Pregnancy Weight Gain - The Mystery Solved
November 30, 2006
It is important that you remember that weight gain is a normal and healthy part of pregnancy. You have to gain weight in order to provide a healthy and comfortable home for the child that you will be nurturing for the next nine months.
Most women want to know what the ideal weight is during pregnancy. Honestly, there is no one answer. Weight gain will vary from woman to woman. There is no one ‘ideal’ weight during pregnancy, just like there is no one ‘ideal’ weight that is just right for al women.
That said there are certain guidelines that you can follow to ensure that the weight you gain during pregnancy is healthy.
Most physicians will recommend the following weight gain:
If you are normal weight before getting pregnant you should expect to gain between 25 and 35 pounds throughout your pregnancy.
If you are underweight prior to pregnancy you will need to gain more weight, typically between 28 and 40 pounds during your pregnancy. Your healthcare provider will be able to provide you with more specific guidelines.
If you are overweight when you become pregnant you will only need to gain between 15 and 25 pounds during your pregnancy.
Car Loans for Students
November 30, 2006
Car Loans for Students
by: Jacob Andrews
Are you sick of public transportation? Perhaps you are tired of having to walk to class in wet, cold weather? Maybe you need a car to get to and from a new job that you just started. If you are a student seeking an easier means of getting around, there is answer! You can apply for a student car loan, even if you have no credit or bad credit!
Student car loans have two major advantages!
1) Buying a car will help eliminate all of your no-transportation headaches!
2) Utilizing a car loan to purchase a new car will help build your no credit or bad credit history into a positive one. Every monthly payment you make for your car loan will be reported to every major credit reporting agency.
I have no credit. How am I going to get approved for an auto loan?
With most car loan companies, being young and having no credit is not a factor when it comes to granting approvals. How come? Because a car loan is a secured type of loan. The lenders are protected by the fact that if your loan goes into default, they get your car.
Send the Kids Outside!
November 30, 2006
Think back to your own childhood. Chances are, some of your fondest memories are of outdoor activities and places. Perhaps you had a favorite climbing tree or secret hiding place. Maybe you remember jumping rope or learning to turn cartwheels with your best friend or playing fetch with the family dog. Do you recall the smell of lilacs, the feel of the sun on the first day warm enough to take off your jacket, or the taste of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich eaten on a blanket in the park? Did you enjoy lying on your back and finding creatures in the clouds?
Now ask yourself: Don’t I want my child to have similar memories? Wonderful, happy memories?
Unfortunately, a great many of today’s children will grow up without such fond memories because today’s children spend far less time outdoors than did previous generations. According to William Doherty of the University of Minnesota, over the last twenty years there has been a 25 percent decline in the time children spend playing and a 50 percent decline in time spent in unstructured outdoor activities.
Bless Your Child With The Name
November 30, 2006
What a dreamer I am when thinking about parenthood. Most of the time, I do this without knowing to whom my heart will belong and who will share that sacred responsibility. Even though, I am connected with the billions of souls that have always faced the stars at night to decide on what would be the perfect name for our not-yet-conceived little angels
"If is a boy? I’ll name him?; or if is a girl? I’ll name her?" And yes, it is far more important to ask the spirits for the baby to come healthy, but at least our children should have the right to know when people outside the family are referring to them.
Although I’ve heard some funny names, I am not in a position to say that any parent wasn’t serious enough. On the contrary, I prefer to forward some ideas to socially bless your angels forever.
Start with the stars
Astrology gives each newborn the beginning and end dates of the twelve Sun signs. Originally referred to as Star Sign, a Sun Sign represents the Zodiac Sign that the Sun is in at the time of birth. The Sun rules willpower and ego, that is: who you are and what you are about.
First Year With Twins - A Father?s Point Of View
November 29, 2006
People always ask my wife and I: "How did you ever do it with two babies? I just can’t imagine it". My answer is always the same?we just do. We just do what needs to be done. Yes, it’s hard. Yes, it’s exhausting. Yes, it’s stressful. But we find a way to get the things done that need to be done. That’s really the key, is finding a way that works for you and your spouse. I’ve listed some things in this article that have worked for us, maybe you can use some of the same things to help you through the first year.
Get into a routine
I can’t stress this enough. In my opinion, this is the most important thing during the first year if you’ve two or more babies under the age of one at home?get everyone into a routine and stick to it. Feed them at the same time, change diapers at the same time, put them down for naps at the same time, put them to bed at the same time, etc? This will make it a lot easier on you! If you feed them at the same time, you always know when they have been fed last. You won’t be wondering, "was that Colby I fed a half hour ago or was that Camden"? Trust me, you will find yourself asking those kinds of questions. If you put them down for a nap at the same time, you can take a nap yourself!
Avoid Weight Problems In Children
November 29, 2006
Although, not a well publicized statistic, childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past two decades-15% of American children are obese according to the U.S. Obesity Task Force.
