Victoria’s Secret model Adriana Lima has given birth to a baby girl, her first with NBA star Marco Jaric of the Memphis Grizzlies. They have christened their daughter with the name Valentina Lima Jaric. A representative for the couple has announced that “Mother, father and baby are all doing well.”

Valentina is a popular Latin America name which means ‘healthy and strong’. Mexican actress Salma Hayek also chose the name for her daughter two years ago.

So will Mom walk down a Victoria’s Secret catwalk weeks after giving birth like VS alum Heidi Klum? And will Valentina choose to walk down a runway or down the courts of the WBNA when she grows older? Only time will tell.

Adriana 28, and husband Marco, 31, met in 2006, got engaged two years later, married back in February and announced the pregnancy soon after the honeymoon.

“We are so excited!” she announced back in May. “We wanted this. We were ready.”

Congratulations to the couple!

Source: Celebrity Babies

Tiffani Thiessen (she dropped the Amber a long time ago Saved by the Bell fans) is expecting her first baby in May along with husband of 4 years, actor Brady Smith.

In a statement released by the couple, they share:

“We are over the moon! It’s something we’ve wanted for a long time and we are thrilled that it’s actually happening.”

Will Tiffani’s pregnancy be written into her new role as the wife of an FBI agent in USA Network’s White Collar? Only time will tell, although she recently stated in interviews that her and husband’s plans of pregnancy had been delayed by her work on the show and that “I don’t want to spring a pregnancy on a brand new show that I just got on.” She went on to add: “We’re going to wait and try to figure out when the best time is.” Well, USA Network, that time is now.

Tiffani, beside her long-running role in Saved by the Bell also had a role on the original 90210.

According to a recent study by the University of Glasgow in Scotland, the more children a couple have, the happier they are.  The catch?  This only holds true for married couples.  The same children and happiness correlation didn’t apply to single, co-habiting or separated parents. The study took into account not only marital status but gender, income, age, and education.

So what seemed to explain this difference?  Dr. Luis Angeles, who headed the program had this to say:

“One is tempted to advance that children make people better off under the ‘right conditions’ — a time in life when people feel that they are ready, or at least willing, to enter parenthood…likely signal…may well be the act of marriage.”

That’s Not What I’ve Heard

This is the first study that challenges previous ones which concluded that having more children makes parents less happy, not more. However, the key with the distinction may well be the marital status of the parents.  In other words, marriage is the signal that one is ready for commitment, not just to marriage, but to family life in general.

Other interesting findings is that the happiness correlation was markedly stronger with Moms. The parents also expressed that children were one of the most important thing in their lives.

So if you and your spouse want to improve your life satisfaction? Have kids, and don’t stop at one, or even two.

Huh. Color me ignorant. I had no idea that Halloween was considered the most dangerous holiday for kids. Thinking about it some more, it makes sense. Trick-or-treating in the dark, the pointy costume props, the costumes themselves which are easy to trip on, the possibility of injury is staggering. Children have a higher chance of getting hit by a car on Halloween than any other night of the year. The number of injuries caused by plastic swords, pitchforks, and other Halloween props increases ER visits on Halloween more than any other night.

I guess my child’s tame roaming at the local mall for her first Halloween years has kept me in a bubble. She’s two so that was ok, but as she gets older I know she’ll want to do the street trick-or-treating with friends.

Keeping Our Children Safe on Halloween

• Supervision. It shouldn’t matter whether they’re 1 yr. old or 11 yrs. old. We as parents, should be around to supervise them especially if they are trick-or-treating in the streets. If your preteen argues that it’s uncool, just cite the statistics and explain you’re doing your job as parents in keeping them safe. In other words, you don’t care if it’s “uncool”!

• Preventative Measures. Discuss safety tips with your kids before you go out. Impress upon them the importance of being aware of their surroundings. It’s never too much to repeat the adage of stop, look, and listen to them.

• Avoid Poorly Lit Streets. There’s nothing more risky than trying to cross a dark street with several kids in tow. Stick to familiar and well-lit streets. You and your kids will be familiar with your surroundings, and you’re able to see them better – and see better overall- as well.

