Baby Talk

I miss the time when my little boy started coming up with words and doing his baby talk.  Oh yes, that time when only you and him can practically understand each other.  In our case, dad even had a hard time picking up with us.  How did I understand him?  Oh well, motherly instinct maybe!  Funny enough that my mom told me, J's first word "angging" was exactly mine too when I was his age.  Like mother, like son? Err, I think dad will object as he has to have a fair slice of his traits evident with our little boy.

Growing up, I tried my best to converse with him and understand his words.  Baby talk it is but he's certainly trying to express himself and tell me something.  That's very important to growing kids, to be able to send their message to their parents.  I don't think no translation service can ever decode their heart warming baby babbles,  those are precious moments that I'll forever cherish.  I did my best to talk to him with real words and not level to his baby talk.  It doesn't help when one talks just like them, this somehow impairs them to understand the real words you are trying to speak to them.  I guess that's why it's called baby talk, babies get to talk their way and not grown-ups imitating them.  

Time flies by so fast, they grow up so quickly.  The baby talk doesn't really end yet for my little J, he still loves to talk "silly" as he calls it.  Pretending he's a little baby, he would blurt out many funny sounding words from time to time.  Of course I've got to be more strict about this, he's already 4yrs old and by all means not good for him to think he can just silly talk to everybody.  I understand him wanting to feel like a baby still, he is still my baby and will always be. 

The Preschooler Age 26mos

Table manners becoming an issue?  You may be so used with your tot being so well behaved and sitting still while having family dinners and all of a sudden he or she suddenly becomes such a screamer of some sort.  Ok, the screaming and misbehaving isn't good but remember, kids behave in such a way to express themselves.

We have observed our little boy to misbehave a bit more and scream or do unlikely things while eating lately.  We kept observing and somehow figured out whenever me and my husband would talk about things our little boy can't relate with, he's likely to start doing things to cut us and focus on him.  Finally it made sense after I just read about kids that age acting in such manner on the table.

Since out little one started easting on his own, we give less attention on the table and start going back to our old routine which is probably old talks.  Our kid cannot relate to this thus making him quite furious and as a result would do something to distract and get out attention.  Understandable enough that the past 2yrs meal time would mean family time, out little boy being much more of a baby then and we made an effort to incorporated everything on the table for him.

I know it's hard when sometimes you and your husband just want to have some chat while eating, but not to forget the little one who's trying his best to keep up with mom and dad.  Conversations that he can't understand will definitely make him feel off and not included so reserved those delicate topics away from the table, instead show how much you enjoy the food and the family having a meal all together.

My Boy Takes Care of Me

It was a sudden stomach pain last night, had to lay flat on the floor near my little boy while he's playing.  At one point I thought he was riding my back horsie because of the jump on my back to sit.  Told him my tummy is ouchie and it hurts when he's riding my back so rough.  To my surprise I felt tiny little hands rolling through my back, rubbing back and forth.  Baby is massaging mommy!  He said he has to massage me to make me better.  He usually would copy me massaging daddy or whenever I request for a little back massage it would be a brief 15-30 seconds hand rolling.  Not this time, he was actually massaging me for a good 1 minute and after the back got off me and went to my side trying his best to roll me to lay flat on my back.  He said "mommy I need to massage your tummy".  He didn't stop until I let him. 

It was so sweet of my boy to show how much he cares by giving me such TLC.  That's not it, after a great massage from a 3yr old, he told me I need to drink water to make me better.  He rushed to the kitchen to get me some water, I heard some things falling in the sink but nothing that could break.  He successfully grabbed the cup then ran back to me asking me to fil it up with water.  I was just in much pain that I didn't want to move so I told him maybe he can check his Cars cup and I can share water there.  Off he went to put the cup back to the dish rack (which actually just fell in the sink) then grabbed the Cars cup.  Too bad no water too so he again asked me but I thought of his Thomas cup.  He rushed to the room and finally got one with some water in it.  He sat right next to me and shook the cup to make sure there's water, then opened the straw cover.  He gently placed the straw to my mouth and made sure I drank some water.  Funny enough that right after I sipped he took his turn and said "mommy I feel so hotter", which means he's feeling hot with all the running and working to get my precious water.  Last thing baby said to me was, "mommy there you go, water should make you feel better!"

The Preschooler Age 25mos

At this age most toddlers interpret how they understand the world around them.  Associating things to what they want to say makes it easier for us parents to understand them better.  Say for instance when your tot walks near the door giving you a gesture to go out or in.  Giving you his or her cup would mean a drink or showing discomfort with the clothes to let you know they want to be changed.  Simple ways but bridges us parents to better understanding them.

