Moms, I can blog from this. Need I say more?
Sent from my iPhone
Sent from my iPhone
On average, babies speak their first real word around their first birthday. It may also slip out, however, as early as 8 months or as late as 18 months (according to babycenter.com).
view article here
It's no surprise to me that this has happened. Recently while trying to install a new car seat for Bella I felt uncomfortable with how the seat was sitting in the car. The instructions to this seat aren't very clear so I have opted to not use the seat and wait until I can go to the police station to make sure it is in fact installed properly.
It seems as though we get a false sense of security when we buckle the baby in. Then it never occurs to us that we may have done it wrong.
I am sorry for this family's loss, and I think more detailed (but clear) instructions are needed in the packaging of these products to prevent these types of accidents from happening.
One thing I have found to be extremely difficult when washing Bella's hair has been rinsing out the shampoo. She gives me a really hard time during this part, because water flows into her eyes. When she was a newborn this wasn't so bad because she was in the lying position. Now that she is a independent sitter trying to lay her down is a joke (I laugh at the thought).
So, I've decided to try a savvy invention called a Shampoo Rinse Cup that I saw at Toy R Us a few months back.
When I first saw it I thought it was cute, but not necessary. Well, I'm singing another tune as I enter this new stage in Bella's life. The thing about this cup it that it has a rubber edge that you place around the baby's head and the water flows down the two sides of the baby's heard instead of into her eyes.
Why didn't I think of that?
Well, after so many times of Bella jumping our of the tub during rinse time the Shampoo Rinse Cup is now seeming to be really necessary!
Here is a great (quick and easy) recipe from Kraft for kids that you can make or they can try on their own. No heating or chopping required.
HONEYCOMB Treat Toss
Prep Time: 10 min
Total Time: 10 min
Makes: 8 cups or 16 servings, about 1/2 cup each
4 cups POST HONEYCOMB Sweetened Corn and Oat Cereal
2 cups TEDDY GRAHAMS Chocolate Graham Snacks
1-1/2 cups JET-PUFFED Miniature Marshmallows
1 cup PLANTERS COCKTAIL Peanuts
MIX all ingredients.
STORE in tightly covered container at room temperature.
KRAFT KITCHENS TIPS
Substitute
Substitute Mini OREO Bite Size Chocolate Sandwich Cookies for TEDDY GRAHAMS Chocolate Graham Snacks.
Family Fun
Serve with assorted JELL-O Pudding Snacks for an instant dessert buffet at your next party!
"Chatty Momma" suggests:
For creative ways to serve this snack try using plates made just for kids. A great site I found is:
PlatesPlus for Kids
I don't know about your baby, but my baby has decided she is royalty, and she is not going to hold her bottle.
It wasn't a big deal at first, but when I noticed she would only drink if someone held the bottle for her I thought...
(Well, I better not tell you what I thought!)
Hello, it's like, those who can't crack crab, just don't get any!!!
J/K, it's my princess we're talking about here. Mommy gets it, Bella just wants to be pampered.
Well, mommy just wants a break.
The fix, a Pacifeeder.
It's the next best thing since disposible diapers. I ordered the Pacifeeder from Savi Baby this week, and I tried it for the first time last night. What a great invention. It clips on to a child's carseat, high chair, or stroller and provides them a hands free option via a straw. The best part about it is that they can't throw the bottle. Perfect for our trip to the mall tomorrow!
We're going to meet another "Chatty Momma" and her two kids at the mall for a family date.
I'll let you know how it goes, but until then check out the Pacifeeder for your little royal.
I ran across an article today from the Leaf Chronicle and found it to be really interesting and very helpful. Socializing with other moms and meeting new friends can be challenging for stay at home moms (even if you are "Chatty").
The remedy: MOPS! Mothers of Preschoolers
Check out the recent exposure from the Leaf Chronicle here.
Thank God for MOPS International (www.mops.com) and these awesome groups.
I did a seach on their website for the MOPS groups in my area and pulled up more than 10 options.
Perhaps I'll be meeting some MOPS really soon myself.
Thank God for MOPS International (www.mops.com) and these awesome groups.
I did a seach on their website for the MOPS groups in my area and pulled up more than 10 options.
Perhaps I'll be meeting some MOPS really soon myself.
