Mommy's Beauty

Motherhood is something very special, it's like a turning point in a woman's life finally giving a new life out in this world. Some women have smoother ride to mommyhood and some go through rough patches along the way. It's normal to feel stressed & tired sometimes but bear in mind that no matter how hard things could be for you, it will be all worth your time and sacrifice.

Moms should feel pretty and confident, don't you think so? Somehow you'll feel down after seeing all the changes in your body like weight gain, stretch marks, falling hair and big eye bags but don't let those things put pressure on you. You have to see through your inner self and look at the joys of having your little one.

You can do many things to feel good about yourself like going to the spa, having some mani and pedi or shopping. Buy women's pajamas, a pair of sandals or shoes, shirt, shorts, jeans, perfume or anything that will suit your fancy. I remember enjoying looking through the lingerie and women's pajamas rack whenever I go to the department stores. For me it was like retail therapy. I had to get new set of comfy clothes like womens pajamas and nursing wear so I can easily nurse my baby and just feel completely comfortable at home. That's my new "wardrobe" at home since I don't really go out as often as before. Being comfortable gives me a sense of peace and beauty.

Post Break: Time To Organize

Keeping a clean and well organized home is a very good practice to do. It should never be done only because a baby came therefore tidying the home is a must. Our place reflects our lifestyle, our personality. It also contributes to our well-being. If you have full of clutters and mess then it can also affect your moods, it will cause stress on you and the other way around if it's neat and orderly.

I grew up with my mom teaching me how to do things around the house. She loves to keep our place clean despite her hectic schedule. I can say I acquired that mindset from my mom and I try to apply it in my life now. Our home is not 100% clutter free but I can be proud enough to say that it's clean and in good order.

There are many ways to keep our home organized and one of which is with the aid of jk adams. It all starts with the leaning basics, keeping things organized and placed where it should be. In the kitchen,we can incorporate the use of jk adams spice rack to keep those spice bottles together and lessening cupboard clutter. Whether you are a wine collector or simply uses wines for cooking purposes, jk adams wine rack can keep those bottles together and can even serve as a decorative element in your kitchen. Like I said, organization can be done in simplest ways.

It will be beneficial for your baby if you have a clean and healthy environment. It all starts at home and this can greatly influence your baby's life and well-being.

Post Break: No Lockers

I am happy to find out two of my other friends are pregnant. I just know how happy it feels like the moment you knew you are carrying your first baby. I can totally relate to their joy and excitement.

I am no expert when it comes to pregnancy that's why I educated myself through books and other reading materials. All those came in handy because I learned so many things about pregnancy and the preparations that I needed to do. It's true that you can never be really so prepared for the final time but there are things that you can get ready ahead to help you get by with more ease.

One thing that's very important to prepare ahead is the hospital bags for mommy and baby. Take note that some hospitals don't have lockers for your clothes but there are some which provide at least a single locker or a closet unit to hang your clothes. But it's always nice to have at least even just some extra wood lockers to keep the hospital room clutter free.

Mornings with Sesame Street

Each morning, my son and I try to tune into Sesame Street. This is a good children's program because it teaches children many things. Some of the things a child can learn just by watching one program of Sesame Street are letters of the alphabet and numbers. Sesame Street also usually has a short storyline with good morals that teach children about sharing, caring for others or maybe taking care of things that are important to them. My son is able to relate to the characters as they go about their day on "Sesame Street".

There are real life situations that could possibly pertain to children in today's society and my son is able to learn how to resolve those issues from the characters as well as our teaching at home. We often discuss together the pros and cons of the story line and talk about how we could make the bad situations that happen on "Sesame Street" better. This show has been on korean satellite tv for many years and deserves to be continued for many more years as it is a very educational show for small children.

Thanks to John Kim for the guest post

Post Break: Beach Vacation

The weather's crazy changing day to day, some days can be too hot and some days can be surprisingly cool. Summer has officially started and schools' off already. Beach vacation can be great for the whole family or even for office summer break. It's nice to have a little time away from the busy city life.

There are many activities to enjoy on a hot summer day in the beach like boarding, sand castle making, tanning, fishing or swimming. But that doesn't restrict anybody from enjoying some other fun activity like strolling around the town, checking local restaurants and playing some rounds of golf. Golfing is surely a fun activity for all ages.

