What to Inspect When You're Expecting
A handy health checklist for pregnancy
The cause for alarm is real: pregnancy is the most critical time for establishing your baby's well being. It's also the time when you're vulnerable to the alphabet stew of harmful chemicals in the world, which are increasingly making their way into women's bodies, wombs and breast milk. But there is good news: Simple measures like eating organic, nutrient-rich foods before and during pregnancy can help safeguard you and your child while being kinder to the planet. And today it's easier than ever to find products that promote healthy pregnancies and peace of mind.
Start by taking a few of the 10 steps below -- along with that all-important vow to seek eco-progress, not perfection. It's a great beginning.
1. Say yes to organic food
2. Get pretty without chemicals - Use natural or organic personal-care products
3. Cotton to organic cotton (without pesticides or insecticides)
4. Furnish wisely - Teflon- and Scotchgard-type water-and-stain repellents, which contain harmful chemicals. Also try to avoid furnishings with polyurethane foam, a product that's often treated with toxic fire retardants called PBDEs
5. Meet the new rules (kinda the same as the old rules) - Don't smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, use illicit drugs, guzzle caffeinated drinks -- or clean the kitty litter. Avoid pumping GAS or try NOT to breath it in while near the pump. Avoid changing ink or toner while pregnant. Make your own cleaning agents with these recipes from EarthShare and EarthWays, two nonprofit environmental organizations.
6. Shun mercury - (Here's a complete list of mercury in fish.)
7. Let bugs and weeds be - Pregnancy is no time to use pesticides or insecticides
8. Pick your pans - Teflon pans are easy to clean, but they're manufactured with chemicals like perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a water contaminant and suspected carcinogen that may also cause birth defects. Use non-Teflon pans with a splash of olive oil instead. Five-cent solution: Shop secondhand for cast iron, glass, or stainless steel pans.
9. Renovate later - toxins like lead, VOC's, and even asbestos can be very dangerous for you and your baby
10. If it stinks, it stinks - When something smells terrible, it often is terrible for you. EXAMPLES: cigarette and cigar smoke, bleaches, conventional household cleansers, refinery smoke, solvents, paints, paint thinners, glues, oven cleaners, air fresheners, vinyl shower curtains and even new carpets!
More green parenting tips from Grist.org:
Grist.org special series on parenting and health.
Easy, affordable recipes for baby and toddler food.Advice on kid-proofing your cleaning supplies.
The danger of plastic baby bottles.
This article was shared from http://green.msn.com/Articles/article.aspx?aid
AtlantaMams's Note: I was told by a friend, who has a masters in public health, that Gerber and Medela do not use BPA in any of their baby products.
And I would also like to add that it is safest NOT TO USE PLASTIC IN THE MICROWAVE, especially while pregnant. Use corning wear or porcelain in the microwave.
We all want to be a Healthy Mama!!!
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Friday, May 30, 2008
I had a Birthday
My family was so sweet to take me out for my birthday.
It's been a great year being a New Mom!
It's been a great year being a New Mom!
Monday, May 19, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Friday, May 9, 2008
Needing Help
Calling All New Mom's...
As you have transitioned from nursing (or formula) exclusively to adding in some solids, were you confused? Did you read several books or did you just guess?
I nursed exclusively for 6 months. Then we added in one "meal" of organic rice cereal per day. I would pump and then add the cereal with the breast milk to thicken it. We did that for about 3 or 4 weeks and then at 7 months we began baby food. He had sweet potatoes on his 7 month birthday. For several weeks we were only doing one solid per day and one rice cereal meal per day. We introduced new foods in isolation to test for allergies. Then I went to two solids per day. I was sick of pumping so I started adding the rice cereal in with his first solid (usually fruit but not always) so he would still get plenty of iron. He is still nursing at every feeding so I know I don't have to plan fully balanced meal plans just yet. But I am getting mixed information out there. And when the food is too thick or the days I've tried to do three solids... we have dealt with constipation. I am making my own baby food (I'll blog about this some time cause it's been very interesting) but I try to add a lot of water to make sure that it's not too heavy.
Anyway... I'd love to hear from yall. My son is 8&1/2 months old now and I know he's healthy even despite my guessing and second guessing. He's at the highest part of the growth chart for height and weight, so I know he's fine! I just want to do what is BEST!!!
