Car Seat Safety

Why is rear-facing especially important for toddlers? (from; Canadian Parents.com)

In a collision a forward-facing toddler has a an immense amount of stress on their neck and spine due to size of their heads in proportion to their bodies. In the forces of a crash this can have grave consequences for a toddler and their still developing neck muscles and spine (a child's spine does not ossify/fuse until they are three to six years of age). The forces of a crash in a forward-facing seat could potentially cause internal decapitation as the child's head is thrust forward taking the brunt of the crash force. Rear-facing seats do an amazing job of protecting children as there is very little to no force being applied to their head, neck and spine. When a child is in a rear-facing car seat their head, neck and spine are all kept fully aligned while the seat absorbs the bulk of the crash force.

This diagram shows the difference in the way and infant/toddlers body is proportioned in comparison to an adult.

Rear-facing myths

from Carseat.se

There are quite a few reasons why people don’t keep children rear-facing longer. Many parents don’t know how much safer it is but some also rely on myths to turn their child forward-facing. A few of the common ones:

• My child’s legs are touching the vehicle seat which is dangerous: Research has show this is not the case. It’s not dangerous to have long legs or let them hang over the edge of the seat. Forward-facing children not exempt from lower extremity injuries either. “The lower extremity is among the most frequently injured body regions for children restrained by forward-facing child restraint systems, accounting for 28% of their clinically significant injuries, defined as AIS 2 and greater injuries excluding concussions.”.
• Kids get carsick when rear-facing: Not true. There are cases with children getting carsick while rear facing but it’s extremely rare.
• My child can’t see out the window while rear-facing: Children who have switched from an infant seat can see out the window just fine while rear-facing.
• Children hate to sit rear-facing: Not true.  A child who has been sitting forward-facing for years and is then turned back around might complain. A child who has been sitting rear-facing since the beginning rarely complain.
• I have to turn my child forward facing at 12 months,  it’s the law: There are laws saying how long parents must keep children rear-facing but none which regulate forward-facing.  A child should sit rear-facing for as long as possible. Those are guidelines which more countries are starting to follow.
• My 14 month-old-has a strong neck, I can turn her forward facing: Not a good idea. A rear-facing child is 500 percent safer than forward-facing. It may seem like the neck is strong but a collision with a child who is forward-facing puts tremendous force on the child’s head, neck and spine.
• My seat says I can forward-face at 20 pounds so that’s what I’m going to do: Not a good idea. Research has shown it’s far safer to stay rear-facing. Difference in safety are largest during the first 24 months.
• Rear-facing children are at increased risk for collision from the rear: Research has shown this is not the case. Collisions from the rear are rare, roughly 5% of accidents, and usually also less severe than frontal impacts. The guideline is that rear-facing children are as safe or safer in collisions from the rear.
• Rear-facing is a new thing with research just now becoming available: Not true. Sweden has been rear-facing children since 1965 and the huge benefits were known early on.
• Rear-facing is uncomfortable for my child: Older rear-facing children often sit with bent legs which is not uncomfortable. Notice how children sit when they play, almost never with legs straight out. It’s very rare hearing a child complain about leg problems while rear-facing.

A Day in the Life of a Mommy:Part 2

After little man is all played out. It's nap time. Usually 30 mins-2 hours. No rhyme or reason, just random. This is my time to try and clean the house, do laundry, BLOG, maybe reheat that cup of coffee for the second fourth time.

At some point he wakes up again, and it's lunchtime. I try and have J's bottle ready to go when he gets up, which gives me a few minutes to prepare his lunch. This kid loooooves his food, so i have to be quick when he's hungry. Sometimes i give him some fruit, crackers, veggies etc to munch on while i prepare his fave, avocado on toast. I've learned that this is really the best time for me to eat. If he's already eating, i don't have to share my food. Don't get me wrong, i love sharing with poo face, but momma's gotta eat too. Of course, lunch ends eventually and we start the whole washcloth routine again. Eeek.

I try and get him to have some alone playtime while i clean up the ole' lunch mess, it's usually a big one when he's feeding himself. Afterwards, we read a few books, sing a few dozen songs, chase the cat, J uses me as a jungle gym, etc.

