Baby - AJA

Ideas On Baby Shower Invitations

2008-05-28T03:01:00.000-07:00

Since you're throwing the party, you get to make the rules. You get to decide if you want the guests to be dressed up or not. An afternoon tea generally means you want your guests to be comfortable but a little dressy. Nice pants and a blazer, a skirt and sweater. Most people get that, but let me know what you want them to wear and I'll word it for you.

NOW! You can throw any kind of shower that you want as well. Most showers are "general" ones, but "themed" ones are becoming more and more popular. So what you suggest in your question is the EXACT right thing. Instead of a "Kitchen Shower" or "Landscaping Shower" where the focus is on one area of the future bride's home, you can do a "Lingerie Shower". It's no more complicated that saying on the invitation "You're invited to a lingerie party for Lisa". That lets the guests know what they are expected to bring. If you want to be clever of funny about it I would find a "conversion" chart.

You know how an American size 9 shoe is called a 6.5 in the UK, a 40.5 in "EU" terms and a 26 in CM,whatever that means? I am sure there are charts on the internet mapping this out. Dot it with tons of question marks and word the party invitation as if YOU ALL don't get her nightgowns, the poor dear will have none, because who can figure these European sizes OUT? Just a suggestion.

Another thing you can do, see how you feel about it, is have everyone offer to send her a care package. Each guests takes a different month in the future, writes out a card letting her know who to expect to hear from in March of 2005, for instance. If I were moving to Europe, I would probably like to get stuff from "home". Maybe it will just be pictures from someone's Christmas or vacation, or maybe a box with Kraft Macaroni and Cheese or Brownie mix. I have a friend living in Tokyo and you would be surprised at the odd things he misses and wants sent.

This alternative is risky, everyone is promising to do something in the future, and hopefully they'd follow through. And postage can be expensive to Europe, even if the items you're sending aren't.

Theme bridal showers are common practice and your idea sounds quite thoughtful and romantic, while at the same time being practical. Simply state on the invitation what the theme of the shower is. When people call to accept, you can give them some suggestions of what to give as a gift.

Since the shower is also a tea party, the women should be dressed up a bit. You can also state the suggested attire on the invitation. It could read something like, "Please wear your Sunday best for the Tea Party Shower. It will make the shower that much more festive for "Mary."

Having family and friends there for you and going through everything with them makes you thank god that you had family and friends that love you and just want what is best for you and the soon to be little one. Having people that went though what you are going though at your baby shower and talking to them about your plans for your little one and talking about the names that you and your husband are thinking about is something that you will always remember.

Victor Epand is an expert commentator at http://www.CustomDesignPostcards.com. Visit us when you need to make custom designed holiday, gift, and invitation cards, as well as business cards and brochures. We are the only design utility that lets you download the print-ready images!

Technorati Profile

Homemade Baby Shower Favors That Have Compliments Coming In Plenty

2008-05-28T02:45:00.000-07:00

There is something very special about gifts and favors that are homemade. They are personally thought of and they come with homely warmth that cannot be compared to anything. Your baby shower will definitely stand out if you take time to make homemade baby shower favors. You need to think of the kind of favors to make. If you are short of ideas, try talking to friends. Chances are that one of them has hosted a baby shower, with homemade baby shower favors. If none of their idea sounds good to you, you have the option of searching the internet. Here, there is no shortage of wonderful and amazing ideas. Look for homemade shower ideas that you can easily make without having to sacrifice too much.

Homemade shower favors should cost you less to make compared to buying them. Some people really do not mind about spending more as long as they make the intended impression. First, decide on the favor that you want to give out. They may be candy, lotion, toys, handkerchiefs just to mention a few. The secret solely lies in wrapping and packaging them to give that cute look. One therefore needs to get nice looking ribbons, scissors, a hole punch and favor bags. Get creative and design the look you want. The name favors suggests pretty. You therefore have to come up with favors that are attractive. A homemade baby shower favor that will have your guests asking for more is an assortment of homemade cookies.

You can bake them and have your guests mesmerized. If you need help with making the perfect cookies, dust a recipe book and make some notes. Talk to your friends and get a recipe that will flatter everybody's taste buds. If you have an able baker in your household, count yourself lucky. You can now concentrate on placing then in favor bags and making them as inviting as possible. A homemade baby shower favor that is suitable for the older guests is that of a bookmark. You can research on various materials and designs available then tailor make personalized bookmarks. Use materials of different textures and colors. For the males, use bold colors while for females use pretty and light colors.