• Choose Appropriate Costumes. Rethink bulky costumes they can trip over easily. Have them try their costume on at home and see how they handle it. The trial run allows you to modify any sources of possible injury. You can tell them they can use a prop at home for pictures but that you will carry it for them when they’re out trick-or-treating. This gives them the proper range of motion without having to worry about them poking themselves or someone else. Click here for tips on picking out age appropriate Halloween costumes for you baby or toddler.

• Indoor Venues. A church, an indoor mall, even schools sometimes put together Halloween events for kids. This is a nice alternative that offers candy, games, and other prizes, without having to be out in the element, and on the streets.

• Ration the Halloween Candy. It’s definitely prudent to have your kids bring all their candy at home where you can inspect their loot to make sure its safe. Aside from safety, you can ration their candy too so they don’t get themselves a tummy ache. I usually let my child choose their favorite candy from their loot, then take the rest to work/school in a candy jar at a prominent place. That way, we don’t give their dentist any more work than they have too and I don’t end up getting tempted as well.

If you are vigilant, and safe, Halloween can remain the happy memory it’s supposed to be for years to come.

Former Victoria’s Secret model and Project Runway host, Heidi Klum gave birth to her fourth child on October 9th.  Proud musician father Seal, and Mom couldn’t help but release a touching tribute regarding the birth.

“It’s difficult to imagine loving another child as much as you love your existing children,” Seal writes. “Anyone who has a family will tell you this. Where will one find that extra love? If you love your existing children with all of your heart, how then can one possibly find more heart with which to love another?

On Friday, Oct. 9, 2009, at 7:46 p.m., the answer to this question came in the form of our fourth child and second daughter,” he continues. “Lou Sulola Samuel was born, and from the moment she looked into both of our eyes, it was endless love at first sight. She is beautiful beyond words and we are happy that she chose us to watch her grow over the coming years.”

Quick check on Google didn’t return any hits for possible meaning or origin of  the unique moniker “Sulola” but I myself like it.  What do you think of the  name?

Lou Sulola joins older siblings Leni, 5, Henry, 4, and Johan, 2 1/2.  We hope to get a glimpse of this cutie soon!

I have a 2 yr. old, and before she started walking, I used to carry her all over the house, up and down the stairs. I remember having her with me while I attended to my chores like vacuuming . It definitely felt like a workout to me, and despite putting a stop to my regular gym visits, my muscle definition didn’t suffer during that time (we won’t speak about the rest of my body ). Well, a study done by Dr. Kelli O’Neill says to not count on the workout of chasing your kids to help you lose weight or get in shape. Most moms, the study found, overestimate how many calories they actually burn playing with their kids if they don’t put in an actual formal workout.

The study isn’t exhaustive by any means, with only 58 moms with kids under 6 were included in the study. Of those 58, only a third of the moms ended up receiving the recommended 30 mins a day of physical exertion, though most actually exerted one hour’s worth of activity. The level of activity was monitored by an electronic device they wore for a week. Afterward, the moms also filled out a questionnaire.

Of the moms who were getting the recommended 30 min. daily moderate/intense workout, some were actually making time for working out in the form of sports and other formal exercise. Many moms were surprised that they were way off in their estimate, especially after considering how tired they felt at the end of the day.

Guideline for Physical Activity

The federal recommendation for adults is 2 hrs. and 30 mins. of moderate aerobic activity a week with at least 1/2 of that time spent performing intense aerobic activity. To break it down, you need at least 30 mins of moderate-intense activity, or 15 mins of intense activity 5 times a week.

How Does a Mom Find Time to Workout?

• You can go to the usual gym, and leave your kids in the kids’ station, but I know many moms will find all that driving to be a chore. There are also moms who don’t find leaving their kids with strangers appealing, and still many gyms who don’t offer childcare.

• Next option is to work out at home, but one’s house often has so many distractions in the form of the couch, your kids, even your husband and it’s easy to end up in front of the TV watching your favorite show other than that fitness DVD.

• Consider stroller stride. There are formal stroller stride classes out there, but you can easily set one up with your neighbor, friend, members of your Moms Group.
  • The basics: you work out pushing your baby with other moms or even dads, and all you need is a pair of walking/running shoes and the one piece of equipment you probably already have: your baby’s stroller.