This age is quite hyper, learning how to jump and do some more active play.  They can keep going on and on as if there's no way they're getting tired at all.  It's actually funny seeing them practice and master their jumping, like you have hoppity frogs hopping all day long.  Encourage them to move, free play encourages development their mind and body need.

Is potty training a must at this age?  I'd say not really, it depends on whether your tot is ready for it so as you.  Not all tots get into potty training the same time.  Some start way early, if your tot hasn't started yet there's no reason to frustrate about it.  Potty training takes a big heap of patience, timing, coordination, communication and dedication.  It's not advisable to do it today then skip tomorrow.  It also takes time, at most accidents may happen.  The best cue that your tot is ready is when he or she recognizes feeling to go potty.  Once they fully understand it regardless wearing trainers or diapers, they will go potty the proper way.

Nutrition is very essential to your child's growth so giving them healthy plate of food is a must. Little steps at a time, while some fancy fruits and veggies, not all kids are the same.  Parents must eat healthy as well being the role models as they kids tend to see and copy you in every possible way they can. 

How Much Would A Mom Do?

This is not about spoiling, it is all about pure love.  A mother's pure love for her kid.  Seriously, how much would a mom do for her kid?  It is something that can really be measured, you'll only know how far you'd go when the time calls for it.

I was so inspired with a story from Yahoo which I read tonight, it's about a mom whose son was taken and what it took for her to get him back.  She tried to shed all the money she had but it wasn't enough to get her son back to her.  Knowing that something has to be done, this mother put the ball on her hand and played the game.

How much do I love my boy and how far would I go for him?  I honestly don't know the answer in terms or numbers, I just know I would do everything for him.  Here's the story that I just read, Courageous Mom Rescues Abducted Son in Egypt check it out yourself and tell me how you feel about it. 

Baby Safety

At age 2 toddlers tend to dictate and insist on their ideals, needs and wants.  They are very expressive which is a good thing.  Some babies might still not sit through their baby car seat while others are completely fine with it.  I remember those times during baby's first year when he didn't like being strapped and would often cry it out so we can get him out of the straps.  What do you do as a parent?  Of course it is really heartbreaking hearing our baby wail and cry their heart out but safety must always be given best consideration.  Pulling over to soothe a crying baby is a nice thing to do when the fussing is way too much.  This will also relieve tension in driving.  Having a crying baby while driving isn't so safe either, there's a big distraction when you want to attend to your baby and drive the same time.  I am just so thankful now that my little boy wants to be strapped all the time even if it's just around the block drive.  He will even ask to strap him with seat belt and help do it himself.  Baby safety is very important and even if it breaks our heart hearing our baby cry when strapped in the car seat, getting them used to it is the best thing to do.  Regardless if you are a very good driver you'll never know when accident may happen.

Your Growing Toddlers

 

When you have a growing baby, exposure is very critical with his or her development.  At age two kids have receptive brain and they absorb things so quickly.  It's the best time to teach and keep the kids exposed to languages and other developmental activities.  Their energy level will always be  higher than ours and will be likely to be active throughout the day.  This is better than having to see your kids very sluggish and tired all the time.  That's something we have to be thankful about as parents, that the kids are growing beautifully and strong by the day.

Take advantage of playdates when you get invitations from friends.  Your baby needs this kind of exposure in order to learn and develop social interaction.  It is not good to keep the baby always indoors and restrict from playing freely.  Every child needs to run free and play.  This is how their motor skills develop.  Activities with other kids can promote behavior development, just be watchful and keep an eye for those things that you don't want your baby to pick up from others as they tend to copy whatever they see from each other.

All parents have different ways in growing and raising their kids, all moms must know how to respect this as well.  In order for the kids to learn how to accept and respect their differences with others, they will have to see and learn it from their parents.  At this age, your baby will mostly react to how you treat him or her.  His or her mood will be dependent on yours.  Being a good role model will play a big part in your baby's development over-all.  Most importantly, spend lots of time with them.  It's worth every second of it.

Teething

c/o internet image

Although some babies find teething painless, others become cranky, have sore gums, and have disruptions in their usual sleeping and eating patterns. Often, when babies are teething, they have a desire to chew on things. Try giving your child something safe to chew on, like a rubber teething ring or a wet washcloth that has been frozen for about 30 minutes.

