I've been tagged by DoulaMomma! Okay, so, I was tagged like forever ago but am just getting to it. Eke! Pro-cras-tin-a-tor!
So here it is, six things that have not yet been revealed about me on this blog...
1. I am a total conservative; socially, economically, and ethically. The fact that this will turn off about seventy-five percent of my audience on this blog no longer phases me. Eh, whatever.
2. BUT...as a younger adult, you would have never known it. I used to have ten piercings, and none of them were in my earlobes or belly button. :o What? You think all conservatives walk around in suits? WRONG!
3. I was completely anti-social as a child. Wait...I still am.
4. I'm really egotistical. I think everything revolves around me. Yep, I do. At least I recognize.
5. My first kiss was a girl. She was seven, I was six. You can do whatever you like with that tidbit of info.
6. I can't spell worth a DAM. Um, I mean damn. Me and spell check...BEST FRIENDS.
Okay, so I have to tag six other people. I pick Pam, Isabel, Nicole, Jennifer, Amber, and Kristin Jo.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
I just had to share with you all!
Check out this totally awesome, anatomically correct mama doll and baby!
She's available for sale, and also the pattern is available for sale on etsy by CozyColeman...
Check out this totally awesome, anatomically correct mama doll and baby!
She's available for sale, and also the pattern is available for sale on etsy by CozyColeman...
Monday, November 17, 2008
Speaking of co-sleeping...
Ashley at Lotus Flower posted this study on the subject:
Scientific Benefits of Co-Sleeping
Popular media has tried to discourage parents from sharing sleep with their babies, calling this worldwide practice unsafe. Medical science, however, doesn’t back this conclusion. In fact, research shows that co-sleeping is actually safer than sleeping alone. Here is what science says about sleeping with your baby:
Sleep more peacefully. Research shows that co-sleeping infants virtually never startle during sleep and rarely cry during the night, compared to solo sleepers who startle repeatedly throughout the night and spend 4 times the number of minutes crying 1. Startling and crying releases adrenaline, which increases heart rate and blood pressure, interferes with restful sleep and leads to long term sleep anxiety.
Stable physiology. Studies show that infants who sleep near to parents have more stable temperatures 2, regular heart rhythms, and fewer long pauses in breathing compared to babies who sleep alone 3. This means baby sleeps physiologically safer.
Decreases risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Worldwide research shows that the SIDS rate is lowest (and even unheard of) in countries where co-sleeping is the norm, rather than the exception 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. Babies who sleep either in or next to their parents’ bed have a fourfold decrease in the chance of SIDS 10. Co-sleeping babies actually spend more time sleeping on their back or side 1 which decreases the risk of SIDS. Further research shows that the carbon dioxide exhaled by a parent actually works to stimulate baby’s breathing 11.
Long term emotional health. Co-sleeping babies grow up with a higher self-esteem, less anxiety, become independent sooner, are better behaved in school 12, and are more comfortable with affection 13. They also have less psychiatric problems 14.
Safer than crib sleeping. The Consumer Product Safety Commission published data that described infant fatalities in adult beds. These same data, however, showed more than 3 times as many crib related infant fatalities compared to adult bed accidents 15. Another recent large study concluded that bed sharing did NOT increase the risk of SIDS, unless the mom was a smoker or abused alcohol 16.
McKenna, J., et al, "Experimental studies of infant-parent co-sleeping: Mutual physiological and behavioral influences and their relevance to SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome)." Early Human Development 38 (1994)187-201.
C. Richard et al., “Sleeping Position, Orientation, and Proximity in Bedsharing Infants and Mothers,” Sleep 19 (1996): 667-684.Touch in Early Development, T. Field, ed. (Mahway, New Jersey: Lawrence Earlbaum and Assoc., 1995).“SIDS Global Task Force Child Care Study” E.A.S. Nelson et al., Early Human Development 62 (2001): 43-55
A. H. Sankaran et al., “Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Infant Care Practices in Saskatchewan, Canada,” Program and Abstracts, Sixth SIDS International Conference, Auckland, New Zealand, February 8-11, 2000.
D. P. Davies, “Cot Death In Hong Kong: A Rare Problem?” The Lancet 2 (1985): 1346-1348.
N. P. Lee et al., “Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in Hong Kong: Confirmation of Low Incidence,” British Medical Journal 298 (1999): 72.
S. Fukai and F. Hiroshi, “1999 Annual Report, Japan SIDS Family Association,” Sixth SIDS International Conference, Auckland, New Zealand, 2000.
