Baby Stats!

Thought I would give an update about our little monkey. She is growing by leaps and bounds, she is just about 7 1/2 months old. I cannot believe how time flies!
Here are her basic stats

- Wearing a size 3 diaper
- Wearing some 6-9 month clothes, some 9 month clothes- depending on the brand!
- Eating like a horse- has between 4 and 5 8 oz. bottles a day
- Eating 3 solid meals a day, oatmeal and fruit in the morning, fruit snack in the afternoon, and a veggie and fruit in the evening.
- We are not a big fan of veggies right now- I have to disguise them with lots of fruits to cover up the taste!
- Will kinda eat puffs, she isn't quite sure what to do with them, so she picks them up and they end up all over her high chair.
- Naps are short, no more 2 hour naps- she wants to be up and around.
- Is crawling like a champ and pulling herself up.
- The babbling has not really started yet, it's more like loud high pitched noises right now, but we respond to them anyways!
- LOVES her jumperoo
- Not a big fan of the infant car seat- I think it's almost time to move into her big girl convertible car seat.

So pretty much our little monkey is growing like a champ- she weighs around 17 lbs, and still has her cute chubby cheeks!

Happy Anniversary! Wedding that is!

Today is mine and John's anniversary, four years ago we were getting married. It's amazing to think that four years have gone by in the blink of an eye. This is the first year that I feel good about celebrating a year of marriage. First off infertility takes a toll on a marriage, so to have made it through four years of that is something to celebrate! Marriage is hard enough, add infertility on top of that and you have a lot to deal with, but John and I have managed to get through it, with some fights, tears, and hugs along the way. Now that we have our beautiful little girl we can look back and say it was all worth it, and I don't think either one of us would change the path of the last four years. It has brought us to where were are now and we are both better people for having traveled that road together.

I was thinking today about where I was on this day four years ago, it's about 4pm so I was getting ready to start our pictures with our photographer. I was laughing with my mom, oh how I miss her and can't wait to see her soon, and thinking I never thought this day would get here, but it did, and all the days since then have flown by. I have to remember to take in each day and remember that I will never get to do it again, my baby will not be a baby forever, so I have to cherish every moment with her and our moments as a family.

I am a bad blogger!

I know I am a very bad blogger- when you have an active 7 month old time to be on the computer is just few and far between. Let's see there have been some new developments in our little monkey's case. Our caseworker filed the termination of parental rights paperwork with the DA's office. This is a HUGE step!! We are super excited!! We hope to be assigned to an adoption worked by the end of the year- which would make finalization in early 2011. Our little monkey has always been ours from day one, but it will be nice to make it official.

I know it's cliche, but she is such a joy in my life. Everything is about her, and everything is because of her. Nothing else matters if she's happy. Everything else is just not as important as her. I went to a networking event the other night and I took her with me- she was happily nomming her Sophie toy in her stroller not bothering a soul- yet I got some very evil looks when I come wheeling in with my baby in the stroller. I could have cared less- if they didn't accept her they didn't accept me. Luckily she turned on the charm and everyone was commenting on how cute she was before we left.

My life is so different, I don't sleep in, I don't go out to clubs and we almost never go to the movies, but instead I get to raise this beautiful little soul, and she is such a sweet little soul- that child does not have a mean bone in her body, she just pure love. I get up at 5am when she's hungry and I love it- I'm falling asleep by 9pm, but I wouldn't trade it for the world.

I thank God everyday for bringing her into our lives- she was well worth the wait!!

Infertility hits TLC!

I am so happy to report that yet another reality show has decided to discuss the trials and tribulations of a couple trying to have a baby. The Little Couple follows the lives of newlyweds Bill Klein and Jennifer Arnold, who both have dwarfism. The series debuted on TLC in 2009. Jen is 3'2" and Bill is 4 feet tall. They are currently living in a rental home in Houston, Texas until construction of their new home is completed. Jen is a neonatologist who works at the Texas Children's Hospital, and Bill is a business owner.

