Website Spotlight: Lucky Baby Wear

I've seen lots of baby slings, but so many of them are made with not-so-cute fabric. Well, how cute are these! I came across them on a friend's baby blog and knew that I had to spotlight Lucky Baby Wear.

Parents usually turn to "baby wearing" for convenience, but did you know that another great benefit of wearing your child in a sling is that they can actually grow to be more independent children? Because you are more in tune with their needs and are more apt to take care of their needs quickly when they are held close to you, children who are worn in slings are more secure with their environment and thus more independent.

Tidbits from Lucky Baby owner, Candice: "We donate to children's charities; we hire moms who work from home; our slings are made in the U.S.; and we have a new padded sling coming out that's revolutionary."

Recipe: Squash and Tomato Salad

I had this salad at a friend's party and had to get the recipe. It's a great alternative to hot veggies as a side dish during the summer and a great dish to bring to a party. It's also healthy for the little ones...if they give it a try.

3 ½ cups sliced yellow squash
1 pint grape tomatoes (cut in half )
½ cup purple onion (thin vertical slices)
¼ cup fresh basil chopped (less if you use dried basil)
½ cup crumbled feta cheese
¼ cup white wine vinegar
1 ½ teaspoons olive oil
⅛ teaspoon salt
Dash of pepper
1 garlic clove, minced

1. Blanch squash (instructions below). Combine with tomatoes, onion, feta cheese and basil. Set aside.
2. Combine remaining ingredients - vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic in a separate bowl. Stir well.
3. Pour over vegetables. Toss gently.
4. It's better if you let the salad marinate for 12-24 hours.

How to Blanch Squash
I had to google it, so I figured I'd provide blanching instructions for you.
1. Put sliced squash in basket and lower into boiling water. Cover and return to boil.
2. Boil for three minutes.
3. Remove basket and plunge into ice cold water for about three minutes.
4. Drain all excess water.

Leave Those Kids Alone

The idea that adults should be playing with their kids is a modern invention -- and not necessarily a good one.

PBK Recall

Pottery Barn Kids recalls crib bumpers due to entanglement hazard. The diamond matelassé, floral matelassé and polka dot matelassé crib bumpers included in the recall were sold at Pottery Barn Kids stores nationwide, in its catalog and online from February 2003 through June 2007.

Thanks for the heads-up on our Baby Blog Addict forum, Bridget.

Update...

>> Addicts Across America (Kingsland, GA)

Come clean and admit you're an a Baby Blog Addict! Send your first names, city (optional) and state to editor@babyblogaddict.com.

Naming Baby

You may love your name or hate your name, but unless you feel like filling out a lot of paperwork, there's no changing it. Naming a baby can be a frustrating task, especially if friends and family start offering their opinions.

'Bachelorette' Star Has a Boy

Stop the presses! Trista Rehn and Ryan Sutter are the first reality TV duo to reproduce. The couples' baby boy, named Maxwell Alston Sutter, was born on Thursday in their hometown of Vail, Colorado. He was born a few weeks ahead of schedule, weighing in at 5 pounds, 3 ounces.

Military Baby Boom

Apparently many military couples at Fort Campbell, Kentucky celebrated last fall when about 20,000 soldiers with the 101st Airborne Division came home, because the military hospital here is now seeing a baby boom. The hospital expects to deliver 210 babies a month soon, nearly twice the usual number of deliveries, and more are expected at other nearby hospitals in Tennessee and Kentucky.

Parents Split on Learning Baby's Sex

U.S. adults are split on whether they would want to learn the sex of their baby before birth, according to a new Gallup poll.

Computer Program Can Learn Baby Talk

A college professor says his computer program supports the theory that babies systematically sort through sounds until they understand the structure of a language.

"The problem the child confronts is how many categories are there and how should I think about it. We're trying to propose a method that solves that problem," said James McClelland, a psychology professor at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California.

Lightweight Stroller

Once your child is out of the infant seat, you may want to trade in that bulky travel system for something a little easier to handle. The Chicco Capri Stroller is a great lightweight stroller. I have it in red for my little boy and my sister just got it in this new 70's pattern for her little girl. It's also available in Key Lime, Tangerine, Aqua and Blue.

The reviews are great. It's only 11 lbs, has a 5-point harness, reclining seat and storage basket. The only concerns raised are that the canopy can get dirty from the wheels when you fold the stroller and the clip that holds the stroller together when folded is really tight to latch.

Stay-At-Home Calculator

Dream of quitting your job to stay home with the kids? The first step is understanding your expenses. The second is seeing if your family can cover them comfortably on just one salary. Check out this Stay At Home Calculator from Parents.com.

Update...