At some point in the afternoon, we have an outing, weather it be a walk, a trip to the grocery store, or window shopping. I try to get out with him everyday, I'm sure i get boring. This always turns into quite the trip, between loading and unloading him, and people ooooohing and ahhing over his sweetness, it takes up a chunk of our afternoon.

When we get home, we have some more playtime while we wait for daddy. Sometimes J has a second nap in the afternoon, if his first one was short.

Of course there are about 6 trillion more diaper changes in there, but i don't need to explain the whole ninja diaper changing system again.

When J's daddy gets home, he takes care of the whole dinner, bath, bottle, bedtime routine. That gives me a chance to make us some dinner.

It's not an exciting day, but man oh man, i wouldn't change a thing. Spending every day with my little man, is my little slice of heaven.

A Day in the Life of a Mommy

Our day is something like this... 


I start my day and try to get up before Jackson, in a desperate attempt to brush my teeth and chug what might be my only glass of water for the next 5 hours.


I love getting him up in the morning, he's well rested, happy and smiling at me from his crib. AND his baby-energizer bunny battery is recharged for a few hours of destruction. It all starts with a diaper change. Anyone who's had a baby, knows how fun diaper changes are once babies become mobile. Why can't they invent a change table like this:

This is where the ninja training comes in. I have to be stealthy and illusive when I change his diaper. He's still mad that he's been made to sit still for 2 seconds, but if I'm quick enough, the drama is kept to a minimum.

After ruining what started out as a good day by being a mean mommy and changing his diaper, it's breakfast time! If I'm lucky i can distract him with toys for a few minutes while i make his breakfast. If that doesn't work, my last resort is cheerios. (As a distraction, not his meal, there aren't enough cheerios in the world to fill his bottomless pit)

I shovel what i hope is a healthy balanced meal into his gullet, although i am never fast enough to make him happy. After eating more food than most grown men, it is time for...the FACE CLOTH. This is where things get crazy folks. I used to wipe his high chair tray down first, thinking he would see the face cloth as a harmless object. Boy was i wrong. I though i could make face wiping a fun game, make goofy sounds while doing it, to amuse him.  Still wrong. I've learned that this is another area where stealth and speed are key. I'm still perfecting my technique, but we're down to almost no crying come face wiping time. 

After breakfast time is over, i try and occupy him for a few minutes with the buckles of his high chair, yep the buckles. Generally giving me 2 minutes to clean up the breakfast mess. BTW i haven't eaten yet.

Next is playtime, which really is anytime he's not eating or sleeping. Sometime there are brief periods where he'll happily play alone. Sometimes i just have to sit with him while he amuses himself. The majority of the time I'm chasing him, and saying no a million times over. Usually when he is trying to pull out the outlet covers (useless things) unplug lamps etc and eat the plugs, lick the garbage can (which i do keep clean, but still, GROSS), or assault the cat (one of his favorite things to "pull up" on is the cat). I try and squeeze a few books in here and there, I've heard that reading is good? 

If I'm lucky he'll have a mid morning nap, around 11, if not, he'll go down at 2. It was FAB when he had an early nap, i could eat breakfast then. Now that he's going longer periods between naps, i have to eat breakfast IN.FRONT.OF.HIM. Which means i have to share. One spoonful for mommy, a few pieces of cereal for Jackson. Oi. At this point, i usually try and start drinking my coffee. Which is very cold, and about 2.5 hours old already. Don't worry, it'll take me another 4 hours to finish it.

With that, i'll finish er' up with another post...

Pretty. Amazing.

(scroll to the bottom and pause the music player)

"The word pretty is unworthy of everything you will be. No child of mine will be contained in five letters. You will be pretty intelligent, pretty creative, pretty amazing, but you will never be, merely pretty"

This poem by Katie Makkai made me tear up. I know some may think that men don't feel the need to be "pretty". Let's face it, we live in a society obsessed with looks. It doesn't matter if you are a boy or a girl. I hope with all my heart that i can teach my son that there is much, much, MUCH more to a person than their outward appearance. I want him to be as intelligent and creative as he can be, i already know he'll be pretty amazing. 

