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Trinity Jade- Smarty Pants

I love my daughter, she amazes me to no end. All the laughs, smiles and tears that we share are just immeasurable in intensity. Who knew the mother-daughter bond could be so compelling and completing. Trinity is almost 26mo now. She recently started signing the alphabet with me. She loves it, it's one of her favorite games. Next to hiding with Daddy, pretending our fingers are tickle worms, reading and puzzles. She forms the letter "A" (a closed fist) with her hand and says,"Mommy, look at this, A!" Then I'll do "B," she'll copy me and so on. Granted she is only accurately signing about 8 letters, she is still attempting to sign them all. I don't really care so much that she is signing considering she is a hearing child, but the fact that she is so into it reinforces her knowledge and fluency of our alphabet. She knows the alphabet and recognizes many written letters as well. She counts to 10, knows her left foot from right, knows most colors and is learning her shapes rather quickly. It's such an honor to be her educator in these first few delicate years. I can make sure that it is done in a manner that is acceptable to me. I really hate it for mothers who have to put their children in childcare programs and they miss out on these precious first years when our children are so innocent, so impressionable and so much stinkin' fun! Just had to get my brag on LOL

Why you should wear your baby

The above photo is my 4yr old nephew, Ryland wearing his 8mo old sister, Raeghan in a Mei Tie.

There are many styles of infant carriers today. There is a design for everyone's specific need and comfort. When my daughter was born I was lucky enough to have known about babywearing, the many types of carriers/slings, and the benefits for both my daughter and myself. In the first month of my daughters life I was adjusting to so much. Lack of sleep, fatigue, muscle soreness and the whole new world of motherhood. I hated the baby bucket (infant carseat that detches that you see so many children behing hauled around in). It was heavy without a child in it and extremely awkward. Wearing my daughter was so convenient and it felt so nice to have her near me all the time. One thing I particularly liked was the style of wrap I used ( a Moby Wrap). It bascially covered her entire body, creating a coccoon/womb type environment for her. She loved it and it kept unwanted touches from friendly strangers to a minimum. I was back in my pre-pregnancy clothes when my daughter was 9 months old. I attribute half of that to breastfeeding, and the other half to babywearing.

Need to get dinner made but the baby wants to be held? Want to go for a walk and there's really not a good path on your dirt road for your stroller? Just gotta run into Wal-Mart for 2 or 3 things and really don't want to lug that carseat out of the car? This is what I am talking about. Maybe Daddy needs to reconnect with your child at the end of his long working day? Oh and my favorite thing of all...hands-free breastfeeding. Yep, I said it, and it's amazing. Ever wanted to just walk around the mall with a fussy baby or a baby that is an olympic all day nurser? Put that baby in a sling, give em' the boob and no one is the wiser!