Whatever object you choose, make sure it's not hard enough to bruise the gums and that it can't break into smaller pieces. Objects also should be big enough that babies can't get the whole thing in their mouths. You also can try rubbing your baby's gums with a clean finger. Some babies prefer cool foods when teething.

If your child is still cranky, an occasional dose of acetaminophen is sometimes helpful. But always check with your doctor first. If your baby has a fever, it's probably due to something other than teething and you should call your doctor.

c/o Kidshealth

Mom at Home

It’s so nice being able to wake up in the morning and get ready knowing I don’t have to rush into any office. I don’t have to break my neck to impress some boss or get a report in – all I have to do is do the best I can when it comes to raising my children. I love the kids so much and it’s so important to me that they get as much one on one time with me as possible, and I know they appreciate it too. I can’t believe I get to spend my days looking at things like Hughes Net Nash rates and back to school clothes sales rather than spreadsheets of sales figures and whatnot – it’s such a more pleasant way to live my life. I loved my job, I really did, but being able to stay at home is so much more rewarding than I ever thought it could be. I wouldn’t give this up for anything and that’s the honest truth about being a stay at home mom!

Guest post written by Derick Burks

Mommy Time

Having intimate mommy time strengthens the bond of mommy and baby. Baby gets more connected with mommy making communication between them easier. They get to develop special fun activities which stimulates baby's skills. Of course daddy time is equally important though during the infancy stage babies tend to seek for the motherly care more. Babies will only be babies for a short period of time, you'll never notice how fast time will fly only for you to realize they all have grown. Enjoy the most time with your babies, they will grow up remembering such precious times you've shared.

5 Tips for Introducing Babies to Solid Foods

1.	You can start introducing solid foods between 4 and 6 months.
2.	The first food you should introduce should be rice cereal.
3.	Begin with once a day feedings.
4.	Give your baby plenty of time to swallow food.
5.	Introduce other solids gradually. Wait 3 days in between each new food.

Welcoming Baby

I have some really great news: my husband and I are about to welcome our first baby! I can’t wait to be a mom for the first time and I love the idea that we’re going to get to raise her out here on the farm my husband grew up on…I need to get this place child proofed before she gets here, though. I already went to SATELLITESTARINTERNET.com to look into satellite internet and talked to the guys down the street about adding a gate to our fence for security but we’ll deal with all that when the time comes. I’ve got the nursery all ready to go and we’ve been taking Lamaze classes for about 6 weeks now so I really think we’ll be ready when baby Jones decides to finally grace us with her presence! I like being pregnant and I’m going to miss it but I know it will all be worth it once that sweet little girl gets here in my arms and I can hold her.

The Author of this post is Solomon Dejesus

Safety On Baby Carriers

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.

c/o kidshealth

Stages of Parenthood

After 25 years of high school graduation, you’re in to a reunion, try looking at pictures. Do you not wonder why your high school teachers look only a little older than you or sometimes even younger? It is not only because of the many wonders of cosmetics and doctors who seem to be the progenitors of the font of Venus – the stages of parenthood has something to do with it.

The stages of parenthood are intertwined with several aspects of man’s life: economic, emotional, physical and even spiritual. The first stage usually on the first 6 years is the most taxing, physically dilapidating, mind-draining and mind-boggling because it is the stage where the couple is preparing for a comfortable life, adjusting to the married life especially with the so many attitudes and behaviours once hidden during the courtship period.

The second stage, usually on the 7^th to the 15^th year may be a little problematic in all aspects: having more expenses for the schooling of the kids, dealing with adolescents, competing with work schedules and schedules of kids, a rat-race career because it is at this stage when you have to really establish your roots in your work for the sake of the kids and getting down to your adulthood and finally retirement, being amidst all the temptations because your circle of friends has definitely gone wider so there are more temptations around – so family troubles start to crop up.

Finally, kids graduated, some have worked, others got married, you are now more relax and confident that you have given back to your parents what they have done to you. Economically, you are more secured; emotionally you have a feeling of achievement and a feeling of fulfilment; physically, you have time to enjoy outdoor activities, the gym and others not nursing and running after kids and going to and fro the school to fetch them especially during inclement weather; and spiritually – your mind is vent more to the church activities.

How can one not look young and still fresh after 25 years from the time kids were adolescents when these mentors have already surpassed the tests of time, the challenges of the future, the economic constraints, the agonies of uncertainties and the tiresome labours of motherhood and fatherhood?

Just wait for the time when the same look sheens on you – but be sure you have done your great homework from the Lord.

