Mimi Updates and I turned 28 :-)

Tis the season to be busy..fa la la la la, la la la la

It has been crazy lately but I wanted to make a quick update on Mimilicious.

Mimi is going to be 5 months on Dec 22nd. Sh

e is about 18 lbs and boy is she heavy! We did end of starting solid foods, one tablesp

oon serving, only once per day. So far she has had sweet potato, carrots, apples, pears, prunes, and oatmeal cereal. Our doctor recommended NOT to use rice cereal or giver her pureed bananas because of her constipation problem. Mimi holds her poop for 4-5 days at a time. Very frustrating and probably very painful for her. I thought starting veggies and fruits would help with this, but alas it has made it worse. I think I will try to give her 2 oz of water a day in a bottle or sippy cup to alleviate this issue. I have the playtex sippycups, but the nipple at the top is hard and she hasn't quite got the idea of sucking it yet.

I ordered some "Nuby" ones off amazon, so we'll see if she likes those better. I have been making all my own organic babyfood with teh exception of pru

nes. Finding organic prunes proved tougher than I thought. When I finally found them, they were 4 dollars for 4 oz, so I bought the earth's best organic prunes for 50 cents a jar. It really is affordable to make your own organic food--maybe not the most convienent for travelling--but very affordable and easy.

Here is a list you might find helpful as you make your babyfoods--

1. Peaches - Summer’s blushing fruit contains high residues of iprodione, classified as a probable human carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and methyl parathion, an endocrine disruptor and organophosphate (OP) insecticide. Methyl parathion has caused massive kills of bees and birds. According to Consumer Reports, single servings of peaches "consistently exceeded" EPA’s safe daily limit for a 44-pound child.
2. Apples - Apples may contain methyl parathion. Both fresh apples and baby food applesauce can also contain chlorpyrifos, an OP which has caused large bird kills. CORE Values IPM apple growers are trying to phase out OPs.
3. Pears - Pears, both fresh and in baby food, can also come with methyl parathion, as well as the OP azinphos-methyl, which is toxic to freshwater fish, amphibians and bees.
4. Winter Squash - Dieldrin, a chlorinated, carcinogenic insecticide, exceeded the safe daily limit for a young child in two-thirds of positive samples. Another potent carcinogen, heptachlor, also showed up. DDT and its breakdown product, DDE, were detected in baby food squash.
5. Green Beans - Green Beans can contain acephate, methamidophos and dimethoate (three neurotoxic OPs), and endosulfan, an endocrine-disrupting insecticide, which showed up in baby food, too. Acephate disorients migrating birds, throwing them off course.
6. Grapes - U.S. grapes contain methyl parathion and methomyl, a carbamate insecticide listed as an endocrine disruptor; imports may contain dimethoate.
7. Strawberries - The enhanced red color of strawberries comes from the fungicide captan, a probable human carcinogen that can irritate skin and eyes, and is highly toxic to fish. While the lethal soil fumigant methyl bromide doesn’t show up on the fruit, it has harmed California farm workers, and depletes the ozone layer.
8. Raspberries - Watch out for more than thorns! These berries can contain captan, iprodione and carbaryl, a suspected endocrine disruptor that has also been found in plum baby food
9. Spinach - Permethrin, a possible human carcinogen, and dimethoate dominate spinach’s toxicity ratings, but CU notes that residue levels have been declining as U.S. farmers reduce use of these insecticides. DDT has been found in spinach, which leads all foods in exceeding safety tolerances.
10. Potatoes - Pesticide use on potatoes is growing, CU warns. They may contain dieldrin and methamidophos, and children eating potatoes risk getting a very high dose of aldicarb, CU says.
11. Tomatoes - high in chlorpyrifos or other pesticide residues
12. Cantaloupe - high in chlorpyrifos or other pesticide residues

Mimi is wearing size 6 months clothes and shoes. She can roll over from back to tummy very well, but only from tummy to back occasionally. She sleeps 11-12 hours a night without waking to eat. I know that the books say that at 6 months, they should only sleep 6 hours without eating--but if you have seen photos of her you know she's not starving! Plus the dr. said that was fine. She takes 1 long nap (2 hours) and 1-2 short 40-minute naps a day. When she is awake she wants to be entertained so I get very little done. I gave up on that awhile ago. Mimi loves to go out. When we take her anyway she behaves better than at home. She looks around at everything and interacts with people. One issue we are dealing with is her hating the carseat and riding in the car. She fusses and cries most of the time unless she is full and warm, then she fall asleeps. I installed the Britax Marthon carseat rear-facing in my car, but we still use the infant carseat in my husband's car.