E. A. S. Nelson et al., “International Child Care Practice Study: Infant Sleeping Environment,” Early Human Development 62 (2001): 43-55.
P. S. Blair, P. J. Fleming, D. Bensley, et al., “Where Should Babies Sleep – Along or With Parents? Factors Influencing the Risk Of SIDS in the CESDI Study,” British Medical Journal 319 (1999): 1457-1462.SIDS book, page 227, #162
P. Heron, “Non-Reactive Cosleeping and Child Behavior: Getting a Good Night’s Sleep All Night, Every Night,” Master’s thesis, Department of Psychology, University of Bristol, 1994.
M. Crawford, “Parenting Practices in the Basque Country: Implications of Infant and Childhood Sleeping Location for Personality Development” Ethos 22, no 1 (1994): 42-82.
J. F. Forbes et al., “The Cosleeping Habits of Military Children,” Military Medicine 157 (1992): 196-200.
D. A. Drago and A. L. Dannenberg, “Infant Mechanical Suffocation Deaths in the United States, 1980-1997,” Pediatrics 103, no. 5 (1999): e59.
R. G. Carpenter et al., “Sudden Unexplained Infant Death in 20 Regions in Europe: Case Control Study,” Lancet 2004; 363: 185-191.
Ashley at Lotus Flower posted this study on the subject:
Scientific Benefits of Co-Sleeping
Popular media has tried to discourage parents from sharing sleep with their babies, calling this worldwide practice unsafe. Medical science, however, doesn’t back this conclusion. In fact, research shows that co-sleeping is actually safer than sleeping alone. Here is what science says about sleeping with your baby:
Sleep more peacefully. Research shows that co-sleeping infants virtually never startle during sleep and rarely cry during the night, compared to solo sleepers who startle repeatedly throughout the night and spend 4 times the number of minutes crying 1. Startling and crying releases adrenaline, which increases heart rate and blood pressure, interferes with restful sleep and leads to long term sleep anxiety.
Stable physiology. Studies show that infants who sleep near to parents have more stable temperatures 2, regular heart rhythms, and fewer long pauses in breathing compared to babies who sleep alone 3. This means baby sleeps physiologically safer.
Decreases risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Worldwide research shows that the SIDS rate is lowest (and even unheard of) in countries where co-sleeping is the norm, rather than the exception 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. Babies who sleep either in or next to their parents’ bed have a fourfold decrease in the chance of SIDS 10. Co-sleeping babies actually spend more time sleeping on their back or side 1 which decreases the risk of SIDS. Further research shows that the carbon dioxide exhaled by a parent actually works to stimulate baby’s breathing 11.
Long term emotional health. Co-sleeping babies grow up with a higher self-esteem, less anxiety, become independent sooner, are better behaved in school 12, and are more comfortable with affection 13. They also have less psychiatric problems 14.
Safer than crib sleeping. The Consumer Product Safety Commission published data that described infant fatalities in adult beds. These same data, however, showed more than 3 times as many crib related infant fatalities compared to adult bed accidents 15. Another recent large study concluded that bed sharing did NOT increase the risk of SIDS, unless the mom was a smoker or abused alcohol 16.
McKenna, J., et al, "Experimental studies of infant-parent co-sleeping: Mutual physiological and behavioral influences and their relevance to SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome)." Early Human Development 38 (1994)187-201.
C. Richard et al., “Sleeping Position, Orientation, and Proximity in Bedsharing Infants and Mothers,” Sleep 19 (1996): 667-684.Touch in Early Development, T. Field, ed. (Mahway, New Jersey: Lawrence Earlbaum and Assoc., 1995).“SIDS Global Task Force Child Care Study” E.A.S. Nelson et al., Early Human Development 62 (2001): 43-55
A. H. Sankaran et al., “Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Infant Care Practices in Saskatchewan, Canada,” Program and Abstracts, Sixth SIDS International Conference, Auckland, New Zealand, February 8-11, 2000.
D. P. Davies, “Cot Death In Hong Kong: A Rare Problem?” The Lancet 2 (1985): 1346-1348.
N. P. Lee et al., “Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in Hong Kong: Confirmation of Low Incidence,” British Medical Journal 298 (1999): 72.
S. Fukai and F. Hiroshi, “1999 Annual Report, Japan SIDS Family Association,” Sixth SIDS International Conference, Auckland, New Zealand, 2000.
E. A. S. Nelson et al., “International Child Care Practice Study: Infant Sleeping Environment,” Early Human Development 62 (2001): 43-55.