You can also make bookmarks for children। Use animal prints in interesting colors. Many are the prints that can make children happy. Experiment and come up with a masterpiece. A good way to please your guests are certificates of merit. Make these in the most thoughtful and funny way. The winners of baby shower games can be rightfully rewarded. Using nice envelopes, make the certificate as cute as possible. Homemade baby shower favors will continue to sizzle recipients. Make them the best way you can. Observe the theme and everything will go according to plan. Most importantly, keep the spirit of the baby to be born at heart. It is because of them that the occasion is possible. Do not be surprised when compliments come in plenty.

About the author

Muna Wa Wanjiru is a web administrator and has been researching and reporting on internet marketing for years. visit his site at HOMEMADE BABY SHOWER FAVORS Post Your Views On homemade baby shower favors At

Stress Relief Through Laughter and Play

2008-05-27T03:00:00.000-07:00

I guess most of us at some time in our lives have experienced a feeling of overwhelm. That's the time when you feel absolutely bombarded by stress and frustration everywhere you turn. In these situations you are most likely to be laughing much less and spending a whole lot more time frowning. If so, this would be a good time to do something different to make a positive change and bring some happiness and balance back into your life.

You will need to take some definite action, to make a more conscious effort to bring moments of laughter and joy into your life. This might not be quite as hard as you think if you make use of something called State Management.

State management involves doing something, taking some action, to change your mood from one emotional state to another. And the best way to do this is by CHANGING SOMETHING IN YOUR BODY. Let's take an example. Have you ever noticed what a difference it makes when you smile? If you experiment with smiling right now - just smile to yourself - how do you feel? Do you feel any different than a moment ago? Most of us would answer, "yes". So in fact what is happening is that just a slight movement of your body, your lips, has changed the way you feel. So you can see, then, that it is very likely that the more you bring laughter into your life ON PURPOSE, the less you will be at the mercy of anxiety, struggle and stress.You become the master of your own states.

Don't Take Life Too Seriously

Sure, there are things in life that have to be taken care of and that require your focused attention. At the same time, it is important to see the real value of laughter, of being silly for a moment and of not taking yourself too seriously. Taking yourself and life too seriously all the time leads to stress and steals your happiness, joy and ultimately your health away from you.

Give yourself a break!

Take time to be silly, to have fun, and to laugh and as a result you will find yourself feeling much lighter and happier throughout your day. It has a 'knock on' effect of making life feel much more manageable as the resultant endorphins are released to boost your mood and make your body feel good too. As a result and with practice you will be able to tackle the most stressful moments in life with a smile on your face and a feeling of empowerment!

Make Time to Play

In order to bring more happiness into your life, be certain to make time to play. Make it safe for yourself to take a sacred moment to do something silly that will bring a smile to your face and maybe even to the face of someone else. Do it with people you love.

Life is a circus and you are a clown - have fun!

The great news is that there are many 'silly clowning' techniques you can employ in order to bring more laughter into your life. Try these on for size

* Talk in a silly baby language * Make funny faces in the mirror or make them for someone else * Make goofy noises or exaggerated sounds

By sprinkling silly and fun moments throughout the day, you will be able to maintain a more light-hearted frame of mind.

Making Positive Associations

Bring Mindful Laughter into your life. What does Mindfulness mean? It is a practice used mainly by people who meditate or spend time on Inner reflection. It is a way of stepping back and watching or witnessing yourself at the same time as you engage in some task or go through an experience. So you can laugh, cry, be angry, wash the dishes, talk to a colleague etc and at the same time WATCH YOURSELF laughing, talking and so on. Using mindfulness and laughter together you can aim to form a positive association with situations you usually find stressful. For example: Try this

1) Imagine something that normally makes you feel stressed, such as a bill coming through the letterbox then 2) Laugh out loud at the same time as thinking about it. It is ok to make your laughter artificial to begin with. It still has the same effect on your body as genuine laughter and it is quite contagious so you'll probably start laughing genuinely after a short while. 3) By making a positive association between the laughter and the bill you will start to notice your feelings change about that bill or situation. It will no longer feel so stressful.

Make Use of the Media

There are several ways you can use the media to help you get a quick laugh and bring some more joy to your day. Watching comedy programs is a great way to bring more laughter into your life and this method has been well documented as a way to bring back good health after an illness. Or you could fast forward or fast rewind a DVD and see how funny the characters look moving at such speed .... a bit like the old 'keystone cops' black and white movies. This method has sometimes been used with trauma victims as an exercise of the imagination to reduce the strong effects of the trauma, and with good effect.