That's all in Myrtle Beach vacation deals where good vacation packages are offered at affordable rates. No need to worry about accommodation because Myrtle Beach hotel can offer great service and no less. Make sure you won't miss out on fun this summer. Check out offers and deals at http://www.grandeshores.com for details.

Post Break: On TutorVista

Online tutoring is the latest norm nowadays when it comes to Statistics help. TutorVista offers one on one online tutoring system specifically for k-12 and even for college students. The well trained and experienced Statistics tutor is available whenever you need help. Lessons are discussed prior to the student's curriculum where Statistics questions and Statistics answers will be tackled accordingly.

This system is totally different from the traditional tutoring system where a student has to sit together with the tutor. Everything in this system is interactive, all that's needed is the computer and internet connection to be able to hook up online lessons session. No more fixed time waiting for the tutor time like before, it can be anytime and even anywhere whenever needed. Check out TutorVista to see for free Statistics help demo.

Immunization Schedules - birth to 2mos

Birth

• Hep B: Hepatitis B vaccine (HBV); recommended to give the first dose at birth, but may be given at any age for those not previously immunized.

1-2 months

• Hep B: Second dose should be administered 1 to 2 months after the first dose.

2 months

• DTaP: Diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis vaccine
• Hib: Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine
• IPV: Inactivated poliovirus vaccine
• PCV: Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine
• Rota: Rotavirus vaccine

Post Break: Searching for Baby Stores

Having baby J restricted me from being so mobile and being out and about. I used to do so much things outside before moving here and there, checking this and that. Now I can truly relate to people saying a baby can change your life.

Baby J is 4months old now and soon will be ready to take his first solid food. Me and my husband on the other hand are also preparing for his needs. I already secured his feeding sets and other small baby items but we still have to nail down getting his baby high chair. So far we have searched online to check prices and models but we have yet to see other baby furniture shops.

I am doing some local search through local yellowpages but there isn't much baby furniture shops to see. Most searches result to local restaurants and other establishments. Hopefully we will come down to a decision with his baby high chair, something that can grow with him. Not just the common cushioned baby chairs which cannot be used anymore as he grow bigger.

Post Break: On TutorNext

Math has always been a challenging subject for most students and it's no surprise if some would seek some math help. It was a common practice before to hire a math tutor for the kids who serves as their math problem solver. Many people still do this way but others especially K-12 and college students prefer to get an online math tutor.

TutorNext offers free online tutoring as a trial for you to see if their system can work for you. Experience how their math tutors online can help with homework and conduct online lessons. No need to worry about time because an online tutor will surely be available 24/7 to attend to your questions. They are experienced tutors who will conduct a one on one interactive lesson session for you whenever you need them.

Baby Carriers Need To Know

Babies love and need close contact, and back carriers are ideal for nestling them against their parents. Most injuries that occur with carriers result from falls. Two types of carriers are available: one is pouch-like, and the other has a frame.

What to look for:

• The carrier should have straps that prevent your baby from falling or crawling out. Look for firm, padded head support. Try to match your baby's size and weight and make sure there is enough depth to support the back and that the leg openings are small enough to prevent your baby from slipping out.
• Check for ease of use. Some of the soft ones are difficult to put on because of numerous straps.
• A framed carrier should have a kickstand that locks in the open position. The folding mechanism should be free of pinch points that could catch your baby's fingers. Look for padding on the metal frame around the infant's face.
• Try the pack on for comfort, both with the baby in it and without.
• Ideally, the fabric should be durable with strong stitching or large heavy fasteners to prevent slippage.
• Pockets or zippered compartments are handy for storing frequently needed items.

SAFETY NOTES:

• Never use a framed carrier before your infant is 4 to 5 months old, and don't use it as an infant seat. It can tip over without warning.
• Use restraining straps at all times if your carrier has them.
• If you need to lean over, bend from the knees rather than the waist to prevent the baby from falling out of the carrier.
• Check the carrier periodically to look for loose fasteners or ripped seams.

courtesy of kidshealth

Post Break: Couch Baby is Hosted!

We officially launched our CouchBaby.com blog but it still doesn't have much contents yet. I should say since baby J's arrival, we've been more inspired to do things. We accomplished more goals that we have been wanting to finish. The site's name was inspired from baby and we find it cute sounding too =)

We decided to work on web hosting for this blog site so that we can see the feasibility of having our little business or online store online. The whole process of putting the site up and running took a little time. Registering a domain name alone took 2-3days because all possible names were already taken and we didn't want to settle to just any name we're not happy about. Everything worked out well eventually, nothing comes so easy I believe.