P. S. Blair, P. J. Fleming, D. Bensley, et al., “Where Should Babies Sleep – Along or With Parents? Factors Influencing the Risk Of SIDS in the CESDI Study,” British Medical Journal 319 (1999): 1457-1462.SIDS book, page 227, #162
P. Heron, “Non-Reactive Cosleeping and Child Behavior: Getting a Good Night’s Sleep All Night, Every Night,” Master’s thesis, Department of Psychology, University of Bristol, 1994.
M. Crawford, “Parenting Practices in the Basque Country: Implications of Infant and Childhood Sleeping Location for Personality Development” Ethos 22, no 1 (1994): 42-82.
J. F. Forbes et al., “The Cosleeping Habits of Military Children,” Military Medicine 157 (1992): 196-200.
D. A. Drago and A. L. Dannenberg, “Infant Mechanical Suffocation Deaths in the United States, 1980-1997,” Pediatrics 103, no. 5 (1999): e59.
R. G. Carpenter et al., “Sudden Unexplained Infant Death in 20 Regions in Europe: Case Control Study,” Lancet 2004; 363: 185-191.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Co-Sleeping, Anyone???
Lately Dakota has been waking up around 12:30 or 1am to come in our room to sleep, which we welcome with open arms. The childhood phase zooms by so quickly, neither of us have ever had a problem with our kids sleeping with us. Actually, we promote the idea. Besides the obvious reasons; it's safer, it's healthier, children need the emotional and psychological support at such a tender age, well, it's also just a TON easier on the whole family. These years are so delicate for their developing brains, after all the research I've done, I've come to the conclusion that co-sleeping is a natural, healthy, necessary and extremely beneficial part of being an infant and child.
Having said that, I would never turn my two and a half year old away. I swoosh her right up and she snuggles in and that's that.
But the challenge now is that we have a three month old who we also want to co-sleep. He's currently sleeping in a portable crib right next to me. I so badly want to sleep him our bed with us, it would make nursing SO much easier in the middle of the night, but there's two considerations I'm seeing somewhat as roadblocks right now:
1. Our bed is a Cal King which is great, but it dips in the middle. So when Dakota comes in at night and sleeps in between Dave and I, the only place left for Levi is on my other side, near the edge {which is totally scary in itself!}. So the few times I have slept him there, he's rolled into me all night! This is not comfortable for him or I.
2. Therefor, I've considered sleeping him in the middle, next to Dakota, but I've always felt like that was such a dangerous option. I mean, how safe can it be to let your three month old sleep next to your toddler??? I'm so afraid of her rolling over on him or something.
So I guess my question to all you is, do you co-sleep multiple children in your bed? If so, what's your sleeping arrangement like? How old were your children when you started letting them sleep next to one another all night?
Any input from you ladies {and men!} would be greatly appreciated. I'm getting so tired of nursing Levi and having to stay awake just to put him back in his crib next to me! I would loooove to just be able to fall asleep with him while he's nursing like I got to do with Dakota. That was THE BEST.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Private Screening of Orgasmic Birth in Orange County, CA
Private screening of Orgasmic Birth
Followed by a panel of birth professionals
November 11th, 2008
6:00 pm
Regency Rancho Laguna Niguel 8
Rancho Niguel Road in Laguna Niguel
A fundraiser for CABO (Community Alliance for Birth Options)
Advance purchase: $20/individual; $35/couple.
Tickets at the door: $25.Students: $10/individual with school ID
Followed by a panel of birth professionals
November 11th, 2008
6:00 pm
Regency Rancho Laguna Niguel 8
Rancho Niguel Road in Laguna Niguel
A fundraiser for CABO (Community Alliance for Birth Options)
Advance purchase: $20/individual; $35/couple.
Tickets at the door: $25.Students: $10/individual with school ID
Sunday, November 2, 2008
The best high I ever got was in "labor-land"!!!!
{And I've ingested a great amount of mind altering substances in my past so that says a lot}.
Check this out...Ink Birth
Trust me, you must must MUST see these absolutely amazing birth photos. They are extremely graphic so don't bother if you're gonna get all squirmy and weirded out by it. But if you find the birthing body extraordinary like I do, and want to see what a labor-land "high" looks like, please...click away.
{And I've ingested a great amount of mind altering substances in my past so that says a lot}.
Check this out...Ink Birth
Trust me, you must must MUST see these absolutely amazing birth photos. They are extremely graphic so don't bother if you're gonna get all squirmy and weirded out by it. But if you find the birthing body extraordinary like I do, and want to see what a labor-land "high" looks like, please...click away.
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