OMG...you'll never guess what happened to me. Only one of the worst things that can happen to a nursing/pumping mom.
I spilled the milk!
Now, I know they say you shouldn't be crying over spilt milk, but how could I not? I'm always telling my mom (who fed me formula), "Make sure Bella drinks every drop of that breast milk. That stuff is at a premium you know", and wouldn't you know it...I spilled the milk!
I was nearly devastated. I held my composure and pretended like it didn't happen just to control my emotions a little. Besides I was in the closet at work (embarrassing)! I have been patting myself on the back along side my husband and baby for 9 months now. It's a hard job. Some people opt to not to breastfeed, because it is just that hard. Pumping is harder. Especially when you return to work. I have been able to do both, but I'm not kidding when I say milk is at a premium.
The fountain is getting low. Wouldn't you be crying too?
I found this link to a pretty useful article on guilt free treats in BabyTalk Magazine.
One of my favorite treats to have is a Carribbean Way smoothie from Smoothie King.
Tip: Keep it healthy by asking for the skinny version!
So what if I didn't post yesterday. For starters, I'm a "Chatty Momma" and it was MY Birthday! It was really nice to take the day off.
I woke up to a beautiful cake with flowers and colorful candles that spelled out "Happy Birthday", along with copies of Lucky and Wired Magazines (my favorites). One fuels my hotness, and the other, my inner geek! (I've heard it's important to stay hot and smart)
I also received a lovely cookbook by Sandra Lee of Semi-Homemade to enjoy. My husband knows I'm fascinated by her quick meals and fantastic tablescapes. If I wasn't me, I'd be her!
Well, by looking at my profile you can see that I'm no longer the "Flirty 30" that I used to be, but now I am a "Fun 31". It's rather neat. I've gotten mixed responses. Some people say, "Oh, you're old now", and I notice they are all much older than me. What are they really saying? Then some people say, "Oh, you're not that old at all", and I notice they are only trailing me by 2-3 years.
Personally, I think Jules Renard said it best when he said, "It's not how old you are, but how you are old."
I have a fun-loving husband, and an energetic new baby to keep me young and fun! I also make use of all the magazines that aren't collecting dust on the store shelves. As a mom and wife it's good to keep up with the times when possible. (Notice I said, "when possible". We're moms, and we're busy. No apologies!)
My favorite picks for all of you "Chatty Mommas" out there aging gracefully are:
http://www.elle.com/
http://www.luckymag.com/
http://www.vogue.com/
http://www.cosmopolitan.com/
http://www.harpersbazaar.com/
http://www.womenshealthmag.com/
http://www.shape.com/
http://www.self.com/
http://www.fitpregnancy.com/
http://www.pregnancymagazine.com/
http://www.mactech.com/
http://www.wired.com/
Recently, my husband painted a second coat of paint in Bella's room. This is our final phase of decorating the nursery.
After recovering from Hyperemesis (HG) last September we started the nursery, but in October when Bella decided to come seven weeks early we got sidetracked.
Her room was nicely decorated with the theme that we both loved, but the walls were still a light taupe color with white trim. For a long time I thought I would try to make it work, but ultimately it just didn't cut it for me.
Every princess deserves to have colored walls, right? Well it's no surprise the color we decided upon is pink. Hydrangea bud, to be exact.
The color is beautiful. It's really light and refreshing. I don't care for the hot pinks and bubblegum colors on baby's walls, so I decided to chose something that is more subdued and inviting. It really works well with her space and the white furniture and trim stand out even more. Everything pops.
Our theme is from the Amy Coe Collection. We have chosen to decorate in white and three shades of pink with a butterfly motif. Cute!
If you haven't already or if you're looking to design or change your nursery or your child's room, follow the steps below for direction.
Every princess deserves to have colored walls, right? Well it's no surprise the color we decided upon is pink. Hydrangea bud, to be exact.
The color is beautiful. It's really light and refreshing. I don't care for the hot pinks and bubblegum colors on baby's walls, so I decided to chose something that is more subdued and inviting. It really works well with her space and the white furniture and trim stand out even more. Everything pops.
Our theme is from the Amy Coe Collection. We have chosen to decorate in white and three shades of pink with a butterfly motif. Cute!
If you haven't already or if you're looking to design or change your nursery or your child's room, follow the steps below for direction.
