Given my belief in karma, last week I was left to wonder whether I had wronged someone when, without warning, our hosting provider pulled the plug on my ability to publish. Despite the stress and frustration of the last several days, I'm happy to report that we're up and running again with a different, decidedly more friendly host. Thanks for your patience while we work out the final kinks of moving the site to a new home.Given my belief in karma, last week I was left to wonder whether I had wronged someone when, without warning, our hosting provider pulled the plug on my ability to publish. Despite the stress and frustration of the last several days, I'm happy to report that we're up and running again with a different, decidedly more friendly host. Thanks for your patience while we work out the final kinks of moving the site to a new home.
These days, Laurel is all about looking fancy and colorful (current favorite color = “pink and green and purple and blue and yellow and orange!”), and we’ve recently found a way to bridge her love of color and flounce with comfort through Twirly Girl’s bright and cheery clothing.
Today, Carole Arsenault of Newborn Nurses offers basic lessons on infant sleep:
"'Lack of sleep' is a phrase that most new parents are all too familiar with. The first few weeks at home with a new baby can be exhausting and overwhelming. Despite the happiness and joy a new baby brings, parents often find themselves eagerly anticipating the time when their newborn will sleep through the night.
My first visit to Florida was not a pleasant one. I was there against my will (the mere beginnings of my dysfunctional relationship with my postdoc advisor…), presenting data I barely understood for an otolaryngology conference (don’t try to say that 3 times fast). And I wasn’t alone in my suffering. I lured poor Jon to join me, with promises of calm beaches, nature excursions, and swimming with manatees. Little did we know that the hotel was simultaneously hosting Canadian Spring Break and Harley Davidson Week (hence the bargain hotel rates), and the manatees had long since swum off for cooler waters.
I think people who love hosting parties inherently have a bit of control freak in them. That’s certainly the case for me anyway; I think a lot about assembling a good mix of people, food, and drink, I inevitably fret over the RSVPs, and I want everything to look perfect yet effortless. And last week, at my Method Detox Your Home Boston party, I had the odd and delicious experience of enjoying the benefits of a fabulously assembled party, with all of the hard work done for me.
I’ve finally made live a local resources page where parents can find mom, dad, and/or general family groups, networks, and support services. The link is readily available via the "find local parents" button in the site banner. If you know of a group to be included, e-mail tips@bostonmamas.com and provide the site's URL. Please note that the group must be active, have a website, and serve Massachusetts parents. Thanks!
Today, Sara Cabot of Little Lettice offers a primer on flax seed:
“In my last post I wrote about the importance of eating a good breakfast, and how protein can help children concentrate through the morning at school. Another nutrient that helps mental health and the ability to focus is omega 3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA). Egg yolks and fish contain this essential fatty acid, which is another reason why they make excellent breakfast items. However, for a couple of my kids, eating too many eggs can cause constipation, and eggs do contain a fair amount of cholesterol. A good solution I have discovered is flax seed.
There likely are few degrees of separation between you and a woman with breast cancer, and probably not many more between you and someone who can't afford screening and treatment. On Friday, consider joining the Mass. Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure for a legislative luncheon from 11am – 1pm in the Great Hall of the Massachusetts State House. At this event, breast cancer survivors, advocates, community leaders, and health care providers will meet with legislative leaders to discuss closing the health care funding gap in Massachusetts so all women can get the breast health care and screening services they need. Click here to RSVP.
While we all likely can recite Goodnight Moon and other kiddie stories by heart, when was the last time you picked up a book for yourself? A pair of bunnies that visited our yard this past weekend reminded me that it’s time for my yearly read of Watership Down. Who would have guessed that a tale about a troop of rabbits on a mission for higher ground could be so engaging? This classic truly has something for everyone – adventure, spirituality, group dynamics, good guys and bad guys, and romance (of the G-rated rabbit variety). I am moved every single time I reread this book and have never looked at rabbits the same way since.
Reader Erica from Northampton wrote in about Frontline program, The Medicated Child, which will air starting tonight on WGBH. The program will address the issue of the increased wave of kids - some as young as 4 years old - being prescribed powerful antipsychotic medications that cause serious side effects, and whose long-term effects are basically unknown.
Whether it’s due to laziness, a desire to not rush the process, or not having a 2nd child waiting for the crib (one of my girlfriends needed to transition her older daughter early to a big girl bed when #2 was on the way, and the older child responded by climbing into the crib, removing her diaper, and leaving an unpleasant surprise…), it occurs to me that we’ve had a tendency to let Laurel’s growth - or, let’s face it, claustrophobia – determine her nest transitions.
Happily, gone are the days where kids and adults with allergies are left out at treat time. Today, Tracy reports on her testing sessions of the allergy-friendly Cherrybrook Kitchen baking mix line. Read on for her review, and also to learn how to win a gift basket of goodies from Cherrybrook Kitchen!
Last week I had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Melissa Kotlen Nagin, a certified lactation consultant and About.com’s Breastfeeding Guide. In particular, Melissa and I connected to talk about the dad (or partner) factor when it comes to breastfeeding. We had a fabulous time chatting; read on for highlights from the interview (a Boston Mamas first!), where we cover role shifts, dad/partner involvement, pumping, nighttime feeding, baby nurses, co-sleeping, bottle feeding battles, postpartum depression, the supermom syndrome, and re-lactation:
One challenge for pregnant working women is finding maternity clothing that is stylish and well constructed, but doesn’t break the bank. When I was pregnant with Laurel and hunting for reasonably priced work pieces, I saw a troubling amount of highly flammable polyester construction that was ill reminiscent of the marching band and color guard (yes, color guard) uniforms I wore in high school. Designers are, thankfully, catching on to the need for affordable maternity style, and among the newcomers is the recently launched Ann Taylor LOFT maternity line.
Today, Heather shares tips for surviving the nerve wracking early months of preemie care:
“Pregnant with triplets, we knew that our babies would be born premature. Studies have shown that babies born from one to three weeks early have a greater risk of breathing and feeding problems, trouble maintaining their body temperature, greater rates of jaundice, and problems with brain development. I was among the fortunate to carry to 35 weeks (considered full term for triplets). Our trio came into this world weighing 5.9, 4.11, and 3.13 pounds.
These days, kid’s fashion can be so fabulous that I often find myself saying, “I wish they made that in grown-up sizes!” So it's refreshing to see that trend in reverse, as Clarks translates their grown-up shoe know-how - they design comfy shoes that span casual to dressy - to Clarks Kids. Available in sizes for new or seasoned walkers (ages 0-5), the line is particularly noteworthy for featuring soles that are grippy yet flexible and footbeds that are deliciously cushy and comfy. The collection's aesthetic is fairly traditional, with a generally sporty look for boys or floral/Mary Jane style for girls (i.e., no appliqué critters), but these shoes will easily take your tot from playground to party, just as a lot of their grown-up shoes can.
Today, April shares a kickin’ recipe for what I will now forever refer to as “me dough!”
“My daughter calls play dough 'me dough!' She runs to her craft table, sits down, and politely declares that it’s time for her favorite craft of all. She wants it and she wants a lot of it. In great colors, too, like teal and magenta.