How many children do you have, what are their ages?
My 3 sons are Trey (13), Shaye (3) and Kiley (2) ~ the babies are 13 months apart. Madison, my only daughter was born in 1995 with a genetic disorder. She lived 1½ days. My husband has a 15 yr. old son who lives with his mother in West VA. We don't get to see him as much as I'd like too. .

Can you think of a rewarding experience you've had as a mom?
Shaye is delayed in speech ~ at age 3, he had less then 15 words and only used a few signs consistently. He also has some sensory issues that cause him to be overly cautious in some activities but a real dare devil in others. Kiley is a bit behind in speech because he imitates Shaye. I think it's VERY rewarding when they communicate to us in a NEW way, be it a new word or activity that they're willing to try. I think a lot of times people with children who are able to communicate overlook the littlest things - not on purpose but just because it's a common expression or action that their child does. It's so exciting to see the JOY on Shaye's face when we truly understand what's he's trying to tell us.

How did you meet your husband?
LOL - well actually he was my boss. When I was in my early 20's I worked for him at a men's clothing store in Virginia. Needless to say I didn't get much work done. I think I spent most of my time watching him and daydreaming. I really loved being together that much though. It was fun to go down to the local deli for lunches :-) The best part is though, that some things happened in my life that caused me to move to Ohio where my parents were and less then 6 months later he packed his things up and moved out to be with me. A true "Knight in Shining Armor".

What did you think you'd be when you grew up?
I've always loved animals but didn't think that I could handle losing one if I became a vet so I ended up focusing my energies on other interests when I was young. I was a dancer in High School and dreamed of dancing in 'CATS' on Broadway in NYC. I also had a strange obsessions with plane & car engines ~ just building things in general. I was the girl running to Daddy to help work on the car or sitting with my bother to build a model. I remember going to the hangers on base (yes a military kiddo) and just being in awe over those sleek jets. I thought it'd be great to be a pilot (or getting greasy working on the engines - lol).

Who did your classmates think you were in high school? Would they be surprised by who you are now?
They probably thought I'd end up dancing in New York or that they'd see me one day as a back-up dancer in a music video :-) I think they'd be very surprised to know their friend is a major "tree-hugger". I've always had respect for the earth and it's surroundings but it's now a way of life not just an admiration. Honestly though, it's my mother that thinks I'm crazy for using cloth diapers. She's stuck in the horror days of diapering me even though she loves my products and always asks to see my new stuff :-) My husband's family can't imagine eating vegetarian. The friends I keep in touch with today though have similar natural living beliefs :-)

Who were you before From the Heart Co... any interesting jobs or schooling?
I taught dance after high school for about 5 yrs. It was great to see "mini-Kim's." What I mean by that is seeing the passion for a wonderful art in the young girls I taught. We competed in the Washington DC area and had a blast meeting other dancers from all over the USA.

What did your husband and family say when you told them you were going to be an entrepreneur?
Actually my husband (Rick) is VERY involved in the business. Without him there wouldn't be a From the Heart Co. He works almost every night with me (after working all day outside of the house). He's my motivation and support, AND he has good taste in diaper prints - lol. Trey, my teenage BOY, actually named the Slumber Shell. We wanted to stay with the "shell" theme for all of our covers and needed something that screamed nighttime. What better way to describe a nice cozy night in plush fleece then "drifting off into a deep SLUMBER".

If you could do any kind of work you wanted, other than the business you now have, what would you be doing?
WOW ~ good question…. Anything? I might blow some minds away here but I think I'd like to do something high paced like be part of a pit crew on a NASCAR team. I know, wild huh? I also think working with endangered animals or in an Newborn Intensive Care Unit would be a very rewarding career. That's probably where I'd end up but the sounds of an air pressure gun during pit stops on race day still gets my heart pumpin' - ROFL :-)

If you have time for hobbies, or outside interests, what are they?
With a house full of boys I'd be left out if I didn't like sports. Actually, I'm kinda of a sport NUT. My 13 yr. old thinks it's too cool that I can hold a conversation with him over basketball and I'm always sitting beside Rick on race day. We do football picks each week also and the winner gets to "cash in" on favors from the loser. Family outings are also really fun --- we just took a trip to the Apple Barn here in town recently and had a blast at the pumpkin patch. Kiley rode a pony and had the crowd laughing because it kept sneezing & he thought that was a riot. Before the babies we born we loved to go to Christian Rock concerts ~ talk about a rush: A room full of spiritual "head-bangers."