With TV commercials bombarding children’s minds with ‘junk food’ options and fast food restaurants enticing parents to ‘take a break’ from tedious cooking by offering toys or a play room, staying on a healthy eating plan is difficult. In addition, playing outside is a distant thought if children are accustomed to using T.V. the computer, and a plethora of video games as fun activities. Couple this with no P.E. in school and parents have an up hill climb.
There is good news, however. Humans are born with the most important effective weight management tool-a hypothalamus, which helps to regulate the amount of food required for maintaining optimum health and weight.
The main function of the hypothalamus is homeostasis, or maintaining the body’s status quo. Factors such as blood pressure, body temperature, fluid and electrolyte balance, and body weight are held to a precise value called the set-point. Although this set-point can migrate over time, from day to day it is remarkably fixed.
How Can I Teach My Toddler to Share?
November 29, 2006
Helping your child move from breast breast milk or formula to solids is a milestone for both you and your baby. However, it can be challenging for some parents. Here are some tips and tricks I’ve compiled for introducing solid foods to your baby. Do remember, however, that you should follow your pediatrician’s advice if you’re in doubt.
Start with fruits One tip I’ve heard from various is to start with fruits. Use really ripe bananas, mashed with a fork. Or sweet potatoes (baked, with the insides scooped out).
Use a baby food grinder You can try small bits of real rice, mixed with meats (without seasonings). The meat should be meshed with baby food grinder (you can find these pretty cheap).
Don’t feed your baby directly from the jar This is an interesting tip I’ve heard from experienced mothers. Feeding your baby directly from the jar is not a good idea. Their saliva can mix with the food and make it taste bad. Put the food in a mug rather than a bowl so that you can feed baby more easily.
Keep away the sweet tooth Try not to give baby sweet stuff at this stage. Deliberately give them vegetables before fruits to keep away that sweet tooth.
Is There Any Real Use For A Fun Quiz?
November 29, 2006
Q. I don’t like my children spending so much time on the computer and playing video games. Can you help me find or develop a fun quiz to stimulate their thinking?
A. A fun quiz is an excellent way to keep kids occupied especially during the vacation months when learning takes a hiatus.
The key to designing a fun quiz is to keep the subjects relevant to things that interest your children while managing to stretch the limits of their knowledge.
A fun quiz does not have to be so easy that it’s seen as a joke, nor does it have to be boring. Here’s an example:
Let’s say that one of your children enjoys playing with American Girl dolls and her favorite is Kirsten. Now, we all know that Kirsten moved to the United States from Sweden when she was a little girl, right?
Instead of asking a fun quiz question like “Where did Kirsten live before moving to the United States?”, which any devoted Kirsten fan knows the answer to already, you could ask: “What colors are on the Flag of Sweden, where Kirsten used to live?”. This serves the purpose of bringing subjects into the fun quiz that your children are interested in, yet it stretches the limits of their knowledge and forces them to learn while having fun!
The Hardest Job I Ever Had
November 28, 2006
I used to have a really challenging job. It was stressful and demanding, high pressure and large responsibilities.
I was really good at it too. Really, I was.
Then I became a parent.
In my old job, I was really good at delegating, training, developing and managing people…and rationalizing.
Oh, could I rationalize.
“I may have to work 60 or 70 hours a week, but I’m providing my girls with security, money for college, a comfortable life.”
“Yes, I have to be out of town for a week at a time several times a year, but I’m providing a strong role model for my daughters.”
I was a hard working, professional, career woman. And I was as misinformed as could be.
I used to say to my husband, “I could never not work. I’d go crazy. I don’t want my life to be about Kool-Aid and paper towels.”
What an idiot.
Then one day, I realized that something had happened to me. There wasn’t really a defining moment, no earth-shattering epiphany. More like a gradual awakening. I realized that I wanted nothing more than to stay home making Kool-Aid for my girls.
Develop Your Childs Genius: The King of Games - the Game of Kings
November 28, 2006
Many people still think that the game of chess is appropriate for old people. In their mind’s eye, they see 2 elderly people sitting across from each other in the park, playing a game of chess.
Well, it might sound surprising to you, but you can teach a baby to play chess. It has shown to be extremely beneficial for children of all ages to learn to play chess, and in addition, it is very entertaining. It is impossible to describe how much value a child gets from playing chess.
When my son Eric was about 2 or 3, he showed interest in board games, so I asked my husband if he knew how to play chess. I didn’t know how to play Chess at the time, but luckily my husband knew the basics, and volunteered to teach little Eric. Eric took to it immediately. One day, my husband and I walked into a computer store, to buy a piece of hardware, and in the back room, we saw a person sitting in front of the computer, playing Chess. We started a conversation with him, and found out that he was a Chess teacher. When we came home, we asked Eric if he would like us to find a teacher for him, and he was very excited about it.