They spent most of season two discuss how to start a family, adoption, surrogacy, or Jen carring the baby. It was determined after many tests that it was not in Jen's best interest to carry her child. After meeting with the Center for Surrogate Parenting, Inc.(CSP) in Encino, California, they decided to move forward with surrogacy. So far Bill and Jen have just started their testing to make sure that they are fertile and able to conceive a child.

I love the fact that IVF, surrogacy, and infertility is being discussed out in the media, it gives so many people hope that they are ways to create a family. I love watching the show every week and seeing where there journey is headed.

Should you potty train your infant?

Until today I had never heard of infant potty training the technical term is "elimination communication" or "natural infant hygiene." Infant potty training is the practice of introducing your baby to the toilet or potty at a very early age —usually between birth and 4 months.

Now, I have to admit this is the most insane thing to me, I cannot imagine trying to potty train my month old, good lord- she is only 5 months old. She is learning new things every day, do we really have to throw the potty into that mix?

Parents who do this usually do this to avoid diapers completely by racing their baby to the nearest bathroom whenever they anticipate a poop or pee. Others use diapers on and off. By 18 months, in most cases, their children have "graduated" — that is, they know when they have to use the toilet and get themselves there successfully.

Just a fun fact- the average baby boy in the United States gives up diapers at 39 months and the average girl at 36 months, according to a 2001 study by the Medical College of Wisconsin. (It typically takes eight to ten months for a child to go from complete reliance on diapers to being fully potty trained, the study found.)

While the notion of potty training a very young infant seems radical to many American parents, it's not a new idea. Before 1950, most children in the United States were toilet trained by 18 months. And today, most African, Asian, and European babies are trained well before their second birthday. The change in views is most likely from the invention of disposable diapers.

People claim that infant potty training strengthens the bond between parent and child because as a parent you are learning your child's cues and learning to be in tune with your child's needs. People claim that learning their bathroom cues is just as easy as learning their cues for being sleepy or hungry.

Now for everyone out there that is wondering how you can get started here are some basic ideas:

• Watch your baby and get to know their elimination patterns. When and how often does your baby go to the bathroom? Does he always go at a particular time of day — right after waking up, for example? Does he make any particular noises, gestures, or expressions when he has to go?

• When your baby makes one of his typical elimination signs, hold him gently over a toilet, a potty, or even a bucket or pot, which may better suit his tiny size.

• While he's relieving himself, make a noise that your baby will learn to associate with elimination (many parents use ssssss or some other water like sound; others use a word or phrase like "go potty").

• Repeat this sound or phrase whenever you see that your baby has to go, and also while he's going, so he'll learn to recognize it as a signal and connect his own impulses with the act of using the potty.

• When an accident happens, be matter-of-fact about it and stay relaxed. Advocate and mother of five Parise says your attitude helps your child stay relaxed about the process, too.

• During the nighttime, keep a potty right by the bed and put your baby on it before nursing or if he's restless during the night. Some advocates say that babies rarely pee or poop during a deep sleep and will usually become restless or give some sort of sign sufficient to wake a parent when they need to go — assuming that you're co-sleeping. (Other advocates say that using diapers at night is fine. Even self-proclaimed infant potty training "evangelist" Lynch admits, "In our house, sleep trumps pee.") If you opt to put your baby down sans diaper, place him on a waterproof mattress pad in case of an accident.

So I have thrown the idea out there- do what you want with it, I have to admit that I would never do this- I feel there is a reason that diapers were invented and I have much better things to do with my time then hold my child over a toilet ten times a day. I would much rather be cuddling with my baby or taking a walk with them then be hanging out in the bathroom with my child.

Congrats to Celine Dion!

After what seems like forever Celine Dion is finally getting her happy ending, it was just announced that she is 14 weeks pregnant with twins, concieved through her sixth IVF attempt. She had embryos that were frozen from several years ago. This is great news, and although she is in her 40's her embryos are in the 30's since they were frozen years ago.

This brings up a endless debate of "how old is too old to have children"? Now many would argue that women over the age of 40 should not be allowed to undergo fertility treatments, because this is just too old to have children. There is many arguments that vary from the medical risks for a 40 something year old woman to have a child are just not worth it, and then there is the fact that can a 40 something woman have the engery to keep us with her growing child.