Post Break: Money Deals

It's scary that he economy hasn't picked up so well up to this point and still many people are being laid off from their jobs. It's a tough world out there finding new jobs and even trying to stay with your current job. In some way it's better to be self sufficient or have your very own small business in which there will be no fear of being laid off and there's more room to be competitive in the current market.

Some people would invest on stock trading, do online trading & mobile trading, secure their IRA accounts or be an online broker. There are many companies which offer online investments like stocks and mutual funds. These are alternative ways of investing your hard earned greens for future use. No matter what we choose to do with our money, we just have to make sure we know what we are dealing with and it will be for better results.

Newborn Development @ 3 months

Here are the baby milestones @ 3 monthS: By the end of the month most babies should be able to:

• Raise head and chest while on tummy
• Lift head 45 degrees
• Kick and strengthen legs while on back
• Open and shut hand
• Reach for dangling objects
• Grasp and shake hand toys
• Begin to develop a social smile
• Kick legs energetically
• Bring both hands together

I am proud to say that our little boy is developing accordingly. Just look at that smile, so contagious! I make him practice little by little, step by step in forms of exercises to stay on his tummy and strengthen his neck to better support his head. He's definitely a little kicker without stop when he's all hyped up.

Post Break: Local Search

Road trips can be so much fun may it with friends or family. It is a good way of exploring and visiting all other good places. With so much new things to see along the way, this is a must activity for thrill seekers and travelers.

No need to worry about bringing numerous maps and travel guides if you have a hand on internet connection with you. Finding establishments around may you be in Chicago, IL, Birmingham, AL, Tulsa, OK or anywhere else in the country. JutClickLocal has the widest local search coverage for establishments of any kind. No different from a yellow pages! If in need of places to eat, just search for dining & entertainment section to find what you fancy. Everything you'll possibly need you can find it all there.

Post Break: TV Specials

As a busy mom of a 4 month old, I hardly have any time for myself. I am juggling work, house chores, cooking, taking care of my husband and of course the first and foremost priority taking care of my little boy. It's not an easy task but I get to manage things well so far.

Watching TV can be entertaining and helpful at the same time. I have a certain routine now with my baby watching some educational shows for kids like sesame street and other shows on TV. This serves as an early learning for him too and having a little TV time with him gives mommy a teeny weeny bit of rest. I also get to view some arts and cooking shows which pretty much entertains me and relaxes me.

MyTVOptions has cable specials & dish specials for 50% off the specials package price of your choice. It's just like saving $29/mo for the whole year! Packages start from $29.99-$39.99 plus a lot of bonuses. Check out what best suits your watching fancy and get the best deal for you.

Newborn Development @ 2 months

Here are the baby milestones @ 2 months: By the end of the month most babies should be able to:

• Smile
• Track objects with eyes
• Make noises other than crying
• Repeat vowel noises, such as “ah” or “ooh”
• Enjoy being held and spoken to

See how he looks at the camera here? We were having some camera fun by this month because baby sure knows how to track objects with eyes most especially the camera being black, that kind of contrast is very appealing to him. He also loves to smile a lot and gurgles and babbles from time to time. It feels like he's talking so much with us and that's just so precious.

Post Break: Beach Bummin'

It's getting hotter and hotter these days and it would be nice to go to the beach and just chill there. The nice sea view, fresh ocean breeze, soothing sounds of the waves and all other things that make a beach so much fun.

Spending some time with the family is a must most especially when you have kids. Having quality family time can imprint great memories to the kids that they can carry along as they grow up. This can help with their development and being exposed to such family activities like the beach outing can improve their social interaction skills too.

Beach bumming is not a bad idea at all since you only get to do this once in a while. Surely the family can enjoy the beach with some fun activities like kite flying, sand castle building, beach volleyball, fishing, swimming, boarding or even simply strolling and scotch hopping by the shore.

The family may also do some other fun activities like golfing where kids can learn the basics of putting and enjoy the vast greens of the golf land. All these fun-filled activities can be checked in www.myrtlebeachseasideresorts.com where hotel accommodations and golf packages are given in such a deal. Don't miss to check http://www.myrtlebeachseasideresorts.com/ this summer!

Post Break: Insurance Thoughts

Unfortunate event can come anytime and if you are not prepared financially it can really be so stressful. As the saying goes "money doesn't grow on trees", we all know that it'snotthyat east to generate funds in a very short span of time unless you have savings but most likely it will dry you out.