  Some mothers opt to buy a special jogging stroller if you’re planning to go on terrain other than the sidewalk. But if you’re planning to simply walk and not run, a regular, well-built stroller should be fine.

• Get a bike trailer and attach it to your bike. Take a ride around the neighborhood with the added resistance of your kids’ weight.

• Go to workouts that encourage and welcome baby involvement. There’s a Yoga Mama teacher in my own Moms Group, which welcomes babies. Just Google your neighborhood and see what comes up.

Be creative, be persistent. If you can’t do any of the above, make the time with your baby count! One of my favorite ways of getting a workout in was to put together a playlist on YouTube of my favorite songs and music videos and dance in the computer room with my daughter. It instilled a love of music and dancing in her, and it sure worked up a sweat for me.

Sarah Michelle Gellar & Freddi Prince jr.

I was thrilled to find out months ago that Sarah Michelle Prinze, the actress from my favorite TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and husband Freddie Prinze, Jr.24, were expecting after six years of marriage.  I was even more thrilled to find out that Sarah and Freddie welcomed baby girl Charlotte Grace Prinze last Sunday, Sept. 19th.

No quirky names for this little girl; the Prinzes must be fond of classic names.  The couple’s rep has announced that the Prinzes are “over the moon” about their daughter.  I wonder if we’ll see any playdates between who’s set to join the cast of Charlotte, Satyana (Alyson Hannigan’s daughter) or even David Boreanaz’s daughter Bardot Vida in the future?

Ellen Pompeo & Chris Ivery

As for Grey’s Anatomy star, Ellen Pompeo, and music producer husband Chris Ivery, they welcomed their own baby girl on Tuesday, Sept. 15th in Los Angeles.  The couple kept the birth under wraps and no official announcement was made until yesterday.  The baby’s name? Also on the side of “normal”: Stella Luna Pompeo Ivery.  Stella will have plenty of playmates if mom brings her to work on set: Katherine Heigl’s Naleigh, and Chyler Leighs’ Anniston Kae.

Julie Chen &Les Moonves

Breaking the baby girl trend, TV show host Julie Chen and CBS’ CEO Les Moonves, welcomed son Charlie at 9:40 a.m. in Los Angeles on Thurs, September 24th.  Charlie (another classic name!), was due on October 4th.  He is a little premature by a few weeks, but at this stage of development, his is considered a safe birth.  Charlie joins half-siblings Adam, Michael and Sara, Moonves’ children from a previous marriage.

Congratulations to the new parents!

Source: People.com and Celebrity-babies.com

With families so busy these days it’s sometimes hard to make time for your health by exercising. How can you justify an hour at the gym away from your family when you haven’t seen them all day and dinner’s still up in the air? With parents working harder than ever, homework piling up for kids, extracurricular activities plus the hours it takes to commute to and from those activities, it’s easy to let things slip through the cracks: Take-outs most days of the week, eating in front of the TV soon becomes the norm.

But in today’s stressful, high-tech world, it’s even more crucial to stay healthy and personally connect with your kids, and with your spouse. Your body is your only body, and if your health is neglected and falls by the wayside, everything can go by the wayside too. Your family is your only family, and the same rule applies.

How to keep your family healthy?

• Eat often and eat healthy. Pick healthy foods, and don’t skip meals. You and your kids have a lot on your day’s schedule and you need the fuel to get through it. Chips and soda isn’t going to help you stay alert and healthy. Experts say to eat every 2 hrs. That means a breakfast, lunch, dinner and two snacks in between meals.Time constrained? Pre-prepare meals before-hand if needed, and pre-package snacks in snack baggies that can be grabbed to go from the pantry . Make your own trailmix filled with nutritious foods like nuts, whole-wheat pretzels, raisins. Resist the temptation for frozen or pre-packackaged foods or snacks as they do not pack the same nutritional punch as home-made munchies, and often contain unhealthy ingredients like partially hydrogenated oils and high-fructose corn syrup.

• Exercise at least 20 minutes a day. An hour is just unmanageable for a lot of families, but just 20 minutes of exercise a day is better than nothing . What’s more, if the activity is something that you enjoy, you end up doing it for longer than 20 minutes.What can you do as a family? Chase the kids in the backyard for at least 20 minutes. Walk the dog together. Take a bike ride around the neighborhood. I know a lot of parents who’ve purchased the bike trailer to attach to their bikes.

