Forcing the Bloom

Happy, Healthy Mommy Blog


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7 Months!

He’s keenly aware of his brother every move.  He scoots across the room as soon as you turn your back.  He thinks he can walk (he can’t) and insists on standing up (one second).  He pulls himself up on things and then topples over.  He has two bottom teeth, which he likes to grind into my shoulder.  He is DONE with baby toys – only big brother’s toys will do.  He either screams or sleeps in the car, there’s no in-between.  He sucks his thumb when he’s tired (pretty cute).  He’s tried mashed bananas and avocados so far and although he doesn’t appear to get any of it into his mouth (it’s straight into the bath after a feeding) his poops smell like, well, poop.  He’s SEVEN MONTHS!

 

My favorite things to do with my seven-month old:

Put him in my wrap and go for walks or go to the beach or pool.  (I have a regular wrap and a water wrap).

Roll a ball to him (he’s always amazed when it reaches him).

Try and read a book to him (before he eats it).

Watch him cover himself with mashed bananas (somehow cuter than mashed avocados).

Baby exercises!  (He sits on my stomach or around me for leg lifts, sit-ups, stretches, and squats.)

Introduce new things (primary colors, shapes, textures) in a small wooden tray Montessori-style.  (He usually tries to eat the tray.)

Let him check himself out in the mirror (he’s in love with his reflection – the brother he wishes really he had).

Swing in the baby swings at the playground (or with Daddy on the big swing).

Play peek-a-boo!  (Usually during diaper changes using a small blanket – otherwise he scoots away before we’re done).

Tickle-fest!  (He has the funniest laugh!)

Songs with musical instruments (usually something we can bang – BAM-BAM)!

Chase the cat, dog, or big brother (and grab fistfuls of hair)!

Bite Papa’s toes (the baby does that – not me – but it makes me laugh)!

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Guest Post on Breastfeeding at Atlantamomofthree

I’m so excited to be guest posting today at Atlantamomofthree.  She has a wonderful blog that covers a full range of interesting mom issues, including breastfeeding!  Breastfeeding is an important issue for me and I really enjoyed writing about my experience.  Click on this: Atlantamomofthree and check it out!

Napping in bed

Napping in bed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Napping - first few weeks

Napping – first few weeks


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WSJ: Take Back Your Pregnancy

A mother and economist wrote this interested piece in the Wall Street Journal last Friday: Take Back Your Pregnancy.  I agree generally with her conclusion.  She wrote:

“This approach to pregnancy—getting the best information and making my own decisions with it—worked for me. And I’m happy to report that my daughter Penelope, now 2, is healthy and thriving.  I’m hardly alone. Pregnant women are clamoring for better information about everything from exercise to hair dye to bed rest and delivery. They don’t want categorical limits based on fuzzy science and half-baked research. They want to assess risks for themselves and make their own best decisions.”

I agree with her approach but I would focus on different issues.  Instead of coffee and alcohol consumption during pregnancy, why not address “necessary” medical interventions?  What about the rising percentage of c-sections nationally?  According to the CDC, the percentage of c-sections for 2011 was 32.8%.  The WHO states that the normal healthy range for an industrial country is 10-15%.  What about the sharp decline in exclusive breastfeeding after 6 months noted in the CDC”s 2013 breastfeeding report card?  The CDC recommends at least 12 months of breastfeeding.  These are the issues I care about and I would like to see Ms. Oster apply her approach to these as well.  I agree, however, that women are “clamoring for better information.”  How can we have the best births possible?