>> Beautiful Babies (Ethan and Ellie in Florida)

Send yours to editor@babyblogaddict.com.

Heroic Pooch

A Chihuahua in Colorado is being called a hero for saving a baby from a rattlesnake.

Why Dads Shouldn't Buy Baby Clothes...

Newborns and Sleep

Babies younger than four months old have very different sleep needs than older babies. This article will help you understand your newborn baby’s developing sleep patterns, and will help you develop reasonable expectations when it comes to your baby and sleep.

Mommy's Pals

The Five Friends All Moms Need: the role model, the twin, the spur-of-the-moment coffee buddy, the rule-breaker and the best friend's mom.

The Nursery: For Baby or Parents?

New parents spend anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000 to decorate a baby's nursery, according to the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, resulting in a $7.3 billion industry. That's a lot of money to spend on a room that the baby can't really enjoy until he's crawling. So, some parents are side-stepping ducks and bunnies and, instead, incorporating their own styles, interests and personalities into their babies' rooms.

Coming Monday...

>>Future Baby Blog Addicts residing in the great state of Florida (Beautiful Babies). Send yours to editor@babyblogaddict.com.

Updates...

>> Addicts Across America (Hawaii, Colorado)
>> Beautiful Babies (Kayden and Kendal in Colorado; Sean and Luke)

Send your submissions to editor@babyblogaddict.com.

Baby-Making Vacations

How about this for a vacation: the entire point of the thing is making babies!

"Sea moss elixir doesn't sound romantic. Neither do endless bowls of pumpkin soup, even when the setting for their consumption is white sand beaches and color-saturated sunsets. But the marine plant potion and beta carotene-packed soup are two of the reasons couples are heading to the Westin Grand Bahama Island Our Lucaya Resort for romantic getaways. Aside from relaxation, these holidays are meant to have an end result--a baby."

Jennifer Aniston Pregnant?

According to OK! magazine that could be the case. It is reporting she and her British boyfriend were caught shopping for baby clothes.

"A witness claims that the couple left the boutique with a $195 cashmere teddy bear. “They were arm in arm. They were acting like a married couple while shopping for various baby-related items like cribs and changing tables."

Blog Watch

>> Baby Skin Care...
>> First year baby gifts...
>> Decorating baby's room...
>> Do people still go out for baby photos? ...
>> Baby born drunk...

The 'iPodified' Baby

If listening to your iPod isn't enough, you can turn your baby into one. You can order pink, blue or white onesies from the iPod My Baby website.

Buy three and the shipping's free!

Today's Headlines...

>> Dwarf has normal size baby...
>> Working out after baby...
>> Baby talk study...
>> Sex after baby...

Update...

>> Addicts Across America (Florida)

News and Notes...

If you're new to Baby Blog Addict, check out our other sections on the right side of the page. Addicts Across America, Addiction Stories and Beautiful Babies are dependent on user feedback. Send your information to editor@babyblogaddict.com.

Addicts Across America: All we want is your state and the first names of those in your "addict family." Cities and e-mail addresses are optional.

Addiction Stories: We know you're an addict. You're here, after all. Tell us your story. How did it all start? When did you realize that you were addicted? Admitting you have a problem is the first step.

Beautiful Babies: Send us a picture of your future addict and we'll show it to the Addict Nation. We only need the baby's home state and first name. Once again, the city is optional.

Announcements: E-mail us your pregnancy or birth announcements. Think about it as a classified ad for your bit of news. Check out some samples here.

Forum: You'll find great topics here dealing with names, milestones, parenting, baby deals, product reviews and a whole lot more.

Baby Blog Addict has grown tremendously since our inception back in May, but we know there are a lot of people--major addicts--who still don't know about us. Open your arms and welcome them into the addict family. They need us. Spread the word.

Don't Try This at Home...

A couple who authorities say were so obsessed with the Internet and video games that they left their babies starving and suffering other health problems have pleaded guilty to child neglect.

The Well-Equipped Baby

Whether it's a Boppy, Baby Bjorn or sanity-saving DVD, there are some things a baby just has to have, right? Check out this article about a mother's baby budget-gone-haywire and see if you can relate. I know we can.

Editor's note: For what it's worth, the Baby Bjorn (pictured) was a tremendous waste of money for us. We heard all kinds of great things and our son wanted nothing to do with it.

Gender Tests

If you're just dying to know the sex of your baby and can't wait until that revealing 16-week ultrasound, you can order up a test for a few hundred bucks that will tame your curiosity. One woman got her answer just eight weeks into her pregnancy. However, there are some ethical concerns. Since no government agency regulates the tests there is no quality control, and some experts believe couples will choose to selectively terminate early pregnancies based on their child's gender. Another criticism: the test isn't always right.