- Choose furniture
- Decide on a theme
- Pick a color scheme
- Select bedding to match
- Add accessories
For more info and great room ideas, check out the following links:
www.amycoe.com
www.valspar.com An extraordinary selection of paints
www.wallables.com Peel and stick adhesive wall art
www.thatsmyroom.com Children's lamps, wallpaper borders and crib bedding
www.brattdecor.com Elegant baby decor
Choosing a Baby Nursery Theme For Decorating Baby's Room (Article)
Here is an overview of products included in today's Mattel's toy recall.
"Sarge" die-cast toy cars: Recalled toys have the markings "7EA" and "China" on the bottom. Cars marked "Thailand" aren't included in the recall.
Barbie and Tanner play sets. Recalled toys have the model numbers J9472 and J9560. Products made after Jan. 31, 2007, aren't included in the recall.
Various Polly Pocket dolls and accessories with magnets. Recall is an expansion of the Polly Pocket recall issued in November 2006 due to magnets that may come loose from the toys.
Various Batman and One Piece magnetic action figure sets. Recall is due to magnets that may fall out of the toys, which were sold nationwide from June 2006 through June 2007 for about $11.
Various Doggie Day Care play sets. Recall is due to magnets that may fall out of the toys, which were sold nationwide from July 2004 to August 2007 for between $4 and $20. All of the recalled toys were made in China. Mattel and the CPSC urge consumers to take the toys away from kids immediately and contact Mattel to receive a replacement toy.
For details on the Mattel toy recall -- including pictures and model numbers for the recalled toys -- visit Mattel's consumer relations web site at http://service.mattel.com/us/recall.asp.
More information is also available by phone. Call the Consumer Product Safety Commission's recall hotline at (800) 638-2772 or Mattel's recall hotline at (800) 916-4997.
Everytime someone asks me my baby's name I'll answer, "Bella", and then I'll say "Isabella, but we call her Bella."
Then most of the time they'll say, "Oh, I love that name!"
I can't lie and say that I'm not glad since my sister was not shy to tease me about my choice of names. She obviously doesn't like the classy stuff.
Anyway, on the day of finding out we were having a girl I also had a root canal that morning (fun). As we left the imaging center we were shouting with joy about the fact that we were having a girl. My husband looked down at my doctor's address on my pain medicine prescription and it read "Isabella Lane"
He said that he liked that name a lot, and that's all she wrote!
It was written.
That evening I announced to him that our baby's name had to be Isabella. He agreed. No regrets on our part. The name speaks for itself. CLASSY!
Take a look at the TOP names for babies in born 2006 as reported by the US government:
Boy Names
Jacob
Michael
Joshua
Ethan
Mathew
Daniel
Christopher
Andrew
Anthony
William
Girl Names
Emily
Emma
Madison
Isabella
Ava
Abigail
Olivia
Hannah
Sophia
Samantha
For more info on baby names check out the best baby naming resources for 2007:
The Baby Name Bible: The Ultimate Guide By America's Baby-Naming Experts by Pamela Redmond Satran& LindaRosenkrantz
or
"The New Baby Name Survey Book," by Bruce Lansky
As of late we've been suffering from sleep deprivation now that Bella has started to cut her first tooth. About a week ago a sharp little tooth could be felt under her gum and now it is nearly poking through. Her normal disposition is so pleasant that it's weird to see this little angel turn into the nighttime "boogie monster", feared by all. A lot of crying and screaming can be heard these days.
Our solution:
1. Infant Motrin
2. Baby Anbesol
3. A warm bath with Johnson & Johnson's Bedtime Wash
4. A baby massage with Johnson & Johnson's Bedtime Lotion
5. Mommy's milk straight from the tap!
A really cool tool that I found to chronicle this cranky time in our lives is the Baby Anbesol Teething Chart.
It's really awesome for the organized parent who wants to chart their children's milestones, and great for the unorganized parent who wants to do it, but needs help getting started. The best part about it is...it's FREE!
5 Great teething toys to try:
Who asked for advice?
Sometimes that's what I'm thinking when I hear someone advising me on what I ought to do with my child. The funny thing about the advice is that it's never what the person did themselves or would do again if given the opportunity.
I'm convinced that some folks just want to hear themselves speak. They want to sound knowledgeable, like they can offer up a good tip or two, but is it worth it?