I am doing awesome. I am 5 lbs below my pre-pregnancy weight and one pants size smaller than my pre-pregnancy size--so the saggy belly does subside EVENTUALLY!! I hurt my knee two weeks ago so I haven't been able to walk much and I still lost weight! Breastfeeding ROCKS!

Today we are going to buy our Christmas tree and put is up. We're going to try to take a nice family photo in front of it for our Christmas/Holiday cards. Our Christmas shopping is almost done. I have had more fun buying stuff for my friends baby than anything else. Mimi doesn't need anything, so I only bought her some books and a jacket. We'll see what the grandparents send--I'm sure she'll have some wrapping paper to eat.

Good luck to all those pregnant ladies about to pop and good tidings to all those with little ones. Post cute santa photos!

Oh--I turned 28 yesterday---my twenties are almost over! Yikes.

Happy Holidays!

Who do you take advice from?

Be careful who you take advice from when it comes to your child. I just watched this girl's vlog--and she is throwing out all kinds of incorrect information.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjxMGEH_IhA

"Buy Soy milk, most babies can't handle the proteins in cow's milk. Babies aren't supposed to have cow's milk period."--that's quite a statement considering you have no factual information to support this statement.

First off, there are milk allergies and lactose intolerance. See the difference:

Milk allergy is when your baby's immune system reacts to proteins in milk. This only effects between two per cent and seven per cent of babies.

Lactose intolerance is when your baby has difficulty digesting the lactose, or the sugar, found in milk. This is much rarer than milk allergy.


"If I were you I would just go out and buy soymilk.."
WHY? The Department of Health and the British Dietetic Association do not recommend soy formula for babies under six months.

Studies have shown that the aluminum contamination in soy formula's are 3 times as high as cow's milk formulas.
Cadmium was 6 times higher in soy formulas than cow's milk formulas.
Eklund G and Oskarsson A. Exposure of cadmium from infant formulas and weaning foods. Food Addit Contam 16(12):509-19 (1999).

The widespread use of soy-based formula, beginning in the 1970s, is a likely explanation for the increase in early maturation in girls.
Herman-Giddens ME and others. Secondary Sexual Characteristics and Menses in Young Girls Seen in Office Practice: A Study from the Pediatric Research in Office Settings Network. Pediatrics, 1997 Apr;99:(4):505-512.

There are hundreds of other studies like these---Not to mention soybeans as an agricultural crop are sprayed with a lot of pesticides. A large % of soy is genetically modified and it also has one of the highest percentages of contamination by pesticides of any our our foods (followed closely by apples and tomatoes).

I'm not saying soymilk is bad for babies, I'm just saying do some research before you switch your baby to it. Talk to your doctor--

"If your baby is contipated, has diarhea, or acts like she doesn't want to eat...switch to soy formula..."

These are also all symptoms of gas in infants:

• Burping/belching
• Flatulence (passing gas)
• Abdominal bloating or distension
• Abdominal pain or cramps
• Vomiting or spitting up (posseting)
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Crying
• Sleep disturbances

Don't just run out and switch to soy if your baby is overly fussy one night. If you see blood or mucus in your babie's stool--call your doctor--this is a symptom of an allergy to milk protein.

I think the only thing I agreed with her on is using the liquid formula when possible instead of powder--but not for the reason she mentioned--but because the FDA pointed out that powdered infant formulas are not commercially sterile products. Powdered milk-based infant formulas are heat-treated during processing, but unlike liquid formula products they are not subjected to high temperatures for sufficient time to make the final packaged product commercially sterile.

To top this blog off--I have never used formula, so I'm not speaking from experience, I'm posting information from scientific research.