So, remember, problems in life may sometimes be rather challenging but you have the power to decide how you will respond and it is amazing what a slight sprinkling of laughter can do to make it all a little easier!

Joy Idries shares her passion for Spiritual Growth, Healing and Fun through her weekly 'Love Laughter' newsletter. If you want to get in touch with your inner light and joy through laughter, reduce physical and emotional pain AND boost your immune system claim your FREE E-COURSE 'The Benefits of Laughter and Playing On Purpose' at http://www.clownfocustherapy.com ~~ Also see more at http://www.selfgrowth.com/experts/joy_idries.html

And All of a Sudden, She Is Pregnant

2008-05-25T03:02:00.000-07:00

I can remember pretty clearly the evening we found out we were going to have our first born, it is something that will be with me forever. It was a moment of shared bliss which unexpectedly brought my partner and I closer together as a couple, and sent us on a new journey of discovery and joint purpose. This is the way the event unfolded for us.

We live on Australia's Gold Coast. Moving here was a decision we made together, moving away from our families early 2007 in favour for a beach lifestyle. As such, we often have our families visit us for weekends or weeks at a time, staying in our spare room. It really is one of the joys of living at a tourist destination. At the start of 2008, we had my parents staying with us for a week. It was during this week we started expecting we had a little, unplanned, bundle of joy on the way. For better or worse, we waited till mum and dad had left before we got the test.

On purchasing a pregnancy test, an amusing series of events unfolded. My partner ducked out into the bathroom and urinated on the stick as per the directions. Having done so, all courage departed and she ran into the living room, buried herself under a pillow and hid from it, demanding that I go and find out what it had to tell us. So I wandered into the bathroom to discover the telltale additional lines, our firstborn baby was on the way. I headed back into the living room with a huge grin on my face and was met by a barrage of demands that I tell her immediately and to stop holding out on her. So I sat down beside her and softly said "sweetheart, we are going to have a baby".

At this moment she point blank accused me of lying, telling me she didnâ€™t believe a word I said and ran into the bathroom to see for herself. It was pretty funny! This was a great introduction to our first pregnancy as those initial magical moments can only be described by the word "rollercoaster" which is what the next 8 months or so really turned out to be.

The rest of the night was simply wonderful. We spent at least an hour in the bathroom looking at the little stick, staring at each other in amazement, murmering quietly "we are going to be parents", "you are going to be a mum", "you are going to be a dad" and the like. Despite the tumultuous beginning, it turned into an evening of softness, joy and intimacy. An experience that never would have been the same if it was shared with others. An experience in which we grew together as a couple, as a family.

Its funny reflecting on that evening, as pretty quickly into our pregnancy I worked out that I needed to work to protect these special moments as they popped up. As we started telling our family and friends, I realised that the world is packed with well meaning people who want to make these moments their own, and as the father, exclude me from them. For example, one of my partners friends went as far as to speak to my partners sister independently of us, telling her we need her in the delivery room. My mind boggled at the inappropriateness of this. The birth of our baby is such an intimate experience, no-one but me and my partner should be making decisions about who we need there. The fact was we did not want anyone there, the thought of having someone else there was intrusive to us in the extreme.

We also had people telling us, in their "wisdom and experience", that the advice we were receiving from our doctor was wrong and we should listen to them instead. Naturally, as the father to be, I was excluded from all these conversations. Apparently I wasn't needed in the decision making process. This is part of the reason why, as mentioned above, expecting your firstborn can be a bit of a rollercoaster. The highs you experience really are tremendous, all these first time experiences that are happening because you and your partner are bringing a new life into the world. But they often are temperred by the "well meaning woman" who seems to want to compete with you for ownership of these moments. Which is particularly hard to fathom given she is probably one of the people you want to share with and talk to about it all. (well, at least until she pushes once too often :))

This is one of the issues we try to overcome in the Expectant Father section of our website. Almost every father I have talked to has a version of the "well meaning woman" (who typically is a best friend or mother in law, and always someone who has already had children) who tries and make the pregnancy part of their experience, always at the expense of our involvement.

