros

The Healthy Kids Campaign

milagros — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:09:38 +0000

The Oregon Environmetal Council has launched a Healthy Kids Campaign that is advocating for new legislation on the state level designed to eliminate some of the environmental threats facing Oregon’s children. Here is more info from the OEC on this and how you can get involved:

The Children’s Safe Products Act of 2009 will protect children from toxic chemicals in toys, baby bottles and other products by prohibiting the use of dangerous chemicals and providing information to make safer buying choices. Read more about the Children’s Safe Products Act
The Oregon Healthy Schools Act will help reduce student and staff exposure to chemicals, integrate green building principles in the design and construction of school facilities, and reduce facility maintenance and operational costs. Read more about the Oregon Healthy Schools Act.

There are many ways you can get involved in the Healthy Kids Campaign and make a difference. Make no mistake, we are facing entrenched, well-funded special interests in Salem as we advance these proposals to make Oregon a healthier place for us all to live. On this page you can find easy access to resources that will help you connect with your legislator, as well as ideas for making your own home environment a healthier place.

Thank you to Lisa at Activistas for letting us know about this campaign.

NE Moms Playgroup This Friday

milagros — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:39:58 +0000

A playgroup for NE Moms meets at in the Family Room at Milagros every other Friday at 2:30 pm. The next event is 11/21

The group is open to all - you don’t HAVE to live in NE Portland and there is no charge or RSVP required.

Bringing a snack to share is encouraged but not required and as with any playgroup please help keeping things cleaned-up and safe!

FREE - Signing for Babies Playgroup

milagros — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 23:30:21 +0000

My Smart Hands with Maria would like to invite you and your little person to come meet, play, and learn about using American Sign Language (ASL). Most babies are developmentally ready for signing back to their caregivers around 8-10 months of age, but exposure to sign can begin at birth. Research has shown that signing babies:

Talk sooner
Have larger vocabularies
Have less frustration, crying, and tantrums
Show more interest in books
Engage in more sophisticated play
Score higher on IQ tests (when tested at age 7-8)

So, come and join us and find out how you can learn more! This play group is FREE and open to anyone with a baby or toddler who is interested in learning how signing can benefit early communication, learning, and bonding. Please RSVP to Maria Gross at 503-312-2216 or maria@mysmarthands.comDates:

December 4th @ 10 am
December 16th @ 10 am

Diaper Free Baby Meeting 11/19

milagros — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 22:31:08 +0000

Diaper Free Baby Meetings are at Milagros on the third Wednesday of the month at 2 pm. The next meeting is Wednesday, 11/19.

Diaper Free Baby of Portland is a local, free support group that helps promote a natural approach to responding to babies’ elimination needs. This practice is followed worldwide and is known as Elimination Communication, Natural Infant Hygiene, and Infant Potty Training. The process involves observing one’s baby’s signs and signals, providing cue sounds and elimination-place associations, and can be done with or without any diaper use.

If you are using this method, interested in finding out more, or are just curious, please come to the meeting or check out diaperfreebaby.org

Some Products at Milagros Related to Diaper Free Use:

Huggalugs

Baby Bjorn Potties

PARENTS FOR PAID LEAVE: ON FACEBOOK

milagros — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:28:09 +0000

From UrbanMamAS…

Parents for Paid Leave is still at it! Our state legislature kicks into action in January, so we’re busy getting our ducks in a row and biggering our Facebook group so we can pack a punch and bring paid family leave to Oregon. By joining the Parents for Paid Leave Facebook group, you’ll show your support for the issue and help us function well as a group - sending letters to key legislators, testifying in Salem, planning media events, and sharing our stories (they really, really matter) - among other things.

Of course you can just join and nada mas and we’ll happily feel the love of solidarity. If you’ve got friends, family, partners, co-workers in Oregon who support this, by all means, share the invite. We need all. the. help. we. can. get. Let’s hoe that tough row together, mamas.

Join here now. It’s easy. It’s important. Let’s pass this!

Whatever Happened to the Sound of Silence?

milagros — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:43:44 +0000

Yes, NE Portland residents, that IS the sound and sight of F-15 fighter jets roaring over residential areas at low altitudes. You are not going crazy.

The Oregon Air National Guard has been practicing combat-style landing patterns in the area as a “test”. Typically, these drills have been practiced outside of residential areas. However, the National Guard is hoping to make the practice of military maneuvers over local residential areas a permanent fixture.

Let me RESTATE that, although NO public outreach or notification regarding military combat training over residential areas occurred, what you are hearing and seeing now is a TEST that could become a permanent experience.

The present “test” will proceed until the end of February, then the Port of Portland will decide whether to allow this to continue ad infinitum or not. Basically, what is being tested is your tolerance.

The Cully Association of Neighbors (CAN) has come out formally against this making this testing permanent because of the noise and safety concerns. The Concordia Neighborhood Association intends to take a formal position on this issue at its December Board meeting.

However individual residents and businesses are free to voice their concern about low-level military maneuvers in the area IMMEDIATELY by contacting the Airport Noise Complaint line at 503-460-4100 and/or sending a letter to the Jason Schwartz, Noise Program Manager PO Box 3529, Portland. OR 97208.

As always, it never hurts to also contact the Portland City Council about your concerns.

This Just In…

milagros — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 00:26:50 +0000

More awesome locally-made Flipside Hats that are ready for cooler weather…

And Portland-made Newsport Kidsport mittens!

We have many other mittens and hats to choose from as well - locally-made, fair-trade, and consigned!

Special Savings at Milagros This Weekend!

milagros — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:30:27 +0000

Big Savings at Milagros THIS WEEKEND!No Coupon Required! Have a Coupon? Bring it in and SAVE EVEN MORE!

SAVE 30 PERCENT OFF the original price of ALL Robeez shoes, sandals, and booties!
Polar Bummis Diaper Covers - 50 percent off the original price!
Yummy Mummy Baby Carriers - ONLY $40!
Maya Tie Carriers - 30 Percent OFF!

These Special Discounts Are Only Available Friday 11/14 - Sunday 11/16/2008. In-stock items only - NO special orders, so come in early for the best selection!

Babywearing Event 11/16

milagros — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:28:16 +0000

The Portland Baby Wearing group meets at Milagros on the third Sunday of the month from 11 am - 1 pm. The next gathering is this Sunday, November 16th.

These baby wearing gatherings are a casual forum for getting your questions on babywearing answered by other mamas and/or to share your own babywearing stories. FREE! No RSVP required.

More info on the Portland Baby Wearing group may be found here:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PDX_Babywearing

We have some carrier specials this weekend as well!

Home Birth Article in NYT

milagros — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 23:00:55 +0000

There was a piece about home birth in today’s New York Times.Gael and Mila were both born at home. It was a wonderful experience for us as a family, it is wild to see this option being used by more and more families in the US.Although we chose home birth, we encourage expectant parents to make their own informed decision on what may be best for them. We posted some thoughts on how to shop for a midwife a while back, here is a link to that post.