BABY OIL IS DANGEROUS FOR BABIES!

so i know baby oil has been used forever on babies but id rather stay on the safe side and NOT use it here is an article i just read


The following summary of the hazardous effects of baby oil are compliments of ezinearticles.com

Who would ever think that a product made for babies could also hurt them? Unfortunately, baby oil-a staple of the nursery-contains almost 100% mineral oil which has many hazardous side effects...

First of all, mineral oil is a petroleum ingredient. It comes from crude oil and and is used as a metal cutting fluid.

It coats the skin like plastic wrap. When applied, mineral oil can promote acne and other skin disorders. Mineral oil also slows down normal cell development and causes the skin to prematurely age.

The most significant hazard is that mineral oil blocks the pores of the skin. This does not allow the skin to breathe and prevents the natural release of toxins from the skin. Since the skin is the body's largest elimination organ, this is a serious health hazard, especially for a baby.

Another significant problem with mineral oil for babies is that it may possibly cause vitamin deficiencies because it is absorbed into the skin, gets processed by the liver and then nutrients get bound by the oil, blocking their absorption.

6 1/2 months!

so tuesday night (3/22/11) ellie was kicking and josh was poking back, well at one point she kept her foot there and didnt move it away and josh went to poke again and ended up pushing on her foot and my whole stomache squirmed from her moving it was sooo cool. The best part was the look on joshs face after he did it, it could have been another body part but it was definitely boney haha and something on her, causing her to jump like that. This week was sooo busy we were at my parents dog sitting and josh got some birthday money so we went to dennys for breakfast and then stayed at our friends kelsey and bobby, quite the busy week but wonderful, kelsey gave me her nice camera cause she got a new one ive been wanting one for sooooo long i couldnt believe it!!! and then i got my hair cut and colored for free cause my friend kellys coworker =D a very nice week indeed!
Luella has been kicking soooo much its crazy!! and ive been pretty nauseous the past few mornings its like im 3 months pregnant all over again

thats all my updates for now =)

25 weeks pregnant!!!!!!!!

so this week has been nice, a friend that josh met when he was on the a-team (a ministry training thing) from florida sent me 5 bumgenious 3.0 cloth diapers!!!! im sooo excitedddd. also we went down to syracuse and my mom and i went to the thrift shop where we found a cute jungle lamp to match her room and a few cute clothes!! im so excited, josh and i went and registered at target and i must say i like their stuff more than babies r us, its cheaper and some what cuter!! we found a crib set thats hot pink and green and really girly for $100 less than the dull looking one we found at babies r us, although babies r us does have a few things that target doesnt so we will still be telling people we registered at both =)

ITS AN EARTHQUAKE!! and a waterfall?? (warning maybe tmi)

Boy oh boy is she bouncing around a lot in there this morning! I woke up to her kickin her daddy in the back haha looks like she didnt like being squished between the 2 of us, poor josh is knocked out cold with nyquil so im sure he didnt feel it although they were the hardest kicks ive felt her kick yet! but it was still cute =D
I feel like Ive got an earthquake in my tummy and waterfall down my boobs!!! yes im talking about colostrum =O but its still so exciting knowing my bodies doin what its got to do to prepare for our little beautiful girlie. I feel so amazing this week, ive started taking my prenatal vitamins again (stopped for a couple months =X) and started a prenatal workout and man i wish i continued with this all from the start! i went through alittle stage where i felt gross and ugly and blobbish (yes thats a word i made up) I had broken out everywhere, stretch marks on my boobs, i gained weight in my thighs and in my tummy, my tummy looked like i just gained weight and didnt have a baby in there, none of my clothes fit!! and i just felt terrible!!! I think it had a lot to do with the fact that we were in the transition of moving so we were staying at my inlaws and not having your own place does a lot to a pregnant woman =P But i will admit I am feeling AMAZING and BEAUTIFUL now! my skin is clearing up, my hair is beautiful and thick, i have gotten more stretch marks on my butt but still none on the tummy, my energy levels are way up, i have my own house to clean and cook and make a home, and these workouts just make me feel so refreshed!!! my calves are killing me, but still feel awesome =D my favorite outfit lately are my leggings with my long blue and white tshirt that i got at motherhood, so comfy and so cute!!! Its hard feeling beautiful and sexy when you have a big bump in the middle of you and look so off balance but then you remember what is in that bump and you are creating LIFE. God has blessed us sooo much, we have our own place with our own yard and a room for ellie and just amazing friends and family!!
Thats all i have for today =)

finished the letters!!

those are all jungle animals and flowers painted on the letters that josh and i did =D

Why breastfeed?

