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You can find my scrapbooks here: My Scrapbooks
Now, I have to force myself to walk away from the computer and get some housework done, this scrapbooking has defiantly sidetracked me today.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Another Addiction
Remember when I wrote about my addictions? Well, I think I have a new one. Digital scrapbooking. I've made two pages already and I'm HOOKED. Anyone else digital scrapbook and would be willing to share their work/exchange advice and ideas? Let me know ;o)
You can find my scrapbooks here: My Scrapbooks
Now, I have to force myself to walk away from the computer and get some housework done, this scrapbooking has defiantly sidetracked me today.
You can find my scrapbooks here: My Scrapbooks
Now, I have to force myself to walk away from the computer and get some housework done, this scrapbooking has defiantly sidetracked me today.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Caution! Long Winded Rant Ahead!
Let me begin this rant by stating that I feel that whether or not to vaccinate your child is a very difficult and personal decision. I do not "look down" on anyone who vaccinates their child, as long as they make that decision after doing their own research.
Don't get me wrong, I was once part of the "my doctor knows everything/is always right" crowd when it came to vaccinations. The Mermaid received all her shots, right on schedule.
The Guppy hasn't had any shots. If she does have shots, she won't until she is at least one year old, possibly two. When I was pregnant with the Guppy I met some mothers who did not vaccinate their child. Wanting to know why, I did my own research. What I found was shocking and a little scary. I'm still doing research, b/c there is a LOT of info out there. But until the information I receive makes me sure that vaccinations are right for the Guppy and now the Mermaid, neither of them will be vaccinated. More on that later.
The vaccination debate can be very heated and emotional. There are two sides to the argument. For us, not vaccinating made sense. Our children stay home with me, they are not in daycare. The Knight is not exposed to sickly people in his job. We have no contact with relatives who are in ill health. We don't smoke, drink, we live a healthy lifestyle. We do not travel abroad to areas with infectious diseases. So for us, there was no need to vaccinate. Perhaps it is different in your family. Perhaps one parent works in a field where they come into contact with sick people regularly. Perhaps you have sick relatives. Either way, even if you do decide to vaccinate, Please, research each vaccine. A great resource is the book What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Children's Vaccinations. The author explores the risks and benefits of each vaccination, and explains steps you can take to minimize risks of reactions if you do decide it would be in your child's benefit to receive vaccinations.
I think the one of the most hotly debated vaccination on the market is the MMR. The MMR has been linked to autism and other autoimmune diseases. The drug companies deny that there is a link, and say that the vaccine is safe for children. However, one of the leading manufacturers of the MMR vaccine, GlaxoSmithKline, in now under investigation after it was discovered that the drug Seroxat was the cause of a number of adolescent suicides. From the article:
So, let's think about this. This company claimed that the drug Seroxat was safe for teens and that it would even lower the suicide rate, despite knowing that it was actually not safe. This is the same company that claims that the MMR vaccine is safe for children, despite that large number of studies done and parents who have spoken out, stating that the vaccine has caused harm to their children.
Who are you going to believe? The company that lies, or the bereaved parents and studies?
If you and your child were walking down the street and someone came up and injected your child with something, how would you react? Would you want to know what was in the shot? Would you want to know how safe it is? Of course you would, you would freak out, right? So why is it OK for a doctor to inject your child with something that you know nothing about, except that the doctor and drug companies says it's OK? Because they went to medical school? Could your doctor, without looking at the label, even name all the ingredients that are in that shot? Could you?
Do the research. Find out what is in the vaccine before you put it in your child's body. Find out if your child even needs the shot. And remember, all states have a least a medical exemption when putting your child in school, so no, you do not have to have your child vaccinated in order to attend school. Some states even offer a religious and/or philosophical exemption as well. You do have choices. Say no if you feel your child doesn't need it. Or you can even delay vaccines, or selectively vaccinate. It's your decision, but please, make an informed and educated choice. Your child's health is at stake.
BTW, did you know that the development of vaccines has been linked to the origin of AIDS? Just a theory, but it hasn't been disproven yet. Look for my second post on vaccinating for more info.
Don't get me wrong, I was once part of the "my doctor knows everything/is always right" crowd when it came to vaccinations. The Mermaid received all her shots, right on schedule.
The Guppy hasn't had any shots. If she does have shots, she won't until she is at least one year old, possibly two. When I was pregnant with the Guppy I met some mothers who did not vaccinate their child. Wanting to know why, I did my own research. What I found was shocking and a little scary. I'm still doing research, b/c there is a LOT of info out there. But until the information I receive makes me sure that vaccinations are right for the Guppy and now the Mermaid, neither of them will be vaccinated. More on that later.
The vaccination debate can be very heated and emotional. There are two sides to the argument. For us, not vaccinating made sense. Our children stay home with me, they are not in daycare. The Knight is not exposed to sickly people in his job. We have no contact with relatives who are in ill health. We don't smoke, drink, we live a healthy lifestyle. We do not travel abroad to areas with infectious diseases. So for us, there was no need to vaccinate. Perhaps it is different in your family. Perhaps one parent works in a field where they come into contact with sick people regularly. Perhaps you have sick relatives. Either way, even if you do decide to vaccinate, Please, research each vaccine. A great resource is the book What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Children's Vaccinations. The author explores the risks and benefits of each vaccination, and explains steps you can take to minimize risks of reactions if you do decide it would be in your child's benefit to receive vaccinations.
I think the one of the most hotly debated vaccination on the market is the MMR. The MMR has been linked to autism and other autoimmune diseases. The drug companies deny that there is a link, and say that the vaccine is safe for children. However, one of the leading manufacturers of the MMR vaccine, GlaxoSmithKline, in now under investigation after it was discovered that the drug Seroxat was the cause of a number of adolescent suicides. From the article:
GSK faces action in the US where bereaved families have joined together to sue the company. As a result, GSK has been forced to open its confidential internal archive. Karen Barth Menzies is a partner in one of the firms representing many of the families. She has examined thousands of the documents which are stored, box upon box, in an apartment in Malibu, California. She said: "Even when they have negative studies that show that this drug
Seroxat is going to harm some kids they still spin that study as remarkably effective and safe for children."
