Halloween

This was my little one's second Halloween.  But, it was actually the first one that she could enjoy.  And enjoy it she did!  I was so surprised that she did not fight me when we put her costume on.  When we previously tried on her costume she was not so eager and she hated putting on the hood. 

Halloween she put on her costume and proudly showed it to her grandparents.  It took her a few houses before she got into the trick or treat rhythm.  As we moved from house to house she picked up her pace and even added s skip to her gate.  She proudly took the candy and put it into her bucket.  She even uttered the word treat here and there.

Once we got home we were challenged with getting her into the house.  She wanted to keep going.  If it would not have been so cold outside we could have kept going. 

Now the challenge is explaining to her that every time she goes outside she does not get a treat. 

Sleep Routines

I guess you could say that when I saw the word "routine" in relation to sleep I was a little skeptical.  Every article that I read discussed using a routine.  I thought ok that is great but how can that get my child to sleep.

Well, about a month ago we started a routine at bedtime and it has paid off (sort of).  Every night we put on her jammies and night diaper.  Then we have a little snack before we sit down to do flash cards and read books.  Once we finish reading, we have her brush her teeth and give her a drink of water.

We then collect her favorite toy (Mickey Mouse) and tell her that we are going to lay her down in bed.  We each give her a hug and a kiss good night and tell her that we will see her in the morning and blow her a kiss as we walk out the door.

So far, she goes to sleep on her own without a problem.  It is the staying asleep that is a problem.  Sometimes she sleeps through the night, but mostly she wakes up once or twice.  Usually, she wakes up at 5 am and will not go back to sleep on her own.  So, this part of the routine is still a work in process and open to suggestions.

We have since implemented part of this routine for nap time.  I play on the floor with my daughter for awhile and I tell her in a few minutes it will be nap time.  As soon as it is 1 o'clock I tell her that it is time to read a story and then take a nap.  I carry her into her room and read to her while we rock.  Once the book is finished I tell her that I am going to lay her down and I will see her when she wakes up.  We have been practicing this routine for about 4 days now.  I have been met with some resistance, but eventually she falls asleep. 

I guess my skepticism and desire to see what the hype regarding routines was worth it.  I would love to know it anyone else follows a routine or if they have a way to keep their little one sleeping through the night!!

New Phone

Well, I finally have a new phone, again!!   My old phone is an iPhone.  I have had it for 2 years and for 2 years I have barely been able to make a phone call.  I have more rollover minutes than the law should allow.  But, what good are rollover minutes when your phone call does not go through or gets hung up on??

A few months ago My husband bought me a new iPhone.  I was pretty excited to try it out.  I loved my old phone except for calling people (isn't that the whole purpose of having a phone).  Well, when I tried it out I had to wait for ever to send a text (just like the old phone).  I got disconnected and could not make the calls (just like the old one).  And don't get me started on the whole antenna thing (be careful how you hold your phone). Needless to say, I did not like it and sent it back. 

So now we are trying out the Motorola Droid.  So far, I can text.  I can make a phone call.  I do not get disconnected.  And I do not have to be careful how I hold it when I want to make a call.  Let's see how happy I am as time flies.  I wonder if anyone else has the Droid and how they like it.

Garage Sale

I think that I have finally recovered from our garage sale last weekend.  It was so hot and humid, I thought I would pass out.  It took us the whole day of our garage sale to empty all of our totes and price the things that were not priced.  Who knew it was so much work.

The nice thing is that my mother in law, sister in law and myself unloaded a whole lot of stuff.  Oh yeah, we made a little money too.  That was nice.

We priced stuff pretty low just to get rid of it (we did not want to pack it up again).  At the end of the sale we packed up lots of clothes and household goods and donated them to our local shelter.

The inside of the house is still a little bit messy.  Who knew that your entire house becomes a disaster site when you have  a garage sale!!!

I am thankful that I finally got some rest and that it is over with!

Father's Day

I hope that everyone had a great Father's day.  I wish a Happy Father's day to my dad, brothers and husband.  This is a day to appreciate the men in our lives.

I appreciate my father for all that he has done.  He is the one that raised all five of his children.  My mother died when I was young.  He could have let our relatives raise us, but he chose to do it.  It was not easy and we went without many things.  One thing that I never lacked was the feeling of being loved.

I am grateful to have a wonderful husband.  He loves and adores his daughter and always has such joy when he sees her little face. He is gentle and patient with her to no end.  He loves me and has made it possible for me to spend the first year of our daughter's live at home with her.  He makes us feel safe, loved and cherished.

I am blessed to have great brothers who love their children and their family.  They would do anything for their families and have always done so in the past.

I guess Father's day is not just a day to give cards and presents, but a day to reflect and be thankful for the wonderful men in our lives.

