Circumcision, is it right or wrong?

Jena Troutman-New York Times Article

Lately, there has been a lot of discussion on circumcision.  NPR was discussing how there are various measures trying to get on the ballot to ban circumcision in Santa Monica and San Francisco.  However, there are also many republicans trying to get a measure on the ballot requiring parents to circumcise their baby boys.

While I am against circumcision and feel it is an old tradition that offers very misleading health information to new parents, I do not feel there should be a law for or against it.  Ideally, it would be the little boys decision but we know that is not a likely option.

Many assume that the circumcision is beneficial, has no damaging effects and is important in a boy's personal cleanliness. However, studies are showing that none of these assumptions are necessarily true.

Here is an article on the New York Times about the measures for ballot and as always, here are some great articles from the always trusted Mothering Magazine.  My advice is to always do your research before you make big health decisions about your baby.

The New York Times-Circumcision

The New York Times-Article two

Mothering Magazine

The Thrifty Mama

If you are a stay at home mama or any kind of mama, you should check out "The Thrifty Mama".  She has the best email newsletter and website for all kinds of thrifty deals from your local weekly store ads to free book downloads for your iPhone to codes for free eyeglasses.

I am amazed at the wealth of information she puts together in one amazing email.  Check it out, you will not be disappointed.  Plus, there is a great section on natural and organic and fun recipes for "DIY".

The Thrifty Mama

Lady Gaga Designs Baby Clothes

I know this is not really about the natural mama world but who does not love a little Gaga. While I do not want my baby in a meat dress, you have to appreciate the humor and brilliance of Lady Gaga!

Check out this sketch from Jimmy Kimmel

Lady Gaga Designs Baby Clothes

Watch it on You Tube, Lady Gaga

The Milk Truck has been funded!!

I am so happy to say that the Milk Truck project has been funded!

I am proud that I helped make that happen with my donation and will be receiving my awesome Milk Truck t-shirt soon!

Check out the project at The Milk Truck.

Extreme High Levels of Arsenic Found in Mott's Apple Juice

Should arsenic be in apple juice?  One more reason to consider organic when you make your purchase. Of course, who needs juice!! There is so much sugar in it anyway.  Stick with water.

Extreme High Levels of Arsenic Found in Mott's-Inhabitots

Boobie Palooza and World Breastfeeding week-August 7th

How awesome does "Boobie Palooza" sound?!  It is a fun event where you get pampered for breastfeeding.  In order to create awareness for Breastfeeding week, this great event happens in Southern California on August 7th.
There are massage stations, lactation consultants,  a sling clinic, expert panel and sweet swag bags!

I will not be able to attend since I am throwing a baby shower (ironic).  I hope some of you go and tell me all about it.

Boobie Palooza

Milk Truck Mobile Bus Project-Support It On KickStarter!

Calling all breastfeeding mamas!!! This is an amazing story of using art to create awareness of breastfeeding rights in public.  I encourage you to check it out and even if you only support $1 dollar toward the cause, it can make a difference. 


Milk Truck Mobile Breastfeeding Unit Calls Attention to Moms Right to Breastfeed in Public

 Go here to support this project on kickstarter.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jillmiller/the-milk-truck

Nursing Strikes! Are they real?

If you can picture my little Tallulah with a picket sign saying "No breastfeeding, I am on strike", it seems so silly but in reality, it did happen.

A couple days ago, she did not want to breastfeed.  The first day, I figured it was just random, then she did it for a second day.  I thought it was weird that she would be weaning herself especially this early.  I started to do a little research and thanks to the trusty mothering.com community and many other sites, I realized Tallulah was on a nursing strike.  Babies are super cleaver!!  Tallulah is almost a year old but just got her first tooth and her second one is coming in. During feeding, she likes to try and bit every once and awhile.  Last week, she bite me pretty hard and I raised my voice at her and said "no biting" and she got very upset. After that, she would try to bit me every once and awhile and I would tell her "no biting", in a stern voice.  Then the strike began.

As I did my research, I found that babies will strike often if they are teething or something has upset them during feeding.  My situation with the "no biting", tends to be common and I did not handle it the best way.  Instead, I should have removed her and set her down, letting her know that it "hurts mama" and not let her back on, if she continues to bite.  So how do you end the strike?  With lots of love, a little skin to skin and reassurance that it is ok.  Tallulah did start breastfeeding again and would test me with a soft bite and I would let her know in a calm voice that it was not ok to bite mama and it has been working ever since.