So, let's think about this. This company claimed that the drug Seroxat was safe for teens and that it would even lower the suicide rate, despite knowing that it was actually not safe. This is the same company that claims that the MMR vaccine is safe for children, despite that large number of studies done and parents who have spoken out, stating that the vaccine has caused harm to their children.
Who are you going to believe? The company that lies, or the bereaved parents and studies?
If you and your child were walking down the street and someone came up and injected your child with something, how would you react? Would you want to know what was in the shot? Would you want to know how safe it is? Of course you would, you would freak out, right? So why is it OK for a doctor to inject your child with something that you know nothing about, except that the doctor and drug companies says it's OK? Because they went to medical school? Could your doctor, without looking at the label, even name all the ingredients that are in that shot? Could you?
Do the research. Find out what is in the vaccine before you put it in your child's body. Find out if your child even needs the shot. And remember, all states have a least a medical exemption when putting your child in school, so no, you do not have to have your child vaccinated in order to attend school. Some states even offer a religious and/or philosophical exemption as well. You do have choices. Say no if you feel your child doesn't need it. Or you can even delay vaccines, or selectively vaccinate. It's your decision, but please, make an informed and educated choice. Your child's health is at stake.
BTW, did you know that the development of vaccines has been linked to the origin of AIDS? Just a theory, but it hasn't been disproven yet. Look for my second post on vaccinating for more info.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
If You Need A Laugh...
Mama KNJ gave her readers a heads up on these hilarious videos. Really, they made me laugh. And since I think everyone should laugh at least once a day, I'm going to share them with you.
WalMart's All Things Baby
If you haven't heard by now, on February 3rd WalMart is holding an "All Things Baby" event in participating stores. The event includes:
Hmmm....really I'm at a loss for words. I wonder if breastfeeding will even be mentioned. There are no stores participating in my area, but if there were you would bet I'd be at the event, breastfeeding the whole time and asking the "local experts" about the benefits of breastfeeding.
This is so sad and pathetic it would be laughable if not for the fact that the health of babies is at stake.
...an exclusive Nutrition & Feeding Educational Seminar sponsored by Similac. Local experts will offer quick overviews of basics for raising strong and healthy families. Enjoy a complimentary gift bag with samples (while supplies last). Kids are welcome — activity sheets will be provided so they can have fun while you learn.
Hmmm....really I'm at a loss for words. I wonder if breastfeeding will even be mentioned. There are no stores participating in my area, but if there were you would bet I'd be at the event, breastfeeding the whole time and asking the "local experts" about the benefits of breastfeeding.
This is so sad and pathetic it would be laughable if not for the fact that the health of babies is at stake.
Cool Dudes
Friday, January 26, 2007
Four Months Old Letter
My Dearest Guppy,Today you are four months old. You are so big, 17lbs already! Your little rolls and chubby cheeks are so cute and adorable. You are so strong, you continually try to sit up and roll over, and you almost can! You're neck control is also very good, and you love to sit up straight so you can look around at observe your environment.
This month you have shown your sense of humor, always smiling and starting to laugh. You're smile beams when we go to pick you up, you're so happy just being held. You hate to be left alone in a room and you are happiest when in the middle of a group, such a social butterfly!
You love to reach for things. If I place a toy next to you, you will roll on your side to grasp it, to feel the textures, to take it all in. You spend a lot of time during the day staring at your hands, flexing your fingers and discovering how they work. You love to grasp my fingers in your hands and pull them apart, experiment with how they move, or just to be in physical contact with someone whom you know adores you.
You love to chat. You're face scrunches up in concentration as you put tremendous effort into forming your mouth and making sounds. When we applaud you for your efforts, your face beams with pride.You have brought so much joy to our lives these past four months, I can't believe how fast you are growing. When I look at your eyes, I can see you talking through them. Your eyes tell me when you are concentrating, when you are trying to figure something out, when you understand something (oh how they light up!), when you are hungry or when you are just tired. I'm so excited to see what the coming months will bring, what your first word will be, your first time rolling over completely, your first steps. I thank God every day that I am able to stay home with you and witness you as you learn more and more about life each day. I feel proud in seeing that you know that you are loved, that you are surrounded by people you love at all hours, and that you are never alone. Never forget, we will always be here for you. We love you.
Fantastic Friday: Harder Than I Thought
It's Fantastic Friday, week 3, and well...I didn't do so great this week. Let's break it down, shall we?
Weight: For the Future MILF post, I have to post weight lost this week. Well, once again, I didn't lose any weight but I didn't gain any either. Now I am very frustrated at myself. I have enough will power to get my butt out of bed at 5:30am to exercise for one hour, but not enough will power to say No to the bag of Doritos that was sitting on top of our fridge. Was being the correct word, since I ate the whole bag. Of course, I felt really shitty and gross afterwards, and hopefully the memory of that feeling will keep me from doing that again. My problem is not exercise, my problem is sticking to my WW's points. I really need to crack down and make sure I write everything down and don't go over my point budget. I really hope I do better this week.
The House: again, thanks to FlyLady, this one is easy breezy. This week I spent 15 minutes a day decluttering my closet. Donated all my high school clothes, including my size 5 jeans (yeah, like I'll ever fit into those again!) but kept my size 7 jeans (hey, a girl can hope, can't she?). There's actually a lot of room in my closet now. And my house is still guest ready clean.
Finances: Well, the Knight and I kind of changed routes with this one. Last week I posted that we were going to go on a debt management plan. Well, we changed our minds. Seems that if you try to get a mortgage after going on one of these plans, they treat you as if you had filed bankruptcy. So, we borrowed Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover from the library and we are going to follow his simple yet difficult to do program. Simple to understand, difficult to do because it means a lot of sacrifices, like no new van. Hopefully, in March, I'll be posting about how we are making great strides in paying off our debt.
Finally, the environment. Sadly, we are still slacking in this area. We still haven't gotten our recycling act together. However, I've still been following the Compact Life with two exceptions: materials for making things such as yarn and PUL, and a bridesmaid's dress for my best friend's wedding. Because really, I don't think she'd be too happy if I tried to buy a used bridesmaid's dress, and I can't blame her. I'm almost done knitting a cotton dishcloth, so no more icky sponges. And this Sunday I plan on going on a sewing frenzy and sewing up some cloth nursing pads, cloth paper towels, and cloth diapers to cut back on our disposables. I've also been reading this great blog about a family's decision to downsize, called Changing Rhythm.