Some of my friends are doing three solids a day, some are doing dairy already (I was told to wait until the 1 yr mark), some are doing protein, and some are just jumping to table food. My doctor (same as Camilla's) says not to go to table food until they are 2 years old. My son has not had very much solid food yet. Just a limited list of items. He's done great with it though. He eats well. We have not had the typical issues of babies not liking veggies. (As you may have noticed from the pictures down there from a few blogs ago). He did fine with Green Beans, liked the Peas, and loves Avocados! He's also had carrots, pears, sweet potatoes, plum, and banana's. This week we will try Mango.
Click on the COMMENT button and post your reply or advice. You don't have to be a blogger or a member to leave a comment. Just post as 'anonymous' if you don't have a blogger name. THANKS for chatting about baby food!
As you have transitioned from nursing (or formula) exclusively to adding in some solids, were you confused? Did you read several books or did you just guess?
I nursed exclusively for 6 months. Then we added in one "meal" of organic rice cereal per day. I would pump and then add the cereal with the breast milk to thicken it. We did that for about 3 or 4 weeks and then at 7 months we began baby food. He had sweet potatoes on his 7 month birthday. For several weeks we were only doing one solid per day and one rice cereal meal per day. We introduced new foods in isolation to test for allergies. Then I went to two solids per day. I was sick of pumping so I started adding the rice cereal in with his first solid (usually fruit but not always) so he would still get plenty of iron. He is still nursing at every feeding so I know I don't have to plan fully balanced meal plans just yet. But I am getting mixed information out there. And when the food is too thick or the days I've tried to do three solids... we have dealt with constipation. I am making my own baby food (I'll blog about this some time cause it's been very interesting) but I try to add a lot of water to make sure that it's not too heavy.
Anyway... I'd love to hear from yall. My son is 8&1/2 months old now and I know he's healthy even despite my guessing and second guessing. He's at the highest part of the growth chart for height and weight, so I know he's fine! I just want to do what is BEST!!!
Some of my friends are doing three solids a day, some are doing dairy already (I was told to wait until the 1 yr mark), some are doing protein, and some are just jumping to table food. My doctor (same as Camilla's) says not to go to table food until they are 2 years old. My son has not had very much solid food yet. Just a limited list of items. He's done great with it though. He eats well. We have not had the typical issues of babies not liking veggies. (As you may have noticed from the pictures down there from a few blogs ago). He did fine with Green Beans, liked the Peas, and loves Avocados! He's also had carrots, pears, sweet potatoes, plum, and banana's. This week we will try Mango.
Click on the COMMENT button and post your reply or advice. You don't have to be a blogger or a member to leave a comment. Just post as 'anonymous' if you don't have a blogger name. THANKS for chatting about baby food!
Monday, May 5, 2008
IRON MAN
OK, so I'm a romantic comedy kinda gal. I would never have opted to see a MARVEL COMIC book based film on my own choice. My husband and his family wanted to go see the movie IRON MAN last week, so I went. I did not expect much, in fact, I really didn't think I'd care about it. To my surprise it was a great film. (Disclaimer: I would not recommend it for children because there are a few sexual scenes toward the beginning of the movie.)
There is a powerful scene where IRON MAN flies into a terrorist situation. He is sorta untouchable. It's the Hero moment. He puts out one hand, in the direction of the bad guys and takes care of them. Then he looks the other way and put out his other hand and takes care of some other bad guys over there. He protects all of the hostages and takes down all of the evil doers in a powerful way.
I'm sitting in a dark movie theater, late at night, holding my sleeping baby, and God spoke to me thru this silly movie. It was like an "Ah-Ha" moment. If you are a believer in Jesus, and you are filled with God's Holy Spirit, you have been given power. We have the power to step into a situation of fear, sickness, evil, etc... and put out our hand and say NO to those things. We have been given the task and calling to bring peace and hope. So often, it's easier for me to believe in or buy into the power of a movie hero and yet doubt the power and authority of God. Why is that? It's even more REAL!
When he says there is NOTHING too big that He can't handle... He means it. When He says that if we ask anything in the Name of Jesus and believe that it will be done... He means it. When He says that his suffering, death, and resurrection are for our salvation and healing... He means it. When He says that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever... He means it.
He's saying to me, in this movie, "My Power Is Real". If we think IRON MAN is cool because he saves the day... There is One who is far surpassing. Jesus' power is real. I'm inspired by this movie and by what the Lord spoke to my heart in that theater. I'm not looking to be a hero. But I do want to bring hope, peace, healing, freedom, and the power of God into hopeless situations.
There is a powerful scene where IRON MAN flies into a terrorist situation. He is sorta untouchable. It's the Hero moment. He puts out one hand, in the direction of the bad guys and takes care of them. Then he looks the other way and put out his other hand and takes care of some other bad guys over there. He protects all of the hostages and takes down all of the evil doers in a powerful way.