I don't think anybody will like such thing to happen most especially with their savings. This is where affordable life insurance can be considered at least to be prepared for those untoward incidents. A cheap funeral insurance side by side with accident and illness insurance are very good to have to assure all that's needed in times of distress will be well handled. These can give so much ease not only financially but also emotionally.

Newborn Development @ 1 month

Here are the baby milestones @ 1 month: By the end of the month most babies should be able to:

• Lift head for short periods of time
• Move head from side to side
• Prefer the human face to other shapes
• Make jerky arm movements
• Bring hand to face
• Demonstrate strong reflex movements
• Focus on items 8 to 12 inches away
• Turn towards familiar sounds or voices
• Respond to loud sounds
• Blink at bright lights

The developments from 0-1 months are not that much of a difference but rather improved by the end of the 1st month. It's such a sweet treat for us seeing baby's first smile... he's very very adorable. He's starting to gain back the weight that he lost on the first few weeks after he's born.

Post Break: The Edge of SubmitEdge

How much do we really rely on technology nowadays? Some people are not the tech savvy type but some are very technology reliant most especially with the use of computers and internet. These people are commonly business owners, bloggers and others who has their works focused with the use of internet.

Of course if you are a business owner or a blogger you would want to optimize your site search-ability. This can bridge you to a high page rank, high ranking, high traffic and high sales site. Isn't it great that your efforts with your business and blog will be worth through some site optimization help?

If you are highly after site optimization, that is where SubmitEdge has its edge. Their system is very hands on as their well trained staff manually submit your site or link to all directories following strict rules and submission guidelines. Some things that automated submission can't check thoroughly. Your links will surely be submitted to sites with high PR rank and will constantly review, verify and update links to their 8000+ directories. There are other services they offer like content writing, press release, SEO web design, article submission, blog review, directory submission, link building and search engine optimization.

Newborn Development @ 0 month

Here are the baby milestones @ 0 month: By the end of the month most babies should be able to:

• babies can lift head on short periods while on stomach
• babies responds to sounds and voices most especially his or her mother & father's voices
• babies can focus on objects about 10 inches away from his face
• babies likes to looks at high contrast and circular patterns
• have strong reflexes

My little boy had great development all throughout his 0-1 month. I have to admit it was a very exciting period for us seeing him move and all. Though he sleeps almost all of the day I still couldn't help my self from staring and caressing him in every way. He never gave me much trouble since he was born with his night time sleep, he always settle on bed with us.

Post Break: Keep Kids on Watch

It's summer time and kids are usually bored if confined at home. Most of the time they tend to be infront the computer or their consoles playing games. Just a friendly reminder to all parents out there, make sure you supervise your kids with their online surfing or gaming. Bear in mind that there are so much things on the net which are not so kid friendly.

Speaking of some online gaming activity, did you know that you can buy WoW accounts (world of warcraft) and even choose the character of your choice? Check Virtual Barrack , a website specializing in MMO buying and selling. Aion account holders can also benefit from this as vbarrack can accept those who sell Aion accounts.

Our Baby Crib Set

When we decided to buy our baby's crib, having a changing table was thought essential or at least good to have alongside. We had to search for information and guides about buying a baby crib set to make sure we'll have a safe one for our little boy.

Guides in buying a crib:

1. Buy New not Used: We recommend that you buy a new crib because used cribs might not meet today's safety standards and they could have loose hardware from being taken apart and put together several times.
2. Inspect your Crib: Check your crib from top to bottom to make sure that all of the screws and bolts are tight. Shake your crib to check sturdiness and see if any parts need to be tightened.
3. Get the Right Mattress: It's best to use the mattress that comes with the crib or is made for your crib model. It's important to get a tight fitting mattress. If you can put your two fingers between the crib side and mattress then the mattress isn't big enough. A loose mattress can pose a suffocation hazard if your baby's face were to get wedged between the mattress and crib rail.
4. Choose a Solid Design: Avoid getting a crib that has any type of cut-outs in the design. Any holes in the crib sides can be a possible strangulation hazard if your baby were to stick his head through the hole.
5. Check Crib Slats: Make sure that the crib slats are no more than 2-3/8 inches apart to avoid entrapment and check that all slats are secure.
6. Baby Safe Crib Finish: Purchase a crib from a reputable company that uses baby-safe crib finishes and paints. Baby gifts and baby products must be 100% safe, no less.
   