So, all in all, not a great week. I hope this week to do better. Encouraging comments are welcomed, I sure need them!
Weight: For the Future MILF post, I have to post weight lost this week. Well, once again, I didn't lose any weight but I didn't gain any either. Now I am very frustrated at myself. I have enough will power to get my butt out of bed at 5:30am to exercise for one hour, but not enough will power to say No to the bag of Doritos that was sitting on top of our fridge. Was being the correct word, since I ate the whole bag. Of course, I felt really shitty and gross afterwards, and hopefully the memory of that feeling will keep me from doing that again. My problem is not exercise, my problem is sticking to my WW's points. I really need to crack down and make sure I write everything down and don't go over my point budget. I really hope I do better this week.
The House: again, thanks to FlyLady, this one is easy breezy. This week I spent 15 minutes a day decluttering my closet. Donated all my high school clothes, including my size 5 jeans (yeah, like I'll ever fit into those again!) but kept my size 7 jeans (hey, a girl can hope, can't she?). There's actually a lot of room in my closet now. And my house is still guest ready clean.
Finances: Well, the Knight and I kind of changed routes with this one. Last week I posted that we were going to go on a debt management plan. Well, we changed our minds. Seems that if you try to get a mortgage after going on one of these plans, they treat you as if you had filed bankruptcy. So, we borrowed Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover from the library and we are going to follow his simple yet difficult to do program. Simple to understand, difficult to do because it means a lot of sacrifices, like no new van. Hopefully, in March, I'll be posting about how we are making great strides in paying off our debt.
Finally, the environment. Sadly, we are still slacking in this area. We still haven't gotten our recycling act together. However, I've still been following the Compact Life with two exceptions: materials for making things such as yarn and PUL, and a bridesmaid's dress for my best friend's wedding. Because really, I don't think she'd be too happy if I tried to buy a used bridesmaid's dress, and I can't blame her. I'm almost done knitting a cotton dishcloth, so no more icky sponges. And this Sunday I plan on going on a sewing frenzy and sewing up some cloth nursing pads, cloth paper towels, and cloth diapers to cut back on our disposables. I've also been reading this great blog about a family's decision to downsize, called Changing Rhythm.
So, all in all, not a great week. I hope this week to do better. Encouraging comments are welcomed, I sure need them!
Monday, January 22, 2007
In the News
Remember this post? Well, now you can get it for free. That's right, you can get An Inconvenient Truth for free. I've already requested a copy, and I've very excited :o)
Found this great article on babywearing. I'm part of a NINO group myself, and the group is a really great and fun resource when I am trying to learn about a specific carrier or hold. If you are interested in babywearing, I highly recommend you attend a local group meeting.
Celebrity News: Brooke Burke says she babywears. From the interview:
That's it for now!
Found this great article on babywearing. I'm part of a NINO group myself, and the group is a really great and fun resource when I am trying to learn about a specific carrier or hold. If you are interested in babywearing, I highly recommend you attend a local group meeting.
Celebrity News: Brooke Burke says she babywears. From the interview:
Also, Brooke plans to keep Rain close to her but keep her hands free to play with Neriah, 6, and Sierra, 4 1/2, by babywearing. She says, "I wear the baby, [I'm] definitely an attachment parenting person." In the past, Brooke has also been open about co-sleeping, breastfeeding (yes, with implants) and of course, we all know about the placenta!
That's it for now!
Who Killed the Electric Car?
Saturday we went to the library and I rented the movie Who Killed The Electric Car?
I was in a very dismal mood after watching it. There are times that I get very exhausted and sick of living in a culture that puts profits over people. We could all be driving electric cars right now, but we're not. Why? Because the oil companies, car companies, etc. favor profits over people and the environment. Who cares that the Earth is dying, we made more money! Who cares that asthma rates in children continue to rise drastically, we made more money!
Somehow, I seriously doubt that this is what God had in mind when he created us...
I was in a very dismal mood after watching it. There are times that I get very exhausted and sick of living in a culture that puts profits over people. We could all be driving electric cars right now, but we're not. Why? Because the oil companies, car companies, etc. favor profits over people and the environment. Who cares that the Earth is dying, we made more money! Who cares that asthma rates in children continue to rise drastically, we made more money!
Somehow, I seriously doubt that this is what God had in mind when he created us...
Winter Wonderland
Some pics of what went on here this weekend.
Because I am following the Compact Life, I'm not supposed to buy anything new. I've made a few exceptions, like PUL to make cloth diapers because I can't find any used, etc. Well I found another exception. The Guppy is just so thick around the waist that although her diaper covers fit around the legs, they don't around the waist. So, I bought these wonderful tab extenders from Deb's Diapers and got them in the mail on Friday. They work great!
This weekend I also finished knitting a doll blanket for the Mermaid's doll. See at night she would tuck in her doll with her blanket and then get cold. So I figured I would knit one just for her doll and she could stay warm at night :o)
And finally, our *adventures in Winter Wonderland.
Friday, January 19, 2007
So Where's The Snow?
This morning I looked out at our backyard and this is what I saw...
Snow. No big deal, right? I mean, it's not even a lot of snow. But that's the problem. I live in New England, it's the middle of January, and this is the most snow I've seen this winter. Normally we would have been buried several times by now.
I bet you're still thinking, What's the big deal? And I can understand that. On one hand, I'm glad we haven't gotten snow because I hate snow, I hate driving in it, I hate the cold, etc. But on the other hand, the fact that we've only gotten this much snow scares the crap out of me. With all the information on global warming and an impending global disaster that I've heard about lately, I want snow. I want the winter to be colder. Because then I wouldn't be worrying about global warming, about what type of world my girls will be growing up in.
Am I the only one that is worried? Does this bother anyone else, or am I just being paranoid and neurotic?
And, just because she is so cute...
Snow. No big deal, right? I mean, it's not even a lot of snow. But that's the problem. I live in New England, it's the middle of January, and this is the most snow I've seen this winter. Normally we would have been buried several times by now.I bet you're still thinking, What's the big deal? And I can understand that. On one hand, I'm glad we haven't gotten snow because I hate snow, I hate driving in it, I hate the cold, etc. But on the other hand, the fact that we've only gotten this much snow scares the crap out of me. With all the information on global warming and an impending global disaster that I've heard about lately, I want snow. I want the winter to be colder. Because then I wouldn't be worrying about global warming, about what type of world my girls will be growing up in.