What's your favorite music?
I'm very laid back and my music shows it. I listen to alternative and slow songs from heavy rock bands on the radio. I also like Christian Rock. Off hand I can think of Lenny Kravitz, Creed, Stained, Nickel Back and a bit of Linkin Park, and Christian bands like Skillet, Third Day and POD.

Your favorite kind of food?
Pasta, Pasta and more Pasta. Actually I thought Rick was Italian when I first met him and imagined dinner with my future mother-in-law. Come to find out I married into a BIG Irish family - LOL …. Ummm, lots of Irish men, beer and tempers (just kidding ~ they're great). Mushrooms are yummy too. My husband laughs at my pizza full of mushrooms, spinach and tomato slices. Bagels are a weakness. I think I've had a bagel & cream cheese everyday for breakfast since Shaye was born.

What's your favorite product from another WAHM?
Gosh there are so many good ones out there and I haven't gotten to try them all :-( I do really like the Bear Bottoms from Dancing Bears. The boys think they look like DaDa in their boxer type fleece pull-ons. When I'm not using our Slumber Shells for night I either grab these or of course those good ole' Fuzzi Bunz. I like a lot of WAHM soaps and am very excited about bringing on FLEECE HATS from Benjamuffins very soon! They're precious!

What are your dreams for the future?
I think I'll answer this a bit different now since the attacks on Sept. 11th. I'm wishing for a safe future for all of our children. I hope that they will be able to go into adulthood with a sense of peace and be able to follow their dreams without fear.

What's something that no one would ever guess about you?
Something silly is that I read my magazines from back to front - lol. I like to look at the ads in the back and flip through backwards, stopping at articles to read. Ummmm, I also have a few tattoos (shhhh…lol), from my dancing days, I have the comedy/tragedy mask on my shoulder. A dove with a purple sash in it's mouth is on my ankle and I just recently got a gecko on the top of my foot (Ouch!). Oh and Rick talked me into a bellybutton ring. It's a bit hard to "know" someone over the Internet but I'm basically an Attachment Parenting hippie mama with Christian values. My husband and friends describe me to others as a loyal and trustworthy person and that touches my heart! The #1 saying in our house is that it's the "inside that counts."

Anything else you think would be fun for others to know about you?
I really have a passion for my WAHM biz and it goes beyond just my products. Although I feel that our line is wonderful and wish everyone would give them a try, I also realize that mamas and babies are unique and what works for one doesn't for another. I often hear about "friendly competition" but don't buy into it. I know the hard work it takes to bring a product to the market and am very much into supporting other WAHM's. We wholesale to WAHM's, have SAHM's that sew for us and we buy as many WAHM products as possible. If we don't have what you're looking for just ask - we'll help you find a WAHM that does. I feel strongly about mothers staying home with their children if at all possible. I had to work outside of the house when Trey was 4. When he turned 7, I had the opportunity to start home schooling him. I'm so thankful to be able to be home with Shaye and Kiley & do what I can to make this possible for other mama's :-)

From the Heart Co.
URL: www.FromTheHeartCo.com (mother site - All the stores below are linked off of it)
www.ThePumkinPatch.com
www.PlaidPads.com
www.Benjamuffins.com

Products: The Pumkin Patch: Pumkies to Grow (One-Size Diaper - available in with Sherpa/Cotton Fleece and HEMP), Pumkin Shells (PUL Covers), Slumber Shells (Fleece Covers), Harvest Sprouts Organic Prefolds), Pumkin Skins (Wipes)

PLAIDPads - 11" Chamois Flannel pad, 3 different SIZES coming soon!!!

Benjamuffins:
Front Snap and Aplix diapers, Side Snap diapers, NIGHT Diapers, Wipes, Doublers and Fleece Hats