Dr Sher of the Sher Institute discusses the medical risks involved with having a child: "Yes there are age-related medical risks and it is indisputable that pregnancy in older women is associated with increased risk to both mother and baby. Pregnancy-induced complications (e.g. preeclampsia, gestational diabetes intrauterine growth retardation, premature separation of the placenta, preterm delivery, low birth weight, dysfunctional labor and cesarean section ) are all far more likely to occur in older women. However, this risk can be lessened by in advance identifying those older women who are most predisposed to developing such complications."

In terms of women not being able to keep up with the growing childen, we as humans are living longer these days, many women are living well into their eighties. Yes, there may be some compromises involved with the physical activitis that children take part in, there are other benefits to being an older parent, more life experiences, knowledge, and wisdom- everything is a trade off.

I strongly disagree that a physican should be able to deny a patient fertility treatments because of age, this is down right discrimination. However it is the duty of that physican to advise of the potential risks so the patient can make an educated informed decision.

As someone who dealt with infertility until you have walked in these infertile shoes you can have no opnion. You do not know what it feels like to not be able to have children. For some being pregnant and experiencing child birth is very important, and for those people they will go to the end of the earth to have that experience, even it means countless IVF's. Hat's off to Celine and her family, prayers for healthy pregnancy and happy babies in the fall!

We are eating solids- well kinda!!

Out little monkey is growing by leaps and bounds and about a month ago we got the go head from our doctor to start solid foods, well baby food that is. She loves it! Well, our first try failed, she hated the rice cereal, and I have to admit I can't blame her- I wouldn't want to eat that either. One thing to remember is always give rice cereal with a spoon, never put it in a bottle, unless you are directed by your doctor- it can cause a choking hazard.

We have since moved onto apples, banana's, oatmeal, carrots, and squash- and she is loving all of them. Her favorite is the mix of banana's and strawberries. She has even starting trying to hold her own spoon- wow they grow up so fast!!

The rule that I have been following is introducing a new food every three days, that way you give time to see if there is going to be an allergic reaction. She is still getting her bottles every 3-4 hours, because her main source of nutriation should still be coming from formula, not baby food.

I am also considering making my own baby food, but I have not jumped on that band wagon yet, maybe soon- stay tuned!

Tips for child safety in the Summer heat

As the weather starts to warm up around the country it's always good to remember that leaving children alone in the car is always dangerous, but in the summer it can spell disaster!!

On a typical summer day, the temperature inside a car can rise above 120 degrees; on mild days it can reach 100 degrees. In 10 minutes, the temperature inside a car can rise 19 degrees. In 20 minutes, that temperature can rise 29 degrees. So remember do not leave your child in the car alone, even if it's just a minute, not even with the air conditioner running.

There have been several tragic tales of people who have left their child in the car seat overnight or all day and the child has died. This is a tragic story, but unfortunately it happens. We, as parents, are all guilty of doing to much and not getting enough sleep- and those parents of infants are definitely walking around sleep deprived. But this is not an excuse, you have to give special attention to making sure your child is not in the car when you exit.

Make sure you actually drop the child off at day care, that is another tragic story. Everyone knows the story of the mother forgets to go to the day care and the child is left in the car all day in the parking lot, unfortunately this story has come true, too many times.

There are some simple steps you can take to ensure your child's safety while in the car:

1) Always lock your car and store the keys in a location where your kids cannot get to them.

2) Install a trunk release mechanism, so kids don't get trapped there.

3) Prioritize. Get your children out of the car first when you get home, and then take anything else like groceries or your dry cleaning out of your vehicle.

4) When leaving your car, check to make sure everyone is out of the car. Do not overlook any children that have fallen asleep in the car. Rear facing car seat are especially hard to see children in, so double check!!

5) Even if you leave a child in a car that is running with the air conditioning on, it does not mean that they are any safer. A child may accidentally put the car into drive or get caught in a power window.

6) Bring your children with you when running errands, or use a drive-through if one is available.

7) Fire Rescue officials say one way to never forget a child in the car is the stuffed animal method. Place a stuffed animal in a visible location like the front seat when you have a child in the car. When you take the child out of the car, place the stuffed toy in the car seat. The visual will help remind you there is a child in the back.