Am I the only one that is worried? Does this bother anyone else, or am I just being paranoid and neurotic?
And, just because she is so cute...
Fantastic Friday...Week 2
Well it's Friday again, and that means it's time for me to look back on the week and see how well I did with my goals.
Weight: As part of the Future MILF program, I have to post weight I lost this week and total weight lost. Drum roll, please.....this week I lost......1lb. As you recall, last week I didn't lose any but didn't gain any either, and I figured it was due to the fact that I wasn't following my WW points too well and eating constantly because the Guppy was nursing so much. Well this week the Guppy continued to nurse, and I continued to eat, but I tried to reach for healthier foods when I could. And I also picked up on my exercising. So, I'm happy with the 1lb weight loss, and since I'm nursing, that's the safe amount to lose each week anyway. This brings my total weight loss to 9lbs in 10 weeks. Another fantastic thing about my exercising is that I do a lot of toning exercises, so although I didn't lose much weight, the Knight says I definitely look more toned and thinner. Fantastic!
The house: thanks to FlyLady, this one is actually easy. As long as I get all my routines done, my house stays "guest-ready cleaned". In fact, the morning after my mom came home from London, she looked around the house and asked, "Who are you having over?"
"Um....no one"
"Oh....then why is the house so clean?"
This week I managed to work on some decluttering, so my bathroom is fully decluttered and my kitchen is halfway there. Thank you, FlyLady.
Finances: After much discussion, the Knight and I thought that the best option for us right now is to go on a Debt Management Plan. I checked out the best programs and took some recommendations and the best one seems to be Money Management International, a non-profit organization that helps people get out of debt. After a counseling session, where they explained the ins and outs of the program, we have decided to start filling out the paperwork to sign up. If we had kept up our pattern of paying our debt as we had been, it would have taken us 34 years. On this program, paying the minimum payment, it will take us 4.5 years and they will save us over $22,000 in interest charges, not to mention late fees. I've also started teaching myself the ins and outs of the Knights retirement plan. After all, if we are going to depend on this money when we retire, it would help if we knew how the program worked. I've also looked into other books that I want to get from the library on how to save money and make your money work for you.
Finally, the environment. Sadly, this one is the area I am slacking in. Although I am still living the Compact Life and haven't bought anything new, we still haven't set up our recycling center. I also haven't gotten around to making cloth paper towels, dishcloths, and nursing pads, so we've still been using those disposable products. Hopefully this weekend I will get some time to sit down and complete those projects.
Well, that's it for this week's Fantastic Friday. Not bad considering I had two sick kids to take care of, one of which would not let me put her down at all (thank you Ellaroo Wrap!).
Weight: As part of the Future MILF program, I have to post weight I lost this week and total weight lost. Drum roll, please.....this week I lost......1lb. As you recall, last week I didn't lose any but didn't gain any either, and I figured it was due to the fact that I wasn't following my WW points too well and eating constantly because the Guppy was nursing so much. Well this week the Guppy continued to nurse, and I continued to eat, but I tried to reach for healthier foods when I could. And I also picked up on my exercising. So, I'm happy with the 1lb weight loss, and since I'm nursing, that's the safe amount to lose each week anyway. This brings my total weight loss to 9lbs in 10 weeks. Another fantastic thing about my exercising is that I do a lot of toning exercises, so although I didn't lose much weight, the Knight says I definitely look more toned and thinner. Fantastic!
The house: thanks to FlyLady, this one is actually easy. As long as I get all my routines done, my house stays "guest-ready cleaned". In fact, the morning after my mom came home from London, she looked around the house and asked, "Who are you having over?"
"Um....no one"
"Oh....then why is the house so clean?"
This week I managed to work on some decluttering, so my bathroom is fully decluttered and my kitchen is halfway there. Thank you, FlyLady.
Finances: After much discussion, the Knight and I thought that the best option for us right now is to go on a Debt Management Plan. I checked out the best programs and took some recommendations and the best one seems to be Money Management International, a non-profit organization that helps people get out of debt. After a counseling session, where they explained the ins and outs of the program, we have decided to start filling out the paperwork to sign up. If we had kept up our pattern of paying our debt as we had been, it would have taken us 34 years. On this program, paying the minimum payment, it will take us 4.5 years and they will save us over $22,000 in interest charges, not to mention late fees. I've also started teaching myself the ins and outs of the Knights retirement plan. After all, if we are going to depend on this money when we retire, it would help if we knew how the program worked. I've also looked into other books that I want to get from the library on how to save money and make your money work for you.
Finally, the environment. Sadly, this one is the area I am slacking in. Although I am still living the Compact Life and haven't bought anything new, we still haven't set up our recycling center. I also haven't gotten around to making cloth paper towels, dishcloths, and nursing pads, so we've still been using those disposable products. Hopefully this weekend I will get some time to sit down and complete those projects.
Well, that's it for this week's Fantastic Friday. Not bad considering I had two sick kids to take care of, one of which would not let me put her down at all (thank you Ellaroo Wrap!).
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Let's Look It Up....Together
I haven't been posting much lately and that's because the girls are still trying to kick this cold that they've had for a month. I think the Mermaid is finally over it completely and the Guppy is doing better as well, today is the first day in a while that I have been able to put her down without her crying.
I was thinking this morning about the meme I did and how I answered that the most fun job I had was working at my University's library. I would work the night shift with my friend and our supervisor, whose name was Julio.
Julio grew up in Puerto Rico and was raised by his mother. He is one of the most open-minded and kind man I've ever known. He is also extremely smart. Julio knew the answer to almost any question we would ask him...our favorite game to kill the time was to try to stump him with a question. In the rare times when he didn't know the answer he would answer, "Well I don't know...let's look it up together" and we would.
I once asked Julio how he came to know so much information and he attributed his knowledge to his mother. See, even though his mother was busy raising him and his siblings by herself, she always took the time to help them learn. If they had a question that she did not know the answer to, she would stop what she was doing, and say, "I don't know, let's look it up together" and they would. She encouraged them to read everything they could get their hands on and took them to the library frequently. I could tell Julio cared for his mother very much and that she had a profound influence on him, and I swore that I would strive for the same relationship with my children.