What we have found is that there are 2 things as the expectant father, that you need to protect yourself from. You need to find a way to protect you and your partner from the advice and experiences which seem to deliberately contradict the advice you are getting from your doctor, as you need to be able to trust your doctor. (there are so many wives tales out there - pregnancy really is a breeding ground for them, if you'll excuse the pun) And you need to protect yourselves from the well meaning advice which takes you out of the intimate moments of the pregnancy, replacing you with the person giving the advice.

So if you find yourself facing off against the "Well Meaning Woman", you are certainly not the first, and will not be the last. If you are not sure how to deal with it, visit us at Fathers4Fathers.com, you may just find the strategy you need.

Damian Papworth is the owner and editor of the Fathers4Fathers.com website, bringing Dads together to help develop good and strong male influences for our children, through shared experiences

Yoga Mom

2008-05-23T03:03:00.000-07:00

Today I will give a little insight on being a mom and doing yoga exercise. I am a mom of a 10 month old daughter. When I first became a mom I thought this isn't hard, I can exercise when I want to. I have come to find that being a mom and doing yoga is hard. So if you are a mom and do yoga cherish all the time you get for this wonderful relaxing exercise. Why yoga is so hard to do as a mom. I will give you a little insight into momhood. This section is called the day in the life of a yoga mom. The first thing I do is get up and feed my daughter breastmilk which will take up to an hour sometimes. Then you put her down to play and try and eat breakfast. You warm up your cereal and then comes the waaaaa. Oh no she needs attention. What is it now a diaper change, some more milk, solid food, a hug, or some attention. Okay you figure out what the demand is,take care of the problem. Now I can go back to my cereal. So now you decide you have to do her laundry before you run out of bibs for her meals. By the time that is done you should go get dressed. Here comes the cry again. Oh she must be hungry now. So you feed her solid food and put her down. Okay now I can go take a shower. This is the most peaceful part of the day ALONE TIME. You step out of the shower and hear waaaa oh now time to nurse again for another hour. Okay now that this is over it is time to clean all the breakfast dishes. Start to clean dishes and hear waaaa oh she needs her diaper changed. You change her diaper then put her down to play again. No I don't want to sit here. Hmmm what could it be oh I know put her on the floor in the kitchen to play with plastic containers while I do the dishes. She loves that as long as I play with her at the same time. Now the dishes are done. Okay maybe now I can do some yoga. You set her down and guess what hungry again. So you feed her soild food. Okay now you put her down to play and she does. Oh good I can do some yoga now. Hurry up get dressed and ready for it. Now you start the exercise. Halfway through it you hear waaaa. Oh no she needs to be nursed again. So now you nurse her. Look at the time after you nursed her oh now it is time for making dinner. In the end the yoga never gets finished.

I love yoga because it takes away all the pain of lifting and bending as a mom. The back exercise is the best. For new moms there is mom and baby yoga. This is great for you and your baby. The classes are good for you and your baby until you run out of time to go to it. Or the baby starts to yell and move a lot in the class. Usually this is when it is hard to control the baby so yoga class is not worth it for you anymore. Every city should have a baby and mama yoga class. Benefits of baby mama yoga are: The baby gets to do the class with you, You get to lose weight and feel good. Other attributes are meeting other mothers and seeing all the funny things that go on in the class. Being a mom takes a lot of time so if you don't get a chance to do yoga, nurse your baby. You will be exercising by feeding and lose weight.In ending, Sometimes you do get time to do the yoga so never give up. Just a shout out to all yoga teachers who are also moms, kudos to you. What a hard and rewarding job you have.

I write articles about yoga and fitness. I love to do yoga when I have time. I got into it when my sister took a yoga class in college. Now my whole family does it. Each week I will write about yoga, babies and yoga or other fitness activities.

Can't Find A Solution For Your Babies' Eczema?

2008-05-22T18:45:00.000-07:00

When you find that capturing a solution to your child's eczema is being a challenge, you should find this eczema treatment a remarkable source of relief. Wet wrap therapy is proven to do a good job of re-hydrating the skin and calming itching. It is found that there are children who responded to no other treatment, but have responded well to wet wrap eczema treatments. The responses were measured over the course of a week, and three quarters of the itch had abated, and more hours of sleep were being peacefully received each night.