Crib Safety Tips:

1. Baby Sleeps on his Back: Experts recommend that babies should sleep on their back to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). There's less chance of suffocation if your baby is on his back.
2. No Bulky Bedding: Keep your crib baby bedding to a minimum getting rid of any bulky bedding items such as comforters, pillows, stuffed animals and crib bumpers. These items pose a suffocation hazard and should always stay out of the crib.
3. Fitted Sheets: It's important to get bedding that fits your crib such as a fitted sheet that wraps around the mattress snuggly and a light sheet that you only pull as high as your baby's chest. You might also want to consider swaddle blankets or footed nightwear.
4. Crib Placement: Always keep your crib far from windows, blinds and drapery. Children have fallen through screens or gotten tangled in cords so keep your crib far from any of these hazardous items. Keep all window cords out of your baby's reach. Avoid hanging any items such as mobiles or toys from strings because these can pose a strangulation risk. Cut all strings off any toys as well.
5. Side Rail Adjustment: Remember to keep the crib side rail locked in its up position when your baby is sleeping and as your baby gets more active adjust your mattress to the lowest position. This will keep your baby secure in the crib and eliminate the risk of falling out.
6. Time for a Toddler Bed: Check to see if your crib comes with a baby weight or height limitation. It's recommended that you move your baby to a toddler bed when your child reaches 35 inches in height.

Post Break: Baby Safety, Stay Out of Crowd

Now that we have our baby, I am more careful than before. Whenever we go out I have this feeling of being over protective most especially in places that have so much people around. I've always believed that crowd control is important everywhere to keep an organized and safe environment for everybody.

We haven't really been out much like in concerts, shows, malls or even groceries where people are greatly concentrated. Sometimes even banks get crowded with people passing here and there. I might be so paranoid at times whenever it feels so crowded I feel like keeping my boy just so close and tightly in my arms. Good thing most places have barricades like stanchions and velvet rope to regulate and control crowd movement. I bet new moms like me feel like their newborns are so fragile wanting much bigger space to move around in places.

No matter where you go just make sure we steer away from tight crowd. Take this advice for our baby's safety.

Post Break: Are Gadgets For Kids?

We now live in the modern era, therefore kids are more and more exposed to technology and gadgets. But are those gadgets for kids? Let's discuss the pros and cons of having our youngsters enjoy those custom laptops or custom computers, cellphones, game console and the like.

Parents have different views on their kids having these gadgets, of course we cannot just judge them as merely spoiling their kids whenever they give such things. Some parents claim that giving their kids cellphones in an early age is something they had to do for communication reasons. Like having easier way of contacting them when they are in school or somewhere else. I admit there are good and bad but it's hard to weigh the need of every individual for such things. Console for kids on the other hand is something we can easily understand, it's for their entertainment.

Pros & cons of having kids exposed to custom computer / custom laptop

• early learning about technology and computers * kids who get too inclined to this opts not to interact much
• many educational sites for kids * unsupervised use can lead to abusive internet browsing including adult sites
• can help with school assignments * sometimes they rely on internet too much and not read homeworks anymore and just research for the answers
• form of entertainment * kids might be inclined to keep playing games unsupervised
  

Having said all these, bottom line is that parents should set limits to their kids and closely supervise them with these things. These are not bad for them but if used abusively, it will be. For our children's well being we have to be a bit strict also on implementing rules to follow most especially involving those influential gadgets out there.

How To Treat Jaundice

In mild or moderate levels of jaundice, by 1 to 2 weeks of age the baby will take care of the excess bilirubin on its own. For high levels of jaundice, phototherapy — treatment with a special light that helps rid the body of the bilirubin by altering it or making it easier for your baby's liver to get rid of it — may be used.

More frequent feedings of breast milk or supplementing with formula to help infants pass the bilirubin in their stools may also be recommended. In rare cases, a blood exchange may be required to give a baby fresh blood and remove the bilirubin.

If your baby develops jaundice that seems to be from breast milk, your doctor may ask you to temporarily stop breastfeeding. During this time, you can pump your breasts so you can keep producing breast milk and you can start nursing again once the condition has cleared.

If the amount of bilirubin is high, your baby may be readmitted to the hospital for treatment. Once the bilirubin level drops and the treatment is stopped, it is unlikely that treatment for jaundice will need to be restarted.