1. Wearing a baby is convenient. When we carry a baby in a sling, we can walk around freely and not have to worry about negotiating steps, crowds or narrow aisles with a stroller. Plastic "baby buckets" and removable car seats are heavy and awkward for parents, babies often look uncomfortable, and they are kept at knee level. A sling can block out excess stimuli when breastfeeding a distractible baby, and it allows for discreet nursing in public places. A sling can also double as a changing pad, blanket, or cushion when away from home. I've found my sling especially handy when negotiating busy airports with a small child and several bags! 2. Wearing a baby promotes physical development. When a baby rides in a sling attached to his mother, he is in tune with the rhythm of her breathing, the sound of her heartbeat, and the movements his mother makes – walking, bending, and reaching. This stimulation helps him to regulate his own physical responses, and exercises his vestibular system, which controls balance. The sling is in essence a "transitional womb" for the new baby, who has not yet learned to control his bodily functions and movements. Research has shown that premature babies who are touched and held gain weight faster and are healthier than babies who are not1. Mechanical swings and other holding devices do not provide these same benefits.
3. Babies worn in slings are happier. Studies have shown that the more babies are held, the less they cry and fuss2. In indigenous cultures where baby-wearing is the norm, babies often cry for only a few minutes a day – in contrast to Western babies, who often cry for hours each day. Crying is exhausting for both the baby and his parents, and may cause long-term damage as the baby's developing brain is continually flooded with stress hormones.3 Babies who do not need to spend their energy on crying are calmly observing and actively learning about their environment. Baby-wearing is especially useful for colicky or "high need" babies, who are far happier being worn, but placid, content babies and children will also benefit greatly from the warmth and security of being held close. 4. Baby-wearing is healthy for you! It can be challenging for new mothers to find time to exercise, but if you carry your baby around with you most of the day or go for a brisk walk with your baby in her sling, you will enjoy the dual benefits of walking and "weightlifting". A long walk in the sling is also an excellent way to help a tired but over-stimulated child fall asleep.	..>..>..>..>..>..>
5. Toddlers appreciate the security of the sling. Slings are usually associated with infants, but they can be very useful for toddlers as well; most slings accommodate children up to 35 or 40 pounds. The world can be a scary place for toddlers, who feel more confident when they can retreat to the security of the sling when they need to do so. Toddlers often become over-stimulated, and a ride in the sling helps to soothe and comfort them before (or after!) a "melt-down" occurs. It can be very helpful in places like the zoo, aquarium, or museum, where a small child in a stroller would miss many of the exhibits. 6. Baby-wearing helps you and your baby to communicate with each other. The more confidence we have in our parenting, the more we can relax and enjoy our children. A large part of feeling confident as a parent is the ability to read our baby's cues successfully. When we hold our baby close in a sling, we become finely attuned to his gestures and facial expressions. Many baby-wearing parents report that they have never learned to distinguish their baby's cries – because their babies are able to communicate effectively without crying! Every time a baby is able to let us know that she is hungry, bored or wet without having to cry, her trust in us is increased, her learning is enhanced, and our own confidence is reinforced. This cycle of positive interaction enhances the mutual attachment between parent and child, and makes life more enjoyable for everyone. 7. Slings are a bonding tool for fathers, grandparents, and other caregivers. Slings are a useful tool for every adult in a baby's life. It makes me smile when I see a new father going for a walk with his baby in a sling. The baby is becoming used to his voice, heartbeat, movements and facial expressions, and the two are forging a strong attachment of their own. Fathers don't have the automatic head-start on bonding that comes with gestation, but that doesn't mean they can't make up for this once their baby is born. The same goes for babysitters, grandparents and all other caregivers. Cuddling up close in the sling is a wonderful way to get to know the baby in your life, and for the baby to get to know you! 8. Slings are a safe place for a child to be. Instead of running loose in crowded or dangerous places, a child in a sling is held safe and secure right next to your body. Slings also provide emotional safety when needed, so that children can venture into the world and become independent at their own pace. 9. Slings are economical. Slings cost far less than strollers, front-carriers or backpacks. Many mothers consider the sling to be one of their most useful and economical possessions. Inexpensive used slings can be found in consignment and thrift stores, and new ones can be bought for about $25 -$50 (U.S.) - not bad for an item many parents use daily for two years or more! A sling can also be sewn for the price of a length of cotton, some rings and batting; sling patterns are available. 10. Baby-wearing is fun. Who doesn't love to cuddle a precious little baby? And when your baby is older, having her in the sling makes conversations easier and allows you to observe her reactions to the wonders of the world around her. It's also fun for baby, because when she is up at eye level, other adults notice and interact with her more. Your child will feel more a part of your life when she is in her sling, and you will find yourself becoming more and more enchanted with this special little person.

1	"Current knowledge about skin-to-skin (kangaroo) care for pre-term infants". J Perinatol. 1991 Sep;11(3):216-26.
2	Hunziker, U.A. and R.G. Barr (1986). "Increased carrying reduces infant crying: A randomized controlled trial". Pediatrics. 7:641-648.
3	Powell, A. "Harvard Researchers Say Children Need Touching and Attention", Harvard Gazette.

