Organically Growing

The offical blog of HappyGreenBaby.com

Organic Baby Food Making Frenzy! February 8, 2010

Filed under: organic baby food — happygreenbaby @ 5:14 am

As I prepare to head out of town for a work trip, I spent quite a bit of time shopping, cooking and planning Ryder’s meals and snacks for the week (food = love, right?). In the past two days I have made:

  • Broccoli snacks (steamed florets)
  • Sweet potato snacks (steamed cubes)
  • Carrot snacks with ginger (steamed slices)
  • Potato cubes
  • Pancakes (made with whole wheat and ground flax – Ryder can’t get enough of them!)
  • Broccoli puree
  • Butternut squash puree
  • Millet
  • Lentils
  • Brown Rice
  • Soybean puree
  • Hardboiled eggs
  • Kale puree

Plus, I got a few of the HappyBabyFood organic baby food pouches to have in the cupboard, “in case of emergency.” There’s also a bag of frozen organic green beans that can be steamed up quickly and a can of organic kidney beans for finger foods. Not to mention the 244+ oz. of breast milk in the deep freeze.

I don’t think he’ll go hungry, anyway.

 

Interior Design vs. Baby Proofing February 5, 2010

Filed under: Baby Proofing — happygreenbaby @ 11:35 pm

We moved into our new house about 2 weeks ago and we are slowly starting to get things up on the walls, out of boxes and onto our shelves. Feeling particularly motivated one evening, Marc arranged several of his favorite framed photos with artifacts from the same region. For example, a photo from Thailand was sitting with this beautiful cork sculpture from Japan. 4 of the top bookshelves were expertly arranged and it looked amazing!

The next morning, in a frenzy to clean up catalogs and other work-miscellanea before leaving on a trip, Marc stacked a heavy pile of paper on the bottom shelf, which sent the whole thing off balance and a whole-lotta glass crashing down on the hardwood floor. Cork sculpture was trashed, but fortunately nothing (and no one) was harmed otherwise.

The biggest heartbreak was the realization that Ryder could have very easily been the weight that caused the shelf to tip and been right in the middle of all that broken glass. The thought of it makes me shivver! We were both feeling incredibly guilty for being such fools!

The good thing is that it was a reminder that we need to start thinking about baby proofing things – and not just how they look anymore. And no one had to lose an eye for us to learn our lesson!

 

The Biggest Loser? February 4, 2010

Filed under: Losing the Baby Weight — happygreenbaby @ 11:35 pm

I’m not bragging or anything – but it seems like every time I step on the scale, I’ve lost another pound. And I”m seriously doing nothing. In fact, the whole reason I even step on the scale every so often (ok, once a week) is because I’m sitting at my desk, feeling my muffin top creep over my waistband, looking at my jiggly thighs and feeling like a total pudge for not working out. So I get on the scale to remind myself that I need to work out.

But I end up not feeling so bad and heading down to the fridge to raid the hazelnut chocolate bar instead.

I’m feeling a little worried that once Ryder weans off the boob, my days of sweet indulgences will be gone. Either that, or I will have to start working out more. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. :)

 

Little Successes February 4, 2010

Filed under: Uncategorized — happygreenbaby @ 12:53 am

My goal for last night was to keep Ryder in his crib (and not bring him to sleep with me). Depsite a 45 minute crying fit at 11pm, we did it. And even better, he slept from 12:30 to 6am without another issue. I can’t believe how happy that made me!

I visited a free sleep consultant today and told her about the new issues. She suggested we spend time during the day (when he’s not tired and cranky), playing the crib and teaching him how to sit down. Brilliant! Sometimes I wonder how clueless I am to not even consider that option. She noted that he’s probably still not feeling 100% certain about the new room, plus layer on the new standing skill and we have a sleep issue.

She was concerned about the rocking to sleep – but because he once was able to fall asleep on his own, thought we wouldn’t have any trouble getting back to that place. She recommended putting him in the crib sleepy, in his favorite sleep position and keep a hand on his back until he falls asleep. After he masters that, I could move to the doorway, so he knows I’m still there and can fall asleep. Eventually, I should be able to leave the room more quickly and he wont’ have issues getting to sleep. This hitch is that we have to do it at naptime, too.