Love Letter

I did not write this. But i love it. Click here to read an awesome "Love Letter to the World". 

It is featured on Kind Over Matter, but written by Kate at Your Courageous Life.
Beau-utiful!


Ya know what else is beautiful? This little man. 

Our Weekend in Pictures

 We had so much fun at a Halloween/Birthday party this weekend, hosted by Marcus' cousin. I was dressed in general "80's" garb, and Marcus went as Mr T. Jackson just wore Halloween pyjama's, no way would i have been able to get him to keep a costume on. 

 We also had some fun with dollar store masks, and fake eyebrows and moustaches.
(Yes i am making kissy lips underneath the mask in the second pic. lol.)

The highlight of the evening? Jackson waking up at 3 am screaming bloody murder for an hour. No idea why, it's never happened before and he's slept normally since. Let's just say we hope it doesn't happen again, we seriously though that boy was going to need an exorcism.

What are you or your little ones being for Halloween?

I'll have pics next week of Jacksons super cute Halloween costume.

Happy Monday everyone!

The Summer Day

I love anything that makes me stop, think, and appreciate. Wether it be a poem or a song. Sometimes we need a little reminder. A reminder to live each day, love each day, and kiss our babies a million times. I wanted to share this reminder with you today.

What will you do with your one wild and precious life?

The Summer Day

By:Mary Oliver

Who made the world?

Who made the swan, and the black bear?

Who made the grasshopper?

This grasshopper, I mean-

the one who has flung herself out of the grass,

the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,

who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down-

who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.

Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.

Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.

I don't know exactly what a prayer is.

I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down

into the grass, how to kneel in the grass,

how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,

which is what I have been doing all day.

Tell me, what else should I have done?

Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?

Tell me, what is it you plan to do

With your one wild and precious life?

Car Seat Safety

This is an excellent video, explaining and showing the difference in rear vs. forward facing in a car seat.  

This video shows the result of a child forward facing.

If i could, i'd keep Jackson rear facing until he's 30. Although, it may be hard for him to pick up chicks that way? In all seriousness though, rear facing is the SAFEST way for your baby/child to ride. I hope in posting this, i change at least one persons mind.

Please Vote For Me, Pretty Pretty Please, with a DOZEN Cherries on Top?

Look-A-Likes

This is my brother and I, ohhh about 100 years ago. I can't get over how much Jackson looks like him!

I need a better comparison picture, and Kevin (brother) is much older in the picture, but you get the gist. 

Just for shits and giggles, i threw in this dandy.This is Jacksons demonic possession face. 

The beauty of our DSLR, we can catch every precious moment! (Dripping with sarcasm)

This picture of Jackson is going to space!

Go to Nasa's website to learn more, you can send your picture to space too!

You will get flight confirmation, and shuttle updates, and at the end you can print a certificate signed by the mission commander! I think it's super neat. J's picture is going to space November 1st!

Link Love

I read Becoming Sarah every day. She's an awesome momma, writer, and photographer. 

She did a guest post on Dr.Green's site. It is exactly what i would have written. 

I wanted to share here article The Cheapest Baby. I know a lot of people will disagree, because every baby HAS to have ALL of these THINGS to be happy. Just like Sarah, we didn't use many of them. Anywho, i'll let Sarah tell it, before i start on a rant.

Baby Finger Foods

Jackson has been eating finger foods for a while. Since introducing solid foods, he's never had a problem with eating chunks, and chewing. We started with cooked pieces of vegetables, and eventually moved on to soft fruits, pasta, meat, cheerios etc. A lot of parents are leery about starting finger foods, but you would be surprised to see what babies can mush with their gums! You can find some tips here to decide if your baby is ready to try finger foods. You should always introduce one new food to baby at a time, and wait a few days in between new foods in case of reaction. We have found that sometimes j won't like a certain food, sometimes the food just needs to be cooked differently, or seasoned. A great tip for fruits, is to coat them in crushed cereal, to allow baby to grip them better. 