Chicken McWhat???

We all eat fast food at one point in time or another. I am just as guilty as the next person in this regard. I have however been trying to cut back on my family's exposure to chemicals and toxins through food. I feel that everything we put in and on our bodies affects us more than we are willing to admit. And some of us honestly just don't know. And then some of us just don't want to know. I have recently learned some very alarming things about the ingedients and processing of fast foods. This particularly struck a nerve within me because I have a toddler who more often than not will ask for nuggets...but bet your McNuggets, never again my friend...never again! And here's why!

The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan is a fascinating book that details the changing eating habits of Americans. I can't recommend it highly enough. It explains how, over the last 30 years, we have become a nation that eats vast quantities of corn – much more so than Mexicans, the original "corn people."

Most folks assume that a chicken nugget is just a piece of fried chicken, right? Wrong! Did you know, for example, that a McDonald's Chicken McNugget is 56% corn?

What else is in a McDonald's Chicken McNugget? Besides corn, and to a lesser extent, chicken, The Omnivore's Dilemma describes all of the thirty-eight ingredients that make up a McNugget – one of which I'll bet you'll never guess. During this part of the book, the author has just ordered a meal from McDonald's with his family and taken one of the flyers available at McDonald's called "A Full Serving of Nutrition Facts: Choose the Best Meal for You." These two paragraphs are taken directly from The Omnivore's Dilemma:

"The ingredients listed in the flyer suggest a lot of thought goes into a nugget, that and a lot of corn. Of the thirty-eight ingredients it takes to make a McNugget, I counted thirteen that can be derived from corn: the corn-fed chicken itself; modified cornstarch (to bind the pulverized chicken meat); mono-, tri-, and diglycerides (emulsifiers, which keep the fats and water from separating); dextrose; lecithin (another emulsifier); chicken broth (to restore some of the flavor that processing leeches out); yellow corn flour and more modified cornstarch (for the batter); cornstarch (a filler); vegetable shortening; partially hydrogenated corn oil; and citric acid as a preservative. A couple of other plants take part in the nugget: There's some wheat in the batter, and on any given day the hydrogenated oil could come from soybeans, canola, or cotton rather than corn, depending on the market price and availability.

According to the handout, McNuggets also contain several completely synthetic ingredients, quasiedible substances that ultimately come not from a corn or soybean field but form a petroleum refinery or chemical plant. These chemicals are what make modern processed food possible, by keeping the organic materials in them from going bad or looking strange after months in the freezer or on the road. Listed first are the "leavening agents": sodium aluminum phosphate, mono-calcium phosphate, sodium acid pyrophosphate, and calcium lactate. These are antioxidants added to keep the various animal and vegetable fats involved in a nugget from turning rancid. Then there are "anti-foaming agents" like dimethylpolysiloxene, added to the cooking oil to keep the starches from binding to air molecules, so as to produce foam during the fry. The problem is evidently grave enough to warrant adding a toxic chemical to the food: According to the Handbook of Food Additives, dimethylpolysiloxene is a suspected carcinogen and an established mutagen, tumorigen, and reproductive effector; it's also flammable. But perhaps the most alarming ingredient in a Chicken McNugget is tertiary butylhydroquinone, or TBHQ, an antioxidant derived from petroleum that is either sprayed directly on the nugget or the inside of the box it comes in to "help preserve freshness." According to A Consumer's Dictionary of Food Additives, TBHQ is a form of butane (i.e. lighter fluid) the FDA allows processors to use sparingly in our food: It can comprise no more than 0.02 percent of the oil in a nugget. Which is probably just as well, considering that ingesting a single gram of TBHQ can cause "nausea, vomiting, ringing in the ears, delirium, a sense of suffocation, and collapse." Ingesting five grams of TBHQ can kill."

Bet you never thought that was in your chicken McNuggets!

Is your child's life worth the risk?