• Children receive the most complete and optimal mix of nutrients & antibodies
• The varying composition of breastmilk keeps pace with the infant's individual growth and changing nutritional needs
• Have fewer incidences of vomiting and diarrhea in the US (20-35 million episodes of diarrhea occur in children under the age of 5, resulting in over 200,000 hospitalizations and 400-500 deaths in the U.S.)
• Protection against gastroenteritis, necrotizing entercolitis
• Reduced risk of chronic constipation, colic, and other stomach upsets
• Reduced risk of childhood diabetes
• Protection against ear infections, respiratory illnesses, pneumonia, bronchitis, kidney infections, septicemia (blood poisoning),
• Protection against allergies,   asthma, eczema, and severity of allergic disease
• Reduced risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) Statistics reveal that for every 87 deaths from SIDS, only 3 are breastfed.
• Protection against meningitis, botulism, childhood lymphoma, crohn's disease and ulcerative entercolits
• Decreased risk of tooth decay (cavities)
• Nursing promotes facial structure development, enhanced speech,  straighter teeth and enhances vision.
• Breastfed infants develop higher IQ's, and have improved brain and nervous system development; IQ advantage of 10-12 points studied at ages 8, 12, and 18.  (Breastfeeding is considered the 4th trimester in brain growth and development...there are specific proteins in human milk that promote brain development))
• Reduced risk of heart disease later in life
• Increased bone density
• Breastfeeding plays an important role in the emotional and spiritual  development of babies
• Breastfed babies enjoy a special warm bonding and emotional relationship with their mothers    
• Antibody response to vaccines are higher
• Are hospitalized 10 times less than formula fed infants in the first year of life
• The colostrum (first milk) coats the GI tract, preventing harmful bacteria and allergy -triggering protein molecules from crossing into baby's blood
• Decreased risk for vitamin E and Iron deficiency anemia
• Decreased risk for acute appendicitis, rheumatoid arthritis, inguinal hernia, pyloric stenosis
• There are factors in human milk that destroy E coli, salmonella, shigella, streptococcus, pneumococcus....and many others
• Less risk of childhood obesity

Health Benefits to Moms Who Breastfeed

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• Reduced risk of breast, ovarian, cervical, and endometrial cancers
• Reduced risk of anemia
• Protection against osteoporosis and hip fracture later in life
• Reduced risk of mortality for women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been associated with total time of lactation
• Helps the mother's body return to its pre-pregnancy state faster - promotes weight loss...1/2 of calories needed to manufacture milk is pulled from fat stores... can burn from 500 - 1,500 calories per day.
• Helps delay return of fertility and to space subsequent pregnancies
• Develops a special emotional relationship and bonding with her child
• Breastmilk is free- reducing or eliminating the cost of formula (in the thousands of dollars/per year)
• Breastfed babies are sick less thus reducing healthcare costs to family in Doctor office visits, prescriptions, over the counter medicine purchases, and hospitalizations
• Moms miss less time off from work due to child related illnesses
• Helps the uterus contract after birth to control postpartum bleeding

Benefits to the Environment and Society

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• Breastfeeding reduces the cost of healthcare by promoting healthier children and mothers..........If all WIC babies in the U.S. were breastfed, our economical savings would be $33,000,000 per month ..........In 1993, 90,000 babies were hospitalized for RSV at a cost of 450 million dollars. Currently, the U.S. spends over 1 billion dollars a year on Otitis Media (ear infections)
• Reduced insurance premiums for both parents and employers
• Breastfeeding reduces global pollution by decreasing the use of resources and energy required to produce, process, package, distribute, promote and dispose of materials created by the manufacture and use of artificial baby milk
• Reduced tax burden on communities and government to ensure children are properly fed
• Reduced absenteeism in the workplace due to children's illnesses

Other Benefits from Breastfeeding

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• Breastfeeding makes you feel good, the hormones produced during nursing have an endorphin effect  giving you a relaxed feeling.
• You have a great excuse to sit down and relax.....
• You can nurse while sleeping...nursing moms get more rest than formula feeding moms.
• Breastfeeding saves moms about 7 hours a week off their feet.
• No screaming baby in the middle of the night waiting on the formula to heat up.
• It's the only time you can ever lose weight without dieting or exercise!
• Breastfeeding is more convenient, when traveling, all you need is to take diapers, the milk is always available, sterile, and the right temperature.
• During times of disaster,  you don't have to worry about finding formula.
• Breastfed babies smell great....spit ups don't stain, or smell, and poopie diapers are not offensive...(until solids are introduced)
• Breastfed babies know their moms and will never confuse them with a sitter.
• The strong bond developed with nursing is much more intense.
• There is no feeling to describe the child suckling at your breast and letting go to give you a big smile; and knowing that the  growth of your baby came from what your body produced! Wow! What a feeling!
• The satisfaction of knowing you are giving your baby the best start in life!
• Breastmilk taste great! Sweet tasting! Variations in taste according to foods moms eats.  Have you ever tasted formula? Ugh!
• Breastfeeding requires the use of only one arm....you can do other things while breastfeeding, (except cooking and driving)
• Many, many more benefits, too numerous to list!!!