SpaghettiO's recall

SpaghettiO's Recall 2010

WASHINGTON — Campbell Soup Co. is recalling 15 million pounds of SpaghettiOs with meatballs after a cooker malfunctioned at one of the company's plants in Texas and left the meat undercooked.
The Agriculture Department announced the recall late Thursday. Campbell spokesman Anthony Sanzio said the company is recalling certain lots of the product manufactured since December 2008 "out of an abundance of caution" because officials don't know exactly when the cooker at the Paris, Texas, plant malfunctioned. Officials believe it happened recently but aren't sure, he said.
The meatballs that went through the cooker did not get the requisite amount of heat, according to the company.
Recalled are certain lots of three varieties of the pasta product often consumed by children: SpaghettiOs with Meatballs, SpaghettiOs A to Z with Meatballs, and SpaghettiOs Fun Shapes with Meatballs (Cars).
The USDA said there are no reports of illnesses associated with the product and Sanzio said the company has received no customer complaints to date.
The recalled products have "EST 4K," as well as a use-by date between June 2010 and December 2011 printed on the bottom of the can. The products were manufactured between December 2008 and June 2010 and distributed to retail establishments nationwide.
Sanzio said the company believes there are about 35,000 cases of SpaghettiOs subject to the recall on the market right now. He said USDA announced the recall of 15 million pounds because that is all of the product that has been manufactured since December 2008. Much of it has likely been consumed.
Consumers with questions about the recall can call Campbell's Hotline at (866) 495-3774.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/18/spaghettios-recall-2010-c_n_616831.html

Worst Dining Experience

Have you ever looked forward to going someplace to only be disappointed when the event arrived?  Last night my daughter and I took my husband to Hooters for Father's day (that is where he wanted to go).  He ordered some hot drummies and I ordered the special boneless hot wings and fries.  I ordered then half plain and half hot (so that the baby could have some chicken).

Thank goodness I also packed some peas and strawberries for the baby.  The meal was so terrible, she refused to eat the chicken.  The drummies were tiny, the fries were cold and the boneless wings were like shoe leather. 

When I say shoe leather, I am not exaggerating.  The boneless wings were so dried out that I could not even cut through them with the knife.  By the way, silverware did not come with the meal.  I had to ask for it long after I was served.

I am not complaining because it was Hooters.  I like the food at Hooters, normally.  But, this was by far the worst meal that I have ever eaten.  I know the economy is tough, but terrible service and lousy food is no way to entice the population to part with their hard earned money!!

Bumps and Bruises

It seems like every day there is a bump, bruise or a scratch.  I have a little girl.  Little girls are not supposed to run and fall.  Or, crawl across concrete and rock beds.  It is  a crazy cycle.  She runs, she falls, she cries.  I pick her up, she stops crying.  I put her down and we start all over again. 

I thought that you dressed little girls up in cute outfits and bows.  Then they stayed clean and pretty all day.  NOT.  I honestly expect my child to be messy and get dirty.  In fact, the cuter the outfit, the messier I expect the day to be. 

What I did not expect is that my little girl was going to want to dig in the dirt, crawl on the fireplace, play in the rocks, climb on everything and jump whenever and wherever she wants.

Whatever direction she decided to take her life, I will support her.  I just hope that it isn't one of a daredevil!!!

The Art of Repitition

I often wonder if my daughter really knows what her name is!  I tell her to be careful so many times in a day that I would lay money that she thinks that is her name. 

It is funny that as a parent we often find ourselves sounding like a broken record. Only we don't really realize that until we have said something for the eight hundredth time.

Sometimes we don't realize that we have taught our children something until we see them do that.  I see my daughter walking around picking up her dolls and toys, hugging them then patting them.  We hug her all of the time, but I am not quite sure where the patting came from.  Then one day I was holding her and rubbing her back, then I patted her back and suddenly realized it must have come from me.

Watching her grow and imitate life has certainly been teaching me a valuable lesson or two.  Be carefule of your actions because little eyes are ALWAYS watching.

Baby Blanket Recall

A recall has been issued for 44,000 baby security blankets sold exclusively by Target. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced the recall on May 18 due to a possible choking hazard.
The Giraffe security blankets are manufactured by Rashti & Rashti of New York, NY and were sold in Target stores nationwide.

According to the CPSC, the balls on top of the giraffe's horns can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children. To date, there have been no injuries reported.

Description: The recall involves the pink "I Love You" security blanket with a giraffe plush head. The blanket measures about 14 inches wide by 14 inches in length. "I Love You" is embroidered on the blanket. Style number Y22230H and "Just One Year a division of Carter's" are sewn into a label on the blanket.

Target stores carried the Giraffe security blanket from January 2009 through August 2009 for approximately $9.
There are Target stores locally in Smithfield and Warwick, RI, but they are not accepting returns and have not sold the recalled item since the summer, 2009.
Do not bring the blanket to a Target store for a refund.
If you have this baby blanket, take it away from your child immediately. The manufacturer will provide a full refund. Call  Rashti & Rashti toll-free at (888) 594-3730 between 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

Discovery

One thing that I absolutely love about Spring is that everything is new,  For me it is a time of rebirth and discovery.  This Spring is even more special.  It is the first spring that my 13 month old will be mobile enough to go outside.

