Monday, November 26, 2012

If it's Christmas, that means one thing: Pizzelles!

Behold: Mom, Angela and I in our yearly tradition of making the Italian Christmas cookie.  Thank you Ken for taking such artful pics.
Pizzelle Making
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Sunday, November 04, 2012

Baby Care Products and Baby Massage


Several years ago, I began to shift my lifestyle to include more organic foods & products and stop buying things made with or covered in harmful chemicals.  With food, it has become pretty easy to figure out what is what.  With cleaning and body care products, it's a lot more difficult and the list of ingredients with exotic names is intimidating.  Come to find out, some of the standard ingredients in store-bought body care products (preservatives, fragrances, cleaning agents) are known to disrupt the endocrine (hormone) system, cause allergies, affect fertility or even cause cancer.   So now when I'm evaluating products that I use on my kids, I go to even greater lengths to make sure what I use on them is safe, bio-based and chemical free.

 The brand Seventh Generation has been around for awhile and we use their household products like laundry soap, toilet paper, paper towels, bathroom cleaner, dish soap as well as diapers.  Now they've come out with a line of baby care products that is non-toxic and composed of plant-based ingredients including olive oil, known to be good for moisture retention.  This is the first complete line of USDA-certified bio-based baby care products.  It's gluten-free, tear-free, non-toxic and has no synthetic fragrances, phthalates or parabens.

 We've had the pleasure of getting to use some of the products already.  Pictured above is Sidney taking her first ever bubble bath using the Wee Generation Bubble Bath.  She loved it.  Also we tried the  Foaming Shampoo & Wash which is super convenient as anyone who bathes a child knows.  Ken used the Diaper Cream on Calvin which seems very effective and the Baby Lotion has a slight hint of citrus scent and is moisturizing without being greasy.  This lotion is a perfect product to use for baby massage. 

 When Sidney was a wee babe, we practiced baby massage on her and are looking forward to practicing some on Calvin as well.  It has so many benefits for the baby like calming them and helping them feel more bonded to their care giver.  You can start doing it when baby is just 3 weeks old.   If you've never tried baby massage, it's a really nice way to bond and connect with baby that helps soothe and promote a positive well-being.

 Here are five tips for Baby Massage from Tina Allen at the Liddle Kidz Foundation:

1. Choose the Best Time and Place
Creating the best environment for massage is an ideal way to give yourself, and baby time to relax. Choose a familiar place that is warm, quiet and with few distractions. The best time for massage is when baby is awake, healthy and happy. Some babies prefer the morning, while others prefer the afternoon or before bedtime.

2. Be comfortable
Relax, enjoy and have fun! Position yourself so that you are comfortable. Be sure baby is safe and placed on a soft area. Keep in mind, babies roll and become slippery when using oil. Be sure your hands are warm and clean before you begin.

3. Choosing Massage Oil/Lotion
While it is not required, using oil can help make massage more enjoyable for some babies and parents. Olive oil and Grapeseed oil are some of the best choices for infant massage. However if you choose to use lotions be sure to choose a non-toxic option, like Seventh Generation baby lotion - which contains olive oil as a main ingredient.

4. Ask Permission
Infant massage can be a wonderful tool for increasing your communication. Massage is not something that parents do to their baby, but rather with their little one. Listen to your baby. She will give you the signals to let you know she is enjoying massage, or when she is all done for now.

5. Know When Not to Massage
Never provide massage for your baby without permission (when sleeping, crying or fussy).  Avoid massage when he is ill, has a fever or infection. If he has broken skin, rash or bruising.  Wait at least 48 - 72 hours following immunizations. For tummy massage, wait 30 minutes after eating. If he has any special healthcare needs seek further guidance as to what would be the safest approach.

Check out http://www.liddlekidz.com for more resources and information on Baby Massage.

Here is a video on baby massage from them as well.

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SEVENTH GENERATION TWITTER PARTY--Tomorrow!