This will come in time. I know he can fall asleep on his own – we just need to remind him of it. But, he’s got a bit of a cold and right now I want to focus on getting him to sit down in the crib and stop this crazy nighttime freakouts.

She also confirmed by opinion that we have to stick with the plan and can’t be bringing him to bed one night and forcing him to stay in the crib the next. Consistency! Hopefully Marc can do it while I’m gone next week.

Baby steps.

 

Going Old School Tonight February 3, 2010

Filed under: Uncategorized — happygreenbaby @ 4:20 am

Long gone are the days when everyone told me to “sleep when he sleeps” and yet, it is so much more pertinent this week than it ever was when he was a newborn. With Ryder tucked in, milk pumped and peanut butter cookies devoured … I am turning in for the evening at 8:20pm.

Wish us a restful night!

 

Daddy to the Rescue February 2, 2010

Filed under: Sleeping — happygreenbaby @ 4:52 am

Twice tonight, Marc relieved me from a fitful Ryder and got him resting again.  My hero!!

On  related note – found some great articles on Dr. Greene’s website. I found  these particularly comforting, given our current situation:
http://www.drgreene.com/qa/change-sleep-patterns?tid=207
http://www.drgreene.com/qa/sleep-patterns?tid=207

Great advice for teaching baby to sit down in the crib and go back to sleep. I have no doubt I will be called on to try it out tonight.

 

Sleep-Deprived Realization February 1, 2010

Filed under: Sleeping, Uncategorized — happygreenbaby @ 11:02 pm

While I was rocking Ryder for an hour last night to get him to go back to sleep, I came to the realization that this new sleeping problem could be related to a few factors:

  1. Separation Anxiety? He seems to get super upset when he realizes no one (me) is there. Hard to recover from.
  2. Change in room layout. He slept really well in his new room for one week. Then we moved his crib to under the window and all hell broke loose that night. I am moving it back to other wall tonight.
  3. Teething. I don’t feel any new teeth, but he is slobbery and now has a runny nose.
  4. Motor development. Standing, crawling and climbing like a madman. Not to mention the pointing. Perhpas his brain is having a hard time unwinding at night.
 

My Patience Was Rewarded January 31, 2010

Filed under: Sleeping — happygreenbaby @ 10:48 pm

This week has been hell. Well, let me pinpoint it more specifically: The hours of 9:30pm to 7am have been hell.

Ryder has not been sleeping well. When he used to only cry once a night (around 10:30p, eat and go back to sleep) and then grunt himself back to sleep at various other points in the night – now he is waking up nearly every 3 hours in a crying fit. I mean, screaming at the top of his lungs, arching his back and tears streaming down his face type of crying. The poor babe is practically inconsolable. And if I try to let him “cry it out” – which I lasted about 5 minutes – he stands at the crib railing, wailing and staring at the door waiting for someone to rescue him.

This has been going on since last Sunday, but last night was particularly bad. My goal for last night was to keep him in his crib. (I’ve been breaking down and bringing him to bed, which isn’t much better but at least I could be horizontal while I was soothing him.) We were up at 3am for his 3rd fit of rage for the evening. I rocked and shushed, nursed and cuddled him until 5am. My back was aching and my poor monkey, though not crying the entire time, was also not staying asleep. He would be sound asleep in my arms but the second his feet his the mattress he would be screaming and standing at the end of the crib.

After two hours and a sore back, I brought him to bed with me. I laid him on my chest, rubbed his back and within a minute, he was sacked out on top of me … just like he used to do when he was a newborn. This is my favorite memory of his infant stage and I have to say, it was every bit as sweet and cozy last night as it ever was. I felt so lucky to get to cuddle with my not-so-little-anymore boy.

Then I promptly fell asleep myself.