The weather has been so nice the last few days that I have taken the baby outside.  I put her on the grass and waited to see what happens.  She sat in the grass and lifted her legs slightly as the grass tickled her legs.  She kept alternating legs as if it would keep the grass off her delicate skin.

Her next adventure was to grab the grass.  First, she just brushed it with her hands.  As she became more accustomed to her surroundings, she grabbed the grass with both hands and then sprinkled the pieces back on the lawn, just to watch the pieces fall.

Her adventure had no boundaries.  She crawled (because she did not feel like walking) across the grass until she came upon a pine comb.  She was so enthralled with this discovery that she immediately tried to put it in her mouth.  I had to do some anticipation that with each discovery, there would be a plan to put it in her mouth.

I found this Spring to be so much more enlightening than in the past.  I loved watching her movements and excitement.  I am so grateful for these opportunities knowing that next Spring will be even more different than this.

Tylenol Recall

Once again there is another Tylenol recall for children's Tylenol, Motrin and Benadryl.  The McNeil product recall website lists which products are being recalled by NDC number.  This is a voluntary recall because some of the products do not meet their quality standards. You should not administer any of these products.  Some of the products may have a higher concentration of the active ingredients. Other products may contain inactive ingredients that may not meet internal testing requirements.

I went to my  medicine cabinet and pulled out my bottle of Benadryl dye-free allergy medicine and looked up the NDC number.  Much to my surprise it was a match.  It is amazing the emotions that go through you when you realize that you have a recalled product.

I don't seem to freak out when I realize that I have a product that has been recalled (had this happen when the big peanut butter epidemic was happening).  But, when it is a product that I have used for my child I really begin to panic.  I hate giving her any medicine of any type because I am always afraid that the dosage will be wrong.

When I read the recall reason that there may be a higher concentration, I really freak out. I begin to think of all of the scenarios. I could have given this to my daughter and put her to sleep and had her never wake up.  How scary is that. 

And to think that had I not have been searching through Twitter today I would have missed it.  Maybe I am just paranoid, but I take my child's medicine very seriously.

Sleepless Part II

My sleepless saga is ongoing.  I have received a lot of helpful hints from all kinds of people.  One thing that most people had in common was that they would not let their  child cry either.  Other people warned me against picking up my daughter saying that was not a good idea. 

About a week ago I decided to lay on the floor next to the crib.  I could reach my hand through the rails to soothe my daughter while she was laying down.  She didn't like the idea of me sticking my hand through the rails.  She pushed my hand out of the crib.  So, I just laid there on the floor.

After a little time passed she would fall back asleep.  We do this a couple times a night.  The highlight of it all is that she is no longer screaming at night.  She doesn't even cry now.  I lay on the floor and she lays in her bed, rolls around for a little while, then falls asleep.

I know, I was told that this too is a bad idea because I will have to break her from getting used to having me there at night. I was told that I need to go in her room when she cries, rub her head and leave.  Then when she cries wait 10 minutes, go back into her room and repeat.

The more that I think about this last piece of advice, the more frustrated I become.  I am sure that if I asked my father if I was held when I was a baby, I am sure that he would say yes.  I am pretty sure that I outgrew being rocked and as an adult still fell loved.  So, I accept the advice from all of the others: let my baby know that she is loved.  If she needs me to hold her, I will.  If she needs to be rocked, I will.  And if she needs my to be near, I will.

I know there will come a day when she has grown and I will reflect on these days.  I would hate to look back and wish that I had held her more!!

Sleepless in Michigan

I am not certain how many days have passed by, but I am positive that I miss sleeping through the night.  It started about a week and a half ago when my daughter broke out in an allergy rash.  I can understand her waking up crying.  She did not feel good. 

Now, her rash is almost gone.  But, three nights ago she started waking up a couple times a night SCREAMING at the top of her little lungs.  It is not the kind of cry that I can let her "cry it out".  She screams so loud that she starts to hyperventilate.

I go into her room and try to soothe her.   Laying her back down, giving her a pacifier, stroking her head and telling her to go back to sleep is not cutting it.  I end up changing her diaper (which is soaked and has no room for another drop) and then rocking her until she calms down and falls asleep.

Everything that I have read says that this is normal for this age.  It could be night terrors or separation anxiety.  I lean towards the latter.  Considering that she is still clinging onto me with a firm grasp even when I put her back down to sleep.

I know everyone says, "whatever you do, DO NOT pick them up".  I have a hard time not picking her up when she is screaming.  I know the difference in her cries and there is something clearly wrong for her to scream.  I am open to any other feedback or ideas that anyone might have for a screaming 13 month old!!

