Book Review: Hello Baby

I've been trying to find good books to help my toddler understand that a baby brother is on the way. Hobo Mama offered a list of books (with short reviews!) for preparing an older sibling. Her son is, however, a year older than Sasha so none of the books I could get seemed to fit for us.

On my search, I had another book suggested and actually had to use my library's Interlibrary Loan service to get a copy. (I am SO glad my library offers this!) Hello Baby written by Jenni Overend and illustrated by Julie Vivas.

I had mostly been checking into board books, but I've gotten some regular paper books, too. This one is paper. And it isn't going to work for what I needed. However, it is an amazing book!

It is written as though from an older sibling's viewpoint. He has two older sisters, but has never witnessed a birth himself. You read about how his mother prepared him for her noisy birthing, an uncle's early gift of firewood to warm the home for baby's arrival, the arrival of the midwife and other support. He shares with us his sister's reaction and how he feels about the new baby and his family. It is SUCH a sweet, sweet book. At one point I was chuckling and at another I was nearly in tears.

You may find this book especially helpful in preparing an older sibling for a home birth of your new baby. I'm certain you will enjoy the book yourself, too! The book is 32 pages long and is a bit wordy for my 2yo, but isn't heavy reading at all. The artwork is lovely.

Do you have any book recommendations for me? I need books aimed at young toddlers.

LiceMeister® Comb

September is Head Lice Prevention Month. I've offered up many facts and warnings about lice as well as advice on how to prevent and battle infestations. Today I want to review for you a tool: The LiceMeister® Comb.

Wordless Wednesday: Buddy Walk Change

Sat down with Sasha immediately after breakfast (hence the bib) to empty our change jar into our collection jar for Team Spencer.

She loved "playing" with the change. We've never emptied our change tin (only dug for quarters), so it still had cat hair in it! We haven't had a cat in over 2 years!

Monday Minimalist: Rearranging

Do you ever try to tackle a big "get rid of stuff" task and find yourself just moving items from their current spot to some other spot? I am absolutely guilty as charged! I've been alright with it, though. It really does mean more work as you wind up touching the same item several times before you (probably) just get rid of it anyway. It becomes about condensing, but that can lend itself to gently minimizing your stuff.

Our Walk-in Closet

We have 1 walk-in closet in our tiny apartment. It holds... stuff we don't want Sasha to get into (and won't need often), sheets, what is left of our clothes that we don't wear often and haven't donated yet, and some other odds and ends. For a walk-in closet, you notice you can't really walk into it? This was my point of interest this weekend.

Sunday Surf

What did I even do this week? Ah, we got Spencer's echo-cardiogram. (It looked good!) I also contemplated some major decisions. Here the links that interrupted that train of thought along the way.

• According to NPR, Comcast if offering reduced rate internet for low income families! They are also offering discounted basic PCs for a every discounted rate! Wonderful program! As our income drops, this may be an option to which we turn.
  
  
• Scientists have to be able to map the protein structure of diseases in order to understand and combat them. Microscopes only offer one view, though. It is one-dimensional. A video game was written for figuring out the actual 3-D makeup of diseases. Care to guess how long it took online gamers to crack the AIDS enzyme puzzle?
  
  

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• I have, over the past year, seen many posts and discussions pop up regarding the "No 'poo Method." Heard of it? The idea basically seems to be that you stop shampooing your hair. That does dramatically simplify the philosophy a bit. I finally read an argument that intrigued me and looked around a bit. Here is the post I'm considering for reference for my own "No poo" experiments. I already rarely shampoo my hair (or Sasha's) at all.
  
  
• There has also been a lot of discussion of homeschooling in my parenting circles lately. Specifically, there has been some comparison of types. Did you know there were several different types (or ways) to homeschool? I love Wikipedia and they have a great entry about homeschooling as an umbrella term (or at least covering many different methodologies).
  
  
• Someone shared Onyx, this cool source for non-plastic containers. They have all sorts of stainless steel stuff, including straws!
  
  
• I've had a few occasions recently where I noticed my uterus was hardened. I know this happens with orgasm, but I was noticing it at other times. Then it finally hit me... I'm having Braxton Hicks contractions, duh! Then I wondered what sorts of things make them happen. I was actually a bit surprised by the list provided by American Pregnancy Association.
  
  The list includes "when someone touches your belly." Wow. Really? Thankfully my BH aren't causing me any pain or discomfort at this point, they just feel strange. I kept thinking that Spencer was mashing directly on my bladder... nope, it was my BH uterus.
  

I hope you've enjoyed my links this week. I know I did! I've posted several others through the week directly onto my Facebook Page. Click over and "Like" so you won't miss anything!

Nursing through Pregnancy - 25 weeks

Soon after my last post on this topic, things improved.

Sasha mostly stopped needing to nurse for as long. She started to go to sleep a little earlier each night. She stopped clamping down on my nipple (except when I didn't get her to bed fast enough once she was asleep).

However, the teeth marks continue and are further and further around my nipple now, almost performing a full circle. Sleep improved, but has gotten worse again. I think due to some illness.

About to bare it all here, you have been warned...

All Natural Topical Lice Treatments

September is Head Lice Prevention Month. I've already discussed the reasons not to use chemicals on your babies' heads as well as what to do instead. I bet you're wondering, though... what about other home remedies?

Japanese Kewpie Mayonnaise
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