Video: Funny Commercial

Baby's First Memories

What is your earliest memory? Mine is playing with a car in my parents' living room with my grandmother looking on from the sofa. I was probably 4 or 5. I remember other things from pictures, so I'm not sure what's a real memory or a "Kodak memory." The editor of American Baby magazine says most adults suffer from "infant amnesia", meaning we don't usually remember much before age 3 or 4. But, even though adults don't remember infancy, infants themselves can remember things.

>> Video

Baby Food Recall

Gerber Products Co. recalled all packages of its organic rice and organic oatmeal cereals Friday because of potential clumping, which can pose a choking hazard.

Updates...

>> Addicts Across America (Quads in Indiana and Kylie's family in Tennessee)
>> Beautiful Babies (Kylie in Tennessee)

Oops. I deleted the first column on the Addicts Across America page and had to rebuild it. Please check it out and let me know if I left you off this time or didn't include all of the information you submitted. Send your submissions to editor@babyblogaddict.com.

Dillinger

That is the most pretentious baby name ever. So says Gawker. After sorting through more than 500 submissions, Dillinger pulled in 26 percent of the vote, followed by Epitome, Panache, Goldman, Palmares and Gingerly. Thankfully, we don't know any babies--or people for that matter--with those names.

Today's Headlines

>> Woman uses infant to pull off robberies...
>> Baby born WITH teeth...
>> Beyonce's father and sister launch toy line...
>> Former senator, 70, excited about new baby...
>> The importance of baby shower gift wrap...
>> Hilary Swank wants a baby...
>> Dad's cuddles can help soothe baby...
>> Driver takes off with mom, baby on hood...
>> New advice on plastic baby bottles...
>> Is your baby at risk for tooth decay? ...

Nursery: Family Pictures

When planning our baby's nursery, I collected baby photos from all of our family members. I scanned them and turned them into black and white prints. I left the top middle open for the baby's first picture and put mommy and daddy's baby pics on the sides. The bottom left frame includes my family and the bottom right, my husband's family.

It was such a great way to see who Jack looked like when he came along. He still loves looking at all of the pictures and letting me point out who is who.

Here's a tip for hanging the J-A-C-K letters and the bow. I used velcro circles to stick the letters and the bow to the wall. It was much easier than nails and allowed me to tilt them. The C has fallen a couple of times over the past year, but I'd still do it this way again.

My baby picture...Jack's baby picture...Scott's baby picture

Talking Baby and Mom Kicked Off Plane

Talk about a firestorm in Houston. Kate Penland, the mother of a 19-month-old boy, says she and her son were kicked off a plane after she refused a stewardess' request to medicate her son to keep him from talking.

“As we started taxiing, he started saying ‘Bye, bye plane,’ said Penland. “At the end of her speech, she leaned over the gentleman beside me and said, ‘It’s not funny anymore. You need to shut your baby up.’

In disbelief, Penland asked the woman if she was kidding. It was then, Penland said, the flight attendant went too far.

“She then said, ‘You know, it’s called baby Benadryl. And I said, 'Well, I'm not going to drug my child so you have a pleasant flight.'"

Click here for video.

Luckey Baby Born On Lucky Day

The Luckey family lucked out when their baby girl was born early - on the luckiest day of the millennium.

Picky Eater: Pumpkin Pancakes

Here's another sneaky recipe for picky eaters. This one is for pumpkin pancakes. According to wikipedia, pumpkin is botanically a fruit, referring to a plant part which grows from a flower; however, it is widely regarded as a vegetable in culinary terms, referring to how it is eaten.

1/2 cup canned 100% pure pumpkin
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 cup milk
2 cups all purpose baking mix (Jiffy or Bisquick)
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

1. In a bowl, mix together the baking mix, sugar and pumpkin pie spice.
2. In another bowl, mix together the pumpkin, eggs, oil and milk.
3. Add flour mixture all at once. Stir just until blended.
4. Coat a griddle/skillet with a spray of canola oil. Pour 1/4 cup batter for each pancake.
5. Over medium high heat, cook pancakes until golden brown, turning to cook second sides when pancakes have a bubbly surfaces and slightly dry edges.

*On our forum, shedrick suggests adding wheat germ to anything with flour or baking mix such as cookies, pancakes or muffins, since it's an excellent source of vitamin E and folic acid.

Yield: 10 pancakes.

See our other Picky Eater posts: V8 Splash, Triple-Stuffed Potatoes, Chocolate Pudding, Blueberry Muffins.

'90210' Star Welcomes Baby Girl

It's officially daddy duty time for "Beverly Hills 90210" star Jason Priestley, who welcomed a baby girl with his makeup artist wife Naomi Lowde in Los Angeles on Friday.