Nursury Decor =)

(we wont be going with the green walls, pink is the main color and green is the accent =) )

So the nursury decor we chose was pink and green jungle theme =D we're so excited it's going to be soooo cute, I'll incorporate flowers and butterflies too but the animals will be the main thing, I cant wait till the baby shower gets here so I can decorate!!! Im getting so antsy!!! The baby shower in lowville will be may 7th and the one in syracuse is may 14, so only 2 months to go!!!!

Why we're choosing to cloth diaper!!

These are just some of the chemicals in the disposable diapers.....
look at all these chemicals in disposable diapers!
*Disposable diapers contain traces of Dioxin, an extremely toxic by-product of the paper-bleaching process. It is a carcinogenic chemical, listed by the EPA as the most toxic of all cancer-linked chemicals. It is banned in most countries, but not the U.S.

*Disposable diapers contain Tributyl-tin (TBT) - a toxic pollutant known to cause hormonal problems in humans and animals

*Disposable diapers contain sodium polyacrylate, a type of super absorbent polymer (SAP), which becomes a gel-like substance when wet. A similar substance had been used in super-absorbency tampons until the early 1980s when it was revealed that the material increased the risk of toxic shock syndrome by increasing absorbency and improving the environment for the growth of toxin-producing bacteria.


*No one knows how long it takes for a disposable diaper to decompose, but it is estimated to be about 250-500 years, long after your children, grandchildren and great, great, great grandchildren will be gone

*You save $1400-2100 over the cost of disposables. Reuse them for a second child and save $3,520 - $4,520.




It's a LOT cheaper to cloth diaper not to mention theyre soooo cute, lots of different designs, you can use velcro or snaps, you can have it come with the cloth built in, get covers, or have pockets where you put as many cloth inserts you want in there depending on how much absorbency you want. They arent like the old school ones, every one I have talked to have said that their disposables leak through out the night but have not heard of any leaks with a lot of the newer cloth diapers, no more pins, no more ugly cloths. I'm really excited to give our baby girl all the benefits that she can get =D

LUELLA ROSE!

ellies room is going to be pink and green jungle theme so i painted a bunch of letter blocks pink and green and now josh and i are painting jungle animals on them =D

6 MONTHS PREGNANT!!! (24 weeks)

I love being pregnant!!! I feel really pretty today =) although its march and we're still getting snow blizzards ughhhh but all the shades are open letting all that bright white snow light up the house! This morning I made a fruit parfait consisting of blue berries, strawberries, nuts, and yogert, mmmm was it good!!! This week i also ordered a prenatal workout dvd from amazon its called Summer Sanders' prenatal workout and its amazingggg, my thighs are killing me but no pain no gain =D It goes by what trimester youre in so you dont over work yourself and its so good to have a work out plan while youre pregnant, not just so you dont gain too much weight but it really helps the baby in growth and developing I suggest any one who is pregnant get a dvd like this or join a prenatal class like zoomba or yogo or just something to keep you active, I also go on nice long walks with josh, it gives us bonding and talking time while at the same time we're getting a work out =) 

last night we had an aweful storm and got stuck in the front of our driveway (our driveway inclines and then you have to pull into the car port) well me and my pregnancy hormones, I'm watching josh out there 9 o'clock at night, snowing hard and nasty wind, shoveling our driveway!! He could have taken the easy way out and just parked out front but he was determined to get the car up to the porch. so of course my emotions kick in and I start crying and thanking God for such an amazing and determined husband, this pregnancy has just given me sooo much compassion for josh its insane, every little thing he does I see it as being absolutely wonderful and try my best to never ever ever take him for granted cause he truly is so wonderful. Not to mention how involved with the pregnancy he is with me, he wants to got to all the early pregnancy classes and labor classes and breastfeeding class, he wants to register for the baby shower with me, and pick things out for Ellie, he wants to help me with her room and is always checking up on me and talking to my belly. Everytime he goes to give me a hug he puts his hand on my belly as were hugging, its just so cute!!!! The other day he said he loves "his girls" and I just about cried, I cant believe how wonderful of a husband God has blessed me with, who would have thought a man could be as great as he is. Ok ok sorry for bragging, back to baby stuff =)