• Eat dinner together at least five nights a week. First thing you should do is make sure the the TV is off. It IS possible to eat dinner together. Studies show that families who eat dinner together on most nights have healthier kids who choose more fruits and vegetables even when not at home. It also provides time and opportunity to catch up on everyone’s lives, and it becomes the perfect time to open up lines of communication.What if dinner together is just impossible to make happen? Turn breakfast into your family meal. Make sure you wake up early enough that it isn’t a harried affair.

• Have fun as a family. Take the time to do something silly and fun with the kids. Game night, playing music, dancing, throw water balloons in the backyard, even watching a favorite show together as a family can be a destressing event for each member of the family. All the activities listed are at-home activities because you’re not taking up more valuable time driving somewhere, and they usually end up being cheaper!

• Get plenty of sleep. Sleep should be a calming time, and you need it for your body to recover from the day. Lack of sleep carries the same symptoms as being under the influence. Your groggy, your reflexes aren’t as fast, and you can fall asleep at the wheel while driving. Your kids won’t be able to concentrate as well in school if they’re too sleepy to pay attention. Get your family into a routine that includes lights out at a time that gives you all plenty of time to sleep.

• Don’t forget date night. A strong, happy couple is the backbone of any happy family so you shouldn’t forget about each other. Sure you can hire a baby-sitter to get away from the kids once in a while, but any moment you take time to connect as a couple is better than nothing. This can mean having a later bed-time than the kids and popping open a bottle of wine, plopping in front of the TV and watching an R-rated movie together. Better yet, forget the TV and have a conversation. One caveat: kid topics not allowed. Talk about your day, reminisce, make plans for the future, anything as long as it’s not diapers, and toilet training. You’ll feel a lot closer doing so.

Six tips. How do you incorporate them into your day? Start one at a time. Announce it to the family and get everyone excited and on board. They all involve almost no work or minimal alterations at worst, and the payoff can be huge. Start this week and see if you can’t incorporate all six into your family routine by the end of the month. Please report back and tell us how your family feels after adopting these habits!

Source: Families.com

Here’s something that single parents everywhere may rejoice over: In a recent study done by an Ohio State University professor, they found no difference in school performance between children of single parents and those of two-parent homes.  (Provided that the children come from stable homes.)

Providing a Stable Home is Key

The study gathers data from 5,000 families across three decades.  Their findings suggest that stability in family life seems to have more correlation with children’s low stress levels, performance in school, and in low incidence of behavioral issues.  A two-parent household that was mostly dysfunctional proved just as disruptive to a child’s well-being as divorce.

The Downside

Marriage or remarriage of said single parent can be just as disruptive.  This was stated in a University press release: “Based on this study, we can’t say for sure that marriage will be a good thing for the children of single mothers [or fathers], particularly if the marriage is unhealthy and does not last“.

The Exception

The only exception in the study was found among black children, where children from two-parent homes consistently scored better in math and reading tests.

Despite the caveats, I think it’s safe to say that stability — in routine, in caregivers – as well as a loving and enriching environment is still the best way to ensure that children are happy, productive and successful in school.  And most improtantly, in life.

For the record, I am a military wife and my husband is set to deploy to Iraq in two months. He leaves today actually, for some additional training and briefing.  We have a two-year old daughter.

A recent study reveals that children of  U.S. Veterans who have been deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq are showing elevated signs of anxiety and many other emotional difficulties.   The study, based on a questionnaire and published in the Journal of Developmental and Behaviroal Pediatrics, followed 116 spouses and children of deployed Army personnel.  The results of the questionnaire found higher incidences of anxiety, of being worried and crying at a higher rate in military children; about twice the U.S. norm.

The results also found high-levels of stress in the spouses –mostly mothers– left behind.  Could this be playing the major role in their kids’ anxiety issues?  The researchers seem to think so.  They found that spouses who reported having access to support groups reported less stress for themselves and their children.

What Support is Available for the Military Spouse?