All to often, as mothers, I think that at times we may be too busy to encourage our children's curiosity and desire to learn new things. Many times I hear mothers making up answers to questions that their children ask simply because they don't know themselves and are too busy to find out. I don't think that there really is anything wrong with that, and I do realize that some questions that children ask have answers that are too complicated for them. However, thanks to Julio, I have seen the results that can happen if a mother actually does take the time to help the child learn how to find the answers to their questions and learn. Now that the Mermaid is getting closer to school age and now that we have actually started some homeschooling, I resolve to try my hardest to take time to answer her questions as honestly as I can.
After graduation, I went back to the library to talk to say hi to Julio when I was in the area. I found out that his mother had fallen ill and he had flown back to Puerto Rico to be with her. I never knew what happened to him after that, but I know that whenever either of my girls will ask me a question and I don't know the answer, I will think of him and his mother and if I can, I will answer with "Let's look it up together."
I was thinking this morning about the meme I did and how I answered that the most fun job I had was working at my University's library. I would work the night shift with my friend and our supervisor, whose name was Julio.
Julio grew up in Puerto Rico and was raised by his mother. He is one of the most open-minded and kind man I've ever known. He is also extremely smart. Julio knew the answer to almost any question we would ask him...our favorite game to kill the time was to try to stump him with a question. In the rare times when he didn't know the answer he would answer, "Well I don't know...let's look it up together" and we would.
I once asked Julio how he came to know so much information and he attributed his knowledge to his mother. See, even though his mother was busy raising him and his siblings by herself, she always took the time to help them learn. If they had a question that she did not know the answer to, she would stop what she was doing, and say, "I don't know, let's look it up together" and they would. She encouraged them to read everything they could get their hands on and took them to the library frequently. I could tell Julio cared for his mother very much and that she had a profound influence on him, and I swore that I would strive for the same relationship with my children.
All to often, as mothers, I think that at times we may be too busy to encourage our children's curiosity and desire to learn new things. Many times I hear mothers making up answers to questions that their children ask simply because they don't know themselves and are too busy to find out. I don't think that there really is anything wrong with that, and I do realize that some questions that children ask have answers that are too complicated for them. However, thanks to Julio, I have seen the results that can happen if a mother actually does take the time to help the child learn how to find the answers to their questions and learn. Now that the Mermaid is getting closer to school age and now that we have actually started some homeschooling, I resolve to try my hardest to take time to answer her questions as honestly as I can.
After graduation, I went back to the library to talk to say hi to Julio when I was in the area. I found out that his mother had fallen ill and he had flown back to Puerto Rico to be with her. I never knew what happened to him after that, but I know that whenever either of my girls will ask me a question and I don't know the answer, I will think of him and his mother and if I can, I will answer with "Let's look it up together."
Monday, January 15, 2007
I've Been Tagged!
Mama K NJ has tagged me for this cute meme.
0) What’s your name and website URL? (optional, of course)
My name is Shelly (not Michelle), and you are on my website. The only other sites I have are the girls' birth stories, over to the right.
1) What’s the most fun work you’ve ever done, and why?
When I worked at my University's library, I worked with some very fun people, including my good friend and my superviser. My superviser knew everything, and we were constantly trying to stump him.
2) A. Name one thing you did in the past that you no longer do but wish you did? (one sentence max).
Ride horses.
B. Name one thing you’ve always wanted to do but keep putting it off? (one sentence max).
Write a novel.
3) A. What two things would you most like to learn or be better at, and why? (two sentences max).
1.I would love to be better at sewing and knitting. 2. I would love to speak German fluently, even though it was my minor in college I don't remember much.
B. If you could take a class/workshop/apprentice from anyone in the world living or dead, who would it be and what would you hope to learn? (two more sentences, max).
DaVinci. Oh, the things that I could learn...
4) A. What three words might your best friends or family use to describe you?
(stated by the Knight) bright, optimistic, loving.
B. Now list two more words you wish described you…
energetic, skinny.
5) What are your top three passions? (can be current or past, work, hobbies, or causes– three sentences max)
parenting, including breastfeeding and homebirth; politics; and horses.
6) Write–and answer–one more question that YOU would ask someone (with answer in three sentences max)
What is your most vivid memory? When the Guppy was born.
I tag Stephanie, AnnieM, and Queeniebad!:o)
0) What’s your name and website URL? (optional, of course)
My name is Shelly (not Michelle), and you are on my website. The only other sites I have are the girls' birth stories, over to the right.
1) What’s the most fun work you’ve ever done, and why?
When I worked at my University's library, I worked with some very fun people, including my good friend and my superviser. My superviser knew everything, and we were constantly trying to stump him.
2) A. Name one thing you did in the past that you no longer do but wish you did? (one sentence max).
Ride horses.
B. Name one thing you’ve always wanted to do but keep putting it off? (one sentence max).
Write a novel.
3) A. What two things would you most like to learn or be better at, and why? (two sentences max).
1.I would love to be better at sewing and knitting. 2. I would love to speak German fluently, even though it was my minor in college I don't remember much.
B. If you could take a class/workshop/apprentice from anyone in the world living or dead, who would it be and what would you hope to learn? (two more sentences, max).
DaVinci. Oh, the things that I could learn...
4) A. What three words might your best friends or family use to describe you?
(stated by the Knight) bright, optimistic, loving.
B. Now list two more words you wish described you…
energetic, skinny.
5) What are your top three passions? (can be current or past, work, hobbies, or causes– three sentences max)
parenting, including breastfeeding and homebirth; politics; and horses.
6) Write–and answer–one more question that YOU would ask someone (with answer in three sentences max)
What is your most vivid memory? When the Guppy was born.
I tag Stephanie, AnnieM, and Queeniebad!:o)
Look What I Made!
I've been busy this past week....
The Guppy wearing the sweater I knit for her.
The pillowcase I made for the Mermaid's bed.
The pocket diaper I made with materials from DiaperCuts.
The Guppy modeling her diaper.
The MT I made two years ago.
The Guppy wearing the sweater I knit for her. The pillowcase I made for the Mermaid's bed. The pocket diaper I made with materials from DiaperCuts. The Guppy modeling her diaper.The MT I made two years ago.The pocket dipe I made doesn't fit the Guppy around the waist, and I don't know if it was because the pattern I used isn't good for her body shape or because I messed up making it. But I got these really cute tab extenders from Deb's Designs so she'll still be able to wear it.:o)
Say Cheese!
