Nice Breasts

I absolutely love this advertisement.  Best for Babes has a wonderful website promoting breastfeeding.  What's better for your little ones?  I also love how Best for Babes doesn't judge for not breastfeeding - they recognize the barriers that women face which often leads to not breastfeeding.

Best for Babes has an article posted called "Booby Traps" at http://www.bestforbabes.org/breastfeeding-booby-traps/.  One of the cultural booby traps mentioned in this article is the negativism women experience when they "throw in the towel" after attempting to breastfeed, writing that women are "damned if you do and damned if you don't."  This article calls all women to "beat the booby traps."

We joined a summer CSA (Community Supported Agriculture)

We just joined a summer CSA for $250.  I just purchased a half share this summer to see how it goes.  Plus we grow some of our own veggies in our backyard so I don't want too much food.  CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture.  It is a great way to support local farming and reduce carbon emissions (AKA- from shipping food and driving all over the place.)  It is important to me that my family does our part to improve the health of our environment and ourselves.  This is one small step in that direction.  And, the food from the CSA we joined is organically grown -  even better!

Want to know more about CSAs?  Click below.  I posted links to two local CSAs (Concord/Charlotte area.)
http://www.coldwatercreekfarms.com/
http://www.poplarridgefarmnc.com/

Transitioning from two naps to one

My daughter, the worlds best napper, has just lost her "worlds best" title.  She will be 18 months old in two days.  I think she is transitioning from two naps to one nap a day.   As I type this, she is in her bedroom, fussing and refusing to nap.  Her traditional first nap is at 10:30 but for the last two days she has protested it.  So, today I am trying a different tactic - I waited until she started to get still and cuddly then I decided she was ready for her nap.  We went to her bedroom at 11:00.  I read to her (always do this before nap or bedtime) then I nursed her (I usually only do this before bedtime.)  I nursed her hoping it would help calm her.  When I laid her down she fussed less than she did the past two days.  But now it is 11:48 and she just cranked it up loud.  Oh no.  This is not fun.  The stress.  I hate this part of being a mommy.  But, I love just about everything else.

Update:  After 45 minutes of talking, fussing, then loud crying she got quiet.  Asleep at last!  Whew, that was rough for us both.

Life with a 18 month old and working full-time

I just started my new job and I am now balancing work and being a mommy to one sweet little girl.  Am I up for the challenge?  I sure hope so.  My head spins and my stomach knots up when I think about what I am taking on.  It won't be easy.  But, I do have a great support system and with only one child it should be manageable.  My parents and my husband's parents live very close (about 10 minutes away.)   They are our volunteer daycare providers.  (Lucky us!)  I am very thankful for their help.

I don't think anyone realizes how hard it is to be a parent until they become one.  Yesterday, I was home all day with my daughter yet my house is still what I consider "a mess."  How is this possible?  Well for starters, when my daughter is awake, I focus my attention on her.  And, if I'm not focusing on her, she will come over to me and demand my attention in her toddler way - with whining and clinging to my legs.  Then, when she is napping, I must be quiet.  She is a light napper.  No dishes or clanging or vacuuming during naptime for sure!

I will say this though, I think an 18 month old is a lot easier than a 3 month old.  Sure she runs around and I have to keep her from killing herself daily BUT she usually takes naps.  And she can play by herself.  And she sleeps at night!  So, am I ready for baby number two?  Not yet.  I gotta get the working mom thing down first.  Then, we can talk about it!

Mama's Milk - Perfectly Made for Baby

My daughter, now almost 18 months, just got over a stomach bug that consisted of diarrhea and probably stomach aches. Last time she had a stomach illness, she was 16 months old and her pediatrician told me that breastfeeding her probably made it milder. There is research that has found that breastfed babies (even those that are over one year old) don't get as sick with gastrointestional illnesses as children who are not breastfed! Wow. I already knew a slew of reasons to breastfeed my child, and now I have learned one more. I am not at all surprised by this though. Human milk is the perfect food for a human baby. It makes perfect sense to me.

Click here to view an article about how important breastfeeding is to baby and mother. One reason stated in this document is a 21% reduction in infant mortality after the first month.

Click here to see 101 reasons to breastfeed your child!

Home Canning in Glass for Your Health

I am beginning to learn about canning (in glass jars.) It is an old art and a sustainable practice. It is also healthier than eating food in cans from the store. Glass is a wonderful way to preserve food. Food tastes better in glass and you don't have to worry about any harmful chemicals leaching into your food. Even Martha Stewart's website warns about eating too many canned foods from the store. Click here to read the article on the Martha Stewart's website that warns the interior coating of some cans contains BPA (bisphenol A). This Martha Stewart article states, "Animal studies have linked low doses of BPA to obesity, diabetes, and breast cancer. However, the FDA has approved the use of BPA." This is not the first time I've read these warnings on BPA and it is enough for me to avoid aluminum-canned foods whenever possible, especially for my daughter.

The following website has wonderful information on home canning:
www.homecanning.com/can/ALBasics.asp
Martha Stewart's website also has a more basic outline on how to can:
www.marthastewart.com/article/canning-tips?autonomy_kw=canning

Low acid foods and high acid foods are prepared differently. For high acid foods (fruits, picked foods, and tomatoes) it is a much simpler process. To can with high acid foods, heat the jars in boiling water, add the food to the jar, seal the jar, then boil jar and entire contents for the specified time in the recipe. According to www.homecanning.com, low acid foods should be canned using a pressure canner. Not following proper canning techniques may result in the food spoilage and won't be safe to eat. If you are unsure if your food is properly canned but the lid is sealed (test this by taking off the rim and see if the lid is still tight) just store in the refrigerator.

So far I have only canned baby food in little Kerr jelly jars I purchased at our local grocery store. I have stored them in the refrigerator because they are low acid foods and I don't have a pressure canner, nor did I use anything close to proper canning technique. I simply placed the freshly steamed and blended hot veggies in jars, sealed them, then boiled them. When I have more time though I want to properly can tomatoes and pickles using the recipes below. And, after reading the Ball information on canning baby food, I'm thinking I probably should put the prepared baby food jars the freezer unless I'm going to use them soon.

A few canning recipes to try:
Tomatoes, whole or halved in water
Martha Stewart's Sweet and Spicy Bread and Butter Pickles

Carseat Safety Tips

Getting a car seat properly installed is not as easy as the manual may make it seem. Sure you can get it buckled in but is it snug and do you have your child in there tight enough? Safe Kids Worldwide does free car seat inspections (and even installations in Concord.) Our local fire department offers this service through Safe Kids every Monday. Go to www.safekids.org to find out about this great service and other information about keeping your little one safe. For a direct link to car seat check events near you, CLICK HERE.