Idiot drivers

Why is it that it only takes one little thing to set your day off and not in a good way?  My morning started out good.  Sunshine and 80 degrees with a slight breeze, awesome. 

My daughter ate lunch without a fight today.  That is always a good thing.  Then we headed out to Sam's, Babies R' Us and to get the car wash.  All went well until the drive home.

Why is it that the person that pulls right out in front of you and slams on their brakes (because you are now to close to them) and then flips you off when you go around them?  That has always confused me.  I have often thought that maybe I am the only person that this ever happens to.  I don't know why it angers me so, but IT does.  It especially bugs me when I have my child in the back seat. 

So, now I am home and my blood pressure has returned to normal (it took a little chocolate to help stabilize it).  I guess it is true what they always say.  It is not the big things in life that are the most troubling, it is the little things!

Rash

I have managed to make it 13 months without having to learn about a food allergy.  I spent the morning trying to figure out what was going on with my little ones face.  Last Friday we started out with diaper rash and a few speckles on her chin, lip and by her eye.  Saturday and Sunday came along with more and more speckles.

This morning we woke up with more speckles, I decided a trip to the doctor was in order.  I originally thought it was teething.  My daughter always breaks out in diaper rash with teething.  I thought the spots around her mouth were also due to teething.

Then the paranoia set in.  What if it is impetigo or eczema (it is hereditary).  What if she touched her diaper rash and somehow spread it to her face. I know ridiculous.  Sometimes I feel like I am a hypochondriac.

I was relieved to find out it was a food allergy (after all the worrying).  We have surmised that it is the juice that I gave her.  And all it took was an unhappy baby and 3 sleepless nights!!

Ipad thoughts

I have been listening to all of the hype surrounding the Ipad.  It really does sound like a cool new gadget.  I have an Iphone and sometimes I think that a bigger version of it would be pretty neat.  So my husband and I went to Best Buy to look at them.

I was asking my husband who would want to spend money (I rely on almost all free ones for my phone) on all of the app's for the Ipad?  He explained to me that one has to pay for the software that they get on their computer.  After all, it isn't free.  I guess he got me there.

I do like the idea of watching a movie or reading a book using the Ipad.  It would be good to let me little one watch movies; at least until she drops it and breaks it.  The size of it is perfect for both of these activities. The ease of flipping the pages and looking at the screen for a movie are attractive features.

One thing that I don't like is that there is no way to prop it up.  It would be neat to look up a recipe (and not have to print it) and prop up the Ipad in the kitchen to use as a cookbook.

All and all it is a cool gadget.  The major downfall is the price.  I think that if I were going to spend that kind of money, I may as well buy a computer!

Spirit Airlines

I am sure that I am not the only person that is disappointed with Spirit airlines new charge for carry on bags.  I saw the segment on the Nightly News and then read the article about Spirit airlines new policy.  I think that it is ridiculous to charge up to $45 for a carry on bag.  I guess that the only saving grace is that if you can fit it under the seat, then it is free.

But, what about Bulk head seats or emergency row seats.  There is no seat in front of you to stow luggage.  I guess you really have to pay a premium if you car about the safety of the plane (emergency row) or your comfort (bulk head).

What really infuriated me was when the CEO was asked about people flying with children.  He was asked, "What about people flying with children?"  These people have car seats, strollers, extra bags (filled with diapers, wipes, toys, etc.) and coolers (formula and food).  The CEO's response was: "carry less, pay less."  How unbelievable.  I guess what he is saying is that he does not want people with children to choose his airline.  Unless, of course you would like to hand over a fortune to the airline.

Spirit used to be a inexpensive way to fly.  By the time a person is done paying all of the fees for Spirit, they may as well pay full price and fly on a real airline like United or Northwest.

I think as a society, we owe it to ourselves to boycott Spirit.  All the other airlines are watching this.  If consumers find this practice acceptable, then there is nothing stopping the other airlines from following suit.  Where will the fees end?

Enough is Enough.

A New Do

Today I went to the hairdresser for an overdue cut and color.  While my color was processing, I chatted with my hairdresser about the joy of motherhood for someone in her forties.  All of the sudden a customer chimed in with her contributions.  She is a grandmother that watches her grandbabies.

I was expressing how tired I was.  How for the last year I have been sleep deprived and wondered if my life was ever going to resume.  The woman in the salon started laughing and said not for a long time. 

I then began talking about how I have to get a head start to go to the bathroom because before I know it I hear the pitter patter of little knees coming down the hallway followed by her daddy chasing her.  Is nothing sacred?  The woman in the salon then said "it is kind of like trying to poop with a baby on your lap."  I started to laugh.  There were a few other anecdotes that we shared.

Part of me laughed at how funny it sounded to hear someone else say the many things that I have been thinking.  For so long I have thought, "am I the only one that experiences these things?"  or "am I a bad parent because no one else talks about these things?"