Saturday, January 13, 2007
I'm an Addict
There are many things I am addicted to. Yarn. Fabric. Cloth diapers. And baby carriers. But with these addictions, my limited funds keeps me under control. I don't have drawers and drawers of these things because I can't afford to buy them. Which is a good thing, for the sanity of the people I live with.
But, there are two addictions I have that are out of control. One is Yahoo groups. That's right, I am addicted to Yahoo groups. I currently belong to 85 Yahoo groups. Can you imagine what my inbox looks like everyday? I have all my Yahoo groups set to Daily Digest, so it isn't so bad, but it still takes me a while to get through them all. And half the time I don't have time to reply to any. But I keep subscribing to more. I just can't help myself, I can't figure it out.
The second thing I am addicted to is free patterns. These can be either knitting patterns or sewing patterns. I have a special folder in my favorites for the links to free patterns. I am never going to have enough time to make all the things I saved the patterns for. And when I do decide I want to make something, instead of going through the patterns I already have I search for more. And end up saving the links to fifty more patterns before I find one I like. And that is why I have 237 links to patterns. I bet half of them don't work anymore. I'm sure some of them are duplicate links. Yet I keep finding more and saving them to my favorites, I can't figure it out.
So those are my addictions. Let me know I'm not alone. Tell me what odd things you are addicted to. Really, I want to know. Maybe we can start a support group ;o)
But, there are two addictions I have that are out of control. One is Yahoo groups. That's right, I am addicted to Yahoo groups. I currently belong to 85 Yahoo groups. Can you imagine what my inbox looks like everyday? I have all my Yahoo groups set to Daily Digest, so it isn't so bad, but it still takes me a while to get through them all. And half the time I don't have time to reply to any. But I keep subscribing to more. I just can't help myself, I can't figure it out.
The second thing I am addicted to is free patterns. These can be either knitting patterns or sewing patterns. I have a special folder in my favorites for the links to free patterns. I am never going to have enough time to make all the things I saved the patterns for. And when I do decide I want to make something, instead of going through the patterns I already have I search for more. And end up saving the links to fifty more patterns before I find one I like. And that is why I have 237 links to patterns. I bet half of them don't work anymore. I'm sure some of them are duplicate links. Yet I keep finding more and saving them to my favorites, I can't figure it out.
So those are my addictions. Let me know I'm not alone. Tell me what odd things you are addicted to. Really, I want to know. Maybe we can start a support group ;o)
In the News
Just a few things that I've seen in the news lately and wanted to share.
First, if you know a breastfeeding mom or if you are a breastfeeding mom in need of a gift, I would suggest the 2007 Beauty of Breastfeeding Calendar. What a great way to promote breastfeeding within your home or office :o)
Second, dentists now recommend that sippy cups be used for water only, outside of mealtime. They are saying that kids are getting more cavities due to the prolonged use of sippy cups that contained sugared beverages. I know in our house, the Mermaid receives only water in her straw cup except during meal times, and then she has rice milk.
And finally, something very positive and uplifting that I saw over at The Lactivist's blog. A post in craigslist that actually supports breastfeeding, yay! :o)
Well, that's it for now :o)
First, if you know a breastfeeding mom or if you are a breastfeeding mom in need of a gift, I would suggest the 2007 Beauty of Breastfeeding Calendar. What a great way to promote breastfeeding within your home or office :o)
Second, dentists now recommend that sippy cups be used for water only, outside of mealtime. They are saying that kids are getting more cavities due to the prolonged use of sippy cups that contained sugared beverages. I know in our house, the Mermaid receives only water in her straw cup except during meal times, and then she has rice milk.
And finally, something very positive and uplifting that I saw over at The Lactivist's blog. A post in craigslist that actually supports breastfeeding, yay! :o)
Well, that's it for now :o)
Friday, January 12, 2007
Fantastic Friday
I thought a long time about what I was going to call my Friday post. I decided that since I am trying my hardest to be optimistic about my goals, I would call it Fantastic Friday. Because getting closer to your goals is, well....Fantastic.
Ok, goal number one: weight. According to the Future MILF program, I have to post how much weight I lost this week and total lost. So, this week I lost....0 pounds. BUT, I didn't gain any weight either. So that brings the total weight loss since the Guppy's birth to 35lbs. Fantastic. I did really bad on my Weight Watcher's this week, pretty much going over my points every day. I think it is due to the Guppy wanting to nurse constantly, either because she doesn't feel good or because she is about to hit a growth spurt. Either way, it made me hungry all the time. So I ate a lot this week, but I still didn't gain any weight because breastfeeding that much will burn a lot of calories (fantastic!) and I was still consistent in getting up every day to exercise. This week I am going to stick to my points and lose some weight!
Goal number two: finances. Well after reading Suze Orman's The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom, I decided to read her other book, The Courage to be Rich. This book has a wealth of information on how to save up, but most of it applies to after you pay off your bad debts, so it doesn't apply to us....yet. There is also a fantastic section on buying a home that we plan to utilize when we are ready. I've also joined this great program at Coupon Mom that will start to save us TONS on groceries. The only problem is I have to find a place to store a pantry, but I have some ideas. I'm still following the Compact Life program, and so far I haven't bought anything new, except for some PUL to make the Guppy more diapers, and I couldn't find that used anywhere. I also am going to buy some cotton yarn to make dishcloths, dishtowels, and paper towels, still looking to see if I can get that used. I have discovered a setback, however. My best friend is getting married this year, and as one of the bridesmaids, I have to buy a new dress, but I think that it's a valid exception.
Goal three: the house. Because I've been following the FlyLady program, my house has been clean. I didn't declutter all five days this week, but since I stuck to my routines, my house has been guest-ready. It takes a lot of stress off my life and gives me more free time to spend with the girls.
Goal four: the environment. This weekend the Knight and I are going to set up our recycling center. Instead of throwing away things as I decluttered, I've been offering them up on Freecycle. And I also signed up for a great program called Recycle Bank, where you get paid to recycle. Unfortunately they aren't in MA yet, but they said they will be soon.
Well, considering it was a busy week and that I had a sick baby on my hands, I'm please at how much I got done this week. Fantastic.