Just because you throw up a disclaimer saying "i'm not a doctor but here's my advice" doesn't mean your information couldn't hurt people.

I would post a response directly to her, but she doesn't post any comments that are in any way negative to her--which I also think is counter productive. Also, she tends to take advice that is opposite as hers as a personal attack--which is not the case at all. Friendly debate is a healthy and informative way to exchange information.

Happy Thanksgiving

Well--Mimi's first Thanksgiving! What a crazy week it has been. My mom was visiting this week with her boyfriend. Add that to the fact that my husband's friend has been staying in our house for 2 months now--and remind yourself that our house is only 975 sq ft--and remember we have a 72 lb lab and oh don't forget the baby and all her associated baby STUFF! Yikes--it's been a little crazy.

We went to the natural history museum in town and wanted to see the butterfly rainforest but it was raining and we were told the butterflies would not be flying--we contented ourselves with walking around campus and seeing the other exhibits. We also took Mimi to the mall to sit on Santa's lap---what a ham she was smiling away. She even grabbed Santa's (real) beard! Poor santa, she has quite the grip.

Tonite we had an awesome dinner with all the usual fixins. I walked 3 miles with my friend earlier in the day to combat the extreme overeating I did! It was worth it. I haven't had that much to eat since I was 9 months pregnant!

I've had some other parenting woes on my mind. I've been applying for jobs lately and even though I haven't even gotten the interviews yet, I cry at the thought of putting Mimi a daycare 40 hours a week. Just typing this makes me want to cry. This is strange to me because I always knew I did not want to be a stay at home mom--even though it is a perfectly respectable job--I have been going to school (college) for 10 YEARS now (holy shit!), and thought I might like to use my Bachelors, Masters, and soon my Doctorate. But just the thought at actually having to be away from her all day everyday makes me scared and sad. I was playing on putting her in parttime daycare next semester until I find a full-time job. This would be a nice transition--hopefully that will work out.

Does anyone else ever get slightly jealous when someone else at your office has a newborn and your kid isn't the only infant around? This sounds so conceited, but this other phd student recently had a baby and I thought to myself---oh no, no one will care about Mimi anymore! I know this sounds so bad, i'm just being honest.

My other woe is how fast Mimi is growing up! She had her 4 month appointment and was 17lbs and 25 inches! She is the size of a 6 month old. She already wears 6 months clothes as well. She can roll from back to stomach and visa versa. She can't sit up unsupported, but loves to sit up and hold her own head up when you hold her. She hates to be held in the cradle position unless she's nursing or sleeping. She's not my little tiny baby anymore. This is why women keep having more babies! lol

She still is only getting breastmilk but the Dr. told me to gradually introduce solids ( i was surpriesed) because she doens't thrust her tongue out when you put a spoon in her mouth and she is drooling. I give her about a Tablespoon once a day or every other day at dinner time. The Dr. says it is not for nutrition, but for practice. She said it might also help her poop more regularly. It's messy but fun. I'll post pics.

I'm looking forward to christmas and all its associated fun events. I hope everyone is well.

What's in my diaper bag?

Mimi and Mommy update

I love my daughter's crazy hair

Having some of momma's water, like the tongue in the bottle? nice eh?

Mimi and Mommy at the Fall Art Festival

Holds her own bottle!

I have finally accepted that I can't get schoolwork done during the day while I'm home with Mimi. Now that I have accpeted this fact, I LOVE spending my days with her. I just do my work at night when she goes to bed or in the evening when my husband is home.

Mimi is an awesome little girl. She if growing like weed. I don't know her weight or length because she goes for her 4-month apt. next week. She is still only on breastmilk, and no solids yet. She sleeps all night, only waking up a night a few times a week to eat. She takes 2-3 naps a day, usually two 1 to 2 hour naps. She still sleeps in her crib. She has rolled, laughed, and held her own bottle all in this week! Holy crap. No diaper rashes yet either. She is in 6 month clothes in most brands (and she's not even 4 months officially yikes!), and she's got the most adorable crazy hair.

Life is stressful for me--going to school remains to be a struggle. My husband is so supportive though--he helps out with the baby so much--wish he would help more with housework. I don't get out much these days but that's okay--not like I have money to anyway lol.