I'm sitting in a dark movie theater, late at night, holding my sleeping baby, and God spoke to me thru this silly movie. It was like an "Ah-Ha" moment. If you are a believer in Jesus, and you are filled with God's Holy Spirit, you have been given power. We have the power to step into a situation of fear, sickness, evil, etc... and put out our hand and say NO to those things. We have been given the task and calling to bring peace and hope. So often, it's easier for me to believe in or buy into the power of a movie hero and yet doubt the power and authority of God. Why is that? It's even more REAL!
When he says there is NOTHING too big that He can't handle... He means it. When He says that if we ask anything in the Name of Jesus and believe that it will be done... He means it. When He says that his suffering, death, and resurrection are for our salvation and healing... He means it. When He says that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever... He means it.
He's saying to me, in this movie, "My Power Is Real". If we think IRON MAN is cool because he saves the day... There is One who is far surpassing. Jesus' power is real. I'm inspired by this movie and by what the Lord spoke to my heart in that theater. I'm not looking to be a hero. But I do want to bring hope, peace, healing, freedom, and the power of God into hopeless situations.
For those of you who are like, "Whoa... she just went so deep" I want you to know that I washed and dried the spare set of car keys today. So it's all good.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Clean and Dirty
Is is just me?
I see things as either CLEAN or DIRTY.
Gas Station - Dirty
Public Restroom - Dirty
Shopping Cart - Dirty
Park Bench - Dirty
Right? I love my hand sanitizer. The other day in the car, I did not have it with me, so I defaulted to friction to try to sanitize my hands. I do worry about germs, but beyond that, I just like to have clean hands. Some people don't worry about germs and this is clear because of the invention of "sneeze guards". These people will take food out of a package (at their own house) and then lay the food on the OUTSIDE of that same package. The same outer packaging that the bagger guy, check out lady, the stock boy, the trucker, the shipper, the factory worker and the warehouse rats have all touched. It's NOT clean folks!! Opt for the counter. Even if you think you counter is not clean, it's probably a better option than the food wrapper. That is unless you are the woman who sets her purse down on the public bathroom floor, the park bench, and the shopping cart and then brings home e-coli and staph to set your oh-so-not-clean purse on the kitchen counter. Yummy. What's for dinner? Rachael Ray is not impressed.
Well, I just needed to vent about this topic. Am I the crazy one here?
Are germs a myth to some people (Ok, Ruth Allen I know your answer already)?
I will say that I LOVE the places like Publix and Kroger that now have sanitizing wipes right there beside the shopping carts! Thank you for trying not to give my child a virus while I shop. You Rock!! I love you for that! (Plus it makes the cart handle feel less slimy!) OK, off my soap box. No pun intended.
I see things as either CLEAN or DIRTY.
Gas Station - Dirty
Public Restroom - Dirty
Shopping Cart - Dirty
Park Bench - Dirty
Right? I love my hand sanitizer. The other day in the car, I did not have it with me, so I defaulted to friction to try to sanitize my hands. I do worry about germs, but beyond that, I just like to have clean hands. Some people don't worry about germs and this is clear because of the invention of "sneeze guards". These people will take food out of a package (at their own house) and then lay the food on the OUTSIDE of that same package. The same outer packaging that the bagger guy, check out lady, the stock boy, the trucker, the shipper, the factory worker and the warehouse rats have all touched. It's NOT clean folks!! Opt for the counter. Even if you think you counter is not clean, it's probably a better option than the food wrapper. That is unless you are the woman who sets her purse down on the public bathroom floor, the park bench, and the shopping cart and then brings home e-coli and staph to set your oh-so-not-clean purse on the kitchen counter. Yummy. What's for dinner? Rachael Ray is not impressed.
Well, I just needed to vent about this topic. Am I the crazy one here?
Are germs a myth to some people (Ok, Ruth Allen I know your answer already)?
I will say that I LOVE the places like Publix and Kroger that now have sanitizing wipes right there beside the shopping carts! Thank you for trying not to give my child a virus while I shop. You Rock!! I love you for that! (Plus it makes the cart handle feel less slimy!) OK, off my soap box. No pun intended.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
My Update
A few things from the past few days....
ANOTHER MESS:
1. Bananas make a mess! We know this. And yet, I had this crazy idea that feeding him mushy little bites of a banana would allow me to get my grocery shopping finished in peace. It was the biggest mess I've seen. Ok, maybe not as bad as the Peas! But seriously it was all over his face, neck, arms, hands and all over the cute shopping cart cover!! I even had an older lady stop me to teach me that if I opened the Banana from the bottom (instead of the normal way that God intended) that all of the little strings would stay attached to the peal and the baby would really like that better because they don't like the strings. Thanks. I'll try that next time when I'm not in the middle of Publix and the baby is not fussing! He hated it because it was not liquid.