Ok, goal number one: weight. According to the Future MILF program, I have to post how much weight I lost this week and total lost. So, this week I lost....0 pounds. BUT, I didn't gain any weight either. So that brings the total weight loss since the Guppy's birth to 35lbs. Fantastic. I did really bad on my Weight Watcher's this week, pretty much going over my points every day. I think it is due to the Guppy wanting to nurse constantly, either because she doesn't feel good or because she is about to hit a growth spurt. Either way, it made me hungry all the time. So I ate a lot this week, but I still didn't gain any weight because breastfeeding that much will burn a lot of calories (fantastic!) and I was still consistent in getting up every day to exercise. This week I am going to stick to my points and lose some weight!
Goal number two: finances. Well after reading Suze Orman's The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom, I decided to read her other book, The Courage to be Rich. This book has a wealth of information on how to save up, but most of it applies to after you pay off your bad debts, so it doesn't apply to us....yet. There is also a fantastic section on buying a home that we plan to utilize when we are ready. I've also joined this great program at Coupon Mom that will start to save us TONS on groceries. The only problem is I have to find a place to store a pantry, but I have some ideas. I'm still following the Compact Life program, and so far I haven't bought anything new, except for some PUL to make the Guppy more diapers, and I couldn't find that used anywhere. I also am going to buy some cotton yarn to make dishcloths, dishtowels, and paper towels, still looking to see if I can get that used. I have discovered a setback, however. My best friend is getting married this year, and as one of the bridesmaids, I have to buy a new dress, but I think that it's a valid exception.
Goal three: the house. Because I've been following the FlyLady program, my house has been clean. I didn't declutter all five days this week, but since I stuck to my routines, my house has been guest-ready. It takes a lot of stress off my life and gives me more free time to spend with the girls.
Goal four: the environment. This weekend the Knight and I are going to set up our recycling center. Instead of throwing away things as I decluttered, I've been offering them up on Freecycle. And I also signed up for a great program called Recycle Bank, where you get paid to recycle. Unfortunately they aren't in MA yet, but they said they will be soon.
Well, considering it was a busy week and that I had a sick baby on my hands, I'm please at how much I got done this week. Fantastic.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
More on Car Seat Safety
You remember I posted before about the importance of a five point harness in carseats.
Now for some more very important and shocking news. Recently Consumer Reports issued a report that out of the 12 infant car seats they tested, only 1o passed. 10. out of 12. That is shocking and scary. Not only that, but one seat, the Evenflo Discovery, did not even meet federal safety standards. Keep an eye out for a recall soon. The only two seats that performed well were the Baby Trend Flex-Loc and the Graco SnugRide with EPS.
And of course, no car seat is safe if it is installed incorrectly or not used according to the manual. Again, there is a lot of information about the safety of extended rear-facing, matching a car seat to your car, and how to find a certified technition to show you how to install your seat correctly. Remember, you should always try out the car seat in your car before you purchase it, most stores will allow you to do so. Please, take all measures to ensure that your children are safe in the car!
Now for some more very important and shocking news. Recently Consumer Reports issued a report that out of the 12 infant car seats they tested, only 1o passed. 10. out of 12. That is shocking and scary. Not only that, but one seat, the Evenflo Discovery, did not even meet federal safety standards. Keep an eye out for a recall soon. The only two seats that performed well were the Baby Trend Flex-Loc and the Graco SnugRide with EPS.
And of course, no car seat is safe if it is installed incorrectly or not used according to the manual. Again, there is a lot of information about the safety of extended rear-facing, matching a car seat to your car, and how to find a certified technition to show you how to install your seat correctly. Remember, you should always try out the car seat in your car before you purchase it, most stores will allow you to do so. Please, take all measures to ensure that your children are safe in the car!
Maya Wrap Recall
CPSC, Maya Wrap Announce Recall of Infant Carriers/Slings
If you own a Maya Wrap, please check to see if this applies to you.
If you own a Maya Wrap, please check to see if this applies to you.
Come Out, Come Out, Where Ever You Are....
Did you know it's National Delurking Week? No? Well neither did I, until today. Boy, they just come up with a week for everything, don't they.
So, any lurkers out there: comment, comment, comment. Let me know where you hail from. Let me know how you found my blog. Let me know I actully have readers. And let me know if you have a blog, I love finding new blogs :o)
So come on people, make me feel loved! Comment away!
So, any lurkers out there: comment, comment, comment. Let me know where you hail from. Let me know how you found my blog. Let me know I actully have readers. And let me know if you have a blog, I love finding new blogs :o)
So come on people, make me feel loved! Comment away!
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
The Best Kind
Remember how I talked about how important support is when achieving one's goals?
This morning the Mermaid woke up early and came out to the living room while I was still doing my workout video. She sat on the couch and watched me sweat through each excercise, collapse at the end, then slowly get to my feet to begin the next set. After about five minutes, she started chanting, "Great, Mommy! You're great! Good job!" while I got through the set and "You did it, hooray!" at the end of each one. This not only made me laugh but it also made it much easier to keep going through the excercises. When I finally finished, she shouted "Hooray! You did it!" and gave me a giant hug.
I have my own personal adorable, cuddly, loving cheerleader.
And that, my friends, is the best kind of support you can get.
This morning the Mermaid woke up early and came out to the living room while I was still doing my workout video. She sat on the couch and watched me sweat through each excercise, collapse at the end, then slowly get to my feet to begin the next set. After about five minutes, she started chanting, "Great, Mommy! You're great! Good job!" while I got through the set and "You did it, hooray!" at the end of each one. This not only made me laugh but it also made it much easier to keep going through the excercises. When I finally finished, she shouted "Hooray! You did it!" and gave me a giant hug.
I have my own personal adorable, cuddly, loving cheerleader.
And that, my friends, is the best kind of support you can get.
Monday, January 08, 2007
I Am Having Withdrawals...
camera withdrawals, that is.
A typical Saturday morning begins when I wake up to a messy house. Not wanting to come home to such a mess, I make the Knight help me get the house in shape before we can go out to do anything fun. This usually leads to a lot of resentment on his part towards me, understandably so. Then, to top it off, by the time we are done picking up the mess we are too tired to go out.