Post Break: Mommy Money

Having a baby is a little tough on the budget most especially on this down economy. Moms usually need to rest for a while and nurse their babies therefore missing work days, even months. Just imagine the added cost of diapers, formula, baby gears and other things that every mom will need to get for her baby, it's not the same as getting just any grocery item from the store. We know how important the baby is that's why moms would want to provide the best for him/her. Work on the other hand is almost as equally important to support all these needs but we all know moms who just gave birth and nursing their little one can't really work right away or the same time. This somehow can cause a financial tightness within the family.

In times of need moms can resort to www.moneynowusa.com to avail cash loans. It's easy to apply for loans but you have at least an active bank account to qualify. Their system has a wide network of payday loan and financial loan lender companies from which who can offer the highest loan amount with the best interest rates available. Once approved for a loan, the company can even cash in to your account in just a matter of an hour. No worries about having your personal and financial information, their system has a safe and secure protocol for your protection.

Types of Jaundice

Here are the 3 most common types of jaundice:

Physiological (normal) Jaundice: occurring in most newborns, this mild jaundice is due to the immaturity of the baby's liver, which leads to a slow processing of bilirubin. It generally appears at 2 to 4 days of age and disappears by 1 to 2 weeks of age.

Prematurity Jaundice: occurs frequently in premature babies since they are even less ready to excrete bilirubin effectively. Jaundice in premature babies needs to be treated at a lower bilirubin level than in full term babies in order to avoid complications.

Breastfeeding Jaundice: jaundice can occur when a breastfeeding baby is not getting enough breast milk because of difficulty with breastfeeding or because the mother's milk isn’t in yet. This is not caused by a problem with the breast milk itself, but by the baby not getting enough to drink.

Post Break: Practicality Is a Choice

I thought after getting my laptop I can have more time to do all my works and other online stuffs but even so, my hands are all tied up taking care of baby. I am not complaining, in fact I am enjoying mommyhood. I am not just used not doing so much things like before. On the other hand I am very happy that baby's growing well and healthy. We are also proud that it's us who really take care of baby 100%.

As for our car deals, hubs haven't checked my other searches so that gives me some more time padding to compare prices and see more options. I have been looking more on the used cars here rather than getting tied up buying brand new cars with longer payment terms. We'd rather put the money for the future house purchase and not splurge on brand new wheels. This way we have more flexibility when it comes to choices. So far the classified ads magazine for cars have all sorts of vehicles and seeing chrysler 300 prices, subaru impreza prices, chevy hhr prices, kia soul prices and some other models prices are all there. Ideally a bigger car is better for us now to carry all baby's things and have extra space for other things too but being practical on things should be well considered. It's just a matter of choice whether you'll go for luxury over function. Take note, it's expensive raising a baby and we parents need to think and prepare for their future as early as possible.

Jaundice

Jaundice is a common condition in newborns in which the skin and the white of the eyes appear to be yellow in color. This is known to be caused by high or excess bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is produced by the normal breakdown of red blood cells.

Normally, bilirubin passes through the liver and is excreted as bile through the intestines. Jaundice occurs when bilirubin builds up faster than a newborn's liver can break it down and pass it from the body. Reasons for this include:

• Newborns make more bilirubin than adults do since they have more turnover of red blood cells.
• A newborn baby's still-developing liver may not yet be able to remove adequate bilirubin from the blood.
• Too large an amount of bilirubin is reabsorbed from the intestines before the baby gets rid of it in the stool.

My baby had jaundice too and it took about nearly 2months before his jaundice completely disappeared. I got worried at most times thinking his jaundice must be prolonging too much. Good thing the nurse who comes by our place every week since my baby was born closely checked his jaundice condition. We were so happy to finally see baby's clear white eyes and that took away all the worries that I had. Part of the reason why his jaundice stayed longer was due to the cold weather here forbidding me to take my baby out to get some sun which is a good treatment for jaundice. I just continued breastfeeding baby knowing that can really help with his jaundice.

Post Break: Music and Stories

My children and I love music. One of our favorite activities is using our wild blue satellite internet to connect to YouTube where we play music videos and dance around the room. We like to take out our pretend microphone and sing along with the music, performing for one another. The kids have a blast imitating the dance moves seen in the music videos. As a parent, I am able to create playlists ahead of time that I feel are appropriate for young kids. It also gives us an opportunity to get exercise in, even on a rainy day.