Infant formula was designed to be a medical nutritional tool for babies who are unable to breastfeed. Formula does not fully meet the nutritional and immunity needs of infants, leaving their tiny systems flailing. An infant's immune system has three aspects: her own immature, developing immune system; the small component of immunities that passes through the placenta during natural childbirth (and to a lesser degree with premature births and cesarean sections); and the most vast and valuable, living portion that is passed on through mother's milk on an ongoing basis. Remove any of these components and you take away a vital support structure.

This brings us face to face with the safety and effectiveness of infant formula as a breast milk substitute. Is formula actually as safe as we have been led to believe? In fact, the answer is a resounding "no." In fact, the use of infant formula doubles the risk of infant death for American babies.

While the dangers of formula feeding aren't something you're likely to hear in your doctor's office, the conclusions can be derived through an examination of the available scientific research on infant mortality in the United States and across the world. There are studies showing artificial feeding's impact on overall infant death rates in both developing and undeveloped countries. While studies offering comparative death rates are not available for industrialized regions, there are numerous studies providing comparative occurrence rates for many illnesses and disorders in the United States and other industrialized nations. Many more reports are available extolling superior survival rates and decreased illness rates among breastfed infants, but only those with solid numbers are useful here. We can assemble the statistics from these studies to build a firm picture of the ratio of infant deaths for U.S. formula-fed babies against those who are breastfed.

And for any skeptics, here are the numbers in black and white: http://www.babyreference.com/InfantDeaths.htm

This was in Feb of 2006...

The Abbott health care company is recalling hundreds of thousands of bottles of infant formula distributed nationwide because they might not have enough vitamin C.

The recall is for approximately 100,000 32-ounce plastic bottles of Similac Alimentum Advance liquid formula and approximately 200,000 bottles of Similac Advance with Iron, Abbott spokeswoman Tracey Noe said Friday.

The bottles, distributed by Abbott's Ross Products division, are missing a special layer that keeps air out of the bottle, Noe said. When the oxygen enters the bottle, it causes the level of vitamin C to decrease over time, she said.

If infants drink formula without enough vitamin C for two to four weeks, they could start exhibiting symptoms of vitamin C deficiency, which include irritability with generalized tenderness, the company said in a release. So far, Abbott has received no medical complaints.

The Similac Alimentum Advance has stock code 57512, lot number 401895V and use-by 1 May 2007 printed on the back of the bottle; the Similac Advance with Iron has stock code 55961, lot numbers 40177RH or 40172RH and use-by 1 November 2007. Some of the bottles may have been included in Similac Advance Hospital Discharge Kits — stock code 58986 and lot number 41699D5 are printed on the back of the bear tag attached to the kit.

Abbott, formerly known as Abbott Laboratories, is based in suburban Chicago.

Consumers with questions can contact Abbott's Ross Products division at 800-624-3412.

And this...

February 23, 2006
A recall is being conducted by Mead Johnson Co. for its GENTLEASE powdered infant formula, lot number: BMJ19, use by 1 Jul 07. This lot was found to contain metal particles of up to 2.7 millimeter in size.

No illnesses have been reported to date. However, in the rare instance that an infant were to inhale the infant formula into the lungs, the presence of these particles could present a serious risk to the infant's respiratory system and throat.

Any injuries associated with this problem would be likely to show up within three to four hours. The symptoms could be varied depending on whether there is damage to the throat or lungs.

Damage to the throat or lungs may include coughing, difficulty swallowing or difficulty breathing.

If you may have fed this lot of GENTLEASE to your baby, and you have any concerns about your baby's health, you should contact your baby's physician immediately.

There were approximately 41,464 24-ounce cans of this lot of recalled product distributed, beginning on December 16, 2005, through many major retail stores across the country, so the consumer should concentrate on the code on the can rather than on the place of purchase.

The affected products can be identified by the lot number and expiration/use by date embossed on the bottom of the can of BMJ19, use by 1 Jul 07.