Am I really going to do what they advise?
I'd rather hear more sharing. If you want me to listen to you, don't talk to me like you know it all. Share your experiences with me and let me learn from them.
Ultimately, I'm the "Momma" making the decisions here.
All moms should know that World Breastfeeding Week 2007, is August 1-7.
Nursing is natural and nursing is best. Kudos to all of the nursing moms and to all of the moms who tried!
(witness the breast crawl at http://breastcrawl.org/video.htm)
We all have the freedom to make our own decisions.
Congratulate, and end the hate!
If you weren't able to nurse your baby I hope you snuggled her really tightly, and fed her the best formula on the market.
5 Nursing Products to Try:
- The First Years Breast Feed Nursing Wrap
- Medela Breastmilk Storage and Feeding Set
- So Easy Baby Food/ Breast Milk Trays
- Itzbeen Baby Care Timer
- Medela Nursing Stool
I just thought I'd let you know that if you ever wondering if you're a good mom just ask yourself this question,
"Do I make Watergate Salad for my kids?"
If the answer is "no", then it can be confirmed. You are a bad mom, no doubt about it!
That is why I make Watergate Salad ever chance I get. My husband can't stand it, and Bella can't even eat it yet, but I just have to make it.
I guess it all stems back to when I was about five years old. We threw a luau at school and someone's mom made Watergate Salad. It was green and mushy with marshmallows in it, and it tasted great. I knew right then that someone in my class had an awesome mom, and I wished she were mine.
Although I never tasted it again, I never forgot it. Now in the future when there is a party or a school function that Bella has to attend I will always know that someone's kid is digging my Watergate Salad and they will think I'm the most awesome mom!
You can be awesome too! Jot down this recipe:
1 cup JET-PUFFED Miniature Marshmallows
1 pkg. (4-serving size) JELL-O Pistachio Flavor Instant Pudding & Pie Filling
1 can (20 oz.) DOLE Crushed Pineapple, in juice, undrained
1/2 cup chopped PLANTERS Pecans
1-1/2 cups thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping
COMBINE marshmallows, dry pudding mix, pineapple and pecans in large bowl until well blended.
ADD whipped topping; stir gently until well blended. Cover.
REFRIGERATE at least 1 hour before serving. Store leftovers in refrigerator.
Do I really think your a bad mom if you don't delight everyone with Watergate Salad?
Nah, but you sure are AWESOME if you do!
Today I found the Gerber Feeding Plan and printed it out. It is such helpful tool for new moms or moms who need to add structure to their baby's meal time.
You can alter it to fit your preferences, and it's a great guide to healthy choices for you and your baby.
My favorite meal combo to serve Bella is green beans, sweet potatoes, and pears with pineapples
Last week I thought Bella was too big for her car seat so I convinced my husband that it is time to shop for the next phase. Well, we searched and poked and tugged every carseat the store had to offer and finally settled on the Eddie Bauer® Astoria Enspira Deluxe Convertible Car Seat. We thought it would be nice since it was so plush despite the fact that it was a bit pricey (all of them are). When we arrived home that night I just so happened to receive in the mail my American Baby Magazine and low and behold it has a car seat buying guide in it. "Where was that when I was shopping?"
I read a little, but then I decided to look at the reviews of some of the "Chatty" Mommas that have purchased the car seat for their kids, and I found out that although many moms liked the car seat a lot, several did not like the way the car seat pillow pushed their children's heads forward and did not support baby's heads properly while they are sleeping. "Hmm" I thought, "I wonder if that's true?"
Well, the next night we took Bella to my in-laws and the ride down was all I needed to experience. She had fallen asleep, and her head went dangling forward with no support. She looked rather uncomfortable to say the least. I didn't know it, but the worst was yet to come. After our visit we were placing Bella back in her car seat for the ride home and wouldn't you know it, I pinched her leg in the seat belt. Her screams were so horrific that I knew it immediately and I felt horrible. I have to admit she is pretty healthy in the thigh area, but I have never pinched them any other time.
There is no doubt that I was mad at that car seat. The buckle is huge. Well, in the midst of my anger I comforted her and as we drove home she fell asleep again. I watched her closely and decided you know I hate the way her head is dangling and we have a long way to drive. This seat cost me too much to look at her sleeping in such an uncomfortable position. I have to get a new one.
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