I get a monthly newsletter from my old chiropractor (who incidentally specializes in pre-natal care, which is how I started seeing him). Although I haven't been to see him in about a year and a half, I still liketo read his newsletters, as they are usually full of interesting and good information. This one, I'm not so sure about - I found it so funny I had to post it:
Cell Phone Use During Pregnancy Can Cause Problems
Women who use mobile phones when pregnant are more likely to give birth to children with behavioral problems, according to a study of more than 13,000 children.Pregnant women using the handsets just two or three times a day was enough to raise the risk of their babies developing hyperactivity and difficulties with conduct, emotions and relationships by the time they reached school age.
The likelihood is even greater if the children themselves used the phones before the age of 7. Specifically, mothers who used mobile phones were 54 percent more likely to have children with behavioral problems. When the children also later used the phones themselves, they were:
80 percent more likely to suffer from difficulties with behavior
25 percent more at risk from emotional problems
34 percent more likely to suffer from difficulties relating to their peers
35 percent more likely to be hyperactive
49 percent more prone to problems with conduct
The results of the study took the top scientists who conducted it by surprise. The research will carry particular weight because one of its authors, UCLA's Professor Leeka Kheifets, had previously been skeptical that mobile phones could pose a risk to health.
Sources:
The Independent May 18, 2008
Epidemiology July 2008adapted from Mercola.com
Hmmm, an explanation of 3-year old behavior? I think not. But if you're having a bad day and need to use it, here you go!
I'm dying to hear your thoughts on this!
Friday, June 6, 2008
Are you kidding me?
I have a confession
You've probably already noticed.
I made a promise I can't keep.
About 6 days ago, I told you my posts wouldn't be so long once I got the hang of this blogging thing.
But you know what? I just have SO much to say that I can't seem to stop my fingers from flying across my keyboard.
If you know me in real life, you knew I could never uphold my end of the promise. If you've just recently met me, well, this is me.
And I can keep promises - I guess just not ones that apply to tales of life with the Mad Hatter!
Thursday, June 5, 2008
We love to see her SMILE!
Yesterday was our first visit to the dentist. A pediatric dentist both highly regarded by our pediatrician and friends, but a visit I was slightly apprehensive about.
You see, the Mad Hatter is one of those kids who is fearless. She totally beats to her own drum. We think it's great - she is outgoing, caring, full of personality, and not afraid to try new things. The scary thing is, sometimes she's too fearless and I worry how we can teach her about safety for her own good without crushing that amazing spirit that is the essence of the MH.
The flipside of this fearlessness is her strong need for nurturing that sometimes extends to the point of coddling. Not coddling in a bad way, but as in a pick your battles, "Mommy can't feel good about having a martini at 9AM so we need to stop this fit before it happens" kind of way. Part of me thinks on some level it's insecurity. My back problems started before she was two, so all she has ever known is that Mommy has a back boo-boo and needs a lot of rest. As much of my undivided attention as she gets (and believe me, she gets as much if not more than I can physically and emotionally give), it seems like it's never enough. And since she's certainly not going to have any siblings for some time, Hubby and I are concerned that this is the age where we really need to crack down because if everything goes her way, we've got a spoiled brat on our hands. So, we continue to pick our battles and stay tough when we need to.
She's a paradox (find me a 3 year old who isn't). She's so independent, yet if something is out of place, or not done in the right "order" we're doomed. Example: bedtime routine is lamp off, turn on white noise machine, start CD. Usually. Then, of course, there are the variations. Sometimes SHE wants to put on the noise. But, uh-oh, Daddy did it. Even though we always start snuggle time with song # 3 (who doesn't love Skiddamarink-a-dink-a-dink?), tonight she wanted #2 first. And instead of expressing her feelings, she melts into hysterics, and the only way we can appease the situation is to start the whole routine over again. Maybe this is typical behavior for a 3 year old. Maybe she has OCD.
Regardless, I was unsure of what lay ahead at the dentist. Would she embrace it with open arms or flip out the second they tried to touch her? With the MH, you just never know. DH and I spent a few days talking about the special doctor called the dentist, we practiced opening our mouths super wide, I told her about the magic toothbrush they were going to use. By Tuesday night, I heard DH threaten her behavior with "If you keep it up, I don't know if Mommy's going to be able to take you to the dentist tomorrow" and she snapped right into shape! Still, I wasn't exhaling just yet.
Yesterday morning came. She couldn't wait to go. Armed with the help of Sweetheart, off we went. We got there and walked down a long hallway to the bathrooms - it was hand-painted with an underwater scene not unreminiscent of The Little Mermaid. MH WORSHIPS Ariel. A variety of fish, including a Sebastian-like crab were all holding toothbrushes. Woo Hoo! More ammo for Mommy to keep going on about the excitement that is having clean teeth! Oh, the little things it takes to make me happy.