I felt such a sense of relief!! It could not believe Tallulah was just ready to stop feeding all together.  Some mamas like when this happens so they have a reason to stop feeding but not this mama!  I want to go as long as I can because it is so good for her long term health.

Anyway, nursing strikes are real! You heard it from this natural mama!

What are you putting on your body?

Hi everyone,
I wanted to share this site with you since someone was recently asking me about it. It is one of my favorite sites to learn more about how toxic some of your "natural" products are.  When we had Tallulah, we really paid attention because we found that some of the products we had on hand like Burt's Bees and Weleda were not as pure as we thought.

Thank goodness, our favorite brand, Earth Mama Angel Baby was!! Also, California Baby ranked very well.

Check it out!

You'll be surprised to find that even "healthy" products have agents linked to cause cancer. spend 5 minutes and check what your putting in and on your body. it's a non-profit site. I am sometimes skeptical of these things, but it's quite thorough.

http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/

One of my all time favorite brands is coming to Target!!

http://www.earthmamaangelbaby.com/

Earth Mama Angel Baby is now at select Target Stores!! Please support them and purchase them at your local Target.  I am in love with their butt balm and used their nipple butter so much when I was breast feeding.  The butt balm can be used for so many things like diaper rash, cuts and scrapes and burns. Simply the best!

If you have never checked them out, please do so. Also they have the best FREE BIRTH PLAN.  I used it for my first birth and will use it again!

Best Eco Sand Toys for the Summer

www.greentoys.com

 

Once again, here is an article from my favorite site, Inhabitots.  It is a great review of eco friendly toys for the beach and pool.  We have the Green Toys, sand bucket and we love it.  I have given it as a gift many times prior to being a mama.  My favorite thing about it, besides that it is eco friendly, is how durable it is.  You get what you pay for!  Those toxic 99 cent plastic buckets, will not last you a summer!

Check it out!

Best Eco Friendly Toys for the Beach and Pool

The Zoo or not the Zoo? That is the question.

Jane Goodall MiYim Collection

Living in San Diego, we are surrounded by many tourist attractions that include animals like the San Diego Zoo, the Wild Animal Park and Sea World.  My husband and I have been vegetarians for the last 5 years.  A key reason we became vegetarians was due to the treatment of animals along with the huge environmental impact of meat.  We are raising our 11 month old vegetarian and we are always thinking about the day when someone will want to take her to the zoo and how we will handle it.  We are raising our daughter to understand the important of how animals should be treated ethnically and with love and compassion and that they should be respected like all creatures on earth. Obviously, places like zoos can often contradict these views.

I just came across this great article on Inhabitots.  Sometimes, we think, we will consider going to an open space zoo like the Wild Animal Park so our daughter can see animals in the wild but it will be a hard decision when the time comes.  For now, we can just raise her with the understanding that all creatures on earth should be treated with respect and love and if she asks to go to the zoo, we will explain to her what a zoo is and then she can make the decision if she wants to attend.

Read this article!  It is great and I really value the statement from Jane Goodall since she is one of my idols.  Also check out her partnership with MiYim.  I love this brand!

Visiting the Zoo, an ethical dilemma

Jane Goodall MiYim Collection

I guess it had to happen eventually!

The day my daughter turned 11 months old, I got my period.  It was such an emotional day because she was not far from a year, she was walking everywhere and even though I am still breastfeeding, getting my period meant that my little baby was getting older!  It is so hard to not have a period for almost two years and then to welcome it back with open arms.  Of course, the good thing is that in order to have another baby, I need that period so there lies the positive!

Of course, I am so thankful that I am still breastfeeding and producing lots of milk.  I hope to do it for two years, of course another baby is not that far away so we will see.

Just another part of the natural mommy world.


Lots of love.

Do not be gross!! Wash your hands!

