Babies and TV Sets

Firstly, I will admit we didn't really babyproof our house much, mainly because there's that setup of always having someone watching my child. Most of my son's major falls were DIY, freaky accident things anyway.

But who knew he'd think it will be great to make tv stands into good hiding places! He literally stashes his favorite toys, especially the ones he's trying to keep out of his 10-month old cousin's reach, inside ours. Unfortunately, he's also thought our DVD players are extra cabinets so he has officially broken one appliance without us knowing he was doing it. We thought he was just throwing his toys under the stand, or putting them on top of the players. I had not realized he's actually used some of them to prop open the disk plate (or whatever you call that).

Picture to follow!

Maternity Nice-to-Haves

Of course, infanticipating moms most need proper nutrition, care and medical attention. All the rest are just really nice to haves.

Now, if a woman is looking to be a gestating fashionista, there are trusted brands she'd probably encounter when looking for maternity outfits and nursing wear. Belly Bandit is known for products offering support to a woman's back when her tummy is already big. Bella Band, on the other hand, is known for the transition belts they offer so that one can still wear some of her loose/bigger outfits but her tummy will still be covered. It also acts as a sort of belt for jeans or pants, when you can't button them anymore but they still otherwise fit.

One really nice tip I got from the LATCH seminar I attended is the use of Bella Bands when you're already nursing. Even if you don't spend on nursing tops, you can just don the band and just raise your shirt/top up to give your baby access to your breasts. This way, you won't feel self-conscious about your tummy or stretch marks when you're nursing in public. Yes, Moms are more conscious of their tummies than their breasts. Hehe.

Maternal America offers more options for moms who want to stay looking smart and sexy. Think bathing suits and shorts, kimons and dresses, pants and jeans that are all maternity wear. Tthe tankinis will even come in handy post-partum if you still haven't lost all the baby weight and the baby bump hasn't yet shrunk, but you're going swimming with friends and family.

But at home, the husband's shirts usually provide all the comfort a pregnant woman needs.

Moms' Night Out

Last night, I met with some Pex Moms. It was my official first night out for the year. Had a blast at Racks (who knew i'd love their steak sampler so much?!) and the adult conversation.

Topics discussed include the gas, babies, relationships, message boards, the recession, travelling, weight gain, breastfeeding and parenting.

We really should do that at least once a month. That was the best P350 dinner i've had in a while (we split the cost of all our food orders).

But since we were super hungry, none had the mind to take pics of the food when they were served.

Brangelina Twins Pics

The entire Jolie-Pitt clan was snapped in Tokyo. Know leon and Vivienne Marcheline are sixc months now. They haven't been spotted for several months but look at them now!

I think both were cuter than Shiloh was.



(Source: Babyrazzi)

Dear Mommy

I'm sorry for not yet being sleepy. I guess you really have to wake me early in the morning so I can take a nap in the morning too, and not take two naps in the afternoon/early evening.

I will cry and throw tantrums. But I think it's for the best. You have been abandoning Pappie and me more and more these days and I miss you, plus Pappie loses precious sleep.

Baby Yakee

Sanity Savers

Moms need all the help they can get. My biggest sanity saver is my husband, and then my cousin and sister, because they help out with my son.

But other things provide me comfort in times of frustration as well. And no, I don't mean chocolate and cake, but that works too. Here are some things off the top of my head:

moving pods and other storage chests. Considering the multitude of toys my son has amassed in his first year of life alone, these things keep the clutter manageable. Plus, that age-old advice of keeping some of the toys away and rotating them after several weeks or so truly works. My son gets delighted each time we open a box. It is like Christmas every two weeks or so.

educational videos. I know it's wrong to have the good old TV babysit for you, but sometimes I just want my son not to bother me. So I turn on the TV and let him watch Disney cartoons (which I actually find nice, like Higglytown Heroes, Thomas and Friends, Tigger and Pooh, the Safety Patrol, Little Eisnteins with all that classical music, etc.) or his Baby Signing Time videos. Oh, he loves commercials too!

cell phones. I just lock them and let him play with it and he gets occupied enough to be quiet for several minutes. Perfect distraction when he's starting to throw tantrums or making diaper changing a challenge.

music in general. He dances to everything. And I mean everything. Be it Tennessee Waltz or Umbrella, he dances to it. Again, a quick, foolproof happifier.

sign language. But i've already posted how helpful they've been. Now he also knows the signs for banana and cat and fish. Hehe.

Binge Drinking Increases Preterm Birth Risks

Just in case there are still women out there who want to push the envelope when it comes to drinking (and smoking) during pregnancy, a new study by the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research has found that, "The risk of preterm birth is highest for pregnant women who drink heavily or at binge levels, meaning drinking more than seven standard drinks per week, or more than five drinks on any one occasion."

Read the rest of the news.