I feel like my spirit has lifted.  Not just because I have a new hairdo (and my daughter barely recognized me without a pony tail) but, because I am not alone in the experiences that I have been experiencing!!

Easter

Well Easter has come and gone.  The eggs are cracked and eaten, baskets made and emptied and the chocolate, well we just keep eating that.  I swear we have done nothing but eat since Good Friday.  This was a fun Easter for us.  Last year our daughter was only 5 weeks old. 

This year she looked in her basket and grabbed exactly what she wanted:  her chocolate bunny.  Only this bunny (aka Reester bunny) was filled with peanut butter.  She dove right in and bit into the ear and then the peanut butter.  When she was finished, she handed the wet, melted bunny back to us.

I enjoyed watching all the little ones (nieces and nephews) looking at their baskets in search of their favorite goodies.  It takes me back to childhood.  Sometimes that is a fun place to be, lost in memories.

Spring Cleaning

It is that time once again.  My husband and I were in the basement this weekend looking at all of the stuff that we have accumulated.  How do two people accumulate so much crap?  Then you throw a child into the mix and you may as well multiply by two.

I am afraid that I have passed my love for clothing onto my daughter.  I have two totes and about three bags of clothes just for her.  Luckily, she is only one and her clothes are little.  I am thinking of a mom to mom sale, but I would like to attend one first to see how they operate.

But, I digress.  Back to the big picture.  What to do with all of our extra stuff.  I guess we can have a garage sale or two or three or four this summer! Then donate some stuff. 

I think that the hardest thing for me is separation anxiety.  I kept this because it was sentimental.  I kept that because someone gave it to me.  Oh, and I can't get rid of that because I bought that when I was 16.  I wish that I was like so many other people and did not grow attached to my stuff.  Somehow, it seems easier to sell it in a garage sale because then I know it is going to a happy home!! 

All I know is that we need more room and some stuff needs to go.  Perhaps, I will just close my eyes and start pitching.  This could be theraputic!!

Food Revolution

I just finished watching Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution.  I can not believe that the children on the show new so little about the basics.  I am hoping that it was all staged for television and that the kids were told not to answer the questions.  How could these kids not know what a tomato or potato are?

I do think that the show has a lot of good points.  The schools should be concentrating on the health of the children and less about feeding them the cheapest food.  In my state we pay taxes which fund the schools.  I think as a parent we should have the right to veto or approve what goes on the menu of our children.

Another good aspect of the show is to educate people on what to eat.  I am sure that we all know the things that we should eat:  veggies, lean meat, chicken, fish, fruits, etc.  But not everyone knows how to prepare them.  Myself, I am often stumped at what to put together.  I feel like I make the same 5 dishes over and over again.

I am open to any suggestions that will educate society on what to eat and how to prepare it.  I wish Jamie Oliver would come to my kitchen and show me a few recipes!!

Bumkins Junior Bib

Product Reviewed: Bumkins Junior Bib

Product Price: Retails for $13.95

Product Features:

# Made of Bumkins' proprietary waterproof fabric
# Stain and odor resistant
# Adjustable Velcro closure
# Features catch-all pocket
# Machine washable, hang dry
# Measures 14.5" across, 14" from neck down, 17" sleeve to sleeve
# Sized to fit 1 year - 3+ years
# PVC, BPA, Phthalate & Vinyl Free
# Made in the USA
# Available in 25 fabric prints

We bought a new bib this week for our 1 year old daughter. In the past we have used the Bumkins bibs. Our daughter has figured out if she tugs on the bib enough, she can take it off and throw it on the floor. This triggered us to try something new.

I saw a friend using the junior bib and thought that I might give it a try.

Pros: freely flowing material, easy to get on and off (by the adult), harder for my child to get off, has a pocket at the bottom to catch dropped food and it is easy to clean.

Cons: hard to find them and they are a little bit on the pricey side.

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Amazon

Baby Sling Recall

WASHINGTON (AP) - More than 1 million baby slings made by Infantino were recalled Wednesday after claims linking them to three infant deaths.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission said babies could suffocate in the soft fabric slings. The agency urged parents to immediately stop using the slings for babies under 4 months.
The recall involves 1 million Infantino "SlingRider" and "Wendy Bellissimo" slings in the United States and 15,000 in Canada.

Infantino President Jack Vresics said the company has been working closely with the commission on its sling concerns. "Our top priority is the safety of infants whose parents and caregivers use our products," Vresics said in a statement. He said the company would offer a free replacement baby carrier, activity gym or shopping cart cover to any affected consumer.
The slings wrap around the chest so on-the-go parents can carry their babies or just stay close as they bond with their infants.