I applied for a job last week, i'll know in a few weeks if I even get an interview. If I get it, life will definately be changing. It the salary is enough I may consider using a nanny instead of daycare for awhile, maybe until Mimi is one year. We'll see what happens.

I am still right at my pre-pregnancy weight but I want to lose more. I did lunges, crunches, pushups and squats at the gym last night and almost fell down the stairs from jelly legs! If you have never expereinced this go to about 30 or so lunges and you'll feel it.

Getting SO excited about the holidays. I LOVE christmas. I can't wait to put Mimi in her xmas dress! Sorry for the erratic typing-it's 2am and I have to get to bed, just trying to throw out a quick blog.

Comment if you read my blog, love to see who reads it.

Jen

Travelling to my Hometown

I did something most people thought I was crazy for---I took an airplane trip alone with a 3 1/2 month old baby. It was a little crazy, but a great visit to NY, where I grew up.

We left on Friday and drove to Jacksonville (1 1/2 hour drive) and Mimi slept all the way. Getting my stuff into the airport and checked was a little crazy. I had a large duffle, a diaper bag, and Mimi's carseat. Once I got the duffle and carseat checked it wasn't too bad. It sucks that you have to pay $15 to check your bag. At least the carseat was checked for free. Mimi stayed awake all day on the plane just checking people out. We arrived in Buffalo around 7 pm and got some AWESOME pizza. You forget how good pizza is in western NY. Pizza in FL SUCKS. Mimi went to bed and slept all night in my friend's pack in play.

We spent the entire next day travelling around visiting. That night we went to my mom's and spent the rest of the weekend there.

On the way home Mimi was so pleasant on the flights. I have to say I was very impressed with Airtran. They gave me my own row on all my flights, even though I only bought one seat, they were more than accomdating and polite, can't beat the price ($150 round trip), and the flight attendants even warmed up my bottles ( I pumped a bottle before I left monday morning for the flight). Nursing in the airport and on the plane went fine. I figure--they can be offended by my exposed boob or be offended when my child screams.

Mimi is doing great these days. She can settle herself to sleep sometimes, she still sleeps all night and she is holding her body weight up really well. She goes for her 4 month apt. at Thanksgiving.

I am still at my pre-preggo weight-hopefully I'll go below it soon.


Hope everyone else is well.

Happy Halloween and such!

We are into the fall holidays! Yes I am so excited! I love the fall to winter holiday season.

Yesterday we took Mimi to "Boo at the Zoo" with my friend Grace and her daughter Dahlia. Poor Dahlia was tired and it was sooo hot, so she didn't have too much fun. Mimi LOVED it. She had her eyes wide open looking around the entire time! My husband thinks it is a waste of time to take her places because she is too little to enjoy things---that's crap, Mimi didn't cry or fuss and she didn't even fall asleep. She looked around with so much curiosity. I need to make an effort to take her out more. We "dressed" her up as a bunny--which was really just a white gerber onesie with a bunny hat. I did this for two reasons--I'm too cheap to spend 30 dollars on a costume that she won't remember and two costumes for babies are sooo hot--they're practically fleecy sleepers and it was over 90 yesterday. So go ahead and think i'm cheap---I saved 30 bucks and she didn't overheat.

In other news....
I have one pound left to lose! Yeah, most of my pants fit and i'm not even really trying. Imagine how awesome my weight loss would be if I didn't eat fun size snickers and junk? Yeah for breastfeeding!

My husband is going to NYC today for work and will be back Tuesday, I am so desperate without him--being a single parent would SUCK. I'm taking Mimi to NY next weekend for 4 days to see friends and family. I'm excited but a little worried about travelling alone with her on the plane and in the car. We;ll see--she usually is pretty chill when I need her to be. I'll let you know how that goes. This time I am travelling lite! I learned from the trip to Portland--the less you carry with the baby the better.

Hope everyone had a great Halloween!
:-)

In other news--Mimi is sleeping 10 hrs a night, breastfeeding is good, and we laid her down awake today and she went to sleep all by herself without crying!