Wet wraps are an eczema treatment that calms inflamed skin, strengthens it, gets rid of the harassing itch, and reduces the chance of infection. The proper procedure is to moisturize your baby's skin straightaway after bathing him in a treated bath that is good for eczema. A wet bandage (using tepid water) is then applied to all of the areas where eczema affects him. A dry bandage is then put in place, covering the wet one. This locks in moisture and keeps the wet wraps in place. Most of the benefit of this eczema treatment will be obtained in the first few hours, but as long as the wrap can be tolerated it can be kept on, up to a period of 24 hours. The goal of this eczema treatment is to have the moisturizers go deeply into the skin. The wrap also reduces the amount of damage that is caused by scratching, which helps lower the level of risk of skin infections.

Wet wraps can be used on any part of the body, the face included. You can imagine that one immediate benefit you will get right away is there will be less skin damage from scratching. The wrap in the majority of cases does bring relief from itching, so there should also be less of a need to scratch in the first place.

Wet wrap eczema treatments are also beneficial with helping moisturizers and topical crÃ¨mes and ointments penetrate into the skin.

A huge mistake that you should avoid is to give babies hot baths when a flare-up gets under way. The hot bath makes worse an already distressing situation. In every responsible eczema treatment, you will get the instruction to shun hot baths, and abhor showers whether they are hot or cold. When treating eczema, it is monumental that eczema people get used to and continually take tepid baths, that are shorter than 20 minutes. Hot water dries out skin and releases histamines. The combination of dry skin and histamines are the main developer for eczema. A lukewarm bath on the other hand will allow the skin to keep its natural lubricants.

It is also a good idea when undergoing the eczema treatment to avoid using washcloths. Washcloths remove more than dirt from the body. They like hot water remove essential lubricants that are necessary for good skin health.

I am Broyde Mcdonald I grew up with an atopic disease like eczema, and I know how difficult it can be to find a solution that suits you.

Let me ask a question. Are you really interested in properly treating and controlling your eczema; stopping the itch and reducing flare-ups? If so, you really should look at Bath Salts Good For Eczema.

Adding CCTV to Your Home for Increased Security

2008-05-20T03:04:00.000-07:00

As technology has increased in our world, some of the security devices that have long been considered only for use in the corporate world are now becoming options useful to homeowners. Closed-circuit television (CCTV) is one of these devices. There have been remarkable advances in digital technology which have changed the way we look at CCTV. Video cameras that once gave us grainy pictures have given way to digital cameras with higher resolutions and sharper images. Therefore, if you've never considered CCTV an option for the security of your home and family, it's time to take another look.

Check Out Security from Afar with CCTV

With CCTV it's nice to be able to monitor your property without actually having to be present. For instance, if someone comes to your door, you no longer have to open the door without knowing who's there, nor do you have to rely on the little peephole for information. When someone comes knocking, you'll be able to check your monitor and know exactly who's come to call. This is especially wonderful for children and the elderly, our most vulnerable citizens, who are often too short to use a peephole.

You'll be glad to know that you can place a number of cameras with your CCTV Home Security system so that you've covered all the vulnerable areas around your property. In addition to your front door, you can watch your back door, your garage, your driveway, and areas of the property you are unable to see from the house. With the system in place, you won't have to run outside to check that funny noise, and possibly place yourself in danger. You can see everything from the safety of your home.

Monitoring the Safety of Your Children

Parents have used baby monitors for many years. They became popular because parents could hear if something was wrong with their baby without actually being in the room. CCTV goes one step farther in allowing parents to see their children from a distance.

This technology is especially great for working parents with babysitters. By recording what goes on in your home each day, you'll be able to know for sure that the person you hired to watch your little one is as great as you think she is - or not!

Your CCTV Home Security system won't provide you with all of the coverage a monitored system can provide, but it's still a useful tool for keeping track of things going on in and around your home. With CCTV, you'll feel a lot of relief in knowing that your family is safe and secure.

Rex Magnum, specializes Home Security System providing people information on all issues related to Home Security matters.

Some Extras for Your Baby's Room

2008-05-18T18:42:00.000-07:00

If you have a baby that is coming, then there is no doubt that you are either preparing to set up a nursery in the home or in the process of putting one together. There are some constants that every family must have such as cribs and a dresser but here are a few others that you may want to add to give the room some life.

If you already have a name picked out for the child you may want to invest in some letters on the baby's wall that spell out the child's name. This is a great addition to any child's room. The wooden letters are relatively inexpensive and they are made with different patterns so that they can go with really any style.

It may also be a good idea to invest in a few small tables to hold multiple things in the infant's room. These tiny tables will be for small things like holding the lamps, putting diapers on, holding baby wipes, etc. When your child gets here, you might see that there is never enough space to keep all the infant's belongings.