Earlier this month, CPSC issued a broad warning about sling-style baby carriers, saying they pose a potential suffocation risk to infants, especially babies under 4 months. Babies who had a low birth weight, were born prematurely or had breathing problems such as colds were also at risk. At the time, the commission did not single out a specific type of sling or manufacturer. It said it had identified or was investigating at least 14 deaths in the last 20 years associated with baby slings.

In Wednesday's announcement, CPSC said three of the deaths occurred last year and were linked to Infantino slings. It did not say exactly how the babies died. In its general sling warning earlier this month, CPSC said infants can suffocate in two different ways: --A sling's fabric can press against a baby's nose and mouth, blocking the baby's breathing and suffocating a baby within a minute or two. --The other scenario involves slings where the baby is cradled in a curved or "C-like" position, nestling the baby below the mother's chest or near her belly. That curved position can cause a baby who doesn't have strong neck control to flop its head forward, chin-to-chest, restricting the infant's ability to breathe. "The baby will not be able to cry for help and can slowly suffocate," warned the commission.

Slings have been promoted by baby experts as a way to calm fussy babies or for nursing moms who can breast-feed their little ones in the sling. Consumer Reports raised concerns about slings back in 2008, and had called on CPSC to issue a recall of the Infantino SlingRider. Safety advocates criticized the curved position that the baby can fall into while inside the sling. Baby experts and breast-feeding advocates insist that not all slings are dangerous. They say carriers that keep a newborn baby solidly against the mother's body, in an upright position, are safe.

The Infantino slings being recalled were sold from 2003 through 2010 at several retailers, including Target, Babies R Us and Burlington Coat Factory.

Consumers can call Infantino at 866-860-1361 to receive a free replacement product. There are no federal safety rules for baby slings. Infantino says it's working with CPSC and ASTM International, an organization that sets voluntary safety standards, to develop a standard for slings.

The CPSC specializes in product safety, and often negotiates agreements with manufacturers for recalls, when necessary.

Fever

My darling daughter is running a fever today.  She has a runny nose and a poopy butt.  All of these factors indicate teething.  She has 4 and numbers 5 and 6 are on deck.  My little one is not a drooler at all.  When she is teething, she gets a serious diaper rash, poops like mad and has a runny nose.  I am told that I am fortunate not to have a drooler.  I guess the jury is still out on that one.

Sometime watching her teething process reminds me of when I had a puppy.  That puppy chewed on everything, so does my daughter.  She chews on her toys, the coffee table, her crib and my chin.  Basically, she chews on everything except her teething toys.  I have run out of options on how to get her interested in them. 

Well, we will ride out this storm as we have done with the last 4 teeth.

More than One Child?

After having my nieces over for the day and night I wonder how people do it.  How do people successfully raise more than one child?  I have one and she is a handful on a daily basis.  Having 3 kids for one day presented its own challenges.  There are days when I think that I am ready for more than one child and even more days when I am happy to have one.

My parents raised 4 boys and 1 girl.  I have no idea how my mother survived that.  We are are all approximately a year and a half apart.  I am sure that my mother faced the same challenges that I do daily only hers was multiplied.  Everyone keeps saying that the more  children you have, the easier it gets.  I keep looking at my little girl and thinking, how is that possible?  I suppose at some point the kids will play with each other and take care of each other.

Although challenging, it was fun to have a houseful of kids.

The First Year

Well, the first year has come and gone.  It seems like I was just preparing for the big 1 year birthday.  Everyone tells you that the first year goes by so fast.  But, when you are in the fog of sleepless nights and endless feedings you think that surely everyone must be playing a cruel joke.  It felt like forever before I got a good night sleep. 

I didn't realize that it would be difficult to watch my baby become a toddler.  I already miss the days of holding her and wondering if her first smile was just gas!  I remember wondering if she was ever going to move, then roll over and then crawl. 

It has been an exciting year.  I would not have traded it for anything.  I feel fortunate to have been able to spend the whole year with my little girl especially when I hear my friends talk about all of the things that they have missed.

Bathing

Up until today, I thought that giving my baby a bath was a good thing.  I take every precaution to make sure she is safe, the water temp is just right and that she is clean.  I thought.  I watched the Today Show's episode this morning pertaining to bacteria and bath toys.  To say that it grossed me out was an understatement.  They explained how toys with a hole in them build up bacteria on the inside because you can never fully clean them.  In some cases, the toys built up black sludge.  These are the toys that children put into their mouth, squirt into their eyes as well as all over their bodies.  So we think that when we clean them with soap, they are getting a nice clean bath.  They also said to store the toys outside of the bathroom because flushing the toilet from up to 20 feet away can contaminate the toys.  I will be sticking to the solid bottom duckies and cleaning them with rubbing alcohol.

