Rebecca Wolf

This blog is a chronicle of my daughters' growth - born July 2003 and May 2007. Be sure to check out the Thriving Babies homepage, for videos and instructions on how to use every type of baby carrier. For literacy and homeschooling tips, visit my Rochester-based Learning Center blog at www.SibleyCenter.com.

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Sniffing Salt Water

Our house was very dry this winter (wood stove), so every night before I went to bed, I'd mix up a saline solution in a wide mouthed cup and give it a good snort in each nostril until it came down to my throat. I had to use filtered water because the chlorine in the tap water irritated me, but other than than, nothing fancy was needed. And you can hide in your bathroom and mix up your magic potion in secret.

You can also buy saline mist sprays (Ayr or Ocean or the generic brands), if you prefer, but most are in icky plastic bottles (can we EVER escape from plastic?). Sometimes I'd chase the saline spray with a nasal gel at bedtime, to last me through the night.

The link above from the mayo clinic, using a bulb syringe, is also very helpful. I've heard that keeping the nasal membranes moist during cold season helps your nose protect itself from all those nasty germs out there. After trying it this winter and only succumbing to 2 colds in the past 7 months, I am a believer!

I'm so tickled to know it has a real name. Nasal lavage sounds so much more refined than snorting salt water!

Happy Snorting,
Rebecca Wolf

Thursday, March 23, 2006

Are ALL Toddlers Social Butterflies?

Friends are becoming very important to Arianna. We went to the museum with her friend Rowan and that's all she could talk about all day. It tickled her to no end that she saw her best buddy at the museum. They had a lovely time together.

When we got back from grocery shopping today, she started crying as soon as we got out of the car because she wanted to go to our neighbor's house and visit. As if she didn't see enough people in the store and at the library!

I am amazed by how social she is. She walked straight up to the librarian this morning and started talking to her immediately upon our arrival. They had a wonderful chat and Arianna told her that she had a bird named Squawky that liked to eat belly buttons! I had to chime in that it wasn't a REAL bird, just a mischievous puppet. Arianna wanted to know if she had any books about Squawky birds eating belly buttons. The librarian had quite a chuckle about this request and explained that they had books on birds and books on belly buttons, but none that put the two together.

As an introvert, I try to provide my daughter with as many social interactions as I can withstand because a) she absolutely loves it, and b) I am hoping she won't be plagued with the insecurities and shyness I suffered from as a child.

Hmmm, I think the plan is working!
Rebecca

P.S. Hope the socialization plan doesn't backfire on me when she is a teenager.

The 3 Don'ts of Plastic Use

Just wanted to share some interesting info I just received today about plastics leaching toxic dioxins.

CANCER NEWS FROM JOHNS HOPKINS

No plastic containers in microwave
No water bottles in freezer
No plastic wrap in microwave

Johns Hopkins has recently sent this out in its
newsletters. This information is being circulated
at Walter Reed Army Hospital.

Dioxin chemicals cause cancer, especially breast
cancer. Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells
of our bodies. Don't freeze your plastic bottles
with water in them as this releases dioxins from the
plastic.

Recently, Dr. Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program
manager at Castle Hospital, was on a TV program to
explain this health hazard. He talked about dioxins
and how bad they are for us. He said that we should
not be heating our food in the microwave using
plastic containers. This especially applies to
foods that contain fat. He said that the
combination of fat, high heat, and plastics releases
dioxin into the food and ultimately into the cells
of the body.

Instead, he recommends using glass, Corning
Ware, or ceramic containers for heating food. You
get the same results, only without the dioxin. So
such things as TV dinners, instant ramen and soups,
etc., should be removed from the container and
heated in something else.

Paper isn't bad, but you don't know what is in
the paper. It's just safer to use tempered glass,
Corning Ware, etc. He reminded us that a while ago
some of the fast food restaurants moved away from
the foam containers to paper. The dioxin problem is
one of the reasons.

Also, he pointed out that Saran wrap is just as
dangerous when placed over foods to be cooked in the
microwave. As the food is nuked, the high heat
causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out of the
plastic wrap and drip into the food. Cover food
with a paper towel instead.

Here's another webpage that has links to more articles like this one:
http://www.kleankanteen.com/toxicplastics.html

The main website sells lightweight stainless steel drinking and eating containers for a very reasonable price: http://www.kleankanteen.com

Knowledge is Power!
Rebecca
http://www.ThrivingBabies.com

Wednesday, March 08, 2006

Not to be alarmist, but . . .

I wanted to share a website with you that is a good idea to visit:

www.familywatchdog.us

When you visit this site you can enter your address and a map will pop up
with your house as the small icon of a house and red, blue, green, dots
surrounding your entire neighborhood.

When you click on these dots a picture of a person will appear with an address and the description of the crime he or she had committed.

The best thing is that you can show your children pictures and see how close these people live to your home or school.

This site was developed by John Walsh from Americas Most Wanted. Another tool to help us keep our kids safe.

Of course, these are only the offenders who have been CAUGHT. We know there are more than this, but it's a place to start, at least. The site also has a video you can watch with your children to discuss safety and strangers.

Rebecca

P.S. Thanks for sharing this info, Marnie.

Thursday, March 02, 2006

Kids say the darnedest things!

Here are a couple of gems from Arianna:

One: Upon waking from a nap, she turns to Andrew and says,

"We're awake, said James, brightening a little."

(For those uninitiated to the world of Thomas the Tank Engine,
James is an engine and Arianna pretends to be ALL of them.)

Two: I caught the tail end of a story she was telling about Thomas (played by HER)
getting stuck on the tracks this morning:

"Just then, Gordon came in.
They all laughed a bit.
It was a funny sight."

Three: One of our neighbors said, "Hi Arianna, how are you?"

Her reply, "I'm NOT Arianna, I'm Lowly Worm!"
Luckily, she said it low enough so that no one heard her haughty little comment.

Four: One day, we were all talking about how children look like one (as is Arianna's case)
or both of your parents. Arianna was very upset that I didn't have blue eyes like her and her daddy. She asked me to change them and I told her I couldn't.

I explained, "You look like your daddy. And Daddy looks like his Mommy, Mema."
Arianna stared thoughtfully at Andrew's face and responded, "But Mema doesn't have WHISKERS, though."

Four B: And when she was REALLY mad at me once for putting the kabash on one of her little toddler schemes (could it have been when she deliberately through rice all over the pantry floor to make a mess, emulating her daddy? Or was it when she smeared an entire tube of lip gloss all over the windows and her easel tray? Or the time she tried to shove a piece of rotini pasta up her nose because she was told not to? How quickly the mind forgets.)
she said in a scathing tone, "I want a NICE mommy with BLUE eyes!"

(I say, "Dream on!")

Yes, we are definitely starting to see some interesting behavior from our little 31-month-old vixen!

Rebecca