I remember a while back( maybe a couple years or so) that there was a topic of Baby Signs and stuff. I was wondering if anyone still had those links or can help me out with it. Also please recommend some books if possible.. I want to get into all that again but after teaching my 2 year old and now she can talk and tell me what she wants I dont remember much and Im due to have my 3rd child in 6 weeks so please let me know..Thanks to anyone who comments..Thanks

I found this really interesting article by Dr. Greene that would of helped me when I was pregnant and so I thought I'd point it out for those of you who are preggers or have newborn babies.

Excerpts from "Asleep All Day, Up All Night"
During the later part of pregnancy, each baby develops her own sleep/wakefulness rhythm. You can get a good idea of what this rhythm is by the baby's activity patterns
Some babies will tend to be fairly quiet during the day -- lulled to sleep by the gentle rocking motion as Mom moves about her daily activities. These same babies often begin doing gymnastics in Mom's belly about the time things get quiet at night. Other babies tend to be active while Mom is active during the day and to be quieter at night. Whatever your baby's pattern before birth, it is likely that she will continue the same rhythm in the period shortly after birth.

Newborns Sleep

When actively trying to switch a new baby's time clock, have bright lights on in the house during daylight hours. Keep up a steady stream of talking in normal conversational tones around your daughter during the day. Play with her feet often, and make eye contact with her whenever you can.
As soon as the sun begins to go down, purposely avoid all of these things. When you feed her, try not to make eye contact with her. Speak only in whispers or sing-song tones. Sing lullabies. Have the lights dim in the house. And don't stimulate her feet.

Read the rest...

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If you're a mommy, you know that when it comes to your kids, the buck stops here.  It doesn't matter how many family members are willing to help or how many wonderful people you have in your life; when all is said and done, it's up to you to make sure everyone is taken care of.  Just try handing off a tired/cranky infant and see how long you last before bursting back into the room in order to calm him down (even if he won't calm down any sooner in your arms -- you just have to do something).  Put the migrane headache on hold, too... or better yet, go ahead and hold that crying infant right up next to your head and maybe the deafening sound will teach it a lesson: you can throb all you want, head, I'm not paying any more attention to you... I've got a child who needs me.  No, you can't decide how to spend your time... you are merely given permission.  Ah the shackles of love.  If it weren't for the knowledge that this too would pass, I think I might pass on the whole thing.  

But children grow up all too soon (so I'm told).  Right before your tired eyes, they turn into little men and women.  They amaze your ringing ears with phrases that never entered your mind before.  And all too soon, their tiny hugs will be replaced by anxiously-awaited phone calls from college or elsewhere.  I'm sorry... I can't finish this post.  I need to go watch my sleeping children and thank God I get to be their mommy.

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Hello. I'm a 2 year old toddler's mom. I seems like everyday is something New and Crazy. Frankie is potty training now. I just hope we can get through this. Yesterday he went pee-pee but didn't do poop. I have only got him to do #2 once. I really hope that I have him potty train by December.

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Ok here is my son at 10 1/2 months

Hey,
Anyone have a good suggestion for keeping my 9 month old out of the cat's water dish! It is his favorite thing to do, play in and spill the water. I try to keep the dish were he can't reach it, but we don't want the cats on the counter or the table. My son also likes to attempt to eat the cat food, something I obviously don't allow, but he can be a quick little guy


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cross posted in proudlove

People have told me many times, "you're tired of the crying? Well, just wait until they start talking" and I have responded, "at least then he will be able to communicate what he needs.  Surely, talking is better than not talking".  But ah, the grass is always greener in front of someone else's child.  Strolling through the grocery store yesterday, he must've said, "more cookies?" about a hundred times in a row (and yes, he even got the 's' in there -- simply amazes me).  He'd had one cookie at the babysitter's house and I promised that if he was a good boy at the haircut place that afternoon, we'd go to the store and get him another cookie.  Lo and behold, the boy was an angel in the barber chair... a first for him.  So, the first aisle we went down was the cookie aisle.  "There you go, son... eat it slowly."  But I had a bit more shopping to do.  He likes trying to open various jars of stuff and look at the front of the cereal boxes... but it doesn't last long.  I can't offer to let him hold a banana because he will beg to eat one... not understanding that we have to get them weighed and pay for them first.  So, once we finally got to the car (20 minutes shopping with an almost 2 year old seems like forever -- you can't get done soon enough!), I started a banana for him.  Part of the way home, I noticed in the rear-view mirror that he's having trouble getting to the banana as he's reached the point where it needs to be peeled again.  "Would you like Mommy to fix it?" I said, and he handed it to me.  Problem solved.  A few stop lights later, I heard his tiny voice ask, "fik nana?" and I was stunned.  He not only understood the bulk of my sentence eariler, he had isolated the verb "fix" and knew it's something I was doing to his banana to help.  I could swear there was a glow coming from the back seat.  He is one smart child.  (Ok, I'm a little biased... hehehehe).  There is one word I already have to undo, though: "boobies".  We think it's funny... Nicholas jams his hand down my shirt and giggles... but I would be quite embarrassed if it happened in public or when someone else was holding him!!

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Hi all...

I have a three month old little boy (actually he's three months and two weeks) and he's currently formula feeding exclusively. Wondering when would be a good time to start trying the rice cereal diluted with formula.

He's gotten a handle on sitting up on his own and loves to do it. Just not sure if I'd be doing something wrong by trying now with introducing rice cereal once a day to get him used to a spoon. I would still be feeding him his formula on a normal feeding schedule, but I'd add this in once a day for now to see how it goes.

I was hoping other moms could give me some insight on how they introduced solids to their babies and when. I understand that all babies are different and I'll take that into consideration. =)

Any suggestions/advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks!
~E

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Merry Christmas everyone here is a picture of our Youngest grand children, Twins Jesse and James 4 1/2 months old.
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