The other thing we do as a family is put on an online radio station, such as one through Pandora or Nutsie.com. We have our favorite stations, artists and genres already picked out. So all we have to do is go to our bookmarked page and press play. This becomes good cleaning music or background music for get-togethers with family, or even a family dinner. The kids have their own stations and I have mine. When they are being good, I allow them to put on their favorite station as a reward. Sometimes the kids and I will relax on the bed and put on a free audio book from StoryNory.com where we can hear classical fairy tales and even some modern ones read aloud to us

Thanks to guest blogger Mary Bedard for the guest post.

Post Break: You Gotta See This

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Incendia Health. All opinions are 100% mine.

I wasn't gifted with a clear eyesight and I admit it's not something that I enjoy so much. Having bad eyesight restricted me from doing many things most especially some sports and outdoor activities like swimming. When I was younger I get to swim without my specs but later on the grade is just too high for me to keep my specs off. I had to swim wearing it or else everything around me will just be too blurry.

I have considered undergoing Lasik to correct my vision but I honestly haven't pushed through with it. There were certain things that kind of push that to the side and live with my specs up to this time. I know deep inside of me I want to have that perfect vision again and hopefully I will get to enjoy that once again in the near future.

Speaking of Lasik, the winner of "You Gotta See This" iLASIK Video Contest has been announced by the global leader in laser vision correction, Abbott Medical Optics (AMO). It's amazing how everybody made great videos about better vision and their life changing experiences. People who found better lives after having their vision improved didn't just receive clearer site, so as great including $5,000 grand prize money.

Here are the lucky winner

$5,000 Grand Prize
“You Gotta See This Music Video” by Alex

Category 1: My Contacts Are Getting In The Way Of My Good Time
First Prize: “You Gotta Be Kidding Me! A True Story” by Robbo (HDTV package — a $2,500 value)
Second Prize: “Contacts Stink” by windysail (Flip UltraHD™ camcorder — a $199.99 value)

Category 2: My Favorite Sport Or Activity Would Be So Much Cooler With Better Vision
First Prize: “iLASIK Would Make Surfing More Enjoyable” by jhbmw007 (HDTV package)
Second Prize: “Foggy Riding” by Snowman (Flip UltraHD camcorder)

Category 3: You Should See Life After The iLASIK® Procedure
First Prize: “Orbs Of Perfection” by Danny V (HDTV package)
Second Prize: “Army LASIK” by ahowalton (Flip UltraHD camcorder)

All winner and other entries for iLASIK Video Contest can be viewed at www.GottaSeeThisNow.com. To receive valuable eye care products feel free to register!

Creamy Broccoli Soup For Pregnant or Breastfeeding Moms

Prep time: 30 to 45 minutes (includes cooking time)

Ingredients:

• 1 c. onion, diced
• 1 carrot, diced
• 1 celery stalk, diced
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• 6 c. broccoli, chopped (about 2 crowns)
• 2 c. low sodium chicken broth
• 2 c. skim milk
• ground black pepper to taste

Directions:

1. In a large soup pot, combine onion, carrot, celery, garlic, and chicken broth. Bring to a boil.
2. Add the broccoli, cover the pot, and cook for 5 to 10 minutes or until broccoli is tender.
3. Allow the soup to cool and transfer the soup to a blender. Add skim milk and blend until smooth.
4. Transfer soup back to the pot and reheat the mixture slowly until heated through.

Post Break: MMA (Mixed Martial Arts)

By far I find the most passionate sport in the world to be MMA(Mixed Martial Arts). You simply can’t get more competitive than two athletes going at it man to man, mixing skill, strength, speed, heart, and strategy.

There are some serious legends of this sport. Randy Couture, Chuck Liddell, Anderson “The Spider” Silva, Georges St-Pierre and BJ Penn are all names who have dominated their weight classes with ease. The great thing is that most of these athletes have excellent character and are quite admirable.

Another great part of these fights is the rivalry that foreruns each event. For weeks, if not months competitors make comments on why and how they plan to beat their opponent. Sometimes this gets pretty intense with heated smack talk. But when it’s all said and done, it makes fans anticipate the actual fight all the more, and all that’s left is what happens in the octagon.

As big as MMA is getting now, I have to watch it all on direct tvSatellite TV and TiVo is surely a big help too. In fact at this time most MMA events only occur on networks that are not publicly broadcasted.

Thanks to guest blogger Brian Warner.