CRAZY DAY:
2. I was out and about with several stops one day this week and realized I had NO MORE diapers. I'm a terrible Mom, I thought. There were NON in the diaper bag -- thus the bags very name is screaming, "You're a complete failure". There were NON in the car. What is a Mom to do? Use what you got. I took two size 1 diapers and attached them to make a size 3 diaper. Not kidding!! You lay one under the other about 1/2 down and use the attachment things to stick the bottom one to the top one. Then I flipped the whole thing over and applied LOTS of clear tape where the two diapers met to hope and pray that it would hold in the stuff. I even made an additional rig to take in the car in case we needed a spare along the way. I am happy to say it sort of worked and I now don't feel like a failure. It was a chance to be creative I guess.
SIDEBAR VENT:
3. I HATE the new car commercial that states, "Do you know what life is? Life is High School with Money!" I HATE IT!! I want my life to be so much more. I cannot think of anything more superficial than High School and Money. What temporary pleasure-seekers are they targeting? It's sad... really sad. Life is a gift from God and we all have a great purpose and plan. It's not just about some unattainable standard of coolness. Ridiculousness.
CIRCUS O'Babies:
4. In my one-day-a-week child care job... last week I had 11 kids. The oldest was 4. There were 6 in diapers (including mine). But this week my husband came with me and helped out. It was great to have him there. I still don't know how John&Kate +8 do it day in a day out!! They must have help.
PLAYGROUP:
5. My little baby love and I had a great play group last weekend at our town square and then we all went to get ice cream together (which was mainly for the Moms). It was really fun!!
6. The Baby has been trying to pull up and stand up (with in the week and half that he's been crawling now). Well, he succeeded today! He pulled up on his own TODAY!!!! Such a big boy!
ANOTHER MESS:
1. Bananas make a mess! We know this. And yet, I had this crazy idea that feeding him mushy little bites of a banana would allow me to get my grocery shopping finished in peace. It was the biggest mess I've seen. Ok, maybe not as bad as the Peas! But seriously it was all over his face, neck, arms, hands and all over the cute shopping cart cover!! I even had an older lady stop me to teach me that if I opened the Banana from the bottom (instead of the normal way that God intended) that all of the little strings would stay attached to the peal and the baby would really like that better because they don't like the strings. Thanks. I'll try that next time when I'm not in the middle of Publix and the baby is not fussing! He hated it because it was not liquid.
CRAZY DAY:
2. I was out and about with several stops one day this week and realized I had NO MORE diapers. I'm a terrible Mom, I thought. There were NON in the diaper bag -- thus the bags very name is screaming, "You're a complete failure". There were NON in the car. What is a Mom to do? Use what you got. I took two size 1 diapers and attached them to make a size 3 diaper. Not kidding!! You lay one under the other about 1/2 down and use the attachment things to stick the bottom one to the top one. Then I flipped the whole thing over and applied LOTS of clear tape where the two diapers met to hope and pray that it would hold in the stuff. I even made an additional rig to take in the car in case we needed a spare along the way. I am happy to say it sort of worked and I now don't feel like a failure. It was a chance to be creative I guess.
SIDEBAR VENT:
3. I HATE the new car commercial that states, "Do you know what life is? Life is High School with Money!" I HATE IT!! I want my life to be so much more. I cannot think of anything more superficial than High School and Money. What temporary pleasure-seekers are they targeting? It's sad... really sad. Life is a gift from God and we all have a great purpose and plan. It's not just about some unattainable standard of coolness. Ridiculousness.
CIRCUS O'Babies:
4. In my one-day-a-week child care job... last week I had 11 kids. The oldest was 4. There were 6 in diapers (including mine). But this week my husband came with me and helped out. It was great to have him there. I still don't know how John&Kate +8 do it day in a day out!! They must have help.
PLAYGROUP:
5. My little baby love and I had a great play group last weekend at our town square and then we all went to get ice cream together (which was mainly for the Moms). It was really fun!!
6. The Baby has been trying to pull up and stand up (with in the week and half that he's been crawling now). Well, he succeeded today! He pulled up on his own TODAY!!!! Such a big boy!
Thursday, April 24, 2008
I love Peas
I Love Peas.....
From My Head Down To My Knees...
More Peas, Please!
Sometimes the pictures tell the whole story!!!!!!