The last extra is a baby piggy bank. This of course is definitely optional but it is never too early to start saving for your child's future. Go ahead and fill that baby bank with all the loose change that you bring home from your day of work and when it is completely full, you'll be able to start some sort of fund for the baby.

After you have picked up the definites for your child's nursery, why not choose a few extras that will give the room some life. Remember to invest in small baby tables for the child's belongings and for the piggy bank and make sure that you get a few hand painted wooden letters to spell out the child's name on the nursery wall. These are just a few basic strategies that will get you set on your way to a unique nursery.

Find much more info just like this and info on crib sets at cribbeddingset.net

Letting Baby Drink water is dangerous

2008-05-17T18:55:00.000-07:00

Is it safe for babies to drink water during the many hot months of summer? Does my baby need to drink water anytime?

According to Dr. Sears:

"Breastfeeding babies do not need extra water, though formula-fed babies often do. Your breast milk contains enough water for your baby, even in hot, dry climates. Formula contains higher concentrations of salts and minerals than breast milk does, so that extra water is often necessary for the kidneys to excrete the extra salt. Also, because of less efficient metabolism, formula-fed infants lose more water. "

Although breast milk is about 88% water, the formula is not and, therefore, many pediatricians recommend that formula fed babies be given sips of water from 6 months of age or when solid foods are introduced. The offering of water is only a recommendation. It is not intended to be regarded as an absolute necessity that you give your baby water! It can even be hazardous. If you decide to give your baby water, please limit babies water consumption of 2-4 ounces per day. You do not want the water to move or displace the ingestion of breast milk and / or formula! Take the opportunity to offer a cup of water also Sippy. This will accomplish 2 things:

1) A breastfed baby will not be subject to possible confusion of the nipples 2) The water in a cup Sippy is the perfect liquid to be used when introducing the Sippy cup. Add a few ice cubes to give the cup a style and be more interesting!

Please use extreme caution when offering water infants. Infants who drink too much water May have too much water, and have Intoxication.

For children under 1 year - and especially during the first nine months of baby's life - drinking too much water can be dangerous.

In fact, according to pediatricians, like James P. Keating, MD, medical director of St. Louis Children's Hospital Diagnostic Centre, "Too much water dilutes a baby and normal levels of sodium can lead to convulsions, coma, brain damage and worse even death.

Breast milk or formula provides all babies healthy fluid needed for babies to survive. If a mother feels her baby needs to take water, it should be limited to two or three ounces at a time and should be proposed that after the baby has satisfied his hunger with breastfeeding or formula"

For parents who see their children less than 12 months take swimming lessons, please be cautious of the amount of water that inadvertently baby will swallow. Water intoxication May also occur because of a baby swallowing too much water during bathing so extra caution must be implied!

To Learn More: Pregnancy Guides and wiki,
Pregnancy blog and Pregnancy infos

Doc Coolmac is a normal guy wasting time on the internet.
_____________________________
Fav Parts of the Internet