This Saturday was different. Thanks to FlyLady, my house was clean. All I had to do was one load of laundry and keep my eye on the dishes. Can you say, massive free time? So I got a lot of fun stuff done while the Knight played with the girls. I knit a sweater for the Guppy, then I sewed a pocket diaper for the Guppy using materials I got from Diaper Cuts (excellent store with excellent customer service), then I sewed a pillow case for the Mermaid's bed, and then I started making some cloth nursing pads for myself. I made these all from materials I had laying around. So I had all these new things that I am dying to take pictures of and show off to my online friends. But I can't. Why? Because my mom went to London this week and she took. my. camera. with. her.
Oh, the withdrawals.
So sorry, dear readers, but you will have to wait until Friday to see pictures of my beautiful creations LOL.
Another surprise I got this weekend? While cleaning out my fabric and yarn stash, I find a Mei Tai carrier that I had made about two years ago and completely forgot about. I wore the Guppy last night while I did laundry and the dishes, it was very nice :o)
Pics to follow at the end of the week ;o)
A typical Saturday morning begins when I wake up to a messy house. Not wanting to come home to such a mess, I make the Knight help me get the house in shape before we can go out to do anything fun. This usually leads to a lot of resentment on his part towards me, understandably so. Then, to top it off, by the time we are done picking up the mess we are too tired to go out.
This Saturday was different. Thanks to FlyLady, my house was clean. All I had to do was one load of laundry and keep my eye on the dishes. Can you say, massive free time? So I got a lot of fun stuff done while the Knight played with the girls. I knit a sweater for the Guppy, then I sewed a pocket diaper for the Guppy using materials I got from Diaper Cuts (excellent store with excellent customer service), then I sewed a pillow case for the Mermaid's bed, and then I started making some cloth nursing pads for myself. I made these all from materials I had laying around. So I had all these new things that I am dying to take pictures of and show off to my online friends. But I can't. Why? Because my mom went to London this week and she took. my. camera. with. her.
Oh, the withdrawals.
So sorry, dear readers, but you will have to wait until Friday to see pictures of my beautiful creations LOL.
Another surprise I got this weekend? While cleaning out my fabric and yarn stash, I find a Mei Tai carrier that I had made about two years ago and completely forgot about. I wore the Guppy last night while I did laundry and the dishes, it was very nice :o)
Pics to follow at the end of the week ;o)
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Thursday, January 04, 2007
In the News...
I saw this article about Ferberizing and thought it was interesting. I paid special attention to the part where the author wrote:
Alright, maybe letting your helpless baby cry alone in the dark may work to force him to sleep through the night before he or she is ready. But when I look at the long-term consequences....I think I'll pass, thank you. Co sleeping is definitely what works best for us.
Sleep experts reviewed 52 studies of various behavioral treatments that address bedtime problems and night wakings among infants and toddlers; 49 of the studies showed positive results. The trick is to pick a plan you can live with and stick
to it, they concluded.So if crying it out fits within your parenting philosophy, go for it. If not, don't. It's not a debate worth losing sleep over. Either approach will work--though probably not fast enough.
Alright, maybe letting your helpless baby cry alone in the dark may work to force him to sleep through the night before he or she is ready. But when I look at the long-term consequences....I think I'll pass, thank you. Co sleeping is definitely what works best for us.
An Inconvenient Truth
Since I wrote a post about a DVD concerning homebirth, I figured I would post about another DVD that is definitely on my wish list. An Inconvenient Truth talks about global warming and how it will effect our future. From the site:
And the trailer:
Humanity is sitting on a ticking time bomb. If the vast majority of the world's scientists are right, we have just ten years to avert a major catastrophe that could send our entire planet into a tail-spin of epic destruction involving extreme weather, floods, droughts, epidemics and killer heat waves beyond anything we have ever experienced. If that sounds like a recipe for serious
gloom and doom -- think again. From director Davis Guggenheim comes the Sundance Film Festival hit, AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, which offers a passionate and
inspirational look at one man's fervent crusade to halt global warming's deadly progress in its tracks by exposing the myths and misconceptions that surround it. That man is former Vice President Al Gore, who, in the wake of defeat in the 2000 election, re-set the course of his life to focus on a last-ditch, all-out effort to help save the planet from irrevocable change. In this eye-opening and poignant portrait of Gore and his "traveling global warming show," Gore also proves himself to be one of the most misunderstood characters in modern American public life. Here he is seen as never before in the media - funny, engaging,
open and downright on fire about getting the surprisingly stirring truth about what he calls our "planetary emergency" out to ordinary citizens before it's too late. With 2005, the worst storm season ever experienced in America just behind us, it seems we may be reaching a tipping point - and Gore pulls no punches in explaining the dire situation. Interspersed with the bracing facts and future predictions is the story of Gore's personal journey: from an idealistic college student who first saw a massive environmental crisis looming; to a young Senator
facing a harrowing family tragedy that altered his perspective, to the man who almost became President but instead returned to the most important cause of his life - convinced that there is still time to make a difference. With wit, smarts and hope, AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH ultimately brings home Gore's persuasive argument that we can no longer afford to view global warming as a political issue - rather, it is the biggest moral challenges facing our global civilization.
And the trailer:
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Tea Party
You are invited to a tea party hosted by the lovely Miss Mermaid.
Other guests in attendance include: Mrs. My Little Pony and her daughter, Miss Dora, and Mr. Dragon.
Miss Mermaid will be sure to entertain you with her wild and action-filled tales of her day.
And have no fear, for Miss Mermaid is an excellent host and will make sure your tea cup is never empty.
Isn't is great to see your child's imagination at play? :o)
Other guests in attendance include: Mrs. My Little Pony and her daughter, Miss Dora, and Mr. Dragon. Miss Mermaid will be sure to entertain you with her wild and action-filled tales of her day. And have no fear, for Miss Mermaid is an excellent host and will make sure your tea cup is never empty.Isn't is great to see your child's imagination at play? :o)
Monday, January 01, 2007
Happy New Years!
Happy New Year everyone! I hope you had a good New Year's Eve. The Knight and I stayed home and invited a couple people over. We didn't do much, just watched tv and played some games, but we still had fun. I got a lot of knitting done ;o) Around 1am the Mermaid woke up and decided she wanted to join the festivities and we finally all went to bed at 2am. Now I am tired!
The Knight has today off from work so we will probably do some shopping. Have a good day everyone!
The Knight has today off from work so we will probably do some shopping. Have a good day everyone!
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