For more on the story:
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/35685464#35685464

Customer Service

Why is customer service these days so terrible?  One would think that with the state that our economy is in, businesses would be bending over backwards to help you out.  Not so, I have found out.  Out of 4 companies that I have written in the last month, only one has responded.  I am really annoyed considering the businesses are child related.  I emailed Gerber's customer service to tell them about some baby carrots that I purchased.  The carrots were dried out all around the seal.  I kept the container for a week just in case they needed the numbers on the container.  They never responded.  I emailed the customer service department of the American Red Cross concerning a pacifier thermometer that they sell.  The one that I received does not work.  I am still waiting to hear back from them,  I also made a purchase from Little Maven.com.  On 2/25 they had a sale from 12-5 EST of 25% a purchase and free shipping.  I emailed their customer service department and called the customer service department.  The customer service phone number gave me a voice mail.  Four days later I did hear back from Little Maven and they did make the correction. The company that responded the quickest was Safety 1st.  We purchased a wall mounting kit that had a bent screw and one that broke when we tried to use it.  They responded and sent me a new product immediately.  I wish more companies took their customers seriously and responded quicker.

Sleep II

The sleep project has been underway for 3 nights now.  So far so good.  My little one still wakes up 2 (11pm and 2:30am) times a night but, the first wake-up she searches for her binky and then falls back asleep.  Wake up number 2 is a little more painful.  She wakes up, sits up in bed and then starts crying.  I wait and watch her on the monitor to for a few minutes to see if she is going to fall asleep.  After a few minutes, I go in and lay her back down and tell her that she has to go back to sleep.  I go back to bed where I watch and listen to her.  Her crying has made it down to 10 minutes and then she falls asleep.  I guess I will work on pacifier dependence once we master the whole sleep thing!!  One thing at a time.

Sleep

For some crazy reason my daughter has decided that she does not want to sleep through the night.  She will go right back to sleep if I pick her up and hold her.  But, the very minute I lay her down, her eyes pop open, she sits up in bed and starts screaming.  I have tried the "no-cry" method in the past and that has gotten me to where I am at today.  I have basically jumped up to get her when she cries to keep her from waking my husband.  A couple of people have suggested trying to let her cry it out.  I tried this last night and it was painful.  She woke up at 11:30pm.  I rubbed her head, laid her down and told her to go night-night.  Then I walked out the door.  She sat right up and started crying.  I repeated this after 5 minutes.  Again after 10 minutes, then 15, then 20.  She would get tired, lay down, get quiet and then suddenly start crying.  It was as if she realized she was about to fall asleep and hurried up and woke herself up.  One hour and 10 minutes later she gave in and fell asleep.  Why does trying to get your baby to sleep at night using the "cry" method make you feel like such a bad parent???  Let's see what tonight brings.  I hope that she has a peaceful night of sleep.

More information:
http://www.parents.com/kids/sleep/tips/how-do-i-teach-my-child-to-sleep-alone/

Swimming

Yesterday I took my 11-month old daughter to her swimming lessons. Thankfully, I asked my sister-in-law to come with me. I asked her because I wasn't quite sure what to expect and also I wanted her to video the moment. My daughter took the water like and old pro. She kicked and splashed like a champ. She did not want anything to do with the mini kick board and did pretty good with the water noodle. Her favorite part of the lesson was picking from a toy to play with. I was glad to see that this tiny tot class had mostly younger children instead of being closer to the 4 year old age limit. At the end of the lesson we went in to shower and change. It was at that point that I realized if I did not have an extra set of hands, I would not have been able to get my suit off and change my clothes. Hopefully, things will become a little easier when my little one can stand on her own. I guess a little planning goes a long way.

Rewards

Either I wasn’t listening or I wasn’t paying attention when my friends and relatives had their children. I have thought that motherhood was part of some secret society (the kind that kept everything quiet). I don’t remember ever hearing any of them complain about the many sleepless nights, breastfeeding, teething or fevers. Now that I am a new mom, I often find myself wondering how did they do it? More importantly, how did they do it with more than one? I find myself tired and challenged every day. And still I wonder why I wasn’t forewarned how difficult motherhood would be. Part of me thinks that it is revenge. Each mother before me that went through it keeps quiet and silently watches someone new struggle through it. I love being a mother and I absolutely love watching each and every new development happen. There is nothing else on this earth more gratifying than watching your child learn something new. Nothing more precious than the day they recognize you and know who you are. And there is nothing more rewarding to a parent than the hugs and kisses that you get each day. All of these endeavors make each daily struggle worthwhile.

Croup

Somewhere during the week and half of endless nights due to the teething process the croup snuck in.  From what I have read its’ duration is 5-7 days.  I am not quite sure what day we ate on right now.  All that I know is that there are many nights without sleep, loss of appetite and fevers.  I have tried everything to get my little one to drink her milk, but she is not interested.  I just keep trying to feed her every chance I get. I give her some water and Pedialyte just to keep her hydrated.  I have gotten cool moist washcloths to get the fever down.  I am hoping for a good night sleep for my baby.  It is not good for her to have her sleep broken up so much. 