Some Finger foods for baby:


Fruits (cut into cubes);
-Pear (soft)
-Banana
-Melon
-Avocado
-Kiwi
-Blueberries (i smush them slightly to break the skin, or cut them if they're really big)
-Apple (baked)
-Mango


Veggies (cooked until soft, when needed cut into cubes);
-Sweet potato
-Peas
-Carrot
-Squash
-Broccoli (this we have started putting in his meatloaf, he's not a fan, regardless of seasoning)
-Green beans (J isn't a fan, but they really don't have taste unless seasoned)


Grains;
-Whole grain toast (cut into pieces, or strips, we spread avocado on it)
-Whole grain pasta (we add sauce, parmesan cheese, and cubed veggies and meat)
-Whole grain rice 
-Cheerios, nutrios, puffed kamut, or wheat
-Cut up pita
-Sandwiches, made with whole grain bread (we make grilled cheese, with sneaky broccoli, and cut the sandwich into strips)


Other;
-Egg yolk
-Small dices of cheese
-Meatloaf sticks
-Small dices of chicken or beef


We've discovered lately, that Jackson can really eat whatever we are eating. Provided that it isn't too spicy, salty, or has added sugar. 


I am always on the hunt for new fun recipes for him, and sneaky ways to hide the veggies he doesn't like!


*Always consult your doctor before starting baby on solid foods, introducing new foods, or introducing finger foods.

Vote PLEEEEAAAASSSSSSSSSEEEEE!

Please vote for me. I'll love ya forever!

A Letter to My Self

Recently, Melissa at Dear Baby posed a question: What would you tell yourself in those last weeks before you became a parent? Here is my letter to myself.


Dear Myself,


He really won't be in there forever. I know it feels like it right now, but he won't! You will have to wait a little longer to meet your baby boy, but it is SO worth the wait.


Labour will be hard, but you'll make it through. It's supposed to be hard, i think because the gift is so grand.The first moment you hold that new life in your arms.....there are no words for the emotions you will feel. Honest to goodness, love at first sight. The greatest joy you can imagine, the immediate knowledge that you would do anything for him, your body filled with pride, for the perfect little person that was created in love.


Everything will come naturally. You'll know how to change his diaper, burp him, and calm him when he's fussy. You will be able to nurse him, and that will come naturally too. It will be the most incredible bond you've ever had to another human being. Not only giving him life, but nurturing and sustaining him, with nothing but yourself. 


You will learn to relax, let go, and not sweat the small stuff. Your house won't become a dump just because you had a baby, but you won't worry about extreme cleanliness. Once Jackson can crawl, he WILL put the cats tail in his mouth, so really, who cares if you mopped today?


You'll still have time to spend alone with Marcus. Movie nights are not gone. Babies do sleep. 


Every one says that they grow too fast, cherish these moments. It's true. In the blink of an eye, he'll seem more like a little boy, than a baby. Cuddle him like there's no tomorrow.


You'll be a wonderful momma, and Marcus will be an awesome daddy. If only you could see yourself now. You'd be proud of the mother you've become.


Love, 


You

I Took His Hand and Followed

My dishes went unwashed today,

I didn’t make the bed,

I took his hand and followed

Where his eager footsteps led.

Oh yes, we went adventuring,

My little son and I,

Exploring all the great outdoors

Beneath the summer sky.

We waded in a crystal stream,

We wandered through a wood.

My kitchen wasn’t swept today,

But life was sweet and good.

We found a cool sun-dappled glade

And now my small son knows

How Mother Bunny hides her nest

Where fern and larkspur grow.

We watched a robin feed her young,

We climbed a sunlit hill,

Saw cloud-sheep scamper through the sky;

We plucked a daffodil.

That my house was neglected,

That I didn’t sweep the stair,

In twenty years no one on earth

Will know or even care.

But that I’ve helped a little boy

To noble manhood grow,

In twenty years the whole wide world

May look and see and know.

-Mrs. Peifer

Fall Family Photos

Saturday we headed out, with our trusty Nikon D60, to take some family pictures. 

These were taken at Albion Falls, in Hamilton, Ontario.

If you are into editing your photos, check out Adobe Lightroom. Awesome, easy to use program. Most of these pictures looked beautiful as they were, but a few adjustments really made them pop.

I hope you all had a fab thanksgiving weekend (for those of you in Canada) ! I'll post tomorrow on our Thanksgiving festivities.