PEAS EVERYWHERE
Monday, April 21, 2008
He's Got the Moves
Some of the baby milestones seem to happen over night. It is like, they just wake up one day and decide to go for it!
He is crawling today! Yes, Crawling!
Yesterday he made one crawl forward toward my mom. But today he's really crawling forward to reach a toy (or mom's cell phone) several feet away! The first time he did it this morning, I was in the other room. Daddy saw him crawl 3 or 4 moves and he called me into the room. The baby-love's doing so good.
He had been crawling backwards for about two months, as you may remember from another posting. But between rolling and the military crawl, he could get to whatever he wanted.
Now... look out... full speed ahead.
It' like each movement is so thought out, so calculated, so intentional. He will get ready, see the goal (the bright toy a few feet away) and GO! Oh, how I learn a lot from watching my baby grow. It's amazing!!
Thanks for sharing all of this with me = )
He is crawling today! Yes, Crawling!
Yesterday he made one crawl forward toward my mom. But today he's really crawling forward to reach a toy (or mom's cell phone) several feet away! The first time he did it this morning, I was in the other room. Daddy saw him crawl 3 or 4 moves and he called me into the room. The baby-love's doing so good.
He had been crawling backwards for about two months, as you may remember from another posting. But between rolling and the military crawl, he could get to whatever he wanted.
Now... look out... full speed ahead.
It' like each movement is so thought out, so calculated, so intentional. He will get ready, see the goal (the bright toy a few feet away) and GO! Oh, how I learn a lot from watching my baby grow. It's amazing!!
Thanks for sharing all of this with me = )
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Saturday, April 19, 2008
8 Months Old Today
Our little babylove is 8 Months old today!! That's hard to believe.
This week
-he has learned how to sit up on his own (from rolling, to the crawl/all-fours, to sitting up)
-2nd tooth came in
-moving more and more each day
-loves to walk with help
Bye, bye month 7
This week
-he has learned how to sit up on his own (from rolling, to the crawl/all-fours, to sitting up)
-2nd tooth came in
-moving more and more each day
-loves to walk with help
Bye, bye month 7
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Embarrassment
Today's Embarrassments
1.) Realizing that my 2nd-to-top button was unbuttoned
2.) Tripping on an uneven sidewalk while other people watched (didn't fall all the way down but made a not-so-graceful leap!)
3.) Having to go through a metal detector and then being scanned over by a guard (because my shoes had a metal loop... I promise I don't carry weapons)
4.) Seeing someone you know when you don't want to see anyone you know is hard enough, but in my case today -- it was my principal from high school
5.) And finally, trying to drive straight out of my parking space only to find that there WAS a small median (what do you call those things... the parking space cement rectangles that you cannot in fact drive over) so you just put that sucker in reverse and act like no one heard that awful thump
The End.
1.) Realizing that my 2nd-to-top button was unbuttoned
2.) Tripping on an uneven sidewalk while other people watched (didn't fall all the way down but made a not-so-graceful leap!)
3.) Having to go through a metal detector and then being scanned over by a guard (because my shoes had a metal loop... I promise I don't carry weapons)
4.) Seeing someone you know when you don't want to see anyone you know is hard enough, but in my case today -- it was my principal from high school
5.) And finally, trying to drive straight out of my parking space only to find that there WAS a small median (what do you call those things... the parking space cement rectangles that you cannot in fact drive over) so you just put that sucker in reverse and act like no one heard that awful thump
The End.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
New Blog Friends:
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Friend of a Friend Blog by Jon:
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Cool blog site. Funny writer!
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Blog Rebellion
So... Long Time, No Blog!
True confession... I have been in a blog rebellion. Have you ever?
I got frustrated one day in the lower-than-expected number of hits and comments on my blog and I just lost the will. "Is anyone really reading it?", I wondered. One thing led to another and I just didn't blog for a few weeks!
I'm back!!
Now I have many blogs stored up and bursting to be posted. It's like not emptying your digital camera card. Do you ever "write" blogs in your mind... while driving... while walking... while doing whatever...
Comments or No, I'm back and ready to post!
True confession... I have been in a blog rebellion. Have you ever?
I got frustrated one day in the lower-than-expected number of hits and comments on my blog and I just lost the will. "Is anyone really reading it?", I wondered. One thing led to another and I just didn't blog for a few weeks!
I'm back!!
Now I have many blogs stored up and bursting to be posted. It's like not emptying your digital camera card. Do you ever "write" blogs in your mind... while driving... while walking... while doing whatever...
Comments or No, I'm back and ready to post!
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