Bay County teen charged in death of newborn boy

I find news of any infant death very disturbing. This local story really bothered me http://www.mlive.com/news/bay-city/index.ssf/2010/02/bay_county_teen_charged_in_dea.html. A local teen gave birth to a baby boy and then threw him into a trash dumpster behind a store...in December. I can understand a teenager not wanting to become a mother but, I can not understand why she didn't give him away. I know that we have a law that within 72 hours after giving birth a person can leave the baby at a safe haven (fire dept. or hospital) with no questions asked. Why wouldn't this girl do that? She obviously did not want to be a mother. To go through carrying a baby for 9 months and then just to throw him away, I just don't understand that. There are so many people that want to have a baby and can't. My heart goes out for that poor baby crying out in the winter for someone to help and no one heard him.

Strollercize

I just watched a clip on Regis and Kelly about Strollercize http://www.strollercize.com/. I am all about trying to get this body of mine back into shape after baby. But, I am not sure about strollercizing. It looks like it could be a great work out but, here in Michigan (at least where I live) there are not a lot of parks to walk in. There are neighborhoods to walk in. I am not sure what kind of reaction I would get from my neighbors or the passerby's as I lunged myself throughout the neighborhood. I am wondering if anyone in a city outside of New York has tried this out. It looks like Central Park is the ideal place for this exercise.

Diaper Rash

Whenever my daughter cuts a new tooth she breaks out in a terrible diaper rash. It seems that the only thing that works is Boudreaux’s butt paste. I originally received this product as a shower gift and wasn’t quite sure what to make of it. But, when my daughter broke out in her first rash I took her to the doctor and was quite surprised when the doctor recommended this product as well. I rinsed out the baby wipes with water to keep from irritating my baby’s delicate bottom. Then I would dry her off with a cloth diaper. Once she was dry I would put on the butt past and loosely put on her diaper. Also, I would change her much more often. Within a few days, her diaper rash was cleared up.

Recalls

This morning on the Today show they had a segment about recalls. In the segment, they mentioned http://www.recalls.gov/. This website has a link to recalls for consumer products, food, medicine, cosmetics, meat and poultry, motor vehicles, car seats, environmental products and boating. It also has a link for recent recalls and a link to sign up for email. The email feature allows you to pick which organization you want to receive new information and safety recall information from. I subscribed to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). I usually feel like I am the last to know information about recalls. Now that I have a baby, it is really important to stay on top of recalls.

Theme Parks

During our vacation last week, my mother and father in law took my 10-month-old daughter and myself to 3 theme parks in Florida.  We visited Busch Gardens, Sea World and Universal studios.  We had a good time at each park.  We rented a stroller at Busch and Sea World and took our umbrella stroller to Universal.  The nice thing about the rented stroller was the large canopy that kept the sun off of my daughter. I took Germ-X wipes and wiped down the stroller before I placed her into it.  I also put some 50-block sunscreen on her to prevent her from burning her sensitive skin.

Each day was in the 70’s and had a little breeze.  I put a bucket hat on her head each time that she went outside.  She has very little hair and I was afraid she would get sunburn.  One thing that I learned about hats is to try to find one that has a strap under the neck.  We had one gust of the wind and it blew over the fence.  Thanks to a helpful employee at Busch, the hat was retrieved.  We packed a bottle, some formula, puffs, juice, bottled water, sippy cup, diapers, wipes, changing pad and a change of clothes.  It was a long busy day, but lots of fun!

Time to fly

     Last week I took my 10-month-old daughter on vacation.  Her and I flew to Florida.  I had no idea what to expect and was extremely nervous about flying alone with her.  I spent the week prior packing.  Every time I fed her or dressed her, I put that article in the suitcase so that I would not forget.  I packed away a few toys early in the week so that when she was on the plane they would seem like new toys. 

     I decided to take a stroller on the plane.  This was perhaps one of the best ideas.  I was torn between using a stroller or a baby carrier (Bjorn).  The stroller worked out great.  I packed a diaper bag and a carryon for myself.  Some things that I packed in the diaper bag were night diapers, extra diapers, bottle, formula, baby food, baby spoon, bib, wipes, gas drops, wipes for her nose, blanket, toys, books, extra pacifiers, pacifier holder, puffs as well as a change of clothes.

The flight went well.  My daughter played with her toys for a little while on the first flight and fell asleep until we landed.  I changed her to a night diaper in between flights.  On the second flight, she played with a few other toys, ate some puffs and some of my breakfast.  A little while later, I gave her a bottle.  She played for a little longer than fell asleep until we landed. 

     Next time I travel, I would only take the diaper bag.  It really became difficult navigating a stroller diaper bag and carry on.  It would not have been too bad if it weren’t for the fact that I arrived at one end of the terminal and departed out of the complete opposite end and had 50 minutes to get to the next flight.  That was a little nerve wracking.