a day in the park...

It's getting so much fun to get out with Lucas and enjoy days like this... days where we can go to the park and celebrate the first birthday of a friend. Of course, I brought the camera this time. We went to another birthday party a week or so ago for Marley, and I didn't bring the camera. It seems impossible to hold a baby AND a camera, so luckily Jeff went with me this time! I love this picture of Lucas sitting on the playground watching the bigger kids run and play. I wonder if he imagines himself doing the same very soon! We're in that stage between baby and toddler... the transition that is sentimental for me. It's gone by way too quickly though I love that he communicates and mimics me more. His personality is fairly laid back which I love.

He's turning into a blondie which I suspected though his eyes are still as blue as they were before. I thought he'd be a green-eyed boy like his mom and dad, but so far he's a blue eyed boy like his Uncle Bill (who he still hasn't met) and his grandfather on his dad's side. (He hasn't met him either). Ironic, huh? It's a reminder that genetics are not predictable though you would think green plus green equals green.





Here is Lucas enjoying some ice cream. He kept refusing to try it until just a tiny bit hit his mouth, then it was the opposite reaction. I want more!





You can't ever predict how these little ones will react. Evangeline just wasn't very fond of her birthday hat. Lucas wasn't either. I love the expression of the little girl watching her. Such a moment. Daddy comforting her, everyone watching her... she's grown up so much in the past year!



Another friend, Genevieve, and her daughter Evangeline. Look at the cute bow in her hair!



Melissa and Marley:





Last, the birthday girl and her sweet mommy!

staring Duke down...

There were only two babies in attendance at the Mom's group on Wednesday.  Lucas and Marley.  Here they are staring down Duke, the boxer after going for a wonderful walk at the park.

waldon farms

I remember the last time Jeff and I went to Waldon Farms together. It's definitely a place for children and new parents scrambling to use the pumpkins, tractors, and wagons as props for photos. I remember wistfully watching other parents do what we finally were able to do... take pictures of Lucas with his two baby buddies, Evangeline and Marley.  Nothing like new parents dressing up their six month olds to take pictures of them.  It's not like we'll be out on Halloween night THIS year.  Hope you enjoy!

palin and her infant

I found this reading the internet today. Social conservatives DO believe that mothers have a big role in an infants' life during their first year, but so do their fathers. I have read statements on a discussion board (liberals vs conservatives) that even Palin running for VP with a 4-month-old is irresponsible, much less giving birth to a child that she knew ahead of time was not genetically perfect.

I, for one, do not understand how Palin can breastfeed her child AND run for VP. I barely have time to do anything in my life working 30 hours a week with a baby of the same age. I suppose she will have a lot of help.

As for the issue of Down's Syndrome being irresponsible for her to go ahead and birth... well that's where I definitely draw the line. God makes no mistakes in life. If I knew ahead of time and knew I couldn't handle it? There are parents out there that will adopt a special needs child.

I guess it's hard to really believe someone could terminate once you can see the arms, legs, and head so easily. In fact just at 15 weeks when the first tests are run for genetic reasons, ours was already hiccuping and responding to the waves of the ultrasound. Go figure.

On another note with the whole definition of social conservative, it always gets me when capital punishment is thrown in there. I am not for that sort of death either. How can you be against abortion and for the death penalty? Doesn't make sense.

I will offer an alternative answer for the original blog's question of how she can do it? Well actually Governor Palin could pump her breastmilk every 3-5 hours at this point (no different than other things we do as humans routinely) and someone else could feed the baby her milk in a bottle. Easy enough.

prebiotics

Bottle-Fed Babies Can Avoid Allergies with Prebiotics

By Maureen Williams, ND

Healthnotes Newswire (August 14, 2008)—When it comes to protecting newborns from allergies, breast-feeding is best, but recent research provides good news for mothers who are unable or choose not to breast-feed: A new study found that young children of parents with allergies were less likely to develop allergies if they received formula with prebiotics—supplements that support the growth of healthy bacteria in the large intestine—during infancy.

Making bottle milk resemble breast milk

The study, published in the Journal of Nutrition, included 134 bottle-fed babies at increased risk of developing allergies because one or both of their parents had allergies. They were fed a hypoallergenic infant formula supplemented with either a combination of 90% galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) and 10% fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) or placebo for the first six months of life and were followed for two years.

Oligosaccharides are short chains of sugars found in plant foods and breast milk. The healthy bacteria that colonize the human large intestine rely on these sugars to grow and reproduce. The combination of GOS and FOS used in this study was chosen because its effect on intestinal bacterial growth is similar to that of human breast milk.

Lasting benefits

The two-year-old children who had received the oligosaccharide-supplemented formula during infancy were less likely to have experienced allergies than the children who did not. They were half as likely to have had eczema, one-third as likely to have had recurrent wheezing, and one-seventh as likely to have had hives as children in the placebo group. They also had fewer upper respiratory tract infections such as ear, throat, and sinus infections, and fewer prescriptions for antibiotics.

“This is the first follow-up study, to our knowledge, showing that an early dietary intervention results in dual prevention for infection and allergy and that both effects last beyond the intervention period,” the study’s authors said.

Help for a growing problem

A dramatic rise in the incidence of allergies has been noted worldwide over the past few decades. Experts believe there are a number of reasons for this trend, including changes in diet and hygiene that affect the microflora of the lower intestine. Given that one of every two children with a parent with allergies will also have allergies by age two, this trend is likely to continue unless effective prevention strategies are identified.

“The first six months of life is a critical period for the developing immune system,” commented lead study author Dr. Sertac Arslanoglu of the Center for Infant Nutrition, Macedonio Melloni Hospital, University of Milan. “Breast-feeding is the best way to ensure healthy development of the immune system, but for parents who cannot breast-feed, an oligosaccharide-fortified infant formula appears to strengthen the immune system by positively influencing the balance of intestinal bacteria. This effect on the immune system seems to have lasting benefits for the health of the child.”

I have to say it makes me feel great that 6 months is coming as far as breastmilk goes... not him growing up so fast...

a pic from a friend

I think I like the Canon camera better... Oh oh, hubby! I have the Nikon D40 and it seems to be a more washed out picture. I really need to take a class in photography, but when would I have the time? I'm going to see about finding some tips online to help me get started. Surely there is an online course or something! Here's the Canon pic... vs the Nikon.



on second thought... here is Nikon:



What do you think?

Bradley class get-together

We had a good day today going to Green Hills to reunite with some of the ladies in our Bradley birth class. Three other mommies came with their little babies, and we had so much fun! I had my first cup of coffee (french press). I know, I know... I should have already had this as I have been a connoisseur of coffee for a long time. I think I'm going to have to invest in this. Here are some pictures of our babies. Three girls and a boy, and the little boy (mine) was probably the whiniest. Probably, nothing. He was, hands down. I'm wondering if boys are always so much more needy? *laugh*



Little Bella



Michelle and Bella



Maryanne and Eva



Evangeline and Genevieve



3 girls and a boy