I’m glad to say that the study results ends on a high note by giving families insight on how they can ease the separation.  Aside from seeking support from church groups, family members and friends, the military has created a site, MilitaryOneSource.com that offers a plethora of help and resources for military families.  They offer, among other things:

• Support on the phone available 24/7
• Medical counseling
• Learning materials in the form of webinars, CDs, web links
• Discussion boards where families can log in and ask questions, state concerns towards others who have been through, or are going through, the same experience.

That’s just one of many.  Through the site, I found information on summer programs for children, financial help such as getting discounts for daycare, etc.  The information here is invaluable to military families.  If you’re a military spouse, or if you know someone who is, spread the news about the Military One Source site, as many military families still do not know of existence.

My daughter started preschool a few weeks ago.  Yes Moms and Dads, the years do fly by that quickly.  The first day, my 2 year-old didn’t even bat an eyelash as we left her playing with the myriad of toys that her teacher laid out.   We breathed a sigh of relief but her teacher cautioned us that kids her age usually start being tearful on the second day, once she’s learned that she will be left there by her parents.  And it was true.  M. spent her next few classes crying “on and off” according to her teachers. We took this to mean she cried all day (well, 1/2 day, as shes’ only there for 3 hours). Here is what we would do differently and what are we doing now.

Easing the Transition to Preschool

• Visit the classroom before your child begins. This allows your child to meet other children, and feel familiar with the surroundings without the stress of leaving them.  Make several visits.  Point out their teacher and have them learn their teacher’s names.  Introduce them to at least one other child they look to be compatible with. This can greatly reduce the separation anxiety many children feel on the first day of school. I only made one pre-visit  and I wished I had made more.  Of course, make sure that the visits are okay with the teacher first.

• Make school an upbeat topic. Don’t add to your child’s stress by falling apart thinking how much you’ll miss her and join her in her tears.  Point out all the things she’ll be learning.  I keep telling my daughter that school will help her grow smarter.  I also point out all the friends she’ll make.  For now, she tells me that “I don’t want to play with the kids!”…but I’ve  been assured that her attitude will change.

• Say good-bye and tell him you’ll be back. Don’t sneak away as this can really traumatize your child.  When you promise you’ll be back and you do come back, he will gradually learn that it’s okay to be left there, and okay to have fun, because Mommy and Daddy will return.

• Don’t sneak back in. You’ll then have to start all over again with the tears, the good-byes, etc.  Let them finish the day and only come back if the school asks you to return.

• Let them have their comfort object at school. This particularly stressful time is not the time to try to wean them from their security items – a paci, a patch of their blankie, or a favorite doll.  Unless the school has a  policy of no bringing toys from home, let her have something comfortable to hold on to at school.  My daughter keeps her Boo doll from Monsters, Inc.

Most important of all, stay the course.

It’s hard to send your child off when they’re not so willing to go to school, but remember all the reasons you sent them there in the first place.  Ideally, you’re sending them to a school with a good reputation, and you’ve done your homework in that regard.  Now it’s time to recall why preschool is good for them.  For my daughter, she is an only child, with no cousins nearby, and I wanted to make sure she is well-socialized.  We already went to gym class and dance class together, but I felt she needed more exposure to other children.  The extra hours in the two 1/2 days she goes also affords me time to work out, and pursue other non-toddler related interests.  Hopefully, in a few weeks, I can report a child who’s eager to go to school.

After a brush with preterm labor last month, Dustin Pedroia’s wife, Kelli, delivered a healthy baby boy on Tuesday, August 18th.  This is the first child for the couple.  The boy, whom they christened Dylan weighed in at 7 lbs.

Dustin Pedroia is the second baseman for the Boston Red Sox.  There were concerns he wouldn’t be able to make it to the birth but he made it just in the nick of time with a last-minute flight back from Toronto to be at his wife’s side.

His teammates have all been supportive.  Says Kevin Youkilis:

“I think it’s great for him after everything she’s been through [referring to her brush with preterm labor], Dustin’s been through mentally. It’s going to be a great thing for Dustin.”

Manager Terry Francona has put no pressure on the new Dad’s return, saying: “I told him his first responsibility is Kelli and that child.” Wish all bosses would show the same support, eh?

Congratulations to the new parents!