~ICS~

Baked Rice Crackers

What do you give your baby for snack? Have you tried some Japanese Rice Crackers? I personally love these crunchy crackers and I am not surprised that my little boy loves it too. As much as possible we try to avoid giving salty and sweet foods to baby so that he won't be inclined to tasty foods right away.

Sometimes parents would think their kids are way too hard to feed so they have to give just anything they want and those tasty and savory treats. We have to be more careful feeding our kids because they will end up liking those foods and disliking other healthier options. It's still best if we can get our kids to eat fruits and vegetables. These foods will ensure a healthier life ahead of them.

Baby Development @ 10 months

Here are the baby milestones @ 10 months: By the end of the month most babies should be able to:

• Understand the concept of object permanence
• Get upset if a toy is removed
• Transfer objects from one hand to the other
• Stand while holding on to someone
• Pull up to a standing position

Baby's really good in standing for longer period @ 10mos. He can't really walk just yet but he gives me tiny steps when he feels like it. He's always hyped and running so he doesn't really get to learn how to balance his steps. He's more curious than ever and we've noticed his very tight grip. Once he holds on something, there's no letting go or else you'll hear such loud crying.

Mommies Nees To Take a Break

When you are pregnant you feel so restricted doing things like eating this and that and going to places. Travels can be critical to some moms but this doesn't mean you have to tuck yourself in the bed and just hibernate. It's also not true that you have to keep eating non-stop because you're eating for two. Yes indeed you are eating for two but proper diet and nutrition is needed to make sure you and your baby will be both healthy which later on can result to easier delivery.

Make sure you take the chance to relax and have some break. Try to do some activities with your husband or partner that won't put so much stress on your behalf. Take for instance watching movies, concerts or even ballgames. These are safe things to do just make sure you don't get over excited when your favorite team takes the lead.

These activities require great caution because of the crowd. Make sure you steer away from heavy crowd. Falling in line for the tickets is not a good idea as this can tire you and might also raise your temperature. Who says you or hubby has to if ticketamerica.com has your Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets, Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers tickets? Avoid the hustle and bustle and just enjoy a fun game with your dear partner because once the baby comes you won't be able to do the things you used to do before. Have as much quality time possible, you will need this bonding to help you prepare for the Stork's delivery.

Baby Development @ 9 months

Here are the baby milestones @ 9 months: By the end of the month most babies should be able to:

• Reach for toys
• Drop objects and look for them
• Show interest in grabbing the spoon during eating
• Pick up tiny objects
• Begin to identify self in a mirror’s reflection

The dropping game is little J's favorite, he giggles everytime he drops whatever he's holding and mommy had to pick it up. Very curious than with everything going around him he actually wants to try things by himself. I have to be always watchful because he's starting to pick tiny things and try to stuff in his tiny mouth too. Well what can I do, I have a developing baby boy =)

Baby Development @ 7 months

Here are the baby milestones @ 7 months: By the end of the month most babies should be able to:

• Make wet razing sounds
• Turn in the direction of a voice
• Play peek-a-boo
• Imitate sounds
• Distinguish emotions by the sound of your voice

My baby has been very active and he can actually pull himself up on his 7th month. He sits up really good and maneuvers pretty well from crawling to sitting and other positions. He also discovered blowing my tummy, legs or arms. He loves to do that whenever he gets near me. He easily recognizes my voice and knows when I am calling him.

Disciplining Your Kids

Babies and toddlers are naturally curious. So it's wise to eliminate temptations and no-nos — items such as TVs and video equipment, stereos, jewelry, and especially cleaning supplies and medications should be kept well out of reach.

When your crawling baby or roving toddler heads toward an unacceptable or dangerous play object, calmly say "No" and either remove your child from the area or distract him or her with an appropriate activity.

Timeouts can be effective discipline for toddlers. A child who has been hitting, biting, or throwing food, for example, should be told why the behavior is unacceptable and taken to a designated timeout area — a kitchen chair or bottom stair — for a minute or two to calm down (longer timeouts are not effective for toddlers).

It's important to not spank, hit, or slap a child of any age. Babies and toddlers are especially unlikely to be able to make any connection between their behavior and physical punishment. They will only feel the pain of the hit.

And don't forget that kids learn by watching adults, particularly their parents. Make sure your behavior is role-model material. You'll make a much stronger impression by putting your own belongings away rather than just issuing orders to your child to pick up toys while your stuff is left strewn around.

c/o kidshealth