nascar fans and wiki fan site
bollywood news

Having a Child is a Spiritual Experience

2008-05-15T18:52:00.000-07:00

Having a Child is a Spiritual Experience. This is something that I don't remember hearing about beforehand, but wow! Depending on how the pregnancy goes, it can feel like forever or be a wonderful excuse to eat copious amounts of food (both for the mother-to-be and her empathetic husband), and to be indulged. It is a time to receive much positive attention from the grandparents-to-be, other family members, friends, co-workers and even strangers. There is lots of advice both asked for and unsolicited! There is much to do along the way, lists to make, things that â€œmustâ€ be done before the baby's arrival, etc. There are clothes to buy (both for the expectant mother and the baby-to-be), a nursery to prepare, doctor appointments, baby showers and countless other errands and tasks. Picking a name or names can be a challenge for many parents-to-be (see above re: unsolicited advice!). But when the time for delivery and the baby's actual arrival comes, very little can totally prepare you for such an event. It is a moment like no other, a time for humans to experience the miracle of creation and witness the birth of a newborn baby. It is a moment of heaven on earth for both the mother and the father to savor. Reading to Children Blesses both of You. Cradling an infant or holding a little one in your lap and reading to them is something to do over and over again. Long before babies can follow the story line, start reading to them! They love to hear your voice. Books are a wonderful way to strengthen the bonds between parent and child. Reading time can be a way to quiet an overly active child, a way to share and enjoy the books that you loved as a child, and a time to cuddle and just soak up the essence of your little ones. As children grow, don't stop reading to them or at least reading with them. Reading is a tradition that can be maintained throughout a lifetime, and brings countless blessings of closeness, memories and strengthened reading skills. Messes are a Part of Having Children. For those of us who tend to be type A or â€œfussyâ€ about our surroundings, this is another opportunity for â€œpersonal growthâ€, ie. to be challenged! Babies bring lots of paraphernalia or â€œstuffâ€, even before they make their appearance. There is new furniture such as cribs, changing tables, high chairs and a chest of drawers. There are other â€œnecessitiesâ€ such as strollers, clothing, diapers, diaper bags, toys, books, cute picture frames, and more. It can be a challenge for a parent to keep all of this organized, but that is just the beginning! Once the little one becomes ambulatory he or she is then able to play with things, rearrange things and even destroy things!! Books and toys that have been carefully organized can become a big messy heap in less than a minute. New carpeting can be ruined by two well meaning little girls playing with a mother's bright red lipstick. You have been warned â€" this is a part of being a parent. Get used to it! Children aren't perfect. See the last few sentences above, and these are just the kinds of messes that parents can â€œclean upâ€. Sometimes children make choices and mistakes that aren't so easily resolved. Younger children may bite or hit other children. As they grow older they may not always be nice to other children, to their siblings, grandparents or even to you. Children can say hurtful things and sometimes do things that parents can't understand. Be prepared for some challenging moments such as being talked back to, having a special antique broken or even dishonesty. It is all part of being a parent and having normal children (no matter what other parents might say; their children aren't perfect either). Even the Best of Parents aren't Perfect. One of the hardest parts of being a parent is seeing something that you don't particularly like about yourself (or your spouse) show up in your children. There is nothing more important than raising children and we want to do it perfectly. However, we are all human and we all make mistakes. As parents, we get tired and sometimes don't respond to the more trying moments the way that we would like to. We may find ourselves saying things such as â€œBecause I said soâ€ or raising our voices in a way that we'd sworn we'd never do. Being a parent sometimes brings new insight to the scripture about the sins of the parents being passed on to their children. It can be painful. Children will accept our sincere apologies, especially if they know that we are trying hard to do our best and that we love them. The Responsibility is Awesome and the Joy Incomparable. There is a good reason why most parents are fairly young: if we fully realized ahead of time what we were getting ourselves into, we might be too afraid to even try! Raising a child or children is a huge, never-ending responsibility that at times will seem overwhelming. It will be physically, academically, emotionally and mentally challenging. There may even be times when you would like to run away. That is one reason why it is important to always make some time for you. Being a parent can be exhausting. The balance of that equation is that the moments and feelings of joy are truly incomparable. The intense feelings of love and happiness felt when all is well with one's child or children are truly indescribable, but other parents will know what you mean. It makes it all so worth it and you realize that having and raising children is what real life is all about.

In summary, the ongoing and never-ending experience of being a parent and raising children can teach a person more than just about anything else. Children can bring out the best in you and teach you what unconditional love really means. You literally would do anything for your child. The joy and love felt as a parent are immeasurable and expressions such as â€œheart-warmingâ€ or â€œa fullness of joyâ€ take on new meaning. On the other hand, part of being a parent is to learn humbling lessons. It is hard to be patient when operating on little or no sleep, and sometimes parenting can be lonely or even boring. It requires much unselfishness to do it right. Heartache is sometimes a part of the parental experience; learning isn't always easy or pleasant. These are some of the important lessons to be experienced and learned as a parent, and hopefully the learning never stops. In addition to the richness, joy and meaning that children bring to life, if a person is really lucky they will one day become grandparents. I've heard that that is the best of all!

Sky Realty Austin is the company to call when buying a home in the Austin Texas area http://www.skyrealtyaustin.com/listings.php

Rub-A-Dub-Dub A Pet Parrot in Your Tub

2008-05-13T18:40:00.000-07:00

Ask any bird owner and he will tell you, "Yep, birds are messy."

So just how do you keep your new pet parrot clean? And what about his cage, toys, food...are there any special instruction here?

The Bird - To keep feather dust to a minimum, and promote vibrant colors, shower your parrot weekly. Most species love water and will sing, flap their wings and even "dance" when showered. You can purchase a shower perch for let your parrot walk around on the bottom of the shower floor or tub.