Celebrity: Molly Ringwald

First up is former teen queen Molly Ringwald.  The star of The Secret Life of the American Teenager, along with husband Panio Gianopolous welcomed fraternal twins Adele Georgiana and Roman Stylianos last July 10th.   Both entered the world through natural delivery, and joins 5 1/2 yr. older sis Mathilda Ereni.

Celebrity: Karolina Kurkova

Expecting her first child, former Victoria’s Secret model Karolina Kurkova has finally officially announced her pregnancy.  Dad-to-be is fiance Archie Drury, associated with the documentary Voices of Iraq, have been together for a little over a year and Karolina is six months along, making this baby an October arrival.  Karolina’s latest project is the film G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra, in which she plays Courtney A. Kreiger.

Celebrity: Joey McIntyre

And expecting their second addition to the family, Joey McIntyre, formerly of the New Kids on the Block, announced that wife Barrett is due in December.  A Christmas gift for sure.  The baby, another boy, will join big brother Griffin Thomas of 20 mos.

While my daughter was in daycare for almost the first 8 mos of her life, she developed three ear infections for a 3-month stretch there; one for each month.  Needless to say, I was very unhappy about it.  Ear infections aren’t that uncommon in children though, so I’m glad that they’re actually trying to develop an ear vaccine for children.

The vaccine has been tested on, of all things, chinchillas, and can be administered via droplets rubbed on the skin.  Can you imagine, no needles!  (But why chinchillas?).

The chinchillas received the treatment once a week for three weeks.  A control group received a placebo.  The chinchillas that were vaccinated were then introduced to haemophilus influenzae (NTHi), one of the three main bacterial causes of otitis media, an infection/inflammation of the middle ear.  The result: rapid reduction or complete elimination of the NTHi.

It sounds promising, and I hope that we see this vaccine soon.  In the scheme of things, ear infections aren’t that serious, but many babies get ear infections at a frequent enough rate that a vaccine to prevent such an infection would certainly be welcome.

Keep an eye out on your kids while they play this Memorial weekend!  The following are the TOP 10 things kids stick up their noses:

1. Crayons
2. Beads
3. French Fries
4. Fingers (duh!)
5. Marbles
6. Spaghetti
7. Tissue
8. Cheerios
9. Small Toys
10. Beans and Peas

Some kids never develop the habit of sticking things (other than their fingers) up their noses.  Some kids, unfortunately, do.  The best approach is to stay calm and give reasonable explanations as to why it’s a bad habit, in terms that’s easy for them to understand.

Simple phrases help: “Noses are for breathing not stuffing.”  “Cheerios are for eating”. “If you can’t keep it away from your nose, it’ll be taken away”.

Here’s to hoping you won’t have to use any of them this weekend!

I’m currently getting a second degree in the field of nursing, a complete 180 from my software/IT background.  One of the classes I’m currently taking is Physiology and it’s from this class that I’ve learned so much.  Most of the interesting knowledge are tidbits that my highly eccentric and lively professor adds as an aside to the course topic.  One of the most interesting to me is the subject of how allergies to food come about.

See, pediatricians and even baby books often give an action and a consequence of that action.  Like, “if you feed your child solid foods before 6 mos. your child will be more likely to develop food allergies.”  The parents are supposed to just take that advice at face value.  A lot of parents don’t put much stock in what doctors have to say, and think that they know best.  Or that since their parents fed them solid foods at 3 mos., and they’re fine, the doctor’s advice is full of baloney.  Or they may think giving solids or eggs or strawberries to their 3 mos. old “this one time” shouldn’t hurt.  I think giving a very simple and valid reason for the advice behind delaying solids to avoid allergies can be an effective tactic in getting parents to listen.

It all starts with antibodies

So what is the mechanism to developing an allergy?  Think back to your high school biology class, when you learned that bacteria has antigens on them, telling our bodies that they are foreign to us and need to be killed.  We form antibodies designed to kill them, engulf them, and get rid of them.  Usually, this is accompanied by symptoms such as fever, inflammation at the site of infection, and many more. Seasonal allergies develop similarly, and when our bodies attack the antigens that are present on the invading molecule, we get anything from hives, to runny nose, wheezing, etc.