It amazes me how many people do not wash their hands especially after going to the bathroom.  Or those people that only wash their hands in public restrooms but not when they are at home.  That is so disgusting.  It is not rocket science to know that washing your hands is one of the easiest, most effective and free ways to prevent germs, sickness with yourself, children and adults.  I know a few people who are always sick and their children are always sick and I know for a fact that they do not wash their hands after going to the bathroom at home.  It makes me nauseous just thinking about the idea that they then prepare food, touch door knobs, touch their face or their children's face or just touch anything at all!  It is a huge guarantee that if you do not wash your hands after going to the bathroom, you are going to get sick and get others sick and get your children sick.  There is no excuse for not washing your hands ever!! These days we even have fancy hand sanitizer if you are stuck. Even using water to wash your hands is better then not washing them all.  Here is our rule of thumb for hand washing:

• Always wash your hands upon entering your home
• Always wash your hands prior to preparing or serving food
• Always, always wash your hands after going to the bathroom, even if you did not use the toilet!

Bottom line....Do not be gross and just wash your hands!

Georgia City Bans Breastfeeding in Public for Children Older Than Two

  The United States loves to sexualize everything including breastfeeding. While I may not breastfeed my child after 2, it should not be a city's right to ban a mother from doing so!  Why are people so afraid of mothers who breastfeed in public?  It is a natural thing to do. You should not be staring anyway!


Georgia City Bans Breastfeeding in Public for Children Older Than Two

Vagina verses Hoo-Ha

I hear so many people use code words for vagina and penis when talking to their baby or child.  I am always tempted to ask them why they do that.  Why are parents so afraid to use the correct name for our "private parts".  Do we really want our children to grow up thinking a vagina is a "hoo-hoo" and a penis is a "ding dong"?  I think these teaches children to be embarrassed of their vagina or their penis and they should not be. Let's embrace the true words and call them what they are.  We do not call an arm a "wee wee" so why should  a vagina or penis be any different.

Embrace it!

Now that you have read this, you should feel a little bit better since I said vagina and penis quite a bit.

Bambino Land 50% off sale!! The best muslin sheets and blankets!

Move over Aden and Anais, Bambino Land is half the price and super cute!!

I have three muslin sheets and four muslin blankets.  I love them!! They are super cute and wash up wonderfully and get softer each time you wash them.  This is a great deal!



https://www.bambinoland.com/


Use code:BEST4BABY to get 50% off your entire order!
(get FREE shipping on $50+ HURRY! code expires on June 20, 2011 

Happy Mother's Day!! My Favorite Sites for Mamas.

Every mom deserves to be celebrated all year around but Mother's Day is a special day so enjoy it!  I hope it brings you lots of love, joy and relaxation. In honor of Mother's Day, here are some of my favorite websites for mamas.  Enjoy!

Mothering Magazine
While it is no longer a hard copy magazine, Mothering still offers a great website full of support.

Natural Moms Talk Radio
Great to listen to for topics on being a natural mom.

Eco Mom
Amazing information on everything Eco in the world of mom and child.

Doula North America
All you need to know about Doulas.

Inhabitots
One of my favorite sites for fun gift ideas, articles, recipes etc. 

La Leche League
Important information about breastfeeding and why "breast is best".

The Thrifty Mama
Who knew a site could exist that is about being natural and thrifty!

Wholesome Baby Food
My go to for all baby food questions.  What age to feed what foods, easy recipes and nutrition information.

Zulily
I have found so many amazing deals on super cute organic baby clothes at this site.

Take some time to volunteer this weekend!

This Saturday in San Diego, is Creek to Bay Cleanup day.  I will be taking my daughter to our local beach to participate. It is a simple and fun activity that you can do as a family and it teaches your child/children great things about protecting the environment.

Even if you do not live in San Diego, take some time this weekend to visit your local spot and pick up some trash.  For more info, check out your local city Park and Recreation department or Surfrider Chapter.


Creek to Bay Cleanup 2011

No TV! Read a book instead!

In an age when DVDs like "Baby Einstein"and "Brainy Baby" dominate baby's lives, books sometimes get lost.  I do not think any baby should be watching television.  There is plenty of television in your child's future so teach them early to read a book.  Daytime, bedtime, anytime!! Classics are great like "Where the Wild Things Are" or anything by Dr. Seuss but here are some of my favorites to give as gifts and also that my little Tallulah loves.

ABC is For Circus

Charley Harper ABCs

Charley Harper 123s

Pop Warhol's Top

Moo, Baa, La La La!

In My Patch

Guess How Much I Love You

The Cat at Night

Mommy & Daddy, Hugs& Kisses