"I'm not nervous at all… which makes me nervous," Jason said just weeks before the birth of their daughter whose name has yet to be announced.

Website Spotlight: Murray Crew QUADS!

Another multiples blog (the most addictive kind) to fuel your baby blog addiction. Actually two blogs for one family:

• murraycrew.blogspot.com - Launched when all FOUR BOYS came home and chronicles the first few crazy months.
  
  
• triplet-update.blogspot.com - The Murray's pregnancy blog with the whole story of the triplets...nope there's another one that we missed...it's Quads!

According to Mom Jennifer, the Murray Crew has been enjoying our Baby Blog Addict site. They are quads from Indiana and admitted baby blog addicts. Henry, Brooks, Clark, and Isaac were born to Jennifer and Brad on February 2, 2007 making them 5 months old.

Isaac, Brooks, Henry and Clark

My Son Won't Feed Himself

Some kids refuse to be fed by you (they want to be independent), while others refuse to feed themselves.

On our forum, txthompsons asks for help...

"My son just turned one and absolutely refuses to put anything in his mouth--including food. I mean, he's never put toys in, things he finds on the floor--nothing. I need some advice on what I can do to get him to eat by himself. He does pick the food up, but he looks me dead in the eye and throws it on the floor, which I give him a big NO for doing. Things I've tried include...putting food in front of him every 45 minutes thinking he would eventually eat, putting food in his hand and guiding it to mouth, giving him things I normally wouldn't (like sweet snacks) to entice him. All result in screaming. Anyone have this issue?"

Any advice or tips for txthompson? Share it on our forum.

Appearance of Baby Teeth

According to DrGreene.com, many parents worry about the timing of the appearance of their children's teeth. While the average time for the appearance of the first teeth is between five and seven months of age, there is a wide normal variation of timing. The teeth might come in as early as one month of age, or they might wait until a child is almost one-and-a-half-years old.

The following chart outlines the normal ranges for teeth to erupt:


Looks like our 20-month-old son Jack is right on target with his central and later incisors, cuspids and first molars. Can't wait for his second molars to come in. I'm sure those are lots of fun.

To discuss appearance of teeth or other baby and toddler milestones, go to the Milestones section on our forum.

Daughter May Give Birth to Mom's Baby

In a medical first, a Canadian mother has frozen some of her eggs so her seven-year-old daughter can give birth should her genetic disorder make her infertile as an adult. If Flavie Boivin should become infertile, her mother's eggs could make it possible for her to give birth nonetheless, to a child who would be not only her offspring, but also her half-sister or half-brother.

What to Pack

I hate to pack. It takes me forever and I always overpack, yet I always manage to forget something important. When Jack came along, I dreaded packing even more, if that was possible. I mean, how can one little baby need so much stuff for an overnight trip!

Since I'm a list person, I decided to type out a "What to Pack" list with one side for Jack and one for me (luckily Scott packs his own suitcase). I kept the list in Jack's suitcase pocket and pulled it out for each trip. I updated it occasionally to keep up with Jack's changing needs (from bottles to sippy cups and 10-12 diapers per day down to 4 or 5). I still hate packing, but would have to say that my "What to Pack" list has been a lifesaver.

Blogapathy

"A condition caused by excessive blogging leaves little time for keeping up with current events and pop culture."

Blogapathy is especially prevalent in the younger generation who traditionally tend to ignore world events—but are now tuning out once popular networks like MTV. “What’s the TV supposed to stand for?” says one youth “I know the M is for music, but the T and V?—I should Google this...” (from Bloggers Anonymous)

Website Spotlight: Baby Face Design

Baby Face Design offers custom invitations for all occassions, gift tags, luggage tags, stationery, notepads and waterproof labels.

Also check out the Baby Face Design Blog for even more printed designs plus monogrammed children's clothing and gifts.

Owner and designer Renee Guest will be happy to walk you through the process for your custom design. If it's a gift, simply give her the information you want on the enclosure card and she will ship the gift directly to the recipient. So easy!

How Addicted to Blogging Are You?

I'm 72%. Yikes! Find out how addicted you are by answering a few questions and then post your results on your own blog or in the comments section here.

72%How Addicted to Blogging Are You?

Liars!

Psychologists used to think that babies weren't capable of lying until they reached four-years-old. Now, behavioral experts believe infants can master the fine art of fibbing as early as six months. According to studies of more than 50 children and interviews with parents, infants quickly found that using tactics such as fake crying and pretend laughing could win them attention.

Today's Headlines

>> Baby delivered in police department parking lot...
>> 'The View' co-host to blog about pregnancy...
>> Growing up in a batting cage... (funny story)
>> Baby gear boom...
>> What's in a baby name? ...