So how does foods, which theoretically goes down our digestive tract to our stomach, and should get nuked (so to speak) by our highly acidic gastric juices, produce this same response of triggering antibodies and allergic reactions?  In adults, it shouldn’t.  By then, our bodies have matured.  Our cells are all grown up, and we can take in almost any type of food we like, without this allergic trigger.  That is not the case for babies.  Babies digestive system are still immature.  At six months and younger, the body still expects them to be breastfeeding, and antibodies in mom’s breast milk cross what’s called the tight junctions of their cells to get into the baby’s blood stream for immunity.  To simplify, proteins from foods (even wheat!, causing gluten allergy) can cross this unbound tight junctions as well.  Since they are considered foreign, they trigger the formation of antibodies.  The antibodies lie and wait, with the memory of the allergen.  The next time they are encountered, the body treats them as something to be fought, and an allergy has just been born.  This is why even a one time exposure to a certain food can cause allergies for a lifetime.

The part genes play

Genes can certainly play a part in allergies.  But the most important messsage that pediatricians often try to drive home without explanation is, the longer you delay the introduction of food, the less likely your child will develop allergies.  We’ve already disccused one reason why: proteins from food cross into the blood stream to be treated as foreign invaders by our body. If your family is susceptible to food allergies, it’s wise to hold off on introducing solid foods period, and not just delaying the food allergy that runs in the family.  People from families with a strong case of asthma, eczema, hay fever, can also predispose a child to food allergies.  In people with these type of predisposition, they may have overly sensitive immune system that triggers the formation of antibodies against what most people would tolerate well.

Still, there’s hope that they can be overcome, by delaying the introduction of food and waiting for the baby’s digestive system to mature.

Interesting tidbits: the top 8 allergy-causing foods:

Milk, eggs, fish, wheat, tree nuts, peanuts, soybeans and crustaceans like shrimp and crabs, are the most common food allergens.  Proteins in these eight major foods are estimated to cause 90 percent of the allergic reactions in the United States.

I’d love to have the above explanation explained routinely by pediatricians to moms.  I was never told, and I didn’t come across this information while reading my baby books.  I’m the type that loves having a logical explanation for anything I’m being asked to do and a lot of moms would only certainly benefit from such information.

Source: http://www.fda.gov/FDAC/features/2001/401_food.html and my Physiology textbooks and professor .:)

(Note: The author of this article is not a medical expert.  Please consult your doctor when making important decisions regarding your health or the health of your family.)

“I sometimes leave their diapers on a little bit longer than I should so I don’t have to buy them as often.”

“Sometimes when I see my kids dumping their sippy cups on the carpet I just let them do it because the carpet already looks like h**l so what’s the difference.”

“I feel guilty for putting my baby in her swing so I can get some things around the house done.”

The above are just some of the anonymous comments left on Truu Confessions – Mom’s Category. The confessions ran the gamut, from mild, and understandable, to angry and disturbing. They’re the musings of Moms across the country, across the world. The anonymity afforded by the site prompts revelations without the fear of a backlash except in the form of a comments section, which can fortunately be disabled.

I have to admit I’m secretly addicted to viewing the confessions here. And judging by the number of commenters, and by the increase of categories, it seems there are many people who feel the same draw.  Truu Confessions founders have really found an avenue that hadn’t been explored before: that of an outlet for relief for all the frustrated Moms out there who wish to vent without judgment.

I’ve been a mom for only twenty months, and I’ve seen how much judgment are reserved by Moms towards other Moms who may do things a little differently. Heck, I’ll admit I have my own moments where I feel superior to other Moms. Sad isn’t it? We’re always bemoaning the competitive nature of men and boys, but we women have our own brand of it, extended ten-fold through our offspring. While it would be nice if Mothers, and everyone really, would extend nothing but a patient ear, helping hands, and a big hug when needed, we’re not fully there yet. There is still that inevitable silent horror when we see that a Mom is actually dressing a little too sexy at a playgroup, that the snacks served for a play-date aren’t organic, that her little boy is still sipping from a bottle at two years old! Fill in your own ideas of what makes a good/bad parent.

So until we get to the point where we can live and let live (with reasonable exceptions of course), we all need a place to let our dirty little secrets out: anonymous online journals, forums, and sites like Truu Confessions.