Our Attempt at Natural

When Jackson came into the world we knew we wanted to do things as naturally as we could feasibly do. What did we do or change?

-We use cloth diapers. Besides being good for the environment, and saving our son from daily exposure to chemicals in diapers, it also save's us a lot of money.

-We use natural cleaning products. Not store bought natural, but homemade and 100% chemical free. This is another natural thing that has saved us $.

-We have a programmable thermostat. We keep our house at 21 celsius when we are home during the day, and 16 when we are out, it is 17 at night. We keep little man warmer by closing all the vents in the house except in his room. (so his room is warmer than 17 when he sleeps)

-We wash all of our clothes in cold water. Cutting energy costs.

-We use perfume and dye free detergent, better for Jacksons skin, and all those extra additives aren't necessary.

-We use a clothes line in the summer (in the winter i use one inside, but i can't dry 100% of my clothes on it). Using a clothes line can also help preserve the life of your clothes.

-We donate all of our clothes that we no longer wear, instead of throwing them out. If they are in bad condition, we make them into rags.

-I use mineral makeup. It saves me money in the long run, and my skin can't handle the chemicals in most other makeup products.

- We recycle, A LOT. We have three recycling bins, and usually have one half full bag of garbage a week.

-We have a compost bin. I haven't used the "dirt" that is in the bottom of it yet, but we do keep adding to it.

-We TRY and eat more healthfully and naturally. I stopped using sweetener, and margarine. I drink 80% less diet pepsi than i used to, as does Marcus. We make our own salad dressing, and try and eat more seasonal vegetables. (we definitely still treat ourselves on the weekend, and Sunday is ice cream night!) We generally don't keep things like, chips, cakes, cookies etc in the house.

-We use a shower timer, at least i do. (ahem)

Who knows what difference we are really making. My goal is to try. We do our best to set a good example for the J man. Hopefully we are making at least a small dent in our ecological foot print.

What do you do to try and live more naturally, or be ecologically conscious?

Baby Finger Food Recipe: Broccoli Bites

Jackson loves feeding himself finger foods, and he likes almost everything. Broccoli, not so much. I'm always looking for inventive ways to sneak it in. These definitely do the trick.

Broccoli Bites

16oz  broccoli (you could use other veggies also)

1 cup bread crumbs 

1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese 

3  eggs 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375
Lightly coat a baking sheet with olive oil
Combine all ingredients, mix.

Shape the mixture into nuggets, or french fry shapes. Place on oiled baking sheet, bake for 20-25 minutes (depending on the size and shape you've made them), turning them over after 15 minutes.

We add various spices, garlic, cumin etc. It depends on your child's preferences. These should be broken into small pieces that are manageable for your child.

"New" T.V. Show Reccomendation

I recently came across a new-to-us tv show, Supernatural. It is about two brothers, Sam and Dean, who were raised by their father, after their mother was murdered by something supernatural when they were young. Their father raised them to hunt evil supernatural things. The show is all about their "hunting" adventures.  It may be slightly cheesy, but it's a fun watch, and totally addictive. It's in it's 6th season, so you can rent a whole season at a time and watch it. I've watch the first season so far, and can't wait to see more. If you spook easily...don't watch it alone in the dark!

Our Weekend In Pictures

We went to the Caledonia Fair. Ate some panzerolis, funnel cake and bought some fudge. Looked at chickens, goats, bunnies and cows. Jackson liked looking at everything, i can't wait until he's old enough to go on rides, and get excited for things like this. None the less, he enjoyed himself. I feel bad for the poor cow he "petted" (ie; pinched, we need to work on being gentle)

We played some scrabble, and drank some vino. 

We also watched movies, stayed up late, slept in (does 8am count as sleeping in?) made baked mac and cheese. Ate ice cream, and vegitated (is that a word?) 

Of course Sunday is all about football for Marcus and Jackson. That's mommy's time to herself. Of course a mommy's time to her self generally ends up involving laundry or cleaning.

That was our weekend. Nothing fancy. Just time with our family. And our adorable, sweet, face pinching poo face. (we really need a new nickname for him before he can remember being called poo face)