You don't have to buy special soap for your bird. Use plain tap water. Be sure the temperature is warm. It's a good idea to test the water's temp by letting the water run on the underside of your forearm, much like you would for a baby's formula.

Some bird owners mist their parrots with water from a spray bottle (similar to the ones used for misting house plants). A few varieties of birds dislike misting, so proceed with caution. If your pet shows signs of apprehension, it's a good idea to avoid the misting process altogether.

The Food Dishes - Wash in hot soapy water, or run through the dishwasher everyday. Consider buying two sets of food and water dishes; while one set is placed in your birds' cage (with fresh contents) the other set is in the dishwasher.

The Cage - A rule of thumb here is; the larger the bird, plus, the more time the bird spends in the gage equals the more frequently you should perform a thorough cleaning on the cage. i.e. more than a "wipe down". Cage liners are wonderful! It's easy to roll up your bird's mess in one thin liner than it is to empty the pan, or pull up newspaper. Change liners daily, or every few days, depending on how messy your bird is. A quick wipe over with a warm wet cloth helps alleviate the difficulty of the thorough cleaning.

Before you thorough clean, remove the bird from his cage and place on a perch away from his cage area. Use a bird safe disinfectant. Sometimes a scrub brush and/or sandpaper can help remove tough dried particles.

The Toys - Soak toys in mild soapy warm - hot water. rinse thoroughly and allow to dry before returning to cage. Cleanse toys every few weeks to remove germs and feather dust.

The Yard aka area around the cage - This area is often plagued with feathers, feather particles and feather dust as well as seeds and other food items your bird drops. Vacuum daily. A cage with a seed catcher helps somewhat and is worth purchasing.

Also, consider purchasing an air purifier one with a HEPA filter.

Whenever possible, use cleaning time as play time, too. Talk and socialize with your pet while you change his bird liners, or shower him. the more contact you have with your parrot, the better caregiver you'll be. You'll also be able to recognize signs of stress and illness quicker.

Keeping your bird clean, healthy and happy requires daily maintenance, but is well worth it.

Robin Bateman is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Writers. This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.PetLovers.Com/ which is a site for Pets.

When should you have a pap test?

2008-05-10T18:48:00.000-07:00

When should your Pap test begin? In â€œThe Best Treatmentâ€, Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld of the New York Hospital-Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center said you should have one annually starting in your teens, especially when you begin having sex, up to your 60th birthday.

Women belonging to the high-risk group should also be tested every year. If your smears are normal, there's no point in having a Pap test after the age of 60.

But not all doctors agree with Rosenfeld's recommendations. Others say a Pap smear should be done every three years after the first two tests one year a part yield negative results starring at the age of 35 or at the age when you first have sex.

"Ideally, a Pap smear should be taken yearly for sexually active females, especially women 35 years and above. However, considering our economic condition and since studies have shown that two or three Pap smears starting at 35 can confer the same benefits as a yearly exam, I advise a Pap test every three to five years if the first two tests are negative. In other countries, this procedure has reduced cancer rates by 40 to 55 percent," according to Dr. Rey de los Reyes, an obstetrician and gynecologist at the United Doctors Medical Center in the Philippines. In cancer, however, it's best to be safe than sorry so a yearly Pap test is probably best for most women. That may mean more expenses and a little inconvenience on your part, but it will offer you more protection in the long run.

With regards to treatment, surgery will cure most early cases of cervical cancer. If the cancer has spread to other organs, a combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy may do the trick.

"The best way to guarantee the eradication of abnormal cervical cells is by conization, the removal of the portion of the cervix in which they are located. But since this procedure may result in bleeding, infection, and perhaps reduce your chances of having a baby at some later date because of scarring, it should be reserved for severe cases,â€ Rosenfeld said.

â€œWhen dysplasia is mild or moderate, other methods such as freezing, laser vaporization, and burning (with a hot cautery) are easier and preferable. However, their long-term cure rate is a little lower. Whichever approach your choose, make sure to have repeat Pap smears every three months for at least two years just to make sure you're not one of the five or 10 percent of women in whom cancer subsequently develops," he added. (Next: Are you at risk for colon cancer?)

To strengthen your body, take Immunitril â€" your first line of defense in maintaining a healthy immune system. For details, visit http://www.bodestore.com/immunitril.html.

Sharon Bell is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premier online news magazine http://www.HealthLinesNews.com.

2008-05-09T22:11:00.000-07:00

Technorati Profile