Baby Bump

Most baby books and doctors recommend that baby #2 come after baby #1 is at least two years old.  Jason Priestley 39,  and wife Naomi Lowde, makeup artist, are ignoring this rule however!  Firstborn Ava Veronica, 21 months, now has a sibling to look forward to.  The couple confirmed the news with usmagazine.com through their rep though they haven’t announced a due date.  I haven’t seen any pictures of Ava with big smiles yet, and I hope that she and future baby brother/sister inherit their parents gorgeous dimples!

Baby Birth

Josh Holloway, 39,who plays the handsome and wild Sawyer on ABC’s Lost, is now a first-time father!  Wife of 5 years, Yessica Kumala gave birth to the couple’s first child in beautiful Oahu,  on Apr. 9.  They have named the baby girl Java Kumala Holloway.  Although the couple has not confirmed it, I wonder whether their daughter’s name is an homage to wife Yessica’s Indonesian background (though she is a native of Jakarta, not Java)?  In any case, it is a unique name.

Congrats to both sets of parents!

Source: Celebrity Babies

I absolutely whooped when I saw the news because I am (am, not was) an unabashed Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan. I was thrilled when she married the handsome Prinze-charming (pun intended).  And now after six years of marriage , they are finally expecting.  Freddie Prinze Jr., 32 and Sarah Michelle Gellar, 31 are due some time in the fall.  Though the news comes from a credible source, no direct announcement has yet come from the very private couple.  I wonder if a play-date will be set up with Satyana Denisof , Buffy alum Alyson Hannigan and Alexis Denisof’s child? Or with ex Angel aka David Boreanza’s child due this September.

Congratulations to my favorite vampire slayer and husband!

I was amazed when I read this article outlining steps to make C-sections a little less clinical, and less impersonal especially for Moms. There’s never been anything like it before, and I for one agree that it is revolutionary. The idea was born in Queen Charlotte’s Hospital in London, the brainchild of Professor Nicholas Frisk. In the United Kingdom as well here in the United States, the rate of C-sections have risen due to many factors. A lot of C-sections are planned, a lot are avoidable, and many are emergencies. Regardless the reason or circumstances, Professor Frisk argues that C-sections could do with a lot of change:

“It struck me that all the effort was going into changing normal childbirth but that Cesarean section was still steeped in old surgical rituals,” says Fisk. “In some cases I was horrified; the baby would be dragged out like a tumor and passed to several medical staff before the mother. It was ripe for reform.”

The steps involve increasing parental involvement, revisiting physiological factors, and immediate skin-to-skin contact for the baby and Mom.

I know that in my case, and as per usual standard operating procedure, a drape blocks a Mom’s vision from the surgery that is happening on her abdomen. This is supposed to protect us from all the gore of the operation. Queen Charlotte’s Hospital does away with this drape at the point when baby’s head is emerging. They reason that the Mom’s focus would be too much on the baby and its safe arrival to be much bothered by anything else.

The article describes a “half-delivered” method (which I can’t quite picture still). The baby is allowed to wriggle out and expel the fluids from its lungs by themselves, simulating a vaginal delivery. This emphasizes a slow delivery, and baby starts breathing on its own before cutting off the placenta. Baby is immediately handed to Mom. This is made possible by monitor equipment being plugged to the back instead of the front. I remember when my daughter was born, Dad, who wore a surgical scrub over his outfit, was the first to hold her. She was held up to me, but I didn’t get to hold her until a good twenty minutes later. I would have appreciated holding her much sooner. In fact, all the other changes sound sensible.

This procedure is not applicable for preemie babies with immature lungs, those in the breech position, or in other dangerous situations.

The only concerns that come to mind would be the removal of the drape. I don’t know if I’d be too keen on wanting to see my abdomen cut open, and I hope they emphasize the Mom’s ability to choose. Overall, I hope that more moms and doctors become aware of this method and that it comes to the stateside soon, if it hasn’t already. Studies on long-term effects to gauge any measurable differences between the old-fashioned C-section and this new method are still on its initial stages. Having had a C-section baby though, I know its very possible for me to have another one for the second, though I wish for a Vaginal Birth After C-section (VBAC). It makes me feel a little better that there’s an alternative with some improvements.