What: Join us for an informative party to discuss the importance of using truly pure and natural baby care products! We’ll tell you how to identify the safest product ingredients and those ingredients to watch out for. 

When: The party will be on Monday, Nov. 5, at 10am PT.

Where: Use the #7GenBabyFest hashtag on Twitter!

Hosts: Follow @theMotherhood, @SeventhGen, @CooperMunroe and @EmilyMcKhann

Prizes: There will be a giveaway of prize packs containing full sets of the Seventh Generation baby personal care line.  (Approximate retail value of $50 each)

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Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Highlights of Evidently Blog, Year 6

Parenting & Family:

Pets:

Pregnancy Again:

 Notable Media:

Ballard Basement Band: The grand experiment in being Rock Stars

Helpful info, should you need it:

Something you’re never likely to see yourself:
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Friday, October 26, 2012

Getting Thy Body Back

Pregnancy is a state of being that requires sacrifice.  During both of my children's gestations, I wondered how women did this in earlier times and under harsher circumstances like wars, westward expansion, The Great Depression and before husbands participated in the daily parenting work.  Undeniably, I am thankful every day for living in the 21st century.

As the vessel for these new creatures and wholly responsible for their incubations, giving up control was a small price to pay for a healthy outcome.  Many women can function at high levels right up to delivery and enjoy pregnancy immensely.  But I was NOT one of those ladies.  It's probably because I'm on the small side so the physical discomfort and the loss of "control" over my body started quite early. Plus with fertility assistance, my body was not my own well before the pregnancy even started.  But once each kid was out and physically "untethered," the invisible cord of breastfeeding took over.  Though in our case, it was more like a tractor beam of pain and suffering until I weaned them at 6 weeks, so again, thank you 21st century options (i.e. formula).

The number one priority for my own sense of normalcy in the post-partum world was to restore my body as my own.  Maybe that sounds a little selfish but I would have these fantasies while pregnant that I was back in Zumba class, bringing my B+ game (since my A game left me when I turned 32ish).  The ability to dance, feel fit and be just...agile--I was really looking forward to it.  It could all be a product of my age and being an older mom.  Friends who are also older moms and I discuss how much easier it must be for a younger mom.  They have bodies that can bounce back faster, energy levels that have not been dampened by the world and less time to grow inflexible--a major roadblock to giving up control easily.

Time ends up being the biggest prerequisite for the things I do to earn my body back.  It's not something in abundance these days but a healthy/happy mom = healthy/happy family so making some time and space for myself is vital.  Like the wisdom of every airplane safety announcement you've ever heard: "secure your own oxygen mask before you help someone else with theirs."  Same is true for happiness and well being.

Some of the things I've found to reclaim my body and sanity are:

  • Yoga for Moms: This program is just for moms who all understand the joys and grind of motherhood.  It's a safe space one night a week to recharge and go inward.  And in the 12 years I've been doing yoga, it is led by one the best teachers (Jen Keeler) I've ever seen. 
  • Stroller Strides: A cardio workout you can do with your kids in tow.  This is an empowering program that brings moms of all fitness levels together.  I participated quite a bit when I just had Sidney and now have made one return session since Calvin was born.  I endeavor to attend more often.  The moms in these classes are my heroes.
  • Zumba: I was a cheerleader in high school so I loves me some dance and precision.  This exercise doesn't feel like exercise at all...it's a literal dance party.  When I am doing Zumba, it takes all my focus so I don't think about anything else.  I simply can't.  This might not be everyone's cup of tea but when I hear "Gangnam Style" come over the speakers, I get so pumped.
  • Occasional massage & spa visit: You don't even need Mother's Day or your birthday as a reason.  

There are groups and opportunities everywhere for moms looking for a chance to create space for their physical selves.  I personally like exercising in groups because I don't get a lot of adult interaction on a daily basis and I need the peer motivation but everyone is different.

What kind of things have you done to "get thy body back"?
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