Mead Johnson and the Food and Drug Administration are currently investigating how the metal particles got into the infant formula.

Consumers who have a can of this batch of GENTLEASE powdered infant formula should not use the product and should contact Mead Johnson at 888-587-7275 immediately. -30-

This was in 2002. This is only one among MANY reasons that breastfeeding is the safer health choice for your child. This is just terrifying. What's worse is knowing that because these formula's are man made, at any point in time this could happen again. Is your child's life worth this kind of risk?

FDA ALERTS PUBLIC REGARDING RECALL OF
POWDERED INFANT FORMULA

The Food and Drug Administration today is alerting the public to the voluntary recall of powdered infant formula announced by Wyeth Nutritionals Inc., Georgia, Vermont. Certain lots of powdered infant formula manufactured between July 12 and September 25, 2002, may be contaminated with Enterobacter sakazakii. E. sakazakii is a foodborne pathogen that can in rare cases cause sepsis (bacteria in the blood), meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain), or necrotizing enterocolitis (severe intestinal infection) in newborn infants, particularly premature infants or other infants with weakened immune systems. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this contamination.

The powdered infant formula was distributed nationwide in retail stores and amounts to approximately 1.5 million cans. The affected products can be identified by an expiration/use by date, embossed on the bottom of the can of: 07 28 05, 08 28 05 and 09 28 05. The products also can be identified by a six-digit character embossed on the bottom of the cans. The first four characters include: K12N through K19N; L07N through L30N; and N03N through N25N. The products include:

* Baby Basics by Albertson's Infant Formula with Iron 2 LB (908g)
* Baby Basics by Albertson's Infant Formula with Iron 1 LB (454g)
* Baby Basics by Albertson's Soy Infant Formula with Iron 2 LB (908g)
* Baby Basics by Albertson's Soy Infant Formula with Iron 1 LB (454g)
* Baby Basics by Albertson's Formula for older infants with iron 1 LB. 15.7 oz (900g)

* Kozy Kids Infant Formula with Iron 16 oz (454g)
* Kozy Kids Soy Infant Formula with Iron 16 oz (454g)

* Hill Country Fare Infant Formula with Iron 32 oz (2 LB) 908g
* Hill Country Fare Infant Formula with Iron 16 oz (1 LB) 454g
* Hill Country Fare Soy Infant Formula with Iron 32 oz (2 LB) 908g
* Hill Country Fare Soy Infant Formula with Iron 16 oz (1 LB) 454g

* HEB Baby Infant Formula with Iron 32 oz (2 LB) 908g

* American Fare Little Ones Infant Formula with Iron 2 LB (908g)
* American Fare Little Ones Soy Infant Formula with Iron 2 LB (908g)
* American Fare Little Ones Formula for Older Infants with Iron & Calcium 1 LB 15.7 (900g)

* HomeBest Soy Infant Formula with Iron 2 LB. (908 g)

* Safeway Select Infant Formula with Iron 2 LB (908g)
* Safeway Select Infant Formula 2 1 LB 15.7 oz (900g)

* Healthy Baby Infant Formula with Iron 2 LB (908g)
* Healthy Baby Infant Formula with Iron 1 LB (454g)
* Healthy Baby Soy Infant Formula with Iron 2 LB (908g)
* Healthy Baby Formula for Older Infants with Iron 1 LB 15.7 oz. (900g)

* Walgreens Infant Formula with Iron 16 oz (454g)

* Parent's Choice Infant Formula with Iron 2 LB (908g)
* Parent's Choice Infant Formula with Iron 16 oz (454g)
* Parent's Choice Soy Infant Formula with Iron 2 LB (908g)
* Parent's Choice Soy Infant Formula with Iron 35oz (1 kg)
* Parent's Choice 2 Infant Formula with Iron 1 LB 15.7 oz (900g)

The contamination was first detected during a special E. sakazakii sampling FDA conducted at the Vermont facility. This special sampling and analysis is being conducted at all major, domestic manufacturers of powdered infant formula.