 

Urgent Call for Human Milk Donations for Haiti Infants January 29, 2010

Filed under: Uncategorized — happygreenbaby @ 6:05 pm

 *January 25, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*
*Urgent Call for Human Milk Donations for Haiti Infants*

*Washington, DC*–The Human Milk Banking Association of North America
(HMBANA), United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC), International
Lactation Consultant Association/United States Lactation Consultant
Association (ILCA/USLCA), and La Leche League International (LLLI) are
jointly issuing an urgent call for human milk donations for premature
infants in Haiti, as well as sick and premature infants in the United
States.
*
*This week the first shipment of human milk from mothers in the United
States will be shipped to the U.S. Navy ship *Comfort* stationed outside
Haiti. *Comfort* is currently set up with a neonatal intensive care unit and
medical personnel to provide urgent care to victims of the earthquake. An
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant stationed at the U.S.
Navy base in Bethesda, MD is assisting with providing breast pump equipment
and supplies to *Comfort*. Dr. Erika Beard-Irvine, pediatric neonatologist,
is on board to coordinate distribution of the milk to infants in need.
HMBANA, USBC, ILCA/USLCA, and LLLI are responding to requests to provide
milk for both premature infants and at-risk mothers who have recently
delivered babies on board the USNS *Comfort*, but an urgent need exists for
additional donations.

At the current time, the infrastructure to deliver human milk to Haiti
infants on land has not yet been established. As soon as that infrastructure
is in place, additional donations will be provided to older infants.

Mothers who are willing to donate human milk should contact their regional
Mothers’ Milk Bank of HMBANA. A list of regional milk banks is available on
the HMBANA Web site at
(www.hmbana.org/index/locations<http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=5%2FYhz2KVuQDBmUwmjxSxmeMhRTeqI2Qi>).

Currently milk banks are already low on donor milk. New milk donations will
be used for Haiti victims as well as to replenish donor supplies to continue
to serve sick and premature infants in the United States. Donor milk
provides unique protection for fragile preterm infants. Financial donations
are also strongly encouraged to allow HMBANA, a nonprofit organization, to
continue serving infants in need.

UNICEF, the World Health Organization, the Emergency Nutrition Network, and
medical professionals all recommend that breastfeeding and human milk be
used for infants in disasters or emergencies. Human milk is life-saving due
to its disease prevention properties. It is safe, clean, and does not depend
on water which is often unavailable or contaminated in an emergency. Relief
workers, health care providers, and other volunteers are urged to provide
support for breastfeeding mothers to enable them to continue breastfeeding,
and to assist pregnant and postpartum women in initiating and sustaining
breastfeeding.

For more information, contact HMBANA at 408-998-4550
(www.hmbana.org)<http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=JctiaHWuArP5da1B%2FAAjo%2BMhRTeqI2Qi>.
Additional information can be provided from the United States Breastfeeding
Committee at 202-367-1132
(www.usbreastfeeding.org<http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=3PYv0vFD8×2sRc309qdvCuMhRTeqI2Qi>),
ILCA/USLCA at 800-452-2478
(www.ilca.org<http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=7bE2ee%2FPELwKG55KBr2%2FHuMhRTeqI2Qi>or
www.uslca.org<http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=1PDtNmQTQNyPqkmjQNvIUOMhRTeqI2Qi>),
or La Leche League at 847-519-7730
(www.llli.org<http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=wn7aipTqrcyDTDpNL2WWfeMhRTeqI2Qi>
).

*The USBC is an organization of organizations. Opinions expressed by USBC
are not necessarily the position of all member organizations and opinions
expressed by USBC member organization representatives are not necessarily
the position of USBC. *

*United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC)*
The United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC) is an independent nonprofit
coalition of 41 nationally influential professional, educational, and
governmental organizations. Representing over half a million concerned
professionals and the families they serve, USBC and its member organizations
share a common mission to improve the Nation’s health by working
collaboratively to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding. For more
information about USBC, visit
www.usbreastfeeding.org<http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=80dMf86V2LBWpPTNjKb87%2BMhRTeqI2Qi>
..

###
——————————

*United States Breastfeeding Committee*
2025 M Street, NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202/367-1132
Fax: 202/367-2132
E-mail: office@usbreastfeeding.org

 

Finally! Some Sound Sleep Advice January 27, 2010

Filed under: Uncategorized — happygreenbaby @ 5:46 am

I like this article:

http://www.parenting.com/article/Baby/Care/Get-that-Baby-to-Bed-0/1

Exactly what I posted recently about doing what’s right for you, tonight. This stage doesn’t last forever, and I have a hard time believing that I’m doing major damage to my son’s personal coping skills by cuddling him back to sleep when he wakes up in a fright during the night.