The hygienist calls us, and we're through the ocean and into the Jungle, where the whole tooth business takes place. Every jungle animal under the sun was brushing their teeth. There were tropical flowers. There was a 3-D monkey on the wall wearing ginormous sunglasses. I asked if I could have my teeth done when they finished up with MH.
The staff could not have been better - MH got to see and touch everything. She got a brand new Ariel toothbrush. Fabulous shades so the light wouldn't bother her. A mirror to check out her teeth. A ride up and down on the chair. Her choice of toothpaste flavor (strawberry) and flouride treatment (orange). They were SUPER fast with the cleaning (and showing Mommy how to get around that mouth as quickly as possible at home). A prize bag (hand decorated, with her name on it) to take home. Did I mention they were FABULOUS? Well, they were.
She had a BALL. She was slightly apprehensive when it came to lying her head back in the chair, but other than that, she would have stayed all day if they let her. The highlight of her day was showing Daddy her new toothbrush and toothpaste when he got home.
We shared a celebratory lunch (after waiting, of course, the requisite 30 minutes past her flouride treatment)
She has brushed about 6 times since yesterday afternoon. She has not stopped telling anyone who will listen (including those men who came to cut down our trees this morning) about her trip to the dentist. We had a Skype chat with my SIL in MN, and she insisted that we bring the laptop into the bathroom so Auntie P could see her new toothbrush and watch her brush her teeth. And of course, she has the flashing those pearly whites move down perfectly.
I'm thrilled. The unknown had a great outcome. Will I be holding my breath for our appointment in 6 months? You betcha!
Why we adore our Mad Hatter
Besides the obvious, of course.
She turned 3 in February.
In the last month, she's really begun to excel at expressing her feelings.
She says things out of the blue that will instantly melt your heart and make you forget that all week long you've been literally talking to yourself (and drinking more heavily, and questioning your ability as a mom) because she has been the out of control, will not calm down, can not stay still for a second, does not listen, crazy insanity that IS a three year old.
So we're finishing dinner tonight and she says something that's not quite decipherable. Then she repeats it clear as day:
"I just love our special sharing time together. I love eating dinner with my family."
DH and I just LOVE being the MH's mommy and daddy.
Do YOU want a piece of ME?
So, chances are if you've found your way here and have decided to come back for more, you're enjoying my blog (insert me doing happy dance). I love your comments - they also make me do the happy dance.
If you're new to blogging like me, I thought you'd appreciate a couple of tips on how to get back here easily. First, you could just bookmark my blog in your internet faves list. But then, you need to remember (and really, do you need to add one more thing to your to-do list?) to come back and check for updates.
OR . . .
You could do it the easy way.
Get yourself a "reader". Check out www.bloglines.com or Google Reader. Both are free services that allow you to sign up for an account (this takes maybe a minute) and add your favorite blogs.
Example: You LOVE me (thank you so much!). You go to bloglines (this is what I use, as my good friend recommended it to me a while ago, before I even had my own blog) and create your free account. You add my blog address. You bookmark bloglines.com in your internet favorites.
OK, here's the part where you need to remember to do something, but I'm not asking for much. Go to your favorites and visit bloglines.com daily. If I have added an entry in my blog, it will show you the entry right there - how cool is that? You can either read my entry right there, or click on the link that will take you to my entire blog. LOVE IT.
Here's the best part. If you're here, I certainly hope you've checked out some of the links I've included to other fabulous blogs I enjoy reading. Guess what? If you like their blogs, you can add them to bloglines too!
I think we've already established that this blogging thing can get addictive. Think of bloglines as your "one stop shopping" in Bloggeritaville (thanks Alex!). You click, you read, you laugh. You find more blogs you love, you add, you click, you read, you laugh, and add more.
Got it? Good.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Recent pics I am loving right now . . .
The canoodling elephants at the zoo last weekend
The Mad Hatter doing a cool project at art class
The fact that my little girl is ALL girl - even with dress-up clothes,
she manages to stay coordinated! (BTW, she's taking her dolls for a ride in that suitcase!)
A reminder that sometimes the Mad Hatter can be a complete angel. Mommy learned an important lesson that day - choosing your battles is key, and going out dressed as a ballerina is not the end of the world, but instead eaten up by the world around us, Almost everyone we encountered that day stopped us, and MH was all to happy to show them some of her ballerina moves. Definitely time to sign up for dance classes!!!
19 hours till Sex and the City . . . not that I'm counting!