Consumers who have purchased the powdered infant formula are urged to return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact Wyeth at 1-888-526-5376.

The Universal Law of Attraction

The Universal Law of Attraction states: We attract whatever we choose to give our attention to--whether wanted or unwanted.

This Law is Universal because it does not matter who you are, where you live, what your religious beliefs are, what year you were born...the Law is true for everyone equally. It is as true as the Law of Gravity.

Most of the time, we attract by "default" rather than by deliberate choice. We just sort of go through our day, focusing on problems that need to be solved or on things that did not feel good nor seem right. In so doing, we are actually creating more problems, more of what does not feel good and more of what does not seem right.

Think of yourself as a huge magnet. The kind that pulls metal to itself from afar off. It doesn't "try" to attract, it simply does attract. It is the same way for us. Whether or not we are trying to attract, we ARE doing so all the time. (Except when we are asleep.) And we attract the likeness of what we think about. If we are thinking about a lack of something, we are attracting more lack (scarcity). If we are thinking about something we love, we are attracting more of what we love and enjoy. I know it sounds incredibly simple, and it is.

We humans are actually very powerful attractors and we can use this wonderful, god-given power to attract more of what we want in life-simply by paying attention to where we place our thoughts and desires.

An old proverb just came to my mind: "As a man thinks in his heart, so is he." Proverbs 23:7 It's interesting that the writer of this proverb says "thinks in his heart" because most of the time, we think that we think with our mind. However, it is truly from the heart where we do our thinking, our believing, our "vibrating".

It is from the heart that we attract. Picture your heart as a powerful magnet. The heart is the "vibrator" of all signals that attract.

Think of a radio. It has many different stations. To tune into a station you dial a specific frequency. As soon as we turn our attention to something (dialed it's frequency) it begins its journey to us.

To be rid of something you do not want in your life, simply tune in to a different vibration (frequency or radio station)--to something that you do want.

I see the Art of Deliberate Attraction as consisting of three parts:

1. Getting very clear about what it is I am wanting

2. Raising my vibration until it matches what I want

3. Allowing what I want to come to me

We have the opportunity to gain clarity in knowing precisely what we want, through the many "contrasts" that life offers us. The key to successfully using contrast is to observe it briefly and use it to help you decided what you do want. This takes a little practice, since our habit is to talk about, tell others about and focus on what we did not like.

It is usually part three that trips me up. I have held onto some self-limiting beliefs for a very long time-so long that I no longer recognize them, yet they are still vibrating below the surface, canceling out what I am wanting.

My "work" is to let go of all resistance and believe that what I am wanting will come to me--simply because I want it.

If you don't have something nice to say...then hide behind an anonymous title

It's amazing to me how much time people spend flaming other people simply because they are different. I'll tell you what, if ignorant people spent half the amount of time that they spend on criticizing and blindly judging others on more important issues such as, oh I don't know, say our planet, what a healthier world we'd live in. It saddens me, it deeply does that people are so miserable in their own lives that they take it out on complete strangers. It is one thing to get to know someone and form an educated opinion of them, but it is another thing to spew complete and utter lies about someone and then have your friends join your bandwagon of meanness and disrespect. Here's what I think...If you don't have something nice or honest to say, then shut your damn mouth. I for one am sickened by this display of ignorance and hate. What's worse, is posting ANONYMOUSLY to my blog with inaccurate accusations. It's one thing to feel how you feel, but to say it and hide behind an anonymous title just goes to show that you know that what you are saying is wrong. So here's a helpful hint, don't bother being an ASS to me on a blog that is fueled by love and a passion to help educate others. My comments are moderated therefore only you and I will have the pleasure of seeing how foolish you are. But thanks for once again making my day a great one. For it is every time I am treated with cruelty from another that I am affirmed in my lifestyle of attaining peace and being the complete opposite of you.

If your words aren't used to be helpful, educational or to better